Frank Killegrew’s gray eyes narrowed. And then he
laughed. It was a hearty sound, full-bodied and rich. “That’s
good! I killed Andrea and Leon and Ward! That’s
good! Ha-ha!”
“You left out Barry.” Judith’s tone was solemn.
“Barry?” Briefly, Killegrew again looked puzzled. “Oh, that
clerk. He was queer. I don’t get it. Why do people want to
be queer?”
Judith wasn’t about to explain homosexuality to Frank
Killegrew. Indeed, she was beginning to think she couldn’t
explain anything to him. “You didn’t kill Nadia,” she said,
hoping to strike close to the heart. “She killed herself because
she couldn’t bear to see what would happen to you when
you were found out. She really loved you, Frank. And, in
your own weird way, I think you loved her.”
“Nadia.” Killegrew spoke the name with a certain reverence.
“What’ll I do without her?”
“Life, with no possibility of parole,” Judith retorted. “You’re
crazy, Frank, drunk on power and prestige.”
Killegrew tipped his head to one side. “Well…I am a little
drunk. But you’re the crazy one.” He held the slide rule in
one hand and tapped it against his leg as his gray eyes
hardened. “Your insurance isn’t worth ten cents. Where’s
your proof?”
With a flash of insight, Judith glanced at the slide rule. “In
your hand. You used that stupid slide rule to garrote Barry
and Ward by twisting the leather thong and the belt around
their necks. Oh, I’ll admit it would be impossible to prove
in court. But circumstantial evidence is admissible, Frank.
You’ll be charged and brought to trial. Any hope you’ve had
of staying on as CEO is doomed. The other members of the
board will vote you out even before you’re due to retire. It’s
over, Frank. You’re cooked.”
“Uh-uh.” Killegrew swung his head from side to side, and
suddenly he looked quite sober. It dawned on Judith
that maybe the wily CEO hadn’t been drunk in the first place.
“
starting to bring it down on Judith’s head.
Judith ducked, feeling the slide rule cut into the air above
her. Killegrew was a big, powerful man in more ways than
one. Judith knew she couldn’t elude him for very long.
“Coz!” she yelled as Killegrew swung again and she felt
her hair being ruffled.
The door burst open. Two national park service rangers
stood on the threshold, their weapons drawn. Killegrew
turned around, then dropped the slide rule. “Thank God!”
he shouted. “This woman was trying to kill me!”
“Let’s all calm down,” said the older and taller of the
