basically sat on the autopsy report. I returned to the States, trying to put my life back together while some Spanish lawyers probated Enrique's estate.'
Andrus shook her head. 'A journalist, a real left winger, got a whiff of the autopsy results, showing that Enrique died from an overdose of drugs. When it turned out the Franquista had covered it up, there was a scandal. Worse, it was made to look like corruption, as though I had somehow bribed the man. The prosecutor was ruined, and I became a fugitive, though my lawyers here were able to fight the halfhearted extradition effort. I never even lost my holdings as Enrique's widow in Spain.'
Andrus came forward in her chair. 'That's the perversity of it all, John. I helped a man I loved move through the pain and hopelessness of incurable illness to the peace that follows. Everyone who tried to do the right thing in that direction was vilified by the system, but in the end nothing changed in the society.'
'How did the son feel about all this?'
'Ramon? He seemed pretty indifferent. Almost glad that it was over. Enrique's will split the estate between us. I got the house. on the ocean in Spain – in Candas, near Gijon – though I just rent it out. Ramon was interested more in the movable assets.'
'Movable?'
'Yes. He decided to settle in the States, even shortened his name to just Ray Cuervo.'
'Where does he live?'
'I believe somewhere on the north shore. I haven't seen him in years, but… Marblehead, perhaps.' Andrus altered her expression. 'Why do you ask?'
'I might want to talk with him.'
'I can't believe Ramon could be involved in this.'
'How about Manolo?'
'Manolo doesn't know anything. I've questioned him extensively. Over the years he's become good enough in recognizing English for us to communicate with him on simple things.'
'I meant, could Manolo be involved in this?'
'Manolo?' A laugh. 'Manolo is like the sun and the moon, John. He was devoted to Enrique, never left his side.'
'Manolo watched you inject your husband'?'
'Watched me with the needle, yes. Not with the bottle.'
'Manolo ever figure out that you killed your husband?'
'John, Manolo is loyal, in the medieval sense of the word. I'm sure that at some point Enrique signed to him that he was always to serve me. After Enrique died, I packed to come back to the States. So did Manolo. In his mind there was no question that where I went, he went. A simple man, but not stupid. For example, if you talk to him, you have to say the words out loud, not just mouth them. Otherwise, Manolo can tell from the way your throat looks that you're not really speaking, and he's hurt.'
'How did you ever get him into the country'?'
'I was able to work things out with immigration before the dam broke in Spain. Manolo has stayed on with me ever since. I even got him a driver's license, but please don't ask how. He has no place else to go and nothing else to do.'
'How does your present husband feel about that?'
'Tuck?' Andrus seemed amused and affected a southern accent. 'Tucker Hebert rolls with the punches, John.' Resuming her voice, she said, 'Nothing bothers him, which is a refreshing attitude to share once in a while. Tuck gets along fine with Manolo. Besides, Manolo was already a part of my household when Tuck met me.'
'At a tennis tournament?'
'At…? Oh, no. Well, yes. I guess so. It was at Longwood Cricket Club, where they hold the pro championships out in Brookline? But he wasn't playing actively anymore.'
'How does Tucker feel about your position on the right to die?'
Andrus tented her fingers, rested her chin lightly on the fingertips and rocked her head back and forth. 'lf you'll be working for me, you can ask him.'
'You realize that I can't both bodyguard and investigate at the same time.'
'Manolo's presence is all the 'bodyguarding' I can tolerate, John. Understand this, please. I didn't like the idea of Ines and Alec going to the police precisely because of my position on the right to die. It cannot look as though I can be bullied by crank notes into playing turtle. I will not dilute one aspect of my approach to the cause, including tonight's debate.'
'Debate?'
'At the Boston Public Library. Three of us extremists will go hand to hand in front of a slavering crowd.'
'I'd like to see it.'
'Fine.' She softened a little. 'Because of what happened to me with Enrique's death, I will not be stopped until what should happen morally is what can happen legally. However, I think that having you investigate is not inconsistent with that goal. I believe we understand each other, even if we don't agree.'
'As long as you understand that if I do my job right, the sender of these notes is going to realize you've hired me to go after him.'
'That's fine. Let him think about being the target for a while. And, if you catch him, so much the better.'
'I'll want a retainer of twelve hundred against four hundred a day fee, plus expenses.'
'Only three days worth up front? You think you're that good?'
'No, but I think you're that rich you're good for it.'
'Ines has the checkbook.'
'I'd also like to see some of your other hate mail.'
'Ines keeps an alphabetized file. Steel yourself.'
As I opened the door back into the anteroom, Manolo was already on his feet, but this time facing a man about five feet ten in a three-piece suit with lapels an inch out of fashion. Fortyish, he had brown hair with a very narrow widow's peak and a brown mustache, both hair and sideburns a little too long.
The man held a fat manila folder near Ines Roja's nose as he dripped sarcasm. 'With all the world's problems preying on her mind, no doubt Professor Andrus merely forgot that she's a member of the Long-Range Planning Committee.'
'As I said, sir, I left a message for you that the professor could not attend the meeting because of an emergency.'
The man acknowledged me with a scowl. 'A pressing issue no doubt. 'Should we pull the plug on Grandmama now or wait till after she's stood treat for lunch?' '
Roja said, 'I will ask the professor to call you as soon as possible.'
'Yes, yes, you do that, Ines. I'll no doubt be in the dean's office, discussing nonteaching faculty responsibilities and how to assure them.'
He turned and walked away, his toes splayed outward like a duck's.
Manolo sat down.
Roja turned to me and said, 'I am sorry.'
'Who was that?'
'Professor Walter Strock.'
'He usually come on that way?'
'He and the professor do not get along well.' More seriously, Roja said, 'Is there anything I can do?'
'Write me a check for twelve hundred dollars so I can start looking into the notes.'
Her eyes lit up. 'I will do it.'
'I'd also like to see the other hate mail the professor's gotten. You have a file?'
Roja nodded and moved to a tall metal cabinet. Taking a key from the pocket of her suit jacket, she unlocked the top before sliding out a drawer. 'All these, alphabetic by the name of the person or organization writing. Except the last folder, for the unsigned ones.'
I whistled through my bottom teeth. 'You have a box I could carry those in?'
'I can get a carton from the Xerox room.'
'One other thing. This debate tonight?'
'You will attend?'
