“So,” Judith said slowly, “one-third of the board will
have to be replaced. Will Ward and Leon’s successors automatically become members?”
“Probably, though in the past sometimes the vice presidentlegal counsel has served instead of the chief financial officer.”
Nadia carefully set the plates down on the table.
“Does the board wield much power?” Judith asked as they
returned to the kitchen.
Nadia uttered a small laugh. “Some say they’re merely a
rubber stamp for Frank and the rest of the officers. But that’s
because our executives know what’s best for OTIOSE. Once
in a great while, however, the other members go off on a
tangent and become quite obstinate. Then it’s up to our
gang—if you want to call them that—it’s more like family—to
dissuade them.”
The term “family” struck Judith as wildly inappropriate;
“gang” was more like it. She recalled Joe’s despair over
teenagers who joined gangs. Maybe it wasn’t so different
with grownups. Everybody had to belong to something or
someone, and at the corporate level, co-workers could become like family. Maybe for someone like Nadia, who seemed
to be alone in the world, OTIOSE filled a deep need. Maybe
she wanted to be “one of the gang.”
Judith handed water glasses to Nadia, whose attitude about
the murders was disturbingly blase. “It must be terribly hard
on you to have three of your co-workers die in your midst.
You seem to be holding up rather well.”
“Oh, no!” Suddenly, Nadia was aghast. “I’m utterly
shattered! Not to mention frightened out of my wits! But I
can’t let it show. Why do you think I feel so stupid when
my nerves give way? On the executive floor, someone has
to keep calm. A steady hand at the tiller, as Frank would say.
Often, it’s up to me.”
“I see,” said Judith, and for once she did. Frank Killegrew,
and perhaps the other officers, relied on Nadia. She was the
axle to their big wheels. “Like with the Santa Claus phone
calls.”
“Exactly.” Nadia drank deeply from the juice glass. “Of
course that was by default. When the news story hit, the officers simply…disappeared.”
“Including Margo,” Judith said.
Nadia gave a nod of assent. “Including Margo. Even
though it was a situation that fell into her shop. I ended up
coordinating the p.r. effort.”
“Speaking of disappearing,” Judith said, jumping at the
chance to change topics, “have you any idea how one of your
group could have gotten cut off from his or her buddy at the
time Ward was killed?”
The implication made Nadia wince. “Are you suggesting
that…?”
“Yes, of course. Aren’t we all in agreement that somebody
