“Yes.”
“This will go down smoothly, Chief. Whatever it takes,” Connor replied. “Thanks, guys.”
“So what are you doing on this beautiful day?” Connor asked.
Pleased at Connor’s call, Marie shifted the phone and looked down at the street. “My plans for opening the gallery at 10 a.m. look like a waste of time. There are six reporters and cameramen out there, Connor. I counted them. It’s ridiculous.”
“Bryce is around?”
“Yes. He’s the only bright spot around here. They’d be pounding on glass and holding the doorbell button down if he wasn’t out there making his presence loom large in their minds.” She turned away from the window to resume her work folding laundry, the phone tucked against her shoulder.
“Daniel was arranging a pool interview to try and back them off?”
“Tomorrow morning at nine with both Tracey and me. Maybe it will help but I don’t know. Most of them are from the tabloid press and are looking for dirt at any cost. They’ve been calling our friends, our former schoolmates, anyone with a story to tell. Did you see the paper today?” There had been another piece on the family with most of it being hashed over third-hand quotes about her aunt and mother and her sister Mandy, but it had been deeply embarrassing just the same, more innuendo than fact and overly aggressive in the picture it painted of the affair Henry had had. Marie knew the article must have deeply wounded Daniel too. She’d like to tarnish that reporter’s name in reply but had no means to fight back.
“Sykes is an aggressive reporter looking for anything that can get him promoted from the city daily to a national paper. He’s filling space with whatever he can get to have the byline. Ignore him. It’s not going to stay this way forever.”
“I know. That’s just easier said than done.”
“Let it go. So what are your modified plans for today?”
She turned her attention to what she’d been doing when he called. “Finish the laundry, then work with Tracey on the party plans for tomorrow night. So far we’ve made a hundred thirty invitation calls, and not a one has said they can’t make it. You would think someone in our circle of friends would have other more pressing arrangements for tomorrow night.”
Connor laughed. “Yeah, right. You’re inviting everyone you and Tracey know?”
“Pretty much. If I’ve got to explain everything and answer questions and plaster a smile on my face for a few hours, at least I want it over in one night. Not that I mind talking about this turn of events… I just get tired of doing nothing but talking about it.”
“I know what you mean. I think the party is a good solution. What else is on your week?”
“Daniel wants us to meet with a couple attorneys Wednesday. He insists we have independent representation not associated with Benton Group or Henry. The rest of the day will be trying to get some order back into the gallery after the party. I’ll keep the gallery closed for another week, interview two more possible staff on Friday, and adjust to thinking about maybe next week getting my life back into some order.”
“Give it time, Marie. The days are going to be like this for a while, but they’ll eventually return to normal. Would you maybe like to catch dinner and a movie some night this week, say Thursday? I’ve got a day in court so I should be getting off at a reasonable time.”
Marie looked down the hall to where Tracey was singing with the radio as she sorted out her things to take back with her to college. She’d heard Tracey on the phone with Marsh earlier that morning and left to give them privacy for the call, but not before she had heard her sister confirm a date for Thursday night. Since the choice was staying at home by herself or going out, there wasn’t much of a decision to make. She would enjoy an evening out. “I’d like that, Connor. As long as it can be somewhere I’m not going to get approached by hordes of well- wishers.”
She heard Connor chuckle. “I can probably manage that. Any kind of movie you don’t like?”
“Avoid the blood-and-guts kind, but otherwise I’m flexible.”
“Easy enough. I’ll call for you around six-thirty, and make it dress up. I’ve got a nice quiet place in mind that does wonderful Italian.”
“I’ll look forward to it. Thanks, Connor.”
“You’ll hear from me again today; I’m just catching ten minutes while I sit and watch for a guy that I suspect is already in Honduras by now.”
She smiled. “You got stood up.”
“Happens all the time in this profession, I’m afraid. Enjoy today, Marie, even with all the obstacles.”
“I’ll do that.”
She was smiling as she set down the phone.
“That was Connor?” Tracey asked, slipping in earrings as she came in.
“Yes. It looks like I’m going out Thursday night as well.”
“Marsh said dress up, so I was thinking of a shopping trip this afternoon. You want to risk it? Maybe head over to those shops near the college?”
“Yes, let’s do that.” Tracey had a great eye for clothes and what accessories went well together, and Marie would enjoy hearing her opinion on what she found. “Let’s splurge on new outfits for the party tomorrow night as well.”
Tracey headed back to get her purse and jacket, and Marie smiled as she thought about what she wanted to look for in a dress. Dates were special occasions and called for special things.
With the will and the new wealth had come the possibility that they could finally get some closure regarding her sister. Sam had agreed to meet her and discuss what could be done to learn more about what had happened in New York years ago. There had to be a solution to this hurt.
Facts couldn’t be changed; she’d long ago accepted that. But they still hurt-and badly-in the memories that did not fade.
Marie went to join Tracey, forcing a smile in place and pushing back the sadness.
Chapter Ten
THE SHARP COLD HAD EASED by Wednesday morning, and the chief appreciated that fact as he walked with Caroline St. James through the grounds of a private home on the border of the next county east of town. “You’re comfortable with the security?”
“I put a guy on it yesterday afternoon to confirm things, and it came back as solid.”
The location was perfect, and the place-he would have never thought the ambassador to Denmark lived in the area, but then he hadn’t expected Caroline to find him something ordinary. “How’d you arrange it?”
“I asked a favor, and he had the keys dropped off. I know him from my army days when he was on the NATO staff.”
“Dated his son?”
She smiled at him. “A friend did. I knew the place was empty while he was abroad. His son stayed here most recently, but he got deployed to Guam a few months back. It will do?”
“In spades. Secluded, good security, solid-rock walls on the perimeter-it’s probably as close to a fortress as this county has for an estate.”
“I’ve still got some work to do to make sure there are safe secondary locations nearby if needed and
