D.C. Dead

me into this?”

“Mrs. Brandon, you dragged yourself into this when you had an affair with Mr. Kendrick. We’re simply investigating the circumstances of his and his wife’s deaths, and we hope you can help us. This is not for publication.”

“Oh, all right, what do you want?”

“How long were you and Mr. Kendrick, ah, seeing each other?”

“About two and a half months,” she said.

“And where did you meet?”

“Here, in this house. Brix would leave the White House in the afternoons and come here for an hour or so. Do you want to know what we did?”

Stone ignored the question. “Do you know of anyone else Mr. Kendrick was seeing?”

“Milly Hart,” she said. “She was before me. He admitted that to me.”

“Were you jealous of Mrs. Hart?”

“Certainly not!” she said indignantly. “Why would I be jealous of that little tramp?”

“Are you aware that Milly Hart was having an affair with anyone besides Brixton Kendrick?”

She thought for a moment. “No,” she murmured, aware that she had just called herself a tramp.

“Mrs. Brandon, what were your movements on the day Mrs. Kendrick died?”

“Am I a suspect? Am I under arrest? I want an attorney.”

“Mrs. Brandon, you’ve been watching too much Law amp; Order. It’s a simple question: where were you that day?”

“All day?”

“That would be helpful.”

“I slept late, then I went to my monthly garden club luncheon.”

“How long were you there?”

“From noon until around three. I was giving a presentation. After that, I had tea at a friend’s house, and no, I will not tell you who that was, until we’re in a courtroom.”

“Did you see Mr. Kendrick at all that day?”

“No, I did not. The last time was the day before.”

“How would you describe his frame of mind?” Stone asked.

“Serene. Brix was always serene. That’s why I was surprised he killed himself.”

“Why do you think he killed himself?”

“I should think it was obvious. He killed his own wife, for God’s sake!”

“Did it surprise you when you heard of her death?”

“Of course it surprised me.”

“Did you think Mr. Kendrick was the sort of man who would kill his wife?”

“Certainly not! Not for a moment.”

“Did he ever say to you that he wanted out of his marriage?”

“No, never. He and Mimi were devoted to each other. He just had a very powerful sex drive.”

Stone closed his notebook. “Thank you for seeing us, Mrs. Brandon,” he said. “Can you tell me where Milly Hart lives?”

“Certainly not, I barely know the woman.”

She led them to the door, and after looking both ways up and down the street, she let them out without a word and slammed the door behind them.

“Well, that was useful,” Dino said.

“Sarcasm doesn’t become you, Dino.”

“What are we doing here?” Dino asked. “Every time somebody asks us what we want, I don’t know what to tell them.”

“Let’s go find Milly Hart,” Stone said.

20

Dino started the car. “Okay, tell me where Milly Hart lives.”

“I don’t know where she lives,” Stone replied.

“Why do you think I know where she lives?”

Stone got out his cell phone and called Fair Sutherlin’s direct line. Her secretary put him through.

“Good afternoon, Stone. Did you have a nice lunch with the president?”

“Very nice, thank you.”

“You mean you enjoyed the food?”

“He gave us lobster salad,” Stone said. “What’s not to enjoy?”

“Wait until Kate hears about this.”

“Oh, he had Kate’s diet lunch, while Dino and I gorged ourselves.”

“I see. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night. By the way, it’s not black tie.”

“I’m relieved to hear that, since I didn’t bring a dinner jacket.”

“What else can I do for you?” she asked, a leer in her voice.

“I’ve heard that the White House operators can find anybody.”

“That is perfectly so.”

“Would you kindly ask them to find the address of a woman named Milly Hart? With a y?”

“And who is Milly Hart with a y?”

“Someone Brixton Kendrick may have been having an affair with.”

There was a dead silence, for a slow count of about four. “Brix Kendrick was having an affair?”

“At least one, maybe two.”

“Good God! Who was the other one?”

“I’m going to tell you only because I know our reports cross your desk anyway. The other one, confirmed, is Muffy Brandon.”

“Holy shit!” Fair said. “How do you know this?”

“It’s Washington. Also, she admitted it to us ten minutes ago.”

“Does the president know?”

“He knows of a rumor that Kendrick was having affairs. He doesn’t know with whom yet, unless the grapevine in this town is even faster than I thought.”

“It is,” she said. “It moves faster than the speed of light, defying science.”

“Then you should have Milly Hart’s address in a millisecond,” Stone said.

“Hang on,” she said, and put him on hold.

“You making any progress?” Dino asked. “With the address, I mean?”

“I’ll have it in a millisecond,” Stone said.

Fair came back on the line. “She lives at the Watergate apartments. Who is she?”

“Didn’t the White House operator fill you in?”

“I asked only for her address.”

“Then you know just as much about her as I do,” Stone said. “See you tomorrow night.” He hung up. “She was flabbergasted to hear that Brix was having affairs,” he said to Dino.

“I guess I’m the only guy in town who isn’t,” Dino said. “I always assume everybody is fucking everybody.”

“That saves time,” Stone said. “Can you find the Watergate apartments on the map?”

Dino consulted it. “Right by the Potomac River,” he said. “I’m on my way.” He put the car in gear.

“Then I’ll come along for the ride.”