Silenced

complex. “Her death was odd, don’t you think, Noah? Strangled from behind. Little or no sexual gratification. And Josh said she lied about something she didn’t have to, and was scheduled to talk to the U.S. Attorney. Why was she killed now and not three weeks ago when the scandal first broke?”

“The theory makes sense,” Noah said, “but doesn’t it seem unwise on the killer’s part to kill her when she was an interested party in an ongoing investigation?”

“Not if the information she would have shared was criminally damaging,” Stein said.

Lucy couldn’t believe she and the bombastic agent were in agreement. “Desperate measures,” she said. “If he felt there was no other way to silence her. Maybe she couldn’t be bought off.”

“Speaking of buying her off,” Stein said, “I have my team going through her finances. That condo cost her far more than she’d make on a secretary’s salary. Might be she comes from a wealthy family, or maybe she just has a lot of men keeping her in style.” He laughed.

The two minutes Lucy had respected Josh Stein ended.

The three of them walked through the glass doors of a renovated corner office building. Part of the structure was reinforced marble-very likely the original structure-and part was completely new, made to blend in with the old. The result was surprisingly attractive.

Stein showed his badge to the guard and they were sent to the penthouse suite of offices where Devon Sullivan amp; Associates resided.

In the elevator, Stein said, “DSA is a medium-sized lobbying firm representing local governments, small unions, and private businesses, primarily in the tech industry. Their second-largest client in terms of dollars spent is a city in California-which happens to be in Alan Crowley’s district. See why the affair may not be so simple after all? Definitely an affair to remember.” He laughed at his own joke. Neither Lucy nor Noah joined in, but Stein didn’t notice.

Devon Sullivan greeted them when they stepped out of the elevator. She was attractive in both manner and dress. Mid-fifties, tastefully dyed dark blond hair, and hazel eyes behind purple Donna Spade glasses. Her red- rimmed eyes suggested she’d already heard about Wendy James’s murder.

“It’s so awful. Please, come to my office.”

She led them across the lobby, through glass double doors, and past her secretary. “Jeanie, please hold all calls for now.” She closed the door behind them.

Devon Sullivan’s office was as large as Wendy’s living room and just as contemporary, with a wide expanse of windows and lots of sparkling glass. The view looked down on one of the large roundabouts, and if Lucy stood just right, she could see half of the Capitol. One wall was a bookcase with numerous political biographies and larger legal tomes. A few pictures decorated the shelves, mostly of Devon Sullivan golfing or with clients, and one of her at a shooting range, framed with a small engraving, “Virginia State Trooper Widows amp; Orphans Charity Shoot- Out, 2008.”

Ms. Sullivan motioned for them to sit, and she took a position in front of her desk, not behind it. Lucy glanced at the desk, which was devoid of all papers except for closed file folders. A picture of two young boys sat in the corner. Children or grandchildren, Lucy couldn’t tell.

“I’m still trying to understand what happened. The press, as you know, never gets things completely right. But Wendy was murdered?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Stein said. “I appreciate you making the time for us.” His tone was reserved and respectful, opposite of his earlier demeanor.

“Anything you need.”

“When news of the affair between Ms. James and Congressman Crowley first broke, I spoke to your office manager about her employment. He indicated that she’d worked here as a secretary for about two years.”

“Correct.”

“Were you concerned when she didn’t come in for work yesterday morning?”

Ms. Sullivan blinked rapidly, her eyes brimming with tears. “I fired Wendy last week.”

The information surprised all of them, but Josh Stein most of all. “When?” he asked brusquely.

“Tuesday morning. I would have fired her on Monday, but she called in sick. I think she knew. I didn’t have a choice-I don’t think she did anything wrong, but her judgment was flawed. My business is built solely on my reputation. Her situation had gotten out of control, and I had concerned clients. I gave her a very nice severance package, and a letter of recommendation.”

“What exactly did she do for you?”

“Mostly answered phones, greeted clients, made copies, and assisted with events. Wendy was very good at it.”

“Why did you feel the need to fire her?”

“Reputation,” she repeated.

“Did you know she was having an affair with Alan Crowley?”

“No. I would have told her to knock it off or leave. My staff knows how important image is in this business, when lobbying already has as bad a reputation as used-car salesmen and politicians. Truly, a few bad apples and we’re all condemned.”

“Could she have accessed sensitive information that she may have leveraged with Congressman Crowley or others?”

“Others?”

“We’re keeping a broad mind.”

“I suppose she could have accessed any of the files here, but most of our records are public, as required by law.”

“Did you, or anyone on your staff, ask Wendy James to unduly influence Alan Crowley or any other sitting member of the House of Representatives?”

Ms. Sullivan was taken aback by the question, and Lucy was surprised as well. Stein slipped it in smoothly, in the same tone and manner as his initial softball questions.

“Absolutely not,” she said firmly.

“Would you mind if I spoke to your staff?”

She hesitated, the first sign that she was nervous about something. It could be natural, stemming from the tragic situation, or it could be more calculating. Lucy wasn’t certain.

“Of course you may, but if it’s about my clients, I need to be present.”

“Just about Wendy, who she dated, if anyone knew about the affair.”

Devon Sullivan didn’t relax. “I suppose. When?”

“Now would be perfect,” Stein said.

“I’ll make the conference room available.” She left the office, closing the door behind her.

Stein grinned and said in a low voice, “I’m going to give Ms. Sullivan a rectal exam.”

“Excuse me?” Lucy said.

“You think a lobbyist like her didn’t know her secretary was doing the horizontal bop with a player like Crowley? Hell no.”

“Murder is a long way from political corruption,” Noah said.

Stein shrugged. “Maybe. Probably no connection. But you shouldn’t be surprised how fast people tell the truth when they think they’re facing more serious charges. Anything going on in this company, I’ll find it.” He glanced at his watch. “We still have time to catch Crowley at his office. Damn, I love my job.”

Lucy barely refrained from grimacing. Stein was too giddy about his work; she wondered if he cared anything about the victim-or if winning was the only thing that mattered.

They could easily have walked from DSA to the Capitol, but Stein insisted on driving even though it was close to five in the afternoon and the roads were crowded. It took him fifteen minutes to find a parking place-a white- zone reserved for Capitol Police.

He slid his official federal business placard on the dash and got out of the car, whistling.

Lucy decided that she didn’t care how smart Josh Stein was, or his case clearance rate, she did not like a man who whistled while investigating murder.

They walked toward Crowley’s office in the Rayburn building. “Josh,” Noah said, “I let you lead with the