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‘I’d love to know a little more about him, what he was really like.’
Harriet Berk was silent for a moment. When she spoke, her voice was soft. ‘Paul was like no other man I’ve ever known. He had a zest for life. He was kind and thoughtful of others. He could be very funny. He didn’t take himself too seriously. He was great fun to be around. We were planning to be married in October.‘ She stopped. ‘When Paul died in the accident, I – I felt as though my life was over.’ She looked at Dana and said quietly, ‘I still feel that way.’
‘I’m so sorry,’ Dana said. ‘I hate to press this, but do you know if he had any enemies, someone who would have a reason to kill him?’
Harriet Berk looked at her and tears came to her eyes. ‘Kill Paul?’ Her voice was choked. ‘If you had known him, you wouldn’t have even asked that.’
Dana’s next interview was with Steve Rexford, the butler who had worked for Julie Winthrop. He was a middle-aged, elegant-looking Englishman.
‘How may I help you, Miss Evans?’
‘I wanted to ask you about Julie Winthrop.’
‘Yes, ma’am?’
‘How long did you work for her?’
‘Four years and nine months.’
‘What was she like to work for?’
He smiled reminiscently. ‘She was extremely pleasant, a lovely lady in every way. I – I couldn’t believe it when I heard the news about her accident.’
‘Did Julie Winthrop have any enemies?’
He frowned. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Was Miss Winthrop involved with anyone she might have … jilted? Or someone who might want to harm her or her family?’
Steve Rexford shook his head slowly. ‘Miss Julie wasn’t that sort of person. She could never hurt anyone. No. She was very generous with her time and with her wealth. Everyone loved her.’
Dana studied him a moment. He meant it. They all meant it. What the hell am I doing? Dana wondered. I feel like Dana Quixote. Only there are no windmills.
Morgan Ormond, the director of the Georgetown Museum of Art, was next on Dana’s list.
‘I understand you wanted to ask me about Gary Winthrop?’
‘Yes. I wondered –’
‘His death was a terrible loss. Our nation has lost its greatest art patron.’
‘Mr Ormond, isn’t there a great deal of competition in the art world?’
‘Competition?’
‘Doesn’t it sometimes happen that several people might be after the same work of art and get into –’
‘Of course. But never with Mr Winthrop. He had a fabulous private collection, yet at the same time he was very generous with museums. Not just with this museum, but with museums all over the world. His ambition was to make great art available to everybody.’
‘Did you know of any enemies he –’
‘Gary Winthrop? Never, never, never.’
Dana’s final meeting was with Rosalind Lopez, who had worked for Madeline Winthrop for fifteen years as her personal maid. She was now working at a catering business she and her husband owned.
‘Thank you for seeing me, Miss Lopez,’ Dana said. ‘I wanted to talk to you about Madeline Winthrop.’
‘That poor lady. She – she was the nicest person I’ve ever known.’
It’s beginning to sound like a broken record, Dana thought.
‘It was just terrible the awful way she died.’
‘Yes,’ Dana agreed. ‘You were with her a long time.’
‘Oh, yes, ma’am.’
‘Do you know of anything she might have done that would have offended anybody or made enemies of them?’
Rosalind Lopez looked at Dana in surprise. ‘Enemies? No, ma’am. Everyone loved her.’
It is a broken record, Dana decided.
On her way back to the office, Dana thought, I guess I was wrong. In spite of the odds, their deaths must have been coincidental.
Dana went in to see Matt Baker. She was greeted by Abbe Lasmann.
‘Hi, Dana.’
‘Is Matt ready for me?’
‘Yes. You can go in.’
Matt Baker looked up as Dana walked into his office. ‘How’s Sherlock Holmes today?’
‘It’s elementary, my dear Watson. I was wrong. There is no story there.’
Chapter Five (#ulink_a90958b4-5bbf-55d7-a536-8932d12a8ff5)
The call from Dana’s mother, Eileen, came without warning.
‘Dana, darling. I have the most exciting news for you!’
‘Yes, Mother?’
‘I’m getting married.’
Dana was stunned. ‘What?’
‘Yes. I went up to Westport, Connecticut, to visit a friend, and she introduced me to this lovely, lovely man.’
‘I’m – I’m thrilled for you, Mother. That’s wonderful.’
‘He’s – he’s so–’ She giggled. ‘I can’t describe him, but he’s adorable. You’ll love him.’
Dana said cautiously, ‘How long have you known him?’
‘Long enough, darling. We’re perfect for each other. I’m so lucky.’
‘Does he have a job?’ Dana asked.
‘Stop acting like my father. Of course he has a job. He’s a very successful insurance salesman. His name is Peter Tomkins. He has a beautiful home in Westport, and I’m dying for you and Kimbal to come up here and meet him. Will you come?’
‘Of course we will.’
‘Peter is so anxious to meet you. He’s told everyone about how famous you are. Are you sure you can make it?’
‘Yes.’ Dana was off the air weekends, so there would be no problem. ‘Kemal and I are looking forward to it.’
When Dana picked Kemal up at school, she said, ‘You’re going to meet your grandmother. We’re going to be a real family, darling.’
‘Dope.’
Dana smiled. ‘Dope is right.’
Early Saturday morning Dana and Kemal drove to Connecticut. Dana looked forward to the trip to Westport with great anticipation.
‘This is going to be wonderful for everyone,’ Dana assured Kemal. ‘All grandparents need grandchildren to spoil. That’s the best part of having children. And you’ll be able to stay with them some of the time.’
Kemal said nervously, ‘Will you be there, too?’ Dana squeezed his hand. ‘I’ll be there.’
Peter Tomkins’s home was a charming old cottage on Blind Brook Road, with a small stream running alongside it.
‘Hey, this is cool,’ Kemal said.
Dana ruffled Kemal’s hair. ‘I’m glad you like it. We’ll come here often.’
The front door of the cottage opened, and Eileen Evans stood there. There were still vague traces of beauty left, like clues to what once was, but bitterness had overlaid the past with a harsh brush. It was a Dorian Gray situation. Her beauty had gone into Dana. Standing beside Eileen was a middle-aged, pleasant-faced man wearing a broad smile.
Eileen rushed forward and took Dana in her arms. ‘Dana, darling! And there’s Kimbal!’
‘Mother …’
Peter Tomkins said, ‘So this is the famous Dana Evans, eh? I’ve told all my clients about you.’ He turned to Kemal. ‘And this is the boy.’ He noticed Kemal’s missing arm. ‘Hey, you didn’t tell me he was a cripple.’
Dana’s blood froze. She saw the shock on Kemal’s face.
Peter Tomkins shook his head. ‘If he had had insurance with our company before that happened, he’d be a rich kid.‘ He turned toward the door. ‘Come on in. You must be hungry.’
‘Not anymore,’ Dana said tightly. She turned to Eileen. ‘I’m sorry, Mother. Kemal and I are going back to Washington.’
‘I’m sorry, Dana. I –’
‘So am I. I hope you’re not making a big mistake. Have a nice wedding.’
‘Dana –’
Dana’s mother watched in dismay as Dana and Kemal got into the car and drove away.
Peter Tomkins looked after them in astonishment. ‘Hey, what did I say?’
Eileen Evans sighed. ‘Nothing, Peter. Nothing.’
Kemal was silent on the ride home. Dana glanced at him from time to time.
‘I’m so sorry, darling. Some people are just ignorant.’
‘He’s right,’ Kemal said bitterly. ‘I am a cripple.’
‘You’re not a cripple,‘ Dana said fiercely. ‘You don’t judge people by how many arms or legs they have. You judge them by what they are.’
‘Yeah? And what am I?’
‘You’re a survivor. And I’m proud of you. You know, Mr Charming was right about one thing – I’m hungry. I guess it wouldn’t interest you, but I see a McDonald’s ahead.’
Kemal smiled. ‘Awesome.’
After Kemal went to bed, Dana walked into the living room and sat down to think. She turned on the television set and started surfing the news channels. They were all doing follow-up stories on the Gary Winthrop murder.
‘… hoping that the stolen van might offer some clues to the identity of the murderers …’
‘… two bullets from a Beretta. Police are checking all gun shops to …’
‘… and the brutal murder of Gary Winthrop in the exclusive northwest area proved that no one is …’
There was something at the back of Dana’s mind, teasing her. It took her hours to get to sleep. In the morning, when Dana awakened, she suddenly realized what had been bothering her. Money and jewels were lying in the open. Why hadn’t the killers taken them?
Dana got up and made a pot of coffee while she reviewed what Chief Burnett had said.
Do you have a list of the stolen paintings?
We do. They’re all well known. The list is being circulated to museums, art dealers, and collectors. The minute one of those paintings appears, the case will be solved.
The burglars must have known that the paintings couldn’t be sold easily, Dana thought, which could mean that the theft was arranged by a wealthy collector who intends to keep the paintings for himself. But why would a man like that put himself in the hands of two murderous hoodlums?
On Monday morning when Kemal got up, Dana fixed breakfast and dropped him off at school.
‘Have a good day, darling.’
