Page 33 of Memory of Murder
“We appreciate your time, Senator. Our primary goal at this time is to determine what was happening in Mary Morton’s and Neil Reed’s personal lives just before the murder. We’ve reviewed the official case file and, frankly, found it lacking. Perhaps it was inexperience on the detective’s part. Given the many holes in the work, we’re basically going over all the steps.”
Langston leaned back in his chair, his forearms and hands resting on the chair arms. “My wife mentioned that you spoke with her already.” He glanced at Anne for the first time since they brushed palms. “Eve was right. You do look so much like your mother.”
Anne forced a smile. “You and your wife were very close to my parents. Were you aware of any trouble between them or with any of their friends just before the murder?” Likeyou, she wanted to say but did not. Who could doubt the possibility considering what this man had taken from Neil Reed? Even if he wasn’t guilty of murder, he knew things—things that could make a difference.
He paused for consideration of the question before responding. “I was unaware of any personal trouble between Mary and Neil. As for issues with friends, I can’t say that the relationship he and I once had was the same. Obviously not, since I was chosen over him for a position he really wanted. But like politics, the field of law is competitive. Fiercely so. There are no in-betweens. You’re either winning or you’re losing. In that case, I was the winner.”
Anne bit her lips together to hold back the retort that sprang to the tip of her tongue.
“What about your relationship with Mary?” Jack said. “Was their trouble between you and Reed where she was concerned?”
Like the attorney they had met with this morning, Langston’s face cleared of emotion. He turned his hands up as if to sayhe didn’t understand the question. But then he spoke. “Mary and Eve were very good friends. Best friends, I would say,” he insisted. “I, of course, was friends with her as well but only through Eve. There was never anything beyond that between Mary and me. She was busy with her teaching, and I was even busier with building my career. We hardly had time for anything else. I can’t imagine where you stumbled upon such an idea.”
Stumbled? Anne bit her teeth together hard to prevent a retort.
Jack looked from Anne to Langston, she suspected to build the anticipation of his next question. “Was there anyone else,” he pressed, “close to the four of you who may have taken an unsolicited interest in Mary?”
“Are you implying Mary had an affair?” Langston’s tone was imbued with surprise or something on that order. Probably faked. He appeared every bit the type to act his way out of a troubling situation.
“We know there was—let’s just say,” Jack explained, “an event with another man. We’re currently running down a paternity test that should answer the question.”
The senator’s expression closed completely then.
“We have reason to believe the encounter was not a welcome one,” Anne added without sayingthe word.
Despite his restraint, the man’s face turned deathly pale. His eyes widened like saucers. She and Jack seemed to have that effect during interviews, even with someone as practiced at disguise as this man clearly was. Anne had to clutch the armrests of her chair to remain seated. She wanted to jump up and demand that he admit what he had done.
This man was somehow involved in what happened. Anne was sure of it.
“I’ve been reading her journal,” she said, only at that moment deciding to share this information. He apparently had lost his ability to speak, at least momentarily. “I believe we’re gettingvery close to uncovering evidence of the details she shared. Once we have what we need, I’m confident the murder case will be reopened. But this time, there will be a different defendant. My only regret is that I couldn’t make that happen before she died in prison for a crime she did not commit.”
The emotion that poured out of her with the revelations left her weak and on the verge of shaking. She should not have ignored her mother all those years. No matter that her mother had turned away her only attempts for a connection after high school, Anne should have kept trying. She should have fought for the truth. Regret and pain welled inside her so fast she could hardly breathe.
“I can understand your need to somehow make this right.” Langston seemed to have gathered his wits once more. “But Mary is dead. What good can come of turning your own life upside down to find answers that likely will not change a thing?”
“She was innocent.” Anne surprised herself by saying the words with strength and determination. “Her name should be cleared. She deserves—I deserve—the truth.”
The senator inclined his head and studied her. “At what expense to you? In your line of work, reputation is everything. You need clients to trust you on all levels. It would be a shame to neglect your career for this futile endeavor.”
Anne shook visibly with the impact of his words. Had he just threatened to damage her reputation? Clearly a US senator had the power to do such a thing. Also very clear was the idea that he had looked into her life.
“Particularly,” Jack cut in, “if those rumors are false. I’m sure you felt the same way when Adrina Wilson made her allegations. Thankfully you were able to keep those out of the media for the most part—which is a major feat in itself these days.”
The blood drained from Langston’s face once more. “That,” he said, his voice tight, “was a woman out to get something for nothing. I never touched her. She smelled money, and she wanted it.” He snapped his mouth shut as if he’d only just realized that he wasn’t supposed to speak of the matter.
So much for the nondisclosure agreement.
“But it was the other—the physical relationship,” Anne suggested, “Adrina didn’t want. Was that the true issue? Mary’s journal reflects much the same. She didn’t want what happened, and yet fear kept her from going to the proper authorities.” She was really reaching here, but somehow she couldn’t stop herself.
“This conversation is over.” Langston stood. “I’m certain you can see yourselves out.”
Anne and Jack rose from their chairs.
“Again,” Jack said, “we appreciate your time. Would you let your assistant, Carin Wallace, know that we’re trying to get in touch? I’m confident she has some of the answers we’re looking for.”
Langston remained silent. Fury burned red on his face, glowing in his eyes.
No one, not even the woman who had greeted them when they arrived, waited outside the office to escort them from the house. This surprised Anne. They walked along the marble-floored hall and into the grand foyer. No sign of Eve or an assistant or a member of the household staff.
