Page 38 of Memory of Murder
“I get that your childhood wasn’t what it should have been.” His eyes searched hers. “But you rose above it. You’ve done really well for yourself. You have every reason to be proud of your accomplishments. If your mother knew anything about your life, I’m sure she was proud as well.”
“Thank you. I hope so. I haven’t really worried about what she thought since I was a kid, but I would be lying if I didn’t say my feelings have changed. This whole endeavor has certainly been eye opening.” She glanced at the journal that lay on her bed. She’d taken it out of the box with the intention of reviewing certain entries. “When I read the journal, I wasn’t convinced of anything beyond what I already felt. Not really. I mean anyone can write words on a page. Everyone has their story. I had littleconfidence that her story would prove accurate to any real degree. Maybe it was what she believed to be the truth…but that’s not always the same as the real truth.”
But she had begun to see the full picture now. Her gaze settled on the man watching her. About many things—like her own story. The way she ignored her personal needs. How she pretended work was everything and that there was no time for anything else.
Slow down, girl.
“I, as well as the team at the agency, fully believe that Mary was innocent. I personally am confident that what we’ve heard so far confirms as much.”
Anne crossed her legs in an effort to get more comfortable. Her foot nudged his shin, and she uncrossed and then recrossed in the other direction. “Sorry.”
“No problem—I’m the one who’s crowding you.” He shifted a little.
“It’s fine. Really.”Focus on the case!Deep breath. “Do you think there’s any chance Adrina Wilson would talk to me?” If the senator had taken advantage of his assistant, that would make believing he’d done the same to Mary far easier to accept for anyone hearing the story.
“It’s doubtful. She signed an NDA. She would be setting herself up for serious legal repercussions if she did.”
Anne had thought as much, but it never hurt to get a second opinion. “The fact that he paid her to sign this agreement suggests he was guilty, right?”
“Most people see it that way. There’s always the possibility that even if he was innocent of the charge he didn’t want to deal with being trashed in the media. Like you, I see the agreement as hush money for his crossing the line. How far over that line he went” he shrugged “—who knows. I will say that this business with Wilson was ten years ago—just as he was assuming hiscurrent office, so keeping negative reports out of the media was more important than ever.”
She supposed that was a valid point.
“Thirty years ago,” he went on, “Langston was younger and had far less to lose. I’m guessing he wasn’t worried about Mary coming forward. She had to protect her reputation as a teacher of young children, and she was engaged to be married. She had everything to lose at the time, and he had basically nothing to worry about. It was her word against his. No matter who their friends and colleagues believed, the damage would be done to Mary’s reputation.”
A very smart analysis. Not a fair conclusion, but the most likely one that would have been reached at the time. Jack was really good at his job. Handsome, charming, kind and smart. Why was it that she never ran into a guy like him in her everyday life? Would she have even noticed?
Not fair, she decided. She no doubt ran into really nice men often, but she ignored them. Her attention was more often than not on work. The truth was if she didn’t put herself out there, she didn’t have to worry about being hurt. Relationships and marriage led to other things like children and…
It was difficult to see going down that road after the childhood she’d had.
As much as she hated blaming so much on her childhood, her inability to take the usual relationship risks was a direct result of those early years. On some level she understood that this moment—this time with Jack—was temporary and less risky maybe. In the end they would go their own ways. No real jeopardy involved when the relationship was temporary, right?
She had lost her mind. With a deep breath, she dismissed the thoughts and concentrated on what they were here to do. “I feel like the things we’ve learned from Mrs. Farrell and then about the position at BioTech lends credibility to Mary’s claims.I don’t know if finding that lab she used will tell us anything about who, besides Neil, might have been my father, but the idea that she was worried is a potential motive for the other person involved. It’s proof of the involvement of a third party. Someone who could have committed the murder to shut her up and/or to protect himself.”
“You’re right about that. Even if it’s best not to attempt a meeting with Wilson, we still have Carin Carter Wallace to locate. She has stayed under the radar a lot. There has to be a reason for that.”
Anne had pondered the idea as well. “When you look at the time frame that she went to work for Langston, it was not long before he took higher office and only a few months after her husband died. Do you think she had decided to come back and demand some sort of compensation for the secret she’d kept all those years? At that point, she didn’t have to worry about her husband learning whatever secrets she had. He was dead.”
“You might not be far off in your assessment. Carin married a wealthy investor after leaving her life here behind. He was a good deal older than her, and he’d been married before. When he died her inheritance was a pittance compared to what his grown children received. There was likely a prenup, so she couldn’t exactly contest it with any hope of winning. I’m guessing she was ready to move on to the next option for living the good life.”
Anne contemplated the idea. “We still don’t know the reason Carin left in the first place. She may have seen or heard something that put her in a position to be concerned for her safety. Getting out of here may have felt like the safest thing to do at the time. But after the murder, she realized she had a sort of insurance policy that would protect her, but she didn’t come back because she’d already met her rich widower.”
Jack smiled. “Exactly. You’re a natural at this. You sure you don’t want to change careers?”
She laughed. “Whether I’m good at this or not—which remains to be seen—I love what I do.”
“You’re very good at what you do.” He made awhat can I sayface. “I checked out your website. Perused your gallery.” He flashed that smile again. “Tell me about your plans for the future. Beyond all this, I mean.”
“My plan is to keep building my business—which is why this big client with the tile issues…and now the permit glitch—is so important.” She thought about all the things she envisioned for the future. “I have this five-year plan I hope takes us—my assistant, Lisa, and me—to the next level. I’ll get an office in downtown Aurora, and I’d like to buy one of the amazing historic homes and make it mine.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m sure you’re wishing you hadn’t asked.”
The way he was watching her she felt certain she’d over answered the question. Good grief, she’d never had such trouble in a man’s presence. One of her best business assets was her ability to keep her cool in the most stressful situation. Then again, this wasn’t business.
“You’re not going to believe this.” Jack reached into his pocket for his cell phone. “I’m renovating this nineteenth-century Victorian on Augusta Street in Oak Park.”
Stunned, Anne accepted his phone and swiped through the photos. The house was perfect. The wood floors looked very salvageable. The walls appeared to be in good shape. It was exactly the sort of home she hoped to have one day.
“It’s great. I’d love to hear your plans. Are you remodeling or restoring?”
