investigating a case. For all you know,
he's putting pressure on Datello just like he has been Marcos for
the past five years."
I didn't buy that any more than my three
suspicious guests. Still, it was one thing to be a member of
the crime family Sully Marcos operated, and entirely another matter
to be his flesh and blood. Was Datello working a deal with
Seleeby on behalf of Uncle Sully? It was a question I
desperately wanted answered. Yet those were answers that
Orion absolutely couldn't get on my behalf.
"I won't back down, Helen. I've
already got an appointment with Joe first thing in the
morning. We're getting this guy off your back, and that's
final."
"Joe?"
"The governor," Crevan said. "Helen,
we really believe it's for the best."
"Good luck with that, Orion. In the
meantime, I've got a very early morning. If you don't mind,
I'd like to get some sleep."
I practically shoved them out the door,
ignored the dirty dishes in the kitchen and filled my wine glass to
the rim. A minute later, I was curled up in a chair in the
study, trying to steady my hand. I took a fortifying gulp of
wine (drained the glass), refilled and dialed the number I knew all
too well. There was no doubt that it would be answered,
despite the late hour or the fact that it was Sunday
night.
David Levine almost lived at Quantico.
"It's Helen."
"Hey, how are you? I've been thinking
about you lately, wondering how the move into the new house has
gone."
"David, why did Mark Seleeby accost me in my
driveway tonight?" No sense mincing words. I listened
for the familiar creak in his chair that did not come.
"I wasn't aware he was still out there."
"But you knew he was coming, a couple of
weeks ago by accounts of friends who noticed I was being followed
and started watching him."
"Helen, the bureau grew weary of my constant
defense of your actions. I've been essentially cut out of the
loop on this one. I heard a rumor that he was returning to
Darkwater Bay to take another run at questioning you over a month
ago. I considered calling you about it, but I had no
proof. When nothing happened, when you didn't call about
seeing him, I assumed that the rumor was wrong. I couldn't
see upsetting you when every time we've talked, you've sounded a
bit more like the Helen I know and love than I've heard in a very
long time."
"He told me they found the gun."
"I see." Now the chair creaked.
"And then he implied that the weapon was
registered to me."
"Helen –"
"Of course that's a lie," I said. "I
knew it. He's not very good at using psychological tactics,
David. His attempt to scare me into admitting that I knew
something was moot. I don't know anything."
"I believe you, my dear. You don't
have to convince me."
"Can I tell you something in strict
confidence?"
"Always."
I believed David. He was one of those
honorable guys, who when he gave his word it still meant
something. I detailed how I learned of Seleeby's extended
surveillance and Johnny Orion's plan to put a stop to it. "I
doubt that Orion's connection to the governor and a friendship with
the president and the director will sway Seleeby one little bit,
but I can't help wondering if they're aware that he's been – as
Orion put it – cozying up to Danny Datello during his time in
Darkwater Bay."
"Don't discount those personal connections,
Helen. This is still Washington after all. Politics
trump a lot of things they shouldn't. In this case, I think
that good ol' boy system might be exactly what you need to put an
end to Mark's witch hunt once and for all. The only other
conceivable way that will happen is if they do find the
weapon that was used to kill Rick and it completely exonerates
you."
"I don't see that happening," I said.
"It's antithetical to the MO of someone who gets paid to kill for
men like Sully Marcos."
"I agree," David said. "Barring that
or a confession, Seleeby will never be satisfied. The only
thing
he's putting pressure on Datello just like he has been Marcos for
the past five years."
I didn't buy that any more than my three
suspicious guests. Still, it was one thing to be a member of
the crime family Sully Marcos operated, and entirely another matter
to be his flesh and blood. Was Datello working a deal with
Seleeby on behalf of Uncle Sully? It was a question I
desperately wanted answered. Yet those were answers that
Orion absolutely couldn't get on my behalf.
"I won't back down, Helen. I've
already got an appointment with Joe first thing in the
morning. We're getting this guy off your back, and that's
final."
"Joe?"
"The governor," Crevan said. "Helen,
we really believe it's for the best."
"Good luck with that, Orion. In the
meantime, I've got a very early morning. If you don't mind,
I'd like to get some sleep."
I practically shoved them out the door,
ignored the dirty dishes in the kitchen and filled my wine glass to
the rim. A minute later, I was curled up in a chair in the
study, trying to steady my hand. I took a fortifying gulp of
wine (drained the glass), refilled and dialed the number I knew all
too well. There was no doubt that it would be answered,
despite the late hour or the fact that it was Sunday
night.
David Levine almost lived at Quantico.
"It's Helen."
"Hey, how are you? I've been thinking
about you lately, wondering how the move into the new house has
gone."
"David, why did Mark Seleeby accost me in my
driveway tonight?" No sense mincing words. I listened
for the familiar creak in his chair that did not come.
"I wasn't aware he was still out there."
"But you knew he was coming, a couple of
weeks ago by accounts of friends who noticed I was being followed
and started watching him."
"Helen, the bureau grew weary of my constant
defense of your actions. I've been essentially cut out of the
loop on this one. I heard a rumor that he was returning to
Darkwater Bay to take another run at questioning you over a month
ago. I considered calling you about it, but I had no
proof. When nothing happened, when you didn't call about
seeing him, I assumed that the rumor was wrong. I couldn't
see upsetting you when every time we've talked, you've sounded a
bit more like the Helen I know and love than I've heard in a very
long time."
"He told me they found the gun."
"I see." Now the chair creaked.
"And then he implied that the weapon was
registered to me."
"Helen –"
"Of course that's a lie," I said. "I
knew it. He's not very good at using psychological tactics,
David. His attempt to scare me into admitting that I knew
something was moot. I don't know anything."
"I believe you, my dear. You don't
have to convince me."
"Can I tell you something in strict
confidence?"
"Always."
I believed David. He was one of those
honorable guys, who when he gave his word it still meant
something. I detailed how I learned of Seleeby's extended
surveillance and Johnny Orion's plan to put a stop to it. "I
doubt that Orion's connection to the governor and a friendship with
the president and the director will sway Seleeby one little bit,
but I can't help wondering if they're aware that he's been – as
Orion put it – cozying up to Danny Datello during his time in
Darkwater Bay."
"Don't discount those personal connections,
Helen. This is still Washington after all. Politics
trump a lot of things they shouldn't. In this case, I think
that good ol' boy system might be exactly what you need to put an
end to Mark's witch hunt once and for all. The only other
conceivable way that will happen is if they do find the
weapon that was used to kill Rick and it completely exonerates
you."
"I don't see that happening," I said.
"It's antithetical to the MO of someone who gets paid to kill for
men like Sully Marcos."
"I agree," David said. "Barring that
or a confession, Seleeby will never be satisfied. The only
thing
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