In Between by Kate Wilhelm Page B

personal rallying cry to meet and exceed all expectations for the coming year. He put many, many hours into his speech, and it is heartfelt and moving, inspiring…”
    Sam left to check on the lawyer. He had entered the hotel, and was heading for Marilyn’s suite. Sam tagged along, examining him. Tall, thin, pale as if he lived in a cave he seldom left, not much hair, dyed brown, droopy eyelids, crepelike skin. His suit was grey silk, and his brilliantly shined shoes had to be patent leather or cheap plastic. Sam didn’t think they were plastic.
    Louise opened the door at his tap. She drew him inside quickly and closed the door, holding his arm. In a low voice, speaking fast, she said, “Harmon, Alex killed him. We all know he did it. Even the police know it, but so far there’s not enough evidence for an arrest. They told him he can’t leave yet, no one can, but how long can they hold him, us? We can’t stay here indefinitely. Mother needs to go home, see to things, make arrangements. I’ll go with her, of course. She’s devastated. What can we do to make the police act? What would it take?”
    He pulled his arm free, frowning, his lips pursed. “Hard evidence,” he said in a clipped voice.
    â€œWhat kind of evidence?”
    At that moment Marilyn appeared in the doorway to the bedroom. “Harmon! Thank God, you’re here! That policeman wants to ask me questions and I don’t know what to say to him.”
    The lawyer hurried to her and air kissed her. With his arm around her shoulders, he led her to a chair. “Sit down, Marilyn. Tell me about it and we’ll decide what you should say. I met the captain and he’s anxious to talk to you, you understand. He’ll ask if Malcolm had enemies, if anyone wanted to harm him, things like that. He’ll want to know about the relationship between Malcolm and Alex, of course. And he’ll ask about your movements, and Malcolm’s, after dinner last night. That’s really all he wants from you at this time. I’ll be right there, of course.”
    Marilyn moaned and shook her head. “They said I can’t talk about last night,” she said, nodding toward Louise. “I went looking for him and he wasn’t in the office where he said he’d be. That’s all I know about last night. Harmon, I want to leave the country just as soon as the funeral is over. The day after. When can we have the funeral? You have to take care of that, and put the condo up for sale, decide about the stock options, how much is involved. There’s so much to do. I can’t cope with it all. And insurance. Someone has to take care of that, too.”
    Harmon patted her arm. “Don’t worry about it, Marilyn. I’ll handle everything. Now, tell me about last night.”
    Sam flitted back to Lori under the pine tree. He seated himself next to her and said, “They’re deciding on what Marilyn should tell the police, and Harmon will handle all the messy details of closing down Malcolm’s sorry life. Louise wants to know what kind of evidence the cops need to make an arrest. Royce will rewrite Malcolm’s opening speech and give it himself.”
    â€œHe’ll probably work in the suite,” Lori said. “We’ll grab the manuscript when they go to dinner. Unless they have room service, which they probably will. Room service in Marilyn’s room again, you know, to protect the sensibilities of the grieving widow. Do you think Cruella will plant evidence if the lawyer tells her what would work?”
    â€œDo I think the sun will shine, the rain will fall, the wind will blow?”
    â€œRight. We’ll have to work fast.” She stared off into the distance for a short time, then said, “Sam, I don’t see any way to break Royce without physical evidence of our own. And even if we had it, how would we give it to the cops? I mean, they have the gun already.