The Killing Edge by Richard; Forrest

is, it’s senseless. Raleigh died for nothing.”
    â€œYou’re very upset now and …”
    â€œDamn right I am!”
    â€œWe can’t live with our ghosts, Laura. I learned that, I’ve accepted that, and I think it’s time you did also.”
    â€œOh, go write speeding tickets or something.”
    His eyes clouded as he stepped away from her. “I’ll need a statement.”
    â€œI thought you would. I’ll be down later.”
    â€œOf course, L.C. Later.” He looked at her for a long moment and then left the apartment.
    She took two hesitant steps toward the door and stopped. She was numb and rigid until she sank onto the floor and began to cry again, this time for the dead and the living.
    Herb Strickland answered his phone immediately. “I heard what happened. Terrible, just terrible.”
    â€œI think it’s time that the bank bought me a big lunch.”
    She sensed the hesitancy in his voice. “Of course, L.C. I did have an appointment, but it can be canceled.”
    â€œI’ll meet you at the Yacht Club dining room in half an hour.”
    â€œAnything you say.”
    L.C. plunked the olive in her martini and looked up at the mural over the Yacht Club bar. It depicted, in rather primitive fashion, the founding of the city. Stalwart colonials stood hip deep in water at the point. They held lanterns over their heads to lure unsuspecting ships toward the reef and subsequent plunder.
    â€œDry enough for you, Miss Converse?”
    She looked up to register a 75 Volks in the red bartender’s jacket. “Fine, Steve.”
    Herb Strickland reached over her shoulder and picked up the check. “I’ve reserved a table.”
    â€œWould you mind if we sat at the bar a moment?”
    â€œâ€™Course not.” He slid onto the stool next to her and ordered a double vodka on the rocks. “I just got off the phone with Toby in Florida. Told her what happened to Raleigh and how plucky you were. Plucky’s the word, L.C. Any woman that can go through what you did this morning, and still have the courage to want to discuss loan paper … that’s pluck.”
    â€œI want to talk about Raleigh.”
    â€œYes, arrangements will have to be made. We’ll try and locate other members of the family, but the bank can take care of everything. I guarantee that it will be a fine double service, L.C. We will not spare expense.”
    At that moment, L.C. realized she wanted a second martini—quickly. “That’s thoughtful Herb, although it’s not exactly what I had in mind. I don’t think Raleigh did it.”
    â€œIs that what Will thinks?”
    â€œNo, but it’s the reason I want you to tell me about the Bridgers. You were their neighbor, co-worker, and ultimately Raleigh’s boss.”
    â€œI see.” Herb said pensively. “You know, L.C., there’s nothing in this world that would please me more than to find out that Raleigh did not kill his wife. It would remove a certain stigma from the bank. To say the least, it’s not exactly the best public relations in the world to have a senior officer of the bank kill his wife. Anything at all I can do to help, and I’m sure if she were here, Toby would feel the same.”
    â€œTell me all you know about them.”
    â€œWell, let me think about it. I told you there were rumors. But then again, for an attractive couple like the Bridgers who moved in a fast set, that’s not unusual.”
    â€œWhat sort of rumors?”
    â€œA fast set, you know, late parties, a couple of divorced couples in the group. Nothing you can really put your finger on, things that people in Lantern City like to gossip about.”
    â€œWere any particular names mentioned?”
    â€œNot that I can recall.” Herb ordered another drink as L.C. placed the palm of her hand across the rim of her glass: “I’m not your best source of