Part 15 (2/2)

'Please, sit down.'

Diane took a chair across from his desk.

'Needless to say, all of us were shocked by your husband's brutal murder. You can be sure that whoever is responsible will be brought to justice as quickly as possible.'

Ashes. . .

'If you don't mind, I would like to ask you a few questions.'

'Yes?'

'Did your husband often discuss his work with you?'

Diane shook her head. 'Not really. It was a separate part of our life together because it was so technical.'

In the surveillance room down the hall, Retra Tyler had turned on a voice recognition machine, a voice stress a.n.a.lyser, and a television recorder, and was taping the scene taking place in Tanner's office.

'I know how difficult it must be for you to discuss this,' Tanner said, 'but how much do you know about your husband's connection with drugs?'

Diane was staring at him, too dumbfounded to speak. Finally, she found her voice. 'What-what are you asking? Richard never would have had anything to do with drugs.'

'Mrs. Stevens, the police found a threatening note from the Mafia in his pocket, and-'

The idea of Richard being involved with drugs was unthinkable. Could Richard have had a secret life that she knew nothing about? No, no, no.

Diane's heart began to pound, and she felt the blood rus.h.i.+ng to her face. They killed him to punish me. 'Mr. Kingsley, Richard didn't-'

Tanner's tone was sympathetic, but at the same time determined. 'I'm so sorry to put you through this, but I fully intend to get to the bottom of what happened to your husband.'

I'm the bottom, Diane thought, miserably. I'm the one you're looking for. Richard died because I testified against Altieri. She was beginning to hyperventilate.

Tanner Kingsley was watching her. He said, 'I won't keep you, Mrs. Stevens. I can see how upset you are. We'll talk again later. Perhaps there's something you'll remember. If you think of anything that might be helpful, I would appreciate it if you would call me.' Tanner reached into a drawer and pulled out an embossed business card. 'This has my private cell phone number on it. You can reach me day or night.'

Diane took the card. All that was on it was Tanner's name and a number.

Diane rose, her legs trembling.

'I apologize for having to put you through this. In the meantime, if there is anything that I can do for you-anything you need, I am at your service.'

Diane was barely able to speak. 'Thank you. I-thank you.' She turned and walked out of the office, numb.

As Diane reached the reception room, she heard the woman behind the desk speaking to someone else. 'If I were a superst.i.tious person, I would think someone had put a curse on KIG. And now your husband, Mrs. Harris. We were all so shocked to hear about the dreadful thing that happened to him. To die like that is just awful.'

The words sounded ominously familiar to Diane. What had happened to the woman's husband? Diane turned to see whom the receptionist was addressing. It was a stunning-looking, young African-American woman, dressed in black slacks and a silk turtle-neck sweater. On her finger was a large emerald ring and a diamond wedding ring. Diane had a sudden feeling that it was important that she speak to her.

As Diane started to approach her, Tanner's secretary came in. 'Mr. Kingsley will see you now.' And Diane watched Kelly Harris disappear into Tanner's office.

Tanner rose to greet Kelly. 'Thank you for coming, Mrs. Harris. Did you have a satisfactory flight?'

'Yes, thank you.'

'Would you like anything? Coffee or-?'

Kelly shook her head.

'I know what a difficult time this must be for you, Mrs. Harris, but I need to ask you a few questions.'

In the surveillance room, Retra Tyler was watching Kelly on the television set and recording the scene.

'Did you and your husband have a close relations.h.i.+p?' Tanner asked.

'Very close.'

'Would you say that he was honest with you?'

Kelly looked at him, puzzled. 'We had no secrets. Mark was the most honest, open, human being I've ever known. He-' Kelly was finding it difficult to go on.

'Did he often discuss his work with you?'

'No. What Mark did was very-complicated. We didn't talk much about it.'

'Did you and Mark have many Russian friends?'

Kelly looked at him, confused. 'Mr. Kingsley, I don't know what these questions-'

'Did your husband tell you he had a big deal coming up and that he was going to make a lot of money?'

Kelly was getting upset. 'No. If that were so, Mark would have told me.'

'Did Mark ever discuss Olga?'

Kelly was filled with a sudden foreboding. 'Mr. Kingsley, exactly what is this all about?'

'The Paris police found a note in your husband's pocket. It mentioned a reward for some information and was signed 'Love, Olga.''

Kelly sat there, stunned. 'I-I don't know what-'

'But you did say he discussed everything with you?'

<script>