Fatal February by Barbara Levenson Page A

I want to apologize for his attitude.”
    “It’s okay. I know it’s hard to talk to a complete stranger about family matters.”
    “I know the reason he’s reluctant to talk to you. Someone’s got to tell you why. You need to know what Jack and I know about Gary, even if it hurts Lillian’s case.”
    “Just a minute, Mrs. Brandeis,” I said. I buzzed Catherine and told her to hold any calls, and be sure there were no interruptions. I closed the door and locked it.
    “Do you mind if I take some notes?” I asked as I reached for my yellow legal pad.
    “You can call me Marian, please, and please don’t tell Jack that I came to see you.”
    “Okay. Just take your time, and tell me all you can about Lillian and Gary. Remember, nothing surprises me. Lawyers hear confidential information all the time as part of their job.”
    “I never really trusted Gary. I know Lillian adoredhim, but all that patting people on the back and taking your hand and not letting go, it was creepy.”
    “Did Jack distrust him too?”
    “Of course. The way he wormed his way into his dad’s good graces. It was nauseating. Then I really found out about him.”
    “Please, tell me what you found out.”
    Marian looked around as if an eavesdropper were about to come out of the woodwork. She sighed and reached in her purse. I thought she was about to hand me some evidence, but she retrieved a cigarette and a gold lighter. I have a big “please do not smoke” sign on my desk, but I was afraid she would spook and end our tell-all session.
    “Well, I was in New York in the fall. I went with the Miami City Ballet. The whole board went for their performance at Lincoln Center; moral support, you know. Well, thank goodness, I was shopping by myself when it happened,” Marian said.
    “Go ahead,” I said.
    “I was coming out of Barney’s when I saw them.”
    “Who?” My patience was wearing thin.
    “Gary and that woman. They were holding hands. Just strolling along Madison Avenue, like no one would see them.”
    “Who was the woman?”
    “I later found out who she was. Maddie Rodriguez. She looked young enough to be his daughter. She was carrying a big Saks shopping bag, and looking at Garyand giggling. I just stood there and stared. They didn’t even notice me. Too absorbed in each other. So I decided to follow them. They turned up Central Park South and went into the Park Lane Hotel.”
    “Did you tell anyone else about this? Like Lillian?”
    “I’d never tell Lillian, but I rushed back to my hotel and called Jack. I was so upset. I don’t know how I got through the rest of that trip.”
    “What did Jack say? Did he tell Lillian?”
    “As far as I know, no one told Lillian. At least I don’t think so, because she didn’t seem to have any problems. She was planning a trip to Scotland for golf for the two of them and they went two weeks later. Jack said he was going to take care of everything. He was going to confront Gary.”
    “Did he do that?”
    “When they got back from Scotland, they went up to Dartmouth for parents weekend, and then it was Thanksgiving and Christmas and their kids were home, and our kids and grandkids were here, and then there was a strike in France and the French shipments didn’t get in, so everyone was rushing around trying to fill orders at the business. But right after New Year’s, Jack came home one night and said he found out the redheaded bitch was actually a client from one of the hotels, and that he had had a sit-down with Gary.”
    “Did Gary admit anything?”
    “Well, sort of. He told Jack he was sorry. Jack told him to end this affair now or he would have to tellLillian. He also told Gary he should think about stepping down as president of the company, that Dad Brandeis would be turning over in his grave.”
    “Marian, that sounds like blackmail. Give up the company or Jack would tell Lillian. Did Gary stop seeing Maddie?”
    “Gary told Jack he would break it off. But I don’t think