have you.”
“That’s kind of you, Owen, but we’re all right. And I think the children will feel less upset if we stay here.”
“Mr. McAllister said he wanted us to come for a visit sometime, Mom. Me and Shauna.”
“That’s good, dear. And we will go visit soon.”
McAllister stood. “If you’re certain you’ll be all right … ?”
“I’m certain.”
“I don’t like leaving you alone, Margaret. Isn’t there someone, some neighbor who can come over?”
“We don’t know anyone that well; it’s a new neighborhood.”
“I can ask Raymond to stay. Or perhaps Devlin, here.”
“I think I’d rather be alone, Owen. I’ll be all right. Really.”
“Well then, Sarah will call in the morning. Please get some rest.”
We rode in silence until we had passed the gatehouse and the casual salute of the guard.
“That’s a very strong woman,” McAllister said finally.
Either strong or brittle. I hoped it was the former. “Did her husband have enough insurance?”
“He had the company’s standard coverage, of course, with whatever additional options he chose. And probably some other policies as well.” He glanced at me. “Was that a professional question?”
“No. I was just thinking of the payments on a house like that. And the other bills they must have.”
“No doubt they have their share. Can’t keep up without it.”
“That sounds almost smug.”
“Smug? Realistic, Devlin: I locate good people, pay good wages, and promise greater reward for harder work. I don’t want a person working for me who doesn’t want the good things of life. There’s not a damn thing wrong with that, young man. And if someone wants to live better than he can afford right then, that’s fine, too—makes him work all the harder to pay his bills.”
“What happened to the virtue of frugality?”
“Relative term. Always has been. I like my people to enjoy their lives. Makes the golden leash that much stronger. Stock options and good retirement plan: a company can get a man’s whole life that way—look what it’s done for IBM.”
“Do you believe Haas was living better than he could afford?”
“As you’ve said, it’s a big home with big payments. But maybe he traded up, maybe his wife has money, maybe he has family money. I know what you’re thinking, but you haven’t come up with any proof, have you?”
“No.”
“And now it seems pointless to try.” He stared out the window at the rows of small, dark homes tucked back from the street under the thinning leaves of early fall. “Damn it! I did what had to be done. There was that telephone call … and I did what had to be done.”
“There’s no indication that we drove the man to suicide. And none that he took the proposals.”
“You think it might have been someone else?”
“All I’m saying is there’s no evidence one way or another. We have two events: the theft and the telephone call. But they may or may not be connected.”
“Then why did he shoot himself?”
I had no answer to that.
The limousine sailed up a small hill toward the crest where the McAllister estate began. “Nonetheless, this investigation’s over,” he said. “I won’t chance anyone else’s suicide. And if Haas was innocent, that makes it all the worse, doesn’t it?”
“It would if our investigation caused it.”
“So we have three events now. Still unconnected? I think the odds are increasing for a connection. But it’s time to stop, nonetheless.” He was silent for a breath or two. “However, I do want you to evaluate my company’s security; it obviously needs improvement. Call me tomorrow—” he glanced at his watch—”this afternoon, and I’ll introduce you to Bartlett, my chief of security. As for the Aegis theft … “ A deep, shrugging breath. “There’ll be other times—and other means. Those poor children … “
CHAPTER 4
T HE SNOW HAD been one of my favorite kinds, heavy and wet so that it clung to every spur of brick
“That’s kind of you, Owen, but we’re all right. And I think the children will feel less upset if we stay here.”
“Mr. McAllister said he wanted us to come for a visit sometime, Mom. Me and Shauna.”
“That’s good, dear. And we will go visit soon.”
McAllister stood. “If you’re certain you’ll be all right … ?”
“I’m certain.”
“I don’t like leaving you alone, Margaret. Isn’t there someone, some neighbor who can come over?”
“We don’t know anyone that well; it’s a new neighborhood.”
“I can ask Raymond to stay. Or perhaps Devlin, here.”
“I think I’d rather be alone, Owen. I’ll be all right. Really.”
“Well then, Sarah will call in the morning. Please get some rest.”
We rode in silence until we had passed the gatehouse and the casual salute of the guard.
“That’s a very strong woman,” McAllister said finally.
Either strong or brittle. I hoped it was the former. “Did her husband have enough insurance?”
“He had the company’s standard coverage, of course, with whatever additional options he chose. And probably some other policies as well.” He glanced at me. “Was that a professional question?”
“No. I was just thinking of the payments on a house like that. And the other bills they must have.”
“No doubt they have their share. Can’t keep up without it.”
“That sounds almost smug.”
“Smug? Realistic, Devlin: I locate good people, pay good wages, and promise greater reward for harder work. I don’t want a person working for me who doesn’t want the good things of life. There’s not a damn thing wrong with that, young man. And if someone wants to live better than he can afford right then, that’s fine, too—makes him work all the harder to pay his bills.”
“What happened to the virtue of frugality?”
“Relative term. Always has been. I like my people to enjoy their lives. Makes the golden leash that much stronger. Stock options and good retirement plan: a company can get a man’s whole life that way—look what it’s done for IBM.”
“Do you believe Haas was living better than he could afford?”
“As you’ve said, it’s a big home with big payments. But maybe he traded up, maybe his wife has money, maybe he has family money. I know what you’re thinking, but you haven’t come up with any proof, have you?”
“No.”
“And now it seems pointless to try.” He stared out the window at the rows of small, dark homes tucked back from the street under the thinning leaves of early fall. “Damn it! I did what had to be done. There was that telephone call … and I did what had to be done.”
“There’s no indication that we drove the man to suicide. And none that he took the proposals.”
“You think it might have been someone else?”
“All I’m saying is there’s no evidence one way or another. We have two events: the theft and the telephone call. But they may or may not be connected.”
“Then why did he shoot himself?”
I had no answer to that.
The limousine sailed up a small hill toward the crest where the McAllister estate began. “Nonetheless, this investigation’s over,” he said. “I won’t chance anyone else’s suicide. And if Haas was innocent, that makes it all the worse, doesn’t it?”
“It would if our investigation caused it.”
“So we have three events now. Still unconnected? I think the odds are increasing for a connection. But it’s time to stop, nonetheless.” He was silent for a breath or two. “However, I do want you to evaluate my company’s security; it obviously needs improvement. Call me tomorrow—” he glanced at his watch—”this afternoon, and I’ll introduce you to Bartlett, my chief of security. As for the Aegis theft … “ A deep, shrugging breath. “There’ll be other times—and other means. Those poor children … “
CHAPTER 4
T HE SNOW HAD been one of my favorite kinds, heavy and wet so that it clung to every spur of brick
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