The Woman by David Bishop Page B

attention. It all seems so childish now.” She looked toward the ocean. “Yeah. We were that close.”
    “Well, you’ve grown into a woman who doesn’t need those kinds of things to get noticed. But I’m not so sure you want to be noticed.”
    “Thank you and you’re right. I prefer staying to myself, living quietly. Was this more than a social call?”
    “I guess I should get down to business. Have you thought of anything more about Cynthia’s house? SMITH & CO.? Anything Cynthia said or did lately that seemed outside her normal behavior.”
    “No, but then I’m not yet thinking all that clearly, maybe in a day or two.”
    “Well, let me bring you up to date. An investigator from the state police and the boys from the Bradford police department spent most of the afternoon with me. Cynthia’s clothes were wet. Her tub was half full and a lot of water had been sloshed onto the floor. Two of her fingers had been broken.” Linda put her hand to mouth. “Do you wanna hear these details?” Linda nodded with her hand still over her mouth. “Okay,” he went on. “Her dresser mirror was a real mess. You knew that. Some of the glass was embedded in her forehead. There were also cigarette burns on her breasts. Bottom line: She had been worked over pretty good. Hell, I’d a told ‘em whatever they wanted, so I’m figuring that’s what she did.”
    McIlhenny took off his service cap and held it on the tips of his fingers. “You okay?”
    “Yes. Well, hell no. I’m not okay, but, yes.” Linda took the last sip of tea into her mouth, held it there for a moment and swallowed. “What’s next, Chief? Uh, Ben?”
    “Too late tonight, employees would all be gone, but I plan to start my morning over at SMITH & CO.Find out more about Cynthia and it’s about time we learn just what in damnation them folks consult about. And for who? Or is it for whom?”
    Linda smiled, “Whom. For whom.”
    The chief slipped his cap back on. “I’ll find my own way out. But you might want to lock the door behind me, and the slider, too, while you’re inside. Thanks for the tea. It was a nice break in the nuttiest day of the year. Goodnight.”
    Linda kissed him on the cheek.
    A moment later, he knocked on Linda’s door and came back in.
    “You heard about the two men found shot in the alley two nights back?”
    “Sure. Who hasn’t?”
    “Here’s their pictures, sorry for the gore. You ever see either of them with Cynthia or anywhere else?”
    “No.”
    “You know, Sea Crest’s not exactly the murder capital of the country. Hell, we never had one before. Now we have Cynthia and these two. The only difference being the men took two in the noggin, while Cynthia got one in the head and one in the heart. I figure all of it is linked up somehow. You got any thoughts?”
    “None, but what you say makes sense.”
    “If you had to guess at a connection, among the three of ‘em, I mean knowing Cynthia so well, what you figure that connection would be?”
    “I wish I could help you, Ben.”
    “Well, had to ask. Never know which question will bring forth something helpful. I’ll stay in touch. You try to get some sleep. I’ll stop back by sometime tomorrow to check on you and bring you up to speed.”
    I should have told Ben about those two men. At some point I’ll have to tell him, also about Captain Ahab, all of it. But when Ahab comes back, I don’t want Ben waiting to arrest him. The man saved my life.

Chapter 12
    A lovely woman with a daring measure of cleavage took Alistair Webster’s coat while welcoming him to the Italian Embassy. The pop of champagne corks punctuated the quiet notes emanating from the piano and harp in the far corner of the grand foyer. Then a young man approached with the grace of a ballroom dancer. He bowed slightly and extended a tray crowded with flutes filled with champagne.
    “A lovely evening, sir,” he smiled, “would you like champagne?”
    “Yes. Thank you.” Webster circled his