Sidney Sheldon - Are You Afraid Of The Dark

"As you mentioned, a scientist named Madeleine Smith supposedly committed suicide in Zurich, three years ago. What you don't know is that Madeleine Smith also wanted to leave the people she worked for and come to our company." Greenburg frowned. "What makes you think the two deaths are connected?" Tanner's face was stone. "Because the company she worked for is a branch of the same Tokyo First Industrial." There was a stunned silence.

Praegitzer said, "There's something I don't understand. Why would they murder an employee just because she wants to quit? If-" "Madeleine Smith wasn't just an employee. Neither was Iso. They were brilliant physicists who were about to solve problems that would have made the company a fortune larger than you can imagine.

That's why they didn't want to lose either of them to us." "Did the Swiss police investigate Smith's death?" "Yes. So did we. But again, we could prove nothing. As a matter of fact, we're still working on all the deaths that occurred, and I expect that we will solve them. KIG has far-reaching connections all over the world. If I get any useful information, I will be happy to share it with you. I hope you will reciprocate." Greenburg said, "That's fair enough." A gold-plated phone on Tanner's desk rang. "Excuse me." He walked over to the desk and picked up the phone. "Hello… Yes… The investigation's coming along very satisfactorily. As a matter of fact, two detectives are in my office at this moment, and they have agreed to cooperate with us." He glanced over at Praegitzer and Greenburg. "Right… I'll let you know when we have any further news." He replaced the receiver.

Greenburg asked, "Mr. Kingsley, are you working on anything sensitive here?" "You mean are we working on something sensitive enough to have half a dozen people murdered? Detective Greenburg, there are more than a hundred think tanks around the world, some of them working on exactly the same problems we are. We're not building atomic bombs here. The answer to your question is no." The door opened, and Andrew Kingsley walked into the office carrying a stack of papers. Andrew Kingsley bore little resemblance to his brother. His features seemed to be blurred. He had thinning gray hair, a lined face, and he walked in a slightly stooped posture. Whereas Tanner Kingsley was brimming with vitality and intelligence, Andrew Kingsley appeared to be slow-witted and apathetic. He spoke haltingly and seemed to have trouble putting sentences together.

"Here are those-you know-those notes you asked for, Tanner. I'm sorry I didn't finish-finish them earlier." "That's perfectly all right, Andrew." Tanner turned to the two detectives. "This is my brother, Andrew. Detectives Greenburg and Praegitzer." Andrew looked at them uncertainly and blinked.

"Andrew, do you want to tell them about your Nobel Prize?" Andrew looked at Tanner and said vaguely, "Yes, the Nobel Prize… the Nobel Prize…" They watched as he turned and shuffled out of the room.

Tanner sighed. "As I mentioned, Andrew was the founder of this company, a truly brilliant man. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for one of his discoveries seven years ago.

Unfortunately, he became involved in an experiment that went wrong and it-it changed him." His tone was bitter.

"He must have been a remarkable man."

"You have no idea." Earl Greenburg rose and held out his hand. "Well, we won't take up any more of your time, Mr. Kingsley. We'll keep in touch." "Gentlemen-" Tanner's voice was steel. "Let's get these crimes solved-fast."

TANNER COULD NOT stop brooding about the woman he had thought of as Princess.

And the more he thought about how insolent she had been and how she had ridiculed him, the more incensed he became. We're going to have to improve your line, love. Do you have any idea how trite it is?…

Are you feeling horny, darling?… Get out your little black book and we'll try to find someone who's available for you tonight… It was as though he needed to exorcise her.

He decided he would see her once more, to give her the comeuppance she deserved, and then forget about her.

TANNER WAITED THREE days and telephoned. "Princess?" "Who is this?" He was ready to slam down the phone. How many goddamn men called her Princess?

He managed to keep his voice calm. "This is Tanner Kingsley." "Oh, yes. How are you?" Her tone was completely indifferent. I've made a mistake, Tanner thought.

I should never have called her. "I thought we could have dinner again sometime, but you're probably busy, so let's forget-" "What about this evening?" Tanner was caught off guard again. He could not wait to teach the bitch a lesson.

FOUR HOURS LATER, Tanner was seated across a table from Paula Cooper at a small French restaurant east of Lexington Avenue. He was surprised by how pleased he was to see her again. He had forgotten how vital and alive she was.

"I've missed you, Princess," Tanner said.

She smiled. "Oh, I've missed you, too. You're really something. You're very special." They were his words coming back to him, mocking him. Damn her.

It looked like the evening was going to be a replay of their last meeting. On Tanner's other romantic evenings, he had always been the one who controlled the conversation. With Princess, he had the unsettling feeling that she was always one step ahead of him. She had a quick comeback for everything he had to say. She was witty and swift and took no nonsense from him.

The women Tanner dated were beautiful and willing, but for the first time in his life, Tanner felt that perhaps something had been missing. They had been too easy. They were all agreeable, but they were too agreeable. There was no challenge. Paula, on the other hand…

"Tell me about you," Tanner said.

She shrugged. "My father was rich and powerful and I grew up as a spoiled brat-maids and butlers-waiters to serve us at the swimming pool, Radcliffe, and a finishing school-the whole bit.

Then my father lost it all and died. I've been working as an executive assistant to a politician." "Are you enjoying it?" "No. He's boring." Her eyes met his. "I'm looking for someone more interesting."

THE NEXT DAY, Tanner called again.

"Princess?" "I was hoping you would call, Tanner." Her voice was inviting.

Tanner felt a small frisson of pleasure. "Were you?" "Yes. Where are you taking me to dinner tonight?" He laughed. "Anywhere you would like to go." "I'd like to go to Maxim's in Paris, but I'll settle for going anywhere if I can be with you." She had thrown him off guard again, but for some reason, her words warmed him.

THEY HAD DINNER at La Cote Basque on Fifty-fifth Street, and throughout dinner, Tanner kept looking at her and wondering why he was so attracted to her. It was not her looks; it was her mind and personality that were dazzling. Her whole essence blazed with intelligence and self-confidence.

She was the most independent woman he had ever known.

Their conversations ranged over myriad subjects, and Tanner found her to be remarkably knowledgeable.

"What do you want to do with your life, Princess?" She studied Tanner a moment before answering. "I want power— the power to make things happen." Tanner smiled. "Then we're a lot alike." "How many women have you said that to, Tanner?" He found himself getting angry. "Will you stop doing that? When I say you're different from any woman I've ever-" "Ever what?" Tanner said, exasperated. "You frustrate me." "Poor darling. If you're frustrated, why don't you go take a shower-?" The anger started again. He had had enough. He rose. "Never mind. There's no use trying to-" -at my place." Tanner could hardly believe what he was hearing. "Your place?" "Yes, I have a little pied-a-terre on Park Avenue," she said. "Would you like to take me home?" They skipped dessert.