MARY CLARK - Every Breath You Take

“I forgot I had it until I got off the phone with you.”

When Charlotte had called Laurie to suggest an impromptu drinks date, Laurie had been leaving the museum and mentioned that she was looking into the Virginia Wakeling case. She was surprised when Charlotte told her that she had been at the gala that night. Apparently, Ladyform purchased a table each year to support the museum’s Costume Institute and to help equate the Ladyform brand with fashion as well as function.

Laurie flipped through the pages of the coffee table book published to commemorate the exhibit being celebrated the night Virginia Wakeling died. “It was printed before that night,” Charlotte explained, “so it won’t have any mention of the death. But I thought you might be able to use it somehow.”

Sean Duncan had said it would be possible for Laurie to film at the Met, but of course they wouldn’t be able to replicate the actual fashion exhibit. Jerry could work wonders, however, with still photographs. She assumed they could request high-resolution versions of any images she wanted to use. The book had hundreds to choose from. “This is great, Charlotte. Thanks.”

“I wish I knew more about the actual case.” Charlotte had already explained that she had been in the ladies’ room when she heard murmurs from other partygoers about a woman who had fallen. Her table was nowhere near the prestigious seating enjoyed by Virginia Wakeling. In short, she had no firsthand knowledge related to the investigation. “Otherwise, I could have been the first person in history to appear on your show more than once, other than Alex of course. Speaking of Alex, I saw him two nights ago at the Bronx Academy of Letters benefit.”

Charlotte had invited Laurie to take one of the seats at Ladyform’s table for the event, a fundraiser for a public school in the poorest congressional district in the country. Unfortunately, the event had conflicted with taking Timmy to Jazz at Lincoln Center. Once again, Laurie needed a clone.

“How did he seem?” Laurie asked, trying not to sound overly curious.

“He seemed fine.” Laurie could tell that Charlotte was holding something back.

“Did he say something about me? Oh, strike that from the record. I sound like a twelve-year-old.”

“It didn’t really come up. We just said hello, and he introduced me as having met him through Under Suspicion .” She wrinkled her nose, as if she realized she had let something slip.

“He introduced you . . . to whom?”

“Kerry Lyndon.”

Laurie recognized the name. She was a news anchor for the local CBS affiliate. Long blonde hair, big blue eyes, impeccably dressed in front of the camera at all times. Laurie had a sudden image of Kerry Lyndon standing next to Alex, the two of them looking perfect together.

“They weren’t together-together, though. I noticed in the program that they were both listed on the auction committee. I think they were just greeting guests.”

Or, alternatively, Kerry had been Alex’s plus-one for the evening. Until he had started dating Laurie, Alex had been a staple on the social pages of the newspapers, always accompanied by an accomplished woman known in her own right.

“Did you hear the news?” Laurie asked, not wanting to speak any longer about Alex’s date for the benefit. “He’s being named to the federal bench.”

“Wow. The Honorable Judge Alex Buckley. It’s got a nice ring to it. Is he totally psyched?”

Laurie shook her head. “I have no idea. I read it in a New York Times alert this morning.”

Charlotte reached across the table and placed a hand on Laurie’s. “Sweetie, I’m so sorry. I just assumed you’d hear about the appointment from him. I know you two are on a break, but I figured something as big as that . . .” Her voice trailed off. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s had passed without a word between them other than an exchange of mailed holiday cards and the delivery of a new video game as a Christmas gift for Timmy. Why would he have reached out to tell her that he was finally getting his dream job?

Charlotte was looking at her with an expression that approached pity. “I never should have mentioned seeing him at the benefit.”

Laurie feigned a smile. “I promise, Charlotte, you have nothing to apologize for. Alex is free to share his company with other women. We’re not together.”

Charlotte paused, sensing that Laurie was putting on a brave face, but then changed the subject to an upcoming fashion segment she had planned for the Today show the following week.

The moment had passed without further emotion, but, inside, Laurie’s heart was sinking.

14

The following morning, Laurie arrived to find Grace already at her desk, even though it was well before nine. Grace’s makeup was flawless, as usual, but today, she wore her long, shiny black hair in a tight bun at the nape of her neck. Instead of one of her standard clingy dresses, she had on a bright green silk blouse tucked into wide-legged black pants.

“You look like you’re going on a job interview. You’re not quitting on me, are you?” Laurie asked. She couldn’t imagine losing Grace.

“I’m toning down my look for a change. My sister said people would take me more seriously. We’ll see.”

Laurie felt a pang of guilt. It had never dawned on her that Grace, one of the most confident people she knew, worried about how she was perceived by others.

Before she could say anything, Jerry arrived for their scheduled status conference to discuss the next edition of the series. “Are we ready?” he asked.

“Let’s do it,” Laurie said.

Jerry began by running down the items they could already check off their to-do list. He was working with the museum’s legal department so they could film on-site. “You’d think we were filming at the Vatican with all these hoops, but it’s manageable. I’m more worried about getting the Wakeling family on board. What do they have to gain?”

“I have the same concerns,” Laurie said. “It’s only been a few years, and it’s clear that Ivan’s still the number one suspect. If they realize Ivan has a personal connection to Ryan, they’ll never trust us.” Laurie was reminded once again how much she wished Alex had never left. “But Brett made it clear that this is our next case, as long as we get at least one member of the family to participate. I can’t stand the idea of telling him that I struck out.”

“So then we won’t let that happen,” Jerry said confidently. His phone buzzed against the coffee table and he checked the screen. “Perfect timing. The car is here.”

Their appointment with Ginny’s daughter, Anna Wakeling, was in twenty minutes. Laurie noticed a shadow fall across Grace’s face as she headed back to her desk. She thought about what Ivan Gray had said about Ginny’s assistant, Penny. She was loyal, but felt unappreciated.

Laurie realized that Jerry had ascended from an intern fetching coffee to being a valued part of the production team. Grace, however, remained in the same position.

“Can you join us, Grace?” Laurie asked. “You always have a good read on people.”

Grace’s smile was infectious. “Absolutely.”

15

The offices of Wakeling Development occupied two floors of a converted warehouse in Long Island City overlooking the East River. As they waited in the reception area, Laurie realized that she could see Alex’s apartment across the water. She wondered whether he was home or at his office, or maybe in court or in a meeting. She remembered when they used to talk on the phone every single night about nothing in particular if they didn’t see each other in person.

The appearance of a young woman through a set of double doors pulled her from her memories. “They’re waiting in the conference room for you.” She offered neither a name nor a handshake, and began leading them down a long hallway.