MARY CLARK - Every Breath You Take

Laurie could tell that Ivan had assumed that the interview would be friendlier than this. “As I said before, she believed in my vision. And it turned out she was right. I could have paid her back sixfold by now.”

“Virginia wasn’t the first older, wealthier woman you had dated,” Ryan said. It wasn’t even a question. “You met many of them among your clients as a personal trainer.”

“There were a few others, but nothing serious. Not like with Virginia.”

“How would you describe the mood within the Wakeling family on the night of the gala?” Ryan asked.

“Cordial,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “Polite, if a bit stilted. They told their mother in no uncertain terms that they did not think I should accompany her to such a high-profile event. Ironically, though, that night was probably the most comfortable I had ever seen Virginia around her family and me together. I honestly thought the ice was beginning to thaw, and then she was gone.”

“What made the atmosphere less chilly that night?”

“I hate to say it, but I think it was because the family had someone else to disapprove of that night instead of me. Their cousin, Tom, had managed to score an invitation to the gala.” Ivan explained Tom’s place in the family tree and the bad blood between Robert Wakeling and his brother, which lasted beyond both of their deaths. “Virginia and her kids kept saying Tom never would have been allowed through the doors if not for his last name. He didn’t sit with us, but he did come by a few times, obviously trying to ingratiate himself to the family. He had this crazy date with him. She was slightly drunk and was rambling on about how her grandmother—a former cabaret dancer—had a passionate love affair with a famous politician and deserved to have a dress of her own in the exhibit. Ginny said it was the most entertainment she’d gotten from that side of the Wakeling family tree in thirty-five years.” He smiled sadly at the memory. “I think the family was having so much fun chuckling at Tom’s expense that I seemed tame in comparison.”

“But you’re not actually tame, are you?”

“I don’t know what you mean by that.”

“Virginia Wakeling was five-foot-four and weighed a hundred and ten pounds. You could easily lift her weight over your head, couldn’t you?”

“Of course, but that means nothing. Most men, and many of the women I train, would be able to lift someone as small as Virginia. And someone obviously did, because I would never, ever hurt her.”

From there, Ryan returned to the subject of money, laying out a detailed comparison of Ivan’s expenses in the months before Virginia’s murder to his income. The implication was clear: he was living off his much wealthier girlfriend.

“Virginia told her children that she was only helping you with occasional spending money,” Ryan said, “and yet she transferred approximately five hundred thousand dollars to open your business. Do you have any contracts showing an agreement with her?”

He shook his head. “It wasn’t formalized. Once we were married, it would be moot. We were going to take care of it as part of a prenuptial agreement, which I was happy to sign.”

“In fact,” Ryan said, “you don’t have any evidence at all to show that Virginia gave that money to you on her own, do you?”

“No, but there’s no evidence I stole it, either, and I shouldn’t have to prove my innocence. Look, was it helpful to me personally that Virginia was wealthy and generous to me? Of course. But once I fell in love with her, she could have lost everything, and I still would have wanted to marry her. I brought something today, and would like to read it with your permission.”

“Go ahead,” Ryan said. He looked to Laurie and she nodded. They always edited later.

“ You told me once that Bob was your soul mate. At the time, I understood you were telling me not to expect anything serious or lasting. But then you told me I was your second chance at happiness, and I knew that you had opened your heart to me, where I want to stay with you always, for every breath you and I can take together . Those are the words I used when I proposed to her, because I knew she was not starting a new life with me. I was joining a life that was already long and full before I came along.”

Laurie felt a lump in her throat, thinking about Alex. When I was with Greg, she thought, he felt like my soul mate. She wasn’t erasing anything about her life with Greg, but maybe it was possible to get a second chance.

49

The rest of the day went off without a hitch. Even with the museum’s tight time constraints, they managed to film the spot where Virginia was believed to have been thrown from the roof, plus their interviews with Gerard Bennington and Marco Nelson. Laurie was confident that Gerard’s description of Carter and Peter arguing at the party, followed by Marco’s description of a rattled Virginia asking for privacy, would be two of the most dramatic moments in the special.

By the time they wrapped up filming, it had been several hours since she had powered up her cell phone. She knew Timmy could always call her father in the event of an emergency, but she was still anxious to make sure that everything was all right.

She scanned the list of new voice mails. Nothing from either Timmy or Leo. Her eyes moved immediately to Alex’s name on her screen. Her hand was nearly shaking when she hit the play button on his message.

Laurie, it was great to hear your voice. I’m so sorry for the delay. I was at the Capitol all day yesterday meeting with senators on the Judiciary Committee, and then had a dinner with the White House aides who are preparing me for confirmation hearings. By the time I finished, it was too late to call, and, well, now I’m babbling . There was a long pause. I’m glad you called. Give me a ring when you’re free .

She started to put her phone back into her bag and realized she didn’t want to wait a second longer. She found a quiet spot on the roof, away from where the gaffer and grips were packing up the lighting and camera equipment, and redialed Alex’s number.

He picked up after only half a ring. “Laurie,” he said. He sounded happy, maybe even a little nervous.

“How is the D.C. charm offensive going?” she asked.

“It’s miserable. I feel as though I’m in a beauty pageant for lawyers, as I’m marched from office to office, delivering my carefully practiced, judicious responses with a smile. I have a thirty-minute break in my schedule and I’m tempted to run while no one’s looking. I can’t wait to get back to my regular life tomorrow.”

“So you’re coming home tonight?”

“The first shuttle in the morning.”

“Are you free tomorrow night?”

“I have no plans. Is this about Timmy’s recital? He mentioned it when I saw them last week at Madison Square Garden.”

“No, that’s Thursday.”

“The Knicks have an away game tomorrow or else I’d invite you all there. I know how much Leo and Timmy enjoy going.”

“Nope. No sports. No recitals. I’d like to take you to dinner, just the two of us—if you’re open to that.”

She could almost hear him smiling on the other end of the line, and she felt her heart swell.

“That sounds like the best invitation I’ve received in a long time, Laurie,” Alex said fervently.

50

When Laurie showed up at the studio the next morning, Grace greeted her with a whistle. “Well, look at you, Queen Moran. Are you thinking about joining Ryan in front of the camera today?”

Laurie knew that she was an attractive woman, but she wasn’t the type who went for heavy makeup or fussy hair. Today, however, she had put a little more effort into her morning routine than her usual wash-and-wear bob and single coat of mascara. She also knew that the bright green wrap dress was a perfect fit and made the flecks of color in her hazel eyes pop.