Murder at Union Station - Margaret Truman [101]
“I don’t want to be rude, Mr. Greenleaf, but I’m going to end this call. I do not know where Richard is. Period. End of story.”
He gruffly signed off and hung up. The phone rang again a few seconds later.
“Sam Greenleaf again. I’m sorry if I sounded angry with you. Look, there’s more to this than just publishing and selling a book. I’m sure you’re aware of the Widmer hearings that are scheduled.”
“Yes, I’ve heard.”
“I won’t go into the details, Ms. Jalick, but Rich and Louis Russo were to be a big part of those hearings.”
Kathryn said nothing.
“Russo’s dead, but Rich’s taped interviews with him are crucial to the senator and his committee. Do you have access to those tapes?”
“Of course not.”
“Rich has them?”
“Please, Mr. Greenleaf, I know nothing about tapes and hearings. You’re wasting your time talking to me.”
If he agreed—and probably did—he didn’t state it.
“Will you call me if you hear from Rich?”
“Let me have your number.”
She considered taking the phone off the hook, but was afraid she might miss a call from Rich. Later that afternoon, a call came in from Geoff Lowe’s girlfriend and colleague, Ellen Kelly. She hadn’t spoken with Ellen in a long time and was surprised to hear from her.
“How’s it going?” Ellen asked.
“Okay. You?”
“Busy. Swamped. Excited about Rich’s book coming out?”
“I—yes, very excited.”
“I imagine the author is on cloud nine.”
“He’s—he’s pleased. How’s Geoff?”
“The same as always. You know Geoff.”
Kathryn didn’t express that she did indeed know Geoff, and didn’t like what she knew. She said, “I was just about to run out, Ellen. What can I do for you?”
“I don’t suppose Richard is there.”
“No, he’s not.”
“I’m not being honest,” Ellen said. “I know he’s not there. Geoff has been frantic looking for him.”
“If you’re asking me where he is,” Kathryn said, “you’re wasting your time.”
“Kathryn, I’ll get to the point. Richard’s life is in danger.”
Kathryn felt her heart stop for a second. That his life might be in danger had been on her mind for days. But to hear someone say it, actually say it, was jolting.
“Did you hear me, Kathryn?” Ellen said. “His life is in danger.”
“Why?” was all Kathryn could summon.
“The book. The tapes. Especially the tapes. Don’t you see it? The tapes contain Louis Russo’s words, the same words he would have spoken had he lived and testified. It’s his voice. Whoever killed him wants Rich out of the way, too.”
Kathryn used a foot to pull an ottoman to where she stood and sat heavily on it. “Go on,” she said.
“Kathryn,” Ellen said in measured tones, like a teacher about to go through a particularly difficult lesson, “as long as Russo’s tapes are floating around, there are people who will kill to get their hands on them.”
“Who?” Kathryn, asked, feeling a touch of nausea.
“It doesn’t matter who. There’s only one way to protect Rich, Kathryn, and that’s for him to give up those tapes. Once they’re no longer with him, he’s in the clear.”
Kathryn’s initial paralysis lifted.
Ellen Kelly worked for Geoff Lowe and Senator Karl Widmer. They wanted the tapes for their hearings. That’s what was behind the call. Ellen and the others weren’t concerned about Rich’s safety. People were expendable. It was the tapes that mattered.
“You want the tapes for the hearings,” she said forcefully.
Ellen responded even more forcefully: “I want Rich to be safe! Geoff may want the tapes for the hearing, but I don’t give a damn about them. I’m getting ready to leave the staff, Kathryn. I’ve had it. Believe it or not, I’ve spent too long putting politics over people. I’m through.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Kathryn, can we get together for dinner? Lunch? A drink? I’m really concerned about Rich as long as he has those tapes.”
“I—I suppose so.”
“Now? I can come right over.”
“No. I have things to do. I’ll call you.”
“Kathryn, I don’t think you understand the gravity of this.”
“Oh, I do, I do, Ellen. I have another call coming