Death of an Intern (17 page)

T
he doctor had viewed the hospital's sonogram and gave me a thorough going over. Mary's hand had to have been in getting the hospital's dog-and-pony show of me, because I hadn't given the hospital my doctor's name.

He was now finishing up relooking at the x-rays. “You are very lucky. That accident could have ended your pregnancy. But all signs are good.”

Of course the accident could have; I was crazy with fear of that, but I tried to say it more diplomatically: “I was painfully aware of that while hanging upside down by my belt strap.”

To show him I was trying to be healthy, I had brought my
Nutrition & Pregnancy
book that I purposely had set down where he'd see it. When he returned the x-rays to the counter, he picked up the book.

“This is a good book. She's written a couple of them.”

“It came highly recommended.” I wondered why he hadn't recommended it.

“I'm not in the habit of recommending a particular book—there are so many—but I think you have a good one here.”

“I've altered my diet. My husband is amenable to trying different things and my secretary takes care of my health food intake.” Mary wouldn't like the new title I gave her, but I felt the importance of a news assistant would be lost on him. Why had I even bothered? Why do I do these things?

“I'm pleased you are taking a strong interest in your diet. You had a late start over women who plan these things, but every little bit helps. Check with Helen about your next appointment and get as much rest as you can.”

He left and so did I. When I reached my car, I decided to go directly to
Scalawag
. I called Mary to let her know, even though I wasn't even supposed to be at work today. On my way, I stopped at the grocery store to restock the galley.

Marsha called me a little after 7:00. Softball practice had just broken up and they were on their way. She asked if they could pick up anything.

“No, I've all sorts of good things. Kat's name is at the gate.”

The trip from the Ellipse to the marina was barely five minutes this time of day. Kat was excitedly telling Marsha about Scott as she drove. He was up for a new job, a super move, but it was not in Washington. “I never planned to stay here forever. It's been fun, though, working in the White House.”

“So you and Scott are for real?” Marsha asked.

“Yeah. It's a strong two-way thing. We met when we both worked on Capitol Hill. He was an aide to a senator.”

“Did you work for the Vice President when he was a senator?”

“No. I worked for the Senate Agriculture Committee,” Kat said. “I met Senator Grayson about a month before his wife and two daughters were killed. That was right after I received my master's at Virginia Tech's Falls Church campus.”

“How long ago was all that?” Marsha asked.

“Almost four years now. When Senator Grayson was elected Vice President, Frankie offered me a position as the Agriculture liaison. I jumped at it.”

“So you've known them a long time?”

“Awhile.” They crossed over Constitution Avenue and passed the reflecting pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, and then took the U-turn loop to get onto Independence Avenue heading east.

It was a pretty evening. The paddle-wheelers were squeezing in the last few minutes of daylight on the Tidal Basin, enjoying the calm, beguiling millpond. The bleached white Jefferson Memorial in the background was showing pink and orange hues from the setting sun.

“Are you and Ms. Wolfe becoming friends?” Kat asked.

“Some. She and her husband Jerry helped me out last Sunday. She was the one who told me about Janet.”

“She gets around. Mr. Morgan introduced us at the reception.”

“I lost it, hearing about Jan. Laura hung out and helped me after. She convinced me it was better if I didn't stay in the townhouse, since other reporters would be showing up. They've let me stay on their boat. She's sincerely interested in what happened to Jan. I mean more than just being a journalist.”

“You never know with those people. Ms. Grayson has a strong distrust of them.”

“Laura said she got that impression from her. She just wants to learn more about Janet, and there are things I couldn't tell her that you might.”

They were now at the marina. When they pulled up to the gate, the old guy Marsha had met with Laura wasn't there—a younger man was. Kat gave him her name. He checked his clipboard and then nodded. He put a tab under the windshield wiper. They parked.

“Have you been down here on a boat?” Marsha asked.

“No. I've eaten in that restaurant a few times.” Kat indicated the large stand-alone restaurant that stretched along the parapet above and behind the marina. “This is convenient to the Hill. On a slow day, we'd come down here.”

“The marina is nice. All the different boats.”

They got out, and Kat locked the car and ambled toward the rail, where she looked out at the harbor. A man approached them.

“Either of you have a light?” He held up his cigarette in explanation.

The two women looked at each other and shook their heads. “Sorry,” Marsha said.

He smiled. “No problem” and walked away.

“Why don't we—” Marsha stopped when she saw the expression on Kat's face. “What?”

“Marsha, I don't think I should be doing this.”

“What?”

“Talking to Ms. Wolfe.” Kat glanced in the direction the man had gone. He was almost to the restaurant. She saw smoke swirl away from him in the light breeze. “He had a match,” she said surprised.

“Who?” Marsha asked.

“The guy who asked for a match.”

“Maybe he—”

“No. I've been watching him. He lit it.”

“Aagh, guys, you know…”

“I shouldn't be doing this, whether Ms. Wolfe is nice or not. She may also be interested in more than I am at liberty to discuss,” Kat said stressfully.

“You and I talk about Janet all the time.”

“Yeah, but you were her roommate. Besides, we know each other.”

“But there's a lot that I don't know, like the things you all did around the office, socially. Who was she close to? There were several nights Jan didn't come home, and I don't mean those times she stayed with you.”

“Times she stayed with me?” Kat asked edgily. “She told you that?”

“Last Saturday night when she called me after finishing at the clinic, she said she was going to your place and then would be home.”

“Right, she wanted to talk about her plans, but she wasn't staying overnight.”

Marsha felt strange signals coming from Kat, who fidgeted, putting her hands on and off the rail, shuffling her feet. Marsha decided to try a different tack. “I must be mixed up on that. Come on, Laura's got some great finger food to dive into.”

Unfortunately, Marsha's change of attitude did not have the desired effect.

“I better pass.”

“Why? It's just—”

“No!” Kat shot out. “I can't.” She turned toward her car.

“What's wrong? I've never seen you—”

“I can't!” Kat unlocked her car and opened the door. “Are you coming?”

“No, I'm staying. She's expecting…I'll give her your regrets. Maybe another time?”

I was sitting in the cockpit awaiting the two young women, reading Mary's book on diet, but unable to fully concentrate.

“Hi,” Marsha called out.

I got up to assist her aboard, but she stepped over the gunnels like a veteran.

“Where's Kat?”

“Last minute jitters. We parked right up there and got out of the car. Then she said she couldn't do it, that she shouldn't talk with you.”

“Grayson?”

Marsha nodded. “She was shaking. I'd never seen her like that.”

“I did. Last Monday at the Vice President's office. Kat was showing me out. I tried to make conversation. She seemed nervous then.”

“There's some stuff I picked up from her, though.” Marsha sat down next to me. “I mentioned Jan staying overnight with her a few times, and she got real squeamish on me. She didn't say Jan didn't stay with her, but acted like she hadn't, she wouldn't.”

“If she didn't stay with Kat, who would she have stayed with?”

“Got me. Jan never said.”

“Marsha. You're smart and show good sense. I want to share some things with you. But please, you've got to promise you will say nothing of this to anyone.”

“I promise. I really want to help.”

“What happened with Kat tells me there is something to talk about, and she's scared. Come on, let's go below. I'll treat you to some food for a pregnant woman and tell you a few things I've uncovered.”

M
arsha had not planned to stay on
Scalawag,
and neither had I, so after a very pleasant time talking about all sorts of things, I dropped her off in Georgetown. It was a nice evening both socially and weather-wise.

I awoke at 6:30, probably because I had Jerry's landing time at Dulles on my mind. A decaf hazelnut aroma filled the apartment as the automatic coffee pot did its duty. I fetched the paper from the apartment hallway, poured a cup of decaf, got comfortable on the sofa, and started reading.

I was startled awake when I heard the front door close.

“Hey there, sleeping beauty,” Jerry said, dropping his bags and rushing to me. I wanted to jump to my feet to greet him, but he was too fast for me. He got me on the sofa and lay down beside me. We hugged and kissed and didn't let go for a long time.

Afterwards, he had tons of questions, most dealing with my health and the doctor. He ran his hand through my tousled hair. “I need a shampoo,” I complained.

“I love you the way you are,” he said affectionately.

“Did you get any sleep on the plane?”

“I did, and feel great. In fact…” He took my hand and led me to our bedroom.

T
he five tennis courts by the clubhouse at Fairlington Villages were all busy. The sound of balls popping off racquets and occasional squeals and grunts from the players punctuated the air. It was almost 8:00 on a balmy morning, and some courts would be emptying to be immediately refilled by the next group waiting on a small covered patio.

Annika Nielssen and her partner, Mary Jane, played out a point and then advanced to the net to shake hands. Two waiting doubles teams immediately moved on before the departing women had reached the sidelines. They all exchanged a “hi” in an aloof suburban way with smiles that didn't radiate.

Annika was the FBI mole, and Mary Jane, who conveniently lived in Fairlington, was also FBI. Her only role was to get Annika introduced into the community—more specifically to Beth Carr, who was currently sitting on the patio with her partner waiting for their court to open up.

“Hi,” Mary Jane said to the duo. “We played a month or so ago. I had a different partner then.”

“Oh yeah, hi. We played against her earlier in the spring,” Beth said to her partner.

“Oh. Hi,” Frankie Grayson replied flatly.

“This is Annika, and I'm Mary Jane. She's got the same solid, two-fisted backhand you have,” she said to Beth.

“I saw. Impressive.”

Annika smiled. “My father would be happy to hear that.”

She, Mary Jane, and Beth laughed. Frankie only smiled. “Annika just moved in. We met when jogging the other night and decided to try for an early set. You two would be a good match in singles.”

“I'm usually home by 5:00,” Beth offered.

“How's Tuesday?” Annika suggested.

“Fine. Here at 5:00.”