Do You Want to Know a Secret? (37 page)

But what about Leo Karas’s murder?

“Yelena, something else is bothering me.”

“What?”

“The murder of Dr. Leo Karas.”

Yelena looked puzzled but interested. “From the account I read, it was my understanding that the police think it’s a simple robbery-shooting. Not, of course, that any murder is simple.”

Eliza paused, wondering if she should say more. If she couldn’t go to the head of the news division with her suspicions, who could she go to?

The intercom buzzed. “Yelena, Pete Carlson is here.’

“Ask him to have a seat. I’ll be with him in a few minutes.”

A sign. Be quiet. Don’t go any further. For now.

Yelena was waiting, looking at Eliza expectantly.

“I guess I’m just a little paranoid these days. The police must know what they’re doing.” Eliza rose from her seat. “Okay, Yelena. And thanks. I’m glad we talked.”

“That’s what I’m here for, kiddo. It’s an interesting time, and an interesting campaign. We’ll see how it all works out. I see on the ‘Insights’ that you’re working on a Joy piece today. I’ll bet she’s really in love with you after the Kendall question this morning.”

Eliza answered, slightly embarrassed. “Oh, you caught the show this morning? I. . . .”

“No need to explain,” Yelena reassured. “Regardless of the conversation we just had, that question about Bill had to be asked.”

Eliza glanced at her watch. “I better run. I want to catch the end of Joy’s taping. Thanks again, Yelena.”

The two women smiled and shook hands firmly. As Eliza was leaving, the news president asked, “You’ve still got Bill’s computer notes?”

“Yes, they’re safe with me. They’re just copies, though. I’m sure Jean’s still got the originals.”

“Oh,” laughed Yelena, “that’s fine. They’ll be safe with Jean. She’ll guard them ferociously. Probably build a shrine around them.”

Yelena crossed to the door and, ushering Eliza out, motioned to Pete Carlson. Eliza forced herself to say “Good morning” as she brushed past him.

Pete closed the door behind him as he entered Yelena’s office. He didn’t know why Eliza had been there, but he was sure of one thing. Yelena didn’t seem as happy as she used to whenever she saw him.

“What’s the matter, Yelena? You’re not yourself lately. Is it something I’ve done?”

Yelena shook her head, but her brusque manner said it all. She was definitely angry about something.

There had been only one long-distance call that night on last month’s phone bill. The night she’d heard of Pete’s disgust in sleeping with her.

Yelena’s heart had pounded as she dialed this number and listened to the gruff answer.

“Nate Heller.”

Chapter 80

Back in his
office after the meeting with Yelena, Pete Carlson immediately went for the phone. He jabbed the buttons angrily.

“Why didn’t you tell me Joy was having an affair with Bill Kendall?” demanded Carlson.

“If I had, what would you have done with the information?” came Nate Heller’s response.

“I would have scooped the world, that’s what!”

“Think about it, Pete. That’s why I
didn’t
tell you. That would not have helped Haines Wingard become the next president of the United States. Are you forgetting your bigger goal?”

Carlson didn’t answer. He didn’t like being kept in the dark about anything, especially something as potentially explosive as this. Heller was right. Pete wouldn’t have reported the affair—that would have severely hurt the Wingard candidacy. But he wanted to be in on all the dirt just the same. Knowledge was power.

“And where did you hear it, anyway?”

“Yelena.”

“Christ!” Nate tried to contain his anger. “Now the whole world will know.”

“Uh-uh. Don’t worry. Yelena’s not going to say anything. She cares too much about the reputation of
KEY
News
and she doesn’t want Kendall’s memory besmirched. Apparently, Range Bullock knows, too. But according to Yelena, he’s not going to say anything either. Bill was his best friend.”

“But there is one problem.”

“What’s that?”

“Eliza Blake knows, too.”

“Will she tell?”

“I don’t know. But it’s something else we have to worry about.”

Chapter 81

The Boarder Babies
program at University Hospital was established to provide emotional nourishment for babies born too soon, too small or too sick. Volunteers came to the hospital to hold, rock and provide some human warmth to the tiny human beings who were fighting for their lives. AIDS had increased the already booming business the Boarder Babies program was doing.

Some of the troubled, diseased, overwhelmed mothers who passed through the delivery room had abandoned their babies. The newborns remained in the hospital for months while efforts were made to place them in foster homes. While the babies waited, they had the benefit of the volunteers, who sat in rocking chairs near the incubators, talking and singing to them. The luckier, stronger infants could be lifted and cuddled and played with.

The volunteers, as well as the staff nurses, became attached to the babies. Some ended up taking the babies home and adopting them. Others, when homes were found for the infants they had grown to love, experienced the pain of deep loss. The volunteers and the nurses said they often got as much emotional satisfaction and nourishment as they gave.

“The warmth of another body, skin-to-skin contact, is central to the human experience,” the nursery supervisor explained to Joy. “The babies, like all little ones, need the personal interaction of a mother or at least a mother figure. Would you like to hold one?”

Joy hesitated for a moment, looking uncertainly at the fragile creature lying in the Lucite crib. The head nurse smiled encouragingly, nodded for Joy to take her seat in the nearby rocking chair and carefully lifted the tiny bundle. The baby was placed in the crook of Joy’s arm. With her free hand, Joy gingerly searched beneath the cotton receiving blanket until she found the miniature version of her own. The tiny fingers wrapped themselves tightly around her pinky. A tear fell from the corner of Joy’s eye.

Yes, thought Nate Heller. Great picture!

Chapter 82

Father Alec waited
quietly and alone in the hospital chapel of St. Michael’s Medical Center. A Secret Service agent, shoes shined and radio earpiece visible, came in and looked around. Appraising Father Alec sitting in a rear pew in his black suit and Roman collar, the agent apparently saw nothing amiss.

Father Alec was disappointed and distressed. What if his mission today had been to hurt Mrs. Wingard? He speculated on how easy it would be for anyone to dress like a cleric. The agent’s cursory glance shouldn’t be called security. Of course, they couldn’t investigate every single person who came across Mrs. Wingard’s path, but he wanted to believe that the Secret Service wasn’t missing suspicious and nervous-looking characters. He was sure he must look nervous. In truth, he
was
going to hurt Joy Wingard today.

He rose from the pew, genuflected, turned and walked to the door at the rear of the chapel. Poking his head out, he looked down the corridor. Nothing yet.

The
Star Ledger
had said she was focusing on AIDS in her Newark tour. The archdiocese was proud. St. Michael’s with its clinic, support groups and private counseling served about 40 percent of the AIDS patients living in Essex County. Mrs. Wingard must be getting her eyes and ears full. How horrible it would be for her, after observing AIDS cases close up, to hear that she, too, had been exposed to the disease!

Movement down the hall caught his eye. A woman dressed in pink was moving slowly in his direction, her head turned toward a nun who walked beside her. She was listening attentively to what Sister had to say. Cameramen were walking backward in front of her. Several other men and women surrounded her. He assumed they were Secret Service, campaign aides and media types.

What if this doesn’t work? What if she won’t stop?

Suddenly, she was right in front of him. Joy stopped and her entourage stopped with her. She smiled openly and extended her hand to the young priest standing in the chapel doorway.