Murder at Union Station

FOURTEEN

Mackensie Smith returned to his office after having just taught a morning class at George Washington. He’d intended to take the summer off from teaching, but had been persuaded by his dean to offer a twice-weekly class on changes in criminal law since the imposition of stringent surveillance and detention policies brought about by the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and the ongoing terrorist threat.

The law school class was held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at nine o’clock and was attended primarily by attorneys already in criminal practice who wanted an updated look at whatever policies the Justice Department had put into place. Teaching working attorneys-there were a few matriculated students in the course, but they were in the minority-posed a challenge for Smith. These weren’t wide-eyed young men and women aspiring to careers in the law. Rather, they were seasoned attorneys whose questions were more realistic than those of their younger counterparts.

Aside from teaching this one course, Smith was enjoying a leisurely summer with his wife, Annabel Lee-Smith, the former matrimonial lawyer who now owned a Georgetown art gallery specializing in pre-Columbian art and artifacts.

Smith had been a Washington criminal defense attorney, consistently cited in Washingtonian magazine’s annual survey of the city’s best as one of the top five criminal defense lawyers in town. As discouraging as criminal law-or more particularly, criminal clients-could be, he’d loved what he did and zealously threw himself into his practice.

But that all ended one rainy night when a drunken driver on the Beltway hit a car occupied by his wife and son, killing both. This double tragedy had profound consequences, as might be expected. His enthusiasm for practicing criminal law waned, and although his belief in the justice system remained strong, defending the criminally accused lost priority in his life. He resigned his partnership in the law firm and accepted what had been a long-standing invitation to join the prestigious faculty of George Washington University.

Annabel, too, had found fulfillment from her law practice and was considered among the first rank of matrimonial attorneys. But a parallel passion going back to her college days had always been pre-Columbian art. It remained that, a pleasant auxiliary interest until she met the handsome, cultured widower, Mackensie Smith, and fell in love with him and he with her. That’s when their lives changed forever.

Smith, slightly taller than medium, stocky and strong, and with a slowly receding hairline, had always moved in relatively lofty Washington social and political circles. He predictably had become the object of female pursuit once the requisite amount of time had passed following the deaths of his wife and son, and was occasionally seen on the arm of a woman. But he never considered another serious romantic relationship until he met Annabel.

People said she resembled the actress Rita Hayworth, although Smith wasn’t fond of the who-does-she-look-like game. Besides, as far as he was concerned, Annabel Lee was more beautiful than any movie actress, past or present. She was almost his height, even could be as tall as he was depending upon the shoes she wore and how she arranged her mane of auburn hair. Peaches and cream was not a cliché when it came to describing her skin. Her eyes were large, oval, and very green.

They’d met at an embassy party and began seeing each other regularly. He was surprised that she’d never married; it certainly wasn’t for a lack of suitors. She’d just never met a man she was willing to commit to.

Mac Smith was that man, and he considered himself fortunate that she’d accepted his proposal and become Annabel Lee-Smith. Over the course of their courtship, they’d discussed their dreams and aspirations, and when they decided to alter their professional lives, their support for each other was mutual and total.

They were married in a small chapel at the National Cathedral and set out on their new life as husband and wife, a handsome couple to be sure, and much in demand. But they’d agreed to be judicious in accepting invitations to preserve as much time as possible for their own use and to enjoy their love. When they were not really together, Annabel worked at making her gallery a success and Mac taught his eager students, as well as lending his considerable legal experience to friends in need of informal counsel.

All in all, though life was not without a few bumps, Mr. and Mrs. Mackensie Smith were quite contented, thank you, ensconced in their spacious Watergate apartment with its stunning sunset views of the Potomac River, serving as “parents” to their great blue Dane, Rufus, and looking forward to many happy years together.

Mac spent an hour in his campus office sorting through paperwork and catching up on reading or speed-scanning professional journals. At eleven-thirty, he picked up the phone and dialed a local number.

“Kathryn? It’s Mac Smith.”

“Oh, hi, Mr. Smith,” Kathryn Jalick said, surprise at who was calling evident in her voice.

Smith laughed. “It’s Mac, remember. ‘Mr. Smith’ makes me feel ancient.”

“I know,” she said. “Sorry.”

“Is Rich there?”

“No… Mac. He’s gone to New York.”

“Editorial meeting?”

“I guess so. Yes, he has a session with his editor. Be back later tonight.”

“And how have you been?”

“Busy as usual. I have the day off from the library and I’m trying to catch up on housework. The place looks like a tornado hit it. And my mind matches the decor these days.”

“Well,” Smith said, “I just wanted to check in and see how the scribe’s book is coming along.”

“You’re talking to the wrong person, Mac. Rich has been on the go so much lately we never seem to have time to just sit down and catch up with each other.”

“I know how that can be, Kathryn. Looking forward to seeing you two tomorrow night.”

“Tomorrow night?”

“You haven’t forgotten, have you? Dinner at our place. I get to play chef and bartender.”

“Oh, no, I haven’t forgotten. We’re looking forward to it. I have to run, Mac. Thanks for calling. See you tomorrow.”

Smith frowned at the dead phone. He didn’t know Kathryn Jalick well, having met her only a few times when she’d accompanied Rich to the Smiths’ apartment, where Mac went over the publishing contract a New York publisher had tendered for the book Rich was writing. She sounded distracted. But maybe that was her usual telephone style.

He called Annabel at the gallery.

“How goes it?” he asked.

“Okay,” she replied. “You?”

“Good class. I just spoke with Kathryn Jalick.”

“Oh? How is she?”

“Fine. Sounded distracted. I think she and Rich forgot about dinner tomorrow night.”

“Good thing you called. They are coming?”

“Yes. He’s in New York today meeting with his publisher, back tonight. Up for lunch?”

“Sure.”

“Druthers?”

“Whatever restaurant has the best air-conditioning. The unit here at the gallery is on its last legs. It’s been groaning all morning.”

“Does Zagat rate restaurants on their AC?”

She laughed and said, “Wouldn’t be a bad idea here in Washington. Paolo’s? An hour?”

“I’ll be there. If their AC’s down, we’ll eat at home, maybe even linger a while.”

“I sense a proposition.”

“That’s one of many things I love about you, Annabel. You’re very astute. With any luck, birds have nested in Paolo’s air-conditioning and it’s on the fritz. As a matter of fact, let’s assume that. The apartment in an hour?”

“Forty-five minutes, Smith. Don’t be late.”