We'll Meet Again

94

“Ratings for last night’s show are great,” Gus Brandt said, six weeks later. “Congratulations. It’s the best True Crime episode we ever aired.”

“Well, you can thank yourself for setting it in motion,” Fran told him. “If you hadn’t assigned me to cover Molly’s release from prison, none of this would have happened, or if it had, it would have happened without me.”

“I especially like what Molly Lasch said in the wrap-up, the part about having faith in yourself and hanging in when you feel overwhelmed. She credits you with keeping her from committing suicide.”

“Jenna almost did that for her,” Fran said. “If her plan had worked, we would have all assumed that Molly really had killed herself. Still, I think I would have had my doubts. I don’t believe that when push came to shove, Molly would actually have taken those pills.”

“It would have been a loss-she is one beautiful woman,” Gus said.

Fran smiled. “Yes, and she always has been-on the inside as well as the outside. That’s much more important, don’t you think?”

Gus Brandt returned Fran’s smile, and he gradually shaped his expression into one of benevolence. “Yes, I do. And speaking of important, I think it’s time you gave yourself a little break. Go ahead, take a day off. How about Sunday?”

Fran laughed. “Is there a Nobel Prize for generosity?”

Hands in her pockets, her head down, in what her stepbrothers called “Franny’s thinking position,” she went back to her office.

I’ve been traveling on reserve ever since that day I waited for Molly to come out of Niantic Prison, she admitted to herself. It’s all behind me now, she thought, but I’m still licking my wounds.

So much had happened. In his effort to escape a possible death sentence, Lou Knox had willingly volunteered whatever information he could about Cal Whitehall and the mysterious doings at Lasch Hospital. The pistol he had in his pocket when he was arrested at the farmhouse had been the weapon used to kill Dr. Jack Morrow. “ Cal told me that Morrow was one of those guys who always make trouble,” he had told the cops. “He was asking too many questions at the hospital about some dead patients. So I took care of him.”

The Hilmers had positively identified Lou as the man they had seen sitting in the sedan in the parking lot of the Sea Lamp Diner. Knox explained the reason for Annamarie’s death: “She could have been a big-time troublemaker,” he said. “She heard Lasch and Black talking about getting rid of the old lady with the bad heart. She also went along with covering for Black when he messed up the Colbert girl, but Cal got cold feet when he saw on Molly’s calendar that she was meeting Annamarie Scalli in Rowayton. He was sure that next Annamarie would shoot off her mouth to that Fran Simmons. An inquiry by her might have led her to the ambulance attendants who’d been paid off to say Tasha Colbert went into cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital. Then I’d have to take care of them. So it was just simpler to get rid of Scalli.”

When you start counting the people who were murdered in cold blood because they were perceived as threatening, and add to that the ones who died in the name of research, it’s pretty chilling, Fran said to herself. And when I put what happened to Dad in the same context, I realize that he was a victim as well. His weakness compounded it, of course, but Whitehall actually caused his death.

Assistant Prosecutor Jacobs had shown Fran the worthless stock certificates that Lou had kept as a reminder of a profitable little scam on her father. “ Cal had Lou Knox give your father a hot tip to buy $40,000 worth of this stock,” Jacobs told her. “He was sure your father would fall for it, because he apparently practically worshiped Whitehall ’s financial success.

“Cal Whitehall counted on your father to borrow the money from the library fund. He was on the committee with your father and had access to the account as well. The $40,000 withdrawal became $400,000, thanks to Cal ’s manipulations, and your father knew he could neither replace it nor prove that he hadn’t taken the entire amount.”

He still took money that wasn’t his, even if he only meant it as a kind of loan, Fran thought. At least Dad must be smiling, since Lou’s other “hot tip” didn’t blow me to kingdom come as intended.

She would cover the trials of Dr. Lowe, Cal Whitehall and Jenna for the network. Ironically, Jenna’s defense was apparently going to be passion provocation manslaughter, the exact charge to which Molly had earlier pleaded guilty.

Evil people, all of them. But, she reflected, they’re going to pay for what they did with many years in prison. On the bright side, though, Remington Health Management will be taken over by American National Insurance, with a good and decent man at the helm. Molly is selling the house and moving to New York, where she’ll start a magazine job next month. Philip is crazy about her, but Molly needs a lot of time to heal and sort out her life before even thinking about a commitment. What is to be will be, and he knows it.

Fran reached for her coat. I’m going home, she decided. I’m tired and I need to regroup. Or maybe it’s spring fever setting in, she thought, as she looked out at the flowers on display below at Rockefeller Center.

She turned to see Tim Mason standing in her doorway. “I’ve been watching you today,” he said. “I have decided you look kind of down. My prescription is to come with me to Yankee Stadium immediately. The game starts in forty-five minutes.”

Fran smiled. “A perfect solution for the blues,” she agreed, making a quick decision.

Tim linked her arm in his. “Dinner will be a hot dog and beer.”

“Your treat, remember,” Fran interjected. “Think of your mother’s feeling on the subject.”

“Absolutely. However, a small bet on the outcome of the game would enhance my enjoyment.”

“I’ll take the Yankees, but I’ll give you a three-run spread,” Fran offered.

They stepped into the elevator and the door closed behind them.