Widow’s Walk

CHAPTER TEN

I was in my office tilted back in my chair with my feet up drinking a cup of coffee and eating my second corn muffin while I reread the list of Mary Smith’s closest friends. The sunlight sprawled its familiar light across my desk. Behind me I had the window open and the pleasant traffic sounds drifted up from the point where Berkeley Street intersects with Boylston. There was nothing new. Still no names with asterisks indicating a possible murderer. Just a bunch of mostly Anglo-Saxon names with mostly business addresses. One of the business addresses was Soldiers Field Development Ltd. Oh ho! I had taken to saying Oh ho! in moments like this ever since Susan had suggested that ah ha! was corny. The address was for someone named Felton Shawcross, who was listed as CEO. I took a bite of corn muffin. It’s hard to think when you’re hungry. It is also hard to think when you don’t have anything to think about. Something might develop out of the clue. But right now it was just a clue.

I finished my corn muffin, drank the last of my coffee, washed my hands and face, and headed off down Berkeley Street toward the South End. By the time I crossed Columbus Ave. I knew I was being followed again, on foot this time. A dark curly-haired guy with a big mustache had gotten out of a black Chrysler sedan as soon as I had come out of my building. The sedan had been double-parked in front of FAO Schwarz on the corner of Boylston and Berkeley, and pulled away down Boylston right after Curly got out. He was so conscientious in paying me no attention that I spotted him almost at once. Though in his defense, I suppose, I was looking for him. Berkeley Street was one way the other way, so I knew that if they were tailing me again, it would have to be on foot. Larson Graff’s place of business was a red brick row house on Appleton Street. The office was on the first floor. Graff lived above the store. Graff’s desk was in the bow window of a room that was probably once the dining room. It was a vast pale oak piece, with thickly turned legs. The window behind it was punctuated occasionally with panes of stained glass. Through it I could see Curly standing innocently across the street talking on his cell phone.

Graff was immaculate in a double-breasted blue blazer, a yellow silk tie, and a starched white broadcloth shirt. He stood to shake my hand.

“Mr. Spenser,” he said. “How nice to see you again.”

“Everybody says that.”

Graff smiled uncertainly. “Well,” he said. “I’m sure they mean it.”

He gestured me toward a client chair. I sat. Maybe it was better not to kid with Larson.

“I wanted to thank you for the list of names you sent over on behalf of Mary Smith,” I said.

“Oh, no problem. Just run it off on the computer, you know.”

“Yes. Do you know anybody that’s friendly with Mrs. Smith who is not on the list?”

Graff’s eyes widened.

“Not on the list?”

“Yeah. Maybe a pal from the old neighborhood? People she used to play miniature golf with?”

“Miniature golf?”

“Maybe an old boyfriend?”

“Perhaps you should ask Mrs. Smith.”

“Oh, I will,” I said. “This is just background. Make sure to touch all bases and all that.”

Graff nodded as if he weren’t so sure.

“You must know a name,” I said. “One name.”

It’s an old trick, ask for one name, implying that if you get it you’ll go away and leave them alone. Graff fell for it.

“Well, there’s Roy,” he said.

“And there’s Siegfried,” I said.

Graff looked as if he didn’t find me amusing. It was a look I’ve grown familiar with.

“Roy Levesque,” Graff said. “I believe she went to high school with him.”

“Do you have an address for Roy?” I said.

“I believe he lives in Franklin.”

Through the window I could see the Chrysler sedan cruise up and pause in front of where Curly was standing.

“Anybody else?” I said.

“You said one name.”

“I’m not very trustworthy,” I said. “You must know one more name.”

He didn’t bite the second time. Most of the time they don’t. But the effort was there.

“I’m dreadfully sorry, Mr. Spenser, I really don’t. I’m sure Mrs. Smith can help you.”

“I’m sure,” I said. “When you accompany her socially, are you paid for your time?”

Graff looked like he wanted to hang one on my kisser, though it seemed unlikely that he would.

“I am on retainer to Mrs. Smith,” Graff said.

“To do what?” I said.

“She has a very crowded and committed social calendar,” Graff said. “I help her organize it.”

Graff sounded as if he were not as pleased to see me as he had said he was when I came in.

“How about Mr. Smith?”

“He was not as socially oriented as Mrs. Smith.”

Outside the Chrysler moved away from Curly and cruised slowly down Appleton toward Berkeley. Curly remained, strolling up and down looking at roof lines, admiring the architecture.

“You and Mr. Smith friendly?” I said.

Graff looked offended. “Why do you ask?”

“I have no idea,” I said. “I’m just a gabby guy.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” Graff said.

“So were you friendly?”

“He was always a gentleman,” Graff said.

“But?”

“But nothing at all. I worked for Mrs. Smith. Mr. Smith was always pleasant. I don’t know him very well.”

“How about Marvin Conroy?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t know him.”

“Amy Peters?”

Graff shook his head. “I’m sorry, Mr. Spenser, but I really must cut this short. I have a client meeting that I’m already late for.”

“With whom?” I said.

“That is really none of your business, Mr. Spenser.”

I fought back the impulse to say, Well, I’m making it my business. Susan would be proud of me. I stood. We shook hands. And I went out to take Curly for a walk.