A Sorority of Angels (31 page)

The platonic relationship between Judy and me altered. Friendly hugs ended. She remained standoffish and formal.

When I saw her the next two days, her change was obvious. I saw her daily the following week during preparations for hearings to replace the secretary of Defense who resigned last month. Her coolness continued.

I called Laura daily since the Bellini afternoon and flew to New York over the weekend.

I didn’t know then what bugged Judy and why she turned hostile. If I knew, I would’ve kicked her ass. I stopped being concerned about Judy by Wednesday, to hell with her. Maybe she’s going through an early menopause.

Judy called Laura at home on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights. Laura was out. On Thursday, Laura answered the phone.

“Judy, nice to hear from you.”

“When will I see you again?”

“Come on up.”

“Impossible. We’re preparing for hearings. Can you come down during the week?”

“I don’t dare chance what happened last time. If Adam sees us again, he’ll get curious, suspicious. An explanation will be hard. Better if you come up.”

“I can make it up this weekend.”

“Forget it. Adam will be here.”

“Oh.”

“I’ll come there early next Friday to watch the hearings again. Seeing you alone will be impossible, but maybe we can all get together for dinner.”

“I need to see you. I miss you.” Laura didn’t answer. “I have good news about Bender. I may be able to arrange for you to meet him within a month. He is entertaining politicos from California, and has demanded and conscripted his staff. You can come with me.”

“What day is it on?”

“On a Friday.”

“I can have Adam join us and eliminate the backstreet maneuvering.”

“I prefer Adam not be there.”

“What if he finds out?”

“He won’t. I hope you don’t intend to bed down with Bender.”

“Ugh. No, no. I want to meet your enemy. And mine.”

“Enemy? You’re right. That’s what he is, the shit. I’m following Bender after work. I missed him a few times. By the time I pulled out of the parking lot, he was gone. Now, I wait and follow him. He lives in Georgetown. Twice, he went straight home and stayed home. I waited outside for about three hours each time. He never came out. At seven-thirty or so, a heavy African American woman comes out – probably his housekeeper and cook, unlikely they’re having an affair. If they were, she’d stay late.”

“It may be advantageous talking to her.”

“Good idea, maybe after the hearings. Other times, he visited a condominium in Arlington after work and stayed indefinitely. Last night, I decided to wait him out. I gave the door attendant twenty dollars to tell me whom he visits – a Mrs. Beech. He left at two in the morning. Maybe there’s a connection. She could be your scandal.”

“If she’s married. If widowed, single or divorced what have we got? It’s no disgrace to date.”

“Also, I sent to you personal background data including his early years highlighting the clubs and associations he belonged and belongs, a thorough dossier to update you.”

“That’s perfect. Can you make a positive connection with the military or industrial complexes? If he’s their spokesman, he could be profiting – a foreign bank account or foreign investments? How did his son get that big job with Lockheed? A question to investigate.”

“I’ll do that in between my other work. To continue to follow him is a waste of time. Disappointing, but somehow I’ll get the pig.”

“Adam and I can vacation in California this year and see my family. I can research there.”

Judy never hesitated to add, “I’d go with you if Adam is unavailable.”

“If I ever go on vacation without him, he’ll turn into a lunatic. I wish he wasn’t possessive, but want him that way.”

“And I wish you could make time for me.”

“Forget Adam. I’m sorry I haven’t called you but other problems dominated my life. What if I call you next Wednesday?”

“If we can’t talk sooner then I’ll settle for Wednesday.”

“Maybe I’ll see you next weekend. I don’t know how but maybe we can meet and talk alone.” The comment was more to appease than practical was.

“When we’re alone, you can talk if you want. That’s not what I want to do.”

Laura worried. Maybe she overdid Judy. Intimacy with a woman differed but no way could Judy displace me. Laura didn’t want their friendship to evolve into a physical habit whenever they were alone. Laura made a mistake encouraging Judy or agreeing to hook up with her for the afternoon in Bellini’s. Right there, Laura should have ended the physical relationship. Where I’m obsessive about Laura, Laura is obsessive about her causes. She planned to talk to Judy next week if I prefer to avoid Judy on the weekend. Laura doubted being able to get out of my sight for five minutes except to go to the bathroom, and that was questionable.

Judy called Laura again on Wednesday. “I’m upset you haven’t called me.”

“I did. You were out.”

“When? Last night?” She continued before Laura could answer. “In Arlington. Bender visited there again.”

“I called to learn what you found in those other areas. I thought you decided to stop following him.”

“I needed to obtain more data on the Beech woman from the door attendant and as I turned the corner, Bender entered the building. I don’t think the door attendant knows who he is from the way we talked. Anyhow, Mrs. Beech is the widow of a former admiral in the submarine service. If a widow, we have nothing. Further, it turns out she’s a big poker player and the reason he goes is to play poker.”

“Strip poker?”

“No. Four or five other men join the game. She’s alone in the world and enjoys hosting the games. I promised the door attendant secrecy after yelling at him for failing to tell me this the first time. It’s impractical to trace his foreign accounts if numbered. He’s a wealthy man, and hard to trace new money with his diverse holdings. I don’t know why he’s the standard bearer for the war profiteers. Forget your cause. It looks like I’ll hate him forever. I’ll give it a few more months then leave. Maybe a miracle will happen.”

“Thanks for your efforts.”

“I know how much it means to you. I enjoy doing for you. Do you still want to meet Bender?”

“Yes. Because the first offense didn’t work doesn’t mean we have to stop. Keep watching him in the office. Maybe something will happen.”

“Nothing is going to happen unless we make it happen.”

“Maybe after I meet him.”

“I don’t mean that. Forget it for now.”

“Judy, consider me a good friend instead of a lover. That should be secondary when together. There are times when I want to meet and talk to a friend.” Judy delayed a reply. Laura thought the pause long to reply. “Hello.”

“It’s Adam, isn’t it?”

“Not only Adam.”

“I understand Laura, no need to explain further. Are you coming down this Friday?”

“Yes. I should arrive at Adam’s after ten in the morning. I’ll look for you on television.”

“Bender should come on around eleven-thirty. You’ll see me then. Take care, Laura. You’ll hear from me.”

Her closing tone bothered Laura after she hung up – no romantic words or sweet statements from Judy. Maybe she accepted her request to remain friends.

Laura had no reason to think otherwise.

Laura had a difficult time with her supervisor taking the day off on Friday due to work backlog. She appealed on the extra hours required by UNICEF, and received approval.

She arrived at my apartment after ten in the morning. The hearing had barely begun as she settled in to watch. The Committee ‘rubber stamped’ the new appointee as Bender already approved the selection. The rest played for the record. There wasn’t an outstanding newsworthy reason for television coverage. Laura would research the food project if television canceled coverage. Hearings were a part of her life.

The hearing unwound as dull television until Bender came on at eleven-twenty. Laura saw Judy sitting behind Bender. The camera focused on a medium shot of Bender from the top of his head to the front edge of the dais. In the background, Judy stood and disappeared from view. Laura watched the alternating camera angles from the witness to Bender. After a minute, Judy hadn’t returned. Laura decided Judy visited the women’s room. Then the phone rang. Laura lowered the television volume and answered.

“Adam’s residence,” she answered in singsong voice.

“Laura, this is Judy. Are you watching the hearing?”

“I must.”

“Good. I have to go. See you later.”

Laura grinned with strangeness at the extraneous call.

Cameras continued to alternate. Bender was in a lengthy dissertation leading to his next question. Judy returned with a pitcher of water. She leaned in around Bender, lifted, and filled his empty glass placing the pitcher behind her. The picture cut to the witness then back to Bender. Judy read documents. When asking another question, Bender picked up the glass, drank half then put the glass down.

Suddenly, he grabbed his throat, gagging, face turning pink. A gruesome gurgle wrenched his throat and he toppled sideways in convulsions. Judy delayed responding then sprang to his assistance and screamed, a frightened, terrified woman. Her screams shattered the hearing. “He’s dead! He’s dead!” Chaos. People rushed to Bender. A frantic announcer came on camera to describe the scene.

Laura was in shock, horrified. She turned the volume louder and sat closer to the screen, her eyes welded on the chaos.

Confusion increased. Someone called out to get a doctor. Laura could see someone loosening Bender’s tie and shirt then slapping his face to revive him. Another started the CPR procedure.

Laura knew Judy poisoned Bender.

She trembled from fright.

Her phone rang. She stalled, afraid to answer at first.

“Hello.”

“Did you see it?” Adam said.

“Yes. I was watching. I…I couldn’t believe what I saw. Did he choke? Heart attack?”

“He was poisoned. I can’t talk long. Everyone needs questioning. I’ll be late getting home. Incredible.”

“I’ll wait for your call.”

Laura watched the proceedings until they ended ten minutes later with the promise of news interruptions “to inform you of the latest happenings.”

Laura’s mind spun in a frightening, concentric dimension. She functioned as a zombie unbelieving Judy murdered Bender. She felt as an accomplice taking blame for putting the idea into Judy’s head. Judy must be crazy.

A crazy person controlled my life now!

If Judy confessed, Laura’s life ended terrifying her. Her lips quivered, simulating a high fever, an unfamiliar fever, finished, facing a lifetime in prison, maybe the electric chair. Paranoia of overwhelming proportions hung over her. The phone rang. She froze. It rang repeatedly, then stopped, then rang again. She answered.

It must be the FBI.

“Yes?”

“Were you watching?” Judy said. “Did you see it?”

“O God. Why?”

“You know why, for us. Remember, they will never prove anything. I have to get back to answer more questions. No matter how difficult, I will overcome. He has fallen. That dog has fallen. Did you see how he gurgled? I consider that the exhilarating moment of my life. I also did it for you. Bye.” The phone clicked.

When fear faded, she thought of calling the police or FBI or another authority to tell them Judy was the killer. Then they’d ask – How do you know? What would she say? The idea was hers? No.

Would Judy confess and implicate her? The next hour brought anxiety. She flipped from channel to channel looking for news. Then she turned to the radio hoping to hear Bender survived.

Somebody please tell her he revived.

The news was direct, to the point, and factual. Bender was dead, a high public official assassinated, some said murdered.

Cold flashes ran up and down in Laura’s body like a scanning device. She huddled in a corner of the sofa, arms holding her body tight to contain the surges.