Equivocal Death (47 page)

weren’t discussing it. Yet.

5

Kate was sitting toward the middle of the church, to the left of 6

the center aisle. She was flanked by Justin on one side, Peyton on 7

the other. Without thinking, she’d taken a seat in approximately 8

the same location she’d selected for Madeleine’s service. There was 9

a difference, though. At Madeleine’s memorial she’d been with 10

Andrea. Today, Andrea was nowhere in sight. Scanning the room 11

again, Kate could feel her uneasiness building. This was Andrea’s 12

second unexplained absence in just a few days. First the firm cock-13

tail party. Now, Mills’s memorial service. This wasn’t like Andrea 14

at all. Was it possible something was wrong? The thought fluttered 15

briefly in her mind before reason again took hold. After all, An-16

drea was married. Even when Brent was away on business, he and 17

Andrea talked each night.

18

A new speaker was taking the pulpit. Kate returned her focus to 19

the front of the church. Charles Harrison was Mills’s prep school 20

and college roommate. With his narrow shoulders and spidery 21

form, Harrison looked nothing like his late friend. But Kate could 22

imagine how he must have admired Mills back when they were in 23

school. In the days when beauty and form were the things that 24

mattered most. Of course, the playing field had leveled out since 25

then. Now retired, Harrison had been a partner at Ironson, Baggs, 26

one of the world’s premier investment banks. He must have been 27

taking home at least several times what Mills did.

28

Even taking into account Mills’s sideline income . . .

29

For the first time, it occurred to Kate that the WideWorld bills 30

could be just the tip of the iceberg. What if Mills had been han-31

dling every bill this way, and had been doing it for decades? Over 32

time, he could have raked in millions of dollars. Kate thought 33

about the time Martin Drescher had interrupted a meeting to take ort 34

a broker’s cold call. He’d kept several lawyers waiting for close to reg 35

forty minutes, barking questions into the phone. “So what’s the re-9858_02_153-356_r6jm.qxd 9/28/00 3:59 PM Page 273

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turn?
What’s the return?
” Kate still recalled Andrea’s incredulous 1

face. “
These guys,
” she’d said later, as they’d headed downstairs.

2

“
Their avarice is unbounded.
” Could that be the explanation here as 3

well? Could Carter Mills’s downfall have stemmed from common 4

greed?

5

Harrison was talking about Mills’s college years. His career as a 6

champion rower. His academic success. “But it wasn’t just these ac-7

complishments that marked Carter Mills for greatness. What 8

really distinguished him was force of character. He had a remark-9

able ability to draw out the best in all of us privileged to know 10

him. His own high standards raised the bar for what we expected of 11

ourselves.”

12

Which is just how it was with me,
Kate thought. But had everyone 13

felt that way? Was it simply a matter of technique? Even now, she 14

didn’t want to believe that.

15

Soon the service was over. After quick good-byes, Peyton 16

disappeared into the crowd. Another mega–networking opportu-17

nity.

18

“Are you going back to work?” Justin asked, as Kate gathered up 19

her wrap and purse. She was wearing a black coat purchased sev-20

eral years back. Her red cape was hanging at home.

21

“I don’t know,” Kate said. “I hadn’t really decided.”

22

“I could drop you off by your apartment, if you want,” Justin 23

said. He’d given her a lift that morning in the aging junker he kept 24

in a lot off Ninth Avenue. It had been a disconcerting trip, Justin 25

still stunned by news of Mills’s suicide, Kate pretending she’d had 26

no idea.

27

“Yeah, okay,” Kate said.

28

Heading toward the door with Justin, Kate caught sight of 29

Charles Harrison, deep in conversation with Clara Hurley. Kate 30

had almost forgotten about Clara. After twenty years as Mills’s sec-31

retary, what must she be feeling now? Harrison had his arm around 32

her shoulder. Kate could read the raw pain in Clara’s face. She’d 33

been in love with Carter, of course. Kate could see how it must 34 sh

have happened. The handsome, brilliant young lawyer. The uned-35 re

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ucated but determined young woman, just starting work in the city.

2

She must have been dazzled, Kate thought.

3

Her eyes still resting on the pair, Kate had a sudden thought.

4

She turned to Justin. “Listen, why don’t you go on ahead. I want to 5

talk to a few people.”

6

“Are you sure? I don’t mind waiting.”

7

“No, really. It’s okay. I know you have a lot to do.”

8

Justin watched her for another moment. Kate could tell he was 9

reluctant to leave her. At the same time, he
did
have work to do.

10

Especially since he was taking time off next week. A long weekend 11

with Laura Lacy. He’d mentioned it this morning. Kate had felt a 12

twist in her heart. She wasn’t jealous, at least not exactly. She just 13

didn’t want to think about it now.

14

“You’re sure you can get a ride back?”

15

“Justin, there are hundreds of people here. I’m pretty sure I can 16

manage.”

17

A quick hug and Justin was gone. Kate moved closer to Harri-18

son, waiting for a chance to approach. When Clara turned to walk 19

away, Kate quickly stepped into her place.

20

“Mr. Harrison, I’m Kate Paine. I was one of Carter’s associates.”

21

Harrison clasped her extended hand. “I’m very pleased to meet 22

you. Though I certainly regret the circumstances.” His grip was 23

stronger than Kate had expected.

24

“I was so moved by what you said,” Kate said. “All of this has 25

been such a shock. I admired Carter so much. He hired me right 26

out of Harvard Law. I was thinking, well, wondering, if you’d be 27

willing to talk with me sometime. He was such a wonderful man.

28

A legend, really. I’d like to know more about him. From someone 29

who knew him well.”

30

She could see that she’d hit her target. “Yes, it’s a tragedy,” Har-31

rison said. “All these ridiculous rumors. It’s insane. Worse than in-32

sane, it’s evil. Carter never would have done . . . what they’re 33

saying. It’s impossible. It just wasn’t in him. I’d be happy to talk ort 34

with you, dear.”

reg 35

Dear.
Kate gritted her teeth and smiled.

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“Perhaps you could come by the house.” Harrison said. “Say, 1

around ten tomorrow morning? Or is that a problem, what with 2

work and all? I’ve been retired now for so many years, I sometimes 3

forget what it was like.”

4

The
early
early retirement. Another difference between law and 5

investment banking.

6

“No, no,” Kate said hurriedly. “I’ll find the time. Tomorrow 7

morning would be fine.”

8

Harrison reached into a pocket for his card and held it out to 9

Kate. “Here’s my address. So I’ll see you tomorrow, dear.”

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1

Wednesday, January 20

2

3

Kate took the Seventy-ninth Street bus across Central Park and 4

reached the East Side around nine. After locating Harrison’s Fifth 5

Avenue co-op, an impressive Beaux Arts structure near the Met, 6

she cut over to Madison Avenue in search of coffee and a place to 7

think.

8

Soon she was seated at Eli Zabar’s E.A.T, a sort of wildly upscale 9

diner. The coats slung over the backs of chairs were Burberry plaid 10

and fur. The diamonds on female patrons’ hands made Angela Tay-11

lor’s look minuscule. Surveying the menu, Kate could almost think 12

that prices were listed in some foreign currency. Coffee for five dol-13

lars. Bread and jam for six.

14

Welcome to the Upper East Side.

15

After ordering cappuccino and a sticky bun, Kate pulled out a 16

notepad and pen. She still hadn’t decided what to say. What she ort 17

wanted was to understand. But did Harrison really hold the an-reg 18

swers? Could he really explain Carter Mills? Yesterday, she’d felt 9858_02_153-356_r6jm.qxd 9/28/00 3:59 PM Page 277

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sure she was on to something, but today she was having doubts.

1

The fact that Harrison had known Mills for decades didn’t mean 2

that he understood him. Years of friendship might confer great in-3

sight. Or they could simply feed denial. That’s what appeared to be 4

happening here. Knowing Mills for as long as he had, Harrison 5

couldn’t accept the truth.

6

Kate took a sip of cappuccino. Should she just forget the whole 7

thing? Tara hadn’t minced words when they talked on the phone 8

last night. “I don’t know what you expect to get out of this. You’re 9

fixated on Samson & Mills.” Kate had taken the words with a grain 10

of salt. She’d attributed them to Tara’s annoyance that she’d 11

dropped the ball with Douglas. “But you liked him,” Tara had said, 12

frustration evident in her voice. “I don’t know what you’re think-13

ing. Guys like Douglas don’t come along every day.”

14

Guys like Douglas don’t come along every day.
The words had a fa-15

miliar ring. Now, Kate remembered where she’d heard them be-16

fore. Andrea had made the same point recently, only she’d been 17

talking about Justin.

18

Andrea. Now there was another painful subject. Kate had called 19

Andrea’s office yesterday afternoon, only to find that she’d left on 20

vacation. Left without a single word. It made no sense, no sense at 21

all. Andrea had been saving up her vacation time for that February 22

rafting trip in Chile. And now, inexplicably, she was gone. Kate 23

couldn’t make sense of it. She must have done something to upset 24

Andrea, though she couldn’t imagine what it was. But couldn’t 25

Andrea have raised the subject, given her a chance to explain?

26

Kate could feel depression setting in, a slow-moving fog across her 27

brain. But this wasn’t the time or place. She glanced at her watch, 28

raised her hand for the check.

29

Right now it was time to get going.

30

w

31

Across a vast expanse of Oriental carpet, Charles Harrison had 32

been holding forth for the past half hour, almost as if he were talk-33

ing to himself. Kate balanced a cup and saucer on her knee and 34 sh

tried to look attentive. It occurred to her that this single room was 35 re

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bigger than her whole apartment. Finally, there was a break in the 2

flow of words. Harrison gave Kate a quick glance, as if just remem-3

bering her presence.

4

“More coffee?”

5

“No thanks, I’m fine.” Kate was eager to push ahead, to move 6

beyond the meaningless generalities that were Harrison’s preferred 7

mode of discourse.

8

“It’s so hard to picture Carter anywhere other than at Samson & 9

Mills. What was he like in college?” It wasn’t much of a question.

10

But she had to move carefully here.

11

“He was the same,” Harrison said. “He was always the same.

12

And that’s why I’m quite sure that this whole thing is a terrible 13

mistake. Carter always rejected extremes. He was the essence of 14

stability. The essence of moderation. If he had a passion, that was 15

it. I’ll never forget our sophomore year of college. That was 1966, 16

during the Vietnam War.”

17

The word sounded strange to Kate’s ears. Vi-
et-
nam, the accent 18

on the second syllable. She’d never thought of Mills as a product of 19

the sixties. Now, counting back in time, she saw that the dates 20

matched up. There was something obscurely upsetting in this, as if 21

it showed yet another failure on her part. A failure to make use of 22

what facts she’d had.

23

“It was quite a tumultuous time. Protests, that sort of thing. In 24

the middle of it all, the secretary of defense came to speak on cam-25