Kiss the Girls and Make Them Cry(87)

“But you ended up taking it?”

“Not right away. When Jack was around and healthy, there was no sense of urgency to resolve the dispute. But when he got sick,” she paused, a tear forming in her eye, “he was never going to be at peace until he was sure that somebody he could count on was taking care of his sons. I didn’t want him on top of everything else to be worried about the trust. So I agreed.”

“How did Philip and Thomas react?”

“Predictably. With Jack no longer around to blame for their problems, I became the new bad guy.”

“It sounds like a thankless job.”

“?‘Thankless’ isn’t the word.”

“They told me you persuaded Jack to stop funding a company they started.”

Marian chuckled. “Their idea was to put together a team of gamers to go around the world to compete in tournaments. I didn’t cut off the funding. There never was any funding. Jack wouldn’t put a nickel into it.”

“Marian, would it do any good to tell you how badly I feel for having misjudged you?”

“Gina, you were protecting somebody you love. You have nothing to apologize for.”

“I’m so glad we had this chance to talk.”

“There’s one more thing we have to talk about.”

“There is?” Gina asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

“I’m dying to have an amaretto and I hate drinking alone.”

“So do I. Let’s make it two.”





94





Gina walked into her apartment, dropped her purse and keys on the kitchen table, and grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator. She felt as if an immense weight had been lifted from her shoulders. The purpose of the dinner had been to find out what kind of person Marian was. She now had the answer. Gina found herself actually hoping things would work out between Marian and her father.

For at least the tenth time she opened her phone to the one-word text Ted had sent. Always. It never failed to give her a sense of comfort and belonging. She battled the temptation to call him, just to hear his voice. I can’t do that yet because—

She found herself at a loss to finish the sentence. Because the investigation I’m doing is more important?

She sat down, put her elbows on the table, and rested her head on her hands. I just want this to be over, she said to herself. I want my life back. I want Ted back.

Absentmindedly she tapped her computer and watched the screen come to life. She went to her email account and clicked for new messages. There was a response from Deep Throat.

Miss Kane,

I’m sorry not answer more soon. Very afraid.

Can’t lose my work. My family depend on money I send.

They did terrible things to young girls. You can make stop.

I can meet you. You promise never say my name.



Gina checked the time. The email had been sent a little over thirty minutes earlier. She wanted to respond immediately to avoid giving the sender a chance to change his or her mind—she was convinced it was a her—and use words that would be easy to understand.

I promise I will never tell anyone your name. I will meet you any place that you feel safe. We have to talk NOW.

You were right about Paula Stephenson. She did not kill herself. I need you to tell me the names of other girls who were hurt at REL.

Thank you for being brave. With your help, I will stop them.

Gina

212-555-1212 cell phone



Getting my life and Ted back will have to wait a little longer, Gina thought, as she headed for the bedroom. She was going to see this through.





95





Michael Carter was seriously considering getting new office space. He had ended his fling with Beatrice. There was no drama, no fight; there were no speeches. He had just stopped asking her out. When she suggested they do something, his response was always that he was too busy. She had pouted for about two weeks. Her new tactic was to completely ignore him. This morning he had stopped at her desk to report that one of the overhead lights in his office was not working. She never looked up, pretending she didn’t hear him. I need this like I need a hole in my head, he thought to himself.

He opened his phone. He had put in place a Google Alert to flag any stories about REL News. The headline caught his eye immediately. REL News Executive Found Dead. He clicked on it, and his lower jaw dropped as he began reading.

Edward Myers was declared dead after police recovered his body from the Harlem River shortly after dawn this morning. Myers, fifty-three, had spent his entire career at REL News and was currently serving as the company’s Chief Financial Officer.

A jogger who was not identified called police to report a male body floating in the water. According to a department source, initial identification was made when a wallet was found in the deceased’s clothing. A family member, believed to be his wife, confirmed that the body was that of Myers.

An unnamed source at REL revealed that there was concern among top executives at REL that Myers had been despondent of late. The source suggested that the grueling hours Myers worked preparing the company for its IPO may have played a role.

Myers was last seen leaving REL’s midtown headquarters the previous evening. Police are reviewing security camera footage from buildings in the area. A department spokesperson stated that the cause and manner of death is pending further police investigation.