A Long Day for Dying by Patrick A. Davis

Author:Patrick A. Davis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: POCKET STAR BOOKS
Published: 2003-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

This time the answering machine picked up. I left a message, further identifying myself as a military criminal investigator who was looking into General Garber’s death. I said I hadn’t tried to contact Mrs. Garber before and had no intention of harassing her. “Mrs. Garber,” I said, “I’m convinced your husband was murdered, and it’s important I talk to—”

A click. I heard breathing, but no one spoke. I said, “Mrs. Garber?”

The young woman came on, her voice still suspicious. “I was told the general’s death was an accident.”

“It wasn’t.”

A pause. “That might explain it.”

“Explain what?”

She ignored me. “Why should I believe you, Agent Collins?”

“I assume you aren’t Mrs. Garber, Ms.—”

“Tracy Roberts. I’m Mrs. Garber’s niece. Answer the question.”

“Are you an attorney, Ms. Roberts?”

“I’m in my final year at Georgetown Law.”

Close enough. “Tell your aunt to call the senator. He’ll vouch for—”

“Try again. My aunt and the senator don’t speak. Haven’t for years. Not since she moved out on his son. Besides, she’s too frightened to call him or anyone else.”

I said, “Frightened?”

Frowns from Simon and Amanda. On the phone, there was no reply. I had the feeling that Ms. Roberts thought she’d said too much. I said, “You can trust me, Ms. Roberts. Would I have told you the general was murdered if I wasn’t on the level?”

She considered my logic. “Maybe.”

“Why would I?”

“How should I know?”

I sighed. “Ms. Roberts, the government wants the murder covered up. If you don’t cooperate, you’re going to help them do just that. It’s up to you. If you want the general’s killer to go free, hang up. I won’t call again.”

I waited, half expecting a click. Instead she said, “You trying to lay a guilt trip on me, Agent Collins?”

“I’m telling you how it is.”

A silence. Finally, in a resigned voice: “You better be on the level.”

“I am.”

Simon abruptly ended his call and mouthed, speaker. “Ms. Roberts,” I said, “I’m putting you on the speaker so my colleagues can listen.”

“Colleagues? What colleagues?” She was instantly suspicious again.

I quickly explained, adding, “You might have heard of Lieutenant Santos.”

She seemed to relax. “Right. Sure. The homicide cop. I guess it’ll be okay.”

Simon touched the overhead control screen as I hung up the phone. I said, “Ms. Roberts, why is your aunt frightened?”

“That’s what I’d like to know. She called me this morning, said to come over. She was crying on the phone, but wouldn’t say why. When I arrived, she told me that General Garber had died in an accident. That she was supposed to keep it a secret. Later, around nine, a man came over. He said he was from the Pentagon.”

“Was the man in a uniform?”

“No. A suit. And he was pretty creepy-looking. His face had a lot of scar tissue. Like he’d been badly burned.”

I said, “This guy give a name?”

“Not to me. But I think my aunt knew him.”

“Oh?”

“When she saw him, she didn’t ask who he was. She just asked him what he was doing here, and he told her he wanted to discuss a private matter.

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