Passing Through Veils by John Harrison

Author:John Harrison
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781680574227
Publisher: WordFire Press

chapter thirteen

Kathryn was sitting in front of the Watergate, that infamous collection of buildings next to the Kennedy Center, trying to decide if she should go through with it. The encounter with Louisa at Saint Elizabeth’s had rocked her world. She didn’t know how to process it. She needed to talk to Jack about it even though she feared what his reaction might be. He wasn’t too thrilled when she brought him the mementos from Rebeca’s keepsake box. How would he feel about her tracking down the nanny who was with him the night his mother was murdered? How would he react to the photo she’d found hidden in his parents’ furniture, a picture that drove his former nanny into a frenzied act of violence?

An intimidating security guard, big as an NFL lineman, in a black suit that barely concealed the bulge of his gun, had been dispatched to find out what she was up to. She was about to put the car into reverse when Jack appeared in the lobby and saw her. After a quick brief by the security guard, he came outside.

“Are you all right?” he said as he leaned in uncomfortably close through her window.

“I was driving home,” she said, “thinking about some things, and … I know I should have called, but do you have a moment? You think we could go somewhere and talk?” She suddenly realized she hadn’t considered the possibility he might have ‘company’ upstairs. Maybe he’d make up some lame excuse about the hour or work he had to do. Instead, he smiled that charming smile and actually seemed pleased to see her.

“Sure. You could come inside.” When she didn’t answer right away, he offered, “Or maybe we should go someplace neutral, if that’d be more appropriate?”

She looked up at the notorious building where once a president’s paranoia had brought about his downfall.

“I’ve heard it was haunted,” she said trying to sound casual.

“Yeah, there have been rumors about guys in plumbers’ overalls sneaking around late at night trying to finish the job,” he joked.

He makes it so easy, she thought.

He signaled the wary guard, who pushed some buttons on the security console opening the gate to the garage.

A few moments later, Jack led her into his condo.

A simple one-bedroom was what Jack called it when they first went out together. The description was woefully inadequate. It may have had only one bedroom, but the space was palatial. On the 14th floor with exquisite views up and down the Potomac. True to his word, Jack was indeed a minimalist. The furniture, what there was of it, was sleek and functional. There was little personality, but everything felt expensive and unique. Even the kitchenware seemed designer-inspired, and the appliances weren’t just modern, they were futuristic, with IoT-enabled sensors that dinged intermittently like annoying assistants pleading to be helpful. Pale and subdued lighting came on or went off when one moved from area to area. Kathryn noticed several Amazon Echo Dots lying in wait around the apartment anticipating being summoned to service.

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