They were not back in Rick's apartment until after nine. Kathy was pooped, but she was so excited she did not want to go to bed. Rick spent half an hour reading to her. He was surprised how much he enjoyed reading to his daughter. That was something Betsy usually did. He enjoyed dinner too. In fact, he had enjoyed all the time they spent together.
The doorbell rang. Rick checked his watch. Who would be calling at nine forty-five? Rick looked through the peephole. It took him a moment to remember the Woman who was standing in the hall.
"Miss. Sloane, isn't it?" Rick asked, when the door was open.
"You have a good memory."
"What can I do for you?"
Sloane looked embarrassed. "I really shouldn't intrude like this, but I remembered your address. You told Betsy before you left the office. I was in the neighborhood. I know it's late, but I was going to arrange a meeting with you for background for my article, anyway, so I thought I'd take a chance. If you're busy, I can come some other time."
"Actually, that would be best. I've got Kathy with me and she just went to sleep. I don't want to disturb her, and I'm pretty beat myself."
"Say no more, Mr. Tannenbaum. Could we meet later in the week?"
"Do you really want to talk to me? Betsy and I are separated, you know."
"I do know, but I would like to talk to you about her.
She's a remarkable woman and your view of her would be very informative."
"I'm not sure I want to discuss our marriage for publication."
"will you think it over?"
Rick hesitated, then said, "Sure. Call me at the office."
"Thank you, Mr. Tannenbaum. Do you have a card?"
Rick patted his pockets and remembered his wallet was in the bedroom.
"Step in for a minute. I'll get you one."
Rick turned his back on Nora Sloane and started into the apartment. Nora was taller than Rick. She glided behind him and looped her left arm around his neck while she drew the knife out of her deep coat pocket with her right hand. Rick felt himself jerked up on his toes when Sloane leaned back and tilted his chin up. He did not feel anything when the knife slashed across his throat, because his body went into shock. There was a jolt when the knife slid into his back, then another jolt. Rick tried to struggle, but he lost control of his body. Blood spurted from his neck. He viewed the red fountain like a tourist staring at a landmark. The room wavered. Rick felt his energy drain out of him along with the blood that drenched the floor. Nora Sloane released her hold and Rick slid to the carpet. She closed the apartment door quietly and looked around. There was a living room at the end of the hall. Sloane walked through it, down another ball and stopped at the first door. She pushed it open gently and stared at Kathy. The darling little girl was asleep. She looked lovely.
Chapter Twenty-six.
Betsy was finishing breakfast when the doorbell rang. A light rain had been falling -all morning and it was hard to see Nora Sloane through the streaked pane in the kitchen window. She was standing on the welcome mat holding in umbrella in one hand and a large shopping bag in the other.
Betsy carried her coffee cup to the front door.
Nora smiled when it opened.
"Can I come in?" Sloane asked.
"Sure," Betsy said, stepping aside. Sloane leaned her umbrella against the wall in the entryway and unbuttoned her raincoat. She was wearing tight-fitting jeans, a light blue work shirt and a dark blue sweater.
"Can we sit down?" Nora asked, gesturing toward the living room. Betsy was confused by this morning visit, but she sat down on the couch. Nora sat in an armchair across from her and took a gun out of the shopping bag.
The coffee cup slipped from Betsy's fingers and shattered when it struck the marble tabletop. A dark brown puddle formed around the shards.
"I'm sorry I frightened you," Sloane said calmly.
Betsy stared at the gun.
"Don't let this bother you," Sloane said. "I wouldn't hurt you. I like you. I'm just not certain how you'll react when I explain why I'm here, and I want to be certain you don't do anything foolish. You won't do anything rash, will you?"
"No."
"Good. Now, listen carefully to me. Martin Darius must not be freed. On Monday, before the hearing starts, you will ask to use judge Norwood's jury room to speak in private with your client. There's a door that opens into the corridor. When I knock on the door, you'll let me in."
"Then what?"
"That's none of your concern."
"Why should I do this for you?"
Nora reached into the shopping bag and pulled out Oliver. She handed the stuffed animal to Betsy.
"I have Kathy. She's a sweet child. She'll be fine, if you do what I tell you."
"How… how did you get Kathy? Rick didn't call me."
"Rick's dead." Betsy gaped at Nora, not certain she had heard her correctly. "He hurt you. Men are like that.
Martin is the worst example. Making us act like dogs, forcing us to fuck each other, mounting us as if we were inanimate objects, cartoon women, so he could live out his fantasies. But other men do the same thing in different ways. Like Rick. He used you, then discarded you."
"oh, God!" Betsy wept, stunned and only half believing what Sloane said.
"He's not dead."
"I did it for you, Betsy."
"No, Sloane. He didn't deserve this."
Sloane's features hardened. "They all deserve to die, Betsy. All of them."
"You're Samantha Reardon, aren't you?"
Reardon nodded.
"I don't understand. After what you went through, how could you kill those women?"
"That was hard, Betsy. I made certain they didn't suffer. I only marked them when they were anesthetized.
If there was another way, I would have chosen it."
Of course, Betsy thought, if Reardon kidnapped the women to frame Martin Darius, it would be easier to deal with them if they were unconscious. A nurse who assisted in surgery would know all about anesthetics like pentobarbital.
Reardon smiled warmly, reversed the gun and held it out to Betsy.
"Don't be afraid. I said I wouldn't hurt you. Take it.
I want you to see how much I trust you."
Betsy half-reached, then stopped.
"Go on," Reardon urged her. "Do as I say. I know you won't shoot me. I'm the only one who knows where Kathy is. If I was killed, no one would be able to find her.
She'd starve to death. That's a cruel and horrible way to die. I know. I almost died from starvation."
Betsy took the gun. It was cold to the touch and heavy. She had the power to kill Reardon, but she felt utterly helpless.
"if I do what you say, you'll give me Kathy unharmed?"
"Kathy is my insurance policy, just as I was Peter Lake's. Nancy Gordon told me all about the governor's pardon. I've learned so much from Martin Darius. I can't wait to thank him, in person."
Reardon sat (quietly for a while. She did not move.
Betsy tried to stay just as still, but it was impossible. She shifted on the couch. The seconds passed. Reardon looked as if she was having trouble framing her thoughts.
When she spoke, she looked into Betsy's eyes with an expression of deep concern and addressed Betsy the way a teacher addresses a prize pupil when she wants to make certain that the student understands a key point.
"You have to see Darius for what he is to understand what I'm doing. He is the Devil. Not just a bad person, but pure evil. Ordinary measures wouldn't have worked.
Who would believe me? I've been committed twice.
When I tried to tell people in Hunter's Point, no one would listen. Now I know why. I always suspected there were others working with Martin.
Nancy Gordon confirmed that. She told me all about the conspiracy to free Martin and blame Henry Waters. Only the Devil would have so much power. Think of it. The governor, the mayor, policemen. Only Gordon resisted. And she was the only woman."
Reardon watched Betsy intently. "I'll bet you'll be tempted to call the police as soon as I leave. You mustn't do that. They might catch me.