feeling well.”
“Would you like me to play the tape for you, Alan? The one from the
press conference where you gave me that particularly moving line about
things that happen that have no meaning. It was quite a nice thing to
say. A private comment between old friends that was picked up by several
TV and radio stations in the area but that never made the light of day.
It’s a tribute to your popularity, I suppose, that no one picked up on
it. You were being so charming, so supportive, who cared if you said
Christy was sick. And you did say that, Alan. You told me that if
Christy hadn’t gotten sick she wouldn’t have been murdered. She would’ve
gone with me to the island and she would be alive today.
“I was the only one Christy told about being sick, Alan.
And as I said, I never even told the police. So how did you know?” “You
must have told me.”
“I neither met nor spoke with you prior to the press conference. That
much is easily confirmed. My schedule is monitored by the minute. As
President your whereabouts and communications are pretty much known at
all times. I say pretty much, because on the night Christy was killed
you were certainly not among your usual haunts. You happened to be in my
house, and more to the point, in my bedroom. At the press conference we
were surrounded by dozens of people at all times. Everything we said to
each other is on tape somewhere. You didn’t learn it from me.”
“Walter, please tell me where you are. I want to help you through this.”
“Christy was never really good at keeping things straight.
She must have been so proud of her subterfuge with me. She probably
bragged to you, didn’t she? How she had snookered the old man? Because
in fact my late wife was the only person in the world who could’ve told
you that she had feigned illness. And you carelessly uttered those words
to me. I don’t know why it took me so long to arrive at the truth. I
suppose I was so obsessed with finding Christy’s killer that I accepted
the burglary theory without question. Perhaps it was also subconscious
self-denial. Because I was never wholly ignorant of Christy’s desires
for you. But I guess I just didn’t want to believe you could do that to
me. I should have assumed the worst in human nature and I would not have
found myself disappointed. But as they say, better late than never.”,
“Walter, why did you call me?”
Sullivan’s voice grew more quiet but lost none of its force, none of its
intensity. “Because, you bastard, I wanted to be the one to tell you of
your new future. It will involve lawyers and courts and more public
exposure than even as President you ever dreamed was possible. Because I
didn’t want you to be wholly surprised when the police presented
themselves on your doorstep. And most of all, I wanted you to know
exactly who to thank for all of iL”
The President’s voice became tense. “Walter, if you want me to help you,
I will. But I am the President of the United States. And although you
are one of my oldest friends, I will not tolerate this type of
accusation from you or anyone else.”
“That’s good, Alan. Very good. You discerned that I would be taping the
conversation. Not that it matters.” Sullivan paused for a moment, then
continued. “My prot6gd, Alan. Taught you everything I knew, and you
learned well.
Well enough to hold the highest office in the land. Fortunately, your
fall will also be the steepest.”
“Walter, you’ve been under a lot of stress. For the last time, please
get some help.”
“Funny, Alan, that’s precisely my advice to you.”
Sullivan clicked off the phone and turned off the recorder.
His heart was beating abnormally fast. He put one hand against his
chest, forced himself to relax. A coronary was not going to be allowed.
He was going to be around to see this one.
He looked out the window and then at the inside of the room. His little