worry about. Now, suddenly a single mom, she had to be careful that her
legal career didn’t abruptly vanish. She would have to pile that one
next to all the other problems she currently had.
She took the brick walkway, cut across Ivy Road and headed over to the
university’s famed Rotunda building. She made her way through the
equally famous Lawn portion of the campus grounds, where the
university’s elite students lived in one-room quarters that had changed
little from Thomas Jefferson’s time, with fireplaces the only source of
heat. The simple beauty of the campus had enthralled her whenever she
had visited before. Now, framed against a pristine late-fall morning,
it was barely noticed. She had many questions, and it was time she
started getting some answers. She sat down on the steps of the Rotunda
and once again pulled her phone from her purse. She punched in the
required numbers. The phone rang twice.
“Triton Global.”
“Kay?” Sidney asked.
“Sid?” Kay Vincent was Jason’s secretary. A plump woman in her fifties,
she had adored Jason and had even served as a babysitter for Amy on
several occasions. Sidney had liked her from the start, both sharing
common perspectives on motherhood, work and men.
“Kay, how are you? I’m sorry I haven’t called before.”
“How am I? Oh, Lord, Sid, I am so sorry. So damn sorry.”
Sidney could hear the tears welling up in the older woman’s voice.
“I know, Kay. I know. It’s all been so sudden. So…” Sidney’s voice
trailed off, then she steeled herself. She had to know some things, and
Kay Vincent was the most honest source she could think of. “Kay, you
know that Jason took some time off from the office.”
“Right. He said he was going to paint the kitchen and fix up the
garage. He’d been talking about it for a week.”
“He never mentioned the trip to Los Angeles to you?”
“No. I was shocked to hear he was on that plane.”
“Has anyone been in to talk to you about Jason?”
“Lots of people. Everyone’s devastated.”
“How about Quentin Rowe?”
“He’s been by several times.” Kay paused and then said, “Sid, why all
these questions?”
“Kay, this needs to be kept between us, okay?”
“All right.” She sounded very reluctant.
“I thought Jason was going to L.A. for a job interview with another
company because that’s what he told me. I recently found out that that
wasn’t true.”
“My God!”
While Kay slowly digested the news, Sidney ventured another question.
“Kay, is there any reason you could think of why Jason would have lied
about that? Was he acting strange at work?”
There was a considerable pause now. “Kay?” Sidney fidgeted on the
steps. The cold from the bricks had begun to chill her. She abruptly
stood up.
“Sid, we have really strict rules about discussing any of the company’s
business. I don’t want to get into trouble.”
“I know that, Kay. I’m one of Triton’s attorneys, remember?”
“Well, this is a little bit different.” Kay’s voice abruptly disappeared
from the line. Sidney wondered if she had hung up, but then the voice
reappeared. “Can you call me later tonight? I don’t really want to
talk on company time about this. I’ll be home around eight.
You still have my home phone?”
“I’ve got it, Kay. Thanks.”
Kay Vincent hung up without saying anything else.
Jason rarely discussed Triton’s business with Sidney, although, as an
attorney at Tyler, Stone, she was immersed in numerous matters for the
company. Her husband took the ethical responsibilities of his position
very seriously. He had always been careful not to put his wife in an
awkward situation. At least until now. She Slowly walked back to the
parking garage.
After paying the attendant, she started toward her car. Suddenly she
turned, but by then the man had disappeared around the corner.
She walked rapidly back to the street next to the garage and peered down
it. No one was in sight. There were numerous shops along there,
though. Someone could have disappeared into any one of them in a few
seconds. She had first noticed him looking at her while she was seated