She checked in to the Four Seasons, and walked around the city she had once loved so much, admiring the recent changes and smiling at familiar sights. She felt her heart catch when she walked past their old address, and stood quietly looking at the lake. It was a trip back in time for her, as memories of Bill and the happy years they’d spent there came rushing back. She had always been happy there, and both their children had been born in Chicago. It was a sophisticated city, but smaller and gentler than New York, where she had grown up. Bill had brought her to the city when they were first married, and she had loved living there with him.
She was planning to visit Josh in the small town where he lived in Iowa the next day. He had been startled by her text and call that morning, and happy that she was coming, and had arranged to have some time off. He couldn’t believe that his mother had finally left the house and was traveling again. And she said she was having dinner with his grandfather in Chicago that night. Josh called Darcy to tell her, and she was as stunned as he was.
“Maybe she’s on drugs,” Darcy suggested. “Is Uncle Tony coming with her? Maybe he got her out.”
“I don’t think so. She didn’t mention him.” The reason for her visit was a mystery to both of them, but it seemed like good news. And their grandfather was equally relieved and surprised by the change. They’d all given up hope of seeing Olympia out in the world again. She’d offered no explanation and just said she was coming, on the spur of the moment.
When Olympia went to meet her father-in-law that night, he was delighted to see her. Charles Foster was a strong, intelligent man, originally an attorney, who had become involved in the behind-the-scenes world of Washington politics fifty years earlier, and had been influential ever since. He was energetic and vital and an extraordinary person. It was he who had convinced Bill to run for the Senate, and set his sights on the presidency one day, and he had a profound affection and admiration for his daughter-in-law. Like her, he had been devastated when Bill died, but he had recovered from it in healthier ways than she had, had gone back to work, which kept him busy, and engaged in life every day. Even at his age, he was on numerous boards around the country, and in England. He was a power broker, and still had considerable influence in Washington. He was revered by all who knew him, much like his son. They were both charismatic people with powerful ideals, big dreams, and solid values.
He took Olympia to Les Nomades for dinner, which was fashionable and elegant, and he was current on recent books and world events, knowledgeable about music and art, knew all the key players in Washington, and even many of the young ones. He was a living legend and looked more like a man of sixty-five than his actual age. All of his faculties were in order, and he continued to play tennis and golf, go to social events, and see friends, of which he had many of all ages around the world. And he looked like a much older version of his late son. He visited his grandson in Iowa at least once a month, and had been deeply saddened to see his daughter-in-law turn her back on the world.
“I’m so happy to see you here,” he told Olympia with obvious pleasure after they were seated. He had been widowed for twenty-five years but had gone on with his life with determination. He had worried about Olympia since Bill’s death and her inability to move forward without him. But he also knew that the decision to recover had to come from her. No one else could do it for her, or force her to embrace life again. He was well aware that her trip to Chicago was an important first step for her, and the hopeful sign they’d all been waiting for.
“I thought it was time to get going again,” she said shyly, as he nodded agreement. It was long overdue. “I’m going to see Josh tomorrow. And I want to visit Darcy sometime soon. She has a new beau, a French doctor.” Listening to her, and seeing a new light in her eyes, Charles was thrilled. He cared about her a great deal.
“So I hear.” He was up on family news and stayed in touch with both his grandchildren. “What about you, Olympia?” he asked her seriously after they ordered dinner. “What are you going to do now?”
“I don’t know. I’m working on another book, about Bill.”
Charles looked unhappy to hear it. “Is that a good idea?” He didn’t think so. “It keeps you looking backward instead of forward. I don’t think that’s what Bill would have wanted for you. The first book was terrific, and a wonderful tribute to him. I’m not sure a second one is necessary. He’s not going to be running for office again,” he said with a nostalgic smile. He had adjusted to the reality of the loss far better than she had.
“I know. I’ve started to have my doubts about the book too,” she said honestly, and was relieved to hear him say it. “I don’t know what else to do. The kids are gone…Bill…” She looked at him with momentary panic, but he could see that she was trying to find her way back. It was what they all wanted for her, and writing another book about her husband seemed counterproductive to him. He wished she would find some other activity to keep her busy.
“You’ve got a law degree,” Charles reminded her. “Why don’t you use it? Take some classes to get up to speed, and get a job.” She looked shocked by what he said, but she liked the idea. He had always been a source of good advice for her. He was all about living and being engaged in life, and passionate about everything he did, which his son had learned from him.
“I haven’t practiced law since the kids were little and we moved to Washington,” she said quietly. She couldn’t see herself practicing law again after so long.
“You can get everything you need in six months or a year. And even if you don’t practice again, you can get a job that uses your skills. I think working is important, for all of us.” He had never rested on his laurels, nor had Bill. And Olympia no longer had the excuse of young children who needed her. “You have a lot to offer and there’s so much you could do.” It was a new idea to her, and he could see that she had lost faith in herself and the world. She looked unsure, which wasn’t like her, and life without Bill had proved to be even harder than she feared. Losing his wife hadn’t stopped Charles, but the shocking circumstances of Bill’s death, murdered while standing next to her, had paralyzed her. It embarrassed her now, listening to everything Charles was doing, he was so excited about life, engaged in so many projects, and doing so much good.
“Maybe I will go back to school,” she said thoughtfully, and he hoped she would. And after that, get into the workforce, or take on a philanthropic project. He had the connections to help her, and would have gladly. He had offered to before, but she’d been buried in the book. He hated to see her lose time all over again with a second one.
“You can travel, do pro bono legal work, get a job, work for a foundation. There are a lot of things you can do. You’re free now.” He made it sound like an opportunity instead of a death sentence, which was how she had viewed it for six years, and Tony had reinforced that. She didn’t mention Tony to her father-in-law because she knew Bill’s father had never liked him, and more than once had called him sleazy, and an opportunist trying to prey on Bill, which was turning out to be true. He had never trusted him, and if Tony was indicted for illegal activities, Charles would know soon enough, and so would everyone else, including her kids. She didn’t want to say anything to anyone yet. She knew her children would be crushed, and were deeply fond of him, but Charles had regarded him with suspicion for thirty years.
They chatted animatedly all through dinner, and Olympia was excited about Charles’s ideas when he dropped her off at her hotel. His vitality and enthusiasm were contagious. She was glad she had come to Chicago to see him. Her instincts had been right to do so, and she wished she’d seen more of him in recent years. It felt wonderful to be in Chicago again and out in the world. And she could hardly wait to see Josh the next day. When Charles left her, he made her promise not to lose her momentum, start exploring new activities, and put the second book on hold. And she said she would.
—
Olympia drove the three hours to Iowa in a rented car the next day, which
gave her time to think about Charles’s suggestions the night before. The farm where Josh worked was just outside Davenport, she met him at his home and was excited to see him. He looked tanned and healthy, his blond hair almost white from the sun, and he was thrilled to see his mother. The girl standing shyly beside him looked almost like his twin. She was his girlfriend, Joanna, Olympia hadn’t met her although they’d chatted on Skype for two years. Joanna was a bright, cheerful girl, with a positive attitude about life, they were living together and worked at the same farm. She had a master’s from Stanford and had grown up in California, and Josh had told his mother since the beginning that he was serious about her. He didn’t want to marry her yet, but he hoped to one day, so Olympia paid close attention to her. She was in awe of meeting Olympia. Josh’s mother was impressive, and a legend. But Olympia was so natural and normal in the flesh, and so unassuming that Joanna felt at ease with her, and the two women took to each other quickly.
They had dinner at a simple hamburger place in town and Olympia told Josh all about dinner with his grandfather the night before, and how much fun it had been, Olympia’s eyes lit up when she said it.
“He invited us to visit him in Europe this summer,” Josh told her. “He’s renting a house in the south of France,” he said with a smile that was identical to his father’s, and tore at his mother’s heart. “We’re planning to go, and we’re going to spend some time with Joanna’s family in Santa Barbara too.” It made Olympia realize even more that the rest of the world had gone on living after Bill, and she hadn’t. “What are you doing this summer, Mom?” It seemed a safe question to ask her now that she was out at last, and not hiding at home. He still had no idea what had changed, and didn’t want to press her about it. But whatever it was had to be a good thing.
“I don’t know.” She looked blank at the question about her summer. She hadn’t thought about summer in years. There were no seasons in her secluded world. She had a lot of catching up to do. “Maybe I should rent a house at the beach somewhere?” It suddenly sounded like a great idea. “Would you come to visit?” she asked them both, and they nodded with broad smiles. It saddened her to come face-to-face with the fact that she had even isolated herself from her children, except for visits on Skype. She had been leading a virtual life, and not a real one. She had become their virtual mother for six years, with the excuse of the trauma she’d been through, and Tony reminding her of it constantly, as though to separate her from them too. Everything he did was about controlling her, and she hadn’t seen it, but she was beginning to now.
“How’s your book coming, Mom?” Josh asked her politely during dinner, since it was usually all she talked about. A fleeting sadness passed through his mother’s eyes like a cloud obscuring the sun, and she sighed.
“I’ve been thinking about putting it aside for a while. Your grandfather thinks I should go back to school, and get a job practicing law again. He suggested it last night, and I kind of like the idea. I’m pretty rusty, but it would be fun to get up and running again. I wouldn’t mind working for a nonprofit involved in women’s rights.”
“Way to go, Mom!” Her son cheered her on, beaming, and Joanna smiled at them. Josh couldn’t wait to tell his sister. Their mother was alive again. He just hoped it would last. They had missed her for too long. And Joanna knew only too well how sad he’d been about it and how helpless he felt. He talked to her about it a lot.
Olympia dropped them off at home after dinner and went back to her hotel. It was a small bed and breakfast and they were going to spend the next day together. She liked Joanna very much, and she thought Josh seemed happy. He liked his job, his way of life, and he was satisfied with his choice of partner and career. He wanted the simple life, and a career in agriculture suited him perfectly. He loved the outdoors, was knowledgeable about livestock and new breeding techniques, and had learned a lot at the organic farm where they worked. And Joanna shared his goals and interests. They seemed like a perfect match. He said he wanted to have his own farm one day, but he still had a lot to learn first. Joanna was very knowledgeable from working at her father’s dairy. Olympia was smiling, thinking about Josh as she got ready for bed, when her cellphone rang. She saw that it was Jennifer, and she was happy to hear from her. She started to tell her about her visits with her father-in-law and Josh, and Jennifer interrupted her, sounding tense.
“The house was ransacked last night,” Jennifer said, and was obviously shaken.
“What house? My house? What do you mean?” It made no sense. “Why would anyone ransack my house? Was anything stolen?” She had some valuable art she had inherited from her parents, and things of sentimental value, but ransacking the place seemed crazy to her.
“Nothing of value was taken,” Jennifer answered her question. “But your papers were all over the place when I came in, and I think some of them are missing. Whoever did it just randomly took boxes of papers.”
“My papers? Why?” And then she instantly remembered what she’d told Tony…all the imaginary boxes of papers she had invented for him, to elicit a reaction and see what he said.
“They took a lot of them, and your stereo system for good measure. And there’s a small painting missing in the front hall. I think they tried to make it look like a robbery, but it wasn’t about that. The silver was untouched, none of the other paintings are gone. You left a pearl necklace on your dresser and it’s still there.” Jennifer was aware that she had had several meetings with the CIA, but Olympia hadn’t explained them to her, and Jennifer knew nothing about the wire she had worn at dinner on Saturday night, nor the reasons for it. “I called the insurance company and the police to report it. Is there anyone else you want me to call?”
Olympia thought before she answered, and realized that she needed to call John Pelham. What if her dinner with Tony and the mention of Bill’s papers had caused this to happen?
“I’ll take care of it. When did it happen?” Olympia said, sounding calmer than she felt.
“It must have been Sunday sometime after you left. They disarmed the burglar alarm very professionally, according to the police, but they made a hell of a mess in your study, and they left a trail of papers going down the stairs. I came in and called the police this morning and they’ve been here all day. This is the first chance I’ve had to call you. Let me know if there’s anything else you want me to do.”
Olympia thanked her and called Officer Pelham immediately and told him what had happened.
“I listened to the recording of your dinner with the Vice President on Saturday night. He’s obviously frightened of what you’ve got in those papers you told him about. You did a good job,” he praised her, and there was no doubt in either of their minds by then who had orchestrated the break-in. Tony wanted any incriminating evidence he thought she had, before she read it herself. But there was nothing to read. It didn’t exist, and the papers he’d taken were worthless, as he would discover when he read through them. She wondered if he’d come back for more, looking for the rest.
Before she could ask for it, Pelham told her he would assign two agents to protect her and the house. She explained that she was in Iowa visiting her son, but planned to return on Wednesday. “I’ll get two agents to your house tonight,” he promised. “I have your assistant’s number, we’ll work it out with her. It sounds like Clark is starting to panic. And taking one painting and a stereo isn’t going to fool anyone. He’s looking for something. He’s trying to cover his tracks. He has a lot to lose here. I don’t want to go into it in detail, but we have his Swiss accounts. We have all the records of his transactions and deposits from the Saudis during those years. And we have two witnesses who are willing to testify to the grand jury about bribes he’s taken recently. We’re getting close here. I want you to be careful, Mrs. Foster. Don’t discuss this with anyone. I want you to call him and tell him about the break-in. If he’s who you would have turned to for help before, you need to call him now. If you don’t, he’ll know you suspect him.
I’m afraid we’re going to have to rely on your talents as an actress again. You did a good job on Saturday at dinner, that’s why he ransacked the house, or rather had it done.”
Olympia’s heart sank at the thought of calling Tony. She didn’t want to, and she didn’t want to spoil her time with Josh. She felt as though she’d flown the coop with her trip to Chicago and Iowa, and she didn’t want to go back into seclusion, or start telling Tony her every move again.
“When do you want me to call him?” she asked in a dead voice.
“Now. You just found out, so you need to do it now, just as you would have before you began suspecting him or spoke to us. We’ll stay in close touch, and I’ll get the two agents to your place right now, in case they come back for more. Let me know what happened when you’ve spoken to him.”
Olympia reached Tony on his private cellphone number as soon as she hung up with Pelham, and told him about the break-in. She managed to seem distressed and almost hysterical and was very convincing.
“I just don’t understand it, they made a mess of my office, and took all my notes for the book I’m working on. It’s as though someone is trying to stop me from writing the book about him. Why would anyone do that? And they took a beautiful painting of my mother’s, and my stereo, which is worth nothing. But I’m upset about the painting and Bill’s papers.”
“Of course you are,” he said sympathetically, expressing deep concern. “It sounds like vandals, probably young drug addicts who took the stereo to sell for a fix, and the painting just for the hell of it. And what miserable luck that they took Bill’s papers. Were any of them important?” He sounded hopeful, and pathetically transparent.
Dangerous Games Page 16
