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“Lady Wilson,” Pete came into the family room where Lisa was reading to Abby on the floor.
“Yes Pete,” Lady Wilson said not getting off the floor. Being close to six months pregnant didn’t help her move with ease and grace. She refused to get to her feet to meet with the young man. She could talk with him right where she was sitting on the floor.
“Cleo not going to be able to do your interview,” Pete said. “She committed suicide. Her body was found this morning in her apartment.”
“Any idea why,” Lisa asked thinking that she was going to have to get up and leave the family room after all. Abby didn’t need to hear this. Jill who was home for a short visit looked at her step mother nodded and said, “Abby lets go swimming.”
“Can I mom?” Abby asked.
“Not too long Jill, dinner will be served in about an hour.” Lisa said. Jill swept Abby off the floor and took the child away.
“No, Lady Wilson,” Pete said, “they just found her dead in her front room. They did find there was a warrant for her arrest on Pleasure. But her suicide is a mystery.”
“What do the Mounties say,” Lisa struggled to get to her feet. Pete went forward and helped Lady Wilson to her feet.
“Thonian MPs are investigating the case. They are not convinced that it is a suicide. Cleo doesn’t fit the parameters of someone who commits suicide. Yet nothing else seems to be the case.” Pete replied, “The Companion investigators have closed the case.”
“Francine,” Lisa said seeing her secretary coming into the family room, “Would you send my personal condolences to Cleo’s family.”
“Ma’am,” Francine replied, “Cleo has no family. She has no spouse or anyone living with her.”
“Oh,” Lisa said, “What are the plans for her memorial?”
“I haven’t checked yet Mistress.” Francine said. “Do you want to be aware of those plans?”
“Pete,” Lisa turned to the Evacuation Command’s Public Relations specialist, “What would the Crown do in this case?”
“I am not certain lady Wilson.” Pete said, “Although Cleo wasn’t a daily in the press corps, she was known to the Crown PR office, and it would be appropriate to send flowers or something. Maybe sending them by a page?”
“Lady Wilson.” Francine said, “From little I know your invitation was found in the apartment. I am not certain you should be that closely associated with the biowoman’s death. There could be scandal with this.”
“There is not much I can do to prevent that,” Lisa replied. “The invitation was known to her editor. Someone will think to connect the dots and ask if I had anything to do with it. In fact it would be a good idea for someone on Mike’s staff to speak with the police on this. We have to be above board about this. Page.” Lisa called for the palace AI, “connect me with Tannerman.”
“Tannerman,” Liz’s voice and face filled the air, “Oh hi Lady Wilson. I’ll put you through to him.”
“Slow down a minute Liz,” Lisa said, normally she would just be connected to her husband and let the consequences be damned. This time she wanted to know what the command staff knew about Cleo’s death without making a big deal out of it. “Does Michael and the rest of the team know about Cleo’s death?”
“Yes Lady Wilson,” the aide said, “I know where you are going with this. Lord Wilson’s statement is if the MPs need to talk to anyone on our staff they get full unfettered access. Why, have you been contacted by investigator Grenlin.”
“No, not at this time,” Lisa said, “Okay we’ll let it lie until they contact us.”
“Okay Lady Wilson,” Liz replied, “oh he is on time. He will be home for dinner tonight.”
“Thanks Liz,” Lisa said, “good bye.” Liz’s face disappeared from the area.
“Fran is there another clone or bioengineered person who is working for the press that has the same following as Cleo?”
“Not really ma’am,” Francine said
“Lady Wilson,” Pete said, “I checked into that when we sent Cleo’s invitation and none of them are worth the air they breathe. I wouldn’t be comfortable letting them close to you and I am not too certain that Lord Wilson, and or Mac wouldn’t go ballistic if some of the others were allowed within a 100 yards of you.”
“A couple of them are retired closers, or have contacts with Ebio. One or two may have contacts with the Peoples Republic, and possibly with the Theocracy. Some of the remaining reporters have been too critical of the evacuation.”
“Could that work to our benefit?” Lisa asked, “Get the most critical reporter and let that person interview me.”
“But they may ask you about your dark years.” Pete said.
“Make it a live interview.” Lisa said, “I can refrain from answering those questions, and if he presses I could ask him some questions on his back ground. I want a very thorough background on whoever’s going to interview me.”
“There is a very popular show on Sunday nights. It’s called Trena Day One.” Pete replied, “The host can be a bit of a jerk. He’s not too friendly to the Crown and the Marshal is a particular target of his. He’d love to get his hands a hold of you big time.”
Lisa was quiet for a moment then an almost predatory smile crossed her face. She had seen this show and knew how he handled his guess. “I want to know his deepest darkest secrets. He gets told that I will only answer questions about my time on Trena and how I and Michael met. Even in this modern time a man who causes a pregnant woman any grief can expect a shit storm.”
That got a startled look from her assembled friends and staff. They had never heard Lady Wilson utter any profanity. Sometimes she wished her staff would take her off the pedestal that they put her on. She was just a house wife whose husband had a very demanding job.
“Lady Wilson,” Georgia said, “Mac will brief you personally on Don Least. Mac has wanted a piece of him for a long time.”
Every Last Mother's Child Page 170