Dark-clothed mourners were scattered among the pews, clustering up front and thinning out toward the rear. Ann spotted Irene, Beth, and Shondi under a row of glowing stained-glass windows.
Hey, girl, Irene whispered as Ann slid into the pew. Hows it going? Looking any better?
Ann shook her head. Looking a lot worse, actually, she thought. But saying that would bring a new surge of sympathy, new offers to help. Her friends loyalty made her feel like a thief.
Irene patted Anns hand. Ann was saved from having to respond by the swelling of organ music. Ann had never liked the organ; it was cheap, she thought. Those deep-earth rumblings, those piping angels reeds: the sounds themselves could stir the soul, whether the music was good or bad.
As the hymn went on, talk faded, fidgeting ended. Ann had the odd sense of having, after all, wandered into the wrong chapel. It seemed unreal, this gravity of music and stained glass, all these solemn people. What could they have to do with Jen, who exasperated her friends with her flakiness and made them love her for her laughing audacity and her refusal to judge?
The minister took the pulpit and Jens family filed in from the side chapel. And Ann, so used to seeing in her mind the next step and the one after, so used to living as much where she was going as where she was, felt the life and movement around her recede without warning until she found herself still, directionless: becalmed on a wide, windless sea. Nothing moored her, but nothing suggested a direction to travel in; there was not even the haphazard help of a random breeze. The people, colors, lights, and music seemed both sharp and distant, as though she were observing them from afar. As though, now that shed finally stopped moving, she was not here, not anywhere.
Honey, are you okay? Irene whispered. Youre white as a ghost.
There could be no way of explaining this alarming sensation to Irene, not even of describing it. Ann, at a loss for an answer and groping for one, was confused to hear Irene say, Oh, my God! Now I get it. Oh, girl! Irene put an arm around Anns shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze. Ann, bewildered, turned to look at her, but Irenes glare was fixed on something ahead. Ann followed her gaze, and suddenly the room snapped back into substance and the moment took on direction. Settling himself in the front pew next to Jens mother and brothers, distinguished and respectful in a fine black suit, was Walter Glybenhall.
Sutton Place
Ann heard none of the sermon, hymns, or tributes. Not even Shondis, though something Shondi said brought a soft laugh to the chapel; the sound scraped on Anns nerves like a knife. Anns cheeks, her scalp, the backs of her hands were flaming. She knew from the way Irene kept glancing at her that her white-water turbulence was visible but there was nothing she could do. As Jens oldest friend shed been expected to speak and shed intended to, planning to say something about sunshine, but she shook her head when the minister sent her a questioning look. He nodded his sympathy and called one of Jens brothers to lead a prayer.
Finally the service was over. The organ started up again, setting Anns teeth on edge. Jens mother, supported by her sons, made her way from the chapel. Cousins and uncles followed, and then everyone was freed. Ann sprang to her feet. It was him! she hissed to Irene. That son of a bitch was the new boyfriend!
Irene blinked. Who?
Who? Walter Glybenhall! That hypocritical bastard! He killed her and now he sits there consoling her mother!
Honey, get a grip. What do you
Dont tell me to get a grip! Hes rich, hes famous, hes a horny old fossil. I dont know why I didnt see it before!
Ann! Damn, girl, chill. Even if he was Jens boyfriend, that doesnt mean he killed her.
He did.
And he may not be, Irene argued. They move in the same circles, dont they? Like you and her? Couldnt he just have known them forever?
That would make him want her more. She shook off Irenes grip.
On the sidewalk she waited near the row of black limos. She was sweating, her heart racing. When she saw Jens mother come out of the funeral home, her back stiffened. When Walter came out moments later, she stepped into his path.
Eyeing her with distaste, he said, What are you doing here, Ann?
Jen was a friend of mine.
Well, Im sorry to hear that. Its a sad thing to lose a friend.
You killed her, Walter.
What?
You were sleeping with her and you murdered her. And Ill prove it.
He shook his head. Ann, my beautiful Ann. Had you not said so many enormously stupid things over the last few weeks, Id be astonished by both your dementia and your boorish timing. While you focus on your own miserable obsession, people around you are grieving. Perhaps you might give a thought to them?
Walter, she said tightly, you set me up. It took me forever but I have the pieces now. I dont know how Jens death fits but Ill find out. When I do
When you do it will be a cold day in hell. It amazes me that Im even responding to your fantastic accusation, except to prevent the embarrassment of this scene from growing. Please hear this: I had nothing whatever to do with Jennifers death. I never had a relationship with the poor child, except as a dear friend of her mothers.
If you were sleeping with her mother, youd have wanted Jen too.
My God, he breathed. He held up his hand to someone behind her, instructing them to wait. And they would. Theyd do as Walter Glybenhall told them, the way everyone always did. Ann, he said. Im going to assume the loss of a dear friend is causing this fresh bout of instability, and I will forgive you. He turned.
She lunged for him, seizing only his jacket, nothing of substance. Walter! Dont think you can
A hand clamped her arm. Honey, stop it now! Irene whispered fiercely.
Walters jacket slipped from Anns grip. In a voice of gentle sympathy, he said, Please accept my condolences on your loss. Smiling, he slipped into the waiting limo beside Jens mother.
City Hall
Louises wineglass clouded up as her chardonnay was poured. That made the second frosty thing on her side of the table, Charlie thought. He held his hand over his own glass and shook his head. The waiter put the bottle on ice and discreetly retreated, leaving Charlie and Louise alone in the mayors private dining room.
Youre not drinking? Louise asked.
I dont very much lately, in the middle of the day.
Oh. Thats a change. I suppose I hadnt noticed because until recently you havent often been available for such an intimate little lunch.
When people were willing to be seen with me, you mean.
She set her glass down. Thats exactly what I mean.
This will pass.
Darling, this will not pass. You might improve the situation by taking action, though even that might not work. But certainly if you do nothing this will not pass. It will destroy you.
I think youre exaggerating.
Yes, you said that last week. When your approval rating was six points higher than it is now.
The teachers union
This has nothing to do with the teachers union! Louises eyes blazed. Two months into your first term the sanitation workers struck and your ratings went up. Do you remember? People didnt like the piles of garbage but they liked you! You said you were sorry but the unions demands were unreasonable and it would take as long as it took. You led the news cameras to the garden and showed them Gracie Mansions garbage bags. And everyone adored you. You can be pigheaded, wrong, and stupid and the voters will love you, darling, but you cannot appear conniving and petty. You just look nasty, and like a fool. Other mayors have been admired for their ability to flimflam but you never will be, Charlie, never.
Its a dubious talent, anyway.
Dont give me that. If you had it youd use it. Louise attacked her Stilton-and-watercress salad.
Charlie bit into his crab cake, surprised to find himself wondering if that was true. He rarely questioned Louises political assessments, of him or anyone else. And bullshitting people flimflamming, in Louises tasteful idiom was an ability hed never spent much effort to develop. But if he could? If hed been born with the gift of humbug? Was he different from other politicians because he refused to lie to his constituents? Or only because he didnt know how?
In any case, its what we built your career on, Louise said, as though hed spoken aloud. People expect to see you acting straight with them.
To see me acting straight. An odd turn of phrase, Charlie thought.
Now it looks like you and Ford Corrington conspired to screw Walter. And you just want to sit there and let it melt away. But it wont. Voters dont mind being lied to by a liar, but they wont put up with it from an honest man.
What do you want me to do?
We already talked about it. She didnt bother to hide her annoyance. Youve got to cut Corrington loose. Make it look like that deal you had Sue leak and I wish you hadnt done that, Charlie was Corringtons idea, his end run around the public process.
You wish we hadnt leaked it, or hadnt made it?
Both! I wish youd stood behind Walter.
Walter was about to be arrested for insurance fraud and murder.
Louise stabbed a forkful of salad and chewed as though it were her watercress she was furious with.
Anyway, Charlie said, Ford Corringtons in trouble with his own people already. It dirtied him up, to look like he was sneaking around with me.
All the more reason. Maybe we could pick up some new supporters. People Fords upset over the years.
He could lose the Garden Project.
You could lose the governorship.
That foundation would fold without him.
There are other charities. Well choose one and make a big donation. If you want Walter and his friends back, youve got to offer up a sacrifice. This is the only message theyll understand.
Charlie looked at Louise, glossy black hair, shining blue eyes, anger adding a beautiful rose glow to her skin. Behind her, sunlight sparkled through deep green leaves. Louise, of course, could see none of this: nothing was in her line of sight but his tired face and the mayoral suite.
He said, Ill never get Walter back.
No, not publicly. His prides too wounded.
Youre buying that?
But she gave him a cold look what you might get, if you work for it, is his quiet word in the ears of his friends. Fewer rules and regs is still their best choice to protect their interests. Theyll throw their weight your way for governor if they feel you understand where this all went wrong.
If I crawl.
If you admit your mistake!
My mistake was making a dirty deal with Walter. Thats not what fewer rules and regs was supposed to be about, and thats where this went wrong.
Walter? Walters the victim here.
Only in terms of fact. Not moral intention.
Oh, for Gods sake, Charlie! Are you saying because no one meant to screw Walter except that insane DOI woman, hes not a victim?
No. Im saying the least sorry person in New York that any of this happened is Walter.
How can you say that? He was led through the streets in handcuffs!
And look at him now. Hes got every last city department and regulatory agency by the balls and were about to settle with him for millions. Im beginning to think you could throw Walter off a cliff and itd turn out to be the fastest way down to a gold mine.
Walters been a good friend to you, Charlie.
Dammit, Louise! Charlie clanked his fork to his plate. Walter wouldve screwed me, you, the dog, and the cat any time in the last ten years if it wouldve gotten him something he wanted. And hed kiss my ass in Macys window this very afternoon if there were something in that for him.
Louise regarded him with that neutral, appraising look he knew so well, that look she fixed on strangers. Youre not going to do it, are you?
Do what? Hang Ford Corrington out to dry? No. Im not.
Its the only way, Charlie.
The only way for what?
Slowly and with the precise enunciation of the finishing schools shed attended while he was at Stuyvesant, she said, The only way you will ever be Governor of the State of New York.
I hope thats not true.
It is. Her blazing eyes gave him another familiar look, the one she used to finish people off. And whats more, you know it is. I can see it on your face. Corrington, or Albany. Youre as sure as I am.
Sutton Place
Drink your latte and stop seething, Irene ordered Ann.
I cant just sit here!
You cant get up and carry on like a crazy woman, either. Drink, calm down, and lets talk about it. The four of them were clustered around a tiny table in a crowded café.
Theres nothing to talk about. He killed Jen.
Why? As part of this whole plot, this whole setup?
Im sorry I ever told you guys about that. None of you believe me, do you?
Shondi said gently, I think wed all like to. I know you wouldnt make up something like that. But it seems so
far-fetched.
Forget about it. I dont give a damn. He probably got off on that from the beginning, knowing no one would believe me, if the light finally dawned. Bastard! He probably planned to tell me about it just to make sure I knew who won. But hes not going to win. I swear to God Im going to destroy him.
If you go anywhere near him now, Irene said, hell have you arrested.
I dont care! He doesnt own the world, no matter what he thinks! Everyone says he cant be stopped, but Im going to stop him.
What you said to him, Irene said carefully, about wanting Jen if hed slept with her mother
Forget it.
Honey
I said forget it. I dont want to talk about it. If youre going to help me, fine. If not, see you later.