Another Senseless Killing (13) Nick and I nodded sympathetically. “Sometimes she has no idea of where she is --- “ He closed his eyes for a second. “ --- or who she is.” “How old is she --- if you don’t mind my asking?” I don’t know what possessed to ask it. Maybe Margo was right. Maybe I do have a ‘thing’ about age. I started to retract the question but the senator answered it evenly, without batting an eye. “She’s seventy-eight years old.” Nick and I looked at each other. Then Carlson, as if reading my mind, quickly added, “Yes. She is somewhat older than me.” There were several seconds of silence before he continued candidly. “It’s common knowledge that I married her for her money and her influence twenty-four years ago. Her father had the largest law firm in Boston. And needless to say, we both got what we wanted.” His smile was smug. “I got a lot of money and a seat in the Senate. She, in turn, got someone to save her from being an old maid. Someone to overlook her caustic personality, ignore her common looks and cater to her every spoiled whim.” Carlson’s bitterness filled the air like a thick fog. Foley and I let it pass. He went on quietly. “You would certainly never guess all that now, would you?” I remembered what Nick told me in the car. Neither of us said anything. We just shook our heads. Then Nick spoke up. “Let’s get back to Kate Blair.” Carlson began to rub his chin again. He looked extremely uncomfortable. And it wasn’t the leather chair. His eyes drooped at the corners. “I really don’t know her. I only --- “ “Senator Carlson.” Nick interrupted. He spoke quickly and firmly. “We found your name and address in her address book.” He leaned in toward the agitated congressman. “How do you explain that?” There was a long pause before he responded. “Gentlemen, I think I should consult my attorney before we proceed any further.” “That’s up to you, Senator.” Nick said smugly. “But if you have nothing to hide then --- “ “I most certainly have nothing to hide.” Red blotches suddenly appeared on his cheeks. “It’s just that --- “ “Good.” Nick’s phony smile faded. “Then let’s continue.” “I --- I really think that consulting my attorney would be --- “ “Tantamount to taking the Fifth Amendment.” Nick quickly interjected. Reid Carlson’s entire face tightened. “I hardly see where --- “ He then turned briefly toward the closed door. I wondered if he was expecting someone. His wife? Lorence? He took a deep breath and stared at Nick for what seemed like hours. He spoke slowly. “I --- I did meet her once. It was a long time ago. I believe it was at a party. I’m sorry. I’d forgotten.” He folded his hands in front of him as he spoke. “I can’t understand why she would have my name in her address book.” “We can’t either, Senator.” I added my two cents. “That’s why we’re here.” “Maybe she saw me on TV or read about me someplace, and she wanted some political favor -- or some such thing.” “Like what?” Interrogation was definitely Nick’s long suit. He paused a moment, then shrugged and threw his hands in the air. Nick added quickly. “That is a rather an odd situation --- isn’t it?” “Gentlemen.” Carlson was fidgeting now more than ever. “I have no idea what she wanted and I see no other reason for my name being in her possession.” He paused again. When we failed to respond, he continued. “I’m sorry I can’t help you. But I repeat, I didn’t know her --- except for a brief time a few years ago.” “But you did remember her.” Nick said. “Oh yes. I thought she was the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen.” He rubbed his chin again as he shifted positions in his seat. “But for me to give up the life I have for the affair you are suggesting would be nothing less than preposterous!” He stood up. “Gentlemen, I have a busy schedule. If --- “ “Two more questions, Senator.” Nick and I stood to face him. “What kind of car do you drive?” “I have a ‘ninety-two’ Porsche and a ‘ninety-four Cadillac DeVille. Why?” Nick withdrew his pocket spiral and began to take notes. Then he asked, “Do you own any firearms?” Carlson looked at his watch. He was becoming more agitated. “Yes, I do. Several, as a matter of fact.” Then he added quickly, “And I have permits for all of them.” “I’m sure you do.” Nick said as he put away his notebook and pencil. “May we see them please?” Carlson hesitated, then looked at his watch again. “Gentlemen. I’ve told you I have a busy --- “ “We won’t be long.” Nick didn’t budge one millimeter. Once again, Carlson paused a long time before he responded. His voice was crisp. “I do feel at this point I should refrain from answering any more questions until I confer with legal counsel.” “Senator.” Nick narrowed his eyes and cocked his head. “Are you afraid of something?” “Of course not!” The crispness was gone. His voice cracked. “I just think --- “ “Then you have nothing to hide --- do you?” I admired Foley’s relentlessness. “Unless, of course, you are hiding something, in which case --- “ “I am hiding absolutely nothing! I’ve already told you that!” Carlson glared at Nick for a long time. He then hurried to the door. As he opened it, he said with exhaustion, “This way.” He led us through a narrow doorway and into a small square room. An empty desk and a chair were the only furniture. Three walls were bare. The wallpaper was a nondescript gray. One wall had a glass case with two hand guns, one forty-five, two twenty-twos and four weapons I had never seen before. One space was empty. “Why so many weapons?” I asked. “These have been passed down from generation to generation --- “ His tone was hostile “ --- in my wife’s family. So technically they’re hers.” “What goes over there?” Nick pointed to the vacant space. Carlson leaned in close to the case and squinted. “I don’t know. I rarely come in here.” Then he took out a pair of reading glasses from his inside jacket pocket and put them on the end of his nose. “It might be a thirty-eight caliber pistol.” He straightened up and put his glasses away. “But I can’t be certain. As I said, I rarely come in here.” He turned rapidly to Nick and spoke firmly. “Now if that’s all, I must insist --- “ “Does this case stay locked?” Nick ignored Carlson’s request.
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