The Sky is Falling. Sidney Sheldon
voice hardened. ‘Can’t you fucking journalists let the dead rest? You’re all a bunch of muckraking coyotes picking at dead bodies.’
Dana sat there in shock.
Jack Stone looked embarrassed.
Dana controlled her temper. ‘General Booster, I assure you I am not interested in muckraking. I know the legend about Taylor Winthrop. I’m trying to get a picture of the man himself. Anything you can tell me would be greatly appreciated.’
General Booster leaned forward. ‘I don’t know what the hell you’re after, but I can tell you one thing. The legend was the man. When Taylor Winthrop was head of FRA, I worked under him. He was the best director this organization ever had. Everybody admired him. What’s happened to him and his family is a tragedy I can’t even begin to comprehend.‘ His face was tight. ’Frankly, I don’t like the press, Miss Evans. I think you people have gotten way out of hand. I watched your coverage in Sarajevo. Your hearts-and-flowers broadcasts didn’t help us any.’
Dana was trying hard to control her anger. ‘I wasn’t there to help you, General. I was there to report what was happening to the innocent –’
‘Whatever. For your information, Taylor Winthrop was as great a statesman as this country has ever had.’ His eyes fixed on hers. ‘If you intend to tear down his memory, you’re going to find yourself with a lot of enemies. Let me give you some advice. Don’t go looking for trouble, or you’re going to find it. That’s a promise. I’m warning you to stay the hell away. Good-bye, Miss Evans.’
Dana stared at him a moment, then rose. ‘Thank you very much, General.’ She strode out of the office.
Jack Stone hurried after her. ‘I’ll show you out.’
In the corridor, Dana took a deep breath and said angrily, ‘Is he always like that?’
Jack Stone sighed. ‘I apologize for him. He can be a little abrupt. He doesn’t mean anything by it.’
Dana said tightly, ‘Really? I had the feeling he did.’
‘Anyway, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry,’ Jack Stone said. He started to turn away.
Dana touched his sleeve. ‘Wait. I’d like to talk to you. It’s twelve o’clock. Could we have lunch somewhere?’
Jack Stone glanced toward the general’s door. ‘All right. Sholl’s Colonial Cafeteria on K Street in an hour?’
‘Great. Thank you.’
‘Don’t thank me too soon, Miss Evans.’
Dana was waiting for him when he walked into the half-deserted cafeteria. Jack Stone stood in the doorway for a moment making sure there was no one he knew in the restaurant, then he joined Dana at a table.
‘General Booster would have my ass if he knew I was talking to you. He’s a fine man. He’s in a tough, sensitive job, and he’s very, very good at what he does.’ He hesitated. ‘I’m afraid he doesn’t like the press.’
‘I gathered that,’ Dana said dryly.
‘I have to make something clear to you, Miss Evans. This conversation is completely off the record.’
‘I understand.’
They picked up trays and selected their food. When they sat down again, Jack Stone said, ‘I don’t want you to get the wrong impression of our organization. We’re the good guys. That’s why we got into it in the first place. We’re working to help underdeveloped countries.’
‘I appreciate that,’ Dana said.
‘What can I tell you about Taylor Winthrop?’
Dana said, ‘All I’ve gotten so far are tales of sainthood. The man must have had some flaws.’
‘He did,’ Jack Stone admitted. ‘Let me tell you the good things first. More than any man I’ve ever known, Taylor Winthrop cared about people.’ He paused. ’I mean really cared. He took notice of birthdays and marriages, and everyone who worked for him adored him. He had a keen, incisive mind, and he was a problem solver. And even though he was so involved in everything he was doing, he was at heart a family man. He loved his wife and he loved his children.’ He stopped.
Dana said, ‘What’s the bad part?’
Jack Stone said reluctantly, ‘Taylor Winthrop was a magnet for women. He was charismatic, handsome, rich, and powerful. Women found that hard to resist.’ He went on: ‘So every once in a while, Taylor … slipped. He had a few affairs, but I can assure you that none of them was serious, and he kept them very private. He would never do anything to hurt his family.’
‘Major Stone, can you think of anyone who would have had a reason to kill Taylor Winthrop and his family?’
Jack Stone put down his fork. ‘What?’
‘Someone with that high a profile must have made some enemies down the line.’
‘Miss Evans – are you implying that the Winthrops were murdered?’
‘I’m just asking,’ Dana said.
Jack Stone considered it a moment. Then he shook his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘It doesn’t make sense. Taylor Winthrop never harmed anyone in his life. If you’ve talked to any of his friends or associates, you would know that.’
‘Let me tell you what I’ve learned so far,’ Dana said. ’Taylor Winthrop was –’
Jack Stone held up a hand. ‘Miss Evans, the less I know, the better. I’m trying to stay outside the loop. I can help you best that way, if you know what I mean.’
Dana looked at him, puzzled. ‘I’m not sure exactly.’
‘Frankly, for your sake, I wish you would drop this whole matter. If you won’t, then be careful.’ And he stood up and was gone.
Dana sat there, thinking about what she had just heard. So Taylor Winthrop had no enemies. Maybe I’m going about this from the wrong angle. What if it wasn’t Taylor Winthrop who made a deadly enemy? What if it was one of his children? Or his wife?
Dana told Jeff about her luncheon with Major Jack Stone.
‘That’s interesting. What now?’
‘I want to talk to some of the people who knew the Winthrop children. Paul Winthrop was engaged to a girl named Harriet Berk. They were together for almost a year.’
‘I remember reading about them,’ Jeff said. He hesitated. ‘Darling, you know I’m behind you one hundred percent …’
‘Of course, Jeff.’
‘But what if you’re wrong about this? Accidents do happen. How much time are you going to spend on this?’
‘Not much more,’ Dana promised. ‘I’m just going to do a little more checking.’
Harriet Berk lived in an elegant duplex apartment in northwest Washington. She was a slim blonde in her early thirties, with a nervously engaging smile.
‘Thank you for seeing me,’ Dana said.
‘I’m not exactly sure why I am seeing you, Miss Evans. You said it was something about Paul.’
‘Yes.’ Dana chose her words carefully. ‘I don’t mean to pry into your personal life, but you and Paul were engaged to be married, and I’m sure you probably knew him better than anyone else.’
‘I like to think so.’
‘I’d love to know a little more about him, what he was really like.’
Harriet Berk was silent for a moment. When she spoke, her voice was soft. ‘Paul was like no other man I’ve ever known. He had a zest for life. He was kind and thoughtful of others. He could be very funny. He didn’t