Free Clear and Convincing Proof by Kate Wilhelm Page B

exactly what time it was. And Carlos said McIvey had been dragged off the main path out of sight. The police haven’t confirmed it, but if Carlos said so, I believe it. He’d notice something like that.”
    â€œA powerful dwarf,” Thomas said. “Go on. What else?”
    â€œDarren said he passed the open gate and saw an umbrella blowing around in the wind. He left his bike and walked in, closed the umbrella and leaned it against the building out of the rain. He didn’t see anyone and didn’t see the body. He thought the umbrella was mine.” He drew in a breath. “It was McIvey’s. Anyway, Darren got here before eight, but he doesn’t know how much before. Who pays attention like that?”
    He got up to pour more wine. Thomas shook his head when Greg started to refill his glass. He never drank more than one glass of wine when he had to drive. He knew that at his age, if he was involved in any infraction of the law while he was driving, he might lose his license. He took no chances.
    Naomi leaned forward in her chair and said indignantly, “The police searched the entire clinic and garden. They had someone in the pond, had blocked off the alley to search there, and even here, the residence and garden. I don’t even know what else. They’re looking for a gun, or for a shiny black cape or something. They intercepted Annie when she got to the hospital in Portland. An officer stayed with her when she picked up the X rays, and then drove herback to Eugene. They didn’t tell her anything, just that there had been an accident. What a nightmare that trip home must have been for her! And they got her to open the trunk of her car and the glove box for them to have a look inside.” Naomi’s voice was tight with anger.
    â€œWhere is she now?” Thomas asked.
    â€œUpstairs in the guest room resting. She can’t stay alone in that condominium tonight. I took her over to get a few things. A detective went with us and put tape on the doors, sealed them.” She ran her hand through her hair, a gesture she used when upset. By now her hair looked like a straw bale that had come loose from a binding wire, standing out in all directions. “They acted as if they suspect her!”
    Thomas waved that away. “Well, they do. They always suspect the surviving spouse in a homicide. But, Greg, Naomi, if they decide she couldn’t have moved him, if indeed he was moved, you know they’ll suspect both of you, me maybe. We all will benefit from this untimely death, I’m afraid. Not as much as the widow, certainly, but enough. And we have to decide how much to tell them of the hassle we’ve been going through. I hope the subject hasn’t already been raised.”
    Greg snorted with derision. “They asked the group first, then when they questioned us separately. ‘Do you know of any enemies he had, anyone who might have wanted to harm him?’ Not a soul in that lounge stirred, except maybe to shake their heads. Nope, we don’t know anything like that.”
    Thomas regarded Greg for a moment, then he said, “I suggest we keep it that way. If they want to know about the only board meeting David attended, I believe Annie can provide the tape for them to listen to. I explained their duties to the three new shareholders—David, Annie and you—and then I proposed that we consider creating a foundation. We adjourned without further discussion.” His gaze was unwavering. “Is that your recollection of our meeting, Greg?”
    The tape would not reveal the flush of rage that had colored David’s face, or his tight-lipped silence, his curt nod…. “That’s how it was,” Greg said.
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    In the upstairs guest room Annie lay on the bed staring dry-eyed at the ceiling, remembering how happy she had been living in this room, in this house years before. How safe she had felt. She could not recapture any of