Free Death at the Wheel by Kate Flora

bitch. He had a way of being critical that was very hurtful. Very personal. His disapproval could be devastating. If you don't believe me, ask Rachel."
    "Who's Rachel?"
    "His assistant. She wanted his job; he wanted her body. It was a standoff, as far as I know, but I did once hear her tell her friend Lois that, 'if that pig lays a hand on me one more time, I'm going to kill him.' He stole all her best ideas and then treated her like a stupid bimbo. Cal had her in tears more than once, and Rachel is tough."
    "Full name?"
    "Kaplan. Rachel Kaplan."
    "Married?"
    "No."
    "Think she'll talk to me?"
    "Well, she thinks she's the perfect professional woman and the soul of discretion, but if she's drunk enough, she'll talk. Try her Thursday night at Popovers. If she doesn't pick up some guy, she'll be working on getting drunk."
    "He ever make a pass at you?"
    "He made a pass at every female between ten and fifty. I think someone once told him he looked like a Kennedy and it went to his head."
    "Doesn't sound like it went to his head. It sounds like it went south." Sherry DuBose laughed out loud and then I heard her say something to someone in the room.
    "My husband said that was a good one."
    "Maybe this is a silly question, but did anyone like Calvin Bass?"
    "His secretary, Rita. But she's new. He went through secretaries like some people go through jelly beans. No. Doughnuts. Because doughnuts, like secretaries, have holes, and Cal Bass thought he had a calling when it came to filling holes." She laughed, choked, and mumbled "Excuse me" into the phone. I heard voices in the room, then she came back. "My husband says not to descend to Cal's level."
    "You were telling me about Rita?"
    "Poor little thing! Rita still thinks he walked on water. She cried all last week because he was dead."
    "Was she sleeping with him?"
    "I don't know but I wouldn't be surprised. Most of the others did."
    "Was he attractive?" I said, realizing that I had no idea what Cal Bass had looked like.
    "Devastating. Gorgeous. A hunk. And so driven and calculating. You have to admire a man who knows what he wants and is ruthless in going after it, until he steps on your face. He had a certain predatory charm but underneath he was a gilded dog turd. I always felt sorry for his wife."
    "Why?"
    "For all the reasons I've already told you. Because he treated her the same way he treated his employees. Demanding, scornful, and condescending. He treated her like a slightly simple child. Once she called him with a medical emergency involving one of the children and he yelled at her not to bother him when he was working. I wouldn't have put up with it, but I think she loved him. I've got to go put my daughter to bed. You want Rita's number?"
    I took Rita's number and leaned back, ready to spend some quality time with my friend Jack and ponder on what I'd heard, but Mr. Graham Bell's invention buzzed in my ear. A seductive man's voice, asking for me. I admitted that's who I was and he identified himself as Bennett Landry, Julie's attorney.
    "She asked me to touch base and see if you were able to do what she asked." He sounded as if he had no idea what that was.
    "You can tell her that I checked the house and everything was secure but that was before the police got there." I wasn't about to admit to some stranger, even a stranger working for Julie, that I'd removed anything from the house.
    "I'm worried about her," he said. "She seems disoriented and depressed and extremely anxious about the children. Do you... uh... I know this is awkward... but I'd just like to have some reactions from friends of hers... like you. Do you know of any reason why Julie might have been in Connecticut that weekend?"
    "Was she in Connecticut that weekend?"
    "That's what the police say."
    "I really don't know Julie very—"
    "What about his friends, his coworkers. Do you know if any of them might have had a grudge against him? Or of anyone who might have wanted to hurt him?"
    "I'm sorry, Mr.