Brazen Virtue

She told me that was the name she was using for the calls. I didn’t even remember it until I saw the card. No one but the people she worked for, and the people she talked to, knew her by that name.”
    Ben took out his lighter and passed it from hand to hand. He hadn’t liked the way Tess had looked at him before she’d gone back to her office. She was going to give him grief over this. “Is it possible your sister told someone else about her moonlighting, about the name?”
    “I have to say no.” She accepted the cigarette Ben passed her. “Kathy was very private. If she’d had a close friend, maybe. But she didn’t.” She drew deep, then exhaled.
    “She told you,” Ed reminded her.

    “Yes, she told me.” Grace paused a moment. She had to keep her mind clear. “When I think it through, I believe the only reason she told me was because she felt a little shaky herself. It was probably an impulse, and one I know she regretted. I pressed her for details a couple of times and she wouldn’t say word one. It was her business, hers alone. Kath was very firm on what was her business.” The wheels were beginning to turn again. She closed her eyes and concentrated. “Jonathan. He could have known.”
    “The ex-husband?” Harris asked.
    “Yes, when I talked to him at the funeral, he admitted that he knew Kathy had hired a lawyer and a detective. If he knew that much, it’s likely he knew the rest. I asked him what he would have done to keep Kath from getting custody of Kevin, and he told me he’d have done whatever became necessary.”
    “Grace.” Ed passed her a Styrofoam cup of tea. “Breezewood was in California the night your sister was murdered.”
    “Men like Jonathan don’t kill. They hire other people to do it. He hated her. He had a motive.”
    “We’ve already talked to him.” Ed took the cigarette that had burned down between her fingers and crushed it out. “He was very cooperative.”
    “I’m sure he was.”
    “He admitted he’d hired an agency to keep tabs on your sister.” Ed saw her eyes darken and went on. “To watch her, Grace. He knew about her plans for a custody suit.”
    “Then why did you let him go back to California?”
    “We didn’t have any reason to hold him.”
    “My sister’s dead. Dammit, my sister’s dead.”
    “We have no proof that your former brother-in-law had any part in your sister’s murder.” Harris, his hands clasped together, leaned forward on his desk. “And there is nothing whatever to tie him to the second murder.”
    “Second murder?” Forcing herself to take slow, even breaths, she turned to Ed. “There was another?”
    “Last night.”

    She wasn’t going to let the weakness take over again. Deliberately, she sipped the tea Ed had given her. It was important to keep her voice calm, even reasonable. The time for hysterics was past. “The same? The same as Kathy?”
    “Yes. We need a link, Grace. Did you know a Mary Grice?”
    She paused. Her memory was excellent. “No. Do you think Kath knew her?”
    “The name wasn’t in your sister’s address book,” Ben told her.
    “Then it’s unlikely. Kathy was very organized about such things. About everything.”
    “Captain.” The young cop stuck his head in the door. “We got some tax information on Mary Grice.” He glanced at Grace before handing the printout to Harris. “It lists her employers for last year.”
    Harris scanned the report and honed in on one name. Grace pulled out another cigarette. The wheels were indeed working again. “She worked for Fantasy, too, didn’t she? That’s the link.” She flicked on her lighter and felt stronger than she had in days. “That’s the only thing that plays.”
    Harris’s eyes narrowed as he studied her. “This investigation is confidential, Miss McCabe.”
    “Do you think I’d go to the press?” She blew out a stream of smoke as she rose. “You couldn’t be more wrong, Captain. The only thing that interests me is seeing my sister’s murderer pay. Excuse me.”
    Ed caught up with her as she reached the hall. “Where are you going?”
    “To talk to whoever owns or runs Fantasy, Incorporated.”
    “No, you’re not.”
    She stopped long enough to level a hard look at him. “Don’t tell me what I’m going to do.” She turned away, then was more surprised than annoyed to find herself whirled around and shoved into an empty office. “I bet you could clear the backfield single-handed.”
    “Sit down,