Falling Awake

precisely. “It was a very interesting talk.”
    “One man in the front went to sleep. Everyone else looked like they were thinking about lunch or picking up their voice mail messages.”
    “Okay, there were some dry parts, but we can work on those.”

    “I appreciate your positive attitude, but we might as well face facts here. I don’t have your flair for this type of work. It was kind of you and Leila to talk Farrell into giving me the opportunity, but I think it’s clear that I don’t have what it takes to be a Kyler Method instructor.”
    “You can do it, Isabel,” Tamsyn said, shifting into full Kyler Method mode. “Let’s go over your presentation points before the next class.”
    “Thanks, but no thanks.” Isabel gathered up her notes. “I’m going to talk to Farrell right now and let him know that I’m resigning. Something tells me that he’ll be thrilled.”
    r andolph Belvedere felt as if he had just found out he might be holding a winning lottery ticket. He struggled not to let his desperate hope show on his face.
    “Are you telling me that my father took out a large life insurance policy?” he asked, stacking his hands on the desk in what he thought looked like a calm, centered, controlled pose. The truth was, his fingers were shaking so badly he was afraid the dangerous-looking insurance investigator might think he had a tremor.
    The man seated on the other side of the desk had introduced himself as Charles Ward. When Mrs. Johnson had shown him into the room a few minutes ago, Randolph’s first thought was that Ward didn’t look like an insurance company employee. His suit was expensive but it was cut along Euro-sleek lines, not thetraditional, conservative, more boxy style favored by most American businessmen.
    But it wasn’t Ward’s clothes that worried him, it was Ward himself. The suit might have come from Italy, but Ward looked like he came from the wrong side of the tracks.
    “All I am allowed to say is that I am looking into the circumstances of Dr. Belvedere’s death,” Ward said, making it clear that he was not about to give out unauthorized information. “If my findings warrant further action, someone else will contact you to discuss the details of the policy.”
    “I see.” Randolph pressed his right hand very tightly on top of his left. “Can you tell me whether or not the policy is a large one?”
    “Let’s just say that I’m expensive.” Ward smiled enigmatically. “The company doesn’t send me out to investigate a claim unless the policy is large enough to make it worthwhile to hire me.”
    “I understand.” Randolph realized that his mouth had suddenly gone very dry. He had to swallow a couple of times before he could continue. “Well then, what is it you want to verify?”
    “Cause of death.”
    Randolph’s first reaction was bewilderment. “There’s no question about that. My father died of a heart attack.”
    “I’m sure that’s correct,” Ward said easily. “But with so much money at stake, my company wants to be absolutely certain.”
    “What other possibility is there?”
    “Suicide.”
    “Are you crazy?” Randolph was dumbstruck. “My father would never have taken his own life.”

    “Relatives often say that. It’s amazing how few people see it coming.”
    Randolph shook his head once, absolutely certain. “My father lived for his research.” He grimaced. “I’ll be the first to admit that he was very much on the fringes of his field, but that doesn’t change the fact that he believed in his work. He wouldn’t have taken his own life.”
    “The center does sleep research,” Ward pointed out calmly. “I’m assuming that means that your father would have had access to a variety of sleep medications, some of which are probably experimental, right?”
    Randolph ground his back teeth. “I assure you, my father did not conduct experiments on himself.”
    “You probably knew him better than anyone else.” Ward shrugged. “But my employer wants me to ask a few questions. I’m supposed to talk to some of the people who were working here the night he died. Just routine stuff. The sooner I file my report, the sooner the company pays off. Any objections?”
    “Not at all. I’ll make sure that my secretary alerts the staff. Feel free to talk to anyone you like. You’ll soon find out that I’m telling you the truth. My father did not commit suicide.”
    Ward stood and picked up his briefcase. “Got a hunch you’re