Right to Die

saw the needle marks, how awkward I must have been when I helped Enrique. There was an autopsy. The prosecutor— Spain has a different system, but what we’d call the prosecutor was a Franquista. Except for Enrique’s funeral, I never met him, but apparently my husband had once saved the life of the prosecutor’s wife. So the man felt indebted to us and basically sat on the autopsy report. I returned to the States, trying to put my life back together while some Spanish lawyers probated Enrique’s estate.”
    Andrus shook her head. “A journalist, a real left winger, got a whiff of the autopsy results, showing that Enrique died from an overdose of drugs. When it turned out the Franquista had covered it up, there was a scandal. Worse, it was made to look like corruption, as though I had somehow bribed the man. The prosecutor was ruined, and I became a fugitive, though my lawyers here were able to fight the halfhearted extradition effort. I never even lost my holdings as Enrique’s widow in Spain .”
    Andrus came forward in her chair. “That’s the perversity of it all, John. I helped a man I loved move through the pain and hopelessness of incurable illness to the peace that follows. Everyone who tried to do the right thing in that direction was vilified by the system, but in the end nothing changed in the society.”
    “How did the son feel about all this?”
    “Ramón? He seemed pretty indifferent. Almost glad that it was over. Enrique’s will split the estate between us. I got the house on the ocean in Spain —in Candás, near Gijón—though I just rent it out. Ramón was interested more in the movable assets.”
    “Movable?”
    “Yes. He decided to settle in the States, even shortened his name to just Ray Cuervo.”
    “Where does he live?”
    “I believe somewhere on the north shore. I haven’t seen him in years, but... Marblehead , perhaps.” Andrus altered her expression. “Why do you ask?”
    “I might want to talk with him.”
    “I can’t believe Ramón could be involved in this.”
    “How about Manolo?”
    “Manolo doesn’t know anything. I’ve questioned him extensively. Over the years he’s become good enough in recognizing English for us to communicate with him on simple things.”
    “I meant, could Manolo be involved in this?”
    “Manolo?” A laugh. “Manolo is like the sun and the moon, John. He was devoted to Enrique, never left his side.”
    “Manolo watched you inject your husband?”
    “Watched me with the needle, yes. Not with the bottle.”
    “Manolo ever figure out that you killed your husband?”
    “John, Manolo is loyal, in the medieval sense of the word. I’m sure that at some point Enrique signed to him that he was always to serve me. After Enrique died, I packed to come back to the States. So did Manolo. In his mind there was no question that where I went, he went. A simple man, but not stupid. For example, if you talk to him, you have to say the words out loud, not just mouth them. Otherwise, Manolo can tell from the way your throat looks that you’re not really speaking, and he’s hurt.”
    “How did you ever get him into the country?”
    “I was able to work things out with immigration before the dam broke in Spain . Manolo has stayed on with me ever since. I even got him a driver’s license, but please don’t ask how. He has no place else to go and nothing else to do.”
    “How does your present husband feel about that?”
    “Tuck?” Andrus seemed amused and affected a southern accent. “Tucker Hebert rolls with the punches, John.” Resuming her voice, she said, “Nothing bothers him, which is a refreshing attitude to share once in a while. Tuck gets along fine with Manolo. Besides, Manolo was already a part of my household when Tuck met me.”
    “At a tennis tournament?”
    “At...? Oh, no. Well, yes. I guess so. It was at Longwood Cricket Club, where they hold the pro championships out in Brookline ? But he wasn’t playing actively anymore.”
    “How does Tucker feel about your position on the right to die?”
    Andrus tented her fingers, rested her chin lightly on the fingertips and rocked her head back and forth. “If you’ll be working for me, you can ask him.”
    “You realize that I can’t both bodyguard and investigate at the same time.”
    “Manolo’s presence is all the ‘bodyguarding’ I can tolerate, John. Understand this, please. I didn’t like the idea of Inés and Alec going to the police precisely because of my