Insidious (FBI Thriller 20)

Savich nodded. “Let me see it.”

“The reason I came in, though—and this is a surprise—Veronica is here. She says it’s important.”

Savich glanced down at MAX’s screen, a summary of Veronica’s grades at Smith, mainly Bs and As, psychology major. He punched several keys, and MAX’s screen went black. “Let’s see what she’s got to say.”

53

* * *

Savich found Veronica seated next to Shirley’s desk, laughing at the photo of Shirley’s Pomeranian enthusiastically licking her face. “His name is Barker,” Shirley was saying, “after the old show host. He’s a yapper, particularly when he sees me eating bacon, which is way too often.” She looked at Savich. “You’ve told me Barker is Astro’s cousin when it comes to bacon.”

“Only difference is Astro prefers turkey bacon. Come, Veronica, let’s talk.” Savich touched Veronica’s hand, nodded to the CAU conference room. Sherlock joined them.

Once she was seated, Veronica said without preamble, “I had to insist on taking Venus to see Dr. Filbert this morning. What happened between her and Alexander last night, your insisting he move out of the house, on top of that horrible man Willig trying to shoot her, it’s all having a very bad effect on her, though she’s trying to hide it. Her blood pressure was way up this morning, and she didn’t look well. Pruitt told her all the stress she’s been living under would be too much for a twenty-year-old, but a twenty-year-old didn’t have to worry about a heart attack and she did. He told her she had to face the fact that she wasn’t a spring chicken any longer and she simply wasn’t up to all this nonsense. He said at her age a heart attack could kill her, and that’s why I’m here. She needs answers, Dillon. Can you tell me anything I can pass along to her? Or could you speak to her yourself?”

“Is she home resting?”

“Ha! Not a chance. You know Venus, she’s at Rasmussen Industries, in her big corner office, running things as she always is. She says if her heart goes, it goes, but she isn’t going to lie around with her feet up, waiting for it to happen. She’s got work to do.”

Sherlock said, “In other words, she insists on living her life until she drops.”

“Yes, that’s it exactly.”

“What did Venus say to you about Alexander, Veronica?”

“I hate this, Dillon, I really do. Venus asked me what I thought. When I didn’t answer right away, she bowed her head, didn’t say another word. I should have reassured her, I know that now, but—”

Sherlock said, “So you believe Alexander is guilty?”

“Venus told me about the evidence you found against him—the arsenic in his medicine cabinet, those phone calls to Willig. Honestly, I can’t imagine it, but—” She shrugged her shoulders.

“Veronica,” Savich said, “are you currently having, or have you ever had, an intimate relationship with Alexander?”

Veronica jerked back in her chair. “Me and Alexander? Goodness, no, Dillon, of course not. He’s never been interested in me that way, nor I him, I might add.”

“Why?” Sherlock asked. “He’s good-looking, smart, successful.”

“Let me say that Alexander’s always very polite to me, scrupulously so, for the fifteen years I’ve been with Venus. But I’ve always been aware he regards me as a kind of servant, not deserving of his attention, a very upstairs/downstairs mentality.”

“One other quick question,” Savich said. “Venus goes to her office every day, has for years. I’ve wondered why she believed she needed a companion fifteen years ago.”

Veronica smiled. “One week before she hired me, Venus had a real scare. She had the flu, and maybe it affected her heart rhythm, but she passed out. If Isabel hadn’t happened to come in her room that morning, she might have died. Venus decided she wanted someone who would always be there, making sure she put her feet on the floor in the morning. She never had that particular health problem again, but Venus and I really hit it off and she asked me not to leave.

“To tell you the truth, I chafed at first. I mean, the pay was good, but what was I to do with myself? I could read only so many books, walk so many miles since I never accompanied her to work. It was Venus who told me I was free as a bird during the day, so why not spread my wings? Why not decide what I most wanted and do it. I did.”

“And what was that?” Savich asked her.

“I started a small retail website for women’s clothing, as a reseller. It’s called Classic Threads.” She smiled. “Actually, it’s made what to me is a bundle over the years. I put a lot back into the business, since Venus sees to it that I don’t have to worry about money day to day. Nowadays, I’m up against big-time competition, but my reputation is well established, my prices are competitive, and I’ve got a huge reach geographically. Plus I’ve established some great relationships with my suppliers.”

Sherlock said, “Classic Threads, good website name. I’ll look you up. Venus must be really proud. Veronica, do you know if Venus is going to be at her office until this evening?”

“No. She promised me she’d be home by four this afternoon. But what about Alexander? Are you going to arrest him? Is he going to be able to live at home again?”

Savich sat forward. “This is difficult, I know, for you, for everyone in the family. About Alexander, we’ll have to see. In the meantime, I’m sure you’ll keep your eye on Venus, help her in any way you can. Tell her we’ll be speaking to her, and soon. Thank you for coming.”

As they escorted Veronica out of the conference room, Sherlock said, “Have you seen Rob Rasmussen since Tuesday night at the mansion?”

“No, why?”

“Just curious. What did you think of him?”

“Well, I have to say I have fond memories of the boy, but I don’t know the man yet. He’s got those unmistakable Rasmussen good looks. From what Venus tells me, he’s turned into a model citizen, a good businessman. But I think he’ll have to convince the rest of them, though. Tuesday night he was obviously on his best behavior, wanting everybody happy he was back.” She sighed. “He’s not at all like Alexander, thank goodness.”

Veronica paused, looked up at Savich. “I know you and Alexander don’t get along, but do you think he’s guilty of trying to murder his own grandmother?”