Read Online Divine Justice by Cheryl Kaye Tardif - Free Book Online Page B

home," she snapped.
    He gave her a cool look. "Careful what you wish for."
    Marilyn gasped.
     
    Natassia hissed in a breath of air. Marilyn had released her hand and was staring at her with concern.
    "Are you okay, Agent Prushenko?"
    "I, uh…sorry, I was thinking about something else."
    She caught Jasi's eye and gave a subtle smile to indicate she'd seen something.
    "Mrs. Winkler," she continued, "did your husband have any known enemies, past or present?"
    The woman shook her head. "I don't know. He never really discussed work with me."
    "Any financial problems? Did he owe anyone money?"
    "You mean besides the bank?" Marilyn glanced uneasily at a briefcase on the floor. "We're in decent shape, financially. I make very good money too."
    Natassia caught the tightness in her voice. Money made the Winkler world go round. Marilyn Winkler had lived her life in the shadows of her well-known husband, yet she probably made twice the income.
    "What exactly does Paragon research?" she asked.
    Marilyn shrugged. "A bit of this and that. We started off looking for UFOs." At Natassia's raised brow, she chuckled. "Yes, we're looking for E.T., but we haven't found him yet. Seriously though, we're involved in satellite research, boring stuff to most people."
    "Was your husband involved in your work?"
    "No, Monty steered clear of PRC. He and Daddy had never seen eye-to-eye. Monty told me the company was in my hands alone. He was very adamant about that. Said if it sank it would be my fault and mine alone."
    "Did you or Monty receive any unsettling or threatening letters or emails?"
    "I don't think so."
    "Did he have any problems at work that you know of?"
    Marilyn's gaze traveled across the room and rested on one of the paintings. "There were always problems. Issues , he called them. Not everyone agreed with his policies or how he ran his campaigns."
    James entered the room. His hand trembled as he placed a silver tray on the table. Resisting the temptation to help him, Natassia stared at him, waiting for the man to leave. He glared back at her, his face pinched and stubborn.
    "That's fine, James," Marilyn said. "I'll call you if I need anything else."
    His chin rose ever so slightly as he hobbled to the far end of the room.
    Once the door closed, Natassia said, "Did your husband receive any threatening phone calls?"
    Marilyn poured cream into a mug of coffee. She stirred it for a long time. Finally, she shook her head. "He never said anything to me. I think he would tell me if anyone was threatening him. But…"
    Natassia leaned forward. "But what?"
    "He received phone calls the same time every night for the past week. It was kind of strange. The phone would ring twice and whoever it was would hang up. Then a few minutes later someone would call again. Monty always picked up on the first ring."
    "What time was that?"
    "Around six-thirty."
    Natassia turned to Jasi. "That coincides with the phone calls from the payphone."
    "Payphone?" Marilyn sounded surprised.
    "Is there anyone you can think of who'd call your husband from a payphone?" Natassia asked.
    "No. Everyone we know has a cell phone or one of those data-communicators."
    "Did you ask your husband about the calls?"
    "I asked him point-blank after the third call."
    "What did he say?"
    "He gave me a blank look and said he didn't get a call. I was getting worried. I thought maybe he had Alzheimer's."
    "Did he always have problems with his memory?"
    "Not usually. But…"
    "But what?"
    "About six months ago, something happened. I don't know what exactly, but…Monty started to change."
    Natassia flicked a look at Jasi. "In what way?"
    "He became distracted, less patient. With me mainly. And he stopped discussing his day with me. That wasn't like him." Marilyn took a sip of coffee. "He always shared everything."
    "Six months ago…" Natassia recalled something. "That's right before he voted for the gun rights bill. Perhaps he was preoccupied with that."
    "Or with someone," Marilyn said