Tuesday Nov. 27
In the cab ride to her office following Tuesday's program, Susan cast her thoughts back to the call she had put in to Det. Monahan the previous day. She wondered if he somehow thought she was crazy when she related the meeting with Claire. If he did have those thoughts, he certainly hadn't revealed them. Susan had told him everything she could remember about the short conversation between herself and the older woman.
"Let me get this straight, Dr. Chandler," he'd said. "She told you she thinks the danger you're in stems from something that happened in the past?"
"That's what she said, Detective," Susan confirmed.
"Any idea what she meant by that?"
"I've been trying to think of it myself, but aside from what we discussed earlier about convicts and parolees that might have a beef with me, I'm drawing a blank."
"I see…" Det. Monahan mused. "Listen, I know about what happened three years ago with Alexander Wright…"
"Yes…" Susan drew a breath.
"…Mr. Wright was a quiet man, but nevertheless a highly respected and very powerful man in a behind-the-scenes sort of way. I need to know if you think it's possible he's got a fan out there who would want to even the score. Or that perhaps he's pulling this scare-tactic stunt from the inside to torment you…"
"You want to know if I think it's possible? I suppose anything is possible, Detective. Do I think it's likely? No. I don't think Alex has the kinds of friends who would take the time and effort to get back at me. In fact, aside from acquaintances with business and the various charitable boards on which he served, Alexander Wright wasn't extremely close to anyone. That all came out in the trial. He was very reserved. Charming, to be sure, but reserved; private...No. Neither a 'friend' of Alex Wright nor Alex himself is doing this. That's my gut reaction, Detective."
"Okay…Thanks for your personal take. Now I want you to level with me about Claire, herself. Forget what she said. I want to know what your opinion – your professional opinion – is about her behaviour and overall appearance."
"If you want to know if I think she's crazy, I don't. In fact she seemed initially reluctant to share with me the things she did. She was unsure of how I would react, so her behaviour tended towards a kind of tentative and careful demeanour."
"Your husband seems to think it isn't a mere coincidence that Claire gave you a verbal warning and that the next day a written one showed up at your offices."
"I'm aware of what Don thinks," Susan said, "I just happen to think he's wrong."
She took that opportunity to bring up her radio show and her suspicions that an obsessed listener could be responsible, and that she had put the word out that Anton Riley was known to be operating as a con man the same day the threat arrived. It was Detective Monahan's turn, however, to reject a theory.
"Let's for argument's sake say Riley was listening to the show last Monday. He hears you talking about scams, and he hears you describing how he came on to your Mom and then tried to get her to fork over some big dough. Your show is two hours long. The flowers arrived before you even got back to your office. Unless this guy got pissed off at you and sent those flowers off pronto, it's pretty doubtful he had enough time to plan it and pull it off. I think we're wasting our time with Riley, Dr. Chandler."
"I don't know what else to suggest to you then, Detective. I've told you all I can about Claire; what she looks like…if you're lucky, you'll find that one particular 'Claire' registered as a parishioner at St. Pat's."
The conversation ended shortly after, with Susan promising to call Det. Monahan if she thought of anything else that could be helpful. It wasn't until a little later that Susan realised she had omitted one part of last Sunday's conversation – the part where Claire told her a dying man had cursed her. Good thing I didn't, Susan mused, or Detective Monahan would really think that woman is crazy.
Don cleared his lunch schedule in order to have a bite to eat with Mark Greenberg. They met at Kennedy's on 57th, the Irish pub they'd dined at on previous occasions. Once the niceties were out of the way, Don decided it was time to cut to the chase.
"I suppose I'm glad you realised something was bothering me at the party Saturday night, Mark," he started, "so here goes - and please understand that this is private information - last week Monday, Susan received some flowers at the office, and buried in the stems was a note that said: 'Ask Dr. Susan if she thinks she has much longer to live'."
"Do you have any idea who sent it?" Mark leaned closer across the table, concern crossing his face.
"No. The police are investigating. They haven't had any solid leads as of yet. But it's not just the threat, Mark. There's more…" Mark nodded, encouraging him to go on.
"I've been having these dreams in the past week…nightmares, really. Terrible, bloody dreams where Susan's the victim. I've dreamed on a few occasions now that she's lying dead on the floor of her old office, covered with a sheet and I've been called to identify her. Then on the night of her party, I dreamed it was her funeral, and everything – her body and the coffin - everything was covered with flowers, the same kind of flowers she was sent with the threat. It's really been affecting my sleep, and I know Susan suspects something is wrong."
"Do you know why you've been having these dreams?" Mark looked directly into his friend's troubled eyes.
Don lowered his glance and his face took on a reflective expression. "Yes," he said finally, "I think I do...I'm terrified of losing her, Mark… terrified. I just wouldn't be able to tolerate losing another spouse – not after what happened to Kathy."
"Have you ever told Susan about this fear?" Mark asked quietly.
"No way," Don answered swiftly, with a negative shake of his head.
"I think perhaps you should tell her," Mark said. "Get it into the open. She needs to know your behaviour over the past week is founded in this fear. And you need to admit to yourself that with the threat that was sent, it is no longer an irrational fear..."
***
When Susan got back to the office, Dana informed her that the one o'clock client had cancelled the appointment. Noting that Don was out, she quietly closed the door to her own office to make a phone call. Since the day before, she had been thinking about the call during her show regarding the deceased elderly woman whose boyfriend took off with her wealth. The daughter had seemed genuinely upset and distressed about what had happened, as anyone undoubtedly would be if a stranger were able to claim an inheritance.
Too bad they didn't think of contesting the changes their mother made in the will, Susan thought sadly, but I guess the 'boyfriend' must have left the picture very quickly, probably just as quickly as when Anton Riley left when Mom told him to beat it.
The more Susan thought about the distressed woman's situation, the more it caused old and nagging concerns to resurface. Susan was now convinced that call was what set off the warning bells in her subconscious the night before.
"I've put this off long enough," Susan thought to herself, and dialled Chris Ryan's number.
Ever cheerful to hear from her, Chris greeted her enthusiastically, but Susan came directly to the point of the call.
"The police wouldn't be bothered with my concerns. They simply won't see the validity, and they definitely won't want to waste the manpower on my suspicions…so, once again, I need you to do some investigating for me."
"Sure, Susie…"
Outlining the exact nature of her suspicions, she cautiously explained to Chris what she needed from him.
"So, from henceforth we refer to this person as 'the Subject'. I can't risk them or anyone else knowing you're poking around – can't risk giving them an opportunity to cover up. I want a deep investigation, now. I want to know everything you can find from this person's past – everything. Things like where they grew up; the kinds of parties they attended; financial history; the kinds of people they mingled with…"
"Got it. Everything I can find out about 'the Subject'. You sure you want me to do this, Susie? And more importantly, what do you want me to do if I find out some seriously…illegal doings? The consequences could be pretty devastating…"
"I know," Susan sighed. "I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it, Chris. But if I get definite proof that our 'Subject' actually has hurt other people, I'll do everything in my power to make sure they will never hurt the people I love, or anyone else, ever again."