having orders quickly obeyed. A naval captain, perhaps, or a corporate executive; Lash had not dug deep into the family background. Corporate executive seemed more likely, though: given the amount Eden charged for its service, it was likely daddy had helped bankroll Lindsay Thorpe.
Lash cleared his throat, put on his best sympathetic manner. âIf you wouldnât mind answering just a few questions, it would be very helpful to us. If you find any of them objectionable, or if you feel it necessary to stop for a while, Iâll certainly understand.â
The waitress returned. Lash took a sip of his coffee, then opened the satchel and pulled out a legal pad. âHow close were you to your daughter as she was growing up, Mr. Torvald?â he began.
âExtremely.â
âAnd after she left home?â
âWe spoke every day.â
âOverall, how would you characterize her physical health?â
âExcellent.â
âDid she take any medications on a regular basis?â
âVitamin supplements. A mild antihistamine. Thatâs about it.â
âWhat was the antihistamine for?â
âDermatographia.â
Lash nodded, made a notation. A skin condition that caused itchiness: his next-door neighbor had it. Completely benign. âAny unusual or serious diseases or childhood illnesses?â
âNo, none. And this would all be in the applications she originally filled out with American Life.â
âI understand that, Mr. Torvald. Iâm simply trying to establish some independent frame of reference. Did she have any living siblings?â
âLindsay was an only child.â
âWas she a good student?â
âGraduated magna cum laude from Brown. Got her masterâs in economics from Stanford.â
âWould you call her shy? Outgoing?â
âStrangers might think her quiet. But Lindsay always had more friends than she needed. She was the kind of girl who had many acquaintances, but was very choosy about her friends.â
Lash took another sip of coffee. âHow long had your daughter been married, Mr. Torvald?â
âJust over two years.â
âAnd how would you characterize the marriage?â
âThey were the happiest couple Iâve ever seen, bar none.â
âCan you tell me about the husband, Lewis Thorpe?â
âIntelligent, friendly, honest. Witty. Lots of interests.â
âDid your daughter ever mention any problems between herself and her husband?â
âYou mean, fights?â
Lash nodded. âThat, or other things. Differences of opinion. Conflicting wishes. Incompatibilities.â
âNever.â
Lash took another sip. He noticed Torvald had not touched his own cup.
âNever?â He allowed the slightest hint of incredulity to enter his voice.
Torvald rose to the bait. âNever. Look, Mr.ââ
âBerger.â
âMr. Berger, my daughter was . . .â For the first time, Torvald seemed to hesitate. âMy daughter was a client of Eden Incorporated. Youâve heard of them?â
âCertainly.â
âThen youâll know what Iâm getting at. I was skeptical at first. It seemed like an awful lot of money for some computer cycles, a statistical roll of the dice. But Lindsay was firm.â Torvald leaned forward slightly. âYou have to understand, she wasnât like other girls. She knew what she wanted. She was never one to settle for second best. Sheâd had her share of boyfriends, some of them really nice boys. But she seemed to get restless, the relationships didnât last.â
The man sat back abruptly. It was by far the longest statement heâd made so far. Lash made a notation, encouragingly, careful not to meet Torvaldâs eyes. âAnd?â
âAnd it was different with Lewis. I could tell from the very first time she mentioned his name. They hit it off from the first date.â
Lash looked up just