head tilted to the left and slightly lowered at the same time. He was still assessing, Thomas surmised. Not yet convinced of Thomasâs innocence, but not thinking him guilty, either. Thomas took an easier breath.
âYes. My secretary was there, as were Senators Logenstein and Bryer. Weâre working on legislation to provide stiffer penalties for anyone bringing drugs within the stateâs current safe-school perimeter.â
So much rested on the positive outcome of this voluntary and informal questioning by the police. His motherâs health, certainly. His own emotional health. Particularly ifâas it appearedâheâd just lost his wifeâs best friend only two years after Kateâs disappearance.
His schedule and convenience were also factors. He was a very busy man who didnât have time to be hauled into a long drawn-out court case but heâd do what needed to be done. He always did.
And for his constituents, he needed to clear his name as quickly as possible. They trusted him. Depended on him. Heâd been told by many of them that they slept better at night knowing he was there taking care of the big decisions for them.
Stanton, proverbial pen in hand, nodded. âAmanda Livingston still your secretary?â Shorter than Gregory, and thirty pounds heavier, too, the older detective was the one Thomas respected most.
âYes.â The fifty-year-old grandmother was perfect for him. Sharp. Reliable. Mature enough not to get emotional on him. And a great asset in his quest to win votersâ trust. âSheâs been with me since I graduated from law school.â
âAnd that was when, fifteen years ago?â Stanton asked. The man really needed to run a comb through that grey hair once in a while. And iron his cheap suit while he was at it.
âSixteen. I earned my Juris Doctorate at twenty-four.â
âWhen was the last time you were in contact withLeah Montgomery?â Gregory didnât seem to think Thomasâs education pertinent.
He allowed some of the sadness heâd been fighting for the last two days to show on his face. Heâd been genuinely fond of Leah. Found her spontaneity engaging. âI spoke with her Monday afternoon.â
âWhat time?â
âAround four.â Four-eleven, to be precise. His cell phone logged all calls, received or made. As his father had taught him to do with everything in life, heâd come to this meeting prepared.
âYou called her?â
âShe called me.â
Gregory leaned forward, practically drooling. His instinctive alertness reminded Thomas of a hunting dog. âWhy?â
âTo say that she wasnât feeling well.â Thomas slowly, calmly lifted his folded hands to the table. âIâd agreed to escort her to a childrenâs fund-raiser that evening and she was calling to cancel.â
All he had to do was tell the truth. The rest would take care of itself.
âWhat was the nature of your relationship with Ms. Montgomery?â Gregory didnât quite sneer, but the tight set of his lips was enough to put Thomas on edge. And to make his smile that much more congenial.
âWe know each other quite well. She was my wifeâs best friend. Leah and Kate grew up together, and evenafter Kate and I were married the two of them spent a lot of time together.â
âAnd you had a problem with that.â
Gregoryâs words were more of an assumption than a question. âNo, I did not. Iâm a very busy man. I was glad my wife had her for company.â
âAnd now?â
âLeah and I grew closer after Kateâs disappearance, understandably so,â Thomas said, the ever-present pang of grief and anger brought on by Kateâs disappearance stabbing once more. âMy wife was a dynamic woman, and her absence left a real emptiness. Leah and I have spent some time together, trying to fill the gap where we could. Mostly in the