Page 58 of Line of Sight

“Heather is the real fly in the ointment. Running a campaign isn’t cheap, and… well, she holds the purse strings.”

His flat tone and lack of expression were much louder than his words.

“This wasn’t a marriage based on true love, I take it?”

Jason rolled his eyes, and I sensed relief. “What gave it away? I think she’s only doing this because she wants to be asenator’s wife. And if I don’t win”—his expression grew gloomy—“well, she’ll never let me hear the last of it.”

I leaned toward him. “Level with me. There’s no love between you at all, is there?”

Jason glanced around before speaking in a low voice. “Not anymore. It was sort of a strategic marriage. She’s great at putting on an act in front of others, but when we’re alone? The shutters come down, and there’s no one at home.”

My initial assessment had been correct. He was a weak man.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t be a useful one.

I studied him as he sipped his wine, contemplating my approach.

This had to be handled with care.

“You know,” I said in a conspiratorial whisper, leaning toward him. “There may be a way to help you get elected.”

Jason’s expression didn’t change, as though he doubted my veracity. “Really?”

I nodded. “Whatyouneed is a wave of public sympathy. Public support.”

He folded his arms. “And how do you propose organizing that?”

I smiled. “You don’t need to know.”

I could see when my words registered. His face went slack, his mouth open.

“Hey… you’re not talking about…?”

I hadn’t said a word, and it would stay that way.

He didn’t need to know I’d already decided on the date when Mrs. Kelly would meet her maker.

June 8, 2013.

Chapter Forty-One

Saturday June 8, 2013

Boston MA

10:00 p.m.

KNOWING THEdate on which I was going to dispatch Heather Kelly from this earth so far in advance had been both a blessing and a curse.

I had plenty of time to observe her, note her routines, watch the comings and goings at the building where she worked.

Too much time. I lost count of the number of occasions I wanted to implement my plan early rather than wait. I couldn’t discount the possibility that Heather might decide to go to the wedding with Jason.

That would mess up everything. And I’d gone to a lot of trouble with this one. I’d even procured my disguise and transportation. Not to mention the steep learning curve required to attain the skills necessary to modify the equipment.

Finally, it was time.

The windows of the building were mostly dark, and the only people gaining access were the cleaning crew. I knew how to dress to pass myself off as one of them—I’d watched them long enough, for God’s sake—and the apparatus I dragged along with me gave credence to my disguise. No one would think of stopping a cleaner to ask where they were going, right? And especially one who had brought along equipment. I walked through the lobby, baseball cap obscuring my face, my heart pounding. I’d waited until there was no one around, just the security guard at his desk.