“I just thought,” I told her as we sat in the Hillside, “you might be interested.”
“Interested?” She almost squealed. “Oh, yes. How much?”
“They’re still bidding on it,” I said. “But I can connect you with Alex. Let him know how much you’re willing to go. He’ll take it from there. And get you the best price he can.”
“I’d love,” she said, “to have it sitting in the middle of our living room when George walks in.”
“It’s pretty valuable. I’m not sure you’d want to have it where your cats could chew on it.”
“Oh,” she said, “I wouldn’t put it here. I’d take it out to Momma. By the way, would you and Alex be able to arrange delivery? At my expense, of course.”
“Of course. You’re going to give it to your mother?”
“Momma’s our asteroid.”
“Oh.”
“I could explain it, but you’d need an hour or so.”
I laughed. “I’ll tell Alex you’re interested.”
They delivered the chair to us a few days later. We put it in the conference room. I was disappointed by its general appearance. It was in decent condition. But it was mostly black faux leather, and there were some scratches. But it looked comfortable, and maybe that was all that mattered. “What do you think?” Alex asked me.
“How much is she paying for it?”
“Three quarters of a million.”
“That seems like a lot of money for a chair that looks so ordinary.”
“That’s what pumps up the value, Chase,” he said. “This was where she sat when she changed Confederate politics.” He was obviously pleased with himself. “It’s actually a good buy.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
He made no effort to hide his disappointment at my attitude. “When’s Linda coming?”
“She said she’d be here this morning.”
“Okay. I have to go out for a while. If she comes while I’m gone, congratulate her for me. And have her sign the documents. Morris Delivery will pick it up this afternoon, and they tell me they’ll get it to Momma within three days.” He delivered the line without cracking a smile.
I did a search on Weinstein and looked through pictures and displays. There was an excerpted comment by George, who had said of her in one of his novels that if she had been running Dellaconda two centuries earlier, there would never have been a war with the Mutes. I looked at photos. Here she was giving awards to celebrated literary figures. And treating famous scientists to dinner at the presidential estate. And at Everhold shaking hands with a few Mutes while she tried to keep the peace. And the famous picture of her sitting at a table with a Mute child in the world capital.
Linda showed up while I was still glossing over the history. I took her back to the conference room, showed her the chair, and was relieved at her reaction. “It’s gorgeous,” she said.
“It is nice, isn’t it?”
“Chase, he’s going to love having that in the house.” She took a deep breath. “I hope we’re able to get him home.”
“Me, too.” She stood behind it and pressed her fingertips into it. Then, when she’d had enough, we gave it some distance and sat down at the conference table. “How often do you get to the asteroid?” I asked.
“We spend about two months a year up there. It’s never been my favorite place. But George likes solitude. At least he does when he’s finishing a project.”
“Why was he on the Capella?”
“He was doing research, Chase.”
“Really? What kind of research?”
“You’re not going to believe this, but he was writing a novel in which an interstellar with a bunch of politicians on board develops some sort of mechanical problem and sets down on an alien world, where they have to cooperate in order to survive.”
“So it’s a thriller?”
“More like a comedy.” She checked the time. “Well, anyhow, I have to go. Tell Alex I said thanks. Do I pay you?”
“We can do it that way. And I need you to sign some documents.” I led the way back to my office. “May I ask a question?”
“Certainly, Chase.”
“Who named it Momma?”
“I don’t know. Probably the previous owner. Somebody with a dark sense of humor, I guess. It was one of the things that attracted us to it. That, and the fact that it’s an almost perfectly smooth sphere.”
“I’d be interested in meeting him. George, that is.”
“He’s an odd guy in a lot of ways. But you’d like him, Chase. He told me once about the secret of life. You know what it is?”
“I’m not sure what George thinks it is.”
“It’s having lunch with friends. I think most people never got to see that side of him.” Her voice had gotten shaky.
There were several hundred residences set up on asteroids. Most have plastene domes, but a few are apparently shielded only by a force field. I wouldn’t be too comfortable with that arrangement. Power goes out, and you have a serious problem.
I went outside with her and watched while she climbed into the skimmer. “When we have the coming-home party,” she said, “we’d like very much if you and Alex could attend. We’ll be happy to provide transportation, Chase.”
“Thank you, Linda,” I said. “I’ll let Alex know.”
“You’ll both be receiving formal invitations.” She waved. “Thanks, Chase.”
I backed away as she lifted off. She turned north, and I thought how much I would have enjoyed meeting President Weinstein.
Eight
When love comes down the trail, everything else—wealth, ambition, security, even one’s career—retreats into the shadows.
—Walford Candles, Marking Time, 1229
Alex never did get back to the office that day although he left a message. “He expects to be on Jennifer tomorrow,” Jacob said.
“Anything special going on?” I asked.
“Yes. He says he knows why Kolchevsky was on the mountain.”
“Really?”
“He called Inspector Redfield this morning to offer his theory.”
“And what is the theory?”
“I was not included in the conversation.”
“Did you ask him?”
“No. He would have told me if he wished me to know.”
Which meant that he was really keeping me out of the loop. Alex does enjoy playing games. I thought about calling him, but that was probably what he wanted me to do. And if I did, he’d find a reason to put me off. He could be an infuriating boss when he wanted to. “Did he have any visitors this morning?”
“No, Chase. And no calls connected with the matter.”
I knew he’d been going through Kolchevsky’s history, and obviously he’d found something. I’d read the guy’s bio and some comments by his colleagues. I’d even gone back and watched some of his more current media appearances, but I hadn’t seen anything helpful. Anyhow, it became a busy afternoon, so I put it out of my mind and spent the rest of the day talking with clients about artifacts that had become available.
I stayed late on the chance he would return and have no choice but to tell me what he knew. But he didn’t show, and, finally, I closed up and went home.