The Pied Piper of Death Read Free Page B

family lore concerned a bridge incident. It was a tale filled with dashing officers mounted on gigantic white steeds performing heroic deeds. Peyton had made the tale palatable for cynical undergraduates by telling it against a background of fanciful incidents and self-effacing humor.
    Rocco released his hold on Bea’s arm. For the guard’s benefit he fumbled reluctantly for the key before he released her. In feigned disgust he unlocked the cuffs from her wrists and snapped them back on his belt.
    Bea strode resolutely toward Lyon, followed by a very contrite guard supervisor.
    â€œI didn’t realize who you were, Senator.”
    â€œForget it, Harry,” she said without turning.
    â€œI can see now how you was trying to calm the crowd.”
    â€œNext time I’m going to man the battering ram,” Bea said.
    â€œOf course it’s your constitutional right to be against land mines,” Harry agreed. “I’ll radio the house for transportation and have all that gunk cleaned off your car’s windshield.”
    Bea stopped abruptly. The confused security guard took three more steps and nearly ran into her. “Listen, Harry. Why don’t you get your act together and do something about your storm troopers?”
    â€œThey’re good at what they do, Senator. At the factory we have security access problems. The boys got to be firm to handle those situations.”
    â€œDecking middle-aged ladies is not handling a tough situation. You’ve got at least one sadistic sociopath in your crew.”
    â€œYes, ma’am. You’re probably right.”
    Bea shook her head in mute resignation, but a quick glance at the supervisor made her realize that she had unconsciously used her office to humiliate him. She flashed her brightest political smile at the subdued guard and extended her hand. “Friends, Harry? You take care of that lady basher and Mr. Piper hears zilch about our disagreement.”
    â€œThanks.” He took her firm hand. “Barry Nevins is the guy who dinged the woman. Rest assured that he hits the pavement tonight. He’s history.”
    Bea closed her eyes for a brief moment. The ripples of life always seemed to expand toward infinity. Sadistic Barry probably had a wife and a bunch of dependent kids. She immediately rationalized her actions with the thought that those who took shots at defenseless women were probably less subtle in their abuse of family members. She could only hope that a financial lesson might have some benefit. It was done. She would have to live with it. She beamed another smile at Harry.
    â€œGretchen is turning into a real fine woman,” Bea said.
    â€œYou know my daughter?”
    â€œShe was a volunteer on my campaign last year. If I remember correctly, she’s now a student at Middleburg.”
    â€œSending her to college was the worst day’s work I ever did. You saw what those leftist feminazis had her doing tonight.”
    â€œHarry, Harry?” Bea closed her eyes for another brief moment. She was exhausted over the night’s battles and the evening had hardly begun.
    An electric golf cart with a rainbow canopy covering its rear seats swerved to a stop at the gate. The device was driven by a dark-haired man with a large head, who was dressed in a tuxedo. “Mr. Piper is expecting the Wentworths,” he announced in an extremely deep voice. He reached back to unlatch the low door in the rear. The instant they were seated the vehicle whirred noiselessly up the steep drive.
    Bea looked up at the large house perched on the cusp of the cliff above the Connecticut River. Dark scudding clouds had moved across the sky obscuring the last of the day’s dim light. The steep approach, the bleak sky, and the harsh outlines of the stone outcroppings that composed the building’s walls caused the mansion to cast a looming, sinister-looking shadow.
    â€œVery foreboding digs,” she said.
    â€œA