Death Match by Lincoln Child Read Free Book Online Page A

said.
    Lash turned back. “Yes?”
    “Mr. Mauchly is waiting for you.” The man slid a small ivory passcard emblazoned with Eden’s infinity logo across the desk. “Please show this at the elevator station. Have a pleasant day.”
    When the elevator doors opened onto the thirty-second floor, Mauchly was waiting. He nodded to Lash, then led the way down the corridor to his office.
    Director of Facilitation Services
, Lash recalled as he followed Mauchly.
Whatever the hell is that?
Aloud, he asked: “Why all the happy faces?”
    “Sorry?”
    “Downstairs, in the lobby. Everybody was grinning as if they’d won the lottery or something.”
    “Ah. Today is class reunion.”
    “Class reunion?”
    “That’s our term for it. Part of our client contract calls for a mandatory six-month revaluation of the couples we’ve brought together. They return for a day of one-on-one sessions, encounter groups, the like. For the most part, quite informal. Our researchers find the back-end data helpful in refining the selection process. And it allows us to watch for any signs of incompatibility, warning signals, between couples.”
    “Seen any?”
    “None to date.” Mauchly opened the door, ushered Lash inside. If he was curious, it did not show in his dark eyes. “Would you care for any refreshment?”
    “No thanks.” Lash slipped his satchel from his arm and took the indicated chair.
    Mauchly sat down behind his desk. “We didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.”
    “That’s because there’s not much to tell.”
    Mauchly raised his eyebrows.
    Lash leaned over, unfastened his satchel, and pulled out a document. He straightened its edges, then placed it on the desk.
    “What is that, Dr. Lash?” Mauchly asked.
    “My report.”
    Mauchly made no move to pick it up. “Perhaps you could summarize it for me.”
    Lash took a deep breath. “There are no indicators for suicide in either Lewis or Lindsay Thorpe. None at all.”
    Mauchly folded one muscular arm over the other, waited.
    “I’ve spoken to family, friends, doctors. I’ve examined their credit histories, financial records, employment status. I’ve called in favors from federal and local law enforcement. This was as functional, stable a couple—a
family
—as you’ll ever find. They could have been poster children for that wall of happy faces down in your lobby.”
    “I see.” Mauchly’s lips pursed into what might have been a frown. “Perhaps there were prior indicators that—”
    “I looked there, too. I checked school records, interviewed teachers, spoke with former classmates. Nothing. And no psychiatric history, either. In fact, the only hospital visit was by Lewis, who broke a leg skiing in Aspen eight years ago.”
    “Then what is your professional opinion?”
    “People don’t just commit suicide for no reason. Especially double suicide. There’s something missing here.”
    “Are you implying—”
    “I’m not implying anything. The police report reads suicide. What I mean is, I don’t have enough
information
to form an opinion on why they did what they did.”
    Mauchly glanced at the report. “It appears you’ve done a thorough investigation.”
    “What I need is in this building. Your evaluations of the Thorpes might give me the psychological data I need.”
    “You must know that’s out of the question. Our data is confidential. Trade secrets are involved.”
    “I’ve already signed a nondisclosure agreement.”
    “Dr. Lash, it’s not my call to make. Besides, it’s unlikely you’d find anything in our test results you have not already found on your own.”
    “Perhaps. Perhaps not. That’s why I’ve also prepared this.” Lash withdrew a small envelope and placed it atop the sheaf of papers.
    Mauchly cocked his head inquiringly.
    “It’s a breakdown of my expenses. Time billed at my usual consultation rate of $300 an hour. I didn’t charge overtime. Airplane tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, meals, it’s all there. Just