Remember Me, Irene

“So Andre’s foofing Nadine, and Nadine is retyping Lucas’s thesis.”

“Shit, you know all of this already.”

“Some of it. You’re filling in a lot of gaps. I know that Andre managed to discredit Lucas. I’m not so clear on what happened after that.”

“That should be plenty, right? I’ve just told you enough to get you a headline or two, right? Why not leave it there?”

“Because I’m not your chump, Keene. You said it yourself. I knew almost all of this. You’ve confirmed a few things for me, filled in some details. But you really haven’t told me much at all. Where’s Nadine Preston now?”

He looked away from me. “I don’t know.”

“Keene, this is not the time to get mule-headed. You think this will all stay a secret? Roland Hill’s little gang is coming apart at the seams. You know it is.”

“I don’t know!”

Too vehement. He knew something, but he was scared. I decided to take a softer approach. “Something happened. Something that made Nadine decide she would offer Lucas an opportunity to prove that his thesis had been tampered with. What happened?”

“Selman’s inability to keep his pud in his pants, that’s what. He got bored, found another broad, and Nadine learned about it. They broke up. Selman was such a stupid ass. Here he knows not to out-and-out fire Lucas, but when it comes to women, he’s not so bright. Roland blew a gasket-asks him if he’s been taking drugs like his pal-I forget the kid’s name. OD’ed later on.”

“Jeff? Jeff McCutchen?”

“Yeah, that was it. Jeff. I’d forgotten about him. He used drugs all right. You’d never know it just to see the guy out on the street-that’s this myth. People think they know who’s a druggie because they’ve seen a few druggies who are out of control. Figure all druggies are like that. Just like they think they know who’s a drunk because they figure sooner or later a drunk will put a lampshade on his head at a party or live on the streets like your friend Lucas. Hell, I was a millionaire drunk. No one ever saw me drunk in public. Same with this Jeff. Hid it.”

“He hid it from me. I didn’t learn that about him until recently,” I said.

“The McCutchen kid was brilliant,” Keene said. “Brilliant in every way but two: drugs and people. He couldn’t keep away from pills and dope, and he was a social zero. Sometimes I think he was just such a smart kid, the only way he could stand to be around anyone else was to get loaded, you know, make himself as dumb as the rest of us. Sad kid. Lonely, I think. Odd.”

“Let’s go back to Nadine,” I said.

“Oh, right. Well, Moffett tells Selman he should have at least stayed with her until the final acceptance of the redevelopment proposal. Selman says there’s a problem. Turns out this Jeff is on to everything. He’s caught Nadine going through Selman’s papers.”

Keene paused, then shook his head. “Now whatever else I could say about Selman-and don’t get me started-he could charm the horns off the devil himself. He gets people to be devoted to him, although I don’t think he’s ever truly cared about another person in his life.”

“Not even his son?”

“Not his son, and sure as hell not his daughter.”

“Hmm.”

“I’m telling you the truth. Anyway, this McCutchen kid thinks the world of Selman, and he starts warning him that Nadine’s on to his scheme.”

“Jeff knew about Moffett and Roland?”

“Figured it out very early on. Bright kid, like I said. Selman said he could be trusted, and it seemed like he was right. So Selman tells Roland that he wanted to get Nadine out of the picture before she learned too much.”

“But she didn’t stay out of the picture, did she?”

“No. She already knew everything she needed to know. She waited a while, probably pla

“What did she want out of it?”

“I don’t think she ever pla

“I can imagine how well that went over with the others.”

“Roland and Allan were furious, but honest to God, Selman frightened me. Not because he was losing his temper. He was coolheaded, not panicked at all. You ever see him when he’s angry with his daughter? With Lisa?”

I nodded. “Different than with other people.”

“Yeah, only it’s the same this time. Pleasant, but icy. I can tell he’s really pissed at this woman who would dare to presume to threaten him.”

“So he’s angry. But what could he do about it?”

“Selman tells Roland and Allan not to worry. Says he’s got a plan. Get everybody together for a fishing trip. This can all be worked out. So we’ve got this ‘drop everything’ command from Roland and Allan to go fishing. I used to hate this crap. But I go.”

“This was on Ben’s boat?”

“Yeah, that big Bertram. Same one you saw in that photo Lucas took. Different day, though. He took that photo back when Andre was still inviting him along. Nadine’s first trip out on it. Big boat. More than big enough to live aboard.

“Anyway, on this day I’m telling you about, there sure as shit weren’t any photos being taken. Allan and Roland come aboard carrying this huge canvas bag, and it’s got some kind of heavy chain in it. Ben asked them ‘What’s that?’ and Allan shoots him a dirty look, but Selman’s the one that speaks up. ‘It’s a new anchor for you, Ben. We bought a spare. You should always have one.’ Ben was just looking at Roland. Nadine-oh, Christ!-she says, ‘Aren’t you going to thank him?’”

He put his head in his hands, stared at his feet on the stairs.

“Who went out on the boat that day?” I asked.

“Ben, Selman, Allan, Roland, me, Corbin, and Nadine. Booter wasn’t there. Booter used to get sea-sick. We’re out fishing most of the day. Fishing and drinking. I’m thinking, ‘What the hell is going on?’ Nadine is there, she’s all over Andre. They’re so huggy and kissy, it’s awkward for the rest of us. Ben tries to stow the canvas bag, Selman says leave it there on the deck, he’ll take care of it. So all day, Ben keeps looking at the canvas bag like it’s a snake. Ben’s unhappy, Corbin’s unhappy, I’m unhappy. I had this bad feeling, I’m drinking a little more than usual. Roland and Allan don’t seem to be bothered in the least.”

“Where did you fish?”

“All over. I’m no sailor. I can’t even tell you where we were.”

He fell silent.

“What happened next?”

He looked up, glanced over at me, but then kept his eyes straight ahead. When he spoke again, his voice was strained.

“We’re out fishing, like I said. At one point, that sick bastard Selman takes her below. Ben Watterson looks like he’s going to faint. Roland tells him to relax. Just like that. Cold. ‘Relax, Ben.’”

He shook himself.

“So Andre went below with Nadine,” I coaxed.

“Yeah. Then I realize they’re down there getting it on. They come back up, all smiles. Then a little later, this call comes in over the radio from Booter. He calls to say, ‘All clear.’”

“The meeting with Lucas? The one when Lucas waited for Nadine to show up and clear his name?”

“Yes. It’s like Selman wanted to be screwing her right when he knows this meeting is going on. She doesn’t even see what’s coming. No, that call comes in, she figures he’s sealed the deal, and she gives Andre this big face-sucking kiss. He really gets into it. I figure, this time, he’s going to take her on the deck, right here in front of God and everybody. So I’m a little relieved when Allan says, ‘Ben, take the boat in.’”

“And then?”

He was silent.

“There’s more to this, isn’t there, Keene?”

“I don’t know!”

“Allan tells Ben to head back to the marina. Did he?”