Dead Down East by Carl Schmidt Page B

enthusiastic about going. The party was held at the
Regency Inn and Spa on Western Avenue.
    “After a few short speeches and dinner, we all
adjourned to the beautiful indoor pool area. We sat around the pool
and had some drinks.
    “Rebecca and William were not attentive to one
another. In fact, Rebecca seemed genuinely bored and uninterested.
This surprised me, as I had assumed she would be reveling in her
newfound celebrity—First Lady of Maine.
    “William, on the other hand was warm and gracious to
everyone. He flirted with several of the wives and girlfriends, but
it all seemed innocent to me. It was meant to be a celebration, and
it was clearly the governor’s show. When Travis formally introduced
us, William flirted with me as well. Rebecca hardly noticed, but
Travis did.
    “The drive home that night was ice cold. Travis was
completely unresponsive, until he broke the silence with, ‘How
could you?’
    “‘How could I…what?’ I asked, shocked and put
out.
    “‘You practically invited the governor to your bed,’
he said.
    “‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ I said. ‘We were just being
friendly. That’s what the party was all about.’
    “Strange as it may seem, that was a turning point in
our marriage. Things were chilly between us throughout the winter,
and they stayed that way even when the weather warmed up in spring.
Our marriage was never the same. It seemed so odd to me that one
rather minor incident could unravel things so completely. But it
did.
    “As you know, we were divorced about a year later.
That’s when the stalking began; that’s when I hired you.”
    I nodded, without saying anything.
    Cynthia continued, “Before we split up, Travis would
come home from work and complain to me about the escapades of the
governor. Travis was never specific, but it was evident that the
governor was having an affair and quite possibly more than one. He
was a very attractive, wealthy and powerful man with a detached
wife. According to Travis, women moved in like ants to a picnic. It
was clear that Travis not only resented me for being attracted to
William, but he was also jealous of William who could attract the
ladies so effortlessly. I’m sure it made Travis feel emasculated.
He hated being subordinate to anyone.”
    For a short time Cynthia just stopped talking. I
waited awhile and then decided to pose a few questions.
    “I assume you didn’t recognize the murderer,” I
said.
    “That’s correct.”
    “Do you have any idea who might be involved?” I
asked.
    “No,” she said, rather conclusively.
    “Did William ever talk about any personal
enemies?”
    “No. Occasionally we’d talk about his political
squabbles, but nothing seemed especially personal. Besides,
politics and romance are like oil and water. He wanted to hear
about my real estate work more than he wanted to discuss
politics.”
    “Do you know the names of any of the women who might
have had an affair with him?” I asked.
    “Not really. Travis was instructed by his superiors
to be completely discrete about William’s private life. If a rumor
ever went public, there would be an investigation, and heads would
roll. I guess I could suggest a couple of names, but I really
couldn’t say if either of them actually slept with him. William
never talked about other women. Well…Rebecca, of course, but no one
else.”
    I said, “Just a minute. It’s time to take some notes.
I’ll get a pen and paper.”
    I returned from my office with a legal pad and pen,
ready to write.
    “OK, Cynthia, please give me the names of the women
that were closest to the governor, especially anyone who might have
had a romance with him.”
    “As far as I know, there are two women who are
possibilities,” Cynthia said. “While I was with William, I really
didn’t want to know any of his prior affairs. I’m not even certain
he had any, but I think it’s fairly likely. When we started dating,
he seemed comfortable having both a wife and a girlfriend,