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“Didn’t approve?” coaxed King.
“We’re not a political family. We have a spotless reputation. It practically gave my mother a heart attack when I married a criminal prosecutor who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and was over ten years my senior. But I love John. Still, you have to balance things and it hasn’t been easy. These sorts of things aren’t exactly looked upon with favor among my circle. So I can’t say I was his political intimate. However, he had a sterling reputation as a lawyer. He prosecuted some of the toughest cases in Washington and later in Philadelphia, where we met. That gave him a national reputation. Being around all those politicians in D.C., I suppose he got the itch to jump into the fray, even after we moved to Philadelphia. I didn’t agree with his political ambition, but I’m his wife, so I supported him publicly.”
Joan and King posed the standard questions, to which Catherine Bruno gave standard and mostly unhelpful answers.
“So you can think of no one who’d wish to harm your husband?” Joan asked.
“Aside from those he prosecuted, no. He’s had death threats and the like but nothing recently. After he left the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia, he spent a few years in private practice before plunging into the political arena.”
Joan stopped writing notes. “What firm was he with?”
“The Philadelphia office of a Washington-based firm, Dobson, Tyler and Reed. They’re in downtown Philadelphia on Market Street. A very well respected establishment.”
“What sort of work did he do there?”
“John didn’t talk about business with me. And I never encouraged it. It didn’t interest me.”
“But presumably it was trial work.”
“My husband was happiest when he had a stage to perform on. So, yes, I’d say trial work.”
“And he voiced no special concerns to you?”
“He thought the campaign was going reasonably well. He had no delusions of winning. He was only making a statement.”
“After the election what was he going to do?”
“We never really discussed it. I always assumed he’d go back to Dobson, Tyler.”
“Can you tell us anything about his relationship with Bill Martin?”
“He mentioned his name every now and then, but that was really before my time.”
“And you have no idea why Bill Martin’s widow would want to meet with your husband?”
“None. As I said, that relationship was really before our marriage.”
“First marriages for you both?”
“His first, not mine,” was all she offered.
“And you have children?”
“Three. It’s been very hard on them. And me. I just want John back.” She started to sniffle, as though on cue, and Joan pulled out a tissue and handed it to her.
“We all do,” said Joan, doubtlessly thinking of the millions of dollars it would earn her. “And I won’t stop until I accomplish that goal. Thank you. We’ll be in touch.”
They left and headed back to the airport.
So what do you think?” asked Joan while they were in the car. “Is your nose twitching?”
“First impression: a snobby wench who knows more than she’s telling us. But what she’s not telling could have nothing to do with Bruno’s kidnapping.”
“Or it could have everything to do with it.”
“She doesn’t seem thrilled with this political gig, but what spouse really is? She’s got three children, and we have no reason to believe she doesn’t love them or her husband. She’s got all the money. She gains nothing by having him kidnapped. She’d be paying part of the ransom.”
“But if there’s no ransom, she pays nothing. She’s single again and free to marry someone of her own class who’s not in the dirty world of politics.”
