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“He’s in a coma,” Armand went on. His voice gentle. Though he knew nothing could soften the blow he was about to deliver to an eighty-year-old woman who also loved Stephen. “He might not recover.”
As he spoke, Armand walked away from the 36, down the stone ramp to the walkway along the Seine.
“How could you let this happen?” Mrs. McGillicuddy demanded.
Armand opened and closed his mouth. Surprised by the accusation and trying to work out an answer. Should he have, could he have, prevented it?
“I’m sorry,” was all he could think of to say. “I didn’t see it coming. Mrs. McGillicuddy, do you know why Stephen was in Paris?”
“To see you, of course. And because of the baby. He wants to be there to support you all.”
“He isn’t here just for that. Stephen’s also in Paris for a board meeting.”
“No, he isn’t.”
“We found the annual report on his desk. For the engineering company GHS. It’s in his agenda.”
“Not in the one I have.”
“His personal agenda.”
“Mr. Horowitz isn’t on any boards anymore. He gave them all up.”
“Why?”
“Most corporations have bylaws saying board members must step down at a certain age. Mr. Horowitz passed all those ages. And then some.”
Bikers pedaled by. Kids on scooters passed. Pedestrians walking dogs glanced at the man staring into the river.
“Why would he have the annual report then?”
“He liked reading annual reports, like others like reading celebrity magazines.”
“Was he ever on the board of GHS Engineering?”
“No.”
“Does he own shares in the company?”
“I’d have to check.” He heard clicking as she looked it up on her laptop. “No. It’s privately owned. Not publicly traded on the stock exchange.”
“Did he ever talk about Luxembourg?”
“Luxembourg? The country? Or is it a city-state? Why would he talk about that?”
Armand sighed. “I don’t know.”
There was a pause before she spoke again, softly, almost gently. “You think this was no accident, don’t you, Armand?”
He hesitated. Considering.
Stephen Horowitz had trusted Agnes McGillicuddy with his business and personal life for decades. If anyone knew his secrets, it would be her.
If Stephen trusted her, so could he.
“I’m certain of it. Stephen knew something. We need to find out what it was. He never gave you anything, any documents, for safekeeping?”
“No.”
