Prime Impact

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4On Bannister’s desk were three folders. The first contained a copy of the FBI’s background investigation of Briggs prior to his being sworn in as an Assistant United States Attorney. The second had current information on Briggs—everything he owned, motor vehicle information, credit reports, recent charge card purchases, and travel itineraries. The last file covered personnel. It listed his relatives and associates and had results of a records check on Briggs’s ex-wife, Amber Gallagher. A copy of her driver’s license photo was clipped to the front. The license indicated she was thirty-five, five foot nine and 125 pounds, with red hair. She wasn’t one of the women in the pictures Briggs kept.

Bannister called Gallagher’s home number. When he explained the FBI needed to talk to her about Briggs, she said she heard about the murder on the evening news and was expecting to be called. She agreed to see Bannister and Ramirez even though the hour was late.

While Barnes stayed at the office to do paperwork, Mercedes and Bannister drove five miles to Gallagher’s Morningside area bungalow. The front porch light was on.

“We’re sorry about Kendall’s death,” Bannister said, extending his hand to the woman who answered the door.

“So am I,” she said, introducing herself as Amber Gallagher. She wore white slacks, a mint green sweater, and black flats. She had on makeup and her auburn hair was in a ponytail with a tortoise shell clip. “It’s shocking. Please come in.” Her voice had a slight quiver. She directed the agents to a small den to the right of the foyer. Mercedes and Bannister sat on a love seat opposite a winged back chair.

“I know it’s late so I put on a pot of decaf coffee. I also have hot tea if you want.”

Bannister went for the coffee. Mercedes and Gallagher each had a cup of some orange-scented tea. Gallagher crossed her legs and folded her hands in her lap. She certainly appeared relaxed for someone being questioned about her ex-husband’s murder.

“Interviewing anyone under these circumstances is difficult. I hope you understand,” Bannister said.

“I know you have a job to do and I’ll help any way I can.”

“When was the last time you saw Kendall?”

She put her finger alongside her left cheek and looked toward the ceiling. “Let’s see. Earlier this year at a charity fundraiser for the High Museum of Art. I was with a date. Neither Kendall nor I knew the other would be there.”

“And?” Bannister said, nodding for Gallagher to continue.

“He walked up to us. To my date and me. And introduced himself. The three of us chatted for a minute or two and then went our own way. I told my date Kendall and I used to be married.”

“That must have been awkward.”

“It was.” Gallagher scrunched her nose as if reliving the incident.

“Why did the two of you get divorced?”

“Logical question.” Gallagher paused. “I’ll give you the simple answer. I wanted children right away. Kendall wanted to wait a few years. He said we ought to travel and do some of the different things couples enjoy doing before they get tied down with kids.”

“What changed?” Bannister asked.

“He did. After three years he said he didn’t want children at all. He wouldn’t talk about it and was totally inflexible. We got divorced. Funny thing is we never did travel even though we saved up for it.”

“You got married again, right?” Mercedes asked.

Gallagher sighed and leaned back in her chair. “Yes, six months after Kendall and I divorced I married Roger Gallagher.”

“Are you still married?” Mercedes asked. The agents had already noticed she wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.

“No. Let’s just say things didn’t work out. We were only married five months.”

“How long were you and Kendall married?”

“Four years.”

“Was there anyone else in his life?”

For a second, Gallagher stared at Bannister. “What are you getting at?” she said calmly.

Bannister just opened his hands outwardly.

“You mean, like was he having an affair or something like that?” Her voice this time was firm and she spoke in a louder tone. Mercedes and Bannister continued to look at her.

“I believe he was faithful to me. We loved each other, at least the first three years. The last year we grew estranged but neither of us looked to others for emotional support. Let me save you some time. The Kendall Briggs I knew didn’t cheat, use drugs, or have a drinking problem. There weren’t any health issues. And he wasn’t into any crazy activities like he was last year.”

“What do you mean?” Bannister asked.

“When we chatted at the art museum he mentioned he’d been skydiving and found it, in his words, ‘a life-altering experience.’” She paused. Bannister jotted down a few notes. “Just seemed out of character for him. Before we parted I remember him saying, ‘You need to step out of the box, Amber. Try some new things this year. You might discover a new you.’ I don’t even know why he’d say something like that.” Gallagher shook her head side to side and her mouth turned up as if in disgust.

Bannister switched topics. “Did he ever mention being threatened?”

“No.”

“What about finances? Any problems with investments or outside ventures?”

“Not that I knew about. You agents must know what his job pays. I’ve worked for five years as a marketing rep for a company that refurbishes hotels. We weren’t rolling in dough but we were comfortable.”

“Was he under any stress or pressure?”

Gallagher was quiet for a few seconds and took a sip of her tea. “He started seeing a therapist about six months before our divorce was final.” She said it softly with her lips drawn tight. She started massaging her hands.

“For what reason?”

“I don’t know. At first, I thought it was about having kids. I asked him if he thought it would help if we saw the therapist together. He said no, that it was something else. I thought it might be about his relationship with his parents.”

“Why?”

“Almost as soon as he started seeing the therapist he just up and announced, ‘I know Christmas is around the corner and that’s a time to think about being with family. For a while I’m going to limit my contact with my parents and sister to cards, and I’m not going to invite them to Georgia. I’ve got my reasons and when the time is right I’ll try and explain.’”

“And?”

“He never did explain. You know, the first three years we were married we were happy. We were in love and building our future together. But then—I guess it was the decision about children—we drifted apart. Two months after he started seeing his therapist, I got a phone call from his mother. His parents live in Maine. She thought I had something to do with his ignoring her calls or cutting them short. I asked her if she knew her son and I were getting divorced and she was surprised about that. She hadn’t known. I tried to explain that I never said or did anything to drive a wedge between them. She seemed to think Kendall wasn’t acting rationally and maybe some kind of stress was getting to him.”

“When was the last time he saw his parents?”

“Three years ago when he went home to see his stepfather, who was dying.”

“But the family stayed in touch?”

“Yes, until the last couple of months we were married. There were occasional phone calls and birthday cards back and forth. But that was about it. They didn’t talk on the phone very long and Kendall never told me what they talked about. I know they never asked about me. I’m positive his mother didn’t know he was seeing a therapist. Do you want more coffee?”

“No thanks. Do you know the name of his therapist?”

“Andrews. Dr. David Andrews. His wife’s a therapist also. I think they work together. I have his card. I’ll get it for you.” Gallagher got up and stepped over to a desk at the side of the room.

“Could the wife’s name be Theresa Andrews?” Mercedes whispered.

“Possibly. We’ll check that later,” Bannister said.

He turned back to Gallagher. “Is there a chance Kendall was a patient of Andrews’s wife?”

“Maybe. That’s something you’ll have to ask Dr. David Andrews.”

“Did Kendall have any close friends?”

“None in Atlanta. He did things with people at the office and worked out regularly with some guys at the athletic club. But, no, I don’t think he was close to anyone.”

“While you’re looking for that card, would you write down contact information for his mother and any siblings?”

“Sure. He only has the one sister who also lives in Maine. Has his family been notified?”

“Authorities were supposed to contact them earlier today since they’re next of kin. They’ll be interviewed.”

“I still can’t believe Kendall was murdered,” she said. “I did love him at one time. I wanted him to be the father of my children. I guess when I pulled the plug on our marriage I pulled the plug on my emotions. I hope you don’t think I’m insensitive.”

Bannister did, but kept a straight face. “We’ll probably need to talk to you again. We may need your help in identifying people in some photographs Kendall had.” Bannister stood up. “We appreciate your cooperation.”

Gallagher gave them Dr. Andrews’s address and phone number along with a list of names and numbers for Kendall’s family members. Mercedes and Bannister left their cards with her.

As they walked down the brick sidewalk to the car, Mercedes said, “Seeing a shrink puts a whole new light on things, doesn’t it?”

“It can complicate things for public figures, particularly if they might be interested in running for public office someday. I think Dr. Andrews and Dr. Mrs. Andrews just went to the top of our list of interviews for tomorrow.”