Kirsten had had dozens of tapes, and she knew them all, almost by heart. If you gave her two seconds of any of them she could tell you the flight.

“Oh Christ, get me another bag”: TransGlobe 18, outbreak of food poisoning.

“Goddamnit, I can’t see!”: Greenways 343, man burst into the cabin and seized the controls.

“What reading have we got for—”: Jerwood Air 987, clipped a mountaintop.

Graham asked her if she had Chicago ’87 and she said of course. It was one of her favorites. And she played it to him.

“Jesus. I don’t know what to say.”

That was the first time he heard it.

Kirsten said, “Isn’t that beautiful? It’s the only female voice on here.”

Graham said it was his wife, and he started to shake violently. Kirsten gave him brandy. Then she emptied the mini-fridge.

She said he’d taken it pretty well. He said it was the most terrible thing he’d heard in his entire life.

Kirsten said it was better than thump thump thump.

Graham said, but not as good as “Graham, oh Graham!”

291

PC Queely contacted the airport and requested that Michael Davies be brought in for questioning. He was surprised to find that someone called Cody Jameson really was the last thing on Ronald Henderson’s mind as he jumped, although the pushy woman who’d rung him up probably expected a better dedication.

290

The ex-government agent sat at his table in the diner and wept. He called the pharmaceutical CEO but got the answering machine.

“Boris Vlamenkov, that’s who did it. Where’s my ten grand?”

Two minutes later he called again.

“Asif Khan, there’s another name. The price is now twenty grand.”

And again.

“Mister fucking Kermit the Frog. He bombed your shitty car. Give me some money. A million. I want a million so I can drive Ali Bronski around in a big car and look at her legs.”

The waitress gave him the bill. The ex-government agent bolted for the door, the waitress’s curses ringing after him.

289

Penny Lock asked Ali Bronski to guest on her show.

“As Activist 345?”

“No, as yourself. You’re a counselor, aren’t you?”

“I don’t think I’m a very good one.”

288

Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Taaaaammmmmyyyy. Happy birthday to you.

“Too kind,” said Tamy, smiling.

287

Penny Lock introduced Ali Bronski to Tamy.

Tamy shook her hand and said it’s always interesting to have a professional therapist on the show and said how much she was looking forward to her contributions.

Tamy said it was her birthday.

“Happy birthday,” said Ali.

“Thank you,” said Tamy.

Tamy asked Ali if, in a break, she could have a quick word with her about her father, who was putting his stressful career as a pharmaceutical giant before his family.

Ali told Tamy to get addicted to sleeping pills. That would elicit both attention and guilt.

Tamy said, “Um, thanks,” and showed her into the studio.