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West Side Highway toward the George Washington Bridge and New Jersey. “This is crazy.”
    So much had been crazy and out of control. This move could bring some stability to their lives.

Chapter 6
    If Eliza Blake were made aware of every letter that came from every crackpot obsessed with her, Joe Connelly was certain, the
Evening Headlines
anchor would never sleep again. As Director of KEY Corporate Security, Connelly maintained a policy of not telling her or any of the other on-air correspondents about letters unless there was actually something they should do to protect themselves. Part of his job was to insulate those he was responsible for protecting from unwarranted fear. Another part was weeding out the harmless letters from the ones that were truly threatening.
    Eliza never even saw the crazy letters that came to her at the Broadcast Center. Her assistant opened all her mail and immediately sent on to security anything that seemed weird or menacing rather than just annoying. Over the years Eliza had anchored
KEY to America,
the morning news broadcast, Connelly had been concerned enough to send a few letters to the FBI. But now, in the short time Eliza had been anchoring the
KEY Evening Headlines,
her viewership had increased and so had the letters.
    Connelly walked through the security command post buried in the basement of the Broadcast Center, scanning the dozens of video monitors along the wall. There weresixteen cameras on each chain, timed to record views of different locations. Cameras were trained on every entrance and exit of the building, outside each elevator, along each hallway. If Joe had his way, there would be cameras in the bathrooms, but, of course, that was against the law. The security monitors were not staffed at all times. That was impossible with the manpower situation as it was. But in the old days, all the camera tapes were recorded and saved for ten days—plenty of time to painstakingly replay and study each tape for any problems or signs of security lapses. Now the cameras were mostly digital, which made things much easier. Everything was saved on a disk and pinpointing time was more exact.
    Still, during the hours when most of the on-air talent was in the Broadcast Center, Connelly liked to have a guard keeping an eye on the security screens.
    â€œEverything okay?” he asked the guard now stationed in front of the monitors.
    â€œI’m trying not to fall asleep, it’s so quiet.”
    Unsmiling, Connelly nodded. “Good. Let’s keep it that way.”

Chapter 7
    Louise Kendall stood waiting on the lawn in front of the Georgian colonial as the car carrying Eliza, Janie and Katharine Blake pulled into the driveway.
    â€œI’m in love already!” Eliza whispered to her mother-in-law, inhaling as she viewed for the first time the house she was already certain she would buy. The gracious brick home sat well back from the street on carefully manicured grounds that Eliza estimated must be at least three acres. “Look, it has a slate roof!”
    â€œDon’t act excited in front of Louise,” Katharine warned. “You shouldn’t seem too anxious.”
    Eliza leaned over and pecked her mother-in-law’s cheek. “Yes, KayKay,” she said good-naturedly. “I won’t give myself away.”
    But Janie was not good at keeping secrets. She bounded from the car, dragging her precious stuffed monkey, Zippy, by the arm, and ran straight across the lawn for Louise. “My mommy loves the house,” she announced proudly.
    Eliza and Katharine followed behind, the younger woman laughing. “So much for playing it cool,” Eliza shrugged. “Okay, Louise, you’ve got me hooked. Give us the tour.”
    In the fading light, they walked slowly around the exterior of the house, Janie running ahead and calling back what they were about to see next.
    â€œMommy!” she shrieked. “It has a swimming