'I think it would be better if she checks with me before she goes to Beverly Hills, or anywhere else,' Scott said pleasantly. 'And by the way, Baron- those bags of Leila's fan mail. I'll be taking them with me.'

He put down the spoon he was holding and began to push back his chair. 'It's funny,' he said, 'but it's my guess that one of the people at this table, with the exception of Mrs. Meehan, may have been writing some pretty rotten letters to Leila LaSalle. I'm real anxious to find out who that might be.'

To Syd's dismay, Scott's now steely glance rested squarely on Cheryl.

Twelve

It was nearly ten o'clock before they were alone in their apartment. Min had agonized all day about whether or not to confront Helmut with the proof that he had been in New York the night Leila died. To confront him was to force the admission that he had been involved with Leila. Not to confront him was to allow him to remain vulnerable. How stupid he had been not to destroy the record of the telephone call!

He went directly into his dressing room, and a few minutes later she heard the whirling of the

Jacuzzi in his bathroom. When he came back, she was waiting in one of the deep armchairs near the bedroom fireplace. Impersonally, she studied him. His hair was combed as precisely as though he were leaving for a formal ball; his silk dressing gown was knotted by a silk cord; his military posture made him seem taller than his true height. Five feet ten inches was barely above the average for men these days.

He prepared a Scotch and soda for himself and, without asking, poured a sherry for her. 'It's been a difficult day, Minna. You handled it well,' he said. Still she did not speak, and at last he seemed to sense that her silence was unusual. 'This room is so restful,' he said. 'Aren't you glad you let me have my head with this color scheme? And it suits you. Strong, beautiful colors for a strong and beautiful woman.'

'I would not consider peach a strong color.'

'It becomes strong when it is wedded with deep blue. Like me, Minna. I become strong because I am with you.'

'Then why this?' From the pocket of her robe she pulled out the telephone-credit-card bill and watched as his expression changed from bewilderment to fear. 'Why did you lie to me? You were in New York that night. Were you with Leila? Had you gone to her?'

He sighed. 'Minna, I'm glad you have found this. I wanted so much to tell you.'

'Tell me now. You were in love with Leila. You were having an affair with her.'

'No. I swear not.'

'You're lying.'

'Minna, I am telling the truth. I did go to her-as a friend-as a doctor. I got there at nine thirty. The door to her apartment was just barely open. I could hear Leila crying hysterically. Ted was shouting at her to put the phone down. She screamed back at him. The elevator was coming. I didn't want to be seen. You know the right angle the foyer takes. I went around that corner…'

Helmut sank to the floor at Min's feet. 'Minna, it has been killing me not to tell you. Minna, Ted did push her. I heard her scream, 'Don't. Don't' And then her shriek as she fell.'

Min paled. 'Who got off the elevator? Did anyone see you?'

'I don't know. I ran down the fire stairs.'

Then, as if his composure, his sense of order, had abandoned him, he leaned forward, his head in his hands, and began to cry.

Wednesday, September 2

QUOTE FOR THE DAY:

Beauty is bought by judgment of the eye.

– Shakespeare

Good morning, treasured guests.

Are you feeling a bit lazy this morning? Never mind. After a few days we all begin to unwind into delicious and refreshing slumber and think that maybe, just maybe this morning we shall lie abed.

No. No. We beckon to you. Join us in that wonderful and invigorating morning walk through our beautiful grounds and along the coast. You will be glad. Perhaps by now you have already learned the pleasure of meeting new friends, of revisiting old ones on our sun-bright journey.

A gentle reminder. All guests who swim in any of the pools alone must wear the regulation Spa whistle. It has never been needed, but it is a safety factor that we deem essential.

Look in the mirror. Isn't all the exercise and pampering starting to show? Aren't your eyes brighter? Isn't your skin firmer? Won't it be fun showing off the new you to your family and friends?

And a final thought. Whatever troubles you brought with you to the Spa should by now be completely forgotten. Think happy.

Baron and Baroness Helmut von Schreiber

One

Elizabeth 's phone rang at six o'clock. Sleepily she groped for it. Her eyelids were heavy and drooping. The aftereffects of the sedative made it impossible to think clearly.

It was William Murphy, the New York assistant district attorney. His opening words snapped her awake. 'Miss Lange, I thought you wanted your sister's killer convicted.' Without waiting for her to answer, he rushed on: 'Can you please explain to me why you are in the same spa with Ted Winters?'

Elizabeth pulled herself up and swung her feet onto the floor. 'I didn't know he was going to be here. I haven't been near him.'

'That may be true, but the minute you saw him you should have been on the next plane home. Take a look at this morning's Globe. They've got a picture of you two in a clinch.'

'I was never-'

'It was at the memorial service, but the way you're looking at each other is open to interpretation. Get out of there now! And what's this about your sister's secretary?'

'She's the reason I can't leave here.' She told him about the letters, about Sammy's death. 'I won't go near Ted,' she promised, 'but I am staying here until Friday. That gives me two days to find the letter Dora was carrying or to figure out who took it from her.'

She would not change her mind, and finally Murphy hung up with a parting shot: 'If your sister's killer walks, look to yourself for the reason.' He paused. 'And I told you before: Be careful!'

* * *
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