The Cradle Will Fall

and mentioned Prince Charming?'

'As God is my witness.'

'All right, but one last thing, Mrs. Krupshak. Do you know if Edna kept any articles of clothing of her mother's as a sentimental keepsake? I noticed a shabby old moccasin in Edna's night-table drawer. Did she ever show it to you or mention it?'

Gana Krupshak looked directly at Katie. 'Absolutely not,' she said flatly.

CHRIS Lewis arrived at the Twin Cities airport at one thirty. He had an hour to wait before his plane left for Newark. Vangie's body would be on that plane. At Newark the medical examiner's office would be waiting for it.

And the prosecutors office would be waiting for him. Of course. If they were suspicious in any way about Vangie's death, they were going to look to him for answers. If they'd investigated at all, they knew by now that he'd returned to the New Jersey area Monday night. He had to see Dr. Salem, find out why he had been so upset. If Chris were detained for questioning, he might not be able to talk to him.

He also had to talk to Joan. He had the number of the stewardess, Kay Corrigan, with whom she was staying in Florida. Not knowing what he would say, he put through the call.

Kay answered. 'It's Chris, Kay. Is Joan there?'

'Chris, the Valley County prosecutor's office has been calling here asking questions about you two. Joan is frantic!' 'Is she there?' 'No. She won't be here till about eight tonight.' 'Tell her to stay in till I call her. Tell her-' He broke the con nection, leaned against the phone and pushed back a sob. It was all too much. He didn't know what to do. In a few hours he'd be in custody, suspected of killing Vangie.

No. There was another way. He'd get the flight into La Guardia. He could still make it. Then he'd be able to see Dr. Salem at almost the same time he reached the hotel. Maybe Dr. Salem could help him somehow.

He barely made the La Guardia flight. On the plane, he listlessly thumbed through Newsmaker magazine. His eye caught the headline WESTLAKE MATERNITY CONCEPT OFFERS NEW HOPE TO CHILDLESS COUPLES. Westlake. He read the first paragraph. 'For the past eight years, a private clinic in New Jersey has been making it possible for childless women to become pregnant The program is carried on by Dr. Edgar Highley…'

Highley. Vangie's doctor. Funny she never talked very much about him. It was always the psychiatrist, Fukhito.

The plane landed at four thirty. Chris hurried through the terminal and hailed a cab. It was five when he reached the Essex House. He headed for a lobby telephone, asked the operator for Dr. Salem's room number and dialed it. The phone rang… again… again. After six rings he hung up. He dialed the operator and asked her to try it for him.

The operator hesitated. 'Sir, when Dr. Salem checked in, he told me that he expected an important call. But apparently he's stepped out. Why don't you try again in a few minutes?'

'I'll do that.' Chris hung up the phone, walked over to a lobby chair facing an elevator bank and sat down. The elevators opened, dislodged passengers, filled again, disappeared.

One elevator caught his attention. There was something vaguely familiar about someone on it; a middle-aged man with a turned-up coat collar. Dr. Salem? No. Not Salem.

At five thirty Chris tried again. And at quarter to six. At five past six he heard the whispers that ran through the lobby like a flash fire. 'Someone jumped out a window.' From outside came the wail of an ambulance and the yip-yip of police cars.

Chris went to the bell captain's desk. 'Who was it?' he asked.

'Dr. Emmet Salem. A big shot in the AMA. Room 3219.'

Walking like an automaton, Chris pushed through the revolving door to Fifty-eighth Street. He hailed a cab and got in. 'La Guardia, please,' he said. There was a seven-o'clock flight to Miami. He had to get to Joan, try to make her understand before he was arrested.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

TWELVE-year-old Jennifer threw open the door for Katie. 'Katie, hi.' The two smiled at each other. With her intense blue eyes, dark hair and olive skin, Jennifer was a young Katie.

'Hi, Jennie. Anybody here yet?'

'Everybody. The Berkeleys brought their baby. Richard is here too. His first question was 'Is Katie here yet?' He's got a case on you, Katie.'

'Jennifer!' Half laughing, half irritated, Katie walked inside.

In the den, Liz and Jim Berkeley were seated on the couch. Molly was passing hors d'oeuvres. Richard was standing by the window, talking to Bill. He turned and saw her. 'Katie.' He came hurrying over. 'I've been listening for the doorbell.'

So often since John's death she'd entered a room where she was the outsider, the loner, amid couples. Tonight, Richard had been waiting for her, listening for her. Before she had time to consider her feelings, everyone was saying hello.

On the way to the dining room she asked Richard if he'd reached Dr. Salem. He said, 'I just missed him at five. I left this number with the hotel operator and with my answering service.'

At dinner Liz Berkeley said, 'I'm holding my breath hoping Maryanne won't wake up. Poor kid, her gums are swollen.'

Jim Berkeley laughed. He was darkly handsome, with brown eyes and thick black eyebrows. 'When Maryanne was born, Liz used to wake her up every fifteen minutes to make sure she was okay. Now it's always, 'Quiet, don't wake up the baby.' '

Liz, who was a slender woman with flashing brown eyes, made a face at her husband. 'I'm calming down, but she is a miracle to us. I'd just about given up hope. Dr. Highley's a genius.'

Richard s eyes narrowed. 'You really think so?'

'Positively. He isn't the warmest person,' Liz began.

'But he knows his business,' her husband interrupted. 'He put Liz to bed in the hospital almost two months before the delivery and personally checked on her three or four times a day.'

'Listen, I pray for that man every night,' Liz said. 'The difference that baby has made in our lives! Don't let Jim fool you. He's up ten times a night to make sure that Maryanne is covered.'

As the others chatted, Katie only half listened. She felt tired and light-headed, but she did not want to break up the party. Her chance came as they headed for the living room for a nightcap. 'I'm going to say good night,' Katie said. 'I'm bushed.'

Molly did not protest. Richard said, 'I'll take you to your car.'

The night air was cold, and she shivered as they started down the walk. 'Katie, I'm worried about you,' Richard said. 'I know you're not feeling up to par. You don't seem to want to talk about it, but at least let's have dinner tomorrow night.'

'Richard, I'm sorry. I can't. I'm going away this weekend.'

'You're what? With all that's happening at the office?'

'I… I'm committed.' What a lame thing to say, Katie thought. This is ridiculous. She would tell Richard that she'd be in the hospital… Suddenly the front door was thrown open. 'Richard,' Jennifer shouted. 'Clovis Simmons is on the phone.'

'Clovis Simmons!' Katie said. 'The actress?'

'Yes. Oh, hell, I was supposed to call her.'

'I'll see you in the morning.' Katie got into the car and closed the door. Richard hesitated, then hurried into the house as Katie drove away. His 'Hello, Clovis' was brusque. 'Well, Doctor, it's a shame I have to track you down, but we did discuss dinner, didn't we?'

'I'm sorry. Clovis, let me call you tomorrow. I can't talk now.'

There was a sharp click in his ear. Richard hung up the phone slowly. Tomorrow he must call and apologize and tell her that there was someone else. For now he'd make his excuses and go home. Maybe try Dr. Salem