Cast An Evil Eye (14 page)

Jeremy became suspicious. This was reminiscent of several weeks ago when Manny had her under his spell. Déjà vu! “Have you ever felt like this before?” he asked her.

“I don’t know. I remember something not too long ago.”

She paused to catch her breath. “It’s all so vague.”

Cammie kneeled before Courtney and took her hand in hers. “Did something happen tonight?”

Tears ran down Courtney’s face. “Glen asked me to marry him. He had a ring—it was beautiful. I wanted to say yes. I tried, but—I—I couldn’t. Something stopped me. Oh, Daddy—Mommy—something’s awfully wrong!”

Jeremy’s heart chilled. Was Manny trying to manipulate her again? Could he do it from the audience? No! That’s not possible!

“You need a good night’s sleep,” he told Courtney. “Perhaps you’d better stay with us tonight. There’s an extra bed in here.”

Cammie picked up the phone and dialed the housekeeper. “Would you please send a maid to Room #304? We need to have the extra bed made up. Thank you.” She made a valiant effort, but couldn’t hide her concern.

“Thanks, Mom. I really do need to stay with you and Daddy.” Courtney put her hand to her head. Her brow was wet. “I’m awfully tired,” she told them. “My mind is spinning.”

As soon as the maid had the bed ready, Courtney crawled into it, and was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Cammie motioned to Jeremy to join her in the sitting room adjoining their bedroom. She pulled the sliding door across, shutting out any sound.

“What do you suppose is going on?” she asked Jeremy in a low tone.

Jeremy looked grim. “I wonder if Manny is controlling her again—this time from the audience?”

Cammie was stunned. “Can he do that?”

“I don’t know.” He thought for a moment. “I’m going to call Nate and invite him and his wife to tomorrow night’s performance. I know they’ve seen ‘Déjà Vu,’ but not with Courtney in the starring role. I’m sure they’ll be delighted. Maybe he can tell us what’s going on in Courtney’s head. Things have been going so smoothly—we can’t afford to let this happen.” He picked up the phone and dialed Dr. Drake’s home in Scarsdale. “Nate,” he said as soon as he answered. “We need your advice. I think Manny may be at it again. Could you and your wife attend the theatre tomorrow night?” He waited. “Oh, that’s great!” he exclaimed. “I’ll have tickets waiting for you. Thank you, Nate.”

He was about to hang up when Nate posed a question. “I take it Manny has been attending the theatre?”

“Yes, he has,” Jeremy replied, “but we’ve kept him away from Courtney.” He noticed a hesitance on Nate’s part. “Why, Nate? Is that a problem?”

Nate was silent for a moment. “Do you think we can sit some place where Manny can’t see us? Where does he usually sit, or don’t you know?”

“Not really. But you’ll be sitting in our private box. You can sit in the back. I’m sure he can’t see you there.”

Nate sounded relieved. “Thanks. I think that’s best.” He paused. “Have you heard from Zack since he flew to Paris?”

“He called Jay. He found his partner badly wounded. He’s in the hospital recovering, but he’s lost his memory. Until he regains it, Zack will be staying in Paris and doing some investigating himself. We don’t know how long it will be before he can return. We’ll see you and Julia tomorrow night.”

Jeremy hung up and turned to Cammie, puzzled. “Strange—”

“What’s the problem?” Cammie asked him. “Are they coming?”

“Yes, but—” He paused.

“But what?”

“He asked for seats where Manny can’t see them.”

“Is Nate afraid of him?”

“It sure sounds like it.”

“Maybe he doesn’t want to talk to him. Remember? He almost got the blame for the money Manny stole. Maybe he’s afraid Manny is angry that he turned him in to the authorities.”

“Perhaps. Nate must think he and his wife are in danger. We don’t know what Manny is capable of, but I’m sure Nate does. Maybe he’s like Gregory and Lilli. You know—stop at nothing, not even murder, to destroy whatever—whoever—gets in his way.”

“But what can he possibly want from Courtney?” Cammie asked. “Oh, I don’t know what to think,” she sighed. “It’s all such a mystery. We’re guessing. There are too many maybes.” She looked at Jeremy, trying to hide her fears. “I wish Zack were here. He could zero right in on whatever it is.”

Jeremy echoed her thoughts. “How many times in the past few weeks I’ve wished the same thing!” He grimaced as he took her in his arms and tried to comfort her. “There’s nothing we can do tonight,” he said. “We’d better get some sleep. We’ll think more clearly in the morning.”

They returned to the bedroom. Courtney was restless, and stirred in her sleep.

Cammie and Jeremy got into bed as quietly as they could, making sure they didn’t wake her.

CHAPTER XX
 

I
t was a beautiful day in Paris. Zack rose at six o’clock. He showered, dressed, made himself a cup of coffee, and sat down to think.

He had a big job ahead of him, but there was a rainbow across his cloud of despair—Renee. She was there to help him. His heart leaped, and he found himself wondering—is there such a thing as love at first sight?

Impatient to see Renee, he decided to go down to the restaurant and wait for her there. He sat and watched between sips of his coffee.

She arrived at La Grande Veue Hotel at eight o’clock sharp, and went immediately to the dining room where breakfast was being served.

Zack was seated at a table by a window that looked out on the River Seine. He looked up as she approached, and smiled.

“You’re feeling better this morning!” Renee observed as she sat down opposite him.

“I was very encouraged that Gus remembered something yesterday,” he told her. “I know it wasn’t much, but I’m grateful. I had my doubts for a while, but now I fully expect him to remember everything.”

“It was very promising,” Renee agreed, “but we mustn’t expect too much too soon. It may take some time, and we should be prepared.” She picked up the menu. “Have you ordered yet?”

“No. I was waiting for you.”

“What looks good to you?” she asked.

Zack gazed at her. “You do,” he replied. He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “Have I told you how grateful I am to have you in my corner? I’ve never met anyone before who fully understands my keen sense of intuition. I don’t have to explain it to you. You know. It’s like finding a soul mate. Between the two of us we should be able to figure out how to solve this mystery. Thanks.”

Renee blushed and seemed a little flustered under his steady gaze. “Don’t mention it,” she said as she lowered her eyes to study the menu. “I think I’ll have some plueberry bancakes,” she said. She looked up at him, startled. “What did I just say?”

Zack laughed. “I think you got your p’s and your b’s a little mixed up.”

“I can’t believe I said that.” She tried to cover up her embarrassment by motioning to the waiter.

Zack peered at her over his menu. Does she feel the way I do? he wondered. I feel tongue-tied. I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind from the time I first laid eyes on her. Stop it! he warned himself. We have work to do. Serious work! We need to stay focused. “I’ll have the same,” he told the waiter. “Bring plenty of maple syrup.”

Renee looked at him in amazement. “I was just going to say the same thing!” she declared. “Restaurants never serve enough syrup. We must be on the same wave length.”

“A hearty breakfast is just what we need,” Zack remarked. “That’ll give us plenty of fuel to go on. We have a lot of work to do after we pick up Gus and drive him to the airport.”

“Have you decided how you’re going to tell Gus about his sister?” she asked.

Zack’s face sobered. “I guess the best way is to tell him right out. We don’t have much time. When his sister heard that Gus had been injured she said she’d take the next flight. She’s due in at Orly Airport at eleven o’clock. That gives us just time enough to eat and pick up Gus. The doctor said he’d have the dismissal papers ready when we got to the hospital.” He looked up as the waiter arrived. “Oh, here are our plueberry bancakes,” he teased.

Renee laughed that musical laugh that Zack found so delightful. “I’ll never hear the end of that, will I?”

“Nope!”

She grinned at him. “I’m just glad to hear you laugh at something. You’ve had a rough couple of days.”

Zack looked at her with gratitude. “It hasn’t been easy, that’s for sure,” he agreed. “You’ve been a big help. I honestly don’t think I could have made it without you.”

“Oh, you’d have made it,” she said. “I’m just glad I could help.”

As they ate, the same music that was played years ago floated softly over to them. Debussy’s “Claire De Lune.” The same musician, much older now, was seated at the piano beside the waterfall, situated in the center of the room. It was peaceful and uplifting. It reminded Zack of the times he and his dear friends in the States dined in this same room together. After saving Hildy when Gregory Wilcox, Sr. kidnapped her! And again after saving Cammie when Gregory Wilcox, Jr. kidnapped her! It seemed like yesterday.

By the time they finished breakfast both Zack and Renee felt a peace and optimism they hadn’t felt since they found Gus in that alley. With renewed strength they were ready to tackle the task that lay before them.

Zack insisted on paying the bill. “It’s the least I can do,” he told her. “You’re here to help me.”

Renee protested. “I’m also here to solve an attempted murder that took place in my precinct.”

But by this time Zack had signed the bill and charged it to his room number.

“I’ll get it next time,” Renee told him.

Zack just smiled and looked at his watch. “Let’s go,” he said.

Together they walked through the lobby and out to the patrol car that was parked in front of the hotel.

Twenty minutes later they arrived at the hospital.

Gus was fully clothed, sitting in the upholstered chair next to the window. He had already signed the release papers that the doctor had brought to him. Gus Johnson. That’s what Zack told him his name was.

“Good morning, Gus,” Zack greeted him. “How are you doing?” He held his breath, hoping that Gus had remembered who he was and the many years they had worked together.

“Good morning, Zack,” he replied. A flicker of recognition flashed into his eyes. With a sharp intake of breath he uttered, “Zack! I remember you!”

Zack’s spirits rose. “Thank God!” he exclaimed. “Anything else?”

The look of recognition vanished as quickly as it had come. Gus shook his head in bewilderment. “Why can’t I remember more?”

The doctor had come into the room to do a last minute checkup. “You will, mon ami. It will come in bits and pieces. You must be patient.”

Gus started to rise from his chair, then sank back again. “Where are we going?” he asked. “I don’t know anyone in Paris, do I?”

Zack sat down in the chair opposite him. “Gus, I have something to tell you.” He paused, then continued. “Do you remember that you have a sister?”

Gus looked blank. “No. Does she live here?”

“No. She lives in Westport, Connecticut.”

Gus paused for a moment, trying to figure it out. “Does she know what happened?”

“Yes. I talked with her last night. She’s on her way here. Her plane is scheduled to land at Orly Airport in an hour and a half. She’s going to take you back to California so she can take care of you till you completely regain your memory. You can keep in touch with me by phone.”

“Are we going to the airport now?”

“That’s right.” Zack rose from his chair. “We’d better leave. It’s an hour’s ride. I want to be at the gate when she arrives.”

“How long has it been since I’ve seen her?” Gus asked. “Is she married? Does she have a family?”

“She’s a widow,” Zack told him. “Her children are all grown and away on their own. It will be just the two of you. You’ll have a nice quiet place to recover.”

The nurse helped Gus into the wheelchair and pushed it to the exit and out to Renee’s patrol car.

They arrived at Orly Airport half an hour before the plane landed, and they found seats near the ramp where the passengers would be entering the airport.

Gus fidgeted nervously with his fingers.

Zack reached over and put his hand over Gus’ hand to stop the fidgeting. “There’s nothing to be nervous about,” he said, trying to comfort him. “She’s your sister. You grew up together. She’s home cookin’.”

The plane got in early. Gus looked anxiously as the passengers, one by one, entered the building.

Suddenly Gus spied his sister. “Helen!” he exclaimed. He rushed over and embraced her.

She looked startled. “Gus! I thought you lost your memory!”

“I did, but I remember you!” There were tears in his eyes as he turned to Zack. “My God, I remember!”

To say that Zack was more encouraged than ever would be putting it mildly. He was ecstatic! “Gus! Do you remember what happened to you? Any of the facts that you uncovered about Manny?”

Gus gave Zack a vacant stare. “Manny? Who’s Manny?”

Zack’s spirits, which had been soaring, plunged like a rollercoaster. Never mind, he thought. He’s remembered a lot. The rest will come.