La Fleur Rouge The Red Flower (22 page)

He frowned. Jay doesn’t know about the bomb. If he did he would never have believed what I just told him about Hildy. She must be planning to tell him the whole story later, he figured. Well, I’ll see to it that she never does! He brushed aside his worry about Hildy and Roger and Zack, confident that he could handle everything just fine by himself.

CHAPTER XXXI
 

Roger Fielding entered the lobby of La Grande Veue Hotel and approached the desk. “I need a room for a few days,” he told the clerk.

The clerk looked at the roster. “I am sorry, Monsieur. All our rooms are booked. I will see if I can get you a room at the Saint Germaine Hotel. It’s not far from here.” He picked up the phone and dialed the hotel. “Pardon, avez-vous une chambre?” Roger heard him say. “Merci, Monsieur.” He turned to Roger. “They have a room for you. What is your name, s’il vous plait?”

“Roger Fielding,” he told him.

“Roger Fielding,” the clerk said into the phone. “Oui, Monsieur. Merci.” He hung up and turned to Roger. “Do you have your luggage with you?”

“It’s over there,” Roger told him, pointing.

The clerk nodded and smiled. “I’ll have a cab take you to the hotel. When you arrive tell them I just reserved Room #218 for you.”

Roger started to turn away, then came back. “Excuse me, sir. Do you have a Gregory Wilcox registered here?”

“One moment, s’il vous plait.” The clerk looked again at the roster. “I am sorry, Monsieur. He checked out. He was here with a film company. They are at the studio, but will be returning early this evening. If you wish, I will have them call you when they arrive. They probably know where he went.”

Roger thanked him and left. That must be the company that’s filming the new musical, “La Fleur Rouge,” he figured. I wouldn’t be surprised if he hasn’t tried to steal that one, too.

As soon as he arrived at the Saint Germaine Hotel he poured himself a cup of coffee from the private bar and plunked himself into the comfortable easy chair.

Roger had come to Paris two weeks ago, and was worn out from touring the countryside looking for Greg. He had followed him to Kennedy Airport the evening he and Jay flew to Paris. It was easy to figure out why Greg was coming here, and what part of France he would be in to prepare for the upcoming production of “The Happy Heart,” now known as “Sunny Days” with Greg’s name on it. But everywhere he went he missed Greg by just one day.

As he sat there sipping his coffee, he looked at his watch. It was only ten in the morning. It would be hours before the people from the film company returned to the hotel. He ordered some sweet rolls from room service.

As soon as he finished eating he lay down on the bed, suddenly exhausted. Soon he was fast asleep.

* * *

Hildy felt like half a person as she seated herself in the limousine. She realized that by the time they returned to the hotel that evening, Jay would be gone. It had all happened so fast. The trip to Scotland and the honeymoon seemed like a dream. She wouldn't be seeing Jay again until she returned to the States, and she wouldn't be joining him in New York. She would be going to Boston to sue Greg.

They arrived at the studio early. As soon as they arrived Peter opened his briefcase to take out the script.

It wasn't there.

He rummaged frantically.

"What's the matter?" Jenny asked him.

He stopped rummaging and looked confused. "The script!" he exclaimed. "It's missing! I must have left it in my hotel room."

"Did you have it out of your briefcase after you got back last night?" Zack asked him.

"I don't think so. Frankly, I was so tired when I got to my room I really don't remember." He turned to Hildy. "Let me have your script so I can make a copy. We can't waste time trying to figure this out now. I won't be long."

Zack stopped him. "Peter, is there any way that Greg could have gotten his hands on the script?"

Peter shook his head. "No, that's impossible!"

Zack snorted. "He's managed to do a lot of impossible things. Maybe this is one of them."

"He wouldn't steal something unless he intended to claim it as his own. How could he claim something that's already in production?" Peter asked him. "I think you're barking up the wrong tree this time."

Zack shrugged and said nothing more.

It didn't take Peter long to make the copy. Nothing further was mentioned of the incident, and they concentrated on the day's filming.

When Peter returned to his room at La Grande Veue Hotel that evening the first thing he saw was his script lying on top of the bureau. He frowned. I must have left it there last night, but I don't remember it. He put it in his briefcase and turned to go to the closet, when he noticed that the red light on his phone was flashing. The message was from Roger.

* * *

At the Saint Germaine Hotel, the phone woke Roger with a start. It took a few moments for him to remember where he was, but it all came back when he heard Peter's voice.

"Roger Fielding? This is Peter Graff. I understand you wanted me to call you. What's on your mind?"

"Mr. Graff! Thank you for calling so promptly. I need to see you on an urgent matter."

"We're about to have dinner here in the hotel dining room," Peter told him. "Would you like to join us?"

"Yes, I would." This was more than Roger had hoped for. "What time shall I meet you?"

"How does half an hour sound?" Peter suggested. "That will give us time to freshen up."

"Fine," Roger agreed. "I'll see you in the lobby. Look for a young man with red hair wearing jeans and a navy blue shirt."

He hung up, apprehensive about Peter's possible reaction when he heard what he had to say. He rose, showered and dressed, and went back to La Grande Veue Hotel, ready to meet them at six-thirty in the lobby. He stood by the elevator clutching his briefcase which contained "The Happy Heart."

At six-thirty sharp they appeared.

Peter extended his hand. "Roger Fielding? I'm Peter Graff. Let's go into the dining room. We've had a long, hard day at the studio, and we need to unwind with some good food, some fine wine, and some soothing music."

As soon as they were seated and had given their orders he turned to Roger. "Now - what is this urgent matter you wanted to see me about?"

Roger cleared his throat, wondering if he should say anything in front of the others.

"Don't worry," Peter told him. "We're a close knit group and nothing that's said here will go any further. What's the problem?"

Roger winced. This had to be said, and the sooner, the better. If he didn't say it now he might lose his nerve. “Mr. Graff?”

Peter stopped him with a friendly gesture. "Call me Peter. I think we can talk more one-to-one that way."

"Okay - - Peter. I don't know if you'll believe what I have to say or not, but I swear it's the absolute truth."

"I'm listening," Peter said.

“This has to do with Gregory Wilcox. He stole my musical. I have a copy of it here.” He pulled out the script from his briefcase and held it up so Peter could see it.

Peter sat forward in his chair, an intent look on his face. “What’s the name of it?”

“I called it ‘The Happy Heart,’” Roger replied, “but Mr. Wilcox changed the name to ‘Sunny Days.’”

Peter looked triumphant as he listened to Roger’s story. “’Sunny Days’ is the musical that Jay Stuart is producing for Greg. They were touring here, trying to get a feel for the countryside. It takes place in France, right?”

“Yes.”

“If the name is different, how do you know it’s yours?” Peter asked him.

Roger grimaced. “I was watching television one day. Mr. Wilcox was being interviewed about his new musical that was in rehearsal - ‘Sunny Days.’ A pianist on the show played a couple of the tunes. They were two that I wrote for ‘The Happy Heart!’”

Peter nodded. “How did he have a copy of it?”

“I went to see Mr. Wilcox one night and showed him my musical. I asked him to help me break into the business. He said he’d be glad to do what he could. He did it all right! He asked me to leave a copy of the musical with him. I waited almost a month and didn’t hear a word. One day I read in the papers that Jay Stuart was going to produce Gregory Wilcox’s new musical, ‘Sunny Days.’ I thought nothing of it until I heard my songs being played on the television show. Then I realized what he’d done! I tried calling him, but all I got was his answering machine. I left several messages, but he never returned my calls. So I called Mr. Stuart, and they told me he was getting ready to go to France to do some research on ‘Sunny Days,’ and couldn’t come to the phone.”

A slow smile broke over Peter’s face as he listened. “Roger, you’re the third person who has come to me with this same story. I assume you have proof that you wrote it?”

“I didn’t copyright it at the Library of Congress, if that’s what you mean. But I did send it to myself in an envelope. The postmark is still on it.”

“How long ago was that?”

“About two years - - long before I got up the nerve to call Mr. Wilcox and ask him to look at it.”

“Good!” Peter exclaimed. “That’s all the proof we need. I think you and Hildy will be a great help to each other. Greg stole one of hers.”

Roger was astonished. “Was it produced?”

Hildy smiled bitterly. “It sure was! You’ve heard of ‘The Pepper Pot?’ Only I called it ‘The Ginger Jar.’”

Roger’s mouth fell open. “You wrote that?”

“Yes, I did. And the same thing happened to me. I went to see him one night and he promised to help me. You know the rest.”

“I’m glad you came to me with this, Roger,” Peter told him. “It will make our case even stronger with two of you accusing him. We’ll be finished with the filming of ‘La Fleur Rouge’ in another week or so. Then we’re going back to the States to sue Greg.” Roger looked around. “Is there any chance that Mr. Wilcox will see me talking to you? I mean, I think we should be careful. We can’t tip him off.”

“Oh, absolutely!” Peter agreed. “But don’t worry. He and Jay are on their way back to the States as we speak. They left on the six o’clock plane tonight. Anything that’s said here will be kept strictly confidential. There’s too much at stake.” He paused and looked at Roger intently. “Greg is a very dangerous man. He’ll stop at nothing to cut down people who get in his way. Please be careful!”

“He’s that bad?” Roger asked in surprise. “I know he’s a thief, but - “

“We’re almost certain he put a bomb on Hildy’s plane,” Peter explained. “It went off on a luggage rack after the plane landed. Everyone was off the plane when it happened so no one was hurt.”

“But the plane was destroyed,” Hildy told him. “The bomb was on the luggage rack right in back of Jenny and me. Greg made sure it was as close to us as possible in the First Class section.”

“Oh, no!” Roger gasped. His eyes widened as he remembered hearing about the bomb that went off on a plane that had just landed at Orly Airport. “I’m glad he didn’t know I was on my way to Paris. He might have tried the same thing with me.”

“He might very well have,” Peter grimly agreed.

“Well, I’m here safe and sound,” Roger replied. “And I promise to be careful.” He started to say something, then stopped.

“There’s something else?” Peter asked him.

“As long as I’m here, I wonder - - would you mind if I go along with you to the studio tomorrow and watch the filming? I’ve never been on a movie set before. I’m very interested in seeing how things are done.”

“Not at all,” Peter said. “You’re most welcome! And I want to read your script. If Hildy’s is the success I think it will be, I may just consider filming another. It must be pretty great if Greg thought it was good enough to steal.”

They finished eating and retired for the night. It had been an exhausting day, and they all felt the need of a good night’s sleep.

CHAPTER XXXII
 

Hildy still wasn’t feeling normal. She had attributed it to her trepidation about Greg. But he was on his way back to New York, so why would she still feel queazy? It was at its worst when she first woke up, then wore off during the morning. Like the old familiar punch in the stomach every time Greg started causing problems for her. But she was beginning to suspect it might be something else. If that’s what it is, she mused, I never had a chance to tell Jay. I wonder how he’ll feel if it’s true? I’ll wait till I’m sure before telling him.

She was delighted when she spied the note from Jay on her dresser. It had been delivered to her room while she was in the restaurant eating dinner. But as she read it, her face turned pale. She clutched her stomach! Was this a joke of some kind? “Hildy,” it read, “I’ve been giving our marriage some serious thought and I feel we made a mistake. I’m sorry it has to end this way, but you should have told me who you are. I feel we must make a clean break. I’ll get an annulment. It shouldn’t be too hard, since you married me under an assumed name.” It was signed simply, “Jay.”

Hildy thought she was going to faint. All the breath had been squeezed out of her. She was shocked - - deeply hurt - - and completely baffled. What had happened between this morning and tonight to cause such a complete turnaround in his feelings for her? She collapsed on her bed, sobbing.