The Fan Letter (16 page)
Phillip smiled and shifted the phone to his other ear. He leaned back in his office chair and put his feet up on the desk. He figured this call from his agent might take a while. “Oh, yes. Between my cleaners and Edward's, it only took one whole day. We found four pairs of shoes in the backyard in case you hear of anyone missing any,” he smiled.
The agent laughed. “Only shoes? After my last bash we found…. Oh, well, never mind. I wanted to know if you were all set to begin filming next week. Any problems?”
Phillip looked at the script entitled “The Drums of the Redcoats” sitting on the desk. “Well, I'd rather have played the Major, but I guess I can take the first bullet. Rehearsals went well. The director still calls me Fred.”
“Well, he's an idiot. Always has been. But, he does know his historical drama,” Bill pointed out. “One other thing. Did Tom or Eddie mention the convention coming up in two months?
There was a long pause and a groan from Phillip. “Don't start on me about that again, Bill. I don't like those things and you know it!”
Bill was quick to cut in. “Hold on, now. This one will be different. It's really big. The major “Time Police” fan club in the Silicon Valley is sponsoring it in honor of our fiftieth show.”
“Aren't they a little late? That episode was earlier in the season. And I wasn't in it,” he added as a passing shot.
“So they are a little slow. So what? Everyone else is going. Even Maxwell and Ron and two of the writers,” Bill reasoned. “They really want you to come. As your agent I feel the public exposure will do you some good. It will be after your part in the picture is done. Saturday and Sunday, the twelfth and the thirteenth. They're even talking about a parade.”
Phillip rolled his eyes. “I hate parades,” he mumbled in a flat tone, thumping the script with a pen.
Bill knew Phillip well enough to know he was just stalling. “All you'll have to do is just sit there and wave. The pay's good. They've already booked you a room.”
“Well, I'm not staying with Tom again. The last time I did he stapled all my underwear shut.”
Bill chuckled. That had been a riot. “No, no. You'll have your own suite. It's at the Fairington Oaks Hotel.”
Phillip perked up a little. “Really? Those are nice.” He gave an elaborate sigh. “Since it seems I again have no say in my own affairs, fine. I'll do it this time.”
“Good. I mailed you all the details yesterday. You should get it today or tomorrow. Oh, the wife wants you to come for dinner Thursday around seven. It's been a while since you've been over.”
Phillip opened his top drawer and pulled out a calendar. “Sounds good. I'm free.”
“Fine. We'll boil another hot dog for you. See you Thursday,” Bill told him and hung up.
As Phillip put down the phone, he wrote the date onto his calendar. Pen still in the air, he frowned. “I hate hot dogs,” he muttered.
I
n two days Bill's brochures of the convention arrived in the mail along with a small box from Amherst.
“Come on, Bunny,” Phillip sighed. “Don't start sending me gifts. You know better than that.”
He opened Bill's envelope first and took out the standard convention brochure covered with pictures of all the cast and come-ons for all the “exciting events” that will take place over the “two fun-filled days.” “Meet your favorite stars and chat with the writers” claimed the colorful paper. There would be the usual question and answer periods, “never before seen” slides from behind-the-scenes, autograph sessions both days, a trivia contest, costume judging, an auction for memorabilia, and a photo session. An attached note from Bill said the convention was expecting in the low thousands in attendance.
Phillip had to find a knife to cut through the packing tape on Leslie's little box. He had never felt comfortable when fans sent him things. He always felt obligated in return. Now Bunny was stepping beyond that silent boundary that he thought she understood.
What he found inside surprised and pleased him. There was her standard ivory-colored letter and two paperback books. He grinned as he pulled out the books and looked at the cover.
Adventure Novels Presents:
The Time Police
THE LONER FINDS LOVE
by Leslie Nelson
The picture on the cover showed a smiling Tom Young as The Loner and a frowning Eddie Chase as Andrew Fox facing each other. The face on the woman standing between them looked vaguely familiar to Phillip. Brown hair, blue eyes, shy smile. He had seen the model for the drawing somewhere, but where had it been?
As he stared at the book cover, a recollection came to him. He opened his lower desk drawer to take out Bunny's letters and a picture fell to the floor. Picking it up, Phillips started laughing. It was Bunny's face on the cover of her own book.
“Well done, Bunny,” he laughed. “I don't know how you pulled that off, but good show!”
He turned to the back cover and read the outline of the plot. He nodded. Yes, that was what she had said it was about. He then turned his attention to her letter.
“
Hello, Phillip,
How are you? I am slightly ecstatic! Can you believe my book? I can't! It's not real just yet.
I'm surprised they moved up the printing date. My agent said it was because there were no major rewrites. (Of which I am most thankful!)
I well remember you told me you were too overwhelmed with your own work to read mine, but I don't care! I was sent five copies right off the press and I wanted you to have one of them. I'm sure you have a bookcase and I'm sure you can arrange to have a beacon of light illuminate my book.
The second copy, if I may impose on you, is for Tom Young. I didn't know how to send it to him so he would actually receive it. I was hoping you could help me out there. Please!
The book ought to be in the stores in a week or so. I hope someone else, besides my friends and me, likes it. Time will tell.
I hope you are well and working. I'll look for you at the movies!
Thanks again,
Leslie
P.S. How do you like the picture of Jane?”
Phillip put down her letter and immediately pulled out a blank piece of paper. As he hesitated, thinking about what to say, his eyes fell on the convention brochure. He wondered if she knew about it. The dates had been advertised on the weekly show a couple of times already and would be repeated. But he didn't know if her town of Amherst was anywhere near the Silicon Valley.
His curiosity had been aroused over this fan of his. Now that she ranked as an author, she was elevated above the fan level. Perhaps it would be all right to say hello to her in the midst of several thousand convention-goers.
“
Dear Leslie,”
he wrote,
“I was pleased to receive your book. I'm glad it has worked out for you. I will try to look through it when my schedule allows.
I will also attempt to get the other copy to Tom, but I can make no promises.
Enclosed is a brochure for an upcoming convention. I wasn't sure if you knew about it or not.
Again, congratulations.
Sincerely,
Phillip Beck“
T
he days flew quickly for Jane. There had been so much to learn from Rex during her months at the hidden chateau. Being very happy and very much in love, now knowing him so well, she knew immediately when something was wrong. Rex would come away from the computer console looking tense and uneasy. She knew something was going to happen. Soon.
Whenever she asked Rex to confide what he was thinking, he would momentarily look sad and draw her close to him in a warm embrace. But he wouldn't tell her the reason. Rex would follow her movements around the kitchen with his eyes, or he would stand on the terrace for an hour just holding her without speaking. Studying her face or running a soft hand over her cheek, he was trying to emblazon her features into his memory, becoming more tender and more loving than ever.
One warm evening they stood together on the balcony overlooking the swaying trees. Rex broke the silence as he stood a step back from her so he could see her face. He held her hands in his. “Jane,” he started in a soft voice. “I want to tell you something. I have come to love you more than I have ever felt possible…. No, let me talk,” he interrupted her attempted response. “I have been alone for many years. You have been the light to my darkness. Even when you have to go I will still have your light within me.”
Jane looked confused by his words. “Go? Why should I go? I'm happy here with you. Is this why you have been troubled lately?” her quick mind picked up. “Rex, tell me what you know,” she implored.
His hand caressed her upturned face and he gently kissed her lips. “I can't tell you just yet what will happen, but it will come soon and you will be gone.”
Tears came to Jane's eyes at his words. “Are you sending me away?” She had been sent away before, a long time ago in Scotland. The pain in her heart still burned.
The first tear the Professor ever shed now fell slowly down his cheek. “I would never willingly do that. You have to believe me. But, in the next few days—I fear its close—you will choose to go. And it will break both our hearts.”
“But, darling….”
He put a soft hand against her lips. “Please, Jane, let me finish. I want to tell you now that my chateau will always be waiting for you. And so will I. I will find some way to watch over you when you are gone from here. Some day, somehow, I will reclaim you. The portal is at my disposal. When your other life is complete, the portal will make you mine again.”
“Other life? I don't understand.” Her tears were falling again, her face showing her confusion by his words.
“I'm afraid you will understand. Just don't despise me, for I do love you,” he finished and his arms reclaimed her.
Jane couldn't comprehend the reason behind his words, but yielded to her love and trust of her dear Rex.
The next day Rex shocked Jane by giving her a small handgun. “I know you hate these, but keep it in your pocket, hidden,” was all he told her.
Returning to his computer, he frowned over the readings. It was almost over. His hideout had been located and they were closing in. He programmed the portal and went over to the worried Jane. He took her in his arms one last time and kissed her.
A loud noise startled them. A horrific crash had toppled their front door, and now the sound of running feet could be heard searching the house.
Two men burst into the lab and aimed their weapons. They were shocked when Jane pulled her gun and stood protectively in front of the Professor.
“Andrew! Jack!” she shouted. “Put down those….” Her words trailed off as confusion hit. She knew these intruders. Her memory flooded back in that instant. “I know you! You're my…. Oh, dear! My husband, Jack.”
Behind her, unseen, Rex closed his eyes as if in pain. It was just as he had feared. Her memory returned at the sight of those most familiar to her. It was all over. For now. He could see Andrew was watching him like a fox, but Jack could only see his beloved wife. In these few moments, no one had lowered their weapons. Jane still shielded Rex.
Jane's face was a mixture of happiness at her memory and confusion about the past three months. “Maggie? I killed Maggie. I caused the explosion and Maggie fell. I ran away because I was scared. I remember hitting something and pain and then I was here. I….”
Andrew quickly explained, “Maggie isn't dead, Jane. She was hurt by the explosion, but she is fine. She… We all have been worried about you.”
Jane stared at Andrew. “But you…you said you were going to have me arrested for murder.”
Andrew looked ashamed. “I was upset and angry. I…I shouldn't have said that.”
Jane had turned pale. Her mind couldn't keep up with all these conflicting images. “But Rex, he's always been there. We…I…love…Oh, Jack!” she cried as she fainted and sunk to the ground.
Rex took advantage of the diverted attention and leaped into the portal. He had no fears for Jane. She would be all right and was back with her husband. They had been tracking her ever since he had abducted her and knew this was the way it had to be. He would wait. She would be his once again some day.
Jack and Andrew let Rex go. They gently lifted Jane and Jack kissed his wife. As her eyes opened, she looked into his concerned face and her arms encircled his neck….
Ring. Ring Ring. Leslie looked up suddenly from her sofa. The phone. Drat, she was almost done….
“Hello?” she demanded shortly.
“Hi, honey. It's Mom. What are you doing?” Bonnie asked, choosing to ignore the sharp tone of her daughter.
“Umm,” her mind was still with Jack and Jane. “I'm finishing my last chapter.”
“Oh, you're always writing. I'd like you to go to the mall with me. There's a dress I would like your opinion on,” her mom requested.
Leslie looked back at the sofa. “I'm almost finished, Mom. I think it's pretty good.”
“Of course it is. But we don't get out to the mall much any more. I'd like you to go with me.”
“Mom, all the cash registers light up and spell out ‘Hi, Leslie and Bonnie’ when we walk in the door.”
Her mother didn't think that was funny. “Well, if you're too busy….”
Guilt. Lovely
, Leslie thought to herself and gave a resigned sigh. “No, I'll go. There are only a few more pages to write. I could use the exercise,” she relented. “My rear end is getting flat from the sofa.”
She knew Bonnie was smiling into the phone. “Great. I'll pick you up in fifteen minutes.”
Leslie looked down at her rumpled clothes. “Okay,” she said slowly. “Meet you out front.”
Ten minutes later Bonnie looked her daughter over as Leslie slid into passenger seat. “Is that what you're wearing?”
Leslie buttoned her coat to cover her old flannel shirt. “Hey, I only had ten minutes. I brushed my teeth and put on shoes. I hadn't planned on going out, you know.”
