The So Blue Marble (14 page)

    

    Ann was on her back on the one twin bed, waggling her legs in the air. She let them fall with a soft thud. “All dressed up again! Who is it tonight? David?”

    Griselda smoothed her hair. “No. I have to see Jasper later.”

    Ann swung her legs aloft again. “I’ve been so low. And I feel a little heady, like maybe a cold coming. So I decided I might as well stay in and do a little waist-lining. Join me?” She looked like a little girl, on her back, her hair tumbled, white silk shorts on her hips.

    “Your waist line’s perfect, angel.” Griselda spread out on the chaise longue.

    “You are popular,” Ann told the ceiling, counting one-two one-two between sentences. “David last night, Jasper tonight. And you don’t even exercise. Maybe that’s my trouble. Just an athletic girl.” Ann didn’t sound low. She was gayer than she’d been in years.

    Griselda was comfortable. “Maybe it is. As a matter of fact I think I’m the one who needs exercise or something. No one ever calls on me save for business.”

    “Morocco and David! Business?”

    “It was, believe it or not.”

    “Did you have fun? He dances so excitingly.”

    She didn’t want Ann to think on David. She said bluntly, “It wasn’t fun. Missy came in drunk and David took her home. Jasper took me home.”

    “Was Jasper with you?”

    “No. With Missy.”

    Ann let her legs down, thump, turned on her stomach. “Isn’t she revolting, Griselda? Of course she always was.” She pushed herself up and down in some fashion on her forearms. “This is grand for the stomach. You should try it. But then you don’t have a stomach. Babies make stomachs. Little wretches. I don’t see anything we can do for Missy.”

    “Nor I.” Griselda corkscrewed backwards to put out her cigarette.

    “Where are you and Jasper going? Dancing?”

    “Lord, no!” She laughed out loud. “Jasper wouldn’t take me to a shooting gallery. I’m small fry. I told you it was business.”

    Ann was on her side now, scissoring one leg, then the other. “You certainly aren’t designing frocks for Jasper!”

    She laughed again. “Ann, how silly! No. Oppensterner, O.C.H.’s big boss, is having a fit because Nesta isn’t around getting publicity. I’m the soothing syrup for Oppy, or I’m going to try to be.”

    “What’s the matter with Nesta?”

    “Off with Danny no doubt. She hasn’t been around since the night of your cocktail party.”

    Ann sat up on her knees and looked in her dressing table mirror. “She was with us at Versailles after the party. But she did leave with Danny.”

    Griselda yawned. “Well, she hasn’t been seen since. That’s Nesta all over. Give her a new man and she’s off the face of this globe until she’s bored. The only trouble is that this time Oppy’s paying out his precious dollars to smear the Coldwater-Fahney romance all over the front pages and he does like value received. Also she’s to sail the first of the week to make a picture with Korda, and Jasper’s afraid she won’t even remember that.” She yawned again. “Why I have to act as wet nurse to Oppy’s stars, I can’t see. But I’m dragged in on it. I seem to be dragged in on everything these days.”

    Ann jumped over the foot of the bed. “Well, it is exciting! Movie stars and European playboys and police inspectors-I feel like a schoolgirl again.” She opened her clothes closet. “I’m going to dress up too. Maybe I can make Arthur take me out. We could join you and Jasper.”

    “It wouldn’t amuse you.” Griselda rested her head. “Just telephoning. First Canaan, then Hollywood.”

    “Why Canaan?”

    “If my hunch is right, that’s where Danny and Nesta are romancing.”

    Ann began to carol, “Ro-mance, Ro-mance, you came in the early dawn-or words to that effect. I shall wear my red crepe with the golden stars. If Arthur doesn’t want to go out maybe I can get David to take me.”

    Griselda stared. If Ann hadn’t heard from David, why was she so gay? She stated soberly, “David’s in Canaan.”

    Ann swung to her, her eyes narrowed. “David? Not here? What do you mean?”

    Griselda nodded. “I thought you knew. He and Missy, and supposedly Danny, went this morning.”

    Her sister’s mouth was tight. “It can’t be true. I had a note, and flowers, masses of golden orchids, after I talked with you.” She took the note from her jewel box.

    Griselda read, “You will see me soon,” and a scrawl of letters spelling the signature. She put it down. “He told me last night they were going. I called this morning, to make certain.”

    Ann didn’t say anything. She was dressing but the fun had gone out of it. Words crowded Griselda’s mouth but she couldn’t speak them. If she could only tell Ann, warn her. But a little would be discounted as jealousy; all, she didn’t dare.

    Ann was brushing her smooth dark hair. She was nasty because Griselda knew about David. “Why do the police keep after you?”

    Griselda answered out of her own annoyance. “The superintendent’s murder.”

    “But I thought he committed suicide.” Twenty smooth strokes.

    Griselda began to giggle. “I thought it was heart failure.” She couldn’t stop laughing. She stuffed her handkerchief across her mouth but she couldn’t.

    Ann turned from the mirror. “Griselda! You frighten me.”

    She was quiet then. Mustn’t frighten Ann. Mustn’t let life touch Ann. She wiped her eyes, trying to stay quiet.

    Ann returned to brushing. “Besides I don’t see what that man’s death has to do with you.”

    She spoke quietly. But she didn’t want to talk about it. She might laugh again, laugh instead of crying. “It happened in my apartment.” Quickly she remembered. Even Tobin didn’t know that. She added, “At least that’s what the police seem to think.”

    Ann wasn’t that stupid. She was glancing sidelong at her, thoughts crowding out of her eyes. Griselda knew her first remark had gonged with fact; her second was a swath of hasty dust which hadn’t blinded even Ann’s eyes.

    

    

    

    Jasper was taste embellished with elegance. White pajamas of such heavy satin they hung like velvet, black rough wool lounging coat lined in rosy fur. His black curly hair was brushed to sheen. There were Russian boots of soft white kidskin on his feet. But this wasn’t to allure his guest. He had to maintain his glamour to the hotel servitors, more, he had had nothing to do since eight o’clock but make himself beautiful.

    He greeted Griselda as crossly as if she were a member of his family. His face was petulant. “Where have you been? I’ve been shut up here all evening waiting for you. I thought you’d forgotten.”

    She laid off her own coat. “I couldn’t get away.” Still annoyed with Ann, she said, “Some people find it dull with the Montefierrows out of town.”

    Jasper stated, “I loathe all the Montefierrows.”

    And I, she amened silently. “I want a nice drink, Jasper, a nice heavy one. And quickly. And a cigarette.” She threw off her hat, put on her glasses and sank in a chair. He began work at the rolling bar.

    He said, “If you don’t make Nesta come back, Oppy is coming East. He’ll be loathsome. I didn’t want to make this trip anyway. Romance with Nesta! She positively revolts me. I don’t see how anyone can romance with her. I don’t even see how that loathsome blond Montefierrow can. It shows just how revolting he is.”

    She ignored him, reading his evening
World-Telegram.
The Madison Bank tragedy was buried now, but there was an editorial.

    He came over, ‘Taste this.”

    She did. “It’s good. Let me have four swallows and I’ll call Canaan. And stop worrying about Oppy. I’ll handle him.” Anyone with a little intelligence could handle Oppy. The producer hadn’t any; Jasper had less.

    He took a neat one. “You act as if you don’t know how loathsome Oppy can behave.”

    She went on reading the paper until she was relaxed. “Have the tabs sent up, Jasper.” She moved over to the phone, asked for long distance. “I wish to speak to the operator at Canaan, New York.”

    He complained, “I can’t have the tabs sent while you’re on the phone.”

    She laughed. “I’m not used to the luxury of a hotel. I forgot. We’ll get them later,” and, “Canaan operator? I wonder if you could connect me with some friends who have just gone up to Canaan from the city. The name is Montefierrow.”

    The name meant nothing to the girl in Canaan.

    Griselda tried again. “There would be three or four in the party. Two young men, one blond, one dark, twins. A very young girl, pale blonde, and perhaps another woman.”

    The description struck. The operator said, “I know the party. They’re in the Wilson place. But they don’t have a phone yet, Miss.”

    She hadn’t dreamed of that. She sighed, “But they are in Canaan?”

    “Yes, Miss. They’re here.”

    She said, “Thank you. Make the charge to Jasper Coldwater at the Waldorf-Astoria.” She had forgotten what that name could do. The voice at the other end crackled with excitement.

    She hung up, said, “Get the papers now.”

    “What did you find out? Is Nesta there?”

    She drank. “Get the papers. “I’ll tell you.”

    He called the desk. “Send a
Mirror
and
News
to me. Jasper Coldwater.” His voice was honey-sweet but his face was annoyed.

    She talked on top of his words. “They’re up there. But they’ve no phone.”

    He was upset all over again. “No phone? What are we going to do?”

    She begged, “Calm down. We could wire. But Nesta certainly isn’t using her own name. She never does on tour. And it doesn’t seem as if the twins are. The operator didn’t know the name. There are the papers.” He walked towards the door.

    He was listening to her but when he opened the door he was the great Coldwater, a treat to the bellhop. He closed it again.

    “There’s your damn papers.” He tossed them to her, was patient, “Do you know what we’re going to do?”

    “Yes, darling, I do.” She was opening the pages. “And you can’t imagine how I’m enjoying this little excursion into normality.” She was. She was as comfortable as if her shoes were off and her face in cream. But wouldn’t the fans howl! Go to Jasper Coldwater’s rooms for a normal existence. She grinned at him. “Don’t look like that, Jappy. Fix me another drink while I tell you.”

    He obeyed, still disturbed, irritated.

    “I’ll take care of Oppy tonight. I promise you. Get us a little spare time. Tomorrow you and I will go to Canaan and bring Nesta home. How’s that?”

    He liked it. He beamed, not any of his silly screen smiles but a real grin, a silly one. “You’re a genius.” He handed her the drink. “That will do it. She’ll have to come back if we go for her.”

    “Right.” She turned the pages. “For a movie star you’re less interested in publicity than any I’ve ever met.” She tossed over a section. “There’s your picture with Missy at Morocco last night and a lot of blah. Also you will notice that the Montefierrow twins have gone to the Berkshires for a respite and some more blah.”

    He smoothed his hair. “It isn’t bad of me-for a news flash. She’s a funny little brat. Is she really your sister?”

    “I don’t believe it but she is.””She called me and asked me to take her out last night, see and be seen, she said. Then she let that fellow run her home like a scared rabbit.”

    She spoke under her breath, “Maybe she was.” Aloud she said, I’m going to call Oppy now. No use sitting around until twelve.” Again she asked for long distance. “I want to speak to Jules Oppensterner, Beverly Hills, California, reverse charges.” She gave the necessary data. “There may be a little trouble reaching him, if you’ll call back…” She hung up, went back to the papers.

    It didn’t take ten minutes for the call to go through. Oppy’s excited voice not waiting for a greeting, “Jappy, is this Jappy?”

    “This is Griselda Satterlee, Oppy.”

    “You don’t say. I expected Jappy to call. About Nesta. Where is Nesta?”

    Griselda spoke calmly, “Now listen, Oppy, be patient. Nesta is where Nesta often is.”

    “Patient! Now is no time to be patient!” He was beginning to scream. “Nesta shouldn’t be there now! I’m paying big money to have Nesta with Jappy in the Waldorf-Astoria. Where is she?”

    Griselda said, “Nesta is in Canaan. In the Berkshires.”

    He screamed, “What good does that do? Nesta in a Berkshire!”

    She answered briskly, “It doesn’t do you a bit of good, Oppy. Now stop yelling and listen to me.”

    Jasper’s eyes shone. No one who worked for Oppy dared talk that way.

    Her words came fast. “We tried to reach her tonight but there’s no phone. Tomorrow Jasper and I will drive up and get her. By tomorrow night well have her back in New York and publicity all over the papers. Do you know who she’s with? Well, I’ll tell you. The name wouldn’t mean anything to you but he’s one of the wealthiest and most famous young men on the continent, from an old New York family but he lives abroad. And he’s also sailing next week. Think what he can do for Nesta in London! She’s not wasting time. She’s building up for more publicity than you ever thought of, world-wide publicity. Maybe it will even be a real romance…”

    “Well!” came weakly from the wire.

    “So if you’ll only be patient, Oppy, well get Nesta back to catch the boat and you’ll have all the front page stories you want.”

    She could see him, wiping his bald forehead. He went into explanations; he was patient; he understood. He was only upset because Nesta was so flighty.

    She ended. “We’ll have her call you tomorrow night.” She hung up, began to laugh. “He eats from your hand.”