La Fleur Rouge The Red Flower (21 page)

She disappeared into the bathroom. After removing her dark wig she stepped into the shower. The warm water was soothing after the hard day’s work, and she lingered as long as she dared.

When she emerged from the stall she heard a knock on the door of the bedroom, and knew that their dinner had arrived. She blow-dried her blond hair as fast as she could, pinned it up, and donned her brunette wig.

Jay had neatly arranged the table that the bellman had brought. A beautiful bouquet of fragrant flowers had been placed in the center, and a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket.

With a satisfied sigh, Hildy sank down into one of the thickly upholstered chairs, ready to enjoy her last evening with Jay.

As soon as they finished their meal and the waiter had taken away the tray and table, Jay swept Hildy up in his arms and carried her to the bed. It was a night filled with bliss and nostalgia. It seemed they couldn’t get enough of each other. They tried not to think of the impending separation as they lay in each other’s arms. A couple of times during the night they woke only to find themselves in each other’s arms again.

Morning came all too soon, and they rose, ready to join the others for breakfast. Greg was nowhere in sight.

As they prepared to leave for the studio, Hildy turned to Jay. “I wish you weren’t going back to New York so soon.”

“So do I, sweetie,” he replied, “but Greg and I are needed there. Your film will be finished soon, and you can join me then.”

How she wished she could tell him the truth. She almost blurted it out, but stopped herself in time.

Jay led her to a corner of the lobby and took her in his arms.

“Hildy, join me in New York as soon as you finish the film,” he pleaded. “I need you. I’ll be counting the minutes till we’re together again.”

Hildy turned her head away to hide her tears. She couldn’t let anything interfere with the completion of the film. She needed this proof and the money to fight Greg in court, and put a stop to his thievery. Not just for herself, but for all the other victims that Greg would prey on if he were allowed to continue.

She cupped Jay’s face in her hands. “Cherie,” she promised tearfully, “I’ll be in New York as soon as I possibly can.” There was a catch in her voice as she spoke in a solemn tone. “Always remember, no matter what happens, I love you, Jay.”

* * *

The way she spoke sounded ominous to Jay - almost like a permanent goodbye - and a cold feeling of premonition swept over him as he remembered the death threats that Peter had told him about. He brushed it aside as he kissed her and held her tightly. Zack was here to guard her, and he trusted him.

It was becoming more and more difficult to be patient and understanding. Could there be something else besides the film that would keep her here? Reluctantly, he let her go.

“I have to pack. Have a good day filming. And keep in touch. I’ll call you,” were his parting words as he left and headed for the elevator.

CHAPTER XXX
 

Greg rose early in the morning and went to the hotel office to use the copy machine. The clerk recognized him and was only too glad to let him use it. In half an hour he had an exact copy of Hildy’s script.

As soon as he was back in his room, he placed his logo over Hildy’s name on the copy he just made. Next, he pasted a large sticker over Hildy’s title of “La Fleur Rouge.” On this sticker he put the new title, “The Red Flower.”

Now all he had to do was to figure out how to get Peter’s copy into his room while he was at the studio. He went out into the hall and looked around. One of the maids was there. A chain of keys hung from her cart.

“Excuse me,” Greg said in his most charming manner. “I left my key in my room. Would you mind letting me in? I need to pick up something.”

The maid smiled. “Oui, Monsieur.”

In a moment, Greg was inside. He shut the door and placed Peter’s copy of the script on his bureau and left. The moment he returned to his own room he ordered breakfast from room service and made a reservation at the Saint Germaine Hotel nearby. This way, he figured, no one would run into him and know that he hadn’t gone back to New York with Jay, as planned.

While he waited for his breakfast to be delivered, he walked over to the window and looked out. It was beginning to rain. As he stood there, he saw a young man with vivid red hair get out of a taxi. Oh, no! Could it be?

Greg grabbed his small but powerful binoculars that he always took with him on trips. His worst fears were confirmed! Roger Fielding! What is he doing here? Of course he knew. Somehow Roger had found out he was in Paris!

I have to keep him from seeing Jay! But how? Then he smiled smugly. What good would it do him even if he did? he snickered. Jay would never believe that Roger wrote “Sunny Days.” It’s Roger’s word against mine. Still, he felt threatened by him. I can’t let him see me. He made a quick decision. The time had come to carry out his plan.

There was a ring on the doorbell. Room service had arrived with his breakfast. He ate leisurely, mulling over exactly what he would say to Jay. His copy of “La Fleur Rouge” with the new title and his name on it was now in his hands. Everything was falling into place. As soon as he finished eating he picked up the phone and dialed Jay.

“Jay,” he said in as serious a tone as he could muster, “I have to see you about something very important. It means I’ll have to stay here for a few more days.”

Jay was upset. “But I’ve already checked you out and reserved our seats on the plane!” he reminded him. “The director needs both of us!”

“I’m sorry, Jay. This is urgent. Cancel the plane seat. I’ve booked a room at the Saint Germaine, but I must talk to you. “Come on over,” Jay sighed.

Greg hung up and walked down the hall. He paused, careful to put a grim expression on his face before knocking.

Jay opened the door and motioned for Greg to enter. “Sit down, Greg. What is it? You look so serious.”

“It is serious, Jay.” He paused dramatically, waiting a moment for just the right effect. Then he heaved a deep sigh and proceeded with his lies. “Jay, I hate to tell you this. I know how much you love Hildy.”

Jay looked startled. “Has something happened to her?” he asked anxiously.

“Oh, no, it’s nothing like that. But when you hear what I have to say you’ll wish you’d never married her.” He sighed again, then continued. “I don’t know any easy way to tell you this, so I’ll just come right out with it.” He looked him blatantly in the eye. “Jay, you know the musical that Peter is filming? ‘La Fleur Rouge?’ It’s mine. Hildy stole it from me.”

Jay looked at Greg in astonishment. “What? Oh, you’re kidding!” He studied Greg’s face. “You’re not kidding, are you? This is a very serious accusation, Greg. How could she have stolen it? Did you know her before? Oh, you must be mistaken!”

“No. There’s no doubt.” He held out his hand with the script in it. “This is a copy of my original script,” he lied as he handed it to him. “I called it ‘The Red Flower.’ She translated the title into French and called it ‘La Fleur Rouge.’ I planned to show it to you on the plane when we returned to the States, but I can’t let this go on any longer.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” Jay sounded suspicious.

“I was waiting for the script to be mailed from Boston so I had proof,” Greg explained. “It came this morning while I was having breakfast in my room. I have to stay here and have it out with her.”

Jay walked over to the window and looked out.

Greg, sensing that Jay still had doubts, decided this was the perfect time to reveal Hildy’s true identity. “You don’t believe me, do you?” he said. He rose and began to pace. “Well, I can’t blame you. It’s not easy to believe something like this about someone you love. I know. I went through the same thing. With the same person. You see - “ he stopped pacing, then looked intensely at Jay as he continued. “Hildy and I knew each other before. I thought she looked familiar, but until last night I couldn’t place her. It’s been two years since I’ve seen her, and her disguise would fool anyone.” He paused dramatically and sat down again. “Last night I found out that Hildy Swenson is really Hilary Simone, the girl I was engaged to in Boston - the one who tried to put her name on ‘The Pepper Pot’ and claim it was really ‘The Ginger Jar.’ She’s wearing a dark wig over her blond hair, and her French accent is phony. She speaks perfect French, so it’s easy for her to speak English with a French accent. She must have stolen ‘La Fleur Rouge’ the night I broke our engagement. She’s using you just the way she used me. That’s probably why she married you.”

He peeked at Jay out of the corner of his eye to see how he was taking this. Jay was thumbing through the script, and Greg could see that as much as he didn’t want to believe what he was hearing, he was, nevertheless, buying his story. How could he not, with such indisputable proof in his hands?

Jay put the script on the table. “I can’t believe that Hildy is a plagiarist.” He picked it up again and studied it some more, then frowned and put it down again. “It’s just like the one Hildy and Peter have been working with. I hate to admit it, but I guess you’re right. If she’s been pretending to be someone she’s not, what else can I believe? Why hasn’t she been honest with me and told me who she was? I feel as though I married a stranger.”

“Now you know how I felt,” Greg said, “when she tried to put her name on ‘The Pepper Pot’ - and when I realized she stole ‘The Red Flower’ and renamed it ‘La Fleur Rouge.’”

Jay sat down and put his head in his hands. “This is terrible!” he said.

He raised his head and stared across the room. As Greg watched him, he could see Jay’s expression change from disbelief to disappointment.

“It explains a lot,” Jay said. “She’s been acting afraid of you, and her attitude keeps changing. One minute she’s friendly, and the next minute she shuts me out. It’s as though she has a secret that she won’t share with me. I saw none of this while we were in Scotland together, but the minute we returned to Paris she changed. Peter told me she’d been threatened, but I had no idea it was anything like this.” He looked angry and hurt. “So her life isn’t in danger after all. It’s just a coverup to protect herself from you. I thought she loved me, but you’re probably right. She just married me to use me.”

For a split second Greg was tempted to weaken when he saw how hard Jay was taking this. But it was too late to back down now, and his selfish concern for himself took over. What difference will it make in the long run? Hilary - Hildy - will be dead soon.

Jay took a deep breath, bracing himself. “Now I understand why you stayed in France when I asked you to go back to New York. I can’t say I blame you. You had to stay here and protect what was rightfully yours.”

Greg nodded, relieved. Jay had come up with the perfect alibi! He looked at him with an expression of total innocence as he continued. “I hated to lie, Jay. I wanted to spare you the hurt. But I can’t keep quiet any longer. I’ve been wondering all this time where the other copy of my script was. Imagine my shock when I saw it being filmed right here in Paris!”

Jay stared off into space. “I wonder if Peter knows about this?”

“Oh, I doubt it,” Greg replied. “Otherwise, why would he be filming it?”

Jay nodded. “Greg, would you mind leaving? I’d like to be alone for a while. When Hildy gets back from the studio tonight you’d better speak to her privately. I know what she’s done is a terrible thing, but I’d rather not have her embarrassed in front of the others.” He paused. “Perhaps I should wait till she gets back and ask her about this. She has a right to defend - - “

“I don’t think that’s wise,” Greg interrupted. “You’ll only prolong the agony.” He pointed to the script. “You have the proof. You should make a clean break. It’s the only way.”

Jay relented. “You’re right. What’s the point? What’s done is done. How could I believe anything she said now? I guess it’s just as well that I’m leaving today. I don’t think I could hide my disappointment in her. A clean break is the only way.”

Greg was relieved, confident now that he could really get away with this. “I’ll make another plane reservation as soon as I know when I’ll be returning to New York,” he told Jay as he left. “I’ll let you know. If you need me I can be reached at the Saint Germaine Hotel.”

He returned to his room and hurriedly packed his suitcase. It didn’t take him long to arrive at the Saint Germaine and get settled.

Now that he had convinced Jay that he was the true author of “La Fleur Rouge,” his thoughts returned to Dan. He was still trying to zero in on where he had heard his voice recently. It had an unusual quality - one that haunted him. The only other voice with a similar quality belonged to Zack, Hildy’s bodyguard.

He sat up with a start as he recalled seeing Zack leave the swimming pool area of La Grande Veue Hotel. The hotel clerk said the phone call from Dan came from there. Could Zack possibly be Dan? The voices were alike.

Then he remembered! The bills Dan sent to him bore on the letterhead the name of Daniel Zachary Davis. Of course! Zack being Dan would explain the whole thing! But what is he doing guarding Hildy? I’m paying him to find her!

Did Peter hire him to protect her from me? Then they must know about the bomb on her plane. But do they suspect me? He took a deep breath. I guess I’ll have to do away with her by myself. I can’t count on Dan to help me. And I’ll have to get rid of Roger by myself, too.