Chapter Twenty-seven
SUSPICIONS
When she was alone in her room, Janet fairly tumbled into bed but notuntil she had picked up a letter Helen had brought up from the desk andplaced on the bedside table. When she was stretched out comfortably inbed, Janet opened the letter. It was from home, her mother telling ofnews of the neighborhood and of interesting little things about thehouse.
Janet finished the letter, tucked it under her pillow, and snapped outthe light. She was glad that her mother did not know of the stirringevents of that night.
Janet slept late the next morning, for her fatigue had been heavier thanshe had imagined. After an invigorating shower, she returned to her ownroom and there found a note propped on the writing table.
"Have gone on to Radio City," wrote Helen. "Will meet you there forlunch if you're awake."
Janet partially dressed and pulled on her dressing gown. Then she calledthe World Broadcasting Company and got a connection with Jim Hill'soffice. The young continuity writer answered at once.
"This is Janet Hardy. I just wanted to know if you were able to dig thecopy out from under your carpet."
"I'll say I was," replied Jim. "It's good stuff, Janet. Say, what underthe sun went on here last night?"
"I'd like to really know," she replied.
"Well, the studio officials are all upset about it. They were worriedenough trying to land the big contract with the Ace Motion PictureCorporation and now they fairly have the jitters. The studio is beinggone over with a fine-toothed comb to see if some clue can be unearthed.Have you thought of anything that would help?"
"To tell the truth, I've just gotten up and I don't think well withoutany breakfast," confessed Janet. "Maybe I'll have an idea or two by thetime I reach the studio."
"It's almost time for lunch," Jim reminded her.
"I'm to meet Helen for lunch at the studio," replied Janet.
"Then count me in on that and maybe we can get a line on who this waschasing around the studio last night."
Janet completed dressing and started for the studio. The morning wasclear and cool and it seemed impossible now that such events could havehappened the night before in the studio. She swung into Sixth Avenue,walking briskly, and headed for Radio City.
When Janet arrived at the studio, the rehearsal in studio K was at anend for the morning and members of the company were hurrying out forlunch. Rachel Nesbit, her dark eyes flashing, pushed past Janet withlittle ceremony and Janet thought that the director looked away andflushed. But then, she might have been imagining that for DirectorAdolphi and Rachel were known to be close friends.
Helen came hurrying up, followed by Curt Newsom.
"How are you feeling now?" she asked.
"Hungry," confessed Janet. "What's the news around the studio?"
"Oh, everybody is looking at everybody else and wondering who did it.They all seem to think it was an inside job for outsiders couldn't haveknown that you were working on that script, much less where you wereworking. I guess suspicion centers pretty strongly right on thiscompany."
"That would mean someone in our own unit has sold out to a rival companyand is doing everything in their power to keep this broadcast from beinga success," mused Janet.
"That's putting it politely," put in Curt. "I'd say that someone is askunk, and I hate skunks."
Jim Hill joined them just then. He looked tired and worried.
"Let's eat," he said, and the others agreed, the group adjourning to anearby restaurant. They obtained a secluded table where they could talkwith little risk of being overheard by prying ears.
After giving their orders, Jim turned to Janet.
"Been able to think up any clues?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"I've tried to think of every event that took place, but I can'tremember any special smell, or noise, and I didn't even feel thegarments of my assailant. I'm afraid I'm of no help."
"Not much," conceded Jim, running his fingers through his hair.
"What have you found out, Curt?"
The cowboy star likewise had nothing to contribute.
"I've got plenty of suspicions, but not a grain of proof," he grumbled.
"That's just it. We all have suspicions but no proof and this programmust be in dress rehearsal tomorrow night and there can't be any bonerspulled then. We've simply got to solve this mystery before then. Untilthis is cleared up the script won't be safe for a minute unless someoneis with it all of the time."
"Where is it now?" demanded Janet.
"In my office with the door locked and an office boy standing guard infront of the door."
"That doesn't sound very safe to me. Suppose someone well known shouldcome along and send the boy on an errand. He'd leave the door and thereyour manuscript would be unprotected."
"Oh, it's safe enough," smiled Jim. Then he paused suddenly.
"Say, maybe you're right. That could happen, especially if one of theprogram directors or other officials happened along. I told the boy tobe sure and stay on the job, but he'd run an errand for any one ofthem."
Jim stood up.
"Go ahead with your lunches. I'll skip up and get the script and rejoinyou. It won't take five minutes."
Janet Hardy in Radio City Page 27
