The Vaudeville Star

by Nicola Italia

  “I went home. Here. Why do you ask?”

  “We were supposed to have been together last night?” she reminded him.

  “What?”

  “Remember? You asked me to tell the police that. And I did.”

  “Oh. Yes. Yes! Of course. Of course I did. And you did. Thank you.”

  “Why did you ask me to lie? I wasn’t with you. You didn’t even see me, as you just said. If you dropped her off at her hotel, surely people saw you there. And then once you returned home, your staff—”

  “It’s not that simple,” he explained. “When I dropped her off, it was late. And dark. No one was around at the hotel. And when I came home, my staff had retired for the night.”

  “King.” She came toward him, unsure if she should reach out a hand and touch him or not. She touched his shoulder, and he jerked back. “King, I did as you asked. I told the detective that we were together. I lied for you. When you asked me to, I did. And you never told me why. Now I’m asking. Why? Why did you ask me to lie?”

  King looked at her and then flung himself onto the sofa. “I was frightened.”

  She joined him on the sofa. “Why were you frightened?”

  “Because Lourdes had made a scene at Devonshire House, and then when I dropped her off, she threatened me. And you.”

  “Me?” Ruby asked, eyes wide. “Why me?”

  “She knew you were the one I wanted to marry. She was jealous. Insanely so.”

  “You could have told the police.”

  “I didn’t want her in jail. I cared for her. I thought maybe it was the alcohol talking. I thought she needed a good night’s rest and we could speak better in the morning. I told her that exactly.”

  “And then?”

  “And then I returned home. I didn’t think anything unusual would happen.”

  Ruby waited.

  “But the next morning, the police arrived and began asking questions. You must understand, Ruby. I knew I had done nothing wrong. But from their point of view, who else stood to gain from her death but me?”

  “But what would you have gained?”

  “Well, not necessarily gained, but she was a stranger here. A foreigner. No one else knew her. Why would anyone kill her? So they automatically looked to me. Apparently, she had registered in the hotel as Lourdes Parker and listed me as her husband. That’s how they knew to find me.”

  “So you were worried that because you knew her they would think you had killed her?”

  “Of course! They thought we were married, and then they show up on my door asking all sorts of questions. The inspector was cold and eyeing me up and down. I knew then. They wanted me to swing for this thing.”

  Ruby watched as he drank another glass, and she remembered how he could get when he drank. He didn’t seem to have much control over it. The drink controlled him.

  “King, you have money. You can hire the finest lawyer available.”

  “It doesn’t matter, Ruby. I’m an American. I’m an outsider. They’ll want someone to hold responsible.”

  “You should have told me all this. You shouldn’t have asked me to lie. You should tell the police the truth. That you are innocent.”

  “That I’m innocent, and what? No one saw me come home. No one sat by my bedside until I woke. What are you asking of me?” he said, his voice getting louder.

  “You shouldn’t have dragged me into this. I’m very grateful for your support of my career, and I remain your friend, but this is wrong. You’ve put me in a dreadful position,” Ruby said, her voice almost breaking.

  “I’ve put you in a dreadful position? Even if what you said will clear me?” His voice was growing angrier.

  “And Lourdes? What will happen to her?”

  “I’ve identified the body. She’ll have a proper burial.”

  Ruby tried to stem the feeling of uneasiness rising inside her. “Not her burial, King. Her killer. He’s still on the loose.”

  “I really don’t know, Ruby. I’m not the police. I imagine they’ll continue to search for clues and question people.”

  Ruby felt her head pounding again. Instead of comforting her, the entire conversation with King had caused her uneasiness to expand, and she knew that something was not right.

  “Perhaps you can offer a reward. That might bring people forward,” she suggested.

  “Perhaps you can mind your own business. Lourdes’s death does not concern you. Why should I offer a reward?” he said hotly, and under his breath he uttered, “She was a little tramp.”

  Ruby tried to stem the chill that settled over her. “Offering a reward will make you seem sympathetic. The police will look on it as a good sign,” she whispered.

  In a second, his manner changed. “Do you think so? A reward?”

  Ruby swallowed. “Yes. The newspapers will like it too.”

  King nodded and took his empty glass to the bar. “A reward. Yes. I’ll do that. And maybe even give an interview. I’ll talk about Lourdes and how much I miss her. Yes!” He warmed to the idea, rubbing his hands. “You see, Ruby! You have a cool head, even in a crisis.”

  He came to her suddenly, pulling her from the couch and wrapping his arms tightly about her. Ruby shivered as he pulled back and touched his lips to hers briefly.

  “My dear Ruby. You are a godsend. Indeed you are.”

  “I should return to my hotel,” she said, moving away from him.

  “Yes, yes. Of course with this damned death, we won’t be entertaining. Damned inconvenient! I so wanted to play host and hostess with you.” He grinned.

  The butler had taken the liberty of getting her a cab, and King said good-bye as she sprinted to the waiting driver. As the cab pulled away, she was filled with a sense of overpowering apprehension and felt quite sick to her stomach.

  By the time she arrived back at the hotel in the pouring rain, she knew that she had to tell Ford everything. He would know exactly what to do. But she learned from the front desk that Ford had left the hotel on business and was not expected back for several days.

  Ruby climbed the stairs to her room as she felt a huge weight settle over her. She must continue to perform and play the part while in the back of her mind King’s odd behavior preyed on her. Once inside her room, she didn’t bother to remove her shoes but laid upon the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

  The next day, her performance was spotless, and Ruby threw her nervous energy into performing and found that she could funnel herself into the show. The audience loved her as she smiled and pranced about the stage. The hoots and whistles grew louder. She received several baskets of flowers left backstage for her, two notes, a poem, and one offer of marriage.

  As her popularity in London grew, so did Zeta’s disdain for her. She treated her rudely and even barreled into her while backstage, though she apologized weakly.

  It was just another thing to worry about, and Ruby pushed Zeta’s jealousy to the back of her mind. She wondered again where Ford was. She had left a note at the front desk to have him contact her once he was back in town, but so far she had not heard from him. She thought it odd. After what they had shared and their mutual desire to wed, his sudden disappearance disturbed her.

  After the next evening’s performance, she returned to her dressing room to find King waiting for her. He had removed his jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves and was dipping his hands into the basin of water. He threw the water onto his face.

  “Ah, Ruby! There you are! I was just availing myself of the water. Refreshing,” he said as he took a small towel and dabbed at his face and hands. “I thought we could sup together.”

  “I’ll need to change,” Ruby said, though in truth she didn’t want to dine with him.

  “I was thinking that we should marry in New York, Ruby. We can have a society wedding. A grand wedding. In fact, in Paris we will visit the House of Worth and have them make your wedding gown! After all, I can’t have my wife seen in anything less,” he said, rolling down his sleeves and picking up his
jacket.

  Ruby noticed some marks on his forearm but paid it no attention. “King, I’m very grateful for your support. You’ve been very generous,” Ruby began.

  “It’s the reason I like money,” he said, smiling. “You can spend it on people you care about.”

  “I’m sure that’s true. However, I cannot marry you,” she said quietly.

  “Ruby. Come now. Let’s be serious. From the beginning, I’ve planned that we should marry after the tour. It’s the reason I arranged it in the first place. To give you something to enjoy. Because after we marry, you will no longer be onstage.”

  “Yes, King, and that’s just it. I have no intention of giving up the stage. When I return to New York, I want to plan a US tour,” she said, facing him squarely.

  “It’s ridiculous to think I would allow my wife to sing onstage like some organ grinder’s monkey.” King laughed.

  “And I would never allow my husband to force me to give up my dreams,” she said quietly and then softly, “I don’t love you, King.”

  King’s eyes watched her for several seconds. “I understand what this is,” he said, nodding.

  “What is this?” she asked.

  “You’re angry at me. For having you lie to the detective, and now you are punishing me.”

  “No. That’s not what’s going on. You see your future wife one way. And you deserve whatever you wish. However, I want something different. So there’s an end to it.”

  King took two steps to reach her and grabbed her arms. “Do you have any idea what I have invested in you?”

  Ruby had given this argument some thought. “I will pay you back. When I can. I promise you.”

  His hands increased their pressure on her. “I’m not just talking about money, Ruby.”

  “What, then?” she asked.

  “Things done . . .” he said haltingly. “In order to . . .”

  Ruby willed herself to remain calm and not tremble as he suddenly stopped squeezing her and moved his hands along her arms.

  “Come, Ruby. Let’s not quarrel. You are overwrought. The tour has taken its toll on you.” His hands almost caressed her. “I can give you such a life. Queen of Manhattan,” he said in a whisper.

  “King. I cannot marry you. It is not possible,” she said with finality.

  King smiled and picked up her hand. He kissed the back of it, and she could feel his warm breath on her skin.

  “You are working too hard. You aren’t thinking clearly. I understand, my dear. We’ll discuss this later when you are more yourself.”

  24

  As each night passed with Ruby center stage, her star rose higher. People came to see her, people recognized her on the street, and the hotel staff treated her differently.

  She laughed out loud when she read an article in one newspaper that proclaimed she was actually a Celtic princess reincarnated and therefore belonged to the people of Britain.

  People waited by the stage door to see her, and men continued to send her flowers and notes.

  On the night of their final performance in London, the troupe had been given a standing ovation, and everyone decided to take their cheerful group to the fancy restaurant Simpson's-in-the-Strand for a farewell dinner. They would be traveling to Paris the following afternoon, and Ford had not yet returned.

  Ruby spent an hour with the troupe but then returned to the hotel. The exhilaration of performing and being admired and loved was now replaced with the feeling of desolation and despair as King preyed on her mind. She wished again that Ford was there. As she walked down the corridor to her room, she saw a figure at the end of the hallway leaning casually against the wall. He appeared to be waiting for someone.

  As she moved closer, she saw the figure more clearly, and her heart hammered inside her breast. Ford! She dropped her little bag and threw herself into his arms.

  “Darling. What is it?” he whispered into her ear.

  His accent reminded her of home, and she closed her eyes as she wrapped her arms tightly about his neck, willing herself not to cry.

  “Dearest Ruby,” he said, kissing her cheek, and then his lips brushed hers again and again.

  In his arms, she felt safe.

  She picked up her bag, and he led her farther down the hallway to his room. “Ford, where have you been?”

  “I’ll tell you soon enough,” he said, opening his hotel room door.

  Once inside, she pulled her gloves off and placed them aside. “I’ve been waiting for you since you left. I placed a note downstairs with the front desk.”

  “I know. I received it today when I checked in.”

  He pulled her close to him and smelled her hair and kissed her temple. She let him hold her tightly until he released her.

  “I’ve missed you, Ruby.”

  “I’ve missed you too. So much.”

  “I should have told you where I was going and why, but I thought it best not to.”

  “You thought it best not to? Why? What’s going on?”

  Ford turned away from her and walked to the window. “I’ve been with the agency for a year or so. I’ve made friends in that time. And when I had a hunch, I asked them if I could follow it. Even though it wasn’t something we would normally involve ourselves with.”

  Ruby nodded. “Go on.”

  “You see, Ruby, I’ve spent a lot of time with King Parker. I’ve done jobs for him, and I always liked him. Though he’s a powerful man, and men like that are usually a law unto themselves. I suppose you don’t get to own all of Manhattan by being choir boys. You take my meaning?”

  “I do.” She nodded solemnly.

  “He seemed straightforward enough. What you see is what you get. Owned real estate and had his mother and wife.”

  “Yes.”

  “When he took to you and started courting you, I didn’t like it, I’ll admit. But he was married, and I knew you would never be a man’s mistress. So I left well enough alone.”

  Ruby nodded.

  “When his wife died suddenly, I thought it was strange. Too convenient. Much too convenient. But again, I kept my feelings to myself. And then King wanted me to come to Europe with him.” He looked out the window.

  “Ruby, when I asked the agency to do some digging on my own, they didn’t know the nature of it, and I wanted it kept secret, so I was happy when they asked no questions.”

  “Yes?”

  “So I did,” he said quietly.

  “And that’s where you’ve been?” she asked.

  “Yes. Looking for answers.”

  “And the question?”

  “Who killed Lourdes.”

  Ruby nodded and felt the tears well up.

  He knelt before her. “Ruby. Calm yourself. Why are you crying?”

  “You don’t know what I’ve done. You don’t know what he asked me to do,” she said, shaking her head.

  “Who asked you?”

  “King.”

  Ford stiffened. “What did he ask you to do?” he asked hoarsely.

  Ruby shook her head even as Ford clasped her to him. “Shhh. It’s okay. Whatever you did can be undone. I’m sure of it. Tell me,” he whispered into her ear.

  “He came to me,” she sniffed, “and asked me to say that I was with him all night. He said there had been an accident. I knew nothing more than that. The police arrived the morning after the Devonshire Ball and asked me. And I lied. I told them I was with him. When in fact, I had been with you that night.”

  “Christ!”

  “It wasn’t until the inspector and the sergeant were leaving that I asked them what it was all about. That was when I heard that a woman had been strangled,” she shivered, “and that it was Lourdes.”

  “Oh, Ruby.” He held her to him again. “I should have been here to protect you.”

  “No. It’s as you said. What I’ve done can be righted. What did you find out?”

  Ford sighed and took the seat next to her. “A motive and the means.”

  “What motive
could he have had? He told me himself that he broke with her before he left New York. He gave her a town house. She would be able to live comfortably,” Ruby argued.

  Ford looked over at Ruby and then away. “I spoke with the coroner. Lourdes was pregnant.”

  Ruby leaned her head back against the sofa. She felt the tears in her eyes and wiped them away with her hand. “He would not want a child by his mistress in the world. He cares about appearances too much. He doesn’t even want me onstage. He told me so. It wouldn’t be appropriate for his wife.”

  “Yes, he mentioned that to me once as well.”

  “And the means would be easy. He has more money than the real king of England. He can do what he likes,” Ruby reasoned.

  Ford nodded. “But that isn’t all.”

  “No?”

  Ford shook his head. “I knew King employed a man at his Mayfair house who had been his butler for several years, but I discovered he had suddenly been fired. I wondered why, so I tracked him down to Devon. He had a story to tell about the night Lourdes disappeared.”

  “Did he?” Ruby asked apprehensively.

  Ford nodded. “Apparently, the night Lourdes died, he heard a large fight. Now King told the police there was a fight and that afterward Lourdes left. Later, she sent a note asking him to come to the hotel to meet her, but King did not. I could not find anyone who had delivered such a note, and in the middle of the night, that would have been unusual.”

  “Why did he lie about the note?” Ruby asked, confused.

  “Because it was his way of making it seem as if Lourdes had left his house alive.” His eyes met hers. “Of course, I think she never left.”

  Ruby shivered as his words sank in. “What else did the butler say?”

  “His hearing is not so good, but he heard raised voices and then dishes being broken. He said there wasn’t much else but that King definitely left the flat sometime after two in the morning.”

  “Why?”

  “To dump the body.”

  Ruby put her hands to her face. “And that was all he could tell you?”

  “He also told me the next morning he was pouring warm water into King’s basin for his morning toilet, and he saw marks on his forearms that had not been there the day before. Shortly after that, he was fired.”