by Joan Wolf
* * *
Tracy was playing gin rummy with Meg when Harry walked into the morning room later that evening. The rush of relief she felt at the sight of him almost overwhelmed her. She had spent the last few hours in such a state of fear that she had to keep reminding herself to breathe.
“Harry,” she said in a trembling voice.
Tony came into the room, and Harry crossed to the table where the two young women were playing cards.
“I hope you’re not gambling,” he said lightly. He looked down into Tracy’s upturned face and continued in the same tone. “I thought I could trust you not to corrupt my sister.”
He was giving her a chance to collect herself, she realized. After a moment she managed to say, “Hah. She’s killing me. I haven’t won a game yet.”
Meg hooted. “That’s because your thoughts have been a million miles away.”
Tony slid gracefully into the chair next to his sister. “What have you been playing?”
“Gin rummy,” Meg returned. “But Tracy’s been so distracted that it’s hardly been a challenge.”
“I’ll play you a few rounds,” Tony said. “Then we’ll see what mettle you’re really made of.”
Meg looked delighted to be receiving this attention from her brother. “Great!” Her eyes went to Tracy. “That is, if you don’t mind, Tracy.”
“I don’t mind at all,” Tracy replied, grateful to be released from the torturous charade she had been engaged in for most of the evening.
“Let me get you a glass of wine,” Harry said.
“That sounds wonderful.” She thought quickly. “There’s some white burgundy in the refrigerator. I think I’d like that better than sherry.”
His eyes glinted in acknowledgement. “Let’s go down to the kitchen, then.”
They went down the stairs in silence, Harry going first. As soon as he stepped into the kitchen, he turned on the light and turned to Tracy with his arms held out.
She went to him, leaned against him, and felt the warmth and strength of his arms as they closed around her. She reached her own arms around his waist and held him tight. “I was so frightened,” she said. “When Meg told me that you were meeting Tony …”
“Did you suspect Tony of being involved in the plot against me?” His voice was muffled as his lips were pressed against her hair.
She didn’t answer.
He answered his own question. “Of course you did.” He held her a little tighter. “He had both opportunity and motive. I’m ashamed to admit that I thought of him myself once or twice.”
“I had his finances investigated to see if he might be dangerously in debt,” she said in a small voice. “He wasn’t.”
“You had his finances investigated'?” His arms loosened and he held her away so that he could see her face. “How on earth did you do that?”
“I hired a private investigator.”
“Tom Edsel?”
“No. Someone in London.”
He looked amazed. “Good God.”
“You don’t think it was Tony, then?”
“No. As a matter of fact, we’ve spent the last two hours trying to find the bullets that were shot at me down by the lake. Tony had the idea of trying to match them to the correct gun.”
“How clever of him! Did you find them?”
“We found one.”
She looked puzzled. “But, Harry… what gun are you going to try to match it to?”
His mouth looked grim. “Ned’s rifle.”
“Oh,” she said softly.
“Tony is convinced that Mauley had to have an accomplice on the scene, and he thinks that accomplice might be Ned.”
“I think Tony is right about the accomplice. And it would be easier if you eliminated Ned as a suspect right away.”
He gave her a crooked smile. “Thank you, darling.”
“How are you going to get the rifle tested? Do you want me to contact my private investigator and ask him to arrange it?”
“That’s an excellent idea,” he approved. “I was going to ask the local police to do it, but I’d rather not raise any speculation until we’ve got some proof. Do you think this investigator could get it done in a hurry?”
“I’ll call him right away. Gail has his pager number.”
“Come into my office,” Harry said.
She followed him into the office and went to the telephone on the corner of his desk. “I’ll have to call Gail for the pager number first.”
“Okay.”
She dialed Gail’s cell phone and after Gail had given her Mark Sanderson’s pager number, she said, “I’m
going to need you to run up to London tomorrow, Gail. I have something that needs to be delivered to Mr. Sanderson ASAP.”
After Gail agreed, Tracy told her to be at Silverbridge by seven-thirty the following morning. Harry nodded his agreement to this time, and when she hung up, he said, “That’s good. Ned is in the stable by six-thirty. That will give me enough time to let myself into his apartment and get his rifle.”
Tracy nodded back and dialed Sanderson’s pager number.
“I’ll get you some of that white burgundy while we’re waiting for him to get back to you,” Harry said.
“Great.”
She was on her second glass when the phone rang. Tracy picked it up. “Mr. Sanderson. Thank you so much for getting back to me.”
It was a short conversation. Sanderson knew a lab that could do the job, but it would be costly to ask them to rush. Tracy assured him that price was no object, and they made arrangements for Gail to deliver the rifle the following day.
When Tracy had hung up, Harry said, “Let me know how much it costs. I don’t want you paying for this.”
She was about to protest, but one look at his face told her not to. “All right,” she said.
“When does Sanderson think we’ll have the results?”
“By tomorrow afternoon, if we’re lucky.”
He nodded somberly.
“Harry… if it isn’t Tony and it isn’t Ned, then who can it be?”
“One of the stable lads, perhaps.”
Tracy felt that that was doubtful, but she didn’t want to say so.
“Or it could be a complete outsider,” he went on. “What with all these film people about the place, the staff would think that any stranger was with the film, and the film people would think that any stranger was part of the staff. Someone could easily pose as a gardener, for example.”
That sounded more likely, and Tracy agreed. “That’s true. But if it is a stranger, finding the bullet isn’t going to help. You have to have a gun to match it to.”
He didn’t answer, but picked up her wine glass and took it back into the kitchen. Tracy followed.
“You don’t think you ought to go to the police?” she asked.
He put the glass on the drain board. “The only thing the police can do is assign a bodyguard to me, and I don’t want that. If Mauley were less important, they might agree to check his bank account if I asked them. But he’s too powerful a man. They won’t risk his wrath, even for me.”
“I wish you would accept a bodyguard,” Tracy said. “I’m so frightened that something will happen to you, Harry. I feel… I feel like we’re playing out some already-scripted drama whose end is inevitable. You’re in deadly danger. I know you are.”
“It’s not as bad as that, darling,” he said soothingly as he took her gently into his arms. “Believe me, I have no intention of dying.”
“Charles didn’t intend to die either.”
“I’m not Charles. The bullet missed me, remember?”
“Yes. Perhaps you do have a bodyguard after all,” she said. “Perhaps Charles is looking out for you.”
“I don’t know. That sounds pretty weird.”
She rested her cheek against his shoulder. “This whole situation is weird. You and I are weird. Good God, I’ve only known you for a few weeks, and yet I feel that if you should die, then I would want t
o die with you.”
He didn’t answer.
She lifted her face from his shoulder and looked up at him. “The first time I saw you, I stopped breathing. Isn’t that weird?”
The brown eyes meeting here were grave, “Yes.”
“How did you feel about me?”
“The same.”
“So,” she said. “That’s weird, too.”
The faintest smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I don’t think it’s weird,” he said. “I think it’s wonderful.”
She placed her hands on his upper arms. “Harry. I lost Scotty. I couldn’t bear it if I lost you.”
He kissed her forehead. “Don’t worry, darling. Tony told Mauley that if anything happened to me, he would keep the land in the family the way I wanted. If Mauley realizes that he won’t get the land if I die, then he has no reason to kill me. I think this whole business is finished.”
What he said made sense, but it still did not reassure her. No matter how logical he might be, she still could not rid herself of the sense that time was running out.
Following this thought, she said, “We go back to London soon.”
A thick lock of tawny hair fell over his forehead, and he stared at her, frowning deeply. “You’re leaving Silverbridge?”
“We’ve almost finished filming, Harry.”
“Do you have more shooting to do in London?”
“Some of the other cast members do. I don’t.”
His brow cleared. “In that case, you’re staying here.”
“As your guest?”
“As my intended wife,” he shot back.
Slowly she began to smile. “I think I could manage that.”
His fingers tightened on her shoulders. “I don’t know where Charles and the past fits into all of this. As I said before, it all seems pretty weird. But I do know that you and I belong together.”
She tilted her face invitingly upward. “Yes.”
There was no urgency about this kiss. It was long and gentle and tender, a seal to a covenant made between the two of them. When he finally raised his head, he said anxiously, “I say, do we have to have a big do? Could we possibly just be married quietly without any fuss?”
She thought for a moment “I don’t see why not I already gave my family one big wedding; they don’t need another.”
He grinned. “Did I ever tell you that you were perfect?”
“I don’t believe you have.”
“Well, you are.”
“I’m not, but I’m glad you think so.”
He frowned. “I just hate the idea of Mauley getting away with burning my stable.”
She shook her head in mock disbelief. “His worst crime is not trying to kill you but burning your stable?”
“I’m okay. My stable is not. And if I can’t prove that the E.H. officer was bribed, I’m not going to be able to rebuild it.”
“Sweetheart,” Tracy said softly, “I make twenty million dollars a movie. I’ll rebuild the stable as a wedding present.”
His mouth dropped open. “Twenty million dollars?”
“Yes. And I have a very clever financial manager who has made me more money than I can possibly spend in one lifetime. Rebuilding your stable will be simple.”
He stared at her. “I don’t know if I like the idea of using your money…”
She said reasonably, “One day Silverbridge will belong to my son. You must agree that I have a vested interest in seeing that it is well maintained.”
His brown eyes sparkled. “You sound as if you have thought about this.”
“Girls always do,” she returned demurely.
He didn’t reply, just continued to look at her with those sparkling eyes.
She glanced at the kitchen clock. “Do you think it’s too early to go to bed?”
His reply was immediate. “No.”
“What about Tony and Meg? What will they think if we toddle off to bed together?”
“We’ll tell them that we’re going to get married. That will legitimize us.” He took her hand and began to walk her toward the kitchen door.
“I foresee only one problem in our marrying, Harry,” she said as they went out into the hallway.
He turned his head. “What’s that?”
“Ebony.”
“Oh.” He grinned. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little cat.”
“She doesn’t like me.”
“She’ll learn to love you.”
They began to climb the stairs. “Does she like treats?” Tracy asked. “Perhaps I could bribe her with food.”
He laughed. “She’ll come around, Tracy. Once she realizes she’s stuck with you, she’ll come around.” They reached the top of the stairs and went into the morning room to break the news to Tony and Meg.
27
Letting Harry go the following morning was perhaps the hardest thing Tracy had ever done. Even with his assurance that Tony had scotched Mauley’s plans, she was afraid.
The ghosts are trying to tell me something, she thought as she cuddled up in the warm spot that Harry had left in her bed. If only I could figure out what it was, then I could keep him safe.
But the fact was, she had garnered no clue from Charles and Isabel that might help Harry. You have to show me more, she begged Charles silently. There’s something I’m missing, and I know it’s important.
She had to get up. Harry had gone to steal Ned’s gun, and she had to deliver it to Gail before she reported for makeup. Reluctantly, she swung her legs out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
* * *
Gail left for London with Ned’s rifle, and Tracy started work. Meg had an appointment with her therapist, and Harry drove her into Warkfield. They took the Land Rover, which was the only vehicle other than the tractors that Harry had access to at the moment.
“I’m so happy about you and Tracy,” Meg said shyly. “You like her, don’t you?”
“I adore her. She… understands things.”
“Yes, she does.”
“Will she be coming to live at Silverbridge?”
“Of course.”
Meg said a little anxiously, “I hope I won’t be in your way.”
He smiled. “Meggie, darling, you could never be in my way. If the happiest day of my life will be my wedding day, then the second happiest will be the day when I know that you are really well.”
Meg sat up straighter in her seat. “I’m doing better, Harry. The last time I saw Beth she said that if I kept it up, I was on my way to being cured.”
“That’s great. You look well. You have some flesh on your bones, and there are roses in your cheeks. With just a little bit more weight, you’ll be absolutely beautiful.”
“Do you think so, Harry?”
He said firmly, “You’ll be the best-looking one of us all—and I include Tony in that description.”
She laughed. “He wouldn’t like that.”
“No, he wouldn’t. Perhaps we’d better not tell him I said that.”
“Dave thinks that I’ve been doing a great job working with Nancy,” she said. “He told me that if I ever wanted to work on one of his movies, I’d have a job.”
Harry lifted an eyebrow. “Did he really?”
“Yes, he did.”
“Dave is an important director, Meg. You must have impressed him.”
She said earnestly, “I like this job, Harry. I’m good at it. Do you think I could make this my career?”
He replied slowly, “I don’t see why not. But you need to finish school first, Meg. I’m sure that Dave didn’t intend you to go to work for him right away.”
“I’m still too young, he said. But I’ll be seventeen this June and, if I go back to school in September, I’ll be eighteen when I finish in the spring. That’s old enough to get a job, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” A slight frown dented his brow. “But this kind of job involves traveling and eating out, Meg. There wouldn’t be anyone monitoring you. You’d have to take ca
re of yourself.”
“I can do that! I know you were thinking of having me go to school in Warkfield next year, but what if I went away? Then I could prove to you that I’m able to take care of myself. I can do it, Harry. I know I can.”
“What does Beth have to say about this?”
“She thinks it’s a good idea. You can talk to her about it today.”
“I’ll do that.”
Privately, Harry wasn’t quite as ready to turn Meg loose as he was leading her to believe. If she wanted to work on films, and apparently she had a talent for it, then she could work on Tracy’s films. That way there would be someone to keep an eye on her and make sure that she was eating.
“I’ll have to find a school that will take you in September,” he said. “If you look as good as you look now, perhaps that won’t be as much of a problem as it’s been in the past.”
“I’ll look even better,” she promised.
“That would be wonderful.” He pulled into a parking spot and turned to face her. “And Meggie, remember that Silverbridge will always be your home.” He smiled warmly. “To paraphrase an old saying, you won’t be losing a brother, you’ll be gaining a sister.”
When Meg was finished with her session, Harry had a few items to pick up in town. It was lunchtime when they returned to Silverbridge, and Meg went along to the caterer’s truck to join the crew while Harry went into the house. He found Tracy waiting for him in the kitchen. She was in full costume and makeup.
“I heard from Sanderson,” she said.
“Come into my office.”
She followed him in and took the chair he waved her to. “The results of the test were negative. The bullet didn’t match Ned’s rifle.”
Thank God. Harry didn’t realize until that moment how much he had been dreading hearing that Ned was involved in the scheme against him.
Tracy was going on, “While this is good news in regard to Ned, it leaves us in the same situation as before. We have no clue as to who is responsible for the attacks against you.”
He drummed impatient fingers on the desk. “It’s Mauley. I think we all know that. What we don’t have is proof.”
She leaned toward him. “Harry, take the bullet to the police and ask them to test all of Mauley’s rifles. Even if he hired someone to do the dirty work, he probably had to supply the gun. England isn’t like America, where anyone who wants a gun can get one.”
