Regina

by Mary Ann Moody

  Chapter Seven

  The loud knocking bothered Camille Clemmens in apartment home 2A. She rested in her favorite pastel pink easy chair with her feet up and watched her favorite cooking show. The show amused her. After all, why shouldn’t chef scream at the contestants who sent out raw or bad tasting food? Plus, she just loved it when he kicked people out of the kitchen. It was a little after eight pm and Camille was ready to spend the rest of the night catching up with chef and his band of bad cooks. The knocking got loud and distracted Camille from her show.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Roth?” A female’s voice was muffled by the door.

  Camille’s ears perked up. Someone was knocking at the Roth’s home across the way. Her eye peaked out the peep hole in the heavy oak door. Her hand rested on the glossy stained wood while she steadied herself.

  It was a woman. She was dressed in a gray tweed skirt suit. Camille squinted to get a better look at the woman, but it was no use, the lady was too far away. She thought for a second. Should she go out there?

  “Regina? Are you okay?” The lady called out after knocking again.

  Logic told Camille to unlock her door, which she did. The Palamark was one of the safest and prestigious apartment homes in New York City. The building composed of seven floors, two apartments on each floor. It was a new building, less than ten years old. Security wasn’t an issue because the doormen only allowed guests upstairs if they have preauthorization from the apartment occupant. If company comes unannounced, they must be verbally approved by the tenant in order to be allowed into the elevator or stairwell. Nothing will work without authorization, the elevator wouldn’t come down and the steel door to the stairwell wouldn’t unlock. Camille wasn’t too concerned when she opened the door.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Roth? Regina?” She said again, this time much louder.

  “Hello?” Her frail, older voice rippled across the marble vestibule.

  The woman stopped and spun slowly on her heals to face the old, snoopy neighbor. She was tall much taller than expected by the old woman. Her hair was long, brown, and pinned to one side with a blue ribbon. The ribbon gave color to the plain tweed suit. She gave a perfect white smile at Camille as she walked towards her. Her gray skirt didn’t rustle when she walked, but her dark blue shoes clicked on the marble. Her young, slim figure approached Camille.

  “Hi, I’m looking for Mr. and Mrs. Roth. I had an appointment with them and Regina.” Her blue eyes were full of sincerity and concern.

  Camille didn’t feel danger from this woman, but living in New York gave her the experience to never underestimate anyone. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion and said, “Well, they’re not here. Which young man let up?”

  “Evan, I was in their log. The Roth’s are expecting me. I’m Carrie Lisban.” She lied. Her real name was Lady Sarah Lordview. “I’m an interviewer with Crosby College. I have an appointment with Regina and her parents today regarding her admission to our college after graduation.”

  “You’re an interviewer?” Camille asked with skepticism. “You look like a student yourself.”

  The young woman laughed at Camille’s excellent observation. “Thank you! I get that all the time. I’ve worked for Crosby for two years, right out of college.”

  “Oh, well, how nice! That Regina is such a good girl. Of course, I don’t know her that well, she’s always away at school, but I see her over the summer. I’m Mrs. Camille Clemmens, by the way. I’ve lived next to the Roth’s since the building was built. Pretty much everyone has lived here since the building was opened. My children are out of college with lives of their own. It’s so nice to have a young couple next door. Regina is such a good girl. Her parents sure do adore her……” Camille rambled.

  “Yes, well, that’s very nice to hear. Do you know when they will be back? They must have forgotten or will return shortly?” Sarah asked. Forcing Camille to answer her questions seemed to be the only way to stop the old lady from talking.

  “No, no, I don’t think so. Poor Lynda’s mother died. I never heard her mention she had a mother, but, then again, why would she? I remember when my poor mother died. Heart failure at forty-seven years young! Can you believe it?” Camille said with wide eyes.

  “No!” Sarah said with fake surprise. “I’m so sorry to hear that! Well, that certainly explains why they forgot. Poor things.” Sarah said, shaking her head. “Now I don’t know what to do. I have to report the absence to my supervisor. Regina won’t be able to get another interview.”

  Sarah took a deep breath of sadness and looked to the Roth’s door again. Her disappointment was on display as a show for the neighbor. It worked, Camille fell right for it. “I’m sorry to hear that. I saw Regina a few days ago. The poor girl was so sad. That family is suffering. They’ll be heartbroken to hear Regina missed her college interview, but they won’t be back today. They went to Texas for the funeral. Is there anything I can do to help? I can call Lynda.”

  “You can? That would be great! If I could just speak to them to reschedule the appointment, my supervisor will never have to know Regina missed it.”

  “Of course, dear. Just let me get the number.” Camille said. She did not invite Sarah in.

  “Do you know where in Texas?” Sarah called from the door way.

  “Um, ….no, but their flight went directly to Austin.” Camille’s voice came from the tiny kitchen. “Well, wait. Lynda told me the town when she came to tell me they would be away. What did she say?”

  While Camille searched her kitchen for the phone number, Sarah peeked around the apartment. It was the typical apartment for a lady holding on to the best times in her life. Pictures of Camille dominated the walls with little shelves full of knickknacks.

  Sarah asked, “Mrs. Clemmens, may I have her phone number? I only have their home phone and you might not reach her the first try. I don’t want to put you out by calling her often.”

  Camille opened her mouth to say it wasn’t a problem, but she heard chef telling the contestants about the day’s challenge. Camille was missing the show! She could rewind it, but she timed the show to end exactly when the new show began. She had to get rid of this woman.

  “Sure, here you go.” Camille said with an edge in her voice, almost throwing her the phone number. “I have to go now. Good Luck.” She shut the door before Sara could thank her, but the door opened again. “Oh, Lee! The town is called Lee.” Camille shouted through the cracked door and shut it again.

  Lady Sarah was pleased and spun around on her heals to leave the building. A large smile on her face caught the guards’ attention as she exited through the front doors. He wondered what made her so happy.