“All right, damn it! I know! Give me credit for a little sense!” Rob was controlling himself with an effort. “I know it’s unfair to her, I couldn’t keep her happy, that’s why I pulled back. All I’m trying to say is, it went further than I meant it to because she was pushing. Worse than Kathleen. But I was as honest as I could be.”
“That’s just bull, Rob! What’s honest about the clap?” Nick took two strides across to the brass coat rack and pulled the chain and ring from his jacket pocket. He hurled them at Rob’s feet. “What’s honest about that?”
Rob stared at them and then, in furious comprehension, at Nick. “You! You told her! Goddamn it, Nick!” He lunged across the room. Eagerly, Nick met him, and for a moment they grappled, straining savagely against each other, struggling for advantage. Nick was heavier, but in agility and conditioning and frustrated rage they were well matched. Then Rob suddenly relaxed, blocking Nick’s attack but no longer fighting. “Nick, stop. I’m sorry. This is dumb.”
Reluctantly, still wanting to hurt him, Nick let go and stepped back. After a silent angry moment he said, “Okay, you’re right, it’s dumb. But I want to smash you, Rob. It was the rottenest thing you could have done.”
“She wasn’t supposed to find out. Why the hell did you tell her?”
“I didn’t. I’m so thick-skulled, I believed you when you said you’d told her. So I just mentioned it casually, almost in passing. Thinking she knew.”
“And David? Did you tell her that?”
“Look, two seconds after I gave her the clue, she had the whole picture. Characters, motives, the works. The only thing I did after letting the cat out of the bag was curse you.”
“Yeah. She’s sharp. Yeah, that’s the way it would be. That’s why I had to do those things, Nick. But look, really, do you think you can calm her down? I mean, after what she did to David—”
“What did she do to David? Be a little more specific.”
“She was waiting for him this morning when he drove up to the theatre lot. He comes up early, to go to the library, he says, and if the coast is clear he lets himself into my office.” Nick had a sudden unwelcome glimpse of Rob’s hidden, furtive life. “He was surprised, but she asked him very sweetly to help her because she’d sprained her elbow, and she led him into the woods behind the gym, and lit into him. He said it was so unexpected he didn’t have a chance.”
“And what’s all this crucial information she got?”
He hesitated. “Nick, I don’t want to give you more problems. I’d leave you out of it if I could.”
Nick answered his meaning, not his words. “Oh, hell,” he said, “you can still trust me not to tell.” He sat down on the sofa and put his face into his hands.
“Well, he admitted we were lovers. And that we were together Sunday night at my place, and that he told the police he was driving along the lake road all by himself. That was our agreement, you see. If anyone ever got nosy, he was supposed to be taking a solitary drive, and since I have more experience I could figure out something else.”
“What was the something else?”
“That’s the problem. I knew the police would be really critical, not like a parent or friend asking casually where you were last night and believing your answer. So I said I was with her at Joe’s. I’d stopped there a minute on my way home. And I left a message with Ellen and waited for her. She didn’t get back until the middle of the afternoon. Where the hell was she? And when I asked her to say she’d been with me, she was a little guarded, but she agreed. Sort of. Said she’d have to think of exactly how to put it.”
“She thought maybe you’d murdered Lisette.”
“Oh, God!” Stricken, Rob sat down at the opposite end of the sofa. “You’re right. She must have. I didn’t think of that. Oh, God, Nick, I’m sorry. It never occurred to me.”
“And now she knows you didn’t. Tell David his bruises are in a good cause.”
“But Nick, listen, what’ll she do next? Right now she could wipe out David’s future and Brian’s department.”
“Whose fault is that?”
“It wasn’t supposed to be this way.”
“Jesus, Rob.”
“Okay, you’ve made your point. But look, you must have some influence over her. Good old Uncle Nick. She’s furious now, of course, but she’s a reasonable kid. Bright. Couldn’t you talk to her?”
“No.” Nick was surprised at his own certainty.
“Nick, why not? Isn’t it worth a try?”
“Rob, look, I don’t want anyone else hurt. Well, you, maybe. But not David, not Brian, not the dean. But right now I could no more interfere in Maggie Ryan’s life again than I could fly. We’ve messed it up enough. I don’t think you realize yet the damage you’ve done. Why couldn’t you have waited?”
The blue eyes, angry again, blazed at him. “You know damn well I tried, Nick! Ran back to the city every weekend, ignored him when I was here. It was hell, but things were under control until Brian pushed his fencing lessons onto me. You knew that. You even tried to help, back then.”
“You were quick enough to turn down my help. Never saw anyone so eager to be led into temptation.”
“Well, you’re a hell of a one to talk about waiting! David’s a senior. You married a freshman!” His face changed. Nick jerked away from his sudden contrite touch. “Oh, Nick, damn it, I’m sorry.”
After a moment Nick hauled his mind back to the problem at hand and said, “You still haven’t said why you picked on a good kid like Maggie.”
“It had to be someone. Everyone’s a good kid.”
“All right, all right. But why her?”
“Well, first of all, she was fun. As I’ve said. She liked being with me, okay? We had to spend time together, we might as well both enjoy it.”
“Oh, Christ.”
“I swear to you, Nick, we had good times.”
“That’s supposed to make it better?”
Rob ignored him. “Second, she’s strong.”
“My God, Rob, no one is strong enough for that kind of betrayal!”
“So who would you pick? Judy, maybe? She’d have broken into pieces. The little stage manager, with her little beau mooning after her? Is that your idea of a good choice? Hell, I would have asked you and Zetty to play along, maybe, but Zetty seemed to be fighting demons of her own. Or would you suggest one of the other married ladies? Grace? Deborah Wright, maybe? Seriously, Nick, what else could I do?”
“Why did you have to do it at all?”
“Damn it, Nick!” Rob jumped up and walked to the window, then turned back to him. “I thought you of all people would understand. You force me to spell it out. Look. If it had been Zetty’s reputation, and Zetty’s future, and Zetty’s family, and keeping Zetty out of the hands of the brutal cops, wouldn’t you have done it to Maggie? For love? And because she is stronger?”
Nick couldn’t answer. His pajamas had blue stripes and he counted them silently, seven across his left knee. He would think about the question later.
Rob, more softly, asked, “Won’t you talk to her, Nick?”
And Nick, clinging to the one truth he dared look at, shook his head and repeated, “No. It’s up to her, Rob. I’ve meddled too much already. I’m going to trust her.”
“But she’s not herself. I mean, when she’s back to normal, she won’t want to hurt Brian either.”
“I don’t know, Rob. I’m not exactly normal right now either. But I just can’t. You’ve hurt one of the splendid creatures of God’s earth. And if she has to take us all down to try to save herself, so be it.”
It was final. Rob knew it. He looked out the window again, then turned back with a shrug. “Well,” he said, “guess there’s nothing to do now but wait for her next move. Hell hath no fury like one of God’s splendid creatures.” He picked up the ring and broken chain as he crossed the room, and with a last sad glance behind him, let himself out, leaving Nick alone and ashamed.
Seventeen
Ellen was worri
ed. Maggie was acting very odd. After Nick’s call last night she had found her roommate in the gym, working on the bars, palms bleeding, thighs and hips striped raw from hurling herself against the bars, an elbow sprained. She had scolded Maggie and put her to bed, the elbow packed in ice. The first thing she thought of when she awoke was her roommate. But when she sat up, full of solicitude, and looked across the room, the other bed was empty. All kinds of bad thoughts crowded into her head. Okay, she told herself sternly, she’s not really suicidal. And even if she is, it’s not your fault, Winfield, you did what you could.
She hurried down to check the cafeteria, but Maggie was not there either. Ellen grabbed a quick coffee and toast, then, back in the room, decided to try to get organized for finals while she waited. Lisette, Maggie, it all meant nothing to the inexorable university calendar. She laid out a schedule carefully on a yellow pad, then stared at it disconsolately, knowing that most of the times meticulously labeled “study for history” or “write gov. paper” would be spent worrying instead. About Maggie and Nick and Lisette. Or about what that policeman had said. Or, more happily, thinking about Jim. Maybe she should study with him, distracting though he was. Maybe he would help chase the bogeys away.
“I suppose that silly smile means you’re thinking about Jim.”
Ellen jerked around at the unexpected voice. “Maggie! Where have you been? I was worried!”
“You didn’t look very worried.” Maggie regarded her fondly a moment; but the face was drawn and exhausted, and the wide smile was nowhere to be seen.
“Where have you been?”
“Around. One place you’ll approve of. I got the clinic to strap my elbow.” Her left arm was in a sling.
“Good. That does look professional.”
“They say the bones are okay but the ligaments are torn. I’m not supposed to use it for three weeks.”
“Better take up exercycling.”
“Or I could do one-handed cartwheels.” Maggie looked ruefully at the damaged limb, and Ellen’s heart lightened a little. Sad, yes, but not suicidal.
“Are you going to tell me about the places I won’t approve of?”
“No.”
“Well. Okay.”
“But I guess I should tell you why, loyal old Winfield.”
“It’s Rob, isn’t it?” Last night Ellen had noticed that the ring on its chain was gone.
“Yes.” Maggie firmed her chin with bravado. “All those daisies, Ellen. I thought they were marguerites. Special for me. But you know what they meant to the Elizabethans?”
“What?”
“Infidelity. My philandering Dane was in love with someone else all along. From the goddamn beginning.”
“Oh. God, Maggie!” Ellen hugged her. For a moment Maggie stood rigid and proud, and then suddenly, trembling, hid her face in Ellen’s shoulder. Ellen held her for a long moment. Then Maggie straightened, blew her nose, and looked at Ellen bleakly.
“Anyway, you’ve got to forget what I did in the gym last night.”
Ellen frowned. “But it shows! Am I supposed to tell people you ran into a door?”
Maggie regarded her seriously. “Actually, I fell down a cliff.”
“Oh, Christ, Maggie.” Then Ellen shrugged. “You’re right, I guess. No sense in a scandal.”
“This has nothing to do with sense!” said Maggie violently. The fingers of her good hand drove back angrily through the black curls.
Ellen backtracked as fast as she could. “Okay, okay,” she said soothingly. “My lips are sealed. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. You’re rooming with all three monkeys, okay?”
The hurt, strained face softened a little. “Glory be to God for unflustered things,” said Maggie; then, apologetically, “But I’m afraid I have to ask for your help again. I don’t want to see the police yet.”
“Oh, hell, Maggie! I’ve held them off too long already.”
“Only for another hour or so. You can tell them I’ll be in the greenroom at nine.”
“Shouldn’t you call? They’re looking for you. You and Paul.”
“But not very hard. It’s suicide, not murder.”
“They’re sure?”
“She’d tried before. And anyway, Laura’s the only one who really hated her, and Laura was definitely in her dorm.”
“Wouldn’t have been Laura anyway,” said Ellen wisely. “Even Jim would be more likely.”
“Jim? Why?”
“The timing. Laura didn’t give a damn about the show. She wouldn’t have waited around till closing night. Jim would have.”
“I see what you mean. But Lisette cared as much as Jim, so that points to suicide too.”
“True.” So what the policeman said wasn’t important.
“Anyway, tell the police I’ll be there at nine.”
Ellen sighed. “Okay, I’ll try, Maggie.”
“Good.”
“Listen. Are you okay?”
The bitter blue gaze shamed her. “Since you ask,” said Maggie, “my left ear, right knee, and ability to reason mathematically are all unscathed. The rest is a shambles.”
“Poor Icarus!” The words escaped Ellen unedited. Maggie stared at her a moment, and for the first time something like a smile flickered across her face.
“Why can’t you be like normal people, Ellen? Just say ‘I told you so.’”
“It’s all this higher education, I guess.” Ellen was a little embarrassed.
“Yeah.” There was affection in the sad face. “Well, now I really must leave your delightful presence.”
“Okay.” Ellen gave her a pat on the rump. “But listen, before you run off, I need your advice about something the policeman said.”
The phone rang. Ellen turned to answer it, and when she looked back, Maggie was gone. And a good thing.
“Hello, is Miss Ryan in?”
“No, I’m sorry. Can I take a message?”
“Is this Miss Winfield?”
“Yes.”
“Sergeant Hawes. I’m still trying to reach Miss Ryan.”
“She isn’t here.” Ellen took a deep breath and wished she’d studied acting. “She left early this morning to go to the clinic. Had a fall. Hurt her elbow.”
“Okay, thanks, we’ll check there.”
“She said she’d be at the theatre at nine.”
“Okay. I’m sorry she didn’t call us.”
“Well, I told her you were looking for her. I guess her elbow was giving her a lot of pain.”
“All right. Thank you, Miss Winfield.”
“Sure.” She replaced the receiver. She was shaking. Accessory after the crime, that would get her into law school all right. False reporting of an incident. What incident? She didn’t even know. But she had to help Maggie. That came first.
Well, she decided, she had something to tell Sergeant Hawes too. At least she wouldn’t compound her guilt by withholding information. Not that it was relevant anyway.
She threw a couple of books into her bag for form’s sake and hurried down the stairs, homing for Jim.
A number of actors and crew members were already in the greenroom as Jim and Ellen entered, others who could not yet quite cope with the void in their lives caused by the closing of a show that took five hours a day, and by Lisette’s death, and by Paul and Maggie’s disappearance. Jason was there, and David, favoring his right shoulder, and Judy Allison, who smiled at them.
“Hi,” said Jim. “What’s the crowd here for? Decompression?”
“Yeah, I always feel lost after a show closes,” Judy admitted.
“You get to where you can’t even study without a whiff of greasepaint,” said Ellen. They talked a few minutes, carefully not mentioning Lisette. Then Nick came in. He looked haggard, his dark eyes flat and dull. Saddened, Ellen went to meet him.
“Nick.”
He focused on her, and concern livened his eyes. “Ellen, how is she?” He spoke very quietly.
“Sad. Better this morning, I think. S
he got the clinic to fix her elbow.”
“She really did sprain her elbow, then.” For some reason he was looking at David Wagner.
“Yes. That’s the worst thing, physically.”
He looked back at her sharply. “And otherwise?”
She shrugged. “A shambles, she says.”
“Hell. But she said she’d be here at nine.”
“She called you?”
“She just said to be here at nine if I could.”
“God. I wish I knew what was going on.”
They walked back to the sofa and he sat at the end, next to one of the study tables that had been shoved against the wall. Soon Sergeant Hawes came in with another officer.
“Is Miss Ryan here?” he asked.
“Not yet,” said Ellen. “She said about nine o’clock.”
“Right, we’ve still got a few minutes.” Sergeant Hawes opened his notebook. “Has anyone heard from Paul Rigo?”
People shook their heads uneasily. The police were still asking questions. And Paul had been expecting a bad grade from the adored Lisette. And Paul had disappeared.
“Have you asked Cheyenne about him?” asked Ellen.
“Just saw him in the hall. He hasn’t heard either,” said Sergeant Hawes.
Rob, in sweatshirt and jeans, came bouncing in, looking around hopefully. When he saw the policemen his eyes narrowed slightly, but he did not slow down.
“Sergeant Hawes!” he exclaimed, all friendliness. Ellen was disgusted. The philandering Dane, unaffected by all the misery he had caused.
“Hello, Mr. Jenner,” said the sergeant.
“Haven’t these people offered you a seat?”
“Well, thank you. We hoped we wouldn’t have to stay long. We’re just waiting for Miss Ryan. Have you seen her?”
“No, I was wondering where she was myself.” Some of the crew members exchanged surprised glances. “Anyway, have a seat.” He waved grandly at the battered furniture, then turned to look at Nick inquiringly. Nick knew what had happened, thought Ellen; he’d been the one who had called last night. But he returned Rob’s gaze neutrally now. Rob, after the briefest hesitation, strode over and hopped up to sit on the table at Nick’s end of the sofa, swinging his legs over the edge. Ellen was pleased to see, now that he was closer, that he was tense. He waited for the conversations to pick up again, then spoke quietly to Nick. “She call you too?”
Audition for Murder Page 21
