Cast An Evil Eye (15 page)

After Zack introduced Helen to Renee, they all made their way to another gate where the plane waited that would take Helen and Gus back to Los Angeles. It was scheduled to leave in half an hour. As soon as they reached the gate, the announcement came for them to board.

Gus shook hands with Zack and Renee, and he and his sister walked down the ramp that led into the plane, chatting and laughing as they had when they were children.

Zack felt a great sense of relief as the plane left the gate and headed for the runway. He and Renee waited until the plane lifted into the sky, banked, and headed east out over the ocean. Then the two of them left the airport to begin the cumbersome task of uncovering the facts that Gus had already uncovered, but couldn’t remember.

CHAPTER XXI
 

I
t was seven-fifteen in the evening in New York City when Nate and his wife, Julia, entered the theatre. As Nate approached the “will call” window where his tickets were waiting, he looked furtively around to see if Manny was anywhere in sight. He didn’t see him. He realized it was probably too much to hope for that Manny wouldn’t come at all.

There was no line at the window, and in less than two minutes he had the tickets in his hand. He quickly ushered his wife across the lobby to the elevator that would take them up to the mezzanine where the Stuart’s private box was located.

Jeremy and Cammie were there waiting for them. Jeremy was dressed in one of his simpler Count’s uniforms, and Cammie wore a mauve evening gown with matching evening shoes and purse. On her head she wore a modest tiara.

“Glad you could make it,” Jeremy greeted them.

“I guess you know why we came early,” Nate said.

“Very wise,” Cammie agreed. “Welcome to our private box. You’ll be safe here.”

“I don’t think you’ve met my wife, Julia,” Nate said. He spoke with pride and tenderness as he introduced her.

Julia, a tall, dark-haired exotic lady with a dancer’s figure, wore a chic, black cocktail dress that graced her slim figure. She carried a beaded evening purse, and a gray cashmere stole with just a hint of sequins was thrown casually over her shoulders. She smiled and extended her hand, first to Cammie, then to Jeremy. “How nice to finally meet you!” she greeted them. “Thank you for inviting us. What a beautiful box!” she exclaimed. “I feel like royalty!”

“Nate tells us you were a featured dancer in one of the night clubs where he worked,” Cammie told her.

“Yes. But that all ended on the lucky day when I met him,” she replied.

Nate smiled. “I always tell her that I was the lucky one. We’ve been married now for twenty years, and every year gets better.”

“I also met Manny there,” Julia continued. “That wasn’t so lucky. He wasn’t Manny then—he was Carlos Mantilla. We dated a few times, but I was looking for a way out when I met Nate.” She gazed up at him with deep admiration and love.

It was seven-forty-five, and the audience had begun to arrive. The orchestra could be heard tuning their instruments, and voices raised in crescendo added to the happy laughter and the festive air of excitement.

Julia and Nate sat down in the two chairs at the back of the box so they would be as inconspicuous as possible.

Cammie and Jeremy sat in front of them to conceal their presence.

As soon as they were seated, Nate picked up a pair of binoculars located in the side pocket of his seat. He scanned the orchestra level, and saw Manny enter and sit down.

Nate shivered and put the binoculars back in the side pocket. “Did you see Carlos—uh—Manny?” Julia asked him.

Nate nodded. “Let’s hope he doesn’t see us.”

Soon the conductor raised his baton and the orchestra struck up the opening chords of the beautiful, melodic strains of the overture to “Déjà Vu.” As the final notes of the overture rang out, the curtain went up, and the play began.

Courtney sang the first few notes of the opening number off stage. As she began to enter, she faltered.

Cammie stiffened. Something’s wrong!

After a moment’s pause, Courtney continued her entrance, and it went smoothly through the final scene of the first act. But it was clear to Cammie that Courtney was making a tremendous effort for control.

Nate leaned forward and spoke to Cammie. “She has a voice comparable only to yours,” he told her. “It’s beautiful. But—why did she hesitate before making her entrance? Probably no one else noticed, but she seemed a little uncertain.”

Cammie nodded. “You noticed it, too? What do you think is going on?”

Nate was quiet until intermission. Then he spoke to them. “Is there any way we can go to Courtney’s dressing room without being seen by anyone in the audience?”

“Yes, there’s a back elevator,” Jeremy told him. “We have fifteen minutes. Let’s go!”

“Why don’t I go to the ladies room and meet you back here?” Julia suggested. “I need to freshen up.”

“Don’t go down to the orchestra level,” Nate warned. “I don’t want Manny to see you.”

“There’s a rest room up here, right next to our box,” Cammie told her. “You can use that.”

Julia picked up her purse and cashmere stole and headed toward the ladies room.

“We’ll see you back here in fifteen minutes,” Nate called after her.

Jeremy led the way to the elevator. In two minutes they arrived on the back stage level and went immediately to Courtney’s dressing room.

Glen was there, very concerned. He looked up as the three of them entered.

Courtney turned and faced them, her face streaked with tears, and a look of utter fright in her eyes.

Cammie put her arms around her. “Honey—what’s the matter? Your performance was beautiful, but you seemed a little nervous? Can we help?”

Courtney began to shake. “I don’t know what’s wrong,” she sobbed. “I can’t seem to control myself. My heart is pounding and I’m afraid I might pass out. I’m not sure I can do the rest of the show.”

Glen put his arm around her. His eyes were pleading, and he looked utterly helpless.

Nate dragged up a chair and sat down in front of Courtney.

Jeremy nodded to Glen and Cammie, and they exited the room, leaving Nate alone with Courtney.

They waited outside for five minutes. They couldn’t wait any longer. The curtain was scheduled to go up again shortly.

Glen was extremely disturbed. “Do you think Nate can help her?”

“We certainly hope so,” Cammie responded. “He did before.” “It’s a long story, Glen, but I think you have a right to know,” Jeremy told him. “We’ll discuss it later. There’s not enough time now.”

The door to the dressing room opened, and a smiling Courtney walked out, followed by Nate.

Glen put his arm around her. “Are you okay?” he asked.

She looked up at him with a radiant smile. “I’m fine!” she declared. “Come with me to the wings. It’s almost time for my entrance.”

Glen turned to Nate and shook his hand. “I don’t know what you did, but thanks! We’ll see you after the show.”

CHAPTER XXII
 

J
ulia Drake walked out of the ladies room on the second floor of the theatre. She looked around to see if Manny was anywhere in sight before going back to the Stuart’s private box. So far, she hadn’t seen him. She knew he was perfectly capable of hypnotizing Courtney from the audience. She had seen him work in the night clubs in Paris, hypnotizing patrons and stealing their money. She also was aware that Nate was the only one who could undo Manny’s dirty work. What if Manny finds out that he’s already done that? Will he try to harm him? Or me? Or both of us! Suddenly she felt a deep sense of foreboding, as though something terrible was about to happen.

As she approached the private box the floor was deserted, and she realized that Nate, Cammie, and Jeremy hadn’t returned from seeing Courtney.

She pulled aside the curtains that provided privacy from anyone in the corridor outside. As she entered, she was startled to see a man standing with his back turned to her. “Who are you?” she asked.

He spun around so fast she didn’t have a chance to get away. Manny!

This was the last thing she expected. “What are you doing here?” she demanded. She tried not to sound frightened.

He pulled out a gun and stuck it in her ribs. “Do just as I say or you know what will happen!”

She trembled. “Are you crazy?! This is a public place! Someone will see you!”

“Not a chance! We’ll wait till the patrons have gone back to their seats.” He looked at his watch. “Five minutes to go. Sit down, Julia.”

She opened her mouth to scream.

“Don’t even think about it!” Manny snapped.

It seemed forever, and yet far too soon, when three minutes had passed.

Julia felt safe as long as she could stay here in this private box. But what was Manny planning on doing once they were away from the theatre, and alone?

Manny gestured with his gun. “Stand up. Walk toward the elevator and don’t make a sound.”

Thinking quickly, Julia left her purse and cashmere stole on her chair. This way, Nate would know she had returned from the restroom and left again—this time by force. She was a very careful person, and Nate would know that she would never leave such valuable articles unattended unless she had to.

They entered the corridor.

No one around.

Her heart pounded with fear. What does he want with me? Does he intend to hurt me?

She peeked at the clock on the wall. Nate and the others had been gone twelve minutes. What would Manny do if they should appear now? How she wished they’d return before she and Manny reached the elevator. There was still time.

No such luck.

The first warning buzzer sounded, telling the patrons the show was about to resume.

Manny pushed the button and the elevator door slid open. They were alone.

He prodded her ribs with the gun. “Get in!” he ordered. He pushed another button and the door closed.

“When we reach the ground floor I want you to walk normally,” he told her. “If you don’t, I won’t hesitate to use this gun.”

“You wouldn’t dare! There are too many people in the foyer!”

Manny smirked. “The final buzzer is about to ring. By the time we reach the foyer they’ll be back in their seats. This gun has a silencer on it.”

“How did you know Nate and I were here?” Julia asked him.

“I tapped your phone. I heard the whole conversation when Jeremy called Nate last night.”

“I don’t believe you!” Julia told him. “How could you tap our phone?”

Manny laughed. “I sneaked into your house the other night and planted a bug. You were sound asleep, and never knew.”

“That’s impossible!” she declared. “We have a security system!”

“Don’t be naive!” Manny sneered. “We have ways of getting around those.”

When the elevator reached the ground floor, the patrons had already returned to their seats. The third act was about to begin.

“Where are you taking me?” Julia whispered. She could barely breathe. Stay calm! she ordered herself. You need to think clearly.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Manny sneered. He forced her out to the parking lot and into his car.

Julia decided the best way to handle Manny was to be cordial. “What is it you want?” she asked him in the nicest tone she could manage. “I’ll be glad to give it to you if you’ll just let me go.”

He didn’t answer. Instead he started the engine and drove out of the parking lot.

“What do you want with Courtney?” she asked him. “I know you hypnotized her before. And you hypnotized her again from the audience.” She turned toward him. “Why, Manny? What do you want with Courtney?”

“None of your business! Nate ruined everything by undoing what I did! I’ll teach him not to tamper with my plans!”

With a shock Julia realized that Manny knew what Nate had done! She had all she could do to control herself. What did Manny intend to do with her? Was this how he was going to get even with Nate? By hurting her? Or maybe killing her? Where was he taking her? She made a great effort to stay calm, but it wasn’t easy.

CHAPTER
XXIII
 

B
ack at the theatre the buzzer sounded and Cammie, Jeremy, and Nate quickly returned to the Stuart’s private box.

Nate was surprised and anxious when he saw that Julia wasn’t there. Her evening purse and cashmere stole were still in her seat. A chill crawled up his spine. Something wasn’t right.

They sat down as the curtain rose. Courtney entered the stage, full of confidence—no sign of her previous uncertainty.

Five minutes went by—ten minutes—fifteen minutes.

No Julia.

Nate tapped Jeremy on the shoulder. “I’m getting worried. It’s not like her to leave her purse and stole where anyone could steal it. Where can she be?”

Cammie rose from her chair. “I’ll go to the ladies room and see what’s keeping her.”

Another five minutes went by—ten minutes.

Finally, Cammie came back to the box. Her face said it all. “She’s not in the ladies room,” she announced. “I even went to the rest room downstairs, and she wasn’t there, either.” She put a comforting hand on Nate’s arm. “I asked the usher in the foyer if he had seen her. When I described her he said he saw her leaving with a handsome, dark haired man. They left about ten minutes ago.”

“Manny!” Nate reached for the binoculars and aimed them at Manny’s seat. It was empty.

Nate turned as white as the program that lay on the table at his side. “Oh, my God!” he exclaimed. “Manny has her!”

As the three of them rose to leave the box, an usher entered and handed Nate a note.

He opened it.

His hands shook as he read it.

He looked at Cammie and Jeremy, his eyes full of fear.

He crushed the note in his fist.

“What does it say?” Jeremy and Cammie chorused.

“I—I can’t tell you,” he replied. His voice trembled. “He’ll hurt Julia. Please don’t say anything to anyone. I have to get home right away.”

He rushed out of the box before either Cammie or Jeremy could say anything more.

Cammie and Jeremy sat down again, extremely worried.