Murder in the Air (14 page)

When the night of the party finally arrived, I was in a terrible mood. I felt apprehensive about talking to Kay, and even more conflicted about talking to Mitzi the next day.

Sally was in her usual high spirits, oiled by several glasses of the cheap wine we d bought for the occasion, as well as some Elvis Presley 45s she'd put on the phonograph. Kay and Jonnie had been preparing canapes for hours in the kitchen. I could tell Kay was exhausted. To make a little extra money for Christmas, she'd worked both the morning and afternoon shift at Manderbach's that day. While Jonnie was tired, too, she also seemed unusually impatient, mostly with me, though I couldn't
imagine why. I hadn't done anything to upset her, I was pretty sure of that. I'd dutifully cleaned the bathroom and vacuumed the living-room rug, uncorked some of the wine bottles, and set up a couple of card tables for the food. I even helped hang some of the red-and-blue streamers Sally had bought at the neighborhood five-and-dime. She'd placed Hula Hoops all over the apartment. We were going to have a contest later in the evening.

About fifteen minutes before people began arriving, Jonnie cornered me in one of the bedrooms, made sure we were alone, and then insisted that she had nothing but disgust for men who “used” women. I didn't have a clue what she was talking about, but she was on a roll. Didn't know Kay was in love with me? How could I hurt her that way? I was so stunned, I didn't utter a word in my defense. I asked her to explain what this was all about. She just turned on her heel and left. She obviously wasn't interested in a conversation. She just wanted to take her shot.

Well, fine, I thought to myself. My personal life is none of her damn business. I was so agitated when I came out of the bedroom that I asked Kay if she'd like to take a walk with me. She lived close to the creek, and earlier in the fall, we'd often taken long_ walks along the banks. We had some of our best talks sitting by the water. Kay had even begun calling the place where I'd first kissed her “our spot.” Her sweetness never ceased to amaze me.

Anyway, in late November, as you well know, night comes early. But again, luck was on my side. There was a full moon that night to guide us down to the water. Kay cuddled close to me as we walked. There wasn't much snow, so the path was pretty clean. I just needed some fresh air to clear my head. Jonnie's comments had cut deep, not that she was right about my relationship with Kay, but she was dead-on when it came to Mitzi.

After a few minutes we stopped. I pushed Kay playfully up against a tree and then bent close and kissed her. It was just the moment I'd been waiting for. I'd never told
anyone I loved them before. Mitzi made assumptions, but I never said the words. But with Kay, it all flowed so easily. If I'd ever had any doubts that she returned my feelings, she put them to rest that night. My heart was so full that on our way back to her apartment, I think my chest almost burst. We danced for a while in front of the building. We were so silly, giggling at anything and everything. There were no stairs leading to the second floor that November night, only air under our feet. We were both glowing when we entered the apartment. The universe was a fabulous place and we were the center of it. And then the bomb I'd participated in creating blew that universe to smithereens.

Mitzi was sitting in the living room making small talk with one of Sally's girlfriends. She didn't see me right away. lfI'd backed out of the door right then, I could have gotten away. If I'd feigned illness, or said I'd remembered something at the paper that I needed to get, Kay would have understood. But I couldn't move. My legs felt like lead. And an instant later Mitzi looked up
—
and I was a dead man.

She cocked her head and gave me a surprised smile. As I helped Kay off with her coat she came over. “I didn't know you were going to be here tonight, Justy,” she said. I can still hear her words. “I thought you were working late.” She took my arm, gave me a kiss on the cheek, and then walked me into the dining room. I looked over my shoulder at Kay. She was just staring at us, a confused look on her face. God, I couldn't believe this was happening.

As we were standing at one of the food tables, Kay appeared next to my shoulder and introduced herself to Mitzi. Mitzi smiled and said it was a great apartment, and a terrific party. She was glad Jonnie had invited her. Snuggling close to me, she added something like, “I see you've already met my fiancé.”

I could have killed her. Kay's face went completely blank. Mitzi instantly sensed that something was up and
moved away from me, giving herself a few moments to let the situation sink in. Finally Kay said, “How nice for you, Mitzi. I'm sure you and Justin will be very happy together.”

I tried to stop her, but she was out the kitchen door before I could catch my breath. Mitzi, on the other hand, stayed put. She just kept glaring at me. She wasn't stupid. She got the point, saw that Kay and I were much more than friends. Finally, in a cold voice she said, “You bastard. You goddamned bastard!” Backing away from me, she shouted, “I trusted you, you miserable lowlife. How could you do this to me!”

We were creating quite a scene, one Sally and Jonnie watched with great interest. I was glad now that Kay had left. She didn't need to see this. I'd hurt her enough for one evening. I grabbed Mitzi's arm and whispered, “We need to talk.”

“I'm not going anywhere with you, you two-timing piece of shit. “ She yanked her arm away. I got her coat from the bedroom, found mine, and pulled her out the door. She was spouting a stream of venom the entire time. To be honest, I had no idea she even knew some of those words.

When we got outside, I offered to take her to a bar so we could talk. She refused. Did I love that girl? she demanded. I told her I did. How long had the affair been going on? I objected to her choice of words, but said I'd known Kay for a few months. So what does that mean for us? she asked. Was the engagement off? I told her that I was sorry things had worked out this way, but the truth was, there never had been an engagement except in her mind. Again, I told her I was sorry. I said I knew I was a rat for not nixing her marriage fantasy before she got everyone in the family all worked up about it. I pleaded for her forgiveness. Took all the blame on me. She asked if I intended to continue to date Kay. I said that I wanted to, though after tonight, I wasn't sure what Kay wanted. She walked away from me. I ran after her, but she told me to
leave her alone. I waited until I saw her get into her car. As she drove off I decided it was best to let her go. I would no doubt be hearing from her soon. I figured there were a few choice swear words she'd forgotten to call me.

The most important thing now was to find Kay, tell her the truth, get her to understand. I had an idea where she might be. I set off at a dead run for the creek. As I scrambled down the steep embankment I saw a small form huddled near the water. Even in the weak moonlight I could tell it was Kay. She was sitting on a rock, her head in her hands. As I approached I could see her wipe a hand across her eyes. She'd been crying.

Since she made no move to leave, I sat down next to her. I waited for a few seconds, hoping beyond hope that I could come up with the right words to explain what had just happened. I started talking. She listened. I talked on. Told her how Mitzi and I had met at the radio station right after she'd started working there. How much you and Cedric had liked her, had encouraged our relationship. I told her the good and the bad. I explained that I'd been a coward. That I should have broken it off with Mitzi long ago, but hadn't. I never anticipated meeting anyone like Kay. I didn't know the feelings I had for her even existed before we met. It was like dreaming in black-and-white, and suddenly I saw everything in Technicolor. I loved her. I'd broken it off with Mitzi. I had no plans to ever see her again. I pleaded with Kay to give me a second chance. I touched her hand, and miracle of miracles, she didn't pull away.

That night, she made me promise I'd never lie to her again. I took that promise seriously. I still had one secret left to tell, and I told it. I said I'd show her the note I'd received at the paper, the one telling me that if I wanted to find out who murdered Olga Landauer, I should talk to Sally Nash. I explained why I'd followed Kay to Mander-bach's that first day. How attracted I was to her, and yet, at the same time, how I hoped she could give me some information about Sally. I knew I was taking a big chance,
but I couldn't allow any more secrets to exist between us. She asked me a lot of questions. I tried to answer them as best I could. I wanted her to know that I thought Sally was being paid for her silence. Her ex-boyfriend, the one she'd dated in July and August, seemed the most likely candidate.

Kay took it all in. Finally, she said she didn't know the identity of the man Sally had been dating. I believed her. Apparently Sally had been unusually closemouthed about the guy, which suggested to Kay that he was probably “married. Kay felt uncomfortable even talking about it. I suggested that Jonnie might know more than she did, but Kay doubted it. On the other hand, she thought my theory was not only plausible, but likely. Amazingly enough, she offered to help. I was so relieved I let out a whoop and then kissed her. We held each other for a long time that night. It's strange, but I think it brought us even closer.

So, I guess you could say I'd dodged a bullet. What I didn't know was that Mitzi's little scene in the apartment would soon help me find the information I needed. I'll tell you more about it next time, Mom.

Until then, all my love.

Justin

13

Heda was having a late breakfast in her suite when she heard a knock on the door. “Now what?” she muttered, turning and looking around the living room for Gerald. He'd been sitting by the bar reading a magazine just a few minutes
before. He'd probably gone back to the kitchenette to get himself a cup of coffee. “Gerald, will you answer that?” she called, taking a bite of toast.

Dorothy wouldn't return to the Maxfield until close to noon. Heda hoped the meeting with the
Dallas Lane
cast and crew had gone well this morning. It felt strange not to attend the meeting herself. She hated being trapped in a hotel suite day after day, but for the duration it was the only safe way to proceed. Outside of these rooms, Gerald would have a harder time protecting her. She would be a sitting duck.

Gerald lumbered out of the hallway, stuffing the last bite of a Pop-Tart into his mouth. “Sure thing, Ms. Bloom.” He adjusted the holster under his suit coat.

As he drew back the door Heda was surprised to see Santa Claus standing outside. She smiled, motioning him into the room. “Where on earth did you get that costume?”

George Chambers set his heavy sack down and removed his red cap. “Didn't I tell you? I often play Santa for the kids in Phoenix. Since I've got so much free time on my hands here, I offered my services to a local hospital. I'm going to spend the afternoon visiting the children's ward.”

“How wonderful.” She beamed at him with great fondness. “It will also be good PR for the radio show. Be sure to mention it tomorrow morning when you're interviewed on TV.”

“Will do. How are you feeling?” he asked, making himself comfortable on the couch.

“All right. At my age, it's a long road back from hip surgery.” As she picked up her coffee cup she studied him a moment. “You know, it's just so funny to see you looking like Santa Claus. I can't get used to it.”

“I can't get used to many things,” said George, looking wistfully down at his cap. “Returning to the Twin Cities has really brought back the memories. I suppose I knew it would. I took a cab over to Minneapolis yesterday. Walked around the downtown like an archaeologist searching through the ruins. The Foshay Tower is still there, but so much is gone. Some of it truly breaks my heart. I guess I
thought places like Charlie's Cafe and the Curtis Hotel would always be there. I mean, they were landmarks. But they've been erased, just like so much of my past. One minute you're young and the next you're old, and yet the connecting years have all vanished in the mist. Where did the time go? Where did my life go?”

Heda had no answers, and knew he expected none.

“Mitzi looks great,” continued George, crossing his legs and revealing white socks under his red pants. “But Valentine has really aged. And Alf. God, what happened to him? On the positive side, there's you and Dorothy Veneger. By the way, Dorothy is quite the dynamo. Where'd you find her?”

“She's been my personal assistant for about six years. She loves radio almost as much as I do.”

“You can tell. She's done a bang-up job on the new show. We've got a real hit on our hands with that one. I never doubted it for a minute.”

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation.

“I'll get it,” said Gerald, rushing out from the hallway. This time he was holding a can of Coke. Opening the door, he was nearly knocked down by Alfred Bloom as he steamed into the room.