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“YOU'D BEST ANSWER THE door.”
She gave Paul a worried glance.
“Don't worry.”
She walked over to the door and opened it. “Yes, Uncle James?”
“Who are you entertaining in your room so late at night?” He looked past her at Paul and his face darkened.
Paul stepped forward. He pulled out his badge and showed it to him. “Paul Tollick, sir. Chicago Police Department.”
Uncle James looked at the badge and grunted, but still scowled. He turned his frown to Bethany and looked her up and down, but she knew nothing appeared amiss other than she'd kicked off her shoes. A habit she also did at home in the evening.
He turned his attention back to Paul. “It's rather inappropriate for you to be in my niece's room alone at night, don't you think? Even if you are here on official police business.”
“Yes. I agree sir.” Paul inclined his head. “However, I cannot meet with your niece in the public areas of this hotel. I would draw too much attention to myself.”
“You should have set up a meeting with her guardians present. Instead, you endangered her reputation by meeting her alone in her room. I should file a complaint.”
“I don't need a guardian present,” Bethany interrupted. “I'm of age now, remember?”
Uncle James turned to Bethany and his gaze zeroed in on her new necklace. “Where did those pearls come from? You haven't the money to purchase such things.”
“They were a gift.”
His frown deepened into a scowl. “A gift from whom?”
“Rocco.”
“Rocco. Is he one of the men you met after you left the theater the other night?”
“That's right.”
“Return the gift.”
“I can't.”
Paul cleared his throat. “Your niece has attracted the attention of a dangerous man, sir. If she returns the pearls, it's best if she leave town right afterwards. How many more days do you plan to stay in Hot Springs?”
“We leave a week from today.”
“She can't stay that long. He won't leave her alone now that she's accepted his gift.”
“He said he'd call me tomorrow,” Bethany said.
Both men turned to look at her.
“You can take the call,” Paul said in a stern voice. “But you're not to meet with him.”
“Absolutely not.” Her uncle agreed with Paul. “You've gotten yourself into enough trouble already, young lady.”
“Did he say when he'd call?” Paul asked her, ignoring uncle James.
“No. I have no idea when he might do so.”
“If he wants to see you, put him off.” He paced, his hands behind his back. “Claim illness or previous plans with your aunt and uncle. And call me immediately afterward.”
“Yes. I will.”
Uncle James cleared his throat. “It's late. If you have no other questions for my niece...”
“None that can't wait until tomorrow.” Paul tipped his hat to Bethany, and then acknowledged her uncle. “Mr. Robinson.”
Her uncle inclined his head, and Paul let himself out.
Uncle James then turned to her and gestured with his hand.
“Sit down.” He pulled the chair closer to where she sat on the bed and dropped down into it. Taking a deep breath he exhaled. “You wanted to know about your inheritance.”
“Yes, I do.” She leaned forward. He was finally going to tell her.
“Bethany, you know I only want what's best for you.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Your aunt and I have tried to guide you.”
She nodded.
“I'm concerned about this situation. Only a matter of days before you come of age, and you take up with criminals. Now I find a policeman talking to you alone in your room. Do you understand my concern?”
“Yes.”
“It's completely inappropriate for you to be alone in your room with any man, even a policeman. Once again you have sent a wrong message. If that man touched you... laid his hands upon you...”
Bethany thought of Paul's kiss and blushed.
“Answer me, Bethany,” her uncle growled. “If he has touched you inappropriately, I'll have his badge and his head, too.”
“No, no.” Bethany shook her head. “Please don't cause trouble for Paul. He's a good man. He hasn't done anything wrong.”
“I'll not have men pawing you. I don't care who they are.”
“Paul isn't the one who pawed me. Your friend Mr. Rivalde did.”
“Paul.” His eyes narrowed. “So you're on a first name basis with him. That's it. I'm filing a complaint.”
“But he didn't do anything wrong.”
“It’s a good thing I arrived when I did, before things progressed any further, as I'm sure they would have. You seem determined to ruin your good name.”
“You don't care that Mr. Rivalde pawed me in the theater.” Bethany stood and clenched her fists. “He's the one who laid his hands on me. Yet you won't believe me when I tell you he did, and you're not listening to me now, either. Paul didn't do anything wrong.”
“I have known Mr. Rivalde for many years. And I know his character. You are the one who has been running about town half dressed, taking up with men we know nothing about. I warned you how men would treat you if you insisted on dressing like that.”
“Oh, so you're blaming me for everything? While your friend remains blameless? You've known me a lot longer than you've known him, I'll bet.”
“Bethany, your behavior of late has been unreliable, as has your word. Telling your aunt you would rest in the room and then getting your hair cut off, saying you would be out with Mr. Rivalde, and then running off with gangsters and staying out half the night. You cannot expect me to rely on your word when you have behaved this way.”
She threw her hands up in the air. “Believe what you want then. Since you won't believe me anyway.”
Arguing with him was pointless, and she was tired.
“Obviously, you can no longer wander around unescorted. I think it's best if you stay with your aunt at all times from now until we leave town. Your aunt has gone to bed feeling unwell. It's likely your willful, selfish behavior this evening brought on her headache. If you hadn't gone down to the bar and instead done what your aunt had told you, you wouldn't have gotten yourself into this predicament.”
Bethany stared at her feet, noting the small hole in the toe of her stockings, wishing he would just leave. She was in a predicament, and she had gotten herself into it, but she didn't need him to point that out and treat her like a child.
“Your aunt is scheduled for another treatment tomorrow and I expect you to accompany her. Having another treatment at the spa tomorrow won't hurt you.”
“All right.” But what about my inheritance? She wanted to blurt out the question, but knew that would be foolish now. Growing impatient, she waited.
“Now, about the money you'll inherit.”
Unable to help herself, she scooted to the edge of the bed.
“You must understand that most of it is tied up in stocks and bonds and various holdings. It's not sitting stacked up in bills in some dusty vault waiting for you to use it at will. I will explain everything to you once we return home. Financial matters are complex and may not be easy for you to grasp. They require a person who understands such things, who can manage your money and make it grow instead of letting it dwindle away. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.” She nodded; partly dismayed that she couldn't go right out and treat herself to new clothes and a fancy dinner so she could eat as much as she wanted.
“Your aunt and I believe Mr. Rivalde would be a good man to manage your holdings and make you a good husband. We'd hoped you'd accept his proposal.”
“I'm sure you were disappointed, but I can't marry him.”
“He won't be the only one to propose, now that you've come into money. You'll have suitors aplenty. They'll be drawn by the money. You have no idea whether or not those men were drawn by the knowledge of what you've just inherited. With Richard, though, we know that's not the case and he has his own solid portfolio. We do have plans for a merger. He's a good businessman and would take good care of you.”
“So we are talking about a lot of money. Are you telling me I'm rich?”
Uncle James nodded.
“How rich?”
“Rich enough. You'll see the balance sheet soon enough. Then you'll know.”
“Isn't your friend Mr. Rivalde also drawn by the money? Doesn't that make him just the same as any other suitors you claim I'm going to have?”
“I've known Richard for years. He's a trusted businessman with his own holdings. I can't say the same for the young men of today who drive about in their fancy new cars and blow piles of money on their wild lifestyles. That Rocco fellow was obviously drawn to money as all gangsters are. And as for the policeman, they don't make much money. Richard is obviously a better choice.”
Her uncle's reasonable tone got on her nerves.
Bethany didn't see how any of what he'd just said made Mr. Rivalde appear to be a better man. He wanted her money, too, for that merger. She just knew it.
“Well, I'm not going to marry him. I don't like him enough to marry him. Ever.”
Her uncle stood. “I suggest you go to sleep now. It's nearly two.”
“Yes. It's late, and I'm tired.”
He walked to the door, and then paused before opening it. “If you'd accept Richard's marriage proposal, the problem with these gangsters and the policeman would all go away. We'd announce your engagement, and that would put an end to it. Something you should think about.”
“Goodnight, Uncle James.”
“Goodnight.” He let himself out.
She walked over to the door, locked it, and pushed what her uncle had said out of her thoughts. Her thoughts as she changed into her nightgown and slipped into bed were of Paul and the moments they'd shared before they had been interrupted. She reached up with her fingertips and touched her lips. Paul had kissed her. She wanted to savor the memory and the feeling forever. Their first kiss. A night she'd always remember.
She smiled beneath her fingertips. She wanted to remember each second, longed to store the feelings inside her heart and relive the memory of his kiss.
She'd wished for it when she'd blown out the candles on her birthday cake. She'd wished Paul would kiss her. She wondered what it would feel like if he did. And when he did, it was so much better than she ever could have imagined. The very best part of her birthday.
Oh, why hadn't she met Paul before she'd agreed to a date with Mr. Rivalde? If she hadn't gone out on that date, none of this would've happened. She wouldn't have met Rocco.
Her nerves were on edge. What would she tell Rocco tomorrow when he called? He'd understand if she told him she was going down to the baths. Suki had said she took a treatment twice a week when she was in town. Besides, Bethany had told Rocco she'd come to Hot Springs with her aunt and uncle for the baths. So it wouldn't look as if she were avoiding him. That's what she'd do. It would buy her one day, at least.
She curled up on her side and tried to drift off to sleep, but hours passed before sleep came to her. She was rich and in love with Paul, a gangster thought she was his new moll, and her uncle's friend wanted to marry her.
Too many thoughts ran through her mind for her to sleep well.
Her thoughts kept returning to Paul's kiss.
*****
THE MAINTENANCE MAN arrived early to finish repairing the phone.
Minutes after he left, the phone rang. It was her aunt, speaking in a clipped voice. “Be ready for breakfast in thirty minutes.”
“All right,” Bethany said. Then she hung up.
She was nearly ready for breakfast when the phone rang again.
“Hello?”
“Good morning, doll.”
“Rocco?”
“Who else would it be?” A challenge filled his voice.
“You sound different on the phone.”
“Yeah?” He lowered his voice. “Well, you sound like a kitten who's still in bed.”
“Oh, no. I'm up, getting ready to have breakfast with my aunt. Then we both have spa treatments.”
“Enjoy yourself, doll. I'll pick you up later this evening and take you to dinner. It'll be late. I have a meeting.”
“What time is your meeting?” The more information she could get out of Rocco, the better she could help Paul do his job.
He hesitated. “It might be over by eight. You be a good kitten and wait by the phone.”
“All right.” She could use the excuse of having a headache. Say the hot baths had given her a bad one, and she needed to rest.
“Just all right? No pouting, kitten. I'll make it up to you. I'll take you somewhere nice and private.”
“I'm wearing the pearls you gave me.” She was a terrible liar. Could he tell by her voice she didn't want to go to dinner with him? “They're so pretty.”
At least that was honest. Easier to say that than to pretend she looked forward to a private dinner with him. The pearls were pretty and she did like them, even though she knew she couldn't keep them. She would enjoy them until she had to give them back.
“Doll face, that's just the beginning. I told you I'd treat you right. Think of me when you wear ‘em.”
“Yes, Rocco.” That wasn't so hard. Saying it was close enough to the yes, sir and yes, ma'am she'd said to her aunt and uncle since she was small.
“That's what I like to hear, doll. You be a good kitten. I have to go.”
They each said goodbye, and then she hung up the phone and sat motionless on the bed. How many days and nights could she keep this up? She couldn't put Rocco off forever. No way would she make it until Sunday when they left. What was she going to do?
She picked up the phone and called Paul.
“Bethany.” A smile filled his voice once she said his name. “How are you this morning?”
“I didn't get much sleep, so I'm tired. Rocco just called.”
“What'd he say?”
She repeated the conversation for him word for word. He listened in silence. When she was done, he said, “You can't have dinner with him tonight.”
“I don't want to have dinner with him.”
“Good. Find an excuse not to.”
“I can beg off with a headache, but that'll only get me through today. I don't know what I'll do tomorrow.”
“I'll think of something. Be patient.”
“Okay, I'll try.”
“What time is your appointment today?”
“I don't have one. I'm going with my aunt at one o'clock, hoping they can fit me in.”
“Good. I'll find you later.”
*****
THE DAY WENT SMOOTHLY enough. Her aunt ordered them grapefruit and toast for breakfast, but for once Bethany didn't mind. She'd lost her appetite thinking of Rocco and what he might do if she tried to pull away from him. Her stomach turned end over end.
The bath treatment helped take her mind away from everything for a while. Then while she waited for her aunt to finish her treatment at the Fordyce, Paul found her.
The clock was about to strike four, the time of day that sometimes made her sleepy, and she sat in the music room enjoying the sun filtering through the stained glass when suddenly he stood in front of her.
His deep brown eyes drank her in, the hidden emotion in them for only her to see.
“How was your treatment?” he asked.
She smiled. “Good, thank you.”
“Walk with me.”
She stood and walked beside him as he made casual conversation. “Do you feel any older now that you've had your birthday?”
“Positively ancient.” She laughed, and he paused to look at her.
“Positively beautiful. Far from ancient.” He gave her a smile. “Come for a walk with me outside.”
“That sounds lovely.”
They left the music room and headed downstairs, but instead of going outside he took her down to the basement, a cool, quiet space.
When he assured himself they were alone, his expression turned serious. “We have a new development.”
“A development?” Confused, she wrinkled her nose and forehead.
“Police just pulled a man's body out of Lake Catherine. He'd been shot four times.”
“Oh, that's awful.”
“The man is Suki's boyfriend, Frank.”
Bethany gasped and stared at Paul wide-eyed. “No.”