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parted amicably, and later I heard that she d gotten married and started a family.
But you never saw her after that, or spoke to her?
Never. Not until the day I met up with her on the L.A. set for this movie.
So we have to consider her a suspect along with everyone else, I said. Why didn t
you mention her the other night when you and Teo and I were all talking at the hotel bar?
Gregor sighed. I guess I didn t want you to think that I was a- a what do you call it, a
gigolo. I didn t want every conversation to be like, Well, and I slept with that person and that
person and&
Good grief, everyone s allowed a past, I replied. And this is important, because of
what s been happening to you. I thought for a minute. Still, it sounds like a pretty harmless
relationship- doubtful she d be holding onto a grudge from that long ago, when you were
together such a short time.
I wouldn t think so, Gregor said. It would be a long shot, anyway. He sounded
suddenly tired.
Don t worry about it anymore, I told him gently. You need to get some rest, okay?
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All right. Goodnight, lovely Elise.
I ll be back first thing tomorrow, I promised.
Back at the hotel, I was unprepared for the gaggle of reporters that jumped out at me as I
descended from Teo s car. I had been undisturbed when I returned earlier that day; apparently
word had since gotten around about both my whereabouts and my method of transportation.
Several reporters called out, Elise, have you been with Gregor at the hospital? How is he
doing? while others chose, Where is Gregor s fiance? Is it true she s at the police station
while you ve been cozy with Gregor at the hospital? as their opening line.
I ignored all of them, but I was a little shaken; I hadn t been paying any attention to the
media buzz about the case. While there had been lots in the press about my relationship with
Gregor, there was hardly anything about me in it. I was simply an attractive American
screenwriter who was the other woman to the rich and far more interesting Countess.
Apparently, the lions were now eager to devour more Christians.
I hurried inside the hotel, where the concierge, Alexei, was waiting apologetically. I am
so sorry about that, miss, he said, his white-gloved hands fluttering. I told the police several
times to clear out that sidewalk, but it s public property and apparently&
It s okay, I told him. I had noticed the police outside, and there were more stationed
inside, apparently keeping the press and other curious onlookers at bay. I m sorry for this
inconvenience, I added. When they agreed to book the movie cast and crew for our stay, I m
sure the hotel didn t count on becoming a crime scene as well.
Teo came out to meet me from the lounge, where he and a few others, Vanessa included,
had been conferring, probably trying to figure out the logistics of tomorrow s shoot schedule
minus its leading man. Good, you need to rest, he said. Were you able to see Mac at all?
Just for a minute, earlier today, I said. And I just got off the phone with him. I was
able to confirm what you and I were talking about before. I glanced meaningfully in Vanessa s
direction.
I see. Well, they ve released Clara, Teo said, stroking his beard. He sounded
somewhat disappointed. She s back here with her lawyer, and she tried to change hotels, but
the police won t let her leave. They re keeping an eye on all of us, I suppose. She told me she
wanted to go see Gregor tonight, but I soothed her and said he wasn t allowed to see anyone
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except hospital staff. She asked where you were and I said you were in your room. I suppose
that will be out of the bag now, no? he added, nodding in the direction of the front doors.
Stupid me, I should have told Alexei to bring you in a side entrance.
I shrugged, too worn out at this point to care. Well, I ll stay away if she s going in the
morning, I said. The last thing I need is another confrontation with her at the hospital.
The gods must have laughed when I said this, because just as I was unlocking my room
door after saying goodnight to Teo, Clara herself appeared around the corner. She was dressed
in another ridiculous-looking lounging outfit, but I saw that her face was drawn and pinched, and
her eyes were red from crying.
I opened my mouth, but my throat went suddenly dry.
She stopped a few feet away from me. Elise, she said. Her voice was quiet, sad. I
wondered how much of her emotion was put on and how much was genuine. I hear you were
the one to find Gregor last night.
I trembled a little, then got annoyed with myself for it, and turned so my back was to the
door. I leaned against it for strength. Yes, I replied steadily. He was unconscious.
She nodded, pressing her thin lips together. Well, she said finally, tossing her head and
looking away, I guess I should thank you. I suppose you were at the hospital with him all
night? And all day today?
I didn t have the guile to lie. Not all day. I came back for a while this afternoon.
She seemed to expect this. She nodded again. I couldn t read her at all; couldn t tell if
she was angry, or sad, or just sizing up the situation. I recalled Gregor saying about her, She
rarely tells me what she really thinks. I was beginning to see what he meant about that. And
how dangerous a person like that could be.
So I suppose it s all true then, she said at last. Her voice was slightly wistful, but
again, I felt the theatricality of her tone. What everyone s saying about you. That you re
Gregor s mistress.
I was taken aback by the use of the word mistress. I had only heard that in conjunction
with married people. I m sorry? I couldn t help asking.
Oh, my dear. Her voice became pitying; suddenly she sounded twenty years older than
me. You didn t actually think- that he was falling in love with you? Why, I ve been with
Gregor for three years now. And he s taken one lover for each year of that, sometimes two.
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She smiled; it was a distinctly unpleasant smile. As you can see, they re all gone, but I m still
here.
I felt as though the breath had been knocked out of me. She was right, of course. I mean,
I assumed she was right about the lovers, and she was certainly right about still being there. And
the thing she was most right about, was that Gregor had never told me he loved me. He had
never promised he was going to leave Clara; he had never told me we were going to be together.
He had only said he would try. And so I just stood there and stared at her.
Clara came a little closer, and leaned in as if confiding in me. It s been so upsetting,
she said quietly. Those rocks falling at the cave, and then the pills. I m just so glad Gregor has
managed to escape unharmed. Her grey eyes fixed on mine. They were suddenly full of
malice. I shrank back, alarmed. It would be terrible, wouldn t it, if there were another-
accident?
I managed to find my voice. Yes, I said. I was hoping she was going to give it up right
there and admit to everything. I cursed myself for not having a tape recorder. But do you really
think that s what they were- accidents? I asked encouragingly.
She waved her hand. Who s to say? All I know is, I m so relieved he s back, safe.
With me. Heavy emphasis on the last word.
It was a thinly veiled threat. But was it a threat, or was she just cheerfully capitalizing on
someone else s deeds to keep Gregor to herself? How could I know? How could I take the
chance that she was innocent? She certainly was capable of both attempts on Gregor s life. I
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