“Could you please call Thomas for me?” Regan asked.

“I already did. I was just about to ring you. The police are on their way up.”

Thomas was getting off the elevator as Regan opened the door. He had on a crisp linen robe and leather slippers that certainly suggested gracious living. The police were right behind him, their radios squawking.

“Regan!” Thomas cried as he entered Nat’s apartment, and for the second time in less than six hours, hugged someone involved in a crime scene.

“It could have been a lot worse,” Regan assured him. “But I don’t think they expected to find me in the guest room.”

The two cops introduced themselves to Regan. “We were here last night,” Officer Angelo said. He turned to Thomas. “How’re you feeling?”

“Better, thank you,” Thomas said as he and Regan followed them into the living room. “I appreciate your asking.”

“They ran out the back door.” Regan explained to the officers what had happened.

“No sign of forced entry?” Officer Angelo asked.

“None that I see,” Regan answered.

“Just like last night.”

“What happened?” Lydia cried, rushing across the hall with Maldwin right behind. They were both clad in their pj’s and robes. Lydia’s getup, of course, was worthy of a Las Vegas lounge act.

“Miss Lydia woke me when she heard noises in the hallway,” Maldwin volunteered.

“Hellooooo.” It was now Daphne’s turn to make an entrance. “I just got back from my movie shoot and heard at the front desk that there was some excitement up here.” She looked at the mess all over the living room. “When will it end?”

And she doesn’t even know what happened at Ben’s, Regan thought.

Since Daphne’s question was rhetorical, no one answered. But Maldwin felt the need to say something.

“Perhaps I should prepare some tea for all of us.”

“Not in here,” one of the cops advised. “This is a crime scene.”

“I had no intention of preparing it here, sir,” Maldwin replied stiffly. “My kitchen and special teapots are across the hall.”

“That’s a wonderful idea,” Lydia said. “Do you need any help?”

“Not at all,” Maldwin said. “Whenever you’re ready, come over.”

The sight of him, bowing in his robe before he exited, almost made Regan laugh.

“Did you bring the sheep back?” Thomas brusquely asked Daphne.

“You’ll never guess…” Daphne began.

“I guess that means no.”

“My acting career has just received a renewed blast.”

“Is Bah-Bah your new agent?” Thomas inquired.

“I resent that. But the sheep are starring in the movie too. We have more scenes to film tomorrow, so the sheep are spending the night at the director’s apartment.”

“I want them back for the party,” Thomas warned.

“They’ll be back.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“Why don’t you all go across the hall?” Regan suggested. “I’ll be there soon. I want to talk to these officers for a few minutes.”

“I could use a cup of tea,” Daphne said.

After the group exited, Officer Angelo turned to Regan. “Whoever did this is pretty determined. I don’t think you should stay in here tonight.”

“I don’t want to.”

“What will you do?”

“I’m sure one of them has a room I can crash in,” Regan said as she pointed across the hall.

Angelo smiled at her. “Lucky you.”

49

We’re never going to be rich,” Georgette sobbed as she lay in Blaise’s arms in their lumpy bed.

“It’s Regan Reilly’s fault,” he said. “Who would have thought she’d have camped out there?”

“She never mentioned it when we were talking.”

“Well… by the way, don’t give out so much information. You were getting a little too chatty.”

“She liked the perfume you gave me.”

“Don’t wear it again.”

Georgette lifted her head and looked Blaise in the eye. “Why not?”

“Why do you think?”

“I don’t know.”

“Have you ever heard of hound dogs at a crime scene?”

“Yeah.”

“They pick up a scent. Think of Regan Reilly as a hound dog.”

Georgette put her head back down. “I won’t use it again until we shove off from here. I wish we could leave now.”

“Well, we can’t. When I heard Reilly talking to the 911 operator about a murder, I realized we’ve got to stay put. If we disappear now, it’d be too suspicious. They’d really come looking for us. And I don’t want to get nailed for something I didn’t do.”

“And I don’t want to go back there tonight for the anniversary party,” Georgette said. “We’ll never get the diamonds. What’s the point?”

“The point is that it ain’t over till it’s over. I’ve got a couple weeks of the butler school left, and then we’re out of here. In the meantime, you sit and think about your boyfriend Nat. Think about where those glass stones might have come from and what he would have done with the diamonds.”

“He loved to play practical jokes.”

“It’s really funny hiding diamonds worth millions.”

Georgette stared up at the ceiling. “Whoever came into the apartment that night and murdered him might know what he did with them.”

Blaise stroked her hair. “But who would that be?”

“I don’t know.” Georgette was suddenly irritated. “You don’t think he was cheating on me, do you?”

50

When Jack arrived in London, it was just after 7:00 A.M. Which means it’s just after two in New York, he thought. I hope Regan’s asleep. He hadn’t checked any bags, so he zipped through immigration and out to the taxi stand, where a driver was waiting for him.

Forty-five minutes later he was at the front desk of his hotel near Scotland Yard.

“You’re lucky,” the clerk said to him. “Your room is ready. The gentleman who used it last night checked out early this morning. The maid’s already been in there and tidied up.”

“Great,” Jack said. He knew they didn’t have to have the room ready until three o’clock, but he was dying for a shower and wanted to get over to Scotland Yard. He was restless but couldn’t quite put his finger on the reason why. With any luck I can get everything done today and catch a flight back tonight, he thought hopefully.

He refused the offer of a bellman, since he just had a hanging bag, and took the key to his room on the fifth floor. When he reached the room, the maid’s cart was parked right outside the open door.

“Hello,” he said as he walked in.

“Hello, love.” The fiftyish maid popped her head out of the bathroom. She was a cheerful sort.

“I’m sorry. They told me the room was ready.”

“Right. They’re always getting confused, aren’t they? I’ll be out of here in two shakes.”

“Thanks. I have to shower and then get to work.”

“So you’re working on Saturday too?”

Jack smiled as he walked over to the bed and put down his bag. “Yes.”

“It’s a living,” she said. “All right. I’ve finished up. Have a good one.”

“You too,” Jack said, then noticed money and a note on top of the dresser. “Wait,” he called to her as she started out the door. “I think this money must be yours.”

“Thanks, love,” she said as she hurried over to the dresser. When she realized how little was there, she said, “Hardly worth the shoe leather to come and fetch it,” but nonetheless shoved it into her pocket and picked up the note. “Thanks for such great service. It was like having my own butler.” She looked at Jack and rolled her eyes. “Maybe I should become a butler.”

Jack smiled. “I know of a butler school in New York City that just started.”

The maid waved her hand at him. “We’ve got more than enough butler schools over here. Too many in fact. A lot of competition. But it doesn’t matter to me. I’d never last in one of those places. Too formal for me.” She headed back out the door. “Cheerio, love.”