CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

EIGHTEEN
Matt dropped me at my house. On the way
we agreed that he would contact Joe Eason to get the
private detective involved in the case.
“Joe wouldn’t be my first choice but why
not?” said Matt. “I guess that interview left lingering
doubt?”
“My doubts about Detective Swiecki and his
abilities are more than lingering, Matt. They are
pressing. I want Danny’s killer caught. Danny was
a friend and colleague. He was on the verge of the
best years of his career. He was directing my show.
Whoever killed him not only ended his life, that
action also impacted my production. I want justice.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

SEVENTEEN
I wondered if Swiecki was about to tell me
that he would ask the questions. It would have been
classic. Instead he took a deep breath, blew it out, and
took a different tack.
“Here’s what we know. Mr. Limm was killed
less than three blocks from where he lived. It was on a
side street. We haven’t been able to find any witnesses.
It could have been a random act but we don’t think
so.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

SIXTEEN
Fifteen minutes later I was sitting beside Matt
in the back of a chauffeured Lincoln. Matt looks like
exactly what he is – a criminal defense attorney. He’s
beefy, with sandy hair and blue eyes that are said to
transfix juries and women, by all accounts. He was
dressed in a blue blazer, blue shirt and striped tie, and
gray wool trousers.
Aware of the driver’s proximity and no glass
between us, we spoke like two of David Mamet’s
characters once we got past the pleasantries.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

FIFTEEN
Chaos beyond chaos greeted me this evening.
Danny did not show up at rehearsals today. The
reason he did not show up is that he was stabbed to
death this morning.
There were fifty seven text messages on my
Blackberry – from Patti, from Danny’s assistant David,
from my stage manager, my company manager, my
general manager, from the assistant managers to each
of those individuals, and from every entertainment
reporter in the country -- and almost as many voice
mail messages, including one from a homicide
detective in Queens, where the crime occurred.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

FOURTEEN
Millie was twenty when I met her. The war
had just ended and the relief of the general populace
could be felt in the very atmosphere of the city. The
two of us met one evening at the bar at Sardi’s. I
never believed in love at first sight, other than as a
plot device in romantic comedies or musicals. I never
believed in love for a vampire at all, for that matter.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

THIRTEEN
I arose from my secret crypt this evening
grateful and angry; grateful that there is less than
a week until the first preview of Pretty Lady. This
will allow me to see Danny’s handiwork without the
burden of a curtain time that coincides with the last
few minutes of daylight. Daylight Savings Time, the
scourge of my existence, begins in two weeks. Don’t
even get me started on summer evenings, when
sunset signals the onset of intermissions throughout
the theater district.

CHAPTER TWELVE

TWELVE
“Out of respect for the memory of my
grandfather, I will do whatever is within my ability,
which I am sure will be more than sufficient. Grand
Gus left me quite well off.”
The old dame sitting across the room gave a
throaty chuckle.