CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

TWENTY NINE
I took the weekend off to hunt in Alabama
and while I did not feed on Friday, I did locate my
prey that night. I let the anticipation build through
the daylight hours Saturday while resting in a huge
hollow log in a swamp not far from my prospective
victims’ home. A little hunger sometimes goes a long
way in providing a distraction. I allowed myself to
forget about Danny’s demise, the investigation, and
my precarious multimillion dollar investment in
Pretty Lady.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

TWENTY EIGHT
After my long day at the theater with the
detectives, I arrived home wondering how Patti fared
with the physician, and found Millie tottering on the
sidewalk.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

TWENTY SEVEN
I was thrilled to be part of Belasco’s world,
to be able to observe this unique creative force up
close. Theatrical magic supplied balance to my life, an
antidote to the inescapable and relentless destructive
drive at the basis of my existence. To become part of
the theater was to enter a new realm, a new reality
that allowed me to be a creator when all I had ever
done was destroy. I became David Belasco’s silent
partner.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

TWENTY SIX
It was the light that drew me to the theater as
a way of life. The idea that night could be changed
into day, first by whale oil and tallow candles, then
with gaslight, followed eventually by electricity, was
irresistible when it was coupled with story and music.
Melodrama, operetta, comedy, tragedy, classics – I
loved everything and anything the theater offered.
I would watch the same shows night after night
without tiring of the material or the performances. I
loved it all.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

TWENTY FIVE
Is this a vampire sending these ridiculous
messages? Imagine this on your computer screen
when turning it on.
We will not endure the abuse of our status much
longer? Be warned.
Would a true vampire, an original vampire,
send such a silly message? Never. It seems more
as though it would have come from a mosquito; or
possibly a human transformed by the blood gift.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

TWENTY FOUR
Any good producer knows to pay attention to
the sound of his general manager’s voice. I was wide
awake immediately and answered.
“Yes, Tony. I’m here. I’ll be right down.”
Tony met me at the foot of the stairs to the
mezzanine. He greeted me with good news.
After questioning two or three members of
each group – chorus, stage hands, musicians and
so on, it soon became evident to the detectives that
these people had no contact to speak of with Danny,
and even less motive to murder him.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

TWENTY THREE
A nether consciousness enveloped me and I
dreamed, which is most unusual. There was a huge
fire and people were screaming and laughing and
reaching out to me. My garbage hauling truck driver
from Jersey City and the meth makers of last night
were at the forefront of a crowd that stretched to
the horizon, where flames could also be seen. These
people, I knew, were a vision of all my meals ever.
I turned around and there was the door to
Elaine’s. I dashed inside.