Part 5 (1/2)
As the boat swung into the final leg of the tour, Nancy recognized the portly man. He had been the one cursing Rory Danner on the tour of the set just two days before.
”Attention, ladies and gentlemen. We will be docking in a few minutes. Please disembark via the white stairs on the port side of the boat. That's the left, to all you landlubbers,” the tour guide instructed.
”That's him! That's Rick Arlen!” a young woman suddenly shrieked.
An excited murmur went through the crowd, and everyone turned to look at Rick.
”Take the hat off, Rory! We know it's you!” a woman called out good-naturedly. The group laughed, and Rick cooperated.
”Ah, my fans.” He smiled and waved. ”You're the greatest-all of you! I love you madly!”
”Rick, may I have your autograph?” a woman cried happily. Everyone crowded around him and began rifling through their bags for pens, too.
”Write one for my niece, Rick!”
”Oh, Mr. Arlen, thank you!”
Rick was standing by the guardrail signing the backs of envelopes, napkins, address books, and matchbook covers. Suddenly, the man who had been on the studio tour lunged forward, his eyes wild, his voice like thunder. ”You killed Jill Rowan, and now you want to destroy Serena Livingstone. Well, I won't let you! I'm not going to let filth like you near her! You're going to die, Rory Danner-right now!”
With that, the man lunged for Rick, sending him halfway over the rail. He was about to plunge into the river!
Chapter Eight.
LEAPING FOR RICK, Nancy and Gilbert grabbed him just in time and pulled him safely back over the rail. Nancy felt a pair of hamlike hands on her shoulders. She turned to face the a.s.sailant and delivered a swift kick to his left s.h.i.+n. Then she seized his hand and flipped him head over heels onto the deck. The s.h.i.+p's crew then held him pinned against the deck until the s.h.i.+p had docked and the police arrived, followed by a couple of reporters.
”Okay, fella, let's go,” a police officer said, leading the man to a patrol car. ”You'll feel a lot better after a nice long rest.”
”I killed Rory Danner and the world will be a better place for it!” the man exclaimed. ”He was filth! Filth!”
”Sure, sure,” another police officer said, agreeing. ”You can tell the doctor all about it.”
As their limo pulled out of the parking lot, the crowd cheered Rick. He was leaning out the window, smiling and waving.
”Thank you, everyone!” he called. He slipped back into the car. ”Well, thank goodness that's over. And thank you, Gil. And Nancy.” Turning to Bess, he added, ”You certainly know how to pick your friends, love.”
Gil still seemed a bit shaken. ”You know, Rick, the way you were hanging over the edge there, I thought you were history.” He shuddered. ”I'm going to sign up for karate lessons next week. I want to be prepared for fame.”
”Let's just put the whole thing behind us, okay? Now it's time to celebrate!” Rick grinned devilishly. ”Why not go for the best! Driver-take us to Trump Tower!”
Later, riding up the escalator from the lobby of the bra.s.s-and-marble palace, Bess and Nancy looked around in wonder. The place, was amazing!
”This makes the River Heights mall look like a mom-and-pop store,” Nancy whispered. She looked all around her as they rose ever higher through the glittering atrium.
”Tell me about it!” Bess said enthusiastically. ”Rick, I can't believe people actually live live in this building.” in this building.”
”They do,” he a.s.sured her. ”There are apartments here that sell for millions.”
”Seriously?” Bess couldn't believe it. ”What do they have, solid gold faucets?”
”Almost,” Gil replied. ”You'd be amazed at what people spend their money on.”
”Cappuccino, anyone?” Rick broke in cheerfully. They had just come to an attractive cafe on an upper level.
Soon they were all sitting around a table sipping cups of the strong Italian coffee.
”You know what being here makes me realize?” Bess was saying. ”I've realized that I'd make a great millionaire.”
”I think you'd make a lovely one, too,” Rick said, flirting. ”In fact, I saw something in a shop across the way that I think you should have. Be right back.”
A minute later Rick came back to the table, holding a silk scarf printed in pastel geometric shapes. It matched Bess's outfit perfectly.
”Oh, Rick!” she exclaimed. ”It's beautiful!”
”Wear it and think of me,” he murmured.” ”So, everyone, are you ready to scale the heights? It's such a clear beautiful day-what do you say we catch the view from the Empire State Building?”
”Sounds great!” Bess was beaming. Anything Rick said would have sounded great to her.
”I used to sell souvenirs at the observatory,” Gil threw in. ”That was when I still worked worked for a living.” He straightened up and helped Nancy from her chair. ”Madame?” he said. ”Your chariot awaits. That is, for a living.” He straightened up and helped Nancy from her chair. ”Madame?” he said. ”Your chariot awaits. That is, Rick's Rick's chariot awaits,” he said, correcting himself. chariot awaits,” he said, correcting himself.
By the time they reached Thirty-fourth Street and made their way up to the top, the sun had slipped much closer to the horizon. Rick and Bess, their arms around each other's waists, stood at the observatory's edge, gazing into the distance. Gil had stopped to chat with his old coworkers at the souvenir shop, so Nancy wandered off by herself.
Up that high, the wind cut like a knife, seeming to come from all directions. It blew Nancy's hair wildly around her as she stared down at the magical city. The noise from the street sounded like a low moan up there, almost human and full of sadness. It made Nancy shudder for a moment.
As she looked out over the city below her, she felt a growing sense of dread. The police had arrested the deranged fan that afternoon, but she was still worried. In the late afternoon sun, Nancy had a sudden, powerful feeling that someone else else was after Rick. Someone who was not only crazy, but also clever, determined, and deadly. Nancy felt an icy s.h.i.+ver go through her. Someone was waiting down on the street-she was sure of it-waiting to end Rick Arlen's life. was after Rick. Someone who was not only crazy, but also clever, determined, and deadly. Nancy felt an icy s.h.i.+ver go through her. Someone was waiting down on the street-she was sure of it-waiting to end Rick Arlen's life.
Bess scooped up one last mouthful of chocolate mousse pie and sighed contentedly. ”What a dinner! I'm in heaven.”
”Not bad,” Gil agreed, glancing around at the gla.s.s walls of Tavern on the Green. Positioned on the edge of Central Park, the view out the windows of the restaurant was of trees decorated with tiny white lights. The park looked like an enchanted fairyland, in direct contrast to the city around it.
When the check came, Rick picked it up. ”What's money for if not to treat friends?” he asked, placing a gold credit card on the small black lacquered tray the waiter had brought.
”What a day!” Bess remarked happily. ”What a night, too! I've had such a fabulous time today, Rick... thanks to you.”
Rick looked genuinely pleased as he took her hand in his. ”There's just one more thing I'd like to do. I could use a little exercise after this dinner, and it's such a great night-why don't we take a walk beside the park?”