Descent from Xanadu by Harold Robbins Page B

bar and mixed two Scotches on the rocks and brought one to him. She sipped hers slowly. “That cosmetic surgery, will it work as you say it will?”
    “Yes,” he said. “Even better.”
    She took a deep breath. “Okay. How do I go about it?”
    “It’s already arranged,” he said. “The plane to take you to Boca Raton and the doctor there is waiting for you.”
    ***
    The pilot’s voice echoed through the aircraft. “This is your captain speaking. First, I would like to thank you for flying Pan American and trust you all have enjoyed a comfortable flight from London to San Francisco. We should be on the ground in approximately twelve minutes, and meanwhile you can see from the left side the famous Golden Gate Bridge and at the right side, Oakland Bay Bridge. Again, thank you for flying Pan Am.”
    Barbara glanced from the window for a moment, then opened her compact. She still felt the surprise of looking in the mirror. It had been two years since Judd had taken her to Boca Raton for the cosmetic surgery. The face in the mirror seemed that of a woman in her early thirties. And Judd had also been correct in urging her to spend the next years in Europe. For the first time in her life she had felt herself to be a real woman. She touched up her makeup quickly and wondered about Judd. How much might he have changed in two years?
    She had read stories in the newspapers and magazines about Crane Industries but there never was a picture of Judd in any of them. They had photographs of his father and many photographs of other executives of the company, none of whom she had known, but Judd’s name would only be mentioned, never a photograph. The telegram had reached her at the Dorchester Hotel in London.
    ***
    Love it if you would cut the ribbon that would open the new World Headquarters of Crane Industries in Crane City just outside of San Francisco, Sept. 14, ’64. Anxious to see you.
    Love, Judd.
    The first person she saw as she stepped off the plane to the covered gangway was Fast Eddie. Next to him was a slim young man in a dark suit and tie, and a uniformed customs officer. Fast Eddie came to her with a large bouquet of red roses. “I’m happy to see you, Mrs. Crane.”
    “I’m pleased to see you, Fast Eddie,” she smiled, opening the envelope with the flowers.
    The card was in Judd’s handwriting. “Welcome home, Barbara. Love, Judd.”
    She held the roses in her arms. Fast Eddie introduced the young man. “This is Marcus Merlin, Judd’s personal assistant,” he said.
    “I’m honored, Mrs. Crane.”
    Barbara shook his hand. “My pleasure, Mr. Merlin.”
    “We have arranged courtesy of the port for you, Mrs. Crane,” Merlin said. “If you’ll give me your passport and baggage checks, I’ll transfer you directly to the helicopter.”
    Barbara nodded, and Merlin led her to a side door down a staircase to the field where a limousine waited. The customs official took her passport and baggage checks and turned away. A chauffeur held the door open and she stepped into the car. Fast Eddie quickly opened a bottle of champagne and filled a glass for her.
    “Your favorite,” he said. “Cristale.”
    “Thank you for remembering.”
    “It was Mr. Crane who remembered,” Fast Eddie smiled. “You’re lookin’ real good, Mrs. Crane.”
    She smiled back. “I feel real good, Fast Eddie.” She sipped at the champagne. “And how is Judd?”
    “He’s also real good, ma’am,” he said. “But he’s like his father, always very busy.”
    Merlin came toward the open door. “Six Louis Vuitton bags?”
    “That’s right.”
    He waved to the customs official. The chauffeur and Fast Eddie placed the luggage in the trunk of the limousine. Fast Eddie got into the front seat with the chauffeur. Merlin looked in at her. “May I join you, Mrs. Crane?”
    “Of course,” she said.
    The car began to move away. “The helicopter is at the far end of the airport,” Merlin said. “I think you’ll like it. It’s