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 for a living.” He straightened up and helped Nancy from her chair. “Madame?” he said. “Your chariot awaits. That is, Rick’s 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 was after Rick. Someone who was not only crazy, but also clever, determined, and deadly. Nancy felt an icy shiver 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 glass 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?”
Bess’s eyes were twinkling with delight. Rick seemed to be having a hard time saying good night to her!
“A walk sounds wonderful,” Nancy said.
“Good, we’re on!” Gil agreed.
Stepping out onto the sidewalk along the park, Rick and Bess linked arms. They were completely caught up in each other as they giggled and joked, walking ahead of the other two. Nancy watched them carefully as she half listened to Gil, who was telling her the rest of his life story.
“Then I realized I had to change my material,” he was saying. “Nobody goes for rubber-chicken jokes anymore. So I began writing myself a whole new act. . . .”
Nancy couldn’t help worrying about Bess. She was heading for trouble, Nancy was sure of that. Even if Rick was sincere, how could it last? They lived miles from each other. And a broken heart was the last thing Bess needed.
The sound of a speeding car made Nancy spin around. A taxicab jumped its lane and screeched diagonally across the street. Suddenly a broken heart was the least of Bess’s troubles. The out-of-control cab was headed onto the sidewalk, aimed straight at Rick—and Bess!
Chapter Nine
“ W ATCH OUT!” N ANCY screamed. Racing up to pull Bess away from the oncoming taxi, she managed to get just close enough
“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 for a living.” He straightened up and helped Nancy from her chair. “Madame?” he said. “Your chariot awaits. That is, Rick’s 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 was after Rick. Someone who was not only crazy, but also clever, determined, and deadly. Nancy felt an icy shiver 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 glass 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?”
Bess’s eyes were twinkling with delight. Rick seemed to be having a hard time saying good night to her!
“A walk sounds wonderful,” Nancy said.
“Good, we’re on!” Gil agreed.
Stepping out onto the sidewalk along the park, Rick and Bess linked arms. They were completely caught up in each other as they giggled and joked, walking ahead of the other two. Nancy watched them carefully as she half listened to Gil, who was telling her the rest of his life story.
“Then I realized I had to change my material,” he was saying. “Nobody goes for rubber-chicken jokes anymore. So I began writing myself a whole new act. . . .”
Nancy couldn’t help worrying about Bess. She was heading for trouble, Nancy was sure of that. Even if Rick was sincere, how could it last? They lived miles from each other. And a broken heart was the last thing Bess needed.
The sound of a speeding car made Nancy spin around. A taxicab jumped its lane and screeched diagonally across the street. Suddenly a broken heart was the least of Bess’s troubles. The out-of-control cab was headed onto the sidewalk, aimed straight at Rick—and Bess!
Chapter Nine
“ W ATCH OUT!” N ANCY screamed. Racing up to pull Bess away from the oncoming taxi, she managed to get just close enough
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