Chapter 2

- Morning, ma'am!

- Good morning, Andy! What is this all about, I see half Manhattan of reporters outside the door!

- Oh, they are expecting Lady Bolyer to arrive any minute. The famous soprano. She stays with us for her debut in Carnegie Hall tomorrow night.

Jessica's eyes widened, as if she remembered something left burning in her oven.

- Merciful heavens! Carnegie Hall! Tomorrow! I have completely forgotten that I was invited! My friend is going to pick me up at five. And I have just arranged a meeting with my lawyer for that time tomorrow! Andy, can I use your phone? I have to catch my lawyer before it is too late!

- Sure, ma'am! Here you go!

While Jessica kept the phone line busy, frantically trying to spot at least some hole in her tight schedule for the next week, the crowd outside vividly surrounded a black limo that parked in front of the mansion's gate. Camera flashes were bursting over a reticent woman, dressed in dark blue trench, silk scarf, covering her hair, and wide sunglasses, who jumped out of the car and with help of two bodyguards made her way to the entrance. Mansion's security and the convoy were forcing newspapermen outside the building. Therefore, the woman was safe, as soon as she stepped inside the hallway and the door shut behind. She sighed out very silently and moved to the reception desk.

- Mrs. Bolyer! How nice to see you make it safely to us! These reporters are having a feel day!

The woman gave a friendly smile to the manager and took off her glasses. Her beautiful dark green eyes were radiating warm sensation of long awaited comfort stirred with a slight touch of fatigue.

- Hello, Mr. Jacobs! It is really a pleasure to see you! Finally! - She laughed, preserving a wide smile with her elegant velvet glove. Her voice and way of talking immediately gave up her cheerful eastern European origin.

- Was the rehearsal successful? Did you like the hall?

- Oh, yes! The orchestra is the best I ever worked with! The theater is so beautiful! I enjoyed singing so much! Nevertheless, the only thing I have in mind now is a tasty sandwich and a large cup of tea!

- We certainly can do that for you, ma'am!

- I would be so grateful, Mr. Jacobs!

- Shall we serve for two? I believe Mr. Bolyer has arrived with you?

Barely noticeable flash of pain thundered somewhere in the depth of this very young woman's eyes. She moved her glance aside, paused a little and as being not very certain, she answered:

- ..No, Mr. Bolyer is busy at the theater.

- All right then! Here is your key, please sign here...

While Lady Bolyer was signing her booking entry, Jessica finished her call and sighed out:

- Wonderful! Andy, thank you so much for saving me!

- Any time, ma'am! Oh, by the way, can I please introduce you to our famous guest, Mrs. Dorothea Bolyer! Please meet Mrs. J.B. Fletcher, the mystery writer!

Jessica turned to the right with her ordinary pry and stepped aside in a tiny confusion, while keeping her welcome smile directed to the very young and beautiful Mrs.

- How do you do! This is very nice to meet you!

Lady Bolyer has just finished making her entry, still holding a pen in her hand, when she turned to Jessica with a welcome and tender smile. But as soon as her eyes reached Jessica's face, she suddenly gasped in a terrified convulsion, as if seen a ghost, the pen dropped out of her long thin fingers. Confused and pail to death, she very carefully moved a bit closer to Jessica, as if trying to make sure of something. Her eyes were madly surfing all over Jessica's face. Finally, she stretched her hand to touch Jessica's wrist, reposing on the manager's desk. She whispered a terrifying question:

- ... Eva?

Suddenly her breath become frequent and her eyes rolled back. She fainted and landed right in to Jessica's arms, almost knocking her off her heels.

- Andy! She fainted! We need help! Quick!

- Wait, I have smelling salts right here!

Jessica very carefully dragged the girl to the bench nearby and while holding her tight, started unbuttoning her trench. In a second, Andy came up with a wet tissue and gently put it in front of the girl's face. She came to senses very sharply. Her breathing deep and snatching, she looked at Jessica, being frightened as hell. Jessica was keeping as calm and as put as she could, holding the girl close to herself. She was very attentively watching the girl, who suddenly blushed and put her palm on her mouth, as if she was going to utter a painful scream. Her eyes were filled with tears. She was trembling.

Jessica smiled in a particular confusion, but with a slightly painful noise somewhere around her own stomach. Instinctively, she pressed the girl closer to herself and warmly caressed her, allowing girl's head to land on her shoulder, as if sharing her obvious pain.

After some time, she let the girl out of her arms and bent her head to look into the blubbered but not anymore frightened face, still holding her by the shoulders:

- Are you all right, child?

- I... I am so sorry, Mrs.?

- Jessica, do call me Jessica, - with a tender and friendly smile, showing a tremendous interest. Then Jessica took a handkerchief out of her pocket and gave it to the girl.

- Here you go!

The girl blushed and wiped her tears.

- Thank you very much!

Mr. Jacobs addressed her with compassion:

- You must be very tired with the jetlag and the rehearsal, ma'am!

- I am afraid so.

Then she turned back to Jessica:

- I am so very sorry, again!

- That's all right! It was lucky that you fell on me! Otherwise, you might have hit yourself badly!

Andy sighed out with a relief:

- You sure you don't need a doctor?

- No, no... Thank you! I am feeling much better!

Jessica offered, with a slight hope somewhere deep inside, on getting more answers to the mystery about this young lady, blasting in her head:

- Maybe I can help you to get to your room?

Andy added joyfully:

- It's right across your suit, ma'am!

- Fine! Then let us keep moving very slowly, all right?

The girl shyly nodded and they both raised from the bench.

As soon as the doors of elevator shut, left alone with Jessica still holding her by the hand, Lady Bolyer whispered:

- Jessica... I believe... I have some explanation to do. Would you please come by? I... I have something to show to you, if only I am not imposing on you, of course…

Jessica smiled whiles pulling together all of her forces to obscure the inadvertent forthcoming satisfaction of her inner 'busy-body':

- I would be delighted! But, don't you need to rest now?

- It's alright, I was going to have lunch in my room, I feel famished... Besides, I may not have any more opportunities to talk to you ...maybe I can ask you to share the lunch with me? ...I am really sorry for acting so strangely, but I just feel that I have to talk to you!...

Pleading green eyes looking incessantly at her through a heavy blush made Jessica smile.

- Why not? I was going to order a lunch myself. We can cooperate!

Lady Bolyer finally smiled throughout her tears.

- Please call me Thea.