The Girl, the Gold Watch and Everything by John D. MacDonald

understand, sir. Wilma will tell me very little. But I do know, of course, she is—uh—incapable of hanky-panky."
    "Yes. Of course."
    "I'll doubtless be followed when I leave here, but I'll have the satisfaction of knowing I won't be leading them to Wilma. Do you know that the reporters actually badgered her into hysterics?"
    "That's too bad."
    "It took considerable guile to get her hidden safely away."
    "I can imagine."
    "And it would be a shame if you led the world to her hiding place."
    "I'll certainly try not to."
    "She's too delicate for this sort of thing. I'm leaving it up to you to do the right thing, and find some way out of this for her. Someone should be sued for the filthy hints they put in that interview."
    "I don't think they'll be doing any more hinting."
    "The damage is done, apparently. At any rate, sir, I have a home, a family and a profession to return to. Please tell her I cannot be expected to damage my own life in some vain attempt to assist her."
    "Where is she?"
    "You will be careful about contacting her? She does want to see you."
    "I'll be very careful, Mr. Farnham."
    "I smuggled her to the house of one of my associates, Mr. Winter. He is on a sabbatical leave in France, and he left the key with me. Unfortunately the phone is disconnected. Have you a pencil? Two-ten Sunset Way, Hallandale. It has considerable privacy due to the plantings Professor Wellerly arranged with that in mind. A small pink house. She has food and water, and she should be quite safe there, from the rabble and the curiosity seekers. But she is upset, naturally. Give a long ring then a short and then a long, and she will know it is either you or me, sir. She will open the door to no one else. And I believe I am right in saying we are both depending on you to do something to clear up this unfortunate situation."
    "Thank you."
    "Not at all, sir. It's my duty to my sister. Good evening."
    "Well now!" Betsy said as he hung up. "How cozy you'll be! In your wittle pink housey."
    "So how do I get there?"
    "I can't say that I really care how you get to Hallandale, friend."
    "In this uniform?"
    "Bernie Sabbith is almost your size, and there is a whole closet loaded with stuff. Be his guest."
    "She wouldn't think of letting me stay in that house with her."
    "You're kidding!"
    "I mean it. She's a very—she's sort of an odd girl. Uh—very proper."
    "Even under emergency conditions like this?"
    "I wouldn't want to risk it. Really, it would be a terrible risk for me to leave here. Any cab driver might recognize me."
    "Well, my friend, you can't stay here. I'm a very odd girl too."
    "Is it or is it not important to you to help me?"
    "Indeed it is, but there are some kinds of help—"
    "I was thinking, Betsy, I could write a note to her telling her to trust you. You know, she really doesn't think much of my judgment. Then you could go out there and stay there with her tonight and talk the whole thing out and maybe you and she can figure out what it is that Charla is after. I can reduce the risks by staying here alone. Then you can come back tomorrow and if you've learned anything we'll know what to do, and if you haven't, then we can try to figure out the next step."
    At first Betsy was reluctant, but at last she agreed the idea had some merit. She made drinks while he wrote the note. Then, having laid in some stores during the day, she cooked ham and eggs in the tiny kitchen corner. Just before she left, a little before nine, she showed him where the television set was. She crawled on her hands and knees to the intricate headboard of the enormous bed, flipped the switch that moved a ceiling panel aside exposing the picture tube built into the ceiling. The other controls were next to the switch.
    "If Charla locates the place, ask her to watch TV with you, Kirby."
    "If I can arrange my life properly, I'll never see that woman again."
    "What's the matter. Scared of her?"
    "Totally."
    Betsy gave him a wan smile. "Frankly, so am I."

Chapter