that E. M. Forster line from A Passage to India ? Something like, ‘You can do what you like but the outcome will be just the same’? I loved the way Alec Guinness said that in the movie.”
“Yes, you might be right. I don’t want to get Aaron in trouble, but at the same time, if I don’t mention it and the police find out, they might wonder why I didn’t say something.”
He took a sip of water. “I hope Aaron gets here soon with that coffee.” He glanced at Ray, who was closing his notebook. “It’s none of my business, but I couldn’t help wondering. Is there something between you and the police officer? He seemed a little, I don’t know, edgy, just then. A little bit possessive, maybe?”
Charlotte did not reply.
“Oh, dear. Sorry. Did I cross a line there?”
“It’s all right.” But the hard line of her shoulders, slight frown, and averted eyes told him the question was very much not all right.
While he was thinking of what to say next, trying to find the right words to turn the situation around, Aaron arrived, pushing a small cart laden with coffee and doughnuts. The actors surged toward it, but a moment later, the arrival of Harvey Jacobs silenced everyone. He looked around the room as though seeing it for the first time. He chose a spot in front of the cutting table and, with his hands behind his back, leaned against it.
“If I could just ask for your attention for a few minutes,” he began. “My nephew here,” he nodded in Aaron’s direction, “has just informed me about this terrible tragedy. I understand the police are here, and I expect every one of you will give them your full cooperation. They will get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, I want to reassure you that you are in no danger.”
“And how does he know that?” Simon muttered.
“He’s saying it to provide reassurance and let everyone know he’s in control,” Charlotte whispered. “It’s his idea of what a leader is supposed to do.”
Harvey invited the cast members to help themselves to coffee, as Ray joined Simon and Charlotte to tell them he was leaving to await the arrival of the state police.
*
The sound of several vehicles approaching the hotel got Brian Prentice’s attention. Curious, he got up from the table in the bungalow where he and his wife had been enjoying a late-morning cup of coffee and pulled back the curtain, revealing a dark blue car emblazoned with “New York State Trooper” on the side. It was followed by another police car and then two vans.
“Something must have happened in the hotel,” he said to his wife.
She looked up from her newspaper and took a sip of coffee. “Well, that’ll make a change.”
“No, really, there’s police cars everywhere. Oh, and now here comes an ambulance.” He watched its progress and then let out a little gasp. “Oh, dear. That’s not a good sign.”
“Mmm?” said his wife.
“I said that’s not a good sign. An ambulance has arrived but it’s not got its lights flashing or siren switched on. That leads me to think somebody is already past helping.”
“Oh,” said Lady Deborah. “I wonder who.” She thought for a moment. “Harvey, perhaps? He’s been looking a little peaky lately, I thought. And all that extra weight isn’t helping. It’ll be the stress of running his nonprofit establishment, I shouldn’t wonder.”
“Really, Deborah. Must you?” Brian pulled his jacket off a hook by the door and slid his arms down the sleeves.“But if it is Harvey, I wonder if my contract would still be valid.”
“Well, you’d best go and find out, hadn’t you?” She turned her newspaper to the arts section. “I wonder what’s playing on Broadway. Maybe we could treat ourselves to a little outing and see a real play. You’d like that, wouldn’t you, Brian? Make a nice night out for you.”
Brian groaned and let the screen door slam behind him. Stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jacket and hunching against the wind, he
“Yes, you might be right. I don’t want to get Aaron in trouble, but at the same time, if I don’t mention it and the police find out, they might wonder why I didn’t say something.”
He took a sip of water. “I hope Aaron gets here soon with that coffee.” He glanced at Ray, who was closing his notebook. “It’s none of my business, but I couldn’t help wondering. Is there something between you and the police officer? He seemed a little, I don’t know, edgy, just then. A little bit possessive, maybe?”
Charlotte did not reply.
“Oh, dear. Sorry. Did I cross a line there?”
“It’s all right.” But the hard line of her shoulders, slight frown, and averted eyes told him the question was very much not all right.
While he was thinking of what to say next, trying to find the right words to turn the situation around, Aaron arrived, pushing a small cart laden with coffee and doughnuts. The actors surged toward it, but a moment later, the arrival of Harvey Jacobs silenced everyone. He looked around the room as though seeing it for the first time. He chose a spot in front of the cutting table and, with his hands behind his back, leaned against it.
“If I could just ask for your attention for a few minutes,” he began. “My nephew here,” he nodded in Aaron’s direction, “has just informed me about this terrible tragedy. I understand the police are here, and I expect every one of you will give them your full cooperation. They will get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, I want to reassure you that you are in no danger.”
“And how does he know that?” Simon muttered.
“He’s saying it to provide reassurance and let everyone know he’s in control,” Charlotte whispered. “It’s his idea of what a leader is supposed to do.”
Harvey invited the cast members to help themselves to coffee, as Ray joined Simon and Charlotte to tell them he was leaving to await the arrival of the state police.
*
The sound of several vehicles approaching the hotel got Brian Prentice’s attention. Curious, he got up from the table in the bungalow where he and his wife had been enjoying a late-morning cup of coffee and pulled back the curtain, revealing a dark blue car emblazoned with “New York State Trooper” on the side. It was followed by another police car and then two vans.
“Something must have happened in the hotel,” he said to his wife.
She looked up from her newspaper and took a sip of coffee. “Well, that’ll make a change.”
“No, really, there’s police cars everywhere. Oh, and now here comes an ambulance.” He watched its progress and then let out a little gasp. “Oh, dear. That’s not a good sign.”
“Mmm?” said his wife.
“I said that’s not a good sign. An ambulance has arrived but it’s not got its lights flashing or siren switched on. That leads me to think somebody is already past helping.”
“Oh,” said Lady Deborah. “I wonder who.” She thought for a moment. “Harvey, perhaps? He’s been looking a little peaky lately, I thought. And all that extra weight isn’t helping. It’ll be the stress of running his nonprofit establishment, I shouldn’t wonder.”
“Really, Deborah. Must you?” Brian pulled his jacket off a hook by the door and slid his arms down the sleeves.“But if it is Harvey, I wonder if my contract would still be valid.”
“Well, you’d best go and find out, hadn’t you?” She turned her newspaper to the arts section. “I wonder what’s playing on Broadway. Maybe we could treat ourselves to a little outing and see a real play. You’d like that, wouldn’t you, Brian? Make a nice night out for you.”
Brian groaned and let the screen door slam behind him. Stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jacket and hunching against the wind, he
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