The Image Seeker by Amanda Hughes

Author:Amanda Hughes [Hughes, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781095315590
Published: 2019-06-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Luckily, the bullet missed Corky’s vital organs. Nevertheless, she was in the hospital for almost a week.

“Will you quit beating yourself up, Bassett?” Corky barked.

Billie was sitting on the bed in her hospital room, twisting her gloves, tears in her eyes. She had come every day, worried sick.

Corky was pale, and her waist was bandaged, but she was making a rapid recovery.

“I’m a journalist, Billie. It comes with the territory. No one forced me to go with you that night. This is what we do.”

“But two people were killed. The third could have been you.”

“Well, I wasn’t,” Corky said dismissively. “Say, I read the story. Harry did a good job covering it for me. Will you tell him?”

Billie nodded.

“Tonight’s New Year’s Eve,” Corky said, changing the subject. “What you are doing?”

Billie wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. “A group of us are going to The Stork Club.”

“No date?”

She shook her head. “Chip Elliot asked me out, but I want to go stag tonight. It’s more fun.” Billie smiled. “I’m fixing up Pauline with Max, but he doesn’t know it yet.”

Corky frowned. “Billie, I wouldn’t─”

“I know what you’re going to say,” Billie argued. “He’s got a lot of girlfriends, but Pauline is perfect for him. She’s smart, fun, and has great legs.”

A nurse stepped in and announced, “The doctor is on his way, ladies.”

Billie jumped up and kissed Corky. “I have to go. Is Lillian coming tonight?”

“Yes,” Corky whispered in her ear, “and she’s bringing champagne.”

* * *

Billie opened the door to her closet and pushed her clothes aside. Tonight was New Year’s Eve, and it called for something special. She reached to the back and pulled out her best full-length gown, a sleek, silver satin, backless dress. It set off her skin and hair color dramatically.

Stepping into heels and grabbing her evening bag, she was out the door. She was late and still had to pick up Pauline.

Pauline Hendricks was waiting outside her brownstone apartment building, frowning. She had short, toffee-colored hair and a slim figure. Her long, cherry gown peeked out underneath her coat. She hopped into the cab and exclaimed, “I damn near froze to death!”

“Sorry, I was running late.”

“Oh, that’s all right,” she said, recovering quickly. She opened her clutch and lit a cigarette. “My engines are running hot thinking about seeing Max tonight.”

Pauline smiled, showing straight but tiny teeth. Although she was attractive, her face seem hard. It was a characteristic Billie failed to see, but it was apparent to others.

“I was running late myself,” Pauline continued, arranging her bracelet. “Mr. Lloyd had extra papers for me to type. Imagine that, on New Year’s Eve, making your secretary stay after hours. How do I look?”

“Wonderful,” Billie replied.

“I can’t believe Walter Grayson got us a table at The Stork Club tonight of all nights.”

“Writing the gossip column helps. Everyone, even the already famous, want press.”

The cab pulled up to The Stork Club, and they got out under the awning.

“Now, remember,” Billie said as they walked inside, “Max knows nothing about the set-up,”

“I’ll remember.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.