Chapters (84)
“Right. They’re always getting confused, aren’t they? I’ll be out of here in two shakes.”
“Thanks. I have to shower and then get to work.”
“So you’re working on Saturday too?”
Jack smiled as he walked over to the bed and put down his bag. “Yes.”
“It’s a living,” she said. “All right. I’ve finished up. Have a good one.”
“You too,” Jack said, then noticed money and a note on top of the dresser. “Wait,” he called to her as she started out the door. “I think this money must be yours.”
“Thanks, love,” she said as she hurried over to the dresser. When she realized how little was there, she said, “Hardly worth the shoe leather to come and fetch it,” but nonetheless shoved it into her pocket and picked up the note. “Thanks for such great service. It was like having my own butler.” She looked at Jack and rolled her eyes. “Maybe I should become a butler.”
Jack smiled. “I know of a butler school in New York City that just started.”
The maid waved her hand at him. “We’ve got more than enough butler schools over here. Too many in fact. A lot of competition. But it doesn’t matter to me. I’d never last in one of those places. Too formal for me.” She headed back out the door. “Cheerio, love.”
“Cheerio,” Jack said as he unzipped his bag and hurried into the bathroom with his shaving kit.
51
Tea, Miss Regan?” Maldwin asked as he ushered her into Lydia’s living room, where Daphne, Lydia, and Thomas were enjoying their second cup. It was now three-thirty in the morning.
“Thank you, Maldwin,” she said as she sat down on a love seat next to Daphne.
“Well, what’s going on over there now?” Daphne asked.
“The police are finished. They dusted for fingerprints and secured the apartment. They’re locking the front door with a special padlock. Thomas, we’ve got to get the old locks changed first thing in the morning.”
“Of course, Regan. Do you want to stay in my apartment tonight?”
“Oh I’d offer, but my apartment is a mess,” Daphne jumped in. “Getting ready to do the movie was so hectic. There’s stuff thrown all over …”
“You must stay here!” Lydia insisted. “There’s a maid’s room off the kitchen with a pull-out Castro convertible couch. It’s safe, secure, and all yours.”
“Maybe I’ll take you up on that,” Regan said. She’d slept on many a Bernadette Castro special in her day.
“The room is rather small, so I didn’t want Maldwin to have to live in it,” Lydia explained. “But it’s perfect for your purposes.”
Thomas had filled the others in on the break-in at Ben’s. Of course, he had sugar-coated Janey’s little drop-by. “She hates to see things go to waste,” he had explained.