“What’s going on?” Clay protested. “Lorraine, you mean you don’t live here any more?” He turned to the others. “We rehearsed here several times. We were scene partners—”

“You’re a lousy actor, Clay,” Lorraine screeched. “You were in on this with me and you know it.”

Conrad shook his head, delighted at the scene. “Oh, Lorraine, I’m so surprised at you. Now what’s in that safe anyway? Some of the money you withdrew from my accounts?”

“All I want are my letters,” Lorraine protested.

“What?” Clay gasped.

“They must be some letters,” Conrad said. “I can’t wait to read them.”

“No!”

“I’ll make a deal with you. You can have your letters back if you agree you don’t want a cent of alimony, or any part of the house. We’ll keep the letters in a safe-deposit box in case you change your mind and take me to court. Of course, the Reillys have to decide if they want to press charges…”

Wally and Arthur and Rod were standing by the door with Kit and Billy and Melanie and Zora and Leon.

“Well, well. If they catch the stinker who broke into our gallery, it would be a perfect end to the evening,” Zora said. “Wouldn’t it, dear?”

“The perfect ending,” Leon agreed, nodding his head up and down.

Rod turned to Wally. “Thanks for ruining my business. You and your friend here.”

“He saved me from ruin!” Conrad said gleefully. “Don’t worry, Rod. This won’t ruin your business. I’ll make sure you get plenty of work. And I’ll be glad to pay for any lawyers. If Arthur hadn’t confessed, we wouldn’t have caught Lorraine up to her tricks.”

“And if it weren’t for Arthur, we never would have gotten our beautiful statues back,” Zora said.

The room was silent for a moment.

“Arthur, was it your stun gun?” Regan asked.

“Yes. But I would never ever have used it on you, Regan. Never would I have zapped you! And I bought it in a state where they’re legal.”

56

I t was daybreak when Chip’s parents came racing into the hospital. “Our son, Chip Jones. Where is he?”

The attendant smiled. “He’s been waiting for you. Follow me.”

Sue and Chris clasped each other’s hands and were led through the emergency room. The attendant finally stopped and pulled away a curtain. Phil was sound asleep in the chair next to Chip’s bed.

Chip smiled weakly and pointed at his friend. “Can you believe the nerve of this guy?”

Tears in their eyes, they both laughed and reached down for what they knew would be the best hug of their lives.

July 15th, 9 P.M.

57

T he next night there was quite a celebration at Lonnie’s. Power had been restored to New York City, and Chip was back in the company of his family, friends, and a group of new friends whom he would never forget. His sister had flown in from California on the first flight possible.

“I would have walked here,” she told Regan. “Thanks so much.”