Since I didn’t kill Susie, that means that her killer is still on the loose, and I hope you will use any influence that you and your studio might have to see that her killer is brought to justice.
Rick nodded. “I believe she left a note to that effect for the police to find, and apparently they are no longer certain that Hank was the killer. They found some fingerprints in Susie’s car belonging to someone named P. J. O’Toole, who had a record of arrests for rape in Arizona but no convictions. They’re looking for him now.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Vance said. “Do you want to hear Susie’s letter to Hank?”
“If you want me to.”
“Yes, I’d like you to, and then I’ll destroy it.” Vance unfolded the letter and began to read.
My dearest Hank,
I’ve packed up all my things and I’m removing them to Vance’s house. I think you knew this was coming, and I don’t want you to feel bad about it.
You know that I have always liked men almost as well as women, and Vance is a beautiful and delightful man in every way. Right now, it’s good protection for my career for me to be with him. It will help to stop any gossip, which, if it became public, could destroy my career. I must tell you that, the way our relationship is going, Vance and I may even be married, maybe even have children. You know I have always wanted children.
But you also know, Hank, that you are the love of my life, my one true love, and I will never leave you. I’ll see you at every opportunity and love you the way we have always loved. I think I’m going to make a lot of money as an actress, and if the relationship with Vance doesn’t work out, then I’ll be able to buy a really nice house for us.
I probably won’t see you or talk to you for several weeks, as I settle in with Vance, and I don’t want you to call me. He knows about my relationship with you or, at least, part of it, and I don’t want him to hear your voice on the phone.
Be patient, my dearest, and we will be together again soon.
“Do you want to see it?” Vance asked, holding out the letter.
“No, that’s not necessary, but I’m glad you read it to me. I think you’re right to destroy it.”
Vance took a box of matches and an ashtray from Rick’s desk and burned the two sheets. “There,” he said. “Now life can begin again.”
The two men shook hands, and Vance left.
Rick went home and told Glenna about the two letters.
“The poor girl,” Glenna said. “I hope they get the bastard who killed her.”
“They’ll get him,” Rick said. “It will just take time.”
Sid Brooks got off the airplane and looked for an L.A. paper. He had already read the Washington Post, but he wanted to know that all L.A. would know that he had been cleared. He found only a two-paragraph story on an inside page, but at least it was there.
When he got home he found messages from both Hy Greenbaum and Rick Barron on his service. He called Hy first.
“Hey, Sid. Welcome back and congratulations,” Hy said.
“Thank you, Hy, and thank you for talking me into testifying again. You were right; it was the right thing for me. What else do I have to do?”
“Not a thing, Sid. You’re back in business. Eddie Harris has worked out a deal with a network for a two-hour show on Saturday nights, starting in September. I know Rick told you about this. Do you want to do it?”
“Yes, if you like the deal.”
“I’ve been back and forth several times with Rick on the phone, and we’ve worked out what I think is a very fine deal. It’s being typed now, and I’ll messenger it over to you first thing in the morning. Talk to me after you’ve read it, before you talk to Rick. You have an appointment with him for lunch tomorrow at twelve-thirty at the studio commissary to talk over details.”
“All right.”
“I can tell you that, if the show runs, this will be a rich deal for you. You’ll be paid both as a producer and a writer, and you’ll have a percentage of the profits. If it runs for three years, you’ll be a millionaire, and I think it could run a lot longer than that.”
“Wow, Hy, I hardly know what to say.”
“No need to say anything, Sid. My agency has a publicist on call who is going to see that your clearance gets noticed everywhere.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“Call me after you read the contract. If it’s okay, you can sign it when you see Rick.”
“I will, Hy. Good night.” Sid hung up the phone, and, almost immediately, it rang.
“Hello?”
“Sid, it’s Alice.”
He was speechless for a moment. “Hello, Al.”
“I saw the news in the Times; I wanted to congratulate you.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that.”
“I’m sorry not to have been able to talk to you before, but my lawyers wouldn’t let me; they were adamant.”
“I understand.”
“I have some news of my own.”
“Oh?”
“I’m getting married again.”
“Well, congratulations. Who’s the lucky guy?”
“Alex Bronsky.”
“How about that,” Sid said, since he couldn’t think of anything else to say. Alexander Bronsky had produced all his plays on the Broadway stage. “Alex is a good man. I hope you’ll both be very happy.”
“Thank you, Sid. The wedding’s this weekend at Alex’s place in Connecticut. Nothing big, just a few friends.”
Sid knew the Connecticut house well; he and Alice had visited there a dozen times. “That will be a lovely setting.”
“I know this won’t have occurred to you yet, Sid, but my getting married again means you won’t have to pay any more alimony.”
“You’re right; that didn’t occur to me.”
“My lawyers will send your lawyer a letter confirming that.”
“Thank you. Oh, I have more news, too.”
“Tell me.”
He told her about the television show. “So I’ll be spending a lot of time in New York. I’m sure I’ll bump into you and Alex.”
“That’s wonderful, Sid. I’m so happy for you.”
“Give Alex my best and congratulate him for me.”
“I will. Bye-bye.”
Sid fell asleep that night, feeling somehow whole.
59
Rick and Sid Brooks met in the studio commissary, where they took a table in the area reserved for executives.
“It’s nice that we can meet in public now,” Sid said.
Rick was embarrassed. “It feels better to me, too.” They had hardly sat down, when people began dropping by the table to say hello to both of them.
“I think people are glad to see you back,” Rick said.
“I’m glad to be back.”
“Did you have a chance to go over the deal with Hy this morning?”
“Yes, we talked a couple of times. I know he spoke to you about revisions.”
“Yes, the contract is being typed now, and they’ll deliver it to us before our lunch is over. Sid, have you thought about what sort of staff you’re going to need in New York?”
“A little. I’ll need a secretary, maybe two; I won’t know until we’re under way. I’ll need a couple of assistants to read scripts and reports and a couple of typists to produce final scripts. We’ll need some equipment, too: mimeograph, furniture, et cetera.”