“To think I left the door open for Keith Walch to stroll calmly into my apartment!”
“Only time he didn’t have to fidoodle with a key. All he did was drop that empty envelope on the floor; idea was, you’d stoop over to pick it up — and voom! Only — I did, instead.”
“And he always appeared to be such a harmless, funny-faced little man.”
“He wouldn’t have been harmless to Tildy on the yacht, if he’d known I’d found out about Tony. He might well have erased her from his slate; I was concerned about that.”
“About that waiter too, weren’t you?”
“Auguste. Yes. I was. I like Auguste. I know a lot of people who have the idea all waiters are merely a low form of holdup men, wearing dirty dickies, delighting in the customer’s discomfort. But most Plaza Royale waiters are pretty decent people, better some days than others; just trying to get by—”
The phone rang. She answered. It was Tim. “Skipper? When you comin’ back here?”
“When I can afford one of those dandy duplexes, Timothy. First I must find me a job and some spending money.”
“Ah, Chief! Stop that guff! You been reinstated, with no loss of seniority nor nothin’! You want ’em to roll out the red carpet for you?”
“ Is this hearsay? Or official?”
“Reidy says to tell you to fan your pants down here before he goes completely nuts answerin’ questions about when are you comin’ back. He says if you will show in time for dinner, he will let you pick your own year for the champagne.”
“A tempting offer, Timmie. Extend my regrets. Suggest he save the sirloin of fatted calf. The prodigal has a prior invitation.” I put my hand over the mouthpiece. “Or has that been withdrawn?”
Ruth was surprised. “I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about!” But there was that luminous light in her eyes, a shy, sly smile on her lips.
“Tim,” I said, “’tis th’ morn of th’ morrow I’ll be seein’ you.”