Davidian Report by Dorothy B. Hughes Read Free Book Online Page B

hungry enough—”
    She jumped then. Not because he had moved but because she had an excuse. “Elsabeth,” she shrilled. “Come meet my friends.” She almost ran the long length of the room to greet this Elsabeth, a slender woman with exquisite golden hair, an exquisite French-cut dress, discreet jewels, and a face that showed her years.
    Haig and Reuben returned to the party. Feather said, “This is my aunt, Elsabeth Moritz.” She made the introduction before tucking herself again into the couch corner. Steve was surprised that she returned to it.
    Elsabeth was polite to Steve and Reuben. But she put herself beside Haig Armour, asked him for a drink. “What a day! I thought the committee would never come to a decision.” She didn’t identify the committee. She took the tall glass from Haig, the properly made drink, only half filled. “Thanks, so much.” Her voice was nicely modulated; her smile had a friendly warmth, yet somehow both were artificial. If you washed away the top layer, you’d find something else; ten to one a hard-boiled kid in the line, bitching her way up the ladder to position and money. From Prospect Park to Benedict Canyon in twelve tough steps. Steve rather liked her.
    “Eldon not here yet?” she asked Feather. “Poor dear. The shooting schedule on this new epic is simply gruesome. You know how Danton is.” She was confidential about Danton in the rueful lift of eyebrows.
    Haig said, “I’m a great admirer of your husband’s work, Mrs. Moritz. I’ve wanted to meet him for a long time.”
    She accepted the compliment with a gracious inclination of her head. Haig carried on, mentioning details of one picture and another. Either he was an honest fan or he’d done a lot of research today. Steve didn’t think Haig had that much time for movie-going.
    Steve said to Feather, “Last movie I saw was Casablanca. It was good too.”
    She waited to see if it were a joke. When he didn’t laugh, she asked, “Really?”
    “Sure.”
    She’d evidently been briefed to take care of him because she kept her cat eyes on his face, just as if he were revealing something important. If she were expected to make friends with him, he’d make it easy for her. He’d get more from this awkward kid than from Haig Armour. The man’s polish was the real stuff but it didn’t affect the steel beneath.
    “How about you and me and Rube having a bit of dinner later on?”
    For a moment she didn’t answer. Then she breathed, “I’m sorry. Haig’s already asked me.”
    He wasn’t surprised. “He’s too old for you, baby. And I’d say Rube’s a bit too young.” He winked at her, let her think the bourbon was responsible. “Now I’m just about right.” He reached out his hand to pat her velvet knee and watched her shrink back into the corner. He didn’t know whether it was he who scared her or any man with ideas. “How about it?”
    She said, “I can’t.” She wasn’t sorry. “I’ve already accepted his invitation.”
    “In that case,” Steve announced, “I’ll have another drink.” He went first to Reuben’s chair. The soldier was an odd man; he was sitting there quietly as if he were at home in the rich room. Steve put his hand on the khaki shoulder. “How you doing, fella?”
    The grin was ready. “Looks kind of like you’re taking on the drinks and the girl both.”
    Steve nodded portentously. “Just softening her up for you, kid.” He was at the setups when Eldon Moritz appeared at the far archway.
    Elsabeth lifted her voice, you had to lift your voice for it to carry that far. “You’re frightfully late, dear. You’ll have time for just one drink before we dress.”
    He said, “Oh God, what tonight?” He approached with quick, nervous steps.
    “Come meet Feather’s friends. Dinner with Marty before we go to the première of his latest.”
    Moritz was a neat man, almost dapper in his pinstriped suit and discreetly handsome Charvet cravat. He had no resemblance to an