We'll Share A Double Funeral

Chapter 7

Sheila Weston wheeled the hand trolley containing her suitcase and vanity box into the arrival center of Jacksonville’s airport.

It had to be raining! she thought. She had no idea where to find Perry’s fishing lodge. All she knew was it was near some village called Rockville.

In describing the lodge, Perry had told her it was right by the river. He had said hopefully he would teach her to fish. Sheila had firmly declined.

“I don’t like walking, I’ve seen a river and to hell with fishing,” she had said.

That settled that.

Now, aching to talk to Perry, she was determined to get to the fishing lodge.

The Hertz Rental people would probably know. Perry had said he always rented a car to get to the lodge.

The time now was 7:15, and she could see through the glass doors not only steady rain, but that the light was failing.

As Sheila approached the Hertz desk, she saw a broad shouldered man, his back to her, leaning on the counter, talking to a pretty Hertz clerk who was smiling the way young girls smile when a man has made his mark.

Sheila eyed the man’s broad back. He was wearing a beautifully cut, lavender colored country suit. His dark hair was shot with grey.

She left the trolley and walked up to the desk.

The Hertz girl was saying, “I really wouldn’t advise it, Mr Franklin. Better wait until tomorrow.” She then looked at Sheila and said, “I won’t be a minute.” The man turned and regarded Sheila.

She felt a little jolt run through her. This was some man! She immediately thought of Douglas Fairbanks Jr when he was in his prime. This man had the same kind of features. Not only that, but he had a personality that came out of him, and made Sheila feel randy.

“Attend to the lady, Penny,” the man said. “I’m in no rush.” The girl lost her enchanted smile and moved along the counter.

“What can I do for you, madam?”

“I am Mrs Perry Weston,” Sheila said. “Did my husband hire a car from you yesterday?”

The girl’s face lit up. Even remembering, the thrill of dealing with Perry Weston remained.

“Why, yes, madam.”

“How do I get to Rockville and his fishing lodge? Would you know?”

The girl looked blank.

“Rockville, yes, but Mr Weston’s fishing lodge, no.”

The man whom the Hertz girl had called Mr Franklin said in a deep, soft voice that sent a tingle down Sheila’s spine, “Excuse me. I couldn’t help but overhear. I am Perry’s neighbor. I have a fishing lodge about a mile from his.”

Sheila turned her back on the Hertz girl and gave Franklin a flashing smile.

“What a coincidence, Mr Franklin. I believe Perry has mentioned your name.” This was strictly untrue.

“I’m going to Rockville and could show you the way, but not tonight. Miss Pentagast tells me the roads down there are bad. Perhaps your husband is meeting you?”

Sheila flashed a smile as she moved away from the desk, aware the Hertz girl was listening. Franklin moved after her until they were away from the desk.

“No, he doesn’t know I’m coming. It’s a surprise visit,” Sheila said.

Franklin lifted an eyebrow.

“You won’t make it tonight, Mrs Weston. But tomorrow, if the rain clears, I’ll be happy to drive you there.”

“That’s very kind of you, Mr Franklin. Well, I guess I’ll have to find a hotel.” Sheila put on her helpless look which had paid dividends in the past. “Do you know of a good hotel, Mr Franklin?”

Franklin studied her for a brief, searching moment, then he smiled.

“I come down here every other month,” he said. “Sure, there’s an excellent motel I stay at. Would you like me to make arrangements for you, Mrs Weston?”

Again the helpless look. “I don’t want to be a nuisance.”

“It’d be my pleasure. I’ll get a taxi. Just leave your baggage. Maybe you will want to telephone your husband?”

Oh, no, Sheila thought. What she felt was the urgent need to get into bed with this beautiful man.

“I don’t think so. He would only fuss. I’ll call him tomorrow.”

They regarded each other, both smiling.

“I’ll fix everything for you, Mrs Weston. Just wait here.” Sheila sat down on one of the benches while Franklin wheeled her trolley outside.

You never know, she thought, what’s around the corner. Then she remembered Julian Lucan. Who was this man, Franklin? He must be all right if he had a fishing lodge and knew Perry. All the same, Lucan haunted her. He too had been suave, handsome and sexy. She got to her feet and walked to the Hertz desk.

The Hertz girl looked inquiringly at her.

“Who is Mr Franklin?” Sheila asked. “What does he do?” The girl gave a sly little smile. She read the message.

“Mr Franklin is the senior partner of Franklin & Bernstein, the New York lawyers, Mrs Weston.” Her sly smile widened. “You could say he was important people.” The two girls exchanged looks, then Sheila smiled. “Thank you,” she said, and returned to her seat. Well, that’s all right, she thought. Maybe he won’t want me in his bed. Maybe...

After five or six minutes, Franklin appeared.

“Sorry for the delay. I had trouble getting rooms at the motel. Everyone seems to be staying overnight, but I’ve fixed it. Are you ready to go?”

“It is kind of you, Mr Franklin,” Sheila said in her most demure manner.

“Since we could be near neighbors, suppose you call me Gene?”

“Of course. Sheila.”

“Nice name.” Franklin took her elbow and steered her out to a waiting taxi.

On the brief drive to the motel, he said, “Would you dine with me, Sheila?”

“I’d love to.”

When they reached the imposing looking motel, Sheila could see just how important Gene Franklin was. The staff bowed and scraped. The luggage was whisked away. Franklin shook hands with a beaming reception clerk. Two bellboys conducted them down a corridor and opened two doors.

“That’s yours, Sheila,” Franklin said, generously tipping. “Suppose we meet in the foyer at eight thirty?”

“Of course.” Leaving him, she entered the big, comfortably furnished bedroom. Her luggage was already on the rack. She shut the door and looked around, then her smile brightened. There was a communicating door to Franklin’s room.

She spent half an hour lying in a warm bath, relaxing. For this night, Perry was forgotten, also Julian Lucan and that ghastly blackmailer Fleichman. Sheila was happy.

Forty minutes later, she was being guided into the crowded restaurant by Gene Franklin, who gently held her elbow. The touch of his warm hand sent thrills through Sheila’s body.

The Maitre d’ was there. Chairs were pulled out, menus flourished.

“An aperitif, perhaps, Mr Franklin?”

“A martini, Sheila?”

“That would be lovely.”

“Two,” Franklin said. As the Maitre d’ whisked away, he went on, “Do you like seafood, Sheila?”

“I adore it.”

“Then let me suggest, they do shrimps steamed in beer. Sounds odd, but it is excellent. Then I suggest a small steak and half a lobster with crab meat stuffing.”

“Sounds utterly marvelous.”

Two martinis appeared on the table. The Maitre d’ arrived and took the order.

“Perhaps honey biscuits or a tossed salad?”

“No honey biscuits. Salad please,” Sheila said.

Franklin said, “Their honey biscuits are excellent. Sure?”

“Oh no. I have to watch my weight.” The Maitre d’ went away.

“Watch your weight?” Franklin looked directly at her, his handsome face smiling. “I should have thought you had other things to watch.” Sheila stiffened.

“Oh? What makes you say that? What other things?” His smile widened.

“You would know better than I would, wouldn’t you, Sheila?” She suddenly felt a little uneasy.

“I really don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Never mind.” He produced a solid gold cigarette case.

“Smoke?”

“Not now, thank you.” She sipped her drink, regarding what was certainly one of the most handsome men she had ever met. I should have thought you had other things to watch. What an odd thing to have said. She shrugged off the remark.

“I don’t know how long you will be staying at your husband’s lodge,” Franklin said, “but you’ll need all weather clothes. Did you bring things with you?”

“All weather?”

“There are floods by the river and lots of mud.”

“Oh!” Sheila looked dismayed. “I hadn’t thought of that. Usually it’s hot and sunny down here, isn’t it?”

“Eventually it will be. I checked the forecast. The rain is supposed to die out tomorrow morning. All the same, you’ll need boots, jeans and so on. There’s a good shop just down the road. Tell them where you are going and they’ll train you out.”

“That’s thoughtful of you.”

The shrimps were served. As they began to eat, Sheila asked, “What do you do for a living, Gene?”

“I’m a counsel at law. These shrimps are good, aren’t they?”

“Delicious. A counsel at law? That sounds terribly important.”

“Yes, you could say that.”

“Are you on vacation?”

“Business and pleasure. I have to talk business with your husband.” Sheila stiffened.

“Perry?”

“Yes. I expect he’s told you he and Silas S. Hart are putting a movie together. I handle the legal work.”

Sheila felt a rush of cold blood down her spine. “Silas S. Hart?”

“That’s right. You look surprised. Mr Hart is my most important client.”

“I didn’t know.” Sheila found the shrimps weren’t so delicious.

That bastard Hart again! she thought. I’m sure he sicked that blackmailing investigator on me. I should have thought you had other things to watch. This handsome, smiling man had given her a warning. There could be no other explanation. All thoughts of sharing a bed with him this night vanished from her mind. Even if she had made advances, she was now sure he wouldn’t have responded. She had only just missed a humiliating snub.

There was a steel hard core in Sheila that had dismayed her parents. From the moment she could talk, she had been difficult and obstinate. Her parents had been kindly people, and had shown great patience which Sheila had not appreciated. She would much sooner have a blazing row with them and have done with it. She really enjoyed fighting with Perry. A good, blazing row, and then to make up was the spice of life to her.

“Perry is at the fishing lodge to find inspiration,” Franklin said as they finished the shrimps. “Mr Hart is relying on him.”

“I’m sure.” There was a sharp note in Sheila’s voice. “Men with power always expect miracles.” She looked up to see Franklin, although still smiling, had a quizzical expression in his eyes.

There was a pause while a waiter cleared the dishes.

“I have some business to attend to tomorrow morning. That will give you time to do some shopping,” Franklin said. “I suggest we have lunch together, then leave for the fishing lodge immediately after. It is a good forty mile drive.”

“All right.” The main course was served with a flourish.

“Looks fine, doesn’t it?” Franklin said, surveying his plate.

“It looks wonderful.” They began to eat.

“So Perry isn’t expecting you?” Franklin said, his voice casual.

Sheila’s guard was up.

“He’ll have a wonderful surprise.” She forked steak into her mouth. “Hmm... good.”

“Sheila, I’m wondering if it was such a good idea for you to come all this way. You haven’t even consulted Perry, have you?” She gave him a cold, steady stare.

“Are you suggesting my husband won’t be pleased to see me? And if you are, please tell me what business it is of yours.”

Franklin made a little grimace as if to imply this very young woman, seated opposite him, was going to prove more difficult than he had anticipated.

“Mr Hart was particularly anxious, Sheila, for your husband to get down to important work without interruption,” Franklin said quietly. “That is the reason, and the only reason, why Perry has gone to his fishing lodge: to be able to concentrate and work. Besides, Sheila, you couldn’t have come at a worse time. You will find the conditions at the lodge disagreeable. I am told the footpaths are thick mud. It has been raining nonstop for the past three days. You will be cooped up in a small lodge and will distract Perry.” His smile appeared. “As he doesn’t expect you, don’t you think it much more sensible for you to return to Long Island and leave Perry to work?” Sheila finished the steak and began on the lobster.

“This crab meat stuffing is fantastic,” she said.

“Oh yes, The fish food here is excellent. You haven’t answered my question.”

“I haven’t forgotten your question.” Her pretty face was hard. “I should be glad if you wouldn’t try to interfere with the lives of Perry and myself. I am sure you are acting under orders from Hart.”

“It’s not a matter of interfering, Sheila. Perry has a big deal on. By being with him, you could destroy his creative thinking. You’re very young. Perhaps you don’t realize what a brilliant creative mind Perry has. He has been a tremendous success. There is a lot of money involved. By descending on him, you could ruin a very important deal.”

“And Silas S. Hart would be terribly upset?”

“So would Perry.”

“I don’t think he would. I think he would be glad to have me with him. But as you appear to be so worried, Gene, I’ll call him and let him settle this little argument.”

“That, of course would be the solution, but unfortunately I have already tried to contact him. His telephone is out of order.”

“Then let’s change the subject,” Sheila said. “I’ll have a coffee.”

For the first time, Franklin lost his smile. Looking at him, she saw why he was Silas S. Hart’s attorney. The grey eyes had suddenly turned to stone.

“What subject would you like to talk about, Sheila?” he asked, signalling to the waiter.

“Oh, anything.” She shrugged.

“So let’s talk about you.” The waiter cleared the dishes.

“Not a very interesting subject,” Sheila said.

“I think so. You see, Sheila, you are a very young woman. You are fortunate to be married to a rich, clever man. Would you want to lose him?” The waiter placed the coffee before them.

“That’s my business,” Sheila snapped, “but if it will satisfy your curiosity, I won’t lose him. Perry happens to love me. He has many possessions. I head the list.”

“Or do you just imagine you do?” Sheila sipped her coffee.

“That’s my business, and not yours.”

“I didn’t want to bring this up,” Franklin said, “but your husband has every reason and evidence to divorce you.”

Sheila’s face hardened. “Interesting.” There was a long pause while she stared around the restaurant.

“Every reason and evidence to divorce you,” Franklin repeated. “Now, please do what I suggest. I will drive you to the airport tomorrow. Go home.” Sheila finished her coffee and stood up.

“I’m going to bed. You will drive me to Perry’s lodge tomorrow. If you don’t, I will find a way to reach him. Thank you for an excellent dinner. Shall we say midday tomorrow?”

“I wonder if you realize, Sheila, that you are behaving like a selfish, spoilt brat,” Franklin said quietly, looking up at her.

“Those were almost the same words my father used to say to me when he couldn’t get his own way.” Sheila smiled. “On second thoughts, I intend to find my own way to Perry’s lodge. I will be leaving early, so don’t wait for me. Is that understood?”

Franklin shrugged, “I can’t stop you. I do assure you, Sheila, Perry won’t want a spoilt, selfish brat around when he is working.”

“We’ll see.” Sheila leaned forward. “I’ll return the compliment, Mr Franklin. In spite of your good looks and your charm, you are a toady. You are frightened of Silas S. Hart. I’m sorry for you. I am not frightened of him. Goodnight,” and, turning, she walked out of the restaurant.