Read Online Death Wears a Beauty Mask and Other Stories by Mary Higgins Clark - Free Book Online Page A

visit.”
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    Larry Thompson’s assistant, Peggy Martin, came to work at 10:30  A.M. happy in the fact that it was going to be a normal business day. Not that yesterday’s models had been bad kids. It was just that Kathy dropping the milk bottle too soon had caused a delay while they cleaned and rewaxed the floor.
    Peggy went inside and to her surprise found Larry sitting by the phone in the studio, his hand still on it. For a moment she thought he might have had a stroke. She rushed over to him and shook hisarm. He turned to look at her, his eyes staring. He said “Peggy” tentatively, as though he wasn’t sure who she was.
    â€œLarry, what’s the matter?” Peggy demanded.
    â€œAlexandra is dead,” he said, his voice a monotone. “Peggy, Alexandra was murdered last night.”
    â€œNo, that’s impossible,” Peggy said, then recognized the futility of her words. She realized that there was nothing she could say to him now. Instead she took the phone from Larry to call the modeling agency and cancel the afternoon booking.
    â€œPeggy, that’s going to cost Larry plenty,” the agent said. “When you don’t give twenty-four hours’ notice, you pay full rate.”
    â€œSo bill us,” Peggy snapped and slammed down the phone. She turned to Larry as the buzzer sounded. She rushed from the studio through the foyer and opened the door. Two men, their expressions hard to read, were standing there. They wasted no time on pleasantries.
    â€œWe are Detectives Twaddle and Lyons,” Ben said. “We are here to see Mr. Thompson.”
    Peggy led them into the studio and placed two folding chairs across from where Larry was sitting.
    â€œI’ll be right outside if you need me,” she said, her eyes now filling with tears.
    Larry Thompson did not greet them. Twaddle told him who they were as he scrutinized Larry’s expression. Before they began to question him, Larry said, “You told me Alexandra was murdered. How?”
    â€œMiss Saunders’s body was found in her apartment. We are speaking to anyone who might have seen or spoken to her Monday evening. Was there anything unusual in her mood or behavior after she got off the plane?”
    â€œAt first I thought that the strain of the Beauty Mask campaign had gotten to be too much for Alexandra. But when I heard that she didn’t meet her sister’s plane yesterday, I couldn’t believe it. Shetalked about nothing but how much she wanted to see her and meet her new husband. When she didn’t come to the airport, I knew something was terribly wrong.”
    â€œDid you see or hear from Miss Saunders after leaving the airport Monday evening?”
    â€œNo, I did not.”
    â€œWhere were you last evening starting at seven o’clock?”
    â€œI was home by myself.”
    â€œDid you to speak to or telephone anyone from seven o’clock on?”
    â€œNo, I didn’t. We’d had a rough day on the set and I was worried about Alexandra. I wanted to be here in case she phoned.” Then he burst out, “Have you any idea who could have done this to Alexandra?”
    â€œNot yet,” Twaddle told him. “But I assure you we will soon.”
    He got up and Ben followed suit. “We will be in touch with you, Mr. Thompson,” Twaddle said. As they walked to the curb and got in the car, Twaddle commented, “Such a splendid performance from a former child actor. But no supporting cast to verify that he was home last night.”
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    Promptly at one o’clock Twaddle and Lyons arrived at the Executair Airlines office at Kennedy Airport. As they took in the décor of the reception area, their thoughts were interchangeable. One didn’t need a decorator’s eye to see that every piece of furniture—the desk, chairs, bookcases, filing cabinets—had been