The Japanese, with a meaning glance at me, pattered upstairs.
I wandered over to a table, examining the magazines upon it. A little breath of wind came through the half-open window, fluttering a scrap of paper. A word on it caught my eye, and I picked up the note. For that's what it was. It was addressed to Hess, and after one glance I had no compunction about scanning it.
"Hess dear," the message read. "I feel I'm going to die very soon. And I want you to do something for me. I've been out of my head, I know, saying things I didn't mean. Don't cremate me, Hess. Even though I were dead I'd feel the fire—I know it. Bury me in a vault in Forest Lawn—and don't embalm me. I shall be dead when you find this, but I know you'll do as I wish, dear. And, alive or dead, I'll always love you."
The note was signed by Sandra Colter, Hess's wife. This was odd. I wondered whether Hess had seen it yet.
There was a litle hiss of indrawn breath from behind me. It was Jim, the house-boy. He said, "Mist' Prescott—I find that note last night. Mist' Hess not seen it. It Mis' Colter's writing."
He hesitated, and I read fear in his eyes—sheer, unashamed fear. He put a brown forefinger on the note.
"See that, Mist' Prescott?"
He was pointing to a smudge of ink that half obscured the signature. I said, "Well?"
"I do that, Mist' Prescott. When I pick up the note. The ink—not dry."
I stared at him. He turned hastily at the sound of footsteps on the stairs. Hess Deming was coming down, rather shakily.
I think it was then that I first realized the horrible truth. I didn't believe it, though—not then. It was too fantastic, too incredible; yet something of the truth must have crept into my mind, for there was no other explanation for what I did then.
Hess said, "What have you got there, Mart?"
"Nothing," I said quietly. I crumpled the note and thrust it into my pocket. "Nothing important, anyway. Ready to go?"
He nodded, and we went to the door. I caught a glimpse of Jim staring after us, an expression of—was it relief?—in his dark, wizened face.
The crematory was in Pasadena, and I left Hess there. I would have stayed with him, but he wouldn't have it. I knew he didn't want anyone to be watching him when Sandra's body was being incinerated. And I knew it would be easier for him that way. I took a short cut through the Hollywood hills, and that's where the trouble stalled.
I broke an axle. Recent rains had gullied the road, and I barely saved the car from turning over. After that I had to hike miles to the nearest telephone, and then I wasted more time waiting for a taxi to pick me up. It was nearly eight o'clock when I arrived at the studio.
The gateman let me in, and I hurried to Stage 6. It was dark. Cursing under my breath, I turned away, and almost collided with a small figure. It was Forrest, one of the cameramen. He let out a curious squeal, and clutched my arm.
"That you, Mart? Listen, will you do me a favor? I want you to watch a print"
"Haven't time," I said. "Seen Jean around here? I was to"
"It's about that," Forrest said. He was a shriveled, monkey-faced little chap, but a mighty good cameraman. "They've gone—Jean and Hardy and the Chevalier. There's something funny about that guy."
