Loving Read Free Page A

doorman as he tipped his hat, and for a moment she almost ran back into the building. It was one of those stunningly cold days when the first breath of air feels like nails being inhaled. She hailed a cab and climbed in. Today was not a day to prove anything by taking the bus. To hell with it. She would rather stay warm. She settled back against the seat and looked long and hard at her notes.
    "Bettina couldn't come?" Ivo looked up in surprise as Justin joined him at the huge bar that was always their meeting spot at 21.
    "Apparently not. I forgot to ask her last night, so she left me a note this morning. Something about exams. I hope that's all it is."
    "What's that supposed to mean?"
    "It means I hope she's not involved with some little fool at college." Both of them knew that up until now there had been no man in her life. Justin didn't give her time.
    "You expect her to stay unattached for the rest of her life?" Ivo looked at him dubiously over his martini.
    "Hardly. But I expect her to make an intelligent choice."
    "What makes you think she won't?" Ivo watched his friend with interest and he could see the tired look about his eyes that Bettina had mentioned the night before.
    "Women don't always make wise choices, Ivo."
    "And we do?" He said it with amusement. "Do you have any reason to suspect she's met someone?"
    Justin Daniels shook his head. "No, but you never know. I abhor those little bastards who go to college just to screw girls."
    "Like you, you mean." Ivo was now grinning broadly as Justin shot him an evil look and ordered a Scotch.
    "Never mind that. I feel like hell today."
    "Hung over?" Ivo didn't look impressed.
    "I don't know. Maybe. I've had indigestion since last night."
    "It's obviously old age."
    "Aren't you the smart one today?" Justin gave him a look that Ivo knew meant he'd had enough and then they both laughed. Despite their diverging views about Bettina, the two men never failed to get along. She was the only subject on which they almost never agreed and the only bone of contention between them.
    "By the way, can I interest you in a brief trip to London next weekend?"
    "For what?"
    "What do I know? Chasing girls, spending money, going to the theater. The usual."
    "I thought you were already working on the new book."
    "I am, but I'm stuck and I want to play."
    "I'll have to see. You may not have noticed, but there are several minor wars, not to mention political coups, breaking out all over the world. The paper may want me here."
    "It won't change a damn thing if you're gone for the weekend. Besides, you are the paper, you can call your own shots."
    "Thank you, sir. I'll keep that in mind. Who's joining us for lunch by the way?"
    "Judith Abbott, the playwright. Bettina's going to have a fit that she missed her." He looked somberly at Ivo then and ordered another Scotch. But Ivo had not missed the frightened look in his eyes.
    For a moment Ivo wondered, and then he gently touched his friend's arm and spoke barely above a whisper. "Justin ... is something really wrong?"
    There was a pause for a moment. "I don't know. I feel strange all of a sudden. ..."
    "Do you want to sit down?" But it was already too late; a moment later he slumped to the floor and two women looked down and screamed. His face was hideously contorted, as he seemed to wrestle with intolerable pain. Frantically Ivo issued orders, and it was only moments before the paramedics arrived, moments when Ivo held his friend in his arms and prayed that it wasn't too late. But it was. Justin Daniels's hand fell limply to the floor the moment Ivo let it go, as police on the scene pushed the curious away and the paramedics fought on for almost half an hour. But it was useless. Justin Daniels was dead.
    Ivo watched helplessly as they pounded his heart, gave him artificial respiration, oxygen, everything, while Ivo gave him prayers. But it made no difference. At last they covered his face as tears rolled down Ivo's cheeks. They asked him if he