Third Half Read Free

living room.  She pressed her head against the pillow, and closed her eyes, but Liane knew she would not really rest until she knew what happened to their brother.
                  This time when Liane dialed the call was answered immediately by the same pleasant voiced woman as on the recording.
                  "I'd like to speak to Mr. Devereaux," Liane said. 
                  "Mr. Devereaux is very busy just now," the woman replied. "Could I take a message?"
                  "Please, this is long distance.  It's very important," Liane squeezed the telephone, looking over to her sister.  She hoped everything would be settled soon so she could set Mary Catherine's mind to rest.
                  "Whom should I say is calling and what is it concerning?" the woman asked.
                  "Liane Spencer, I'm Jack Spencer's sister," she replied.  "I'm calling to discuss my brother.  He's one of your clients."
                  "Hold on please."  Only seconds later she came back on the line.  "Mr. Devereaux has no clients by that name," the woman explained.  "Perhaps you have us confused with another agency."
                  "Devereaux is not a common name," Liane persisted.  "I'm certain it is your agency.  May I speak to Mr. Devereaux?"
                  "I'll ask him," the woman said with a sigh.  A moment later she came back on the line.  "Mr. Devereaux will speak to you now."
                  "Devereaux here," a man's gruff voice sounded in irritation.  There was a lot of background noise.
                  "I'm trying to locate Jack Spencer, one of your clients," Liane said.  "It's an emergency.  I need to tell him that our sister, Mary Catherine, isn't well."               Liane looked toward the sofa and knew her statement wasn't entirely a fib.
                  There was a moment's hesitation, more noise.  "I'm sorry, I just double checked my roll-a-dex and I have no Jack Spencer as a client."
                  Liane apologized for bothering the man, knowing it would get her no further to call him a liar. 
                  "He has to be lying," Mary Catherine said, trying to sit up, but weakly submitting as Liane pushed her back against the pillow.  "Why else would Jack have called him?"
                  "Maybe he was just calling for information about the man's agency," Liane sought for an excuse.
                  "Then why did I remember that name?  Why bother putting his name in his address book if he was only getting information?" Mary Catherine asked, her voice trembling shrilly.  "There has to be something wrong!  And why would the man lie?  Liane, we have to do something."
                  "First things first.  I'm calling your doctor," Liane insisted, as she returned to the phone.  But it was too late, the doctor had already left the office.  Her concern growing by leaps and bounds, Liane tried to coax her sister to go to the hospital. 
                  "I do feel terrible," Mary Catherine admitted.  "But as much from worry about Jack."
                  "Look, if it will set your mind at rest, I'll get to the bottom of this," Liane promised, knowing that she also had an ominous feeling about her brother.  "Somehow I'll find out what's going on.  Now, will you go to the hospital?"
                  Finally Mary Catherine agreed.  As she helped her sister to the door, Liane wondered about her promise, and what her next step in finding her brother should be.
                  They were nearly to the door when her intercom sounded, letting her know she had a visitor downstairs. 
                  Liane pushed the button and heard the familiar voice of her friend and producer, Martin Sloane.  "Martin, I'm so happy you're here," she