She laughed like a child and played with her long black hair. Not at all. On the contrary ' She actually managed to blush.
What time did he arrive? The cop narrowed his eyes and she looked at him pensively.
It must have been a little after twelve.
That certainly changed everything. But why hadn't he told them that? He asked Gabby as much and she shrugged.
I don't know. I guess he thought it would embarrass me. She lowered her voice as though the walls could hear. No one knows about us. I ' it would complicate everything and, you know, the morals clause ' If the morals clause were invoked every time two actors went to bed with each other, Hollywood would have had no one left to work, but they didn't know that and the chief inspector nodded his head solemnly.
I understand. He stood up then. We may have to talk to you again, Miss ' uh ' Smith. Thank you very much. They dismissed her to rejoin Zack and Jane and they let everyone go for the night. It was a somber group as they left the set, no one spoke, and everyone appeared to be lost in thought, as Jane shared her idea with them.
I thought maybe we could drop by and see Bill.
You think they'd let us in? Gabby looked dubious, but she would have liked to see him too. She had stuck her neck out for him, but she was sure she had done the right thing. She just knew instinctively he wasn't guilty of the crime, no matter what the cops said. He wasn't that kind of man. If he had wanted to kill her, he would have done it a long time ago. And when they talked about it, Zack agreed.
He had a look in his eyes as he followed her out that day at Mike's ' as though he still cared about her very much. Gabby seemed to flinch as Jane watched, but she spoke in a normal voice.
I think he must have been. I think that's what has been eating at him. Probably being secretly married to her didn't help.
The police said they'd been separated for months, Jane said as they climbed into Zack's car, but I think Zack's right. When I saw him that day, I thought the same thing. He looked devastated by the way she looked. She looked so terrible, poor thing' . Jane looked pained as she remembered her.
What do you suppose really did happen? Gabby asked.
It probably had to do with drugs. Zack glanced at them both as he started the car. Apparently Bill claims she had called him on the set. I didn't know anything about it, but she could have, and she asked to meet him at his place. She never showed up, he went out for a drive, and when he came back, there she was ' dead. It sounded gruesome to all three of them, as Zack drove toward the jail where they had been told he was. It was well after ten o'clock by then and he was sure they wouldn't let them in. But when they asked, they were surprised. The inspectors had just gotten back from the lot where they'd interrogated them, and they agreed to make an exception for them, because of who they were. Their tone annoyed Jane, who felt desperately sorry for Bill, but they were all grateful to be allowed to see him.
They were locked in a room alone with him, with a guard outside, and a window that allowed him to see everything that went on. Jane and Gabrielle had been told to leave their handbags outside, and Zack had been frisked. And then the door was locked behind them as soon as they stepped in. It was actually an interrogation room and far more civilized than visiting would have been in the jail. Bill himself was led in through another door, cuffs had been put on and taken off again as he was allowed to enter the room with his friends, and he stood staring at them with tears in his eyes, not knowing what to say, as Jane threw her arms around him and hugged him tight, crying herself.
Everything's going to be all right ' I know it will. But he couldn't speak for a long time. He shook hands with Zack, and stared at Gabrielle. He looked filthy by then, and he hadn't shaved in almost two days. He looked ravaged by what he had seen, and what he had felt, and where he was, and as though he thought life would never be the same again. And in some ways it would not. It remained to be seen if Mel would keep him on the show, but more importantly if he was going to be charged with killing the girl.
We couldn't believe it, Bill. It sounds like a very poor script. Zack sat down in a chair and Bill followed suit, looking at them gratefully.
Neither could I. It's been like a nightmare. They can hold me for another twenty-four hours with no further evidence. And after that, they can extend it for another twenty-four. It meant two more days of terror and hell, and they stared at him in disbelief.
But why? Zack didn't understand how it was possible, without conclusive evidence.
Because I have no alibi. I was out driving around by myself. No one saw me after twelve o'clock and it happened between one and two. She was found at my place, and apparently that's enough. They think I was upset about her life, and I was. I've been sick over it. She was killing herself. They all knew that now. But I would never ' He was too choked to speak, and Gabby gently touched his hand, and waited until he raised his eyes to look at her. And when he did, she was calm, and she spoke to him quietly.
I told them you were with me that night.
For a moment he just stared at her, as though he didn't understand what she'd said, and then he shook his head, as she kept looking at him. They were both aware that there might be listening devices in the room, and she wanted to be careful what she said.
What did you say?
I told them you met me at my place after I left Zack's.
He continued to stare at her. Why? Why had she done that for him, after all the shit he had given her for months? Why would she do anything for him? He was stunned.
But she continued to look him in the eye, as Zack and Jane looked on. I told them that because it's the truth. You don't have to lie to protect me anymore, Bill. It's all right.
He wanted to shout, But I wasn't there, and I still didn't kill my wife, but he didn't dare say anything because of the likelihood of hidden microphones in the room. And Zack and Jane stared at them, confused. They were both sure nothing was going on between them.
But Bill looked at her intensely, for the first time seeing only her. I didn't kill her, Gab ' I swear I didn't ' she called me that day, and she was scared. She said someone was after her, and I don't know who. Three weeks before that, she said she owed everyone money, including her connect, and she was worried about that. She said she had nowhere to live. But I only gave her three hundred dollars because I was afraid that if I gave her more, she'd go crazy with it and overdose again. There were suddenly tears in his eyes again, and he hung his head, feeling relief and some kind of warmth around him for the first time in twenty-four hours. We were so much in love ' I wanted her to clean up so bad ' but she never would. I think she'd just gone too far and she didn't care anymore. She wasn't the first to go that route, and all three of them felt sorry for him. There was no doubt in anyone's mind. Except, unfortunately, the cops'.
Jane gently rubbed his neck as he cried and hid his face in his hands, and Zack shook his head unhappily. Can't your attorney do something, Bill?
He's trying. But it looks terrible, she was just lying there. He gulped down a sob, remembering how she had looked with the bullet wounds in her head.
Did they find the gun?
Bill shook his head again. No. And I've never had a gun in my life. I've never even held one, except on some kids' cereal commercial I did once, when I played a cowboy riding a rocking horse in a giant bowl filled with fake cereal, and I don't even think that was real. They all smiled, but there was precious little to smile about.
Gabby looked at him intently again. Just tell them that you were with me. It's all right ' I told them myself we were on Galey Avenue. She realized that he might not even know where she lived. He had no reason to, and he continued to stare at her in disbelief, as the guard outside the room unlocked the door and gestured at all of them.
That's it for tonight, folks. You can come back tomorrow during visiting hours. Two to four, on the seventh floor. Great. Perhaps they would consider suspending shooting so everyone could visit him. He looked at them like a child being deserted in
a terrible place and their hearts went out to him as Jane held him tight, and then Gabby hugged him cautiously. He squeezed her hand for an instant as he let her go, thanking her silently for what she had done for him. She might just have saved his life. And then Zack hugged him too, and there were tears in his eyes, as they snapped the handcuffs on Bill again, and the three of them left him there.
They were all three silent on the way down-stairs, and they were back in Zack's car, hungry and tired and drained, before anyone spoke again. Jane turned around to look at Gabby in the back-seat of the Rolls, which they had left parked out-side the jail.
I didn't know that ' you and Bill' She wasn't quite sure what to say and Gabby shrugged, obviously not anxious to say more. But as Zack glanced at her in the rearview mirror, he knew exactly what she'd done, and why. Perhaps better than she knew herself. She was in love with him.
Chapter 25
They didn't interrogate Bill again that night, but they asked him about Gabby first thing the next day with his lawyer there. They had spoken to several people on the set, and had found out about the animosity between Gabby and Bill. They knew she was lying for him about being together that night.
It was a dumb thing to do, the detective said. Did you put her up to it?
Bill shook his head miserably, hoping she wouldn't get in trouble now. Suddenly, this was a nightmare for everyone. She didn't mean any harm. She just thought
Yeah, I know. Women did that all the time, though usually for men they liked better than people said Gabby liked Bill. It was no crime, but it was dumb, and it never worked. But you still don't have an alibi, pal. His eyes were cold.
I didn't kill my wife. Bill looked grim, repeating the same words he'd said over and over again.
Do you think she was still in love with you? They were just fishing now.
I don't know ' we cared about each other a great deal ' a long time ago. His voice was soft and they were recording everything he said. She's been in no condition to care about anyone for a long time.
Do you know who her lovers were?
No.
Were you jealous of anyone in her life?
They were watching his reactions carefully. No. I don't even know who was in her life.
We've been told she was turning tricks.
Bill said nothing at all. How does that make you feel?
He looked the interrogator in the eye. Sad for her.
And mad? ' does it piss you off, Bill?
He controlled himself. Not anymore. It was all part of her sickness. They were getting nowhere with him, and eventually they sent him back to his cell.
And after that they went to see Mel. He was tight-lipped and displeased and said he knew nothing of Bill's personal life. He also told them that he was unable to tell them whether or not Bill would be continuing with the show. They were shooting around him that week, but they would have to stop shooting completely within the next few days, unless he was released. They reported it to Bill, when they told him they were extending their hold on him.
How does it look? he asked his attorney desperately that night.
Not good, I'm afraid. Nothing else has turned up. They can't find anything on her, and none of the neighbors saw anyone go into the house that night.
Jesus H. Christ, Ed, this is incredible. How can they do this to me? For lack of anything else, they're going to charge me with killing her? Just because they don't know who really did? He wondered too if it had hurt him that Gabby had lied for him.
That's possible. He was inured to the injustices of the criminal code. He dealt with it every day. Although he felt vaguely sorry for Bill. He suspected he probably hadn't killed the girl, but he was going to have a hell of a time proving it. You have a damn good shot at a trial. It was the only encouragement he could give. Because they would have to convict you beyond a reasonable doubt, and there's plenty of doubt in this.
Do you think it'll go that far? He looked shocked. And the man in his cell had threatened to kill him again the night before. He was beginning to wonder if he would survive the ordeal. Maybe he'd never even get to trial. Maybe they would kill him right here, in jail. It had happened before, to other unsuspecting souls.
It could go that far, Bill, the lawyer said. We'll know tomorrow sometime. And they did. The district attorney filed charges against him, and the only compromise they made for lack of concrete evidence or a definite motive on his part, was that they reduced the charges to felonious manslaughter, assuming that maybe an argument had broken out, and they had fought, and maybe he'd killed her without intending to, although they would have liked to charge him with murder one, but they were afraid it wouldn't stick. And the manslaughter charges were much more believable, and would be harder to fight.
He stood dumbstruck as they read the charges off to him and announced that he was being held on fifty thousand dollars bail. He called Harry as soon as he could, and Harry promised to get him out. It would take five thousand dollars cash, and he had to put up a bond for the rest. He was only grateful that he could. A preliminary hearing had been set for two weeks hence, and he was released at eleven o'clock that night. Bill cried as he walked outside, and Harry put his arms around him, unable to believe what had happened to him.
Chapter 26
Bill was reminded of the first day he had gone to see Mel as he waited in the reception area, and it seemed an eternity while he was waiting. But there wasn't the same joyous anticipation this time. Instead, there was a leaden feeling in his stomach. Wechsler's office had told Bill's agent that he was not to report work to on Friday, he was to go and see Mel instead. At nine o'clock in the morning.
And it was nine fifteen when the secretary finally called him. Her face was blank, despite the fact that he had been on the news and in the papers every day that week. She acted as though she had never seen him before. And he was certain that Mel was going to can him on the spot. He had every reason to, and worse yet, he had grounds for suit. Bill had lied to him about his marital status when he signed the contract.
Hello, Bill. Mel's eyes were polite, but there was no warmth there this time. And Bill suspected that he was livid.
Hello, Mel. Bill sat down quietly across the desk from him. He looked neat and well shaven, although pale. It had been a grisly week and he hadn't slept in days. It seemed incredible how much had happened. And there had been photographers waiting outside his house that morning.
Mel looked into the younger man's eyes for a long time, and got to the point right from the beginning. I'd like to know why you lied to me, I mean about being married.
I feel very bad about that. I knew it at the time. I was scared, I guess. Sandy was in such bad shape. And our marriage had always been a secret from the first.
Why? Was she into drugs when you married her? He had been wondering if Bill was too, or had been then. A lot of questions had crossed his mind in the last three days, since Bill had been arrested.
No, she wasn't. But she was on Sunday Supper. Mel had read that in the papers the day before, and he thought he remembered her. A pretty young girl, who looked a little like Gabby. He wondered if that had anything to do with Bill's constant animosity to her. It might have been a transference of his anger at Sandy. Her agent felt it would blow her image if she was married. She was supposed to be fifteen years old on the show. And she looked it. I wasn't too crazy about the idea, but I went along with it. She wanted me to, and' He shrugged. I don't know ' then she got into drugs and got kicked off the show. One thing led to another and we kept the marriage a secret. And then she was in and out of trouble with drugs. She went in the hospital, but she kept going back to the drugs when she got out. It was awful. He felt like crying but he controlled himself. He didn't expect Mel to feel sorry for him.
What about you? Were you involved in drugs with her? He felt he had a right to know, and he was furious with Bill.
No, sir. He appeared deadly honest as he looked into Mel's eyes. I swear to you that I wasn't. I tried to get h
er to clean up but it was hopeless. The day before you called me last summer, she got busted for drugs, and prostitution, and she had spent the very last dime I had. I was desperate. And when you asked if I was married, I lied to you. I didn't want you to find out what kind of shape she was in, and we were just breaking up.
Did you get divorced?
He shook his head miserably. No. By then, I was afraid of the publicity for me if I did. I didn't want you to find out I'd been married, so I didn't. And I lost track of her. She just kind of disappeared while we were in New York, and I never saw her again, until a few weeks ago. I wanted to ask her for a divorce then, but she was in such bad shape I never brought it up. She hit me up for some money, and then she called me the other day ' I guess you know the rest. I came home and found the cops, and ' His eyes filled with tears and for a moment he couldn't continue.
Mel's voice was very quiet in the room. My lawyers have advised me to sue you, Bill. And nothing in his demeanor said that he wouldn't.
Bill looked at him with anguished eyes. I understand. He couldn't argue with the man. He was guilty of fraud. But not murder.
But I'm not going to. For now. Bill stared at him in disbelief. And Mel didn't tell him that it was Sabina who had turned him around, and had begged for mercy on Bill's behalf. I think you have enough trouble on your hands without that. He was mouthing Sabina's words to him. But you could hurt the show. Very badly. Very badly. If you're convicted of killing her, it's going to hurt our ratings. In fact, it could destroy us. Bill was agonized with guilt as he listened.
I didn't do it, Mel' . Honest to God '
His eyes filled with tears and they spilled over on his cheeks as he looked at the older man. I didn't kill her.
I hope not. Mel was sincere. He honestly liked him.
I offered to take a lie detector test for the police, and I'd be happy to take one for you. They had refused him, but Ed was going to have him take one anyway, to show to the district attorney, whether it was admissible or not. He had nothing to hide from them.
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