Diana and the Three Behrs

by Fleeta Cunningham

  Pamina’s smile widened. “I guess I am. He’s everything I never expected to want in a man. He’s bookish and quiet. Sometimes he sounds like a walking encyclopedia. He even wears those awful glasses. Still, I never met a man half as good-looking, even with the glasses. He’s smart, but he’s fun to be with, too. Even when we went to get El’s stationery, he made it seem like we were out on a lark. I can’t explain it, but somehow, with him, I feel like every minute matters. Like it’s important to him because I’m there.”

  “What about him? Is he over the edge for you?”

  Pam shook her head. “Why would he be? He’s up in his ivory tower world, reading Shakespeare and toney literature, associating with scholars and brilliant minds. He went to college, even beyond college, and teaches there. What would he want with a girl from Texas with only some secretarial school for education and a crazy dream about working for a newspaper? He’s from Philadelphia, for crying out loud. Probably from some la-di-dah social, upper-crust family. He may like me all right, even think going around with a Fort Worth flapper is fun, a nice change, for a while. He’d never fall in love with me. It’s about as likely as a beautiful canary falling for a bright red parrot.”

  “Oh, Pam, stranger things have happened. You’re a lot more than a redheaded parrot. You’re ambitious and smart. Even if you do jump before you look, you see how to get things done. You listen, really listen when people talk. People are drawn to you, too. You have that way of making them feel important, as if their thoughts and dreams are the most interesting ideas you’ve ever heard. You know you’re prettier than anybody, too. Why, he’s lucky you even have time for him. I’ll bet, down inside, he knows it, too.”

  “My loyal and loving sister. You always were the optimist.” Pam directed her attention to the edges of the city now coming into view. “We’re almost into the station. Whatever is going to happen with Trey and me, it has to wait. Right now we need to get to the next place along this wandering road we’ve taken. Get ready. We’ll be rolling in before you know it.”

  “Hope our escorts are on time.” Diana looked at the darkening skyline. “It’s been a long spell since I saw one, but if I were taking bets, I would say that black spot in the sky is a thunder cloud. We might get pretty wet if we have to dash through the rain to find Trey and whoever else is coming.”

  Diana’s suspicion was confirmed by the time the train pulled into the station. As Pam said, it was raining pitchforks outside the building. Early evening was black as midnight, with sabers of lightning splitting the darkness. The roll of thunder drowned out all attempts at conversation. Scanning the crowd for Trey’s familiar face, Diana had a sudden sinking fear. What if he and the professors had somehow been delayed? Or had a change of plans too late to let the girls know? What would she and her sister do?

  Pam tapped her on the shoulder and turned her toward the arched doors at the far end of the station. “I think I see Trey and King.” Though Pam was speaking into her ear, Diana barely heard her over the roar of the storm. She looked where Pam was pointing and released the breath she’d been holding. Trey, barely visible under the huge golf umbrella, was leading Dr. King through the crowded station. He’d seen them. He dipped the umbrella in their direction to signal recognition.

  Diana and Pamina began to make their way toward the big, blue umbrella. They lost sight of the two men, but the indigo canopy remained above the throng and easy to locate.

  “Didn’t expect the rain,” Trey said as the two parties finally came together. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

  Clapping her hands over her ears to block out the thunder, Diana nodded to show she understood his words though she didn’t hear more than one in three. Clearly there could be no conversation, no way to tell the men of the recent developments in the murder investigation, until the party could move to another location, one less in the blast of the rain hammering down and the thunder vibrating the windows.

  “Blow itself out soon.” Trey leaned down. “Reservations for dinner. The Adolphus. The others are waiting.” Some words followed, but the wind pounded rain against the windows until that was the only thing audible. The group huddled together at one side of the station, watching the storm. Diana felt as if she’d been there for hours, waiting and watching the rain, but Trey was correct. The storm, slowing only a little at first, then tapering down to a steady drone, finally let up.

  “That was some welcoming party you arranged,” Pam said. Her blue eyes were brighter than usual, and Diana noticed a becoming flush in her sister’s cheeks. Pam had always loved storms, but Diana suspected her excitement stemmed more from being with Trey than the thrill of the elements.

  “We try to keep things interesting, Miss Woods.”

  Diana thought there was more than a hint of pleasure in Trey’s manner, though his rain-spattered glasses covered whatever expression was in his eyes.

  “I was telling you that the others are waiting at the Adolphus hotel for us. Elmsford thinks, in view of some things that happened today, we should change some of our plans.” He picked up the umbrella and put his wet hat back on. “I’ll go for the car. Pam, you and Diana wait here with King. The rain has almost stopped. I’ll only be a few moments.” He turned to Dr. King. “If you could flag down a redcap and get the luggage, King? I’ll meet you at the door.”

  Pamina and Diana waited while Dr. King went to look for a redcap.

  “I guess we don’t have to tell them the Havers identified their son’s body. Sounds like they got the news.”

  “Di, as much as I hate the mess we’re in, and even if I don’t like all of Reverend Haver’s ideas or the people he associates with, I think I feel worse for him than I do for us. Sheldon was his only son. This has to be a nightmare for the family, especially with the gossip column printing the hint that Sheldon was in a place like Tommy Gunn’s. That wretched story that I got started.”

  “I’m sure the loss of their son has pushed everything else out. They may not even know about that story in the paper.”

  Pam shook her head. “They know. Even if they missed the newspaper, I’ll bet the police have been asking questions about what he was doing in that place. They’d ask the family, of course.”

  Diana didn’t have an answer for her sister and was relieved when King joined them, suggesting they wait outside for Trey so he didn’t have to leave the car to find them. When they left Fort Worth, Diana had thought her georgette print dress was perfect for a short train trip on a hot summer day. It had been too warm on the train, but now, waiting for the car after the hard, sudden storm, she wished she’d worn her good, gray suit. She shivered as a sharp breeze lifted her short skirt and fluttered the cape sleeves of the thin frock.

  “I’m getting a little chilled, too, Di. Maybe we can change before dinner. We look like we’d traveled a hundred miles instead of thirty or forty. Even your dim owls are likely to notice two bedraggled wrens at their table.”

  A moment later, when Trey rolled up in the long, red ReVere, Pam suggested the possibility to him.

  “I think you look fine, but if you’re chilled, I’ll take you up to the room we reserved for Pam. You can both change there.” Hesitantly he took Pam’s hand. “We couldn’t have our secretary take a cold, could we? We need her in top form.”

  Pam doesn’t think he could really fall for her? Oh, sister of mine, he’s already too far gone; it would take a team of horses to pull him back.

  Diana had heard of the elegance of the Adolphus, and the hotel lived up to its reputation. It glittered with crystal, gleamed with gold leaf, and shimmered with brocade. It’s awfully fancy for a couple of working women from Cow Town. Just look at those evening dresses. The sparkle from all the jewelry is enough to light a room.

  In a daze from the luxury around her, Diana blindly followed her sister and the bellman to a room. He unloaded their bags from his cart, accepted the tip Pam pressed into his hand, and departed. Diana still stood in wonder, speechless at the lavish room.

  “
It’s a far cry from our boarding house, isn’t it?”

  “Pam, would you pinch me? I think I’m dreaming.”

  “You’re not dreaming, but you’re going to miss dinner if you don’t get moving. Trey said he’d be here in twenty minutes.” Pam unfastened her bag and sorted through the garments on top. “Whatever am I going to wear? The orchid chiffon I wore the other night?” She lifted it, then put it aside. “No, I don’t want to remind Trey of what happened at Tommy Gunn’s, so not that one.” She spread more dresses over the foot of the bed.

  Diana came out of her fog enough to realize her sister was changing, slipping into one of the rainbow of garments tossed over the quilted satin bedspread. The filmy blue chiffon drifting over her shoulders matched her eyes, and the handkerchief hem showed off her slender ankles. Pam always looked lovely in that shade of lavender blue.

  I’ve constantly teased her about putting every cent of her paycheck on her back, but this is one time I wish I’d been a little more like her. I never thought I’d be in a place that required anything as frivolous as an evening dress. All I have is that old black lace.

  “Are you going to change, Di? You really need to. That dress is sad and limp.”

  She nodded. “I’ll change, but with you in the room, I may as well wear one of my office middies and skirts. I guess the black dress will be all right. Pretty as you are, it doesn’t matter what I wear. No one will notice.”

  “Oh, pipe down. You’re always going on about me being prettier than you are. I’m not. You’re pretty as anybody. Even prettier, especially since you cut all that hair off and let it curl around your face.” She opened her bag again. “You’re not wearing that black rag or a skirt and blouse to have dinner in the best hotel in Dallas. Here.” She pulled out a forest green wisp of chiffon pleated over a lighter green slip. The fanciful embroidery down the front twinkled with sequins and crystal beads. “Wear this. Keep it. It never did suit me.”

  “Pam, it’s your new dress. You’ve not even worn it.”

  “I know, and I bought it on a whim. I knew when I got it home it wasn’t right for me. But that color brings out the green tints in your eyes, and it goes really well with your blonde hair, too.”

  Diana accepted her sister’s offer, though she couldn’t imagine keeping the dress. She’d have no place to wear it after tonight, but if Pam was going to stay in hotels like this with the owls, she’d have more than one occasion to dress for dinner.

  Once they’d dressed, Pam used a comb to fluff more curls around Diana’s face. “I’m proud of you for bobbing your hair. It’s jazzy and modern. Looks good on you.” She stepped back, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Diana was certain she was about to suggest something radical, something Diana wouldn’t really want to do.

  “That dress does something for you. Something vampy. Makes you look like you belong in a place like this. But you need one little thing.”

  “Why do I think I’m not going to agree? It’s bound to be something I don’t want to do. I don’t have any doubt I’ll wind up doing it anyway, because you’ve been talking me into things since I was three.”

  “Just shows you know enough to listen to your big sister.” She turned to pick up her purse and extract a small silver compact and a gleaming metal cylinder. “A touch of color on your mouth and a little less shine on your nose. That’s all you need.”

  Diana shook her head. “I don’t think I want to, Pam. Really, I don’t. I know the women at your newspaper paint their faces, and a lot of the young women in society do, but I’m just a little secretary. I don’t need it.”

  “Tonight you do. We’re putting on the ritz. The owls went to a lot of trouble to get us here and to make the evening nice for us. Let them know you appreciate it. Besides, it isn’t fair to that dress. It needs a little flash and flair.”

  Diana knew she was going to let Pam have her way. She always did, in the end.

  “Sit down right here. I need to get the light on your face so I can do this right.”

  Apprehension running through her, Diana sat. Pamina whipped out the lipstick. It felt strange on Diana’s lips, but she didn’t dare complain or move. Pam stepped back. “Better,” she said, her head cocked to one side. “But still a little too pale.” She ran a fingertip over the lipstick. “I think a touch of pink in your cheeks, that’s what we need.”

  Diana tried to draw back, but Pam quickly brushed her fingers over Di’s cheeks. Then she patted them with a powder puff, finishing with a final pat across her nose.

  “I was right. It’s perfect.” She stepped back and Diana took a quick look at the mirror behind her sister.

  “It’s…nice.” She studied the reflection. “It doesn’t look…painted. Just brighter.”

  “And pretty.” Pamina giggled. “You’re a pretty girl, you know. You should let other people see it, too.”

  A soft knock at the door prevented any more discussion. “Trey’s come to take us to dinner. We’ll go down and give the old boys a treat. I’ll bet they haven’t had two gorgeous gals to dinner since Grant was President.”

  Pamina opened the door to admit their escort. If Trey was surprised by his companions for the evening, he wasn’t the only one. Diana thought she’d faint. Standing outside the hotel door, just behind Trey, and looking as if he’d rather be almost anywhere else, was Adler Behr.

  Chapter 10

  “Diana, I think you’ll remember my friend, Adler Behr?” Trey stood to one side and drew Pamina forward. “Adler, this is Diana’s sister Pamina, who will be taking over the secretarial duties for her for a while.”

  “Miss Woods and Miss Woods.” Behr nodded to Diana, then to Pamina, his look sharp and, to Diana’s mind, suspicious.

  “The fellas are probably waiting for us. Elmsford arranged for a private dining room so we could discuss the adjustments to our plans without any outside distractions.” Trey offered his arm to Pamina, leaving Adler Behr no choice but to do the same for Diana.

  Following Trey and Pam in silence became progressively more uncomfortable for Diana. As they reached the grand staircase descending to the main floor, she felt compelled to make some effort to ease the situation.

  “I thought you had returned to your home long before now, Mr. Behr.”

  He shot her a sideways glance. “I think I mentioned to you I had been called away by some family matters. I’ve been here, in Dallas, since then. Trey sent a wire to the bank at home. My father received it and managed to make contact with our friends here. We were within a few blocks of each other, but didn’t realize it.” He didn’t share details, and Diana felt as if she’d somehow intruded into his private affairs.

  Halfway down the sweeping staircase, Behr stopped and turned to her. “I believe part of Elmsford’s plan involves you coming back to Pfeiffer for some weeks. I’m not certain exactly what that will accomplish or what you’re supposed to do there.”

  “Dr. Elmsford was quite interested in the suggestion you made. You mentioned some men who had made trail drives were still living in your area. He would like for me to locate them and arrange for him to talk with them. By the time the professors finish their work in San Antonio, they’ll be nearing the end of their visit here. They hope I can save them some time by making initial contacts.”

  “I could have done that. No need to send you.” He gave her a piercing stare. “Or is he concerned for your safety and thinks I’ll be able to ward off the iniquitous foe?”

  “I believe he did consider safety a factor.”

  “It’s all to do with this visit to a speakeasy and the murder investigation, I understand. Your part in that is still a bit vague. I’d like to know more about this threatening peril.”

  Behr might have pressed for more information, but Trey called his attention to a small corridor beside the stairs, with ornate double doors at the end. “That’s our room, Adler. Pearce said we should go ahead and get the ladies settled if he or some of the group weren’t here when we arrived. You know what happens when the
old boys get caught up in a discussion. Sometimes it takes an avalanche to get them moving.”

  Trey hurried ahead and opened the door. Getty and Holmes were inside, seated at one side of a richly appointed table.

  “Come in, come in.” With his cane, Holmes gestured to the chairs drawn up to the round table. “Good to see you again, my dears. Trust your journey wasn’t too difficult. Adler, it’s convenient to find you here. Makes everything much easier. The others will be here any minute. Withers was having a bit of a tussle with his dinner jacket.”

  Once the girls and their escorts were seated, the rest of the group began, by ones and twos, to join them, and dinner was served. Diana was never able to remember exactly what she ate or how she made it through the early part of the evening. She was far too distracted by Adler’s presence on one side and her sister’s obvious infatuation with Trey on the other. At last coffee was served and the waiters withdrew. Diana couldn’t help being concerned about the time. She was supposed to be on a train, bound for the rolling hills west of the city, in just over an hour. Pearce and Elmsford still hadn’t addressed whatever changes they were making to the plan. She was certain they’d learned Haver’s body had been identified. That must have an impact. Adler Behr’s presence in Dallas affected the situation as well. Would he be detained here much longer with his family business? If so, what would she do when she reached Pfeiffer? How could she make arrangements for the professors without his help?

  As the waiters filled coffee cups and removed the last of the dessert plates, Elmsford pushed back from the table. “Good meal and good company. No one could ask for more than that.” He waited as the door closed on the departing waiters, then pulled his pipe from his pocket and lit it. “Now we have to address some alterations to our arrangements.” He turned to Diana and Pamina. “I think you’re aware that the body has been identified.”