Sidney Sheldon - The sky is falling

He took her trembling hands in his. «You're wrong. I never loved you because of your breasts, Rachel. I loved you because of who you are, a warm, wonderful human being.»

Rachel managed a tiny smile. «We really did love each other, didn't we, Jeff?»

«Yes.»

«I wish…» She looked down at her chest, and her face constricted.

«We'll talk about this later.»

She squeezed his hand harder. «I don't want to be alone, Jeff. Not until this is all over. Please don't leave me.»

«Rachel, I have to—»

«Not yet. I don't know what I'll do if you leave.»

A nurse came into the hospital room. «Would you excuse us, Mr. Connors?»

Rachel did not want to let go of Jeff's hand. «Don't go.»

«I'll be back.»

Late that evening Dana's cell phone rang. She rushed across the room to pick it up. «Dana.» It was Jeff.

She felt a little thrill when she heard his voice. «Hello. How are you, darling?»

«I'm fine.»

«How is Rachel?»

«The operation went well, but Rachel's suicidal.»

«Jeff—a woman can't judge herself by her breasts or—»

«I know, but Rachel is not your average woman. She's been judged by her looks since she was fifteen. She's one of the highest-paid models in the world. Now she thinks all that is over for her. She feels like a freak. She believes she has nothing more to live for.»

«What are you going to do?»

«I'll stay with her for a few more days and help her get settled in her home. I talked to the doctor. He's still waiting for the test results to see whether they got it all. They think they'll need to follow up with chemotherapy treatments.»

There was nothing Dana could say.

«I miss you,» Jeff said.

«I miss you, my dearest. I have some Christmas presents for you.»

«Hold them for me.»

«I will.»

«Are you wiped out from all the traveling?»

«Not yet.»

«Make sure you leave your cell phone turned on,» Jeff said. «I plan to make some obscene phone calls.»

Dana smiled. «Promise?»

«Promise. Take care of yourself, darling.»

«You, too.» The conversation was over. Dana hung up and sat there for a long time, thinking about Jeff and Rachel. She got up and went into the kitchen.

Mrs. Daley was saying to Kemal, «More pancakes, darlin'?»

«Yes, thank you.»

Dana stood there watching the two of them. In the short time Mrs. Daley had been there, Kemal had changed so much. He was calm and relaxed and happy. Dana felt a sharp pang of jealousy. Maybe I'm the wrong person for him. Guiltily, she remembered her long days and late nights at the television studio. Maybe someone like Mrs. Daley should have adopted him. She shook herself out of it. What's the matter with me? Kemal loves me.

Dana sat down at the table. «Still enjoying the new school?»

«It's cool.»

Dana took his hand. «Kemal, I'm afraid I'm going to have to go away again.»

He said indifferently, «That's okay.»

The pang of jealousy came back.

«Where are you off to now, Miss Evans?» Mrs. Daley asked.

«Alaska.»

Mrs. Daley was thoughtful for a moment. «Watch out for those grizzly bears,» she advised.

The flight from Washington to Juneau, Alaska, took nine hours, with a stopover in Seattle. Inside the Juneau airport, Dana walked over to the car-rental counter.

«My name is Dana Evans. I—»

«Yes, Miss Evans. We have a nice Land Rover for you. Stall ten. Just sign here.»

The clerk handed her the keys and Dana walked around to the lot in back of the building. There were a dozen cars in numbered stalls. Dana walked over to stall ten. A man was kneeling in back of the car, working on the tailpipe of a white Land Rover. He looked up as Dana approached.

«Just tightening the tailpipe, miss. You're all set.» He rose.

«Thank you,» Dana said.

He watched her drive away.

In the basement of a government building, a man was looking at a digital map on a computer. He watched the white Land Rover make a right turn.

«The subject is heading for Starr Hill.»

Juneau was a surprise to Dana. At first sight, it appeared to be a large city, but the narrow, winding streets gave Alaska's capital city the small-town atmosphere of a village nestled in the middle of an ice-age wilderness.

Dana checked into the popular Inn at the Waterfront, a former brothel located in the center of town.

«You're in time for some great skiing,» the hotel desk man told her. «We're having a good snow season. Bring your own skis?»

«No, I—»

«Well, there's a ski shop right next door. I'm sure they can fix you up with anything you'd like.»

«Thank you,» Dana said. It's a good place to start. Dana unpacked and went into the ski shop.

The clerk in the shop was a nonstop talker. The moment Dana walked in he said, «Hi. I'm Chad Donohoe. Well, you've sure come to the right place.» He indicated a batch of skis. «We just got these Freeriders in. These babies can really handle the bumps and jumps.» He pointed to another section. «Or—these are the Salomon X-Scream 9s. They're in big demand. Last year we ran out and couldn't get any more.» He saw the impatient expression on Dana's face and hurried over to the next group. «If you prefer, we have the Vocal Vertigo G30 or the Atomic 10.20.» He looked at Dana expectantly. «Which would you—?»

«I came for some information.»

A disappointed look crossed his face. «Information?»

«Yes. Did Julie Winthrop get her skis here?»

He studied Dana more closely. «Yes. As a matter of fact, she used the top-of-the-line Volant Ti power skis. Loved them. Terrible thing that happened to her up at Eaglecrest.»

«Was Miss Winthrop a good skier?»

«Good? She was the best. She had a trophy case full of prizes.»

«Do you know if she was alone here?»

«Far as I know, she was.» He shook his head. «What's so surprising is that she knew Eaglecrest like the back of her hand. Used to ski here every year. You'd think an accident like that couldn't happen to her, wouldn't you?»

Dana said slowly, «Yes, I would.»

The Juneau Police Department was two blocks from the Inn at the Waterfront.

Dana stepped into a small reception office that contained the Alaska state flag, the Juneau flag, and the Stars and Stripes. There was a blue carpet, a blue couch, and a blue chair.

A uniformed officer asked, «May I help you?»

«I'd like some information about Julie Winthrop's death.»

He frowned. «The man you want to talk to is Bruce Bowler. He's head of Sea Dog Rescue. He has an office upstairs, but he's not in right now.»

«Do you know where I can find him?»

The officer looked at his watch. «Right now you should be able to catch him at Hanger on the Wharf. That's down two blocks on Marine Way.»

«Thank you very much.»

Hanger on the Wharf was a large restaurant crowded with noontime diners.

The hostess said to Dana, «I'm sorry, we don't have a table right now. There will be a twenty-minute wait if—»

«I'm looking for Mr. Bruce Bowler. Do you—?»

The hostess nodded. «Bruce? He's over at that table.»

Dana looked. There was a pleasant-faced, rugged-looking man in his early forties, seated alone.

«Thank you.» Dana made her way to the table. «Mr. Bowler?»

He looked up. «Yes.»

«I'm Dana Evans. I need your help.»

He smiled. «You're in luck. We have one room available. I'll call Judy.»

Dana looked at him, puzzled. «I beg your pardon?»

«Aren't you asking about Cozy Log, our bed-and-breakfast inn?»

«No. I wanted to talk to you about Julie Winthrop.»

«Oh.» He was embarrassed. «Sorry. Please sit down. Judy and I own a small inn outside of town. I thought you were looking for a room. Have you had lunch?»