Read Memories of Midnight Online

Authors: Sidney Sheldon

Tags: #bestseller

Memories of Midnight (6 page)

At five thirty in the morning, Catherine was awakened by an I apologetic maid >r 'Good morning, miss . . .' Catherine opened her eyes and looked around in confusion. Instead of her tiny cell at the convent, she was in a beautiful bedroom in ... Her memory came flooding back. The trip into Athens . . . You're Catherine Douglas . . . They were executed by the State . .

'Miss . . .' 'Yes?' 'Mr Demiris asked if you would join him for breakfast on the terrace.' Catherine stared up at her sleepily. She had been awake until four o'clock, her mind in a turmoil Thank you. Tell Mr Demiris I'll be right there.'

Twenty minutes later a butler escorted Catherine to an enormous terrace facing the sea. There was a low stone wall that overlooked the gardens twenty feet below. Constantin Demiris was seated at a table, waiting. He studied Catherine as she walked toward him. There was an exciting innocence about her. He was going to take it, possess it, make it his. He imagined her naked in his bed, helping him punish Noelle and Larry again. Demiris rose 'Good morning. Forgive me for awakening you so early, but I must leave for my office in a few minutes, and I wanted the opportunity for us to have a little chat first.' 'Yes, of course,' Catherine said She sat down at the large marble table opposite him, facing the sea. The sun was just rising, showering the sea with a thousand sparkles 'What would you like for breakfast?' She shook her head. 'I'm not hungry.' 'Some coffee perhaps?' 'Thank you.' The butler was pouring hot coffee into a Belleek cup 'Well, Catherine,' Demiris began. 'Have you thought about our conversation?' Catherine had thought of nothing else all night. There was nothing left for her in Athens, and she had nowhere else to go / won't go back to the convent, she vowed. The invitation to work for Constantin Demiris in London sounded intriguing. In fact, Catherine admitted to herself, it sounds exciting. It could be the beginning of a new life 'Yes,' Catherine said, 'I have.' 'And?' 'I I think I would like to try it.' Constantin Demiris managed to conceal his relief. 'I'm delighted Have you ever been to London?' 'No. That is I don't think so.' Why don't I know for sure? There were still so many frightening gaps in her memory. How many more surprises am I going to get 'It's one of the few civilized cities left in the world I'm sure you'll enjoy it very much.' Catherine hesitated. 'Mr Demiris, why are you going to all this trouble for me?' 'Let's just say it's because I feel a sense of responsibility.' He paused. 'I introduced your husband to Noelle Page.' 'Ah,' Catherine said slowly. Noelle Page. The name sent a small shiver through her. The two of them had died for each other. Larry must have loved her so much Catherine forced herself to ask a question that had been tormenting her all night long. 'How . . . how were they executed?' There was a small pause. 'They were shot by a firing squad.' 'Oh.' She could feel the bullets tearing into Larry's flesh, ripping apart the body of the man she had once loved so much She was sorry she had asked 'Let me give you some advice. Don't think about the past. It can only be hurtful. You must put all that behind you.' Catherine said slowly, 'You're right. I'll try.' 'Good. I happen to have a plane flying to London this morning, Catherine. Can you be ready to leave in a little while?' Catherine thought of all the trips she had taken with Larry, the excited preparations, the packing, the anticipation. This time, there would be no one to go with, little to pack, and nothing to prepare for. 'Yes. I can be ready.' 'Excellent. By the way,' Demiris said casually, 'now that your memory has returned, perhaps there's someone you'd like to get in touch with, someone from your past whom you would like to let know that you're all right.' The name that instantly sprang to her mind was William Fraser. He was the only one in the world who remained from her past. But she knew she was not ready to face him yet When I get settled, Catherine thought. When I start working again, I'll get in touch with him Constantin Demiris was watching her, waiting for her answer 'No,' Catherine said finally. 'There's no one.' She had no idea that she had just saved William Eraser's life 'I'll arrange a passport for you.' He handed her an envelope 'This is an advance on your salary. You won't have to worry about a place to live. The company has a flat in London. You'll stay there.' It was overwhelming. 'You're much too generous.' He took her hand in his. 'You'll find that I'm . . .'He changed what he was going to say. Handle her carefully, he thought. Slowly. You don't want to scare her away. '. . . that I can be a very good friend.' 'You are a very good friend.' Demiris smiled. Wait.

Two hours later, Constantin Demiris helped Catherine into the back seat of the Rolls-Royce that was to take her to the airport 'Enjoy London,' he said. till be in touch with you.' Five minutes after the car had departed, Demiris was on the telephone to London. 'She's on her way.' Chapter 5 The plane was scheduled to leave from Hellenikon Airport at 9.00 and. It was a Hawker Siddeley, and to Catherine's surprise, she was the only passenger. The pilot, a pleasant-faced, middle-aged Greek named Pantelis, saw to it that Catherine was comfortably seated and buckled in 'We'll be taking off in just a few minutes,' he informed her 'Thank you.' Catherine watched him walk into the cockpit to join the co-pilot, and her heart suddenly began to beat faster. This is the plane that Larry flew. Had Noelle Page sat in the seat I am now sitting in? Catherine suddenly felt as though she were going to faint; the walls began to close in on her. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath. That's all over, she thought. Demiris is right. That's the past and nothing can change it She heard the roar of the engines, and opened her eyes. The plane was lifting off, heading northwest toward London. How many times had Larry made this flight? Larry. She was shaken by the mixture of emotions that his name brought. And the memories. The wonderful, terrible memories . . .

It was the summer of 1940, the year before America got into the war. She had been fresh out of Northwestern University, and had gone from Chicago to Washington, DC, for her first job Her roommate had said: 'Hey, I heard about a job opening that might interest you. One of the girls at the party said she's quitting to go back to Texas. She works for Bill Fraser. He's in charge of public relations for the State Department. I just heard about it last night, so if you get over there now, you should beat all the other girls to it.' Catherine had raced over, only to find Eraser's reception office already packed with dozens of applicants for the job. / haven't a chance, Catherine thought. The door to the inner office opened and William Fraser emerged. He was a tall, attractive man, with curly, blond hair, greying at the temples, bright blue eyes, and a strong, rather forbidding jawline He said to the receptionist, 'I need a copy of Life. The issue that came out three or four weeks ago. It has a picture of Stalin on the cover.' till order it, Mr Fraser,' the receptionist said 'Sally, I have Senator Borah on the line. I want to read him a paragraph from that issue. You have two minutes to find a copy for me.' He went into his office and closed the door. The applicants looked at one another and shrugged. Catherine stood there, thinking hard. She turned and pushed her way out of the office. She heard one of the women say, 'Good. That's one down.' Three minutes later, Catherine returned to the office with the old copy of Life with a picture of Stalin on the cover. She handed it to the receptionist. Five minutes later Catherine found herself seated in William Fraser's office 'Sally tells me that you came up with the Life magazine.' 'Yes, sir.' 'I assume you didn't just happen to have a three-week-old issue in your purse.' 'No, sir.' 'How did you find it so quickly?' 'I went down to the barber shop. Barber shops and dentists' offices always have old issues lying around.' 'Are you that bright about everything?'

'No, sir.' 'We'll find out,' William Fraser said. She was hired.

Catherine enjoyed the excitement of working for Fraser. He was a bachelor, wealthy and social, and he seemed to know everyone in Washington. Time magazine had called him: 'The most eligible bachelor of the year'

Six months after Catherine started to work for William Fraser, they fell in love In his bedroom, Catherine said, 'I have to tell you something I'm a virgin.' Fraser shook his head in wonder. 'That's incredible. How did I wind up with the only virgin in the city of Washington?'

One day William Fraser said to Catherine, 'They've asked our office to supervise an Army Air Corps recruiting film they're shooting at MGM studios in Hollywood. I'd like you to handle the picture while I'm in London.' The? Bill, I can't even load a Brownie. What do I know about making a training film?' Fraser grinned. 'About as much as anyone else. You don't have to worry. They have a director. His name is Allan Benjamin. The Army plans to use actors in the film.' 'Why?' 'I guess they feel that soldiers won't be convincing enough to play soldiers.' That sounds like the Army.' And Catherine had flown to Hollywood to supervise the training film The soundstage was filled with extras, most of them in ill-fitting army uniforms 'Excuse me,' Catherine said to a man passing by. 'Is Mr Allan Benjamin here?' 'The little corporal?' He pointed. 'Over there.' Catherine turned and saw a slight, frail-looking man in a uniform with corporal's stripes. He was screaming at a man wearing a general's stars 'Fuck what the casting director said. I'm up to my ass in generals. I need non-coms.' He raised his hands in despair 'Everybody wants to be a chief, nobody wants to be an Indian.' 'Excuse me,' Catherine said. 'I'm Catherine Alexander.' Thank God!' the little man said. 'You take over. I don't know what I'm doing here. I had a thirty-fivehundreddollara-year job in Dearborn editing a furniture trade magazine, and I was drafted into the Signal Corps and sent to write training films What do I know about producing or directing? This is all yours.' He turned and hurried toward the exit, leaving Catherine standing there A lean, grey-haired man in a sweater moved toward her, an amused smile on his face. 'Need any help?' 'I need a miracle,' Catherine said. 'I'm in charge of this, and I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing.' He grinned at her. 'Welcome to Hollywood. I'm Tom O'Brien, the assistant director.' 'Do you think you could direct this?' She saw the corner of his lips twist. 'I could try. I've done six pictures with Willie Wyler. The situation isn't as bad as it looks All it needs is a little organization. The script's written, and the set's ready.'

Catherine looked around the soundstage. 'Some of these uniforms look terrible. Let's see if we can't do better.' O'Brien nodded approvingly. 'Right.' Catherine and O'Brien walked over to the group of extras. The din of conversation on the enormous stage was deafening 'Let's hold it down, boys,' O'Brien yelled. "This is Miss Alexander She's going to be in charge here.' Catherine said, 'Let's line up, so we can take a good look at you, please.' O'Brien formed the men into a ragged line. Catherine heard laughter and voices nearby and turned in annoyance. One of the men in uniform stood in a corner, paying no attention, talking to some girls who were hanging on his every word and giggling The man's manner irritated Catherine 'Excuse me. Would you mind joining the rest of us?' He turned and asked, lazily: 'Are you talking to me?' 'Yes. We'd like to go to work.' He was extraordinarily handsome, tall and wiry, with blue-black hair and stormy dark eyes. His uniform fitted perfectly. On his shoulders were the bars of a captain, and across his breast he had pinned on a splash of brightly colored ribbons. Catherine stared at them. 'Those medals . . .' 'Are they impressive enough, boss?' His voice was deep and filled with insolent amusement 'Take them off.' 'Why? I thought I'd give this film a little color.' 'There's one little thing you forgot. America's not at war yet You'd have had to have won those at a carnival.' 'You're right,' he admitted sheepishly. "I didn't think of that I'll take some of them off.' 'Take them all off,' Catherine snapped After the morning's shooting, while Catherine was having lunch at the commissary, he walked up to her table. 'I wanted to ask you how I did this morning. Was I convincing?' His manner infuriated her. 'You enjoy wearing that uniform and strutting around the girls, but have you thought about enlisting?' He looked shocked. 'And get shot at? That's for suckers.' Catherine was ready to explode. 'I think you're contemptible.' 'Why?' 'If you don't know why, I could never explain it to you.' 'Why don't you try? At dinner tonight. Your place. Do you cook?' 'Don't bother coming back to the set,' Catherine snapped. till tell Mr O'Brien to send you your check for this morning's work What's your name?' 'Douglas. Larry Douglas.'

The experience with the arrogant young actor rankled Catherine, and she was determined to put it out of her mind. For some reason, she found it difficult to forget him.

When Catherine returned to Washington, William Fraser said, 'I missed you. I've been doing a lot of thinking about you. Do you love me?'

'Very much, Bill.' 'I love you too. Why don't we go out tonight and celebrate?' Catherine knew that that was the night he was going to propose.

They went to the exclusive Jefferson Club. In the middle of dinner, Larry Douglas walked in, still wearing his Army Air Corps uniform with all the medals. Catherine watched unbelievingly as he walked over to their table and greeted not her, but Fraser Bill Fraser rose: 'Cathy, this is Captain Lawrence Douglas Larry, this is Miss Alexander Catherine. Larry's been flying with the RAF. He was the leader of the American squadron over there. They talked him into heading up a fighter base in Virginia to get some of our boys ready for combat.' Like the re-run of an old movie, Catherine remembered how she had ordered him to take off his bars and his medals, and how he had cheerfully obliged. She had been smug, overbearing and she had called him a coward! She wanted to crawl under the table.

The next day, Larry Douglas telephoned Catherine at her office She refused to take his calls. When she finished work he was outside, waiting for her. He had taken off his medals and ribbons and was wearing the bars of a second lieutenant He smiled and walked up to her. 'Is this better?' Catherine stared at him. 'Isn't . . . isn't wearing the wrong insignia against regulations?' 'I don't know. I thought you were in charge of all that.' She looked into his eyes and knew that she was lost. There was a magnetic force about him that was irresistible 'What do you want from me?' 'Everything. I want you.' They had gone to his apartment and made love. And it was an exquisite joy that Catherine had never dreamed possible, a fantastic coming together that rocked the room and the universe until there was an explosion that became a delirious ecstasy, an unbelievable shattering journey, an arriving and a departing, an ending and a beginning. And she had lain there, spent and numb, holding him tightly, never wanting to let him go, never wanting this feeling to stop They were married five hours later, in Maryland.

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