Fat Tuesday(100)

When he read the name etched into the brass, Gregory's knees buckled, and he collapsed to the floor.

"Get up," one of his escorts said.

"Come on, don't be an *."

Gregory assumed the fetal position and whimpered miserably.

The double doors opened, and he heard a voice thundering down the hallway."What's going on?"

"He won't get up. What do you want us to do with him, Mr. Duvall?"

Hearing the name spoken aloud was worse than reading it on the brass nameplate. Gregory covered his ears. But he watched a pair of shiny reptile loafers coming nearer, making size-eleven impressions in the plush forest green carpet. When the shoes were within a few inches of his head, they came to a stop.

From above him, Pinkie Duvall said, "It's not what we're going to do with him, gentlemen. From this point, Mr. James's fate is entirely up to him."

Duvall? Sir, pardon the interruption. It's Miss Flarra on the telephone. She's in a state."

"Thank you, Roman. I'll take the call." As soon as the butler withdrew from his study at home, Duvall picked up the extension.

"Flarra?

How are you, sweetheart?"

"I'm worried sick is how I am! What's going on? I had to beg Roman to let me speak to you. He said he'd been instructed to hold all calls.

Where's Remy? Why hasn't she come to see me? I haven't heard a word from her in days. Something terrible has happened, I know it."

"Calm down. Nothing terrible has happened."

"Then what's going on? Remy hasn't been here all week, and she never misses. Every time I call the house, I'm given the runaround."

"Your sister's had a bout with strep throat." Evidently alarmed, she said, "Is she okay?"

"A few days more rest and she'll be fine."

"Why wasn't I told?"

"Remy didn't want you to worry unnecessarily, so she asked the staff not to mention it to you. She's on antibiotics and is doing much better, although her throat is still very sore. It's hard for her to talk.

I've been distracted by a case that is demanding all my time. I apologize for not calling. It's unforgivable of me."

Pinkie listened to the silence coming from the other end as Flarra assimilated his lie. If he had told her the truth, he would have a hysterical woman on his hands, and that would only compound his problem Flarra was impulsive and unpredictable, he didn't need the additional worry of how she might react to her sister's abduction Soon he would be faced with informing her of Remy's demise, but he'd cross that bridge when he came to it.

'"Can I come see her tomorrow?" she asked.

'"I'm afraid not, sweetheart. She's contagious. The last thing she'd want is for you to catch the infection. Sister Beatrice would never forgive us if we started an epidemic of strep throat at the school."

"Did Dr. Caruth prescribe Remy's medication?"

"What difference does it make?"

"I don't know, Pinkie, it's ... Remy's been so run down lately."

"So?"

"Well, I was just thinking that maybe I'm guessing, of course but could she be, you know, pregnant?"

Pinkie's eyes focused on the Steuben crystal paperweight on his desk, but he didn't really see it. Nothing registered except his young sister-in-law's absurd suggestion, which suddenly didn't seem so absurd.

Unaware of his reaction, Flarra continued."If she is, should she be taking antibiotics?"

"She's not pregnant."

"Are you sure?"

"If my wife was pregnant, don't you think I would know it?" he snapped.

"Well you don't have to bite my head off. I don't mean to pry, Pinkie.

It's just that I think Remy secretly yearns for a baby and regrets that she's never been able to conceive. I was hoping that might be the reason she's been so puny lately. I even asked her."

"What did she say?"

"She said no."

"So there you have it. Why would she lie?"

"I guess you're right," Flarra said."It was just a thought." Then she asked if he would hold the phone up to Remy's ear."Just so I can say hi to her. I won't make her talk."

"She's asleep."

"Oh, well, I guess you shouldn't wake her," she said, obviously downcast."She's been told about your calls and appreciates your concern."

"One reason I was so worried," she said as an afterthought, "Remy must be awfully upset over Errol."

"You heard about that?"

"I read about it in the newspaper. Remy must have freaked out."

"Actually she doesn't know yet. She's been so ill I haven't had the heart to give her the bad news."

"Do the police have any leads?"

"None that I know of. I'm afraid it was one of those random acts of violence, a crime that will remain unsolved."

"Errol was strong as an ox," Flarra mused aloud."How could an ordinary mugger get the jump on him?"

"I don't wish to speak unkindly of the dead, but Errol's physical strength far exceeded his mental fortitude. He should have known better than to go for a stroll along the levee alone in the middle of the night."