Death in the Ancient City by Mary Bowers

Author:Mary Bowers [Bowers, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21 – Cassidy

“You have the prettiest eyes I ever saw!” the girl gushed.

Lettice Fortrell was used to extravagant flattery from fans, although it had been a while. Quite a while, in fact. It had always embarrassed her a little, but after all these years, it was actually nice to hear that kind of thing again, and coming from a girl Cassidy’s age, it was especially nice.

Upon seeing her again at closer quarters and in better light, Lettice had been happy to see that she and the much younger woman were both the same size and both just as radiantly fit. She wasn’t yet 40 but in the fitness game, even being close meant you were over the hill unless the whole point was that you’d gotten really old and were still in fighting trim, like Jack LaLanne.

“Why thank you, Cassidy,” she said, feeling some of the sweetness of the old days come back to her in a wave.

“Why don’t the two of you settle over here in this nice little alcove?” said the highly polished woman named Gillian. She seemed to be taking on the role of the hostess, but she came across more as a referee, or even a guard. Before bringing her upstairs, Gillian had briefed Cassidy about exactly what she was going to say and how she was going to say it. Cassidy had listened obediently, but the overbearing way it had been done made her feel rebellious.

As they sat down, both Cassidy and Lettice looked at Gillian the same way: as if they wanted her to go away.

Gillian watched them settle into the soft, enveloping cushions of a matching loveseat and chair, then asked if she could get anything for them.

“Iced tea? Wine?”

Cassidy smiled and said she was fine, thanks.

“Could you make us some hot chocolate?” Lettice asked, sounding oddly firm about it.

Gillian’s polished smile became cold without changing shape. “We’ll have some hot chocolate later, shall we, Lettice? I’m sure Cassidy doesn’t want a hot drink after driving all the way out here on a hot night.”

Obviating any further service, Gillian settled herself in a chair matching Cassidy’s, at the same time saying, “All right then. Cassidy . . . ?”

The young woman suddenly seemed shy.

“Um, I just wanted to say . . . at the ghost walk, when I was . . . you know, I told some stories . . . ?”

Lettice smiled warmly. “You told a lot of stories, didn’t you? If that was a script, I don’t know how you remember all of it, and you did such a good job! My sister and I had a wonderful time. You’re a very good actress, Cassidy. The role you played as the young Victorian lady was so different from the way I see you now.”

“Oh, that. I needed to create a character for myself, and I decided on the ingenue. You really like her? I mean you were convinced, as if I was really her?”

“Absolutely. Did you do any research on

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