Page 33 of The Missing Sister
‘Ooh, Electra! So at least we know where she’s going next. Did you get a good look at her when she was by the elevator?’
‘I got a back view of blonde shoulder-length hair, and I remember thinking what a neat little tush she had. From the back she could have been anywhere between eighteen and sixty, but she definitely looked smart and attractive. Oh, and she’ll be staying at Claridge’s Hotel.’
‘That is even better! It hasn’t been a waste of time coming after all. You must call your sisters and let them know what’s happened.’
‘Sure,’ Electra agreed. ‘I suppose that at least we managed to learn a bit more.’
‘Oh, I think you definitely did. Now, do you have a sister conveniently located anywhere near London?’
Electra turned to Mariam and smiled. ‘As a matter of fact, I do.’
Once they were settled on the jet, waiting to take off, Electra placed a call to Atlantis.
‘Allô?’
‘Hi, Ally, it’s Electra, reporting in from Toronto.’
‘Hi, Electra! Did you get to meet Merry McDougal and see the ring?’
‘Well, I did and I didn’t.’
‘What does that mean?’
Electra explained the afternoon’s events. When she’d finished, there was a long silence.
‘Right. So, apart from the fact your day sounds a bit like a scene from a farce, at least you were able to find out where she’s going next. Claridge’s, eh? She must be a wealthy woman,’ said Ally.
‘I just want to know why she’s doing her best to avoid us. None of us mean her any harm, but she’s definitely afraid. She talked about “him”. I wonder now if she meant Pa?’
‘But she knows that Pa is dead, and can’t be any threat, even if she thought he was once, which I find hard to believe.’
There was a pause on the line.
‘So,’ Electra sighed, ‘where do we go from here?’
‘I’m not sure. I’ll have to speak to Maia and see what she thinks.’
‘What about Star? She lives very close to London, doesn’t she?’
‘Good point, she does.’
‘Would she mind going to Claridge’s and staking out the lobby for a blonde woman with a neat behind?’ Electra chuckled. ‘Problem is, I’m sure that blondes with good asses are two a penny there, but maybe it’s worth a try, especially as Star lives so close.’
‘There’s no harm in giving Star a buzz to see if she’s up for it. If Merry is leaving tonight, Toronto time, she’ll probably arrive there tomorrow morning.’
‘If she does go, I suggest she doesn’t leave Merry McDougal any messages saying that yet another of the D’Aplièse sisters wants to meet up with her,’ said Electra. ‘It’s obviously freaking her out.’
‘I agree. We have to find other ways and means of gaining an audience with her,’ said Ally. ‘I’ll talk to Star.’
‘Okay, well, my jet’s about to take off, so speak tomorrow, Ally.’
‘Thanks so much for your help, Electra. Safe flight.’
Electra switched off her cell phone as the engines began to roar.
‘Night night, darling, sleep tight,’ Star said as she both spoke and signed the words to Rory.
He did the same, then held her to him tightly for a hug, his small arms wrapped round her neck. ‘Love you, Star,’ he said into her ear.
