Free La Fleur Rouge The Red Flower by Ruthe Ogilvie Page B

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    They were halfway through dinner when Hildy noticed that Peter and Jenny had their heads together, laughing and talking as though they had known each other for years. Maybe Jenny has found someone at last, she mused. He really is a super guy, and Jenny deserves the best after all she’s been through. Hildy had read about Peter’s unhappy marriage and divorce, and she couldn’t think of a nicer working out for both of them.
    As soon as they finished dinner, Peter motioned to the waiter to bring him the check. After signing the tab he smiled. “And now I propose the perfect way to top off a perfect evening,” he said. “Come with me.”
    They walked to the elevator and descended to the street level. As they exited the building, Peter hailed a cab that would take them to the boats at the water’s edge. “I think this calls for a cruise down the Seine. It’s a perfect night for it.”
    The air was still warm and the sky was clear. The moon and stars were so bright it seemed almost like daylight. Hildy breathed deeply, thoroughly enjoying the evening. This was her father’s Paris. She was elated! Greg will never find me here! A new day was unfolding in her life and she saw nothing but hope and fulfillment ahead.

CHAPTER XI  
    The next morning in his New York apartment, Jay had the television on listening to the news. Greg joined him in the breakfast room just in time to hear the tail end of a special news report. A look of dismay came over his face as he realized that his carefully planned scheme to get rid of Hilary had failed.
    “This just in,” he heard the newscaster say. “A Parisian Airlines plane, Flight #867, with four hundred fifty-three passengers on board landed safely at Orly Airport in Paris around eleven-thirty this morning, Paris time, in spite of a bomb that was found in a piece of luggage. No one was hurt, as the plane arrived forty minutes early, and all the passengers had disembarked. The bomb went off in an overhead luggage rack and the plane was completely destroyed. If the plane had not been early the bomb would have exploded while the plane was still in flight. It would have been one of the worst disasters in all of aviation history. Investigators are looking into it as a possible act of terrorism. So far no one has claimed responsibility. More on this later.”
    Jay looked at Greg. “Who would do such a hideous thing?”
    Greg quickly regained his composure. “Yes. Yes, it’s - - terrible. We’re living in a dangerous world.”
    What do I do now? he wondered. Somehow I’ve got to stop her. All kinds of thoughts darted through his head. “Jay,” he said, “I think I know someone who might have been on that plane. I’ll call him from my room if you don’t mind.”
    “Sure thing,” Jay answered. “Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes. Take all the time you need.”
    Greg went into the bedroom and sat down to think. Then he picked up the phone and dialed the detective’s number in Los Angeles. After three rings, Dan answered. “Dan’s Detective Agency.”
    “I’m glad you’re there,” Greg said. “I have another assignment for you. This one’s in Paris. I’ll call Parisian Airlines and have a ticket waiting for you at the counter. It will be charged to my credit card. Listen carefully. Wait half an hour. Then check the airline and find out what flight I’ve booked you on. Be packed and ready to leave. I want you in Paris as soon as possible. Find out where Hilary Simone is staying, and what she’s doing there. It’s very important. Parisian Airlines must have a record of her hotel in their computer, listed under Flight #867.”
    “That’s the plane that had the bomb, isn’t it?” Dan asked him. “I just heard it on the news.”
    “Yes,” Greg answered. “Who would do such a thing? Thank God she wasn’t hurt. No matter what she’s done I wouldn’t wish her any harm.” He paused, waiting for this to sink in, then continued. “When you find out where