02:10 [Clattering]
When her makeup bag hit the floor.
The story of Vienna’s most beautiful woman ended a few lines below. With neither a whimper, nor a bang, but with a rattling breath as cyanide suffocated her from the inside. Then the brutal inventory of her last moment.
02:11 [Crack] [Thud]
That crack must have been Hedy’s head splitting against the towel rail after she slipped, the thud her body dropping, then silence broken only by bathwater running as she bled out.
Sterling’s tears speckled the pages.
“Keep reading, dear. The last page is important,” said Frau Thursday softly.
The transcript moved forward. Not even ten minutes later, someone rapped at Room 5’s door to the rhythm of “Shave and a Haircut.” No answer. They entered with a key, knocking the other key to the floor, and stepped on the creaky floorboard.
The Third Man. Perhaps the document would identify him. She scanned the notes, rapid-fire.
In the distance, the front office phone rang, silenced when the door shut.
02:20 [Footsteps] Male 2: Hedy?
The Third Man shrieked. Then attempted to wake Hedy without luck. Not the reaction she’d have expected. He turned off the faucet. He prayed. Footnotes recorded his cries for God and panicked rambling.
02:26 Male 2: Why’d I agree to this? A few quick photos, she said, it’s easy money, she said. Nightingale will protect you. Now I’m trapped with two dead bodies, and I’m going to end up in prison. Arrrgghh. God, I needed that money, but not this bad.
The notes mentioned a zipper opening, presumably when he rifled through Hedy’s purse, and the man saying, “He doesn’t need it.”
“That’s when he stole David’s bracelet,” said Sterling.
“I’m not sure what you mean, dear. But his statements indicate he was hired to take photos. Blackmail, presumably. Seems Hedy was in on the arrangement.”
“We have to show this to the police.”
“You can, but it isn’t admissible in court. I know you want answers. This is the best I can offer, dear,” she said. Mr. Left replaced Sterling’sMelangewith a fresh cup.
“Okay, so, who’s Nightingale? Madame Weiss?”
“Likely, as they were working with Hedy.”
“Maybe Madame used Nightingale as a ploy to test her employees’ loyalty. Nothing unites people like fear of some mysterious group. Fuck, we were supposed to help Verena. She said something about Madame last night. I can’t remember. I need to ask Fernando.”
“All in due time. Here’s something to give the police.”
She passed Sterling a small wax-sealed envelope.
“I know you’re curious, but it’s for police eyes only. It will ensure they leave me unbothered. You’re not to read it.”
Sterling traced her finger over the red wax seal. “Because then you’d have to kill me?”
Frau Thursday winked.
Mr. Right checked his pocket watch and announced it was time to leave.
“Does this mean you won’t be a guest anymore?” asked Sterling.
“I’m sure I’ll visit. Maybe even try a different suite for once,” said Frau Thursday, kissing Sterling’s cheek before she left.
Sterling sat in a sunbeam, caressing the velvety petals of the roses on her coffee table.
