‘It was because of that scene, actually. The studio filmed it in public and DiMaggio was there. The location had been leaked to the press, and paparazzi and fans showed up to watch. About five thousand of them. It made Joe quite mad having other men salivate over his wife, going nuts over her, catcalling at her. He was embarrassed and angry. And when it was over, they went back to their hotel and got into a huge fight. She flew back to California shortly thereafter and filed for divorce. This movie scene essentially marked the end of their marriage.’
Beth listened intently to Danny’s words. Of course, everything he said made sense, and she now knew without a doubt that the clue connected to this scene. But she had another question to ask. A question that she guessed would make all the difference.
‘Danny, you said that she flew back to California, and that’s where she filed for divorce. Where was she flying from? Where was that scene filmed?’
Beth waited with baited breath for the answer, while doing her utmost to try to overlook the idea that Danny was helping her solve a riddle someone else had likely set for her.
And when she heard his reply, Beth knew without a doubt exactly where she was supposed to go next.
‘Right here in New York,’ he confirmed. ‘At the corner of Lexington and 52nd.’
Chapter 17
‘Um, miss? I’m looking for these in a size eight, do you mind helping me?’
Beth jumped to attention, only barely registering that a customer was speaking to her. This was not good; she was becoming way too distracted lately and needed to get herself together. ‘Of course,’ she said, with as much cheer as she could muster. ‘I’ll get those for you straight away.’
As her customer tried on the size eight Ferragamos, Beth discreetly checked her watch.
It was still a while till lunchtime and the hours seemed to be really dragging by today – she wasdyingto get to the corner of Lexington and 52nd Street. The suspense as to what would happen next in the search (not to mention who on earth was behind it) was teetering on the brink of unbearable.
She had been in a daze all morning really, completely consumed with this next piece of the puzzle as well as Danny’s surprising revelation about Billy. When leaving for work, she’d been relieved that the concierge was on the phone when she passed by, as she guessed she’d be too embarrassed to talk to him.
He’d smiled his usual greeting, and she couldn’t see much in his behaviour that suggested that he was being anything other than friendly. She guessed (and very much hoped) that Danny was mistaken because while Billy was lovely, she certainly had no interest in the man, and she couldn’t see him going to so much trouble with the treasure hunt.
And for what – just to get her attention?
And then there was the other piece of information she’d gleaned from Danny: the location where Marilyn had made her husband, Joe DiMaggio, green with envy while on set filmingThe Seven Year Itch.
Yesterday, Beth had to delay checking out that location, as Danny would have surely questioned why exactly she had to check out the corner of Lexington and 52nd so late on a Saturday evening. So she had to wait until today – which, maddeningly, coincided with one of her alternate Sunday work shifts.
Still, she and Danny had ended up having such a rare evening in together that, despite the revelation, Beth didn’t want to go anywhere.
After the movie he’d suggested they put up the Christmas tree, and with festive tunes in the background, and Brinkley prancing at their feet, it felt almost like old times as they took out the various themed Christmas ornaments they’d collected throughout the years. A bright pink flamingo they’d picked up one memorable weekend in Florida, the Hollywood sign Danny had brought back for her from a work event in LA, the roulette chip from a spontaneous fun-filled trip to Vegas, a glittering pair of ice skates from the Christmas markets in Bryant Park, where a couple of years back the two of them had gone ice-skating at the outdoor rink. The little happy couple snow globe she’d bought for their very first Christmas in this apartment; each and every ornament served almost as a road-map of the good times they’d had together, and the festive ritual seemed to relax them both as a couple and almost reaffirm their relationship.
Though Beth noticed that Danny seemed almost… melancholy when, as was their habit, they finally positioned the star atop the tree and stood back arm in arm to admire their work. As he was nowhere near as sentimental as she, she was surprised to see his eyes shine a little when afterwards he bent down and kissed her softly on the lips. Once again she got the sense that there was something going on with him these days, or at the very least that she was missing something.
And it made her worry afresh.
***
Now, deciding to focus on her customer in an attempt to banish these worrisome thoughts, she was happy not only to sell one, but two pairs of Ferragamos to the client. Another nice commission, she congratulated herself.
A little while later, she spied Ryan making his way through the department, heading in her direction.
‘I was hoping I could persuade you to go to lunch with me today. It seems like ages since we’ve talked,’ he said.
Beth felt a blush creeping to her cheeks, somewhat against her will, but doubted that she would be able to pull this off – handle her treasure hunt errand, and go to lunch with Ryan, especially when she and Danny had begun to reconnect a little. It just seemed too conflicted, not to mention inappropriate.
‘Well, I actually have to run a bit of an errand today, and I’m not sure if I’ll have time for lunch.’
‘Another errand? Or are you just trying to give me the brushoff? Beth, you’re killing me here.’ He put a dramatic hand over his heart. ‘Tell me, what did I do to invite such rejection?’
She made a face, feeling caught between a rock and hard place. She was beginning to feel hungry at this point, and would have to eat lunch, of course. But she needed to get on with the treasure hunt. Now that Beth understood where she was supposed to be, she didn’t want to put off finding the next clue any longer. She couldn’t.
‘It’s just I really do have this thing I need to do. A long story,’ she added, in case he was curious about what she was up to. ‘But I am hungry too; all I had was a coffee for breakfast. What did you have in mind? Maybe I can fit in both?’ she suggested.
‘A multi-tasker, I see,’ he teased. ‘Nothing special today. Just craving some deli food. I was thinking Toastie’s, not sure if you know it?’
