The Stars Shine Down

They were all there for the meeting: Keller, Tom Chriton, Jim Belon and Terry Hill.

"We're going to fast-track the hotel," Lara announced.

The men looked at one another. "That's dangerous," Keller said.

"Not if you do it right."

Tom Chriton spoke up. "Miss Cameron, the safe way to do this is to complete one phase at a time. You do your grading, and when that's done, you begin digging the trenches for foundations. When that's done, you put in the utility conduits and drainage piping. Then..."

Lara interrupted. "You put in the wooden concrete frame-work and the skeletal gridiron. I know all that."

"Then why...?"

"Because that will take two years. I don't want to wait two years."

Jim Belon said, "If we fast-track it, that means starting all the different steps at once. If anything goes wrong, nothing will fit together. You could have a lopsided building with electric circuits in the wrong place and..."

"Then we have to see to it that nothing goes wrong, don't we?" Lara said. "If we do it this way, we'll get the building up in a year instead of two, and we'll save close to twenty million dollars."

"True, but it's taking a big chance."

"I like taking chances."

Chapter Fifteen

Lara told Paul Martin about her decision to fast-track the hotel and the discussion she had had with the committee.

"They may have been right," Paul said. "What you're doing could be dangerous."

"Trump does it. Uris does it."

Paul said gently, "Baby, you're not Trump or Uris."

"I'm going to be bigger than they are, Paul. I'm going to put up more buildings in New York than anyone ever has before. It's going to be my city."

He looked at her for a long moment. "I believe you."

Lara had an unlisted telephone installed in her office. Only Paul Martin had the number. He installed a telephone in his office for Lara's calls. They spoke to each other several times a day.

Whenever they could get away in the afternoon, they went to Lara's apartment. Paul Martin looked forward to those trysts more than he had ever believed possible. Lara had become an obsession with him.

When Keller became aware of what was happening, he was concerned.

"Lara," he said, "I think you're making a mistake. He's dangerous."

"You don't know him. He's wonderful."

"Are you in love with him?"

Lara thought about it. Paul Martin fulfilled a need in her life. But was she in love with him?

"No."

"Is he in love with you?"

"I think so."

"Be careful. Be very careful."

Lara smiled. Impulsively, she kissed Keller's cheek. "I love the way you take care of me, Howard."

Lara was at the construction site, studying a report.

"I notice we're paying for an awful lot of lumber," Lara said. She was talking to Pete Reese, the new project manager.

"I didn't want to mention it before, Miss Cameron, because I wasn't sure - but you're right. A lot of our lumber's missing. We've had to double order it."

She looked up at him. "You mean, someone is stealing it?"

"It looks that way."

"Do you have any idea who?"

"No."

"We have night watchmen here, don't we?"

"One watchman."

"And he hasn't seen anything?"

"No. But with all this activity going on, it could be happening during the day. It could be anybody."

Lara was thoughtful. "I see. Thanks for letting me know, Pete. I'll take care of it."

That afternoon Lara hired a private detective, Steve Kane. "How does anyone walk away in broad daylight with a load of lumber?" Kane asked.

"You tell me."

"You say there's a night watchman at the site?"

"Yes."

"Maybe he's in on it."

"I'm not interested in maybes," Lara said. "Find out who's behind it and get back to me."

"Can you get me hired as a member of the construction crew?"

"I'll take care of it."

Steve Kane went to work at the site the next day.

When Lara told Keller what was happening, he said, "You didn't have to get involved in this. I could have handled it for you."

"I like handling things myself," Lara said.

That was the end of the conversation.

Five days later Kane appeared at Lara's office.

"Have you found out anything?"

"Everything," he said.

"Was it the watchman?"

"No. The lumber wasn't stolen from the building site."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean it never reached there. It was sent to another construction site in Jersey and double-billed. The invoices were doctored."

"Who's behind it?" Lara asked.

Kane told her.

The following afternoon there was a meeting of the committee. Terry Hill, Lara's lawyer, was there, Howard Keller, Jim Belon, the project manager, and Pete Reese. There was also a stranger at the conference table. Lara introduced him as Mr. Conroy.

"Let's have a report," Lara said.

Pete Reese said, "We're right on schedule. We estimate four more months. You were right about going fast track. It's all going smooth as silk. We've already started on the electrical and plumbing."

"Good," Lara said.

"What about the stolen lumber?" Keller asked.

"Nothing new on it yet," Pete Reese said. "We're keeping an eye open."

"I don't think we have to worry about that anymore," Lara announced. "We found out who's stealing it." She nodded toward the stranger. "Mr. Conroy is with the Special Fraud Squad. It's actually Detective Conroy."