"How did you happen to come heregg ' decided that it was time to meet my family." twenty-six yearst '.' Looking at her, listening to her speak, there was no question in Tyler's mind. She was genuine, dangerous, and would have to be disposed of quickly. Tyler forced a smile. ', you can imagine what a shock this is to me. I mean, for you to appear here out of the blue and. 11 know. I'm sorry. I probably should have called first.' Tyler asked casually, ' came to Boston alonet '.' His mind was racing. ' anyone else know you're heret "No. Well, my roommate, Sally, in Kansas City.' ' are you staying?' . ' the Copley Square Hotel."'s a nice hotel. What room are you int ' nineteen." right. Why don't you go back to your hotel and wait there for us? I want to prepare Woody and Kendall for this. They're going to be as surprised as I was.' 61@ in sorry. I should have ' problem. Now that we've met, I know that everything is going to be just fine." you, Tyler."'re welcome' - he almost choked on the word. '. Let me call a taxi for you.' Five minutes later, she was gone. Hal Baker had just returned to his hotel room in downtown Boston when the telephone call came. He picked it up. ' "I'm-sorry. I have no news yet, judge. I've combed this whole town. I went to the airport and ''s here, stupid!" ''s here in Boston. She's staying at -the Copley Square Hotel, room four nineteen. I want her taken care of tonight. And I don't want any more bungling, do you understandt ' happened was not my ' you understandt 4Yes, sir." do id' Tyler slammed down the receiver. He went to find Clark. ', about that young woman who was here pretending she was my sistert ', sirt ' wouldn't say anything about it to the other members of the family. It would just upset them." understand, sir.
You're very thoughtful.' Julia walked over to the Ritz-Carlton for dinner. The hotel was beautiful, just as her mother had described it. On Sunday, I used to take the children there for brunch. Julia sat in the dining room and visualized her mother there at a table with young Tyler, Woody and Kendall. I wish I could have grown up with them,-Julia thought. But at least rm going the meet them now. She wondered whether her mother would have approved of what she was doing. Julia had been taken aback by Tyler's reception. He had seemed ... cold. But that's only natural, Julia thought. A stranger walks in and says, ' your sister.' Of course he would be suspicious. But rm sure I can convince them. When the check came, Julia stared at it in shock. I have to be careful, she thought. I have to have enough money left to take the bus back to Kansas. As she stepped outside the Ritz-Carlton, a tour bus was getting ready to leave. On an impulse, she boarded it- She wanted to see as much of her mother's city as she could. Hal Baker strode into the lobby of the Copley Square Hotel as though he belonged there and took the stairs to the fourth floor. This time there would be no mistake.
Room 419 was in the middle of the corridor. Hal Baker scanned the hallway to make sure no one was around, and knocked on the door. There was no answer. He knocked again. '. Stanfordt Still no answer. He took a small case from his pocket and selected a pick. It took him only seconds to open the door. Hal Baker stepped inside, closing the door behind him. The room was empty. '. Stanfordt He walked into the bathroom. Empty. He went back into the bedroom. He took a knife out of his pocket, moved a chair in back of the door, and sat in the dark, waiting. It was one hour later when he heard someone approaching. Hal Baker rose quickly and stodd behind the door, the knife in his hands. He heard the key turn in the lock, and the door started to'swing open* ' He raised the knife high over his head, ready to strike. Julia Stanford stepped in and pressed the light switch on. He heard her say, ' well. Come in.' A crowd of reporters poured into the room.
Chapter Twenty-five
it was Gordon Wellman, the night manager at the Copley Square Hotel, who inadvertently saved Julia! s life. He had come on duty at six o'clock that evening, and had automatically checked the hotel register, When he came across the name of Julia Stanford, he stared at it in surprise.
Ever since Harry Stanford had died, the newspapers had been full of stones about the Stanford family. They had dredged up the ancient scandal of Stanford's affair with the children's governess and the suicide of Stanford-s wife. Harry Stanford had an illegitimate daughter named Julia. There were rumors that she had come to Boston in secret.
Shortly after going on a shopping spree, she had reportedly left for South America. Now, it seemed that she was back. And she's staying at my hotel! Gordon Wellman thought excitedly. He turned to the front-desk clerk. ' you know how much publicity this could mean for the hotelt A minute later, he was on the telephone to the press. When Julia arrived back at the hotel after her sightseeing tour, the lobby was filled with reporters, - eagerly awaiting her. As soon as she walked into the lobby, they pounced. '. Stanford! I'm from the Boston Globe.
We've been looking for you, but we heard that you had left town. Could you tell us.. I T A television camera was pointed at her. '. Stanford, I'm with WCVB-TV. We'd like to get a statement from you ...". Stanford, I'm from the Boston Phoenix. We want to know your reaction to.
- ." this way, Miss. Stanford! Smile! Thank you.' Flashes were popping. Julia stood there, filled with confusion. Oh, my God, she thought. Thefainfly is going to think that rm some kind of publicity hound. She turned to the reporters. ''m sorry. I have nothing to say." She fled into the elevator. They piled in after her. ' magazine wants to do a story on your life, and what it feels like to be estranged from your family for over twenty-five years.' -Ve heard you had gone to South America." you planning to live in Boston ... T ' aren't you staying at Rose Hill ... T She got out of the elevator at the fourth floor and hurried down the corridor. They were at her heels.