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Soap Opera "As The Mouse Moves" - Thursday July 12th 2001
"Pull over there and wait for me," Jan snapped as the taxi driver hit the brakes bringing the car to a quick stop at Central Park on Fifth Avenue near the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She opened the door of the cab and immediately felt the hot ninety degree air on her face as she slammed the door of the car and walked to the curb.
She opened her purse and took out a quarter cursing under her breath that she had left home without her cell phone. She put the quarter in the pay phone and dialed the number to Elizabeth's penthouse apartment on Fifth Avenue where she had just left. Even though she had stopped by Elizabeth's apartment unexpectedly and no one came to the door, she knew Elizabeth was there. She just knew in her heart that Skeeter was there too. His voice and accent were unmistakable when she had called that morning and heard him in the background on the phone before she hung up.
"Hello," Elizabeth answered.
"Elizabeth," Jan said surprised that the wealthy socialite that had once dated her Father was now answering her phone.
"Yes, this is Miss Ford," Elizabeth said formally suspecting that it was Jan that had called and hung up earlier.
"Elizabeth this is Jan Morgan."
"Jan darling how are you?" Elizabeth asked as her heart raced. She had seen Jan through her peephole a few minutes ago when she rang the doorbell at her apartment repeatedly. She almost didn't come to the door to check who was ringing the bell incessantly. Skeeter hadn't been in her apartment more than five minutes today before their status as casual acquaintances had become intimate. She and Skeeter had taken their first encounter from the balcony to the bedroom when the sun got to hot outside. They were heavily involved in her bedroom when the doorbell first rang.
"I'm great Elizabeth. I stopped by your apartment earlier this morning. Were you there?" Jan asked suspiciously.
"No. I was out shopping," she lied.
"Oh. I thought I heard music playing so I rang the doorbell a number of times," Jan said glancing towards the curb to be sure her cab was still waiting for her.
"I leave the music on sometimes. Why? Why on earth would you stop by darling?" Elizabeth said noticing that the water in the bathroom shower had turned off and Skeeter would probably soon be walking out.
"I lost an earring the other night and thought perhaps it might have been at your apartment when Skeeter and I stopped by," Jan said starting to perspire in the heat of the sun and stress.
"I haven't seen one. How many carats Darling?"
"Three," Jan lied.
"I'll look around. Would you like for me to call you Jan, if I find it darling?" she asked raising her voice so Skeeter would hear her as he walked into the living room wrapped in her plush gold bath towel.
"Yes please do call if you find it. It was very nice seeing you the other night. Skeeter and I enjoyed the visit," Jan said.
"Yes, Skeeter's a darling man," Elizabeth said as she watched Skeeter open her refrigerator door and search for beer. When he didn't find a beer he gave up and decided he'd never tried a bottle of mineral water as he listened silently to her conversation.
"Yes. Too bad he's married. Although he isn't of the social class of a man that I would ever be seriously involved with," Jan said listening intently for a reply.
"So Skeeter's just a diversion from your boredom darling?" Elizabeth asked watching Skeeter's eyes narrow as he listened.
"Yes. Ha!" Jan said feeling her face reddened in frustration.
"I'll phone you if my housekeeper finds your earring darling," Elizabeth said.
"Thanks," Jan said slamming the phone down.
She walked back towards the waiting taxi more frustrated. She opened the door of the air-conditioned car and slid into the back seat.
"Where to now? Gracie Mansion or back to Fifth Avenue," the driver asked as he checked to be sure that the meter was still running.
Jan glanced at her watch thinking her Father was probably still at Gracie Mansion talking with the Mayor. On the other hand, she knew Elizabeth was lying, so where was Skeeter now?
CONTINUED TOMORROW. MORE SOAP PICTURES BELOW.
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