Lya returned to the suite at the Waldorf and woke up Nell. She was recounting the horrible events of the evening when Rupert arrived. After hearing about their brush with death, he called the office of Half-Truths and Lies and sent the police beat reporter to the Ju-Ju House. Nell and Rupert then took a taxi to Mt. Sinai hospital to check on Alisa and Dan'l.
At the hospital, they found that Alisa and Dan'l were not allowed visitors until the doctor had seen them. Regarding payment, they were told that Alisa had pre-paid a large amount of cash when she was admitted. Nell left a change of clothes for Alisa at the desk. When they were leaving, they noticed a man with a badge asking at the desk about Alisa and Dan'l.
Nell and Rupert arrived at the Ju-Ju House to find it engulfed in flame, with the fire department already on the scene. The police had cordoned off the area, but Rupert used his press ID to get closer to the scene. He found Lt. Martin Poole directing police operations. Rupert found his beat reporter interviewing Poole, who said that the Ju-Ju House had been the headquarters of an organized crime outfit in Harlem, involved in bootlegging, drugs, and gambling. A pre-dawn police raid had resulted in a gun battle and a fire, probably set off by the stockpiles of liquor inside. Nell, meanwhile, took photographs of the blazing Ju-Ju House and the people watching from nearby tenements. The two investigators then walked over to a pay phone in front of Fat Maybelle's and called for a taxi.
Meanwhile, Lya was just getting to sleep when the phone rang - it was Rupert and Nell phoning from the hospital. She settled down to sleep again when the phone rang - it was Jonah Kensington. He informed her that Jackson Elias' cousin had finally arrived from San Francisco. As executor of the will, Jonah arranged for her to receive Jackson's personal effects. A memorial service was scheduled for Sunday at 2 PM at St. John's church.
Concerned about Alisa and Dan'l, Nell returned to Mt. Sinai hospital. She was told that the doctor had seen Alisa and that she would probably be released on Saturday. Dan'l had been more severely injured and his prognosis was uncertain. Nell went to visit Alisa (with the change of clothes) and found her determined to leave the hospital. When she tried to get past a nurse, orderlies were summoned who strapped her into bed. A doctor then gave Alisa a sedative. Nell managed to evade the orderlies and returned after about a half hour. She found that the injection had had no effect on Alisa and she was already partially out of the restraints. The two then left the hospital via the fire escape and caught a taxi back to the Waldorf.
Lya and Alisa spent the rest of the day resting, while Nell developed her photos. Later that afternoon, they ordered room service to bring up "comfort food" - eggs for Lya, steak for Alisa.
Rupert visited the newspaper office and talked with the beat reporter. He was told that the police were not talking about the raid on the Ju-Ju House because it might reveal their methods for combatting organized crime. Rupert directed the reporter to write the story in a way that made the police look good. He then sent a cable to Charles Fort in London.
That evening, an account of
the raid on the Ju-Ju House appeared in New York Half-Truths and Lies.
Two policemen were reported killed, with their funerals scheduled for Monday
morning at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Prompted by the news account,
Professor Fairwether called. He advised them to be much more cautious
in the future. When told of the planned voyage to London, he said
he would accompany them - his job at NYU was so stressful that he needed
a restful trip abroad.
The next morning, Rupert went to the morgue and attempted to bribe the attendants into letting him examine the bodies of the policemen killed at the Ju-Ju House. They refused.
Alisa called the hotel doctor and had her bandages changed. She then sent a notarized letter to the hospital, requesting that her belongings be sent to the hotel.
While Nell was out purchasing first aid and photographic supplies, Alisa and Lya discussed the events at the Ju-Ju House. Alisa said she remembered nothing after the assault near Fat Maybelle's (including driving the police car to the hospital). She had been interviewed at the hospital by a police investigator who told her that the whole thing had been a robbery.
When Nell returned, the trio went to Bloomingdale's to purchase appropriate attire for the Opera Gala. Lya purchased a dark, curly wig and makeup, as well as several pairs of shoes and boots. Alisa purchased a gown that would concearl her bandages, as well as a new cloth coat. She then went by a gun store and purchased three 9mm Browning semi-automatic revolvers and signed up for lessons at a gun club.
Rupert went to the hospital and found that Dan'l was now allowed visitors. The doctor expected him to make a full recovery but that he would not be released for several days. Rupert confirmed that Danl's effects were being safeguarded by the hospital.
After returning to the hotel, Alisa phoned a widowed client and gave her the extra ticket for the Opera Gala (Rupert already had one). After napping, she had her hair styled. Lya had a massage, then tried on her wig and applied makeup to give her a swarthy complexion. She was now determined to use a disguise whenever possible.
At 5 PM, Rupert and Alisa took a cab to the Metropolitan Opera House, where they enjoyed a performance of Aida, conducted by Toscanini. Lya and Nell arrived somewhat later, in the guise of society reporter and photographer covering the social event. Nell set up her equipment and backdrop in the reception room. After the second intermission, they noticed Erica Carlyle and Ambassador Albertini supervising the final arrangements for the gala.
After the final curtain calls, the cream of New York society gathered in the Vanderbilt Room for the Opera Gala. After a welcoming speech (in Italian) by the Met managing director (Giovanni Gatti), Erica Carlyle thanked the guests for their support of NY opera. The guests then dined on the finest cuisine or danced to elegant music, as they pleased. Domestic or imported sparkling "water" flowed freely.
Rupert and Alisa met the Governor of New York, Al Smith, whom Rupert suggested should run for President, and a gladhanding State Senator named Jimmy Walker, who was already lining up support for the next mayoral race. They also conversed briefly with Toscanini, despite the language barrier.
Nell photographed many celebrities, including William Randolph Hearst and his wife (the one in New York). Lya interviewed Hearst as well as other noteworthies. The Italian ambassador discussed the progress of archeological excavations in Rome and the great strides made in civilizing Libya.
Alisa continued to expand her range of business contacts, exchanging pleasantries with Charles Schwab (Bethlehem Steel) and J.P. Morgan, Jr. (leading banker of the time). Despite her wounds, she found the strength to dance a slow waltz with the director of the New York and New Haven railroad. Rupert found a Civil War veteran (aged 82) to swap war stories with.
Erica Carlyle and Ambassador Albertini thanked Alisa for her generous contribution to the Opera fund. Alisa used the opportunity to set up a meeting to discuss investments with Erica the next week at her Wall Street offices. Erica told her that she was helping finance a new Fiat motorcar factory near Turin. The Italian ambassador urged Alisa to visit Rome on her European vacation. He also advised her to take an Italian steamship when traveling to Egypt, because they are the fastest and most modern steamships in the Mediterranean.
After the gala, Nell and Lya went by the newpaper office and dropped
off the film and story.
