He slowly read through the pages, then passed the pages back and did as she said. Again, he put his hand over his eyes. But not from pain, she thought. He was remembering something. At least she hoped he was.
"It's coming back," he said. Then he didn't speak for another few minutes. "I gave a copy to Sophie, and Corwin told me she lost it." Hepaused to munch a couple of pretzels, then said, "It was a book I wrote long ago and I was bringing her another. It was the last one I'd kept. What became of the rest of the book? Do you have any idea what it means to a writer to not have a single copy of the book he worked so hard on? To have it simply not exist anymore?"
"I understand it a little. I once completely lost chapter three of the book I'm working on. I hadn't printed it out and somehow I erased it. I spent a whole day trying to find it. They say nothing is ever completely gone from a computer, but I never found it."
"What did you do?"
"I rewrote it. And it was much better than before. As for your book, it's probably still in your van. The police have the original page. If you want me to call them and tell them to save it, I will."
"Please do. Take my car keys and see if the rest of the book is still in the van, would you?"
"Of course. But only if you eat the whole bowl of pretzels while I'm gone. Where is your van parked?"
"On the north side of the hotel. It's dark blue."
She rose quickly, meaning to take Shelley along. But she was afraid getting Shelley would take too much time. She didn't want Zac to disappear or become thoroughly drunk.
The moment she was out of the elevator, she called Mel and said, "Would you please save that page you faxed me?"
"Janey! What is this obsession?"
"I don't have time to explain. Please just take my word that it's important."
There was a long silence before he said, "You're meddling in something that's none of your business and probably dangerous, aren't you?"
"Not in the least. I must go. I'll get back to you later to explain."
She'd been making this promise to too many people in the last few minutes.
The parking lot was deserted and she harked back to Mel's accusation. She hurried to the van, unlocked it, hopped in, and relocked the doors while she hunted. She was still haunted by the dream she'd had last night. She could imagine the glass monster suddenly appearing in the window.
Finally she found the book half under the passenger seat. At least she assumed it was the right book. It had fallen to pieces. She stacked them up the best she could and dumped some newer books out of a plastic bag and put the old book in it.
Looking carefully to see who might be around, and finding the small lot behind the hotel still deserted, and no monster in view, she climbed out of the van, locked it back up, bolted for the front of the hotel, and took the elevator back to the top floor.
Zac was still where she'd left him. His normal color had returned. The bowl of pretzels was empty. He looked more alert and hadn't even finished the drink.
Jane put the plastic bag down on the table, and he all but fell on it. "Where did you find it?" "Under the front passenger seat."
"Why would I have put it there?" Zac asked himself. "I don't suppose I'll ever remember the reason."
"You don't have to," Jane assured him. "Better that than reliving the whole incident."
"How can I ever thank you enough?"
"Give me a good review without the words 'powder puff' in it, if I ever get published," Jane said with a smile. "Now tell me why putting this book in Sophie's hands was so important."
He did so.
After listening to his explanation, Jane said, "That was first on my list of suspicions. I think you, I, and my friend Shelley should make a point of finding Sophie Smith as quickly as we can. Are you feeling well enough to do that yet?"
Nineteen
"Stay right where you are, Zac," Jane said. "use my cell phone to call Sophie Smith while I find my friend Shelley."
When she completed the long gallop to the far end of the hall at practically the speed of light, she burst into the room and told Shelley what Zac had told her.
"I know all about it. I've been on the computer. I found Vernetta's e-pubbed book and did a search for an unusual phrase on your copy of the pages. I didn't know the work was Zac's though. She's plagiarized his book and probably plagiarized someone else's as well. I read part of the woman character's scenes and they're an entirely different style. Is Zac with you?"
"No. He's at the other end of the hall."
"Then I can be honest. The other person's work is good. Lots better than Zac's writing. Just as boring a concept, however. How did you figure out it was Zac's work?" Shelley asked.
"I don't have time to explain. I'll tell you all
about it later," Jane replied. "This is the third time I've said that to someone. Zac has my cell phone and is trying to reach Sophie Smith. He's in the bar at the far end of this hallway."
"There's a bar on this floor? I wish I'd known," Shelley said distractedly. She gathered up the pages she'd printed out on the little printer connected to her laptop.
They hurried down the hall. Jane introduced Shelley to Zac and asked him if he'd been able to reach Sophie.
"She's waiting for me. She doesn't know the two of you are coming along too."
"Are you feeling well enough to make it to her room? What's the number?" Shelley asked.
"It's on this floor," Zac said. "And I'm mad enough to run down there."
Corwin, Sophie's toadie, opened the door. "Hello, Zac. And who are you two?" he asked.
"Friends of Zac," Jane said, herding Zac and Shelley into the suite.
"Sophie, your visitors are here," Corwin called to her room.
Sophie emerged, dressed up to the hilt in a cobalt blue dress and matching heels. "What is this all about, Zac? And who are these two women you have with you?"
Zac looked at Jane, going somewhat pale again.
"Ms. Smith, I'm Jane Jeffry. This is my friend
Shelley Nowack. We're attending this conference.
My friend Mel VanDyne was the police officer
who was first on the scene of Zac's attack, and he told me Zac had been found with a page of a book in his hand. I asked for a copy of the page and showed it to Zac. It's from the book he gave you at the front desk when you arrived. A book he wrote under a pseudonym."
"Sit down," Sophie said, pointing to the dining room table. When they were all seated, she looked at Zac fiercely and asked, "Were you the one who stole it back?"
"No. Why would I? Someone else did and we think we know who it was. This is my very last copy and I want it returned before you leave," Zac said, pulling the cover and pages from the bag.
Jane looked at Shelley as Shelley handed over the printout.
"This is the same page, Ms. Smith. I found it on the Internet in Vemetta Strausmann's e-pubbed book. Read both copies."
"What in hell is this about? Why are you three taking up my valuable time?" Sophie nearly shouted.
"Read both my page and the printouts and you'll know," Zac said.
Sophie put the pages side by side, running a finger down each line in turn. She stared at the pages for a long time before looking up. "Who put this on the Internet?"
"Your Golden Pig," Zac said. "Vernetta Straus-mann."
Sophie Smith's face was contorted with rage.
"That arrogant woman. That utterly arrogant woman! She plagiarized. Probably the whole thing. Thank God we haven't paid her much yet. After all the publicity, how are we going to bury this, Corwin?"