It's a long way

A few minutes later George saw his poker pal exit the elevator and walk briskly across the lobby and through the revolving door. He looked at his watch and returned to reading his paper.  About an hour later, Carroll appeared and sat down beside him. “Anything happening?”

      “Well my poker pal left here about an hour ago and looked like he was on a fast trip to somewhere.”

      “Interesting” said Carroll “His people must have contacted him or he’s out for an evening’s entertainment.”

      With that, the door to the elevator opened and Sharp and the girl entered the lobby. It looked like they were going for an evening walk. Carroll said “I’ll go--- you stay and let’s find out where Spitzbart went.”

Chapter 10 – Flo Bert

      Flo Bert’s voice had an amazing bell like tone that charmed both Sharpe and the girl.  As she sang her way through a half dozen songs, the girl watched her carefully and then turned and whispered to Sharp “We will have to go back stage to see her”

      Sharp followed her to the lobby and then out the front door. They circled the great wedding cake of a building and finally found a sign that said “stage entrance”. Sharp slowly opened the door and as luck would have it, the stool usually occupied by the doorman, was vacant. Quickly pulling the girl after him, he entered and followed the signs again, went toward the “dressing rooms”.  Noticing that each dressing room had the artist’s name in a small card holder they looked at one door after another.

      “Here she is” the girl whispered

      Sharp knuckled the door and then stepped through as there was no response. A few moments later they heard the music on stage swell to a finish and then the crowd roaring it’s approval.  Moments later the door knob turned and in stepped the famous singer.

      “Who are you people and what do you think you’re doing in my room? “  she said as she saw them. She didn’t seem surprised, as though people showed up in her room all the time.

      Sharp raised both his hands and said “This girl needs to talk to your boss”

      “He’s not here, but I expect him in about 15 minutes”

      The girl looked at the singer and then taking a deep breath said “Does your boss have a name?”

      “You want to talk to him and you don’t know his name. What is this about? Who are you people?”

      “I know you give concerts for the soldiers going overseas”, said the girl, “It’s to do with the war and I wonder if he’s the man I need to talk to”

      Sharp said “I’m Major Sharp of the 21^st Btn on assignment. We could really use your help”

      “Well, if it’s for the war”, Flo hesitated, “I’m have some tea coming up, or something stronger if you wish, please let’s wait for Simpson”

      A few minutes, the door opened and a bustling little bald headed man scurried into the room. “This is Cedric Simpson” informed Flo. “These folks want to see you. Something about the war”

      Simpson looked at Sharp and then at the girl. “Yes”, he said.

      The girl swallowed and then said “Do you know It’s a Long Way to Tipperary?”

      Simpson smiled and said “Of course everyone knows that song. It was written by a lady in Kingston Canada. The troops all sing it. Why do you ask?”

      The girl hesitated, and then said “Oh”

      Simpson frowned and said “What’s going on here?” and reaching for a telephone got the house operator and said “Mike, we’ve got some people in Miss Bert’s dressing room. Could you send security up here to get rid of them”

      As the stage door opened, Carroll saw the girl and Sharp thrust out into the alley. They stood dejected and confused. He followed them as they slowly walked back to the hotel and watched as they entered the elevator.

      He turned and found George standing beside him.

      “Looks like they are disappointed about something “ said George

      “They got thrown out of the Hippodrome stage door”, said Murdoch, “but I don’t know why”

      “I followed Goatee and finally caught up to him outside the Hippodrome. He bought a ticket and then I noticed that he was following our pair. I sat a few rows behind him and he just sat and watched Sharpe and her. They left just after that singer finished, what’s her name…Flo something”

      “Flo Bert”, said Murdoch, “I was there too”

      “What could they all be doing at the Hippodrome?”

      “We will have to see what happens tomorrow. Where did Goatee end up?”

      George grinned and said “He followed them but when they went in the stage door and he tried to follow, the guard stopped him. He then headed for a German club a couple of streets over from the Hippodrome. He looked like he was setting in for an evening of beer and sauerbraten when I left.”

      “OK George, lets get some sleep and start on this again tomorrow. Our charges are in their room and I don’t think they will be headed out again tonight.”