"I don't understand this, Jasper. I know in the beginning it was the money. She wants her mine back and I can't say as I blame her, but surely she has enough now to hire an attorney."
"It was never the money," he informed her sadly. "She could have had every dime I have. No, it's something else that keeps her here and I'm not at liberty to explain. Just ask Gabe to keep a close watch on her when I'm not around."
"Are you planning on going somewhere?" she asked gently.
"Eventually I'm afraid I must. As you said, how long can I continue to let this go on?"
"Look," Jewel whispered, clutching his arm. "She's back down already and there's that strange, quiet man who comes every Thursday going up with her. He always has a book tucked under his arm. I wonder if he's a preacher. Wish I was a fly on the wall up there," she sighed.
"I have a better idea," Jasper said quickly. "Do you have a ladder?"
"Yes, it should be out behind the shed," Jewel replied with a grin. "Tell me you're not going to spy on her," she pleaded.
"Wish I could," he snapped as he hurried from the bar.
"What are you up to now?" Gabe asked, laying a heavy hand on Jewel's shoulder as she made to rise from the chair.
"Oh nothing, just thought I'd visit with Jasper for a bit, why?"
"You've got mischief written all over you," Gabe said, watching Jasper shoot through the door. "Let's take a little stroll outside."
"Um, I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not?" he asked suspiciously.
"Well, there's a lot of work to do in here," she answered, not meeting his eyes.
"I have a feeling we won't be gone very long," Gabe insisted, taking her hand and pulling her up. Slipping an arm around her waist he moved her toward the batwing doors. "A breath of fresh air will do you good."
"Somehow I don't think so," Jewel replied cryptically.
***
Crystal sat on her bed; her legs crossed enjoying the sound of Gerald's voice. A gentle breeze blew in through the open window. Leaving it open was a habit she recently adopted when the smoke from downstairs began to bother her.
"She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
She Walks In Beauty Like the Night—Lord Byron"
"Hell, he's reading her poetry," Jasper hissed, peering over the edge of the roof.
"What?" Jewel whispered from below. She ignored Gabe who stood with his arms crossed against his chest in disgust.
"I said he's reading poetry to her."
"Oh, how sweet," Jewel sighed. "Why don't you ever read poetry to me?" she demanded of Gabe. "It would really touch my heart," she said, placing her hand on her bosom.
"It's not your heart I'm interested in touching right now," he stated shaking his head. "Get down from there Montgomery," he called up.
Hearing strange whispers, Crystal bounded off the bed and went to the window. Pushing it all the way open, she climbed out onto the roof.
"Miss Crystal," Gerald scolded, his voice clearly alarmed. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to be out on the roof. Some of these buildings are all fa?ade and not as strong as you would think."
"I'll be fine, Gerald. Jasper, what in heaven's name do you think you're doing?" she demanded, peering over the edge and seeing him a few rungs down. "Oh," she gasped, stomping her foot. "You were spying on me! How long has this been going on?"
"I wasn't spying," Jasper insisted, glaring up at her. "I just thought I heard something strange and I wanted to check on you."
"The only strange thing around here is you," she snapped, leaning farther forward in her anger.
"Get inside," Jasper roared when he saw her teeter near the edge.
"Miss Crystal, please," Gerald pleaded, reaching for her.
"Gerald, you're an engineer," she said stiffly.
"Yes, I am."
"Good. Now I figure that ladder is about twenty feet high. Do you agree?"
"About that, yes," Gerald replied, inching closer to her.
"And Mr. Montgomery is down maybe four or five rungs."
"Yes, that's about right."
"What the hell are you getting at?" Jasper demanded, coming back up the ladder.
"The way I figure it, that horse trough over there is maybe eighteen or twenty feet away. If I give him a shove, he should pretty nearly make it, don't you agree?"
"Well gee, I can't say for sure, Miss Crystal without doing the calculations, but that sounds about right."
"Good!" Standing on the very edge of the roof, she took the top of the ladder in her hands and pushed it away from the building.
"Don't you dare," Jasper roared. "Get the hell back before you fall and break your fool neck."
"It's your neck you should be worried about," she hissed, giving another hard push. The force had her arms wind-milling and at the last moment Gerald wrapped a strong arm around her waist and prevented her from falling off. The ladder paused upright for a moment before toppling backward and Jasper hung on until he hit the cold water and was submerged in the trough. He climbed out spitting mad and soaked to the skin.