The girl reached for a pad and pencil on the table next to her bed. She scribbled quickly for a moment, then handed it to Rosa.
She looked down at the paper and smiled.
"Tomorrow morning, after the bandage comes off."
David saw the sudden smile that leaped into the child's eyes.
Rosa turned to him as they walked down the corridor.
"We can go back to your mother's now."
"That was a pretty little girl," he said as they waited for the elevator.
"Yes."
"What was the matter with her?"
She looked at him. "Harelip," she said. "The child was born with it." A note of quiet pride came into her voice. "Now she'll be just like anyone else. No one will stare at her or laugh when she talks."
The door opened and they stepped into the elevator.
David pressed the button and the door closed.
He noticed the note the girl had given Rosa still in her hand.
He took it from her. It was in a childish scrawl.
"When will I be able to talk?"
He looked at Rosa.
"It must make you feel good."
She nodded.
"Plastic surgery isn't all nose jobs, or double-chin corrections for movie stars.
The important part is helping people so they can live normal lives. Like Mary up there.
You've no idea how a deformity like that can affect a child's life."
A new respect for her grew in him as they crossed the lobby toward the front door.
The doorman touched his cap.
"I'll get your car, sir."
As he ran down the steps and crossed over to the parking lot, a big limousine came to a stop in front of them.
David glanced at it casually, then turned toward Rosa. He pulled a package of cigarettes from his pocket. "Cigarette, Rosa?"
He heard the limousine door open behind him as Rosa took the cigarette. He put one in his own mouth and held a light for her.
"You wanted to see me, David?"
David spun around, almost dropping his lighter.
He saw the white blur of a shirt, then a head and shoulders appeared in the open doorway of the limousine.
It was Jonas Cord.
David stared at him silently. Involuntarily David glanced at Rosa. There was a strange look in her eyes.
He thought she might be frightened and his hand reached out for her.
Jonas' voice was a quiet chuckle behind him. "It's all right, David," he said. "You can bring Rosa with you."
12.
Rosa sank back onto the seat in the corner of the limousine.
She glanced at David sitting next to her, then at Jonas.
It was dark inside the car and occasionally the light from an overhead street lamp would flicker across Jonas' face as he sat facing them on the jump seat, his long legs stretched across the Tonen.
"How is your father, Rosa?"
"He is fine, Mr. Cord. He speaks of you often." She sensed rather than saw his smile. "Give him my best when you see him."
"I will do that, Mr. Cord," she said.
The big automobile picked up speed as they came out on the Coast Highway.
Rosa glanced out of the window.
They were going north toward Santa Barbara, away from Los Angeles.
"McAllister said you wanted to see me, David."
She felt David stir on the seat beside her. He leaned forward.
"We've gone about as far as we can on our own, Jonas. If we're to go any further, we'll need your O.K."
Jonas' voice was emotionless. "Why go any further?" he asked. "I'm satisfied with the way things are.
You've eliminated your operating losses and from now on, you should be in the black." "We won't stay in the black for long.
The unions are demanding increases or they'll strike.