TITANIC: A STORY TOLD
Chapter Twenty-Four
With time, the wrinkled, weathered landscape
of age had appeared around Rose’s eyes. But the eyes themselves were the same.
"After all these years, I can still feel
it closing around my throat like a dog collar. I can still feel its weight. If
you could have felt it, not just seen it..."
"Well, that’s the general idea, my
dear." Lovett was getting impatient.
"So let me get this right. You were
gonna kill yourself by jumping off the Titanic?" Bodine guffawed.
"That’s great!"
Lovett spoke warningly. "Lewis..."
But Rose laughed with Bodine.
Bodine was still laughing. "All you had
to do was wait two days!"
Lovett, standing out of Rose’s sight line,
checked his watch. Hours had passed. This process was taking too long.
"Rose, tell us more about the diamond.
What did Hockley do with it after that?"
"I’m afraid I’m feeling a little tired,
Mr. Lovett."
Lizzy picked up the cue and started to wheel
her out.
"Wait! Can you give us something to go
on, here? Like who had access to the safe. What about this Lovejoy guy? The
valet. Did he have the combination?"
"That’s enough." Lizzy spoke
sharply.
Lizzy took Rose out. Rose’s old hand
reappeared at the doorway in a frail wave good-bye.