NOELLE AND CATHERINE
Athens: 1946
15
If it had not been for Noelle Page, Larry Douglas would have had no worries. He was
where he wanted to be, doing what he wanted to do. He enjoyed his job, the people he
met, and the man for whom he worked. On the ground his life was equally satisfactory.
When he was not flying, he spent a good part of his time with Catherine; but because
Larry’s job was so mobile, Catherine was not always aware of where he was, and Larry
found innumerable opportunities to go out on his own. He went to parties with Count
Pappas and Paul Metaxas, his copilot, and a satisfying number of them turned into orgies.
Greek women were filled with passion and fire. He had found a new one, Helena, a
stewardess who worked for Demiris, and when they had a stopover away from Athens, she
and Larry shared a hotel room. Helena was a beautiful, slim, dark-eyed girl, and insatiable.
Yes, everything considered, Larry Douglas decided that his life was perfect.
Except for Demiris’ blond bitch mistress.
Larry had not the slightest clue as to what made Noelle Page despise him, but
whatever it was, it was endangering his way of life. Larry had tried being polite, aloof,
friendly, and each time Noelle Page succeeded in making him look like a fool. Larry knew
that he could go to Demiris, but he had no illusions about what would happen if it came to
a choice between him and Noelle. Twice, he had arranged for Paul Metaxas to take over
Noelle’s flight but shortly before each flight Demiris’ secretary had telephoned to tell him
that Mr. Demiris would like to have Larry pilot her himself.
On an early morning in late November Larry received a call that he was to fly Noelle
Page to Amsterdam that afternoon. Larry checked with the airport and received a negative
report on the weather in Amsterdam. A fog was beginning to roll in and by afternoon they
expected zero visibility. Larry phoned Demiris’ secretary to tell her that it would be
impossible to fly to Amsterdam that day. The secretary said she would get back to him.
Fifteen minutes later she phoned to say that Miss Page would be at the airport at two
o’clock, ready to take off. Larry checked with the airport again, thinking that perhaps there
had been a break in the weather, but the report was the same.
“Jesus Christ,” Paul Metaxas exclaimed. “She must be in one hell of a hurry to get to
Amsterdam.”
But Larry had the feeling that Amsterdam was not the issue. This was a contest of
wills between the two of them. For all he cared Noelle Page could crash into a mountain
peak and good riddance, but Larry was damned if he was going to risk his own neck for
the stupid bitch. He tried to phone Demiris to discuss it with him, but he was in a meeting
and unavailable. Larry slammed down the phone, seething. He had no choice now but to