rc.theladyinthelake-第21部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ion　or　hatred；　just　mit　them　and　walk　out。　Everything　I　have　heard　indicates　that　she　is　a　reckless　foolish　woman。　There's　no　sign　of　planning　in　any　of　the　scene　down　there。　There's　every　sign　of　a　plete　lack　of　planning。　But　even　if　there　wasn't　a　thing　down　there　to　point　to　your　wife；　the　cops　would　tie　her　up　to　Làvery。　They　wifi　investigate　his　background；　his　friends；　his　women。　Her　name　is　bound　to　crop　up　somewhere　along　the　line；　and　when　it　does；　the　fact　that　she　has　been　out　of　sight　for　a　month　will　make　them　sit　up　and　rub　their　horny　palms　with　glee。　And　of　course　they'll　trace　the　gun；　and　if　it's　her　gun〃　His　hand　dived　for'　the　gun　in　the　chair　beside　him。
　　〃Nope；〃　I　said。　〃They'll　have　to　have　the　gun。　Marlowe　may　be　a　very　smart　guy　and　very　fond　of　you　personally；　but　he　can't　risk　the　suppression　of　such　vital　evidence　as　the　gun　that　killed　a　man。　Whatever　I　do　has　to　be　on　the　basis　that　your　wife　is　an　obvious　suspect；　but　that　the　obviousness　can　be　wrong。〃　He　groaned　and　put　his　big　hand　out　with　the　gun　on　it。　I　took　it　and　put　it　away。　Then　I　took　it　out　again　and　said：　〃Lend　me　your　handkerchief。　I　don't　want　to　use　mine。　I　might　be　searched。〃　He　handed　me　a　stiff　white　handkerchief　and　I　wiped　the　gun　off　carefully　all　over　and　dropped　it　into　my　pocket。　I　handed　him　back　the　handkerchief。
　　〃My　prints　are　all　right；〃　I　said。　〃But　I　don't　want　yours　on　it。　Here's　the　only　thing　I　can　do。　Go　back　down　there　and　replace　the　gun　and　call　the　law。　Ride　it　out　with　them　and　let　the　chips　fall　where　they　have　to。　The　story　will　have　to　e　out。　What　I　was　doing　down　there　and　why。　At　the　worst　they'll　find　her　and　prove　she　killed　him。　At　the　best　they'll　find　her　a　lot　quicker　than　I　can　and　let　me　use　my　energies　proving　she　didn't　kill　him；　which　means；　in　effect；　proving　that　somebody　else　did。　Are　you　game　for　that？〃　He　nodded　slowly。　He　said：　〃Yes…and　the　five　hundred　stands。　For　showing　Crystal　didn't　kill　him。〃
　　〃I　don't　expect　to　earn　it；〃　I　said。　〃You　may　as　well　understand　that　now。　How　well　did　Miss　Fromsett　know　Lavery？　Out　of　office　hours？〃　His　face　tightened　up　like　a　charleyhorse。　His　fists　went　into　hard　lumps　on　his　thighs。　He　said　nothing。
　　〃She　looked　kind　of　queer　when　I　asked　her　for　his　address　yesterday　morning；〃　I　said。
　　He　let　a　breath　out　slowly。
　　〃Like　a　bad　taste　in　the　mouth；〃　I　said。　〃Like　a　ro。mance　that　fouled　out。　Am　I　too　blunt？〃　His　nostrils　quivered　a　little　and　his　breath　made　noise　in　them　for　a　moment。　Then　he　relaxed　and　said　quietly：　〃She…she　knew　him　rather　well…at　one　time。　She's　a　girl　who　would　do　about　what　she　pleased　in　that　way。　Lavery　was；　I　guess；　a　fascinating　bird…to　women。〃
　　〃I'll　have　to　talk　to　her；〃　I　said。
　　〃Why？〃　he　asked　shortly。　Red　patches　showed　in　his　cheeks。
　　〃Never　mind　why。　It's　my　business　to　ask　all　sorts　of　questions　of　all　sorts　of　people。〃
　　〃Talk　to　her　then；〃　he　said　tightly。　〃As'　a　matter　of　fact　she　knew　the　Almores。　She　knew　Almore's　wife；　the　one　who　killed　herself。　Lavery　knew　her　too。　Could　that　have　any　possible　connection　with　this　business？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　You're　in　love　with　her；　aren't　you？〃
　　〃I'd　marry　her　tomorrow；　if　I　could〃　he　said　stiffly。
　　I　nodded　and　stood　up。　I　looked　back　along　the　room。　It　was　almost　empty　now。　At　the　far　end　a　couple　of　elderly　relics　were　still　blowing　bubbles。　The　rest　of　the　soft　chair　boys　had　staggered　back　to　whatever　it　was　they　did　when　they　were　conscious。
　　〃There's　just　one　thing；〃　I　said；　looking　down　at　Kingsley。　〃Cops'　get　very　hostile　when　there　is　a　delay　in　calling　them　after　a　murder。　There's　been　delay　this　time　and　there　will　be　more。　I'd　like　to　go　down　there　as　if　it　was　the　first　visit　today。　I　think　I　can　make　it　that　way；　if　I　leave　the　Fallbrook　womamout。〃
　　〃Fallbrook？〃　He　hardly　knew　what　I　was　talking　about。　〃Who　the　hell…oh　yes；　I　remember。〃
　　〃Well；　don't　remember。　I'm　almost　certain　they'll　never　hear　a　peep　from　her。　She's　not　the　kind　to　have　anything　to　do　with　the　police　of　her　own　free　wifi。〃
　　〃I　understand；〃　he　said。
　　〃Be　sure　you　handle　it　right　then。　Questions　will　be　asked　you　_before_　you　are　told　Lavery　is　dead；　before　I'm　allowed　to　get　in　touch　with　you…so　far　as　they　know。　Don't　fall　into　any　traps。　If　you　do；　I　won't　be　able　to　find　anything　out。　I'll　be　in　the'　clink。〃
　　〃You　could　call　me　from　the　house　down　there…before　you　call　the　police；〃　he　said　reasonably。
　　〃I　know。　But　the　fact　that　I　don't　will　be　in　my　favor。　And　they'll　check　the　phone　calls　one　of　the　first　things　they　do。　And　if　I　call　you　from　anywhere　else；　I　might　just　as　well　admit　that　I　came　up　here　to　see　you。〃
　　〃I　understand；〃　he　said　again。　〃You　can　trust　me　to　handle　it。〃　We　shook　hands　and　I　left　him　standing　there。
　　
　　
　　18
　　
　　The　Athletic　Club　was　on　a　corner　across　the　street　and　half　a　block　down　from　the　Treloar　Building。　I　crossed　and　walked　north　to　the　entrance。　They　had　finished　laying　rose…colored　concrete　where　the　rubber　sidewalk　had　been。　It　was　fenced　around；　leaving　a　narrow　gangway　in　and　out　of　the　building。　The　space　was　clotted　with　office　help　going　in　from　lunch。
　　The　Gifierlain　pany's　reception　room　looked　even　emptier　than　the　day　before。　The　same　fluffy　little　blonde　was　tucked　in　behind　the　PBX　in　the　corner。　She　gave　me　a　quick　smile　and　I　gave　her　the　gunman's　salute；　a　stiff　forefinger　pointing　at　her；　the　three　lower　fingers　tucked　back　under　it；　and　the　thumb　wiggling　up　and　down　like　a　western　gun　fighter　fanning　his　hammer。　She　laughed　heartily；　without　making　a　sound。　This　was　more　fun　than　she　had　had　in　a　week。
　　I　pointed　to　Miss　Fromsett's　empty　desk　and　the　little　blonde　nodded　and　pushed　a　plug　in　and　spoke。　A　door　opened　and　Miss　Fromsett　swayed　elegantly　out　to　her　desk　and　sat　down　and　gave　me　her　cool　expectant　eyes。
　　〃Yes；　Mr。　Marlowe？　Mr。　Kingsley　is　not　in；　I'm　afraid。〃
　　〃I　just　came　from　him。　Where　do　we　talk？〃
　　〃Talk？〃
　　〃I　have　something　to　show　you。〃
　　〃Oh；　yes？〃　She　looked　me　over　thoughtfully。　A　lot　of　guys　had　probably　tried　to　show　her　things；　including　etchings。　At　another　time　I　wouldn't　have　been　above　taking　a　flutter　at　it　myself。
　　〃Business；〃　I　said。　〃Mr。　Kingsley's　business。〃　She　stood　up　and　opened　the　gate　in　the　railing。　〃We　may　as　well　go　into　his　office　then。〃　We　went　in。　She　held　the　door　for　me。　As　I　passed　her　I　sniffed。　Sandalwood。　I　said：　〃Gillerlain　Regal；　the　Champagne　of　Perfumes？〃　She　smiled　faintly；　holding　the　door。　〃On　my　salary？〃
　　〃I　didn't　say　anything　about　your　salary。　You　don't　look　like　a　girl　who　has　to　buy　her　own　perfume。〃
　　〃Yes；　that's　what　it　is；〃　she　said。　〃And　if　you　want　to　know；　I　detest　wearing　perfume　in　the　office。　He　makes　me。〃　We　went　down　the　long　dim　office　and　she　took　a　chair　at　the　end　of　the　desk。　I　sat　where　I　hid　sat　the　day　before。　We　looked　at　each　other。　She　was　wearing　tan　today；　with　a　ruffled　jabot　at　her　throat。　She　looked　a　little　warmer；　but　still　no　prairie　fire。
　　I　offered　her　one　of　Kingsley's　cigarettes。　She　took　it；　took　a　light　from　his　lighter；　and　leaned　back。
　　〃We　needn't　waste　time　being　cagey；〃　I　said。　〃You　know　by　now　who　I　am　and　what　I　am　doing。　If　you　didn't　know　yesterday　morning；　it's　only　because　he　loves　to　play　big　shot。〃　She　looked　down　at　the　hand　that　lay　on　her　knee；。　then　lifted　her　eyes　and　smiled　almost　shyly。
　　〃He's　a　great　guy；〃　she　said。　〃In　spite　of　the　heavy　executive　act　he　likes　to　put　on。　He's　the　only　guy　that　gets　fooled　by　it　after　all。　And　if　you　only　knew　what　he　has　stood　from　that　little　tramp〃…she　waved　her　cigarette〃well；　perhaps　I'd　better　leave　that　out。　What　was　it　you　wanted　to　see　me　about？〃
　　〃Kingsley　said　you　knew　the　Almores。〃
　　〃I　knew　Mrs。　Almore。　That　is；　I　met　her　a　couple　of　times。〃
　　〃Where？〃
　　〃At　a　friend's　house。　Why？〃
　　〃At　Lavery's　house？〃
　　〃You're　not　going　to　be　insolent；　are　you；　Mr。　Marlowe？〃
　　〃I　don't　know　what　your　definition　of　that　would　be。　I'm　going　to　talk　business　as　if　it　were　business；　not　international　diplomacy。〃
　　〃Very　well。〃　She　nodded　slightly。　〃At　Chris　Lavery's　house；　yes。　I　used　to　go　there…once　in　a　while。　He　had　cocktail　parties。〃
　　〃Then　Lavery　knew　the　Almores…or　Mrs。　Almore。〃　She　flushed　very　slightly。　〃Yes。　Quite　well。〃
　　〃And　a　lot　of　other　women…quite　well；　too。　I　don't　doubt　that。　Did　Mrs。　Kingsley　know　her　too？〃
　　〃Yes；　better　than　I　did。　They　called　each　other　by　their　first　names。　Mrs。　Almore　is　dead；　you　know。　She　cornmitted　suicide；　about　a　year　and　a　half　ago。〃
　　〃Any　doubt　about　that？〃　She　raised　her　eyebrows；　but　the　expression　looked　artificial　to　me；　as　if　it　just　went　with　the　question　I　asked；　as　a　matter　of　form。
　　She　said：　〃Have　you　any　particular　reason　for　asking　that　question　in　that　particular　way？　I　mean；　has　it　anything　to　do　with…with　what　you　are　doing？〃
　　〃I　didn't　think　so。　I　still　don't　know　that　it　has。　But　yesterday　Dr。　Almore　called　a　cop　just　because　I　looked　at　his　house。　After　he　had　found　out　from　my　car　license　who　I　was。　The　cop　got　pretty　tough　with　me；　just　for　being　there。　He　didn't　know　what　I　was　doing　and　I　didn't　tell　him　I　had　been　calling　on