rc.theladyinthelake-第27部分

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e　an　honest　mistake　about　your　daughter's　death；　they　would　hate　to　have　Talley　show　them　up。　It　might　mean　several　lost　jobs。　If　they　thought　what　he　was　really　after　was　blackmail；　they　wouldn't　be　too　fussy　about　how　they　took　care　of　him。　Where　is　Talley　now？　What　is　all　boils　down　to　is　that　if　there　was　any　solid　clue；　he　either　had　it　or　was　on　the　track　of　it　and　knew　what　he　was　looking　for。〃　Grayson　said：　〃We　don't　know　where　he　is。　He　got　six　months；　but　that　expired　long　ago。〃
　　〃How　about　his　wife？〃　He　looked　at　his　own　wife。　She　said　briefly：　〃16181/2　Westmore　Street；　Bay　City。　Eustace　and　I　sent　her　a　little　money。　She　was　left　bad　off。〃　I　made　a　note　of　the　address　and　leaned　back　in　my　chair　and　said：　〃Somebody　shot　Lavery　this　morning　in　his　bathroom。〃　Mrs。　Grayson's　pudgy　hands　became　still　on　the　edges　of　the　basket。　Grayson　sat　with　his　mouth　open；　holding　his　pipe　in　front　of　it。　He　made　a　noise　of　clearing　his　throat　softly；　as　if　in　the　presence　of　the　dead。　Nothing　ever　moved　slower　than　his　old　black　pipe　going　back　between　his　teeth。
　　〃Of　course　it　would　be　too　much　to　expect；〃　he　said　and　let　it　hang　in　the　air　and　blew　a　little　pale　smoke　at　it；　and　then　added；　〃that　Dr。　Almore　had　any　connection　with　that。〃
　　〃I'd　like　to　think　he　had；〃　I　said。　〃He　certainly　lives　at　a　handy　distance。　The　police　think　my　client's　wife　shot　him。　They　have　a　good　case　too；　when　they　find　her。　But　if　Almore　had　anything　to　do　with　it；　it　must　surely　arise　out　of　your　daughter's　death。　That's　why　I'm　trying　to　find　out　something　about　that。〃　Grayson　said：　〃A　man　who　has　done　one　murder　wouldn't　have　more　than　twenty…five　per　cent　of　the　hesitation　in　doing　another。〃　He　spoke　as　if　he　had　given　the　matter　considerable　study。
　　I　said：　〃Yeah；　maybe。　What　was　supposed　to　be　the　motive　for　the　first　one？〃
　　〃Florence　was　wild；〃　he　said　sadly。　〃A　wild　and　difficult　girl。　She　was　wasteful　and　extravagant；　always　picking　up　new　and　rather　doubtful　friends；　talking　too　much　and　too　loudly；　and　generally　acting　the　fool。　A　wife　like　that　can　be　very　dangerous　to　a　man　like　Albert　S。　Almore。　But　I　don't　believe　that　was　the　prime　motive；　was　it；　Lettie？〃　He　looked　at　his　wife；　but　she　didn't　look　at　him。　She　jabbed　a　darning　needle　into　a　round　ball　of　wool　and　said　nothing。
　　Grayson　sighed　and　went　on：　〃We　had　reason　to　believe　he　was　carrying　on　with　his　office　nurse　and　that　Florence　had　threatened　him　with　a　public　scandal。　He　couldn't　have　anything　like　that；　could　he？　One　kind　of　scandal　might　too　easily　lead　to　another。〃　I　said：　〃How　did　he　do　the　murder？〃
　　〃With　morphine；　of　course。　He　always　had　it；　he　always　used　it。　He　was　an　expert　in　the　use　of　it。　Then　when　she　was　in　a　deep　a　he　would　have　placed　her　in　the　garage　and　started　the　car　motor。　There　was　no　autopsy；　you　know。　But　if　there　had　been；　it　was　known　that　she　had　been　given　a　hypodermic　injection　that　night。〃　I　nodded　and　he　leaned　back　satisfied　and　ran　his　hand　over　his　head　and　down　his　face　and　let　it　fall　slowly　to　his　bony　knee。　He　seemed　to　have　given　a　lot　of　study　to　this　angle　too。
　　I　looked　at　them。　A　couple　of　elderly　people　sitting　there　quietly；　poisoning　their　minds　with　hate；　a　year　and　a　half　after　it　had　happened。　They　would　like　it　if　Almore　had　shot　Lavery。　They　would　love　it。　It　would　warm　them　clear　down　to　their　ankles。
　　After　a　pause　I　said：　〃You're　believing　a　lot　of　this　because　you　want　to。　It's　always　possible　that　she　mitted　suicide；　and　that　the　cover…up　was　partly　to　pro…。　tect　Condy's　gambling　club　and　partly　to　prevent　Almore　having　to　be　questioned　at　a　public　hearing。〃
　　〃Rubbish；〃　Grayson　said　sharply。　〃He　murdered　her　all　right。　She　was　in　bed；　asleep。〃
　　〃You　don't　know　that。　She　might　have　been　taking　dope　herself。　She　might　have　established　a　tolerance　for　it。　The　effect　wouldn't　last　long　in　that　case。　She　might　have　got　up　in　the　middle　of　the　night　and　looked　at　herself　in　the　glass　and　seen　devils　pointing　at　her。　These　things　happen。〃
　　〃I　think　you　have　taken　up　enough　of　our　time；〃　Grayson　said。
　　I　stood　up。　I　thanked　them　both　and　made　a　yard　towards　the　door　and　said：　〃You　didn't　do　anything　more　about　it　after　Talley　was　arrested？〃
　　〃Saw　an　assistant　district　attorney　named　Leach；〃　Grayson　grunted。　〃Got　exactly　nowhere。　He　saw　nothing　to　justify　his　office　in　interfering。　Wasn't　even　interested　in　the　narcotic　angle。　But　Condy's　place　was　closed　up　about　a　month　later。　That　might　have　e　out　of　it　somehow。〃
　　〃That　was　probably　the　Bay　City　cops　throwing　a　little　smoke。　You'd　find　Condy　somewhere　else；　if　you　knew　where　to　look。　With　all　his　original　equipment　intact。〃　I　started　for　the　door　again　and　Grayson　hoisted　himself　out　of　his　chair　and　dragged　across　the　room　after　me。　There　was　a　flush　on　his　yellow　face。
　　〃I　didn't　mean　to　be　rude；〃　he　said。　〃I　guess　Lettie　and　I　oughtn't　to　brood　about　this　business　the　way　we　do。〃
　　〃I　think　you've　both　been　very　patient；〃　I　said。　〃Was　there　anybody　else　involved　in　all　this　that　we　haven't　mentioned　by　name？〃　He　shook　his　head；　then　looked　back　at　his　wife。　Her　hands　were　motionless　holding　the　current　sock　on　the　darning　egg。　Her　head　was　tilted　a　little　to　one　side。　Her　attitude　was　of　listening；　but　not　to　us。
　　I　said：　〃The　way　I　got　the　story；　Dr。　Almore's　office　nurse　put　Mrs。　Almore　to　bed　that　night。　Would　that　be　the　one　he　was　supposed　to　be　playing　around　with？〃　Mrs。　Grayson　said　sharply：　〃Wait　a　minute。　We　never　saw　the　girl。　But　she　had　a　pretty　name。　Just　give　me　a　minute。〃　We　gave　her　a　minute。　〃Mildred　something；〃　she　said；　and　snapped　her　teeth。
　　I　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Would　it　be　Mildred　Haviland；　Mrs。　Grayson？〃　She　smiled　brightly　and　nodded。　〃Of　course；　Mildred　Haviland。　Don't　you　remember；　Eustace？〃　He　didn't　remember。　He　looked　at　us　like　a　horse　that　has　got　into　the　wrong　stable。　He　opened　the　door　and　said：　〃What　does　it　matter？〃
　　〃And　you　said　Talley　was　a　small　man；〃　I　bored　on。　〃He　wouldn't　for　instance　be　a　big　loud　bruiser　with　an　overbearing　manner？〃
　　〃Oh　no；〃　Mrs。　Grayson　said。　〃Mr。　Talley　is　a　man　of　not　more　than　medium　height；　middle…aged；　with　brownish　hair　and　a　very　quiet　voice。　He　had　a　sort　of　worried　expression。　I　mean；　he　looked　as　if　he　always　had　it。〃
　　〃Looks　as　if　he　needed　it；〃　I　said。
　　Grayson　put　his　bony　hand　out　and　I　shook　it。　It　felt　like　shaking　hands　with　a　towel　rack。
　　〃If　you　get　him；〃　he　said　and　clamped　his　mouth　hard　on　his　pipe　stem；　〃call　back　with　a　bill。　If　you　get　Almore；　I　mean；　of　course。〃　I　said　I　knew　he　meant　Almore；　but　that　there　wouldn't　be　any　bill。
　　I　went　back　along　the　silent　hallway。　The　self…operating　elevator　was　carpeted　in　red　plush。　It　had　an　elderly　perfume　in　it；　like　three　widows　drinking　tea。
　　
　　
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　　The　house　on　Westmore　Street　was　a　small　frame　bungalow　behind　a　larger　house。　There　was　no　number　visible　on　the　smaller　house；　but　the　one　in　front　showed　a　stencilled　1618　beside　the　door；　with　a　dim　light　behind　the　stencil。　A　narrow　concrete　path　led　along　under　windows　to　the　house　at　the　back。　It　had　a　tiny　porch　with　a　single　chair　on　it。　I　stepped　up　on　the　porch　and　rang　the　bell。
　　It　buzzed　not　very　far　oft。　The　front　door　was　open　behind　the　screen　but　there　was　no　light。　From　the　darkness　a　querulous　voice　said：　〃What　is　it？〃　I　spoke　into　the　darkness。　〃Mr。　Talley　in？〃　The　voice　became　flat　and　without　tone。　〃Who　wants　him？〃
　　〃A　friend。〃　The　woman　sitting　inside　in　the　darkness　made　a　vague　sound　in　her　throat　which　might　have　been　amusement。　Or　she　might　just　have　been　clearing　her　throat。
　　〃All　right；〃　she　said。　〃How　much　is　this　one？〃
　　〃It's　not　a　bill；　Mrs。　Talley。　I　suppose　you　are　Mrs。　Talley？〃
　　〃Oh；　go　away　and　let　me　alone；〃　the　voice　said。　〃Mr。　Talley　isn't　here。　He　hasn't　been　here。　He　won't　be　here。〃　I　put　my　nose　against　the　screen　and　tried　to　peer　into　the　room。　I　could　see　the　vague　outlines　of　its　furniture。　From　where　the　voice　came　from　also　showed　the　shape　of　a　couch。　A　woman　was　lying　on　it。　She　seemed　to　be　lying　on　her　back　and　looking　up　at　the　ceiling。　She　was　quite　motionless。
　　〃I'm　sick；〃　the　voice　said。　〃I've　had　enough　trouble。　Go　away　and　leave　me　be。〃　I　said：　〃I've　just　e　from　talking　to　the　Graysons。〃　There　was　a　little　silence；　but　no　movement；　then　a　sigh。　〃I　never　heard　of　them。〃　I　leaned　against　the　frame　of　the　screen　door　and　looked　back　along　the　narrow　walk　to　the　street。　There　was　a　car　across　the　way　with　parking　lights　burning。　There　were　other　cars　along　the　block。
　　I　said：　〃Yes；　you　have；　Mrs。　Talley。　I'm　working　for　them。　They're　still　in　there　pitching。　How　about　you？　Don't　you　want　something　back？〃　The　voice　said。　〃I　want　to　be　let　alone。〃
　　〃I　want　information；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　going　to　get　it。　Quietly　if　I　can。　Loud；　if　it　can't　be　quiet。〃　The　voice　said：　〃Another　copper；　eh？〃
　　〃You　know　I'm　not　a　copper；　Mrs。　Talley。　The　Graysons　wouldn't　talk　to　a　copper。　Call　them　up　and　ask　them。〃
　　〃I　never　heard　of　them；〃　the　voice　said。　〃I　don't　have　a　phone；　if　I　knew　them。　Go　away；　copper。　I'm　sick。　I've　been　sick　for　a　month。〃
　　〃My　name　is　Marlowe；〃　I　said。　〃Philip　Marlowe。　Fm　a　private