rc.theladyinthelake-第35章

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was　a　little　superficial。〃
　　〃And　who　was　in　charge　of　it？〃　I　asked。
　　〃I　think　you　know　the　answer　to　that。〃
　　〃When　the　police　came；　didn't　they　notice　that　a　slipper　was　missing？〃
　　〃When　the　police　came　there　was　no　slipper　missing。　You　must　remember　that　Dr。　Almore　was　back　at　his　home；　in　response　to　Lavery's　call；　before　the　police　were　called。　All　we　know　about　the　missing　shoe　is　from　Talley　himself。　He　might　have　taken　the　unworn　shoe　from　the　house。　The　side　door　was　unlocked。　The　maids　were　asleep。　The　objection　to　that　is　that　he　wouldn't；　have　been　likely　to　know　there　was　an　unworn　slipper'　to　take。　I　wouldn't　put　it　past　him　to　think　of　it。　He's　a　sharp　sneaky　little　devil。　But　I　can't　fix　the　necessary　knowledge　on　him。〃　We　sat　there　and　looked　at　each　other；　thinking　about　it。
　　〃Unless；〃　Webber　said　slowly；　〃we　can　suppose　that　this　nurse　of　Almore's　was　involved　with　Talley　in　a　scheme　to　put　the　bite　on　Almore。　It's　possible。　There　are　things　in　favor　of　it。　There　are　more　things　against　it。　What　reason　have　you　for　claiming　that　the　girl　drowned　up　in　the　mountains　was　this　nurse？〃
　　〃Two　reasons；　neither　one　conclusive　separately；　but　pretty　powerful　taken　together。　A　tough　guy　who　looked　and　acted　like　Deganno　was　up　there　a　few　weeks　ago　showing　a　photograph　of　Mildred　Haviland　that　looked　something　like　Muriel　Chess。　Different　hair　and　eyebrows　and　so　on；　but　a　fair　resemblance。　Nobody　helped　him　much。　He　called　himself　De　Soto　and　said　he　was　a　Los　Angeles　cop。　There　isn't　any　Los　Angeles　cop　named　De　Soto。　When　Muriel　Chess　heard　about　it；　she　looked　scared。　If　it　was　Degarmo；　that's　easily　established。　The　other　reason　is　that　a　golden　anklet　with　a　heart　on　it　was　hidden　in　a　box　of　powdered　sugar　in　the　Chess　cabin。　It　was　found　after　her　death；　after　her　husband　had　been　arrested。　On　the　back　of　the　heart　was　engraved：　_Al　to　Mildred。　June　28th；　1938。　With　all　my　love_。〃
　　〃It　could　have　been　some　other　Al　and　some　other　Mildred；〃　Webber　said。
　　〃You　don't　really　believe　that；　captain。〃　He　leaned　forward　and　made　a　hole　in　the　air　with　his　forefinger。　〃What　do　you　want　to　make　of　all　this　exactly？〃
　　〃I　want　to　make　it　that　Kingsley's　wife　didn't　shoot　Lavery。　That　his　death　had　something　to　do　with　the　Almore　business。　And　with　Mildred　Haviland。　And　possibly　with　Dr。　Almore。　I　want　to　make　it　that　Kingsley's　wife　disappeared　because　something　happened　that　gave　her　a　bad　fright；　that　she　may　or　may　not　have　guilty　knowledge；　but　that　she　hasn't　murdered　anybody。　There's　five　hundred　dollars　in　it　for　me；　if　I　can　determine　that。　It's　legitimate　to　try。〃　He　nodded。　〃Certainly　it　is。　And　I'm　the　man　that　would　help　you；　if　I　could　see　any　grounds　for　it。　We　haven't　found　the　woman；　but　the　time　has　been　very　short。　But　I　can't　help　you　put　something　on　one　of　my　boys。〃　I　said：　〃I　heard　you　call　Degarmo　Al。　But　I　was　thinking　of　Almore。　His　name's　Albert。〃　Webber　looked　at　his　thumb。　〃But　he　was　never　married　to　the　girl；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Degarmo　was。　I　can　tell　you　she　led　him　a　pretty　dance。　A　lot　of　what　seems　bad　in　him　is　the　result　of　it。〃　I　sat　very　still。　After　a　moment　I　said：　〃I'm　beginning　to　see　things　I　didn't　know　existed。　What　kind　of　a　girl　was　she？〃。
　　〃Smart；　smooth　and　no　good。　She　had　a　way　with　men。　She　could　make　them　crawl　over　her　shoes。　The　big　boob　would　tear　your　head　off　right　now；　if　you　said　anything　against　her。　She　divorced　him；　but　that　didn't　end　it　for　him。〃
　　〃Does　he　know　she　is　dead？〃　Webber　sat　quiet　for　a　long　moment　before　he　said：　〃Not　from　anything　he　has　said。　But　how　could　he　help　it；　if　it's　the　same　girl？〃
　　〃He　never　found　her　in　the　mountains…so　far　as　we　know。〃　I　stood　up　and　leaned　down　on　the　desk。　〃Look；　captain；　you're　not　kidding　me；　are　you？〃
　　〃No。　Not　one　damn　bit。　Some　men　are　like　that　and　some　women　can　make　them　like　it。　If　you　think　Degarmo　went　up　there　looking　for　her　because　he　wanted　to　hurt　her；　you're　as　wet　as　a　bar　towel。〃
　　〃I　never　quite　thought　that；〃　I　said。　〃It　would　be　pcssible；　provided　Degarmo　knew　the　country　up　there　pretty　well。　Whoever　murdered　the　girl　did。〃
　　〃This　is　all　between　us；〃　he　said。　〃I'd　like　you　to　keep　it　that　way。〃　I　nodded；　but　I　didn't　promise　him。　I　said　goodnight　again　and　left。　He　looked　after　me　as　I　went　down　the　room。　He　looked　hurt　and　sad。
　　
　　The　Chrysler　was　in　the　police　lot　at　the　side　of　the　building　with　the　keys　in　the　ignition　and　none　of　the　fenders　smashed。　Cooney　hadn't　made　good　on　his　threat。　I　drove　back　to　Hollywood　and　went　up　to　my　apartment　in　the　Bristol。　It　was　late；　almost　midnight。
　　The　green　and　ivory　hallway　was　empty　of　all　sound　except　that　a　telephone　bell　was　ringing　in　one　of　the　apartments。　It　rang　insistently　and　got　louder　as　I　came　near　to　my　door。　I　unlocked　the　door。　It　was　my　telephone。
　　I　walked　across　the　room　in　darkness　to　where　the　phone　stood　on　the　ledge　of　an　oak　desk　against　the　side　wall。　It　must　have　rung　at　least　ten　times　before　I　got　to　it。
　　I　lifted　it　out　of　the　cradle　and　answered；　and　it　was　Derace　Kingsley　on　the　line。
　　His　voice　sounded　tight　and　brittle　and　strained。　〃Good　Lord；　where　in　hell　have　you　been？〃　he　snapped。　〃I've　been　trying　to　reach　you　for　hours。〃
　　〃All　right。　I'm　here　now；〃　I　said。　〃What　is　it？〃
　　〃I've　heard　from　her。〃　I　held　the　telephone　very　tight　and　drew　my　breath　in　slowly　and　let　it　out　slowly。　〃Go　ahead；〃　I　said。
　　〃I'm　not　far　away。　I'll　be　over　there　in　five　or　six　minutes。　Be　prepared　to　move。〃　He　hung　up。
　　I　stood　there　holding　the　telephone　halfway　between　my　ear　and　the　cradle。　Then　I　put　it　down　very　slowly　and　looked　at　the　hand　that　had　held　it。　It　was　half　open　and　clenched　stiff；　as　if　it　was　still　holding　the　instrument。
　　
　　
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　　The　discreet　midnight　tapping　sounded　on　the　door　and　I　went　over　and　opened　it。　Kingsley　looked　as　big　as　a　horse　in　a　creamy　shetland　sports　coat　with　a　green　and　yellow　scarf　around　the　neck　inside　the　loosely　turned　up　collar。　A　dark　reddish　brown　snapbrim　hat　was　pulled　low　on　his　forehead　and　under　its　brim；　his　eyes　looked　like　the　eyes　of　a'sick　animal。
　　Miss　Fromsett　was　with　him。　She　was　wearing　slacks　and　sandals　and　dark　green　coat　and　no　hat　and　her　hair　had　a　wicked　lustre。　In　her　ears　hung　ear　drops　made　of　a　pair　of　tiny　artificial　gardenia　blooms；　hanging　one　above　the　other；　two　on　each　ear。　Gillerlain　Regal；　the　Champagne　of　Perfumes；　came　in　at　the　door　with　her。
　　I　shut　the　door　and　indicated　the　furniture　and　said：　〃A　drink　will　probably　help。〃　Miss　Fromsett　sat　in　an　armchair　and　crossed　her　legs　and　looked　around　for　cigarettes。　She　found　one　and　lit　it　with　a　long　casual　flourish　and　smiled　bleakly　at　a　corner　of　the　ceiling。
　　Kingsley　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　floor　trying　to　bite　his　chin。　I　went　out　to　the　dinette　and　mixed　three　drinks　and　brought　them　in　and　handed　them。　I　went　over　to　the　chair　by　the　chess　table　with　mine。
　　Kingsley　said：　〃What　have　you　been　doing　and　what's　the　matter　with　the　leg？〃　I　said：　〃A　cop　kicked　me。　A　present　from　the　Bay　City　police　department。　It's　a　regular　service　they　give　down　there。　As　to　where　I've　been…in　jail　for　drunk　driving。　And　from　the　expression　on　your　face；　I　think　I　may　be　right　back　there　soon。〃
　　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about；〃　he　said　shortly。　〃I　haven't　the　foggiest　idea。　This　is　no　time　to　kid　around。〃
　　〃All　right；　don't；〃　I　said。　〃What　did　you　hear　and　where　is　she？〃　He　sat　down　with　his　drink　and　flexed　the　fingers　of　his　right　hand；　and　put　it　inside　his　coat。　It　came　out　with　an　envelope；　a　long　one。
　　〃You　have　to　take　this　to　her；〃　he　said。　〃Five　hundred　dollars。　She　wanted　more；　but　this　is　all　I　could　raise。　I　cashed　a　check　at　a　night　club。　It　wasn't　easy。　She　has　to　get　out　of　town。〃　I　said：　〃Out　of　what　town？〃
　　〃Bay　City　somewhere。　I　don't　know　where。　She'll　meet　you　at　a　place　called　the　Peacock　Lounge；　on　Arguello　Boulevard；　at　Eighth　Street；　or　near　it。〃　I　looked　at　Miss　Fromsett。　She　was　still　looking　at　the　corner　of　the　ceiling　as　if　she　had　just　e　along　for　the　ride。
　　Kingsley　tossed　the　envelope　across　and　it　fell　on　the　chess　table