rc.theladyinthelake-第42章

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clothes。〃　I　reached　Kingsley's　yellow　and　green　scarf　out　of　my　pocket　and　draped　it　over　his　knee。　〃I　saw　Kingsley　wearing　this　earlier　this　evening；〃　I　said。
　　Degarmo　looked　down　at　the　scarf。　He　lifted　it　under　the　dashlight。　〃You　wouldn't　forget　that　too　quick；〃　he　said。　〃It　steps　right　up　and　smacks　you　in　the　eye。　Kingsley；　huh？　Well；　I'm　damned。　What　happened　then？〃
　　〃Knocking　on　the　door。　Me　still　woozy　in　the　head；　not　too　bright　and　a　bit　panicked。　I　had　been　flooded　with　gin　and　my　shoes　and　coat　stripped　off　and　maybe　I　looked　and　smelled　a　little　like　somebody　who　would　yank　a　woman's　clothes　off　and　strangle　her。　So　I　got　out　through　the　bathroom　window；　cleaned　myself　up　as　well　as　I　could；　and　the　rest　you　know。〃　Degarmo　said：　〃Why　didn't　you　lie　dormy　in　the　place　you　climbed　into？〃
　　〃What　was　the　use？　I　guess　even　a　Bay　City　cop　would　have　found　the　way　I　had　gone　in　a　little　while。　If　I　had　any　chance　at　all；　it　was　to　walk　before　that　was　discovered。　If　nobody　was　there　who　knew　me；　I　had　a　fair　chance　of　getting　out　of　the　building。〃
　　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Degarmo　said。　〃But　I　can　see　where　you　didn't　lose　much　trying。　What's　your　idea　of　the　motivation　here？〃
　　〃Why　did　Kingsley　kill　her…if　he　did？　That's　not　hard。　She　had　been　cheating　on　him；　making　him　a　lot　of　trouble；　endangering　his　job　and　now　she　had　killed　a　man。　Also；　she　had　money　and　Kingsley　wanted　to　marry　another　woman。　He　might　have　been　afraid　that　with　money　to　spend　she　would　beat　the　rap　and　be　left　laughing　at　him。　If　she　didn't　beat　the　rap；　and　got　sent　up；　her　money　would　be　just　as　thoroughly　beyond　his　reach。　He'd　have　to　divorce　her　to　get　rid　of　her。　There's　plenty　of　motive　for　murder　in　all　that。　Also　he　saw　a　chance　to　make　me　the　goat。　It　wouldn't　stick；　but　it　would　make　confusion　and　delay。　If　murderers　didn't　think　they　could　get　away　with　their　murders；　very　few　would　be　mitted。〃　Degarmo　said：　〃All　the　same　it　could　be　somebody　else；　somebody　who　isn't　in　the　picture　at　all。　Even　if　he　went　down　there　to　see　her；　it　could　still　be　somebody　else。　Somebody　else　could　have　killed　Lavery　too。〃
　　〃If　you　like　it　that　way。〃　He　turned　his　head。　〃I　don't　like　it　any　way　at　all。　But　if　I　crack　the　case；　I'll　get　by　with　a　reprimand　from　the　police　board。　If　I　don't　crack　it；　I'll　be　thumbing　a　ride　out　of　town。　You　said　I　was　dumb。　Okay；　I'm　dumb。　Where　does　Kingsley　live？　One　thing　I　know　is　how　to　make　people　talk。〃
　　〃965　Carson　Drive；　Beverly　Hills。　About　five　blocks　on　you　turn　north　to　the　foothills。　It's　on　the　left　side；　just　below　Sunset。　I've　never　been　there；　but　I　know　how　the　block　numbers　run。〃　He　handed　me　the　green　and　yellow　scarf。　〃Tuck　that　back　into　your　pocket　until　we　want　to　spring　it　on　him。〃
　　
　　
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　　It　was　a　two…storied　white　house　with　a　dark　roof。　bright　moonlight　lay　against　its　wall　like　a　fresh　coat　of　paint。　There　were　wrought　iron　grilles　against　the　lower　halves　of　the　front　windows　A　level　lawn　swept　up　to　the　front　door；　which　was　set　diagonally　into　the　angle　of　a　jutting　wall。　All　the　visible　windows　were　dark。
　　Degarmo　got　out　of　the　car　and　walked　along　the　parkway　and　looked　back　along　the　drive　to　the　garage。　He　moved　down　the　driveway　and　the　corner　of　the　house　hid　him。　I　heard　the　sound　of　a　garage　door　going　up；　then　the　thud　as　it　was　lowered　again。　He　reappeared　at　the　corner　of　the　house；　shook　his　head　at　me；　and　walked　across　the　grass　to　the　front　door。　He　leaned　his　thumb　on　the　bell　and　juggled　a　cigarette　out　of　his　pocket　with　one　hand　and　put　it　between　his　lips。
　　He　turned　away　from　the　door　to　light　it　and　the　flare　of　the　match　cut　deep　lines　into　his　face。　After　a　while　there　was　light　on　the　fan　over　the　door。　The　peep　hole　in　the　door　swung　back。　I　saw　Degarmo　holding　up　his　shield。　Slowly　and　as　if　unwillingly　the　door　was　opened。　He　went　in。
　　He　was　gone　four　or　five　minutes。　Light　went　on　behind　various　windows；　then　off　again。　Then　he　came　out　of…　the　house　and　while　he　was　walking　back　to　the　car　the　light　went　off　in　the　fan　and　the　whole　house　was　again　as　dark　as　we　had　found　it。
　　He　stood　beside　the　car　smoking　and　looking　off　down　the　curve　of　the　street。
　　〃One　small　car　in　the　garage；〃　he　said。　〃The　cook　says　it's　hers。　No　sign　of　Kingsley。　They　say　they　haven't　seen　him　since　this　morning。　I　looked　in　all　the　rooms。　I　guess　they　told　the　truth。　Webber　and　a　print　man　were　there　late　this　afternoon　and　the　dusting　powder　is　still　all　over　the　main　bedroom。　Webber　would　be　getting　prints　to　check　against　what　we　found　in　Lavery's　house。　He　didn't　tell　me　what　he　got。　Where　would　he　be…Kingsley？〃
　　〃Anywhere；〃　I　said。　〃On　the　road；　in　a　hotel；　in　a　Turkish　bath　getting　the　kinks　out　of　his　nerves。　But　we'll　have　to　try　his　girl　friend　first。　Her　name　is　Fromsett　and　she　lives　at　the　Bryson　Tower　on　Sunset　Place。　That's　away　downtown；　near　Bullock's　Wilshire。〃
　　〃She　does　what？〃　Degarmo　asked；　getting　in　under　the　wheel。
　　〃She　holds　the　fort　in　this　office　and　holds　his　hand　out　of　office　hours。　She's　no　office　cutie；　though。　She　has　brains　and　style。〃
　　〃This　situation　is　going　to　use　all　she　has；〃　Dógarmo　said。　He　drove　down　to　Wilshire　and　we　turned　east　again。
　　Twenty…five　minutes　brought　us　to　the　Bryson　Tower；　a　white　stucco　palace　with　fretted　lanterns　in　the　forecourt　and　tall　date　palms。　The　entrance　was　in　an　L；　up　marble　steps；　through　a　Moorish　archway；　and　over　a　lobby　that　was　too　big　and　a　carpet　that　was　too　blue。　Blue　All　Baba　oil　jars　were　dotted　around；　big　enough　to　keep　tigers　in。　There　was　a　desk　and　a　night　clerk　with　one　of　those　mustaches　that　get　stuck　under　your　fingernail。
　　Degarmo　lunged　past　the　desk　towards　an　open　elevator　beside　which　a　tired　old　man　sat　on　a　stool　waiting　for　a　customer。　The　clerk　snapped　at　Degarmo's　back　like　a　terrier。
　　〃One　moment；　please。　Whom　did　you　wish　to　see？〃　Degarmo　spun　on　his　heel　and　looked　at　me　wonderingly。　〃Did　he　say　'whom'？〃
　　〃Yeah；　but　don't　hit　him；〃　I　said。　〃There　is　such　a　word。〃　Degarmo　licked　his　lips。　〃I　knew　there　was；〃　he　said。　〃I　often　wondered　where　they　kept　it。　Look；　buddy；〃　he　said　to　the　clerk；　〃we　want　up　to　seven…sixteen。　Any　objection？〃
　　〃Certainly　I　have；〃　the　clerk　said　coldly。　〃We　don't　anflounce　guests　at〃　he　lifted　his　arm　and　turned　it　neatly　to　look　at　the　narrow　oblong　watch　on　the　inside　of　his　wrist〃at　twenty…three　minutes　past　four　in　the　morning。〃
　　〃That's　what　I　thought；〃　Degarmo　said。　〃So　I　wasn't　going　to　bother　you。　You　get　the　idea？〃　He　took　his　shield　out　of　his　pocket　and　held　it　so　that　the　light　glinted　on　the　gold　and　the　blue　enameL　〃I'm　a　police　lieutenant。〃　The　clerk　shrugged。　〃Very　well。　I　hope　there　isn't　going　to　be　any　trouble。　I'd　better　announce　you　then。　What　names？〃
　　〃Lieutenant　Degarmo　and　Mr。　Marlowe。〃
　　〃Apartment　716。　That　will　be　Miss　Fromsett。　One　moment。〃　He　went　behind　a　glass　screen　and　we　heard　him　talking　on　the　phone　after　a　longish　pause。　He　came　back　and　nodded。
　　〃Miss　Fromsett　is　in。　She　will　receive　you。〃
　　〃That's　certainly　a　load　off　my　mind；〃　Degarmo　said。　〃And　don't　bother　to　call　your　house　peeper　and　send　him　up　to　the　scatter。　I'm　allergic　to　house　peepers。〃　The　clerk　gave　a　small　cold　smile　and　we　got　into　the　elevator。
　　The　seventh　floor　was　cool　and　quiet。　The　corridor　seemed　a　mile　long。　We　came　at　last　to　a　door　with　716　on　it　in　gilt　numbers　in　a　circle　of　gilt　leaves。　There　was　an　ivory　button　beside　the　door。　Degarmo　pushed　it　and　chimes　rang　inside　the　door　and　it　was　opened。
　　Miss　Fromsett　wore　a　quilted　blue　robe　over　her　pajamas。　On　her　feet　were　small　tufted　slippers　with　high　heels。　Her　dark　hair　was　fluffed　out　engagingly　and　the　cold　cream　had　been　wiped　from　her　face　and　just　enough　makeup　applied。
　　We　went　past　her　into　a　rather　narrow　room　with　several　handsome　oval　mirrors　and　gray　period　furniture　upholstered　in　blue　damask。　It　didn't　look　like　apartment　house　furniture。　She　sat　down　on　a　slender　love　seat　and　leaned　back　and　waited　calmly　for　somebody　to　say　something。
　　I　said：　〃This　is　Lieutenant　Degarmo　of　the　Bay　City　police。　We're　looking　for　Kingsley。　He's　not　at　his