I'll Bury My Dead. James Hadley Chase

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СКАЧАТЬ Roy tell her this or is she making it up on her own initiative?”

      “She says Roy told her, and that’s the story she’s going to tell the coroner. The inquest’s in an hour, Nick.”

      “Yeah.” English stood up and paced over to the window. “She doesn’t like me, does she?”

      “No, I guess she doesn’t. She says her life’s ruined, and she doesn’t see why yours shouldn’t be either.”

      “The fool! Why does she think my life would be ruined by a yarn like this?” English said, turning from the window. “What put that idea into her empty head?”

      Crail shrugged.

      “It wouldn’t ruin you, Nick, but it would cause a stink. People think you are rolling in money. Public opinion is a dangerous thing to come up against. She says Roy wanted four thousand to get him out of his mess. Four thousand wouldn’t have scratched your pile. She could make it sound pretty sordid, Nick.”

      “He wanted ten thousand and he wouldn’t tell me why,” English said. “I turned him down because I thought it was time he stopped sponging on me. He would have kept on and on if I hadn’t shown him he couldn’t come to me whenever he ran short of money. Look at the way he was living. He didn’t attempt to economize. Why the hell should I keep him and his wife?”

      “Sure,” Crail said, “but now he’s shot himself, he gets the sympathy. This could put paid to the hospital idea, Nick. They are only waiting for an excuse to double-cross you.”

      “I know.” English came back to the desk. “Now listen, the story is that Roy was overworking. The business was a disappointment. He tried to hold it together, but it was too much for him. Instead of coming to me, he tried to handle it himself, cracked under the strain and shot himself. That’s the story I’ve given the press this morning, and that’s the story you are going to give the coroner. Corrine will go with you and say ‘amen.’”

      Crail looked startled.

      “She won’t do it. I’ve talked to her, and I know. She’s made up her mind to be difficult.”

      “She’ll do it,” English returned, his voice hardening. “If she doesn’t like that story, then I’ll give the press another she’ll like a lot less. Roy had a secretary; a girl named Mary Savitt. They were lovers. They planned to run away together, and leave Corrine out on a limb. Something went wrong; probably Roy couldn’t get enough money to quit. Being the weakling he was, he shot himself. The girl must have gone to the office and found him. She went home and hanged herself.”

      Crail stared at him.

      “Hanged herself?”

      “Yes. I went to talk to her this morning, and found her dead. No one knows yet. Sooner or later they’ll find her, but I’m hoping the inquest will be over before they do.”

      “Did anyone see you there?” Crail asked anxiously.

      “I was seen going up the stairs. My story is I rang on the bell, and getting no answer, assumed she had gone down to the office.”

      “Are you sure they were lovers?”

      English opened a drawer, took out the photograph he had found in Mary Savitt’s bedroom and pushed it across the desk. He tossed the packet of letters into Crail’s lap.

      “There’s all the proof. If Corrine thinks she can mess up my pitch by telling a snivelling yarn like this, she’s got another think coming. Tell her to toe the line or this muck goes to the press.”

      Crail paused long enough to read two or three of the letters, then he put them in his briefcase, together with the photograph.

      “This is going to be a shock to her, Nick,” he said slowly. “She was crazy about Roy.”

      English regarded him, his eyes hard.

      “She doesn’t have to know. That’s up to you. Persuade her to toe the line if you’re all that anxious to spare her feelings.”

      “I guess she’ll have to see these letters,” Crail said. “All the same I don’t like it.”

      “You don’t have to do the job,” English said. “I can always get another attorney, Sam.”

      Crail shrugged his fat shoulders.

      “Oh, I’ll do it,” he said. “I wouldn’t like to be as hard as you are, Nick.”

      “Let’s skip the sentiment. Did Roy leave a will?”

      “Yes. He left everything to Corrine. As far as I can see it amounts to a flock of debts. He had a safe deposit, and I hold the key. I haven’t had time to examine it, but I don’t reckon to find anything in it.”

      “Let me know how his estate stands before you tell Corrine,” English said. “We could arrange to find an insurance policy in his safe deposit. Fix it that she has a couple of hundred bucks a week for life. I’ll pay.”

      Crail grinned.

      “Who’s going soft now?” he asked, getting to his feet.

      “Get over to the coroner’s office,” English said curtly, “and make that story stand up.”

      “I’ll make it stand up,” Crail said, nodded and crossed the room to the door. “I’ll call you as soon as it’s over.”

      III

      A minute or so after Crail had gone, Lois left her desk, crossed the room to English’s office door and tapped as she opened it.

      English was staring at his cigar with cold, brooding eyes. He looked up and gave her a little nod.

      “Come on in and sit down,” he said, and hunched his massive shoulders as he leaned across the desk. “What time did you get to bed this morning?”

      Lois smiled as she pulled up a chair to the desk and sat down.

      “It was after four, but I don’t need much sleep.”

      “Nonsense. Of course you do. Go home after lunch and go to bed.”

      “But really, Mr. English…” she began.

      “That’s an order,” he broke in curtly. “Let the work wait. You’re always working. Let Harry do what’s necessary.”

      “Harry was late, too,” she reminded him quietly. “It’s all right, Mr. English. I’m not a bit tired. We’re working on the fight figures.”

      English ran his fingers through his dark hair and scowled.

      “Damn it! I’d forgotten about the fight. What was the take?”

      “Harry will have the figures for you in about half an hour.”

      “Good. Now about last night. What did you think of the setup there?”

      “Not much, СКАЧАТЬ