1965 - The Way the Cookie Crumbles (4 page)

‘Why should I care? I’m not a dwarf.’

Edris returned carrying a tray with coffee things. He poured three cups and handed them around, then he sat in his armchair and put his feet up on the footstool.

The three men drank a little of their coffee. Beigler, who considered himself a connoisseur, nodded with approval.

‘Fine coffee,’ he said. ‘You’ve got it just right.’

Edris smiled.

‘Not much I don’t know about coffee.’

‘Never mind the coffee,’ Hess broke in. ‘Let’s hear what you know about this woman. That her husband’s photo in her bedroom?’

Edris was far too smart to fall into that obvious trap.

‘I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been in her bedroom.’

Hess stared at him, then got to his feet, crossed the landing and collected the two photographs. He came back and offered them to Edris.

‘Who’s he?’

‘That’s not her husband. That’s the fella she ran away with years ago. His name was Henry Lewis. He got killed in a car crash some fifteen years ago.’

‘This her daughter?’

‘That’s right.’

‘Where’s she?’

‘The Graham Co-Ed College, Greater Miami.’

‘Her husband alive?’

‘He’s alive.’

‘Who’s he?’

‘Melville Devon.’

‘Know where he lives?’

‘Somewhere in Paradise City. I don’t know where.’

‘You said she ran off with this guy Lewis? She leave her husband for him?’

‘Yes. From what she told me, she couldn’t get along with Devon. He was a serious sort of fella, always working. After they had been married less than two years, she met Lewis. He had money. So she ran off with him. That was fifteen years ago. She took the baby with her. Lewis liked kids. They had a pretty good time together for a year, then he got killed.’

Hess stared thoughtfully at Edris.

‘She tell you all this?’

‘Yes. Not all at once. When she got blue she would come in here and sit, saying nothing for hours. Then she’d start talking and then she would shut up. She had no money when Lewis died. They were planning to marry as soon as Muriel could get a divorce. She put the baby with foster parents and got a job as a hotel receptionist.’ Edris paused to finish his coffee. He poured more into his cup and pushed the jug over to Beigler. ‘She got into bad company. After a while she started on the needle. She got tossed out of the hotel. She hadn’t the money for a fix so she went on the streets. Some old guy set her up in an apartment. She lived pretty well for the next five years until he died. She sent Norena. that’s her daughter to boarding school. They only got together during the vacations. The drug habit really got her, and she quit New York and came here. Then Johnnie Williams showed up.’

Edris again paused and looked at Hess. ‘Maybe you’d better talk to him. He knows more about Muriel than I do.’

Hess poured himself another cup of coffee.

‘Williams is dead. She killed him. Why didn’t she tell you, Ticky? She told you everything, didn’t she? Why didn’t she tell you she put five slugs into him before she came to La Coquille?’

Edris sat very still. His big eyes clouded. They looked like the eyes of a spaniel.

‘She didn’t tell me. I knew something pretty bad had happened, but she was drunk. I couldn’t get any sense out of her. So she killed him! Well, he had it coming. The dirty, double-crossing son of a bitch!’

‘Just why did he have it coming?’ Beigler asked.

‘She did everything for that slob. She kept him, bought him his clothes, let him have a room rent-free. She was crazy about him. He bled her white. During the last six months or so, he’s been going after the old women at the Palace Hotel. He found one with money. By now, Muriel was broke. She was so far gone on the needle, she couldn’t even get customers. She had the school bills and her regular fixes to pay for. Johnnie was really in the money. When she tried to borrow off him, he laughed at her. I guess he laughed once too often.’

‘How about the daughter? Does she have any idea what was going on?’

‘No. Muriel and she went away on sea trips during the vacations. She didn’t want Norena to come to her apartment too often. She was hoping to take her to the West Indies this vacation, but she had no money and Johnnie wouldn’t stake her.’

‘You being her best friend, you didn’t stake her, Ticky?’

‘She wouldn’t take it from me. I offered, but she couldn’t bring herself to take money from me.’

‘Why not? You were her best friend, weren’t you the guy she always confided in.’

Edris looked thoughtfully at Hess, his eyes stony.

‘I guess she thought I was more to be pitied than her. She never looked on me as a human being. I was just someone, something, to talk to.’

Hess sneered.

‘Did she say she pitied you?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, you saved your money, didn’t you, Ticky?’

‘I don’t have all that money to save,’ Edris said.

‘Oh, come on: with your cute tricks, I bet you pick up plenty of tips.’

Beigler said impatiently, ‘Let’s skip it, Fred. This isn’t getting us anywhere.’

‘Oh, I don’t know. I think this freak is a shade too cute,’ Hess said, scowling at Edris. ‘Didn’t Muriel say one little thing that hinted she had killed Williams?’

‘No.’

Hess began to unwrap a packet of gum.

‘Did she own a gun, Ticky?’

‘I don’t think so. She might have done. I wouldn’t know.’

‘Who was the pusher who gave her her fix?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘It wouldn’t be you?’

‘No.’

Hess fed the gum into his mouth, stared at his fleshy hands for a long moment, then shrugged. He got to his feet.

‘I guess that’s all. You got anything that’s worrying you, Joe?’

Beigler also got to his feet.

‘No.’

‘Well, let’s get out of here.’

The two detectives walked to the door. Edris remained in the armchair, his feet on the foot stool, his eyes watching them.

‘Thanks for the coffee,’ Beigler said at the door.

‘Keep your nose clean, pint-size,’ Hess said.

The two detectives went out, shutting the door behind them.

Edris remained still for several minutes, his face mottled with hot, rising blood. His eyes gleamed. His stumpy fingers scratched on the arms of the chair as he wrestled with his rage.

Later, when the hands of his watch moved to 07.15 hours, he got to his feet and crossed to the telephone. He dialled a number. As he waited for the connection, he lit a cigarette.

A woman’s voice said, ‘This is the Graham Co-Educational School.’

‘I want to speak to Dr. Graham,’ Edris said. ‘This is very urgent.’

‘Who is this?’

‘My name is Edward Edris. This is a matter that concerns Norena Devon one of your pupils. It’s an emergency.’

‘Will you hold it please?’

Edris sucked in smoke and released it down his nostrils.

There was a little delay, then a man’s voice said, ‘This is Dr. Graham.’

‘Doctor, this is Edward Edris. I am a friend of the Devon family. Norena knows me well. There has been an accident. Her mother is very seriously hurt.’

‘I am sorry to hear that. What would you like me to do, Mr. Edris?’

‘Would you break the news to Norena? Don’t tell her how serious it is. Just say there’s been an accident. Dr. Graham, it so happens that Mr. Stanley Tebbel, Mrs. Devon’s attorney, is in Greater Miami right now. I have already spoken to him. As he is returning to Paradise City immediately, he would drive Norena back with him. This would save time. Her mother is asking for her.’

Edris waited, aware of his mounting tension. This was the crux of the conversation. Would Graham play or was he going to be difficult?

‘Mr . . . who did you say?’ Graham asked, after a pause.

‘Stanley Tebbel.’

‘Does Norena know this gentleman.’

‘She must know of him. I doubt if they have met. Dr. Graham, I can understand what you are thinking. One doesn’t let a girl of seventeen go off with a strange man. I appreciate your cautiousness. But this is extremely urgent. To put it bluntly, Norena’s mother is dying. Look, I suggest, you break the news to Norena, tell her I telephoned, she knows me well. Ask her to call me and I will explain to her about Mr. Tebbel. My telephone number is Seacombe 556.’

Again there was a pause, then Dr. Graham said ‘That won’t be necessary, Mr. Edris. I’ll see Norena goes with Mr. Tebbel as soon as he arrives. I am very sorry about this.’

‘Thank you, Doctor.’

‘Norena will be ready to travel in half an hour. Good day to you, Mr. Edris,’ and the connection was cut.

Edris hung up. His face was bright with a sly, wicked grin. Suddenly, he began to jump up and down, throwing his stumpy legs out like a Cossack dancer and clapping his stumpy hands together.

He went dancing round and round the room, a sinister little figure of evil.

* * *

Dr. Wilbur Graham, a tall, balding, harassed-looking man, paced up and down his big study, his bony hands clasped behind his back. It was three days to end of term and he had still a lot to do, but he found he couldn’t settle to work until this sad business to do with Norena Devon, one of his favourite pupils, had been settled.

He had already seen the girl and had broken the news to her. He had also told her that her mother’s attorney would be arriving any moment to take her home to her mother.

Norena wasn’t a particularly attractive looking girl. She wore blue plastic framed spectacles and her complexion was sallow, but she was well built and her blonde hair was glossy and cared for.

‘Is - is she going to die?’ she had asked.

‘She is badly hurt, Norena. You must be brave about this. I think Mr. Edris would have said if she was in danger, but she is bad,’ Graham had said, shrinking from the truth.

He was still pacing up and down when the maid announced Mr. Stanley Tebbel.

‘Show him right in,’ Graham said.

Phil Algir came into the room, his straw hat in his hand. His handsome face carried just the right expression of sorrow, friendliness and consideration that immediately appealed to Graham. Algir’s clothes also met with the doctor’s approval. Here, obviously, was a man of substance whose sincerity plainly showed on his face.

‘I’m sorry to have to call on you so early,’ Algir said in his rich baritone. He allowed himself a slight, sober smile. ‘I can imagine, with the end of term so close, you must be fully occupied. But unhappily this is an emergency and I thought I should come at once.’

‘Yes, of course,’ Dr. Graham waved to a chair. ‘Do sit down. How is Mrs. Devon?’

Algir sat down and shook his head.

‘She’s very bad, I’m afraid. Have you broken the news to Norena yet?’

‘Yes, I have done that. She is naturally shocked, but I didn’t tell her the worst.’

‘I’m afraid it could be the worst. We should hurry. Even now, we could be too late.’

‘She’s ready, I’m sure.’ Graham rang the bell on his desk. ‘In which hospital is Mrs. Devon?’

Ready for this question, Algir said glibly, ‘I don’t know. It was all rather hurried. Mr. Edris forgot to tell me. I propose driving first to his place, and then to the hospital. I will see you are kept informed, doctor.’

The maid came to the door.

‘Please tell Miss Devon we are ready,’ Graham said.

When the maid had gone, Algir got to his feet and crossed over to the big window. He had to divert Graham’s attention and avoid any embarrassing questions. He looked out at the school grounds.

‘Nice place you have here, doctor. I’m glad to see it. I often get clients asking for a good school for their daughters. I’ll be happy to recommend your school.’

Graham beamed.

‘That’s very kind of you, Mr. Tebbel. Perhaps you would care to have some copies of our prospectus?’

‘Certainly.’

Dr. Graham produced several printed folders which Algir took and began to examine. His interested questions kept Graham’s attention from Norena.

Finally, there came a knock on the door. Graham crossed the room and opened the door.

‘Come in, Norena. Mr. Tebbel is here.’

The girl came in and stood awkwardly just inside the room. She was wearing a grey pleated skirt, a white shirt and a small black hat and black shoes. She carried over her arm a short coat to match the skirt. She looked what she was, a seriously minded College girl going somewhere in her best clothes.

Graham saw she had been weeping. Her eyes behind

the lenses of her glasses were red-rimmed and swollen.

She was very pale, but in control of herself and she managed a faint smile as Algir crossed the room, his own smile friendly but sober.

‘We have never met, Norena,’ he said, offering his hand. ‘I have looked after your mother’s affairs for some time now. She has often talked to me about you. I wish we could have met under happier circumstances.’

‘Yes, Mr. Tebbel,’ Norena said and looked away, struggling to control the emotion that surged over her.

‘We’ll get off,’ Algir said, turning to Graham. ‘I’ll telephone you as soon as I have some news.’ He turned to Norena. ‘The car’s at the door. Will you go on ahead?’

Graham took the girl’s hand.

‘Goodbye, Norena. You mustn’t worry. It’ll come out all right. It generally does.’

‘Goodbye, doctor and thanks.’ She turned quickly and left the room.

‘Is her luggage ready?’ Algir asked. ‘I don’t think she’ll be coming back. This is her last term, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, it’s her last term. She’s only packed a bag. I’ll have the rest of her things sent on to her home.’

‘Fine. I’ll get off. Well, let’s hope.’

The two men shook hands, then Algir hurried down the steps and got into the Buick by Norena’s side. He sent the car down the long drive-in and out on to the Alain Street. He drove with restrained care through Greater Miami. He itched to shove his foot down hard on the accelerator, but he was very conscious that an accident or a traffic infringement could foul up the most desperate plan he had ever embarked upon to make big money.

It was while he was steering the Buick through the heavy traffic of trucks heading for the Florida Keys that Norena said hesitatingly, ‘Mr. Tebbel, is my mother really dangerously hurt?’