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THE POWER KILLERS

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Also by Judson Philips

Peter Styles Mysteries:

THE LARKSPUR CONSPIRACY THE VANISHING SENATOR ESCAPE A KILLER

NIGHTMARE AT DAWN

HOT SUMMER KILLING THURSDAY'S FOLLY

THE WINGS OF MADNESS

THE TWISTED PEOPLE THE BLACK GLASS CITY THE LAUGHTER TRAP

THE

POWER KILLERS By Judson

Philips

A RED BADGE NOVEL OF SUSPENSE

DODD, MEAD & COMPANY

NEW YORK

Copyright

©

1974 by Judson Philips

All rights reserved

No

part of this

book may be reproduced

without permission

in

in

any form

writing from the publisher

ISBN: 0-396-06979-7 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 74-3788 Printed in the United States of

by Vail-Ballou Press,

Inc.,

America

Binghamton,

New York

Part

One

1

Peter Styles

knew a little something about Rod Chandler man came to his apartment on a June Sun-

before that young

day it

night.

The

girl

was unexpected, and

a delight.

Her name,

turned out, was Katherine Caroline Fraser. She professed

to loathe

it,

and her friends simply called her K.C., pro-

nounced, she told Peter and his wife, Grace, Casey like in Casey Stengel. She was blond, her hair worn straight and long, down below her shoulders. Her eyes were blue, her smile enchanting. She and Chandler were so damned young and, obviously, so

much

in love.

Peter and Grace sat together on the couch in their living

room, watching these young people, listening to Rod Chandler, wishing they would go and at the same time not wanting push them out. Peter and Grace had been separated for almost a year while she did work for the Government in the Far

to

East. They were now on a sort of second honeymoon. Unlike most honeymooners they hadn't traveled to enjoy it. All they wanted was to stay alone in their own apartment, just off

Gramercy Park, and while

they

thought,

tell

the rest of the world to

rediscovered

more

in love than

each

other.

anyone 3

They

go

to hell

were,

else in the world.

Peter

Even

more

in love than those

from touching each

What

two young people who couldn't keep

other.

knew about Rod Chandler, who looked like a that he came from a very wealthy

Peter

young Lord Byron, was

and socially prominent family. His father, Eric Chandler,

was

said to be

fession. His

one of the top corporation lawyers

in the pro-

mother was a Lawrence, an equally prominent

was probably as rich as her husband in her own right. Rod had gone to the best schools, Hotchkiss and then Yale. His slim, muscular body wasn't rugged enough for contact sports, but he had been an intercollegiate sprint champion on the Yale track team. He'd been a brilliant student and eventually the editor of the Yale Daily News, following in the family, and

footsteps of such a current celebrity as William F. Buckley.

An

admiring Yale professor had sent

Rod

Frank Devery,

to

managing editor and publisher of Newsview, the weekly magazine for which Peter worked, hoping that Devery would give the young man a job. Devery was impressed and hired Rod.

Now, series,

it

seemed. Rod Chandler had an idea for a feature

and Devery wanted Peter's opinion on

"When

I

"Back?"

get back

from

Devery

my honeymoon,"

made

an

it.

Peter said.

impatient

sound.

Then:

"Please, Peter." Peter couldn't refuse Devery.

He owed him

too much.

So

he and Grace invited young Chandler to stop by for a drink,

and Rod brought Casey, his

Rod obviously saw

girl.

Peter as

some

sort of journalistic hero

whose life style he hoped to copy. Peter was pleasantly flatby it, but wished the young man would get on with his

tered

problem so that he and Grace could be alone. Grace played the conventional hostess at first, asking what they'd like to drink. That was after bring in his

girl,

who

Rod had asked

if

he could

stood with him outside the front door,

looking irresistible; after she'd explained about her

4

name and

how

she pronounced

it.

even sign my name 'Casey,' " she love a gin and tonic. '*I

She would

said.

Rod would have a Jack Daniel's on the rocks, and Peter wondered if Devery had told the boy that Jack Daniel's was his drink.

"What Rod

has to talk about is really far out, Mr. Styles," She had dropped down on the floor beside Rod's chair, her young arms hugging his knees. Rod looked embarrassed and long gone. "You promised to keep your big mouth shut," he said lovingly. "I promised

Casey

said.

Mr. Devery

"You

I'd take as little of

can drop the

"Thanks,

Peter.

'sir,'

And

your time as possible, sir."

" Peter

said.

"Try Peter." " Grace had

thanks, Mrs. Styles

—

brought his drink.

"Grace," she said. So they were old friends in the space of three minutes. They trusted Peter and Grace, and they were too young and too open not to be ingratiating. If anyone had suggested when they took the

first

sips of their drinks that Katherine Caroline

Casey to her friends, had only a few hours they'd have been laughed out of court. But that's the way it was.

Fraser,

Rod began by

telling Peter that

to live,

he wasn't a very admirable

character.

"I've never had to

my

whole

a finger to get anything

lift

I

wanted

in

"Best school and college, best country clubs, a home here in New York, another in the Berkshires, another in Florida, an apartment in London. My life,"

he said.

family's, of course, but

I

have access to them

expensive sports car, thirty-five forty-five sports jackets,

topcoats than

I

more

can count.

I

suits

all.

I

have an

and evening clothes,

slacks and shoes and shirts and

never earned a nickel of what

all

—

these things cost.

I

got

my

first

month ago times that first week

pay check

just a

from Newsview. I took Casey out three and used up all of that first check. I've got a to celebrate good hard body. I was a runner in college. I was also on the rifle team. I think I could swim the English Channel tomor-

—

row." He laughed. "I'm see *

how

soft

I

am

my

flexing

muscles so you won't

inside."

'Untried," Peter said.

''So

I

want Casey

to love

because of the wallet

me

because I'm a

of credit cards

full

I

man and

not

carry."

"Silly!" Casey said, and hugged his knee, her golden hair

reaching

down almost

to the floor.

Rod said, "what do I have to offer Newsview except my good looks and Professor Schindler's recommendation to Mr. Devery." "You ran a pretty good college newspaper from all ac"So

I

asked myself,"

counts," Peter said.

"Oh, I know how to play games with words," Rod said. "But what about hard facts? What about real reporting? What about the risks of searching for truth?"

"Risks?" Grace asked.

"The

truth

a

is

dangerous commodity,

Grace. I'm talking about the real truth not what

is

We've seen

handed out it

in

consolidation of

phony

to us every

at the

Mrs.

Styles

core of things,

day labeled

as 'truth.'

government. Department of Dirty Tricks,

power by

illegal

means, hidden behind the

truth of 'National Security.'

The

real truth

is

always

hidden behind a barrage of propaganda. To go after that real truth

is

risky,

Grace."

Peter looked at Grace, dark, lovely, electric.

He wanted

moment he wanted her. The boy's enthusiasm was charming, but Peter wasn't in the mood for youthful her. Right at that

He wanted Grace. "What I have suggested

cliches.

to

Mr. Devery," Rod

said, "is a

series of articles

under the general

of The Polite Assas-

title

sins/'

"Who couch

are they?"

He

Peter asked.

touch Grace's hand.

to

Go

reached across the

away, boy, and leave us

You are interfering with our most urgent needs. "They have been around me all my life and I've only just begun to realize it," Rod said. "You know some assassins. Rod?" Grace asked. She turned her wide dark eyes Peter's way and there was a message in them. Be patient, they said. It is all yours, forever.

alone.

"I have been rubbing elbows with them didn't

dream

"Name said

it.

it

until recently,"

one," Peter

Rod knew

said,

Rod

all

my

life

said.

and was sorry as soon as he'd

Peter was laughing at him. Frank Devery

wouldn't have sent him with some fairy story. "Let's over again, Rod. Watching you and Casey reminded

I'm

just as

trating.

much

Who

and

in

love as you are.

It

are the Polite Assassins?

kept I

me from

start

me

that

concen-

assume you're

talk-

ing about a genre and not a specific person or people."

"You two

are dolls!"

Casey

said.

"But you've got

to

Rod is for real." He touched her cheek with the back of his hand, tenderly. "You don't have to make someone dead to kill them,*' Rod said. "You kill their reputations, their careers; you break

believe, folks.

them

financially,

sure on

them

to

you destroy

become

their businesses;

criminals, or else.

you exert

pres-

This extends

beyond individuals, Peter. It goes for businesses, for corporations, even for governments. Big money changes hands. Power changes hands. You and I sit here thinking our vote means something. It doesn't. We only get a chance to vote for people

who

have, by wheeling and dealing, wedged their

power struggle. Men without big money, or the support of big money, don't have a chance." Rod looked at Peter for some kind of comment.

way

to

the

top of the

"That would make a good Sunday sermon," Peter you need facts for an article or a series." *'rve been in adjoining rooms all my life," he said.

said,

'*but

"How

do you mean?"

room and heard

"I've been in the next

their soft laughter

as they planned and schemed. I've seen their expensive cars,

custom tailored suits, and their beautiful, rich women. They are so well bred, so well educated, so polite'/' "And you know what their schemes are?"

and

their

"Power and money, of

course. There

is

a back-street love

between big corporations and government." "But specifically. Rod." "Nothing works without oil," Rod said. "They call it Energy, but they mean Oil. They lost the ball game in the Middle East. They supported Israel in the hope of gaining affair

control of the oil there, but a nuclear confrontation put an end to that

There

Now

dream.

is oil

they look south it

must be

—

to

South America.

in friendly hands.

is

that to

"Terror,"

Rod

He gave

music of success, the laughter

Would you

Peter an odd but very con-

real

men

at the

me up "Some kind

it

made me

power, the

heard

little

to the

inadvertently,

I

feel safe?

real strength that

fragments about pow-

My

family dinner table.

Then one day,

brought

I

rooms

that goes with self-assurance.

believe that for a long time

was surrounded by the made the world go round.

I

all.

must be

be achieved?" said.

centrated look. "I listened from those adjoining

erful

It

hands quickly."

in friendly

"How

there, but

father

knows them

heard something that

short."

of a fact,

I

hope."

"Please give him time, Peter," Casey said.

"We

are living in a society of

blackmailed," blackmailed.

Rod

A

men who can

be bought or

said. "Governments can be bought and

couple of hijackers can seize a plane and

8

change the policy of a government. Witness the obstruction of Jewish emigration from Russia. Terror becomes a factor in

world decisions."

"So what's new?" Peter said. He was getting impatient. "The men in the adjoining rooms who laugh at their private jokes and who are so polite and well bred are not the terrorists

—

person, Peter. But they arrange for terror.

in

description of terror in a novel by Morris West. to say about

it.

He

ible. It infuses fear

in

says that as a

and doubt, he says.

democratic procedures.

sets

the

weapon

young against

It

It

it is

He

I

read a

has a

almost

lot

irresist-

destroys confidence

immobilizes police agencies;

the old,

it

have-nots against the

the

haves, the ignorant against the knowing, the idealists against the pragmatists. It's infection.

It

more deadly than

suspension of

human

the plague as a social

of remedies. West says. The

justifies the vilest

rights, preventive arrests, cruel

and un-

usual punishments, subornation, torture, and legal murder."

"You're still delivering a sermon, Rod," Peter said. "The most moral of men, the sanest of governments, is not immune from the infection. West says," Rod went on, ignoring Peter. "When we want to terrorize Jews in Israel, we hire Japanese gunmen. You want to silence a French leftist, you hire a gunman from Norway. It's made to look like the work of individual zealots. But the fact of the matter is " Rod hesitated, and Peter saw a nerve twitch high up on his cheek. "The law. West says, is only a thin crust over a nest of soldier ants. Death is a big business. The soldier ants do the terrorizing, the killing, but the orders are given by those softly laughing men, those polite men, in those adjoin-

—

ing rooms.

I

said

makes me believe

heard something.

I

that there

is

What

I

heard, Peter,

a well organized, magnifi-

cently supplied, terror group that involves mercenary killers all

over the world. All the polite assassins, in those adjoining

rooms, have

to

do

is

point a finger at

9

you or me, and a

killer

from some distant place takes care of us. If a President or a government refuses to deal or cover up, a contract in terror is set up, blamed on radicals, or black militants, or juvenile gangs. And you and I nod, and say that must be the way it is, and the mercenary terrorists remain hidden, unheard of. What I

heard, Peter,

is

enough

to

make me

believe that

I

just

might

be able to expose the whole incredible machinery."

"A

big and very dangerous job

if

you're right," Peter

said.

am

"I living

a rich kid, a nothing,"

off

the

fat

changed, they think. All suit,

maybe

a

Rod

of their land. I

want

is

new

a

and stroked

said,

"They ignore me because concern them that

I

am

in

I

am

am

spoiled,

want anything

new

sports car, a

his knee.

a nothing.

So maybe

I

So

it

doesn't

an adjoining room, so to speak.

pass an open door, they don't wonder a zero.

"I

bevy of new women."

"Beast!" Casey

am

said.

don't

I

was

just that.

if I

If

heard something.

But now

I

am

I I

listening

It is a big job. I'll need the help oiNewsview. Somewhere there must be some incorruptible men. Maybe you can point them out to me." "Exactly what are you aiming at?" Peter asked.

for real.

"Somewhere there is a headquarters, a machinery, a command post," Rod said. "They don't just serve the polite men in my adjoining rooms, but polite men in rooms all over the globe. You want to spread terror somewhere, and a man picks up a phone and calls Tokyo, Venice, Munich, Paris,

want

—

London, Chicago in a matter of

you name

it.

Warsaw,

You have what you

hours."

"It sounds like a bad

dream," Grace

think such an organization exists,

"He's convinced," Casey pride.

10

said.

"You

really

Rod?"

said,

her eyes

shining

with

"Given spondents

a

some help from Newsview's

time,

little

over the world,

all

think

I

I

corre-

could expose them."

"What do you want from Newsview's people?"

Peter

asked.

"To

listen to

of sounds

air is full

we

heard sounds like

"You

oil

—

little,

and what I've

to the south. Terror for oil."

evidently impressed Frank Devery," Grace said.

"Enough

him

for

briefcase

tions

talk care-

don't hear, Peter, unless we're

alerted to listen for them. I've listened a

a

who

people

because they're so sure of themselves and their power.

lessly

The

"To

listen," he said.

to

—names—

send

me

of

full

to Peter,"

notes

—

scraps

Rod

said.

of

"I have

conversa-

travel plans of important people that

seem

in-

nocent enough on the surface. Mr. Devery thought you and

he and

I

might

some plan of morrow morning

out

It

sounded

vague

—

down and go through them, Peter work campaign. He suggested an hour or two to-

sit

in his office."

like a writer's

to be taken seriously.

dream-up, Peter thought, too Yet,

—

if

Rod had

notes he had

shown Devery because Peter couldn't believe Devery would have bought this without something more than a sales talk

—

^they'd

be worth looking

at.

"Ten o'clock tomorrow morning?" he suggested. Rod glowed with pleasure. "That would be just great," he said.

They dawdled a

little

over their drinks and they finally

left.

Grace picked up glasses and ash trays and carried them into the kitchen. It was a joy to watch her move, so tall and straight,

and

"They're

full -breasted,

and narrow -hipped.

really lovely kids," she called to Peter

from the

kitchen.

"I love you," he

She appeared

said.

in the kitchen door, her dark eyes bright with

11

laughter.

thought

'*I

it

was

just possible

them," she said. was a near thing," Peter

you might rape me

in front of *'It

They went

said.

to bed, but not to sleep. Peter thought he

would

never have enough of her. In the end they did sleep, holding

each other close.

The telephone woke Peter. He thought to hell with it, but it was persistent. Whoever was calling re-dialed after a while and set it going again. Grace didn't stir. Peter untangled himself from her arm which was thrown across his chest and reached for the phone on the bedside table, not bothering with a

light.

''Yes?" he

said.

"Peter?"

was Frank Devery.

It

Peter glanced at the illuminated dial of the clock that rested

on the

is

this to call

Devery 's normally harsh.

It was 3 a.m. "What someone?" he said.

table beside the phone.

time of night

cheerful

"Did Rod Chandler and

voice his girl

the hell

sounded rough and

come

to see

you

last

night?"

"Early evening. They're long gone."

"You'd there with

better brace yourself,"

Devery

said.

"Is Grace

you?"

"Where else?" Grace turned her head on the pillow and

said,

"What

is it,

darling?"

"Chandler took after one, so they left

home," Devery said. "It was just must have stopped somewhere after they

his girl

you."

"Must have. I think they left here about ten." "They were ambushed," Devery said, in that harsh "What are you talking about, ambushed?" "Sawed-off shotguns, the police think." 12

voice.

Peter

felt

a knot form in the middle of his gut.

out in the dark for Grace. She sensed

and

sat

He

some kind of

reached trouble

up beside him, her shoulder pressed against him.

"What

is

it?" she whispered.

"How

bad?" Peter asked Devery. "Chandler is physically unhurt," Devery said. "But the girl-" "How bad?" Peter almost shouted at him. "They blew her head off, Peter. Quite literally blew her head off her body."

"Oh

Jesus!"

"What

is

it?"

Grace

said.

She was clinging

to Peter,

tightly.

"Casey," he said. "She's been murdered." "Oh my God!" "I'm at the Thirty-fifth Street police station with Chandler," Devery said. "Fifteenth Precinct. He needs friends and help, Peter. He's completely off his rocker at the moment. Can you come?" "Of course," Peter said. "Twenty minutes."

13

I

2.

Peter

He

was badly shaken.

dressed

with

hands that

weren't steady. Grace had slipped into a robe and she pro-

duced a cup of hot coffee laced with brandy as Peter was

money, keys, wallet, and his pipe, pouch, and from the bureau top to various pockets in his gray tweed jacket. He had put on a black, turtlenecked knit shirt. transferring lighter

He

faced Grace, his dark eyes clouded with anger and con-

cern.

He touched

her cheek with his fingertips.

when I leave, love," he said. ''And may want you to go to someplace where there entrance from the street level." His eyes moved

*'Lock up everything get dressed. isn't

an

I

toward the French windows that opened out onto a backyard garden. "Peter, were there details?"

"Only

were ambushed by people with sa wed-off shotguns. Rod apparently escaped. But the girl that they

—

"Why are you concerned for me?" Grace asked. "Because I love you." "But why is there danger for us, Peter?" "Because we are living in a vicious world," Peter said. "Because somebody tried to silence Rod. Since he'd talked 15

to us they

may

think he's told us

more than

it's

safe for us to

know." ''But he didn't!"

"Can

they be sure?"

Peter asked.

He

bent

down and

kissed her gently. "There seems to be no escape from this

kind of horror," he said.

She knew what he was thinking. There was a dark time in made it impossible for him to forget. There had been Peter and his father driving down a mountain road in Vermont, a pair of laughing hoodlums in another car forcing them off the road, a somersaulting crash over a cliff. Peter had been thrown clear but his father had died in the wreckage of the car. Peter had come to in a hospital with his right leg amputated below the knee. Senseless violence. It had changed Peter from a wry and witty commentator on the world scene into an impassioned crusader against man's inhumanity to man. He could, with his artificial foot and leg, walk without a discernible limp, dance, play golf, the past that this kind of thing

but he could never forget.

Casey, had brought

it

The murder of

all

back

I

can do

"If there's anything

that lovely girl,

into flaming focus.

— " Grace

said.

"There is a gun, as you know, in my top righthand bureau drawer," Peter said. "What you can do is keep safe."

He walked about two The bare,

15th Precinct uninviting.

blocks before he saw a cruising

House was

like

most police

taxi.

stations,

Peter approached the desk sergeant and

identified himself.

"One

flight

up," the man

said, evidently expecting him.

"Second door on your left." The second door on the left was to the office of Captain Staub, the precinct commander. With the uniformed officer were Frank Devery and an old friend. Lieutenant Gregory Maxvil of Homicide. Devery was a short, square man with an aggressive look to him that hid a real compassion for 16

— Maxvil was one of a new breed of cops, college educated, scientifically trained, with a law degree on the side. Peter had met this intense, hard-driving young man

human

suffering.

on a murder case he'd covered for the magazine. They'd become more than casual friends. Maxvil was a highly trained detective; he

knew

his city

from one end to the other,

the people in high places, political people, people with influ-

ence and power.

You want

went on under the surface

know who

to

in city life

to talk to about

what

Maxvil was the man

to

Only a few days ago he had stopped by the Styles' apartment to welcome Grace home and to gossip about the new

ask.

mayor.

Devery saw the question hall

in Peter's eyes.

"Rod's down the

with an Assistant D.A.," he said.

"Much good in shock.

Who

it

do anyone," Maxvil

will

said.

"The boy's

can blame him?"

"What happened?" Captain Staub, a big written

"The

all

man

with red hair

who had

career cop

over him, answered the question.

Fraser

girl lives

—

lived

—

on East Thirty -eighth Street," he

in a

remodeled brownstone

said.

"Second

floor apart-

ment. Lived by herself. She and young Chandler arrived

You climb

the house about one o'clock.

door vestibule, but there

is

a

at

steps to the front

basement apartment with

its

own

entrance, occupied by a couple of pansy house decorators.

They have tubs.

for

It

box hedge around their entrance, growing in gave cover to the guys who were evidently waiting a

Chandler."

"Rod saw them?" "Not

in

Peter asked.

time," Staub

said.

"Chandler and the

girl

had just

when someone called his name He turned and saw two armed men. Rifles he said, but we know now sa wed-off shotguns. Chandler says he knew they were after him. He turned to try to push the girl started

up

the

steps

Chandler's name.

17

moved up above him on

out of the way. She'd

he tripped and

head

off,

and

The

fell.

split.

killers

opened

fire,

the steps and

blew the

Chandler can't identify the

was holding what was

of the

left

girl in his

girl's

killers.

He

arms, sobbing,

came out of the basement apartment to see what the shooting was about." Peter turned to Devery. "He sent for you?"

when one of

the faggots

"His father's in Washington," Devery said. "I guess I was his second choice his boss. Also also I know something about what he thinks is at the bottom of this."

—

—

"The

Polite Assassins," Peter said.

Devery nodded. "I've told Maxvil and Captain Staub a little bit about Rod's theory. He was too incoherent to make

much sense." "He ought to be

shut up

can think about

getting out of here, finding the guys

is

somewhere," Staub

said.

"All he

who

did this, and killing them."

"He

loved that

girl

so very

much,"

Peter said.

"She was

a

charmer."

"What about "It did,"

sound

like

his theory?

Peter said.

It

sounds

muggers or holdup men.

contract with paid killers to carry

"Damned

it

It

an opium dream."

with shotguns don't has

all

the looks of a

out."

sloppy ones," Maxvil said. "They missed him

and they didn't stop steps, helpless,

"But why

like

"Two men

let

him him off

him

at all?

to finish

and they

try to kill

He'd fallen on the hook." off.

He

the

didn't have anything

Devery was chewing on a pipe stem. "Did he tell you something that he didn't tell me, Peter? Was he on to someone?" Peter shook his head. His mouth felt dr>'. A notion was

like facts. Just a suspicion."

taking place in his head that he didn't like to consider. "I'd

him, talk to him," he said. "I'd like him to know I'm here, ready to help. Who's the Assistant D.A.?"

like to see

18

a

*

'Arnold Rothblatt," Maxvil said. ''You

know him?"

"No." "I'll take

you

to

them."

Maxvil and Peter walked out into the

hall leaving

Devery

and the Captain behind. Maxvil stopped to get a cigarette

He squinted through the smoke at Peter. know you, dad," he said. "You know something we don't know." "No." Peter drew a deep breath. "You said it, Greg sloppy job. Two men with shotguns spells professionals. lighted.

"I

—

They don't panic and run." "But they did." "Not professionals." "What the hell are you talking about? They missed him and they ran."

"Maybe "The

they weren't after him," Peter said.

girl

was the

target? Jesus, Peter!"

"If they were professionals.

you have

to

assume

"Why? Why

their

If

they were professionals,

job was done."

You know something about her?" "No. But the facts make you wonder." Maxvil stopped outside a closed door. "Maybe you can the girl?

young Chandler to tell us something about her. But he's gunmen were after him." "Maybe they were, in a way," Peter said. "Will you, for Christ sake, stop double-talking?" Maxvil

get

sure the

said.

"Let's talk to him think

—or

rather

what

I

first,

and then

I'll

tell

you what

I

don't like to think," Peter said.

Maxvil opened the door and they went into another bare, dismal room. Rod Chandler sat at a flat-topped table, leaning forward as though his stomach ached. There was a paper cup of untouched coffee in front of him and an ash tray spilling

over with dead butts.

He looked up 19

at

them, blankly, his eyes

red and swollen from weeping. Rothblatt was a young Brooks Brothers type, dark side-

burns his concession to the modern

Maxvil

"He

style.

He joined

much that helps," he said, after Maxvil "He didn't get a good look at the killers. It

doesn't have

introduced Peter.

was dark and they were standing below him.

When

very quickly.

he turned to protect the

and were gone. He's sure they meant

fire

Peter and

just inside the door.

girl

It

happened

they opened

to kill him.

He was

working on a story for Newsview, he says, and they had stop

him from going any

further.

You know

about

that,

to

Mr.

Styles?"

"He

told

me

about

"Newspaper men rest

it

only a few hours ago."

aren't usually attacked this

of the fraternity won't

tom of

up

let

it."

"Let

me

talk to

him alone," Peter

Rothblatt shrugged. "It's worth a that'll

help—

"I'll pass

room

said. try. If

you get anything

?"

it

on," Peter

said.

Maxvil and Rothblatt went out the

way. The

until they've got to the bot-

to the table.

He

into the hall. Peter crossed

hand

rejected the impulse to put a

on Rod's shoulder. Sympathy might be more than the boy could take.

Rod

"You know

swollen eyelids.

lifted his

what's the worst thing about it?" he said, as

though they had been talking for a long time. His voice was ragged. "I can't there,

remember what she looked

and then they

—they

holding that horror in

my

like!

She was

was can't remember what

shot her head away, and

—and

lap

I

I

she looked like!"

He lowered his shoulders

his head,

covered his face with his hands, and

shook with great racking sobs.

"You'll remember," Peter

Rod heaved himself up

said.

out of his chair, as though physical

20

—

"

action

would

help.

on the front of

was then

It

saw

that Peter

I

the dark stains

Casey's blood! "Oh,

his light gray suit.

I'll

remember how she looked at the end!" he almost shouted. "I'll remember that when I'm being lowered into my grave. But before that grave scene I'll find them! And when I find them, so help me God" he made a strange clawing gesture with his hands "I'll mark them so the whole God damn world will know about them forever." "Leave it to the police," Peter said. "They'll find them. It

—

—

may

take a while, but Lieutenant Maxvil won't quit." ^"I'm not talking about those two bastards who did the shooting!" Rod said. "Fifty bucks to blow a girl's head off; that's the going rate, I understand. I'll leave them to your lieutenant. The ones I want are the ones I told you about, Peter

—those

politely laughing sonsofbitches in those adjoin-

They gave the orders; they paid for the castrate them and hang their balls out to

ing rooms.

job.

I'm

going to

dry.

I'm

have any idea

who

going to--"

"Stop

it," Peter said sharply.

"Do you

you're talking about?"

"Not

yet.

But

I'll

find

them, and when

"Will you quiet down and All the energy

back down into "I

talk to

me

—

sensibly?"

to drain out of the

boy and he sank

his chair.

know how

Rod,"

seemed

do

I

Peter said.

brutal

it

"But

is

tell

to ask

you

to

go back over it. after you left

me what happened

our place."

Rod drew happy

that

a deep,

"We

quavering breath.

you'd shown a spark of

interest.

went away,

You and Grace

you seemed so great together. Casey and I talked about you. You showed us that all this talk you hear about marriage is an old-fashioned idea is a lot of crap. We went somewhere

—

—

know where some hotel married, maybe tomorrow, not

don't

21

bar.

We

talked about getting

waiting for anything.

A

cou-

—

went by

pie of hours

as if

We'd be

looked great!

was no time

it

at all.

The

future

married, and never separated, and

making love to each other every day. I'd do a tremendous series for Newsview. We were on our way. It was all settled. We left the bar and took a taxi to her place. I I was going up to her apartment with her, and we were going to make love until we were both marvelously exhausted. Then we were going to sleep, wound up in each other, and oh God!

—

—

Oh dear, sweet Jesus!" "Go on," Peter said,

"We

got out of the taxi, and she started up the steps as

paid the driver.

below

man

her,

said.

whisper.

purposefully unfeeling.

followed her

I

when somebody It

—maybe two

called

my

name. 'Chandler!' a

wasn't a shout, or anything like

'Chandler!'

down, and saw

man

the

said.

that.

Almost a

and looked

turned,

I

two of them with

the

I

steps behind her,

guns." Rod

their

stopped, as though he'd run out of breath. Peter waited.

"I

"I

—

knew what

those polite villains. really started.

It

—

didn't really.

I

just

was

was,

it

I'd miscalculated.

in their line

it

of

I

of course,"

Rod

said

finally.

They'd found out what I was up to was to be stopped before I could get

sounds as though

knew fire. I

it,

I

thought about

in a flash.

wanted to get

There was no way

And

in front

that.

I

knew Casey

I

of her, cover

two men. God, I tripped on the step. They they blasted away and it went over me and destroyed her Casey." His face was twisted by an unendurable agony. "And then they ran?" fv "I guess. I had Casey in my arms what was left of her. her, protect her.

I

—

I

to get at those

turned, and, oh

—

—

I turned to look at them, expecting a second come. They were gone." "How do you account for that?" Peter asked.

I

—

The boy looked up

"You know '

:.

—

at

blast to

him, eyes blank. "Account?"

in a flash,

you 22

said

—they were

there to get

"

"

"

you, to stop you from investigating. They missed you and

How do you account for that?" 'Those shotguns make a hell of a noise. I suppose they had to get away." '*It would have taken about three seconds for them to fire a second round into you. They were professionals. They left

you

there, alive, unhurt.

"The noise," Rod

said.

wouldn't panic." "I don't understand

—

Rod, but

"It's painful.

is it

you? That Casey was always

possible they were never after

their target?"

"They

The reddened eyes grew wide. name!" "But they shot Casey." "I tripped and

"Rod,

tell

fell.

me

That's the only reason

—

about Katherine Caroline Fraser.

save a great deal of time, trips

could find a reason

why

my

out

called

down dead-end

It

could

streets, if

we

she was the target."

—

"Casey? That's insane, Peter. She she was just a very nice girl. Her father is a small town doctor in Lake view, Connecticut. tics,

My home

town. General practitioner.

no big money, no nothing. Everyone liked

up with Casey,

No

her.

I

poli-

grew

sort of."

"Some man who

refused to turn her over to you?" Peter

suggested.

"And

'

Oh, come on, Peter!" "Jealousy is one of the prime motives for murder." "But there was no one. I mean "You rM^n what?" "The world isn't like it was fifty years ago, Peter. Maybe hired a couple of killers?

—

mothers are

still

ters don't listen. is

urging virginity until marriage, but daugh-

The

too uncertain, with

pill,

maybe. The feelings

some power-mad

that the future

lunatic able to press a

button that will destroy the whole universe. Fathers don't go out with shotguns in these days to

23

kill

the

young men who

may have despoiled their daughters." "Someone was out with shotguns tonight." "To get me, and you know why!" "So why didn't they get you?" Peter hesitated. "You're telling me that there were other men in Casey's life?" "She had

sex,

suppose. But there was no one serious, no

I

one important, before me.

No

one jealous enough

to kill

her."

"So

look somewhere else," Peter said. "Her fam-

let's

ily?"

"There's only

her

Dr.

father,

Her

Alexander Fraser.

mother died of cancer a few years ago. Casey was an only She went to high school in Lakeview and then grad-

child.

uated from Vassar. There are

some aunts and uncles who

used to visit."

"Did she have a job here in the city?" "She works for a theatrical producer. Chance Tempest name is." "Famous guy," Peter said. "Casey was the receptionist in his office. She loved job. If there.

I

had a

rival

it

was her boss. She loved

all

his

the

the people

There just couldn't be any connection."

Peter didn't mention the fact that

Chance Tempest was

a

friend, certainly not a hirer of shotgun killers.

"So perhaps some

give you

charge of

it

doesn't

make sense," he

said.

"Let

me

advice. Rod. Lieutenant Maxvil, who's in

this case, is quite a

guy. I've

known him

for sev-

worked with him. Trust him. If there is a cop anywhere who can find your two killers, he's the man. And he won't be satisfied with just that. He knows that the real killer

eral years,

doesn't pull the trigger in a case like

whoever he

this.

He'll find

him

is!"

" 'Them,'

The proper word is 'them.' " A strange, look came into the boy's eyes. "Your lieu-

Peter.

almost fanatical

24

tenant can dig and probe and hunt, but while he's doing that I'll

be

in

an adjoining room, listening to their polite laughter.

And when

identify them, Peter,

I

badly the law

I'm going to hurt them so

and your cop friend are going to look

Farmington's School for Girls! So that's

my

mission in

my

from now on. Be a good friend and stay out of Peter. Getting in

my way

isn't

like life,

way,

going to be healthy from

now

on."

'Tm

not sure you have the right to try to handle this

alone," Peter said.

"Right?" Rod almost shouted. "You didn't see Casey

—afterwards. Right!"

after

"You came

to

me

with a big story

terror, international in scope. If

last night.

Organized

you're right about that

it's

far

more important than you, or Casey, or me. You want to really hurt them you use your intelligence and your knowledge to upset the whole applecart, not just eliminate someone you think may have given a single order. You said you had notes, scraps of information, names, travel plans. Devery and I and the staff of A^^w5v/>w will help you put together what you've got and use it. You haven't the right to go off on a hysterical private vengeance campaign."

Rod

stood

up again.

His hands

were shaking and he

gripped the back of the chair to hide that lack of control.

looked

down

at the

dark stains on the front of his

suit.

He He

sounded choked when he spoke. "Get your detective friend to take you to the morgue, or the Medical Examiner's office, or wherever they've got Casey.

then you

way, Peter,

"He

You

take a look at her, and

me what my rights are. I repeat, stay out or so help me God I'll run you down."

tell

ought not to be

let

of

my

out of here alone," Captain Staub

"He's apt to go blast someone on his own." There was a council of war going on in the Captain's

said.

25

of-

fice

—

Peter, Maxvil, Rothblatt,

and Devery.

"I've been trying to reach his father

Devery said. He glanced called back." "Rich men find women listed telephones," Maxvil

at

his

watch.

in strange

said.

in

Washington," should have

"He

towns who don't have

"Is there no other family?

Mother?" Lawrence Chandler, of the New England Lawrences. Carved out of ice," Devery said. "If he needed bail up to half a million dollars, she'd be down here with the cash. Sympathy doesn't come as easily, I suspect. It may annoy her that her son was the target for a killer. Not the "Millicent

right thing socially."

"If he was the target for a killer," Peter said.

"You keep

saying that," Maxvil said. "I've got work to

Would you like to come clean, friend?" "Those polite villains Rod talks about in adjoining rooms. What rooms? Rooms in the various houses his parents own, and rooms in the homes of their friends, perhaps. I think he uses this 'adjoining room' phrase to mean his particular world. His parents' world. The people in that world stay rich do.

because they

know

all

the intricacies of the law

away with a kind of stealing and cheating. how? Their lawyers. Eric Chandler is at the

—how

Who

tells

to get

them

top of the totem

pole of lawyers."

"What's

that got to

daughter of a country killers,

do with Katherine Caroline Eraser, GP?" Maxvil asked. "I want her

I'm not interested

in

international cloak-and-dagger

crap."

"Suppose Rod Chandler's theory about organized truth

and

But he to

keep

is

is

man they depend on Rod and papa Eric just

the son of the top lawyer, the

their skins

might not

terror

'they,' the polite ones, feel he must be silenced.

whole. Kill young

like it."

26

"Not

like it!"

Devery snorted.

"Just might not like

He knows where

it.

all

the important

bodies in the world are buried, and probably has the evidence

prove

to

it.

They

come up with an

idea,

heir,

and laugh,

simplicity. Frighten

Rod

his eyes as a signal to

him

its

down on

can't get the big chief lawyer

them, but Rod, the son and

must be silenced. So they rooms,

at

off. Kill his girl right in front

of

that

in their adjoining

one step further and some-

may happen." buy that?" Maxvil asked. "They made one miscalculation, because,

thing even worse

"You

really

phrase, Frank, they are carved out of ice.

precious thing on earth ters.

But

to

their

is

Rod Chandler

was Katherine Caroline

the

own

lives.

to

use your

To them

No one

the

most

else mat-

most precious thing on earth

Fraser. His life doesn't matter to

him

so he won't take the warning. Nothing worse can happen to

him. So they've wasted

money and blood and

where they were before

it

happened

—except

they're just

that

Rod

will

someone, without proof or evidence, if he suspects." "He's got to be stopped," Staub said. "What are you going to do, Captain, lock him up? On what charge? For how long? He's got a whole lifetime in which to get even," Peter said. "The only way he can be

kill

stopped

is

for us to get at the truth before he does."

"And how do we do

that?" Devery asked.

Peter looked toward the light.

"Assign

me

window, gray with

early

morning

to the Polite Assassins story," he said.

"You're on a second honeymoon." A muscle twitched high up on Peter's cheekbone. "That girl was at my house last night," he said. "She had a kind of excitement, a kind of electricity. Grace and I liked her. They wiped her out, maybe to throw a scare into Rod, maybe for

some

other reason.

heart, his

He's not competent to handle

blood pressure, his blind fury."

27

it.

His

''So what good are you, friend?" Maxvil asked.

know

ones

journalist. All those polite

exactly

"Famous

who you

are.

They know, if they're what you think they are, that you're on young Chandler's team. They'll pull down the window shades on you, Peter. You won't be able to see anything from the outside looking in." "I know them," Peter said^ still watching the gray light at not in the context of terror, but the window. 'T know them

—

in their absolute certainty of their

own

cleverness. Govern-

ment scandals here and abroad may shake them up a little from time to time. They have to feed a few documents into the shredding machine. But no one, for sure, is as clever as they are."

"Or have money, violence

with

the

if

it

comes

to that.

last night's killers.

But

dark tunnel with no light

"So what

I

walk

I

Maxvil

at let

Oh, sooner or after that

at the

"The

said.

I'll

my me

later I'll catch

be looking

in far

down

a

"and no matter

into the tunnel," Peter said,

innocence

up

other end."

them, no matter what cover

tell

laughing They'll

have,"

they

assets

the influence, the armlock on honesty, the tools of

enough so

use,

I

in those adjoining

they'll

rooms of

that they'll

know

be

theirs.

exactly

what I'm doing."

"So Maxvil

eventually they get tired of playing said.

games with you,"

"You'll just be setting yourself up, Peter."

"But the one thing I'm not is innocent," Peter said. "They miscalculated when they thought that killing Casey Fraser would frighten Rod off. Just because I am a journalist with a name they'll play cautious with me; too many people will know what I'm after. So I think they'll let me in, just to be certain that they know where I am and what I'm up to every step of the way. They'll feed of information to lead to gobble

them up and

me

in the

they'll

me

wrong

little

hors d'oeuvres

direction.

I'll

appear

be enjoying their cleverness."

28

"And reach

you, enjoying your cleverness," Maxvil said, "will

in a

drawer for a secret and. find your arm caught

in a

bear trap!"

"Grace and

I

liked that girl," Peter said.

"They blew her

head off with shotguns."

"So

doesn't matter whether

it

I

say 'yes' or 'no,' " De-

very said.

"I'm afraid that's the way it is, Frank." Devery made an angry gesture. "So I say 'yes.' Because our staff may be able to give you help research, God knows

—

what."

Maxvil

hummed

a

little

tune. "I can't give

but love, baby," he said. "If

it's

any use

to

you anything

you."

The door to Captain Staub's office opened and patrolman came in. "I'm afraid I blew it. Captain," he said. "Blew what?" Staub said.

"The

witness

—Chandler,"

he had to go to the John.

He was

there so long

I

I

let

a uniformed

the patrolman said.

him use

began

the one

to worry.

Guy

"He

down

said

the hall.

that hysterical

might do himself harm."

"Are you

"He

telling

split," the

me

—

patrolman

said.

"The window

—

it's

only

about an eight-foot drop to the alley."

"For

Christ sake,

how

careless can

you be?" Staub de-

manded.

"He

wasn't under arrest. Captain.

stay with

"We

I

hadn't any reason to

him."

better find

hands," Maxvil

him before we have another

said.

29

killing

on our

3.

Rod Chandler

didn't have very

them, five or six minutes a couple of addresses

when

ther had a house on

much of He had

most.

they

first

questioned him. His fa-

The family were based

Lakeview, Connecticut,

in

a head start on

given the police

East Sixty-eighth Street, but

closed for the summer.

mer home

at the

it

at their

in the foothills

was sum-

of the

away from Casey, had Yale Club on Vanderbilt Avenue. It was

Berkshires. Rod, not wanting to be

taken a

room

at the

really just a base, a message-taking place for him. tell

the police so, but

it

seemed

He

didn't

was actually living of men's clothes in

certain he

with Casey. They'd found a collection her apartment. Patrol cars

checked out on

staked out waiting for didn't appear.

him

all

to

three places, and

show up

at

men were He

one of them.

Almost an hour had gone by before Maxvil

came up with some answers.

A

Street house told the cops that

caretaker at the Sixty-eighth

Rod

kept a car at a garage a

few blocks away, a bright yellow Lotus. They'd missed him by only a few minutes. He'd taken the car out and headed for no one knew where. Highway patrols were given a description and the license number of the Lotus. 31

'*You don't know

who

he

may be

after?" Maxvil asked

Peter.

"He

didn't

Them,'

name anyone,

if

what you mean.

that's

he said." Peter turned to Devery.

"What

about you,

Frank? He talked about notes, scraps of information, names.

Did he show them to you?" "Yes and no," Devery said. "There was a suitcase full of stuff. He didn't seem to have the material organized, but he showed me a sort of diary. I just skimmed it. It seemed to involve mostly social gatherings country,

who came and

went.

at his

He

told

family's place in the

me when

he got the

stuff organized I'd see the significance of it."

"He

took the suitcase away with him?" Peter asked.

"Yes.

"He

I

supposed he was going

didn't.

to take

it

to

you

to

see."

You remember any names?"

Devery scowled

at his

clogged pipe. "I gather the Chan-

town of Lakeview. Eric Chanand his two sons and their families. The old man died some years ago and Eric Chandler took over his house. David Chandler, Eric's brother, lives in another with his wife. No children. The third house, which was originally Eric's, is occupied by a Carl dlers

have a huge estate

in this

dler's father built houses for himself

Lindstrom and his son." "Lindstrom Tool and Die Company," Maxvil

said. ''Big

government contracts. They make highly sophisticated toys for the Pentagon." "Between the Chandlers and Lindstrom important people come to visit, to stay in one of the guest cottages, to dine and wine themselves. A perpetual stream, according to Rod. He had

lists

of visitors as long as your arm.

I

didn't take the time

saw the names of a couple of United States Senators, some show business stars. I remember Rod pointed out a Spanish sounding name which, God help me, I didn't commit to memory. 'Owns half the oil in Venezuela,' then to study them, but

I

32

Rod

said."

Maxvil's computerized mind supplied an answer. "Juan Luis DeSantos?" he asked.

"Sounds right."

"He

could afford to buy Manhattan Island for what

worth," Maxvil

ally

"He

said.

it's re-

has a permanent suite

at the

Beaumont Hotel. Bodyguards. One of them was shot down by some Cuban radicals a few months ago. That's how I hap-

know about him." "What about the girl's

pen

to

father?" Peter asked. "He's been

notified?"

in

Maxvil nodded. "Old man runs a small hospital or clinic Lakeview, the Chandlers' town. He was naturally knocked

off his pins by the news.

coming tor."

into the city.

He shuddered

I

He

told

him

there

was no point

in his

shouldn't see her, doctor or no doc-

slightly.

"I never get used to mutilated

The local undertaker is on his way in to take the girl's body back to Lakeview." "So what's next?" Devery asked. "All this chitchat isn't corpses.

boy."

finding the

"Or

"That suitcase could may be."

the suitcase," Peter said.

where he's headed and what

"You

really think he's

tell

us

his plans

on

his

way

to kill

someone?" De-

very asked.

"If he's half sure," Peter said.

"Half sure?" "That's

all

he needs to be to blow his stack," Peter said.

was broad daylight when Peter got back to his apartment Gramercy Park. Grace, looking as lovely as though she'd

It

off

had a

unfastened the chain lock on the

full night's sleep,

side of the door to let

him

in.

He

held her close for a

in-

mo-

ment, not speaking. "If

it

had happened

to

me," he 33

said finally, "I'd be doing

"

just exactly

what he's doing.

them out." She saw

the pain in his eyes.

I'd be looking for

"You need

them

to

wipe

a shave, a hot

shower, and some breakfast," she said. "I want to stop him on his account, not theirs," Peter said.

"It just

came over

the radio that he skipped out of the

police station," Grace said.

"He

wasn't under arrest," Peter said. "Technically he had

a right to go. But he's on fire."

"Do you know who

he's after, Peter?"

"No. 'Them.' " He drew

deep breath.

a

take a drive up into Connecticut? ther.

There's something about

He

I

this

want

—

"You want

to talk to

Casey's

to fa-

followed her advice, shaved, turned the bathroom into

Then over

a steam room.

coffee, eggs, and toast he brought

her up to date. The thing that didn't

fit

was

that professional

Rod, had cut down the girl by accident and Casey must have been the target. father just may know something that will

killers, out to get

him "The

left

alive. girl's

help."

He

called

local garage

Devery before they got

his white Jaguar out of a

on Irving Place. There was nothing new. Maxvil

had searched Casey's apartment, the Chandler house on Sixty-eighth Street, and Rod's suitcase.

No

Chandler had

room

at the

papers that might have been finally

Yale Club.

No

in a suitcase. Eric

phoned from Washington. He was flying to Lakeview, hoping that Rod

by chartered plane directly would show up there.

"You

told

him

the

boy was out

to get

someone?" Peter

asked.

"I told him

Rod was

in

shock and had walked out on the

police." "It's a

two-way

street,

Frank. Rod's out to get someone,

34

but, if they

know

that,

our friends with the shotguns won't

miss this time. He's got to be found, and found fast."

''Keep

in

touch."

The mood was

dark. There

was a dead

girl,

her beauty

erased by assassins; there was a grieving father

who would man

never see his daughter's face again; there was a young already tasting the blood of the

man

or

men

ture laughed at this darkness with a bright,

June day.

On

was dogwood

responsible. Na-

warm,

clear-skied

the early part of the trip to the Berkshires there in

bloom, white and pink, and dozens of other

flowering shrubs and fruit trees. Eventually they were off the

landscaped thruways and onto lesser blacktopped country roads, green and purple hills looming up in front of them.

It

was a day and a place for lovers, but the mood was dark. Lakeview was typically beautiful small-town-NewEngland. There was a village green with fine old trees, lined by colonial-type houses. There were dates over some of the doors going back to the 1700s. The shops and gas stations and the like that go to make up any town were out of sight of Lakeview' s village green. Peter turned

down

the

first

side street they

came

to

and a

bank, a firehouse, a liquor store, a barber shop were vealed. Peter pulled up and spoke to a

man who was

re-

just

coming out of the bank. "I'm trying to find a Dr. Fraser," he said to the man. The man looked at Peter, at Grace, her eyes hidden behind dark sun glasses,

at the

white Jaguar.

"You

friends?" he

asked.

"You

could say so," Peter said.

"You're the one who should say so," the man said. "Dr. Eraser's daughter was killed in some kind of a holdup in the city last night. He's not likely to want to see someone who isn't a friend."

35

s

"I can

tell

you honestly

that

I

was

a friend of Casey's,"

Peter said.

That did the

man

said.

mile.

You

"The Doc may be

trick.

"You

take your

can't miss

it.

first

right

at his clinic," the

and go for about a half

Old colonial with a sign out front. Name on the mail-

He's got a cottage about a mile further on.

box." The Alexander Fraser Clinic needed paint, but the lawn was mowed and the shrubbery bordering the driveway neatly trimmed. It was a big sprawling white house with a dozen or more cars parked around it and along the drive. Peter found a shady place to leave Grace, and went into the house. in a

white nurse's uniform was sitting

*'Can

I

at

A

girl

a reception desk.

help you?"

"I'd like to see Dr. Fraser."

She frowned. "I'm

"My name

is

afraid that won't be possible today."

Peter Styles.

I

know

about Dr. Fraser'

trouble."

The

girl's

eyes widened. They were nice eyes. "You're a

reporter, aren't

any

you?

I

know

Dr. Fraser doesn't care to

sort of statement."

This

girl, the

man

outside the bank

someone they cared about. "Will you tell Dr. Fraser

—they were

make

protecting

Casey was in my house just a couple of hours before she was killed. I'm here because I

may be

that

able to help find the people

able to help

if he'll

talk to

who

did

it.

He may

be

me."

"If you'll wait here," the

girl said, "I'll tell

him."

Peter watched her go, thinking, inconsequentially, that the

white stockings she was wearing with her uniform didn't do

anything for legs. She was gone for a good five minutes before she reappeared at the end of the hall and beckoned to

him. She was just outside the door with Dr. Fraser's name on it.

36

*'Be gentle with him," she whispered. "He's had almost more than he can take." Then she opened the door and Peter went in. Dr. Fraser was standing behind his desk. He was a big man, his iron gray hair crew cut. His black eyebrows were bushy. His eyes were red-rimmed, his mouth, normally gentle and used to smiling, was compressed and not quite steady.

He had on tropical

a black turdenecked sweater-shirt under a gray,

worsted jacket. About sixty, Peter thought, and a

man who his

He

took care of his physical condition.

a college professor

who was

trying to catch

students of twenty years ago.

up

looked like

in style

with

Peter found himself re-

minded of Archibald Cox, the former special prosecutor in the Watergate affair. Under other circumstances, he guessed, this was a warm, compassionate man. "You are from Newsview magazine, aren't you, Mr. Styles?" he asked. His voice had an exhausted sound to it. "Yes, but I'm not here representing the magazine. Doctor."

"You know my daughter's fiance?" know him. He and Casey spent a part with my wife and me in our apartment." "I

Fraser raised a hand to his mouth, as

trembling. "Last night?"

"And

I've talked to

"Oh, God!"

Rod

Fraser said.

since

He

—

since

turned

last

evening

he could stop

if

it

of

its

happened, sir."

away

as if he couldn't

bear to have Peter see his twitching mouth.

He waved,

vaguely, to a Windsor armchair. "Sit down, Mr. Styles."

"I'd like to spare you pain. Doctor," Peter said. "But

perhaps the kindest thing

is

to cut right to the heart of

I'm here. Nothing can bring Casey back. But

it's

why

possible to

save Rod."

The doctor turned sharply and "Save him from what?" he asked. 37

his

face had hardened.

"Himself," Peter

make somebody pay

"He's taken off, determined what happened to Casey."

said.

for

to

•

"Who?" "He hasn't

any evidence, any proof against anyone," "and all he needs is for someone to raise an eyebrow the wrong way and he'll commit murder." "If I knew. If I had proof " The doctor's voice trailed off. He seemed to make a physical effort to pull himself together. "Have you ever had a child, Mr. Styles?" Peter said,

—

"No." "Then you

haven't watched someone grow and develop

from childhood

to

young womanhood or manhood. You

haven't suffered with them, and sympathized with them, and

You haven't felt love, and someone who is your own creation. It's

held their hand on a dark night. pride, and delight in

not just that you planted the seed, but that you cherished, and

moment

nurtured, and loved. Then, in one ghastly

body

isn't

left

whole. They

shouldn't look at

would commit "I like

a

my own

murder

if

tell

I

knew

Rod Chandler. He's been

the last fifteen years.

I

me

looking for himself, his

I

a

in

this

He

find

I

it

at

home

for

too,

house for

He had him

every

to start

was pleased when

if it

involved pull.

If

that.

hard to feel anything

took Casey to where

pened. The shots were meant for him.

Casey, she'd be waiting

I

I,

breath.

There's nothing wrong with

morning, Mr. Styles,

but bitterness toward Rod.

too.

think Casey helped

own manhood. it.

my

and out of

he got a job on your magazine, even

you've got pull you use

that

if I tell

watched him grow,

reason to be utterly spoiled.

But

shouldn't see her,

I

— " He drewyoudeep So

child!

—even her

If

it

hap-

he had never met

me when

I

go there."

"There's a question. Doctor," Peter said. "Were the shots

meant

for

Rod?"

Fraser seemed to freeze in every muscle, to statue.

"What

the hell are

you 38

become

talking about?"

a rigid

he said.

*'The police believe the killers were professionals," Peter said.

*'I

agree with them. They were waiting outside Casey's

apartment."

"God

—

help her

if

there

is

God,"

a

Fraser said.

"God

what she did

is wrong. She and the boy were livDid you know that?" "Yes." Peter hesitated. "They were very much in love." "So your professionals knew that he would be heading for Casey's apartment at the evening's end." "But they shot Casey." "By accident! The police tell me Rod tripped and fell just as they opened fire." "So, if they meant to kill him, why didn't they fire again?

help her

if

ing together.

Professionals don't panic and run

when

all that's

necessary

is

another three-four-five seconds to get the job done."

"You're suggesting Casey?"

that

paid

killers

"I say that the circumstances suggest

deliberately

shot

it."

"You're out of your mind, Mr. Styles!" "Casey was in love with Rod," Peter said. "They spent barely more than an hour with us last night and we were moved by what they obviously felt for each other. She was very proud of what he was doing." "He got himself a job?" "What he was doing on that job. He'd come up with the outlines of a story that the managing editor bought, that I bought. It had to do with the power world in which his family moves. This morning he was to show us notes and give us names. He had a diary. Those things have disappeared with him." ?" "But what has that got to do with "Why Casey? I've been wondering. You say Rod has been

—

in

and out of your house for

say that Casey

fifteen years.

Would

it

be safe to

has been in and out of the Chandlers' house

39

same length of time?"

for the

'^Well, sure,

but—"

''So I've asked myself this morning

—

is

it

possible that

Casey stumbled on something, some piece of evidence, some bit

of proof, that would

She'd give to tell

me

it

to

make Rod's

hang together?

story

him, of course. She'd make him promise not

or Frank Devery that he hadn't dug up this piece of

information himself. They were like married. Doctor. They

was she stumbled on, found out, somebody else knew it was hers. That without her Rod had no proof. So it was Casey who had to be removed. Does that sound wild to you. Doctor?" Fraser was still a rigid statue. It almost seemed he hadn't were a team. Whatever

it

unearthed, was his. But

heard what Peter' d been saying. ''Dr. Fraser?"

Fraser

let his

breath out in a long sigh, and he seemed to

though he'd been deflated.

shrivel inside his clothes, as

"What

could she possibly

someone would pay "I drove all the way from

tant that

tion.

know to

New York

to ask

you

said.

that ques-

Doctor."

The doctor made

a shrugging gesture

theatrical, gesture. "It just doesn't

he

would be so impor-

that

have her killed?" he

make

—

a broad, almost

sense, Mr. Styles,"

said.

And

it

sounded

false.

His grief had been genuine, his

atti-

tudes had been genuine, but suddenly he had struck a sour It was as if he had been reminded of something, remembered something, that hadn't occurred to him before. Whatever it was it had provided a new shock for him. "If you know something. Doctor, it could help us prevent

note.

another murder and

it

might help us get

to the

people

who

are

responsible for Casey's death."

"Know I

possibly

It was a cry of despair. "What could knew something wouldn't I have pro-

something?"

know?

If I

40

"

'

tected

Casey? Please, Mr. Styles, I've taken

human being can bear for one day. If Peter knew he couldn't stay there,

just about all a

you'll forgive

me

—

beating at Fraser. Yet

he could have sworn that the doctor had remembered something that might provide answers. *'ril

keep you posted

"New? Oh, from

if

anything

new

turns up. Doctor."

yes." Fraser seemed to have drifted away

his office,

away from

Peter.

Peter stopped to speak to the young nurse at the reception desk.

"Who

takes care of the doctor

when he

gets sick?" he

asked.

"Dr. Fraser?" The girl laughed. "Why, Dr. Fraser." "He's damned near in shock," Peter said. "I worry," the girl said. "Casey was the whole of

his

private life."

Peter took a ballpoint out of his inside pocket and wrote

something on the

comes out of

it,

girl's

he'll

message pad. "It may be, when he want

to talk to

me

again," he said.

phone in New York. There's a message service that picks up when I'm not there. They'll tell the doctor where I can be reached and when. Now, can you tell me where I'll find the Chandler estate?" "This

As

is

my home

they drove out along a country road, following the

nurse's directions, Peter told Grace he thought he had hit on

some kind of

a

raw nerve with Dr.

"I don't think he'd thought of

Fraser.

it

before, but

when

sug-

I

gested that Casey, in and out of Rod's world most of her

had stumbled on something

that

had

to

seemed to ring some kind of a bell with him. knows, or at least guesses, what that secret may be." "You couldn't press him?" Grace asked. "He's genuinely shattered," Peter said. "Maybe when he gets pulled together. I

'

41

life,

be kept secret

—

it

think he

later,

'*Why are we going to the Chandlers'?" Grace asked. "Expose myself as Rod's friend and collaborator. Get look ing

at the cast

of characters

—

the polite ones in those adjoin-

rooms."

"You'll

was

tell

a

them what you've come

—

to think

Casey

that

the intended target?"

"I

am

just a grieving friend, offering

my

sympathy, con-

cerned about Rod's state of mind." Peter glanced up into the

"Don't turn around, but

Jaguar's rearview mirror.

we've already

I

think

attracted attention. Black Porsche. Let's test

it

out."

He

stepped

down on

the accelerator and the Jaguar leaped

forward. The following Porsche kept pace. Peter then slowed

down

to well below the speed limit. The Porsche held back. "He's taking no pains to hide the fact that he's tailing us,"

Peter said.

"Keep an eye

out on the right, love.

be getting close to the Chandlers' entrance

—

We

should

big stone gates,

the nurse said."

The Jaguar was

cruising at

fifty

when

suddenly accelerated, swerved to the front of Peter that he had to

Only a few yards ahead

the black Porsche

left,

jam on brakes

cut so closely in to

avoid contact.

the Porsche cut right and they could

hear the spray of gravel as

tires

spun. The car had raced be-

tween the stone gates Peter had been looking

for.

Grace glanced at Peter and saw the little beads of perspiraon his forehead. That kind of car confrontation was too

tion

vivid a reminder of past tragedies. She reached out a reassur-

which was gripping the Jaguar's wheel tightly. He turned his head and gave her a bleak little smile. "Remind me that I have a date with that sonofabitch," he ing

hand

to

his

said.

The bluestone driveway wound

its

deal of

money had been

spent to

42

way through

a breath-

was obvious a great keep the woods clear for

takingly lovely grove of white birches.

It

clumps of wild flowers and small evergreens. After a bit was a tumoff to the right with a ground-level sign that

there

lindstrom. The house it led to wasn't visible. But as they rounded a turn they saw a large stone house on the right, with acres of rolling lawns and landscaped planting. The road sign to it read david chandler. The road wound again, climbing, and then a second stone house, ivy-covered, loomed up ahead of them. It sat at the top of a hill, and from behind it was the view of a wide valley, swooping down and then up again toward the mountains beyond. Another sign informed them they had reached their read c.

goal

—ERIC CHANDLER.

''There isn't enough

money

for

all

Grace said. York, and the one

this,"

"You're forgetting the house in New in Palm Beach, and the apartment in London," Peter said. The drive wound around toward a porte-cochere at the front door. There were three or four cars parked near it. One of them was a black Porsche. A man had gotten out of it and was watching their approach as he pulled off a pair of black driving gloves. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with flaming red hair, worn long. He wore fitted tan slacks, flared at the bottom, and a black and red plaid revealing a corded neck.

As

they

shirt,

came

open

at the throat,

close and stopped, he

gave them a wide toothpaste-white smile. His eyes were a greenish gray, cold and challenging.

"Hoped you'd cai}

race

me up

do better than you were

the drive," he said.

"That Jag

letting it."

Peter opened the car door and got out, facing the redhaired man.

About

thirty,

have helped forgive

he thought. Not a kid, which might

it.

"Don't ever cut me off like that again," Peter said, "or I'll give you a lesson in the finer arts of total destruction." "I yearn for the lesson," the redhead said. "I'm Michael Lindstrom. Carl Lindstrom is my father. Most people call me 43

"

Happy." He

said the last of

it

to

Grace, the gray-green eyes

appraising her. She told Peter afterwards

it

was

like

being

undressed in public and not by a child.

Happy Lindstrom looked away from Grace, reluctantly. I remember now, you don't like games with cars. Which one is it?" "Which one is what?" "Your artificial leg," Happy said. *

'You're Peter Styles, aren't you?

A

muscle rippled along Peter's jaw

line.

"You

are some-

thing of a bastard," he said quietly.

Happy laughed. "Almost everyone looking for Uncle Eric?

I'll

try to dig

I

know

him up

says so. for

You

you." He

turned for the house and then back again. "Is the doll in the car anyone in particular?

"She's

my

I

mean,

is

she staked out?"

wife."

The smile widened. "That makes it more challenging, He turned once more and went into the house. Grace got out of the car and cam.e over to where Peter was standing, fighting the impulse to follow young Lindstrom into the house and chop him down. "An impudent monster," she said, slipping her arm

doesn't it?"

through

his.

"Stay away from him," Peter

said, "because if he so you I will be happily responsible for what happens to him." Then he relaxed. "Maybe you should consider him. His father is Lindstrom Tool and Die, one of the richest men in the world. He could buy you the universe if you asked for it." Grace smiled back at him. "Well, I haven't seen Papa yet.

much

as touches

But

the son and heir

if

is

a sample

—

The son and heir reappeared from the house, bringing with him a small, fragile-looking blond woman. "This is my Aunt Millicent," Happy said. "We call anyone who's a close friend of the family Aunt or Uncle, you 44

understand. Aunt Millicent

is

Uncle

Eric's, to

hold, in sickness and in health." There

have and

was an edge

to

it

to

that

brought pain to the blond woman's faded blue eyes.

Lawrence Chandler, carved out of ice, Devery had said. She wasn't what that had led Peter to expect, the cold Boston aristocrat. She must have been very lovely as a young girl, this woman whose son was Rod Chandler. The golden hair would have been natural then, the warm smile reflected in her eyes, not the kind of tragic blankness he saw there now. She wasn't tall, almost emaciated thin. Her blue wool pants-suit hung loose, though it had been expertly tailored for her when she'd been fifteen pounds heavier. Her skin, stretched too tightly over the good bones of her face, was tanned to a rich honey color, but it looked weathered. She moved smoothly, gracefully, but it was movement schooled to hide what Peter suspected were almost unbearable tensions. Her voice was husky but attractive. Peter instantly felt protective, wanted to help her, didn't know why. "How very nice of you both to come," she said. The hand she held out, first to Grace and then to Peter, was ice cold. She turned to Lindstrom. "Run down to the farm, will you, Happy, and tell Eric Mr. Styles is here." "Why not," Happy said. He smiled at Grace. "See you around." He went over to the black Porsche and drove off in Millicent

a cloud of bluestone pebbles.

"Happy

is

sometimes

difficult," Millicent

Chandler

said.

Her pale eyes were on Grace. "How lovely you are." Her eyes moved away again toward the disappearing Porsche. "Won't you come into the house. I know you're Rod's friends. We hoped he'd turn up here but he hasn't. What a ghastly thing to have happened to him and to Casey." She led the way into the house, into a large entrance hall big as a small ball room. There were magnificent paintings on the walls. Peter recognized a Wyeth, a Burchfield, a Ben-

—

45

was a huge picture window taking in the marvelous valley view. Millicent Chandler continued through this hall to a wide screened porch which overlooked the same view as the winton, a magnificent Speicher still-life of flowers. There

dow. noon," she said, "but that isn't too soon hope." She moved swiftly toward a portable bar, poured herself a stiff slug of gin on the rocks, swallowed it, and lit a cigarette with unsteady hands. Only then did she "It's not quite

for a drink,

I

ask them what they'd have. sisted. "There'll

Of

When

they hesitated, she in-

be lunch in about three quarters of an hour.

course you'll stay.

I

know

Eric wants to talk to you.

work with Rod, don't you?" "We work for the same boss," Peter

said.

"We

You

talked

about working on a story together."

"Rod and Casey were they?

I

at

I

last night,

weren't

believe the police told Eric they were." She reached

for the gin bottle again

"Can

your apartment

make you

and poured herself another slug.

a martini, Mrs. Styles, or a scotch or what-

ever?"

Grace said she would have a vermouth on the rocks. Peter indicated the Jack Daniel's bottle. Peter thought he under-

stood the blank look in the eyes, the carefully controlled tensions. Millicent their drinks

Chandler was a far-gone alcoholic. She made

and poured a third one for

herself.

She

flicked

nonexistent ashes from her cigarette into a brass tray on the bar.

"I seldom go to

New York

any more," she

said. "It's a

frightening place to be after dark. Shotguns, Eric tells me.

meaningless." She drank.

"Rod always

carries a

So

good deal

of cash. They didn't try for that, did they?" "It wasn't a robbery," Peter said.

"What was it—Peter?" "The police think they were 46

professional killers.

They

were waiting for Rod. They called out make sure they had the right man." ''And missed him?"

his

name, presumably

to

"Or warned him out of the way." The pale eyes widened. "You mean they were after Casey? How absurd. I mean she was just a child. I can't help wondering " Her voice trailed off, and she lit a fresh ciga-

—

rette.

"Wondering what, Mrs. Chandler?" Peter asked. "Everyone calls me Milly," she said. "I wish you and Grace would." "Wondering what, Milly?" "It could have been some kind of warning to Eric. Hitting Casey had to be accidental. They meant to warn Eric by shooting at Rod. That's why we must find him and keep him safe."

"Warning Mr. Chandler about what?" Peter asked. "Oh God," Millicent Chandler said, and drank again. "You'd have to understand the world we live in to know why I think that's possible." The pale eyes moved Peter's way and then darted off again. "Eric could stop work tomorrow and nothing would change. There is money enough between us to keep all the places we own and live the way we want to live. The difference would be that the danger would be over."

"What "Not

danger, Milly?"

the kind of danger ordinary people are in," she said.

There was the nimble business of lighting another cigarette although the one she'd been smoking was less than a third finished.

"Not

A

hand, with fingers spread, touched her breasts.

cancer, or being poor, or being

course we're

all in

down by a But Eric deals run

danger of slipping

unloved.

Of

being

by lightning. Not those things. such enormous shifts of power of busi-

taxi, or struck in

—being

in the bathtub, or

47

—

nesses, of governments, of entire countries. His clients control

much." She made

so

"When

whole world.

vague gesture

a

lawsuits, or injunctions, or subpoenas pert at

—though

those things." She laughed and

live in a

world of

that included the

things get very tight they don't think of

it

why

'or else.' That's

I

was

Eric

is

an ex-

"We

jarring.

wondered. Could

someone have been saying to Eric, 'Don't do what you're doing, or else.' Do you think it could have been that, Peter?" "Have you suggested that to Mr. Chandler?" "He laughed at me." She looked down into her halfempty glass. "He could be right, I suppose. It wouldn't be a

way

to get at

doesn't love

him.

him

He

until

doesn't love it

Rod

the

way

I

do.

He

hurts." She twisted her body as

if

was a reality. "He doesn't love anything except winning." She looked far away. "He cried the night his football team lost the big game in college. He was the captain. He the pain

never If

lost

anything after that

—

that

he cared about winning.

he had to give up Rod, or me, or someone he really cared

for in order to win, he wouldn't hesitate."

Grace sounded shocked. "That's hard

to believe,"

she

said.

"I know.

It's

very hard to believe. But I've learned to

believe it." She turned her head, listening. car pulling up at the front door. She

They could hear

came quickly

and Peter. She reached out and touched

their

to

Grace

hands with

those ice cold fingers. She spoke in an urgent whisper.

away," she

a

"Go

"Don't get involved. You care for each enough? Why should the Chandlers matter to

said.

other. Isn't that

you?" Then she moved quickly toward the door and called out in a cheerful voice, "We're on the porch, Eric!" There was no time to react to Millicent Chandler's surprising and intense warning. Eric Chandler came out onto the porch, and he was an attention-getter. He was tall, slim, with 48

sandy hair close cropped. Feature by feature he was not a handsome man. His face was a little too bony, his nose too large, his jaw almost aggressively pointed. But his gray eyes

were those of a man of compassion and humor. He had on wrinkled slacks, a pair of grass-stained buckskin shoes, a gray sweater over a navy-blue sports tan.

He looked

powered gance

like the relaxed

He had

shirt.

a healthy

country squire, not the high-

knew him to be. There was elemovement and his manners. He kissed his wife's bowed to Grace, expressed his pleasure at meeting

legal genius Peter

in his

forehead,

them. His voice had a low, rich quality. Peter guessed he could

make

fireworks in a courtroom with

it.

"I see Milly has started the cocktail hour," he said, giving his wife an

you'd

let

unhappy

me

steal

little

smile. "I wonder, Mrs. Styles,

if

your husband for a few minutes? The un-

pleasant details of last night's tragedy are not the happiest

pre-luncheon chitchat."

He wasn't someone you said no to, not here in He touched Peter's arm and headed him back into They walked across the big entrance guessed would be Chandler's study. "It's embarrassing to

have

to

hall

to

his world.

the house.

what Peter

apologize," he said.

''Apologize for what?" Peter asked.

"My into a

wife," Eric Chandler said.

world of oblivion

starts earlier

"The time and

earlier

for entering

each day as

time goes on."

"She was very charming and hospitable." "I used to think it was a matter of willpower," Eric said. The narrowed crow's-feet at the comers of his eyes suggested real pain. "I know now it's a fatal disease, and you don't turn your

have an

back on a sick person, or punish them because they

illness.

years ago

when

She was a wonderful woman this thing struck

"I don't think

it's

about ten

her."

something you need

49

until

to discuss with

me,"

Peter said.

"You're

Eric shook his head.

moment sive."

He

and she's already on the

find her with strangers

I

road to today's eventual disaster stopped by a door

and gestured Peter

find

I

at the

myself on the defen-

end of the

ahead of him.

in

of course. But the

right,

It

hall,

was

opened

it,

a small, book-

Casement windows looked out over an expanse of lawn and blooming shrubs. "I'm grateful to you for comlined room.

ing. Styles."

He

closed the door and indicated a comfortable

green leather armchair. that didn't look as if

it

He moved

behind a flat-topped desk

was used much

and for a moment he covered

for work.

He

sat

his face with his hands.

down

Energy

seemed to drain out of him. Presently he looked up. "This whole thing is pretty frightening," he said. "I had a long talk with Arnold Rothblatt, the Assistant D.A. By coincidence he used to work in my office, so he talked to me freely."

"About what?" Peter asked. "Rod's state of mind. Wild talk about people

in

my

world

being responsible for what happened to Casey." The gray

"He

eyes narrowed.

have anything on

you the night before. Did he mind then that would account for this

talked to

his

kind of insanity?" Peter hesitated. This could be a

anxiety for his son.

He

man who

could also be a villain

felt grief

in

and

some way

responsible for a murder. If he

had

someone he

order to win, he wouldn't hes-

itate.

really

"He was

cared for

in

interested in the

to give

power

up Rod, or me, or

structure, the tech-

niques, or big conglomerates, the kind of people you represent.

on

it.

He wanted

We

were

to research

interested.

I

it

and do a feature for

wanted

to help.

A^£'u'5V7>u'

Casey was eager

him to go ahead with it." "Poor kid," Eric said. "He thought there was ruthless violence involved some-

for

(59)

He had

times.

showed Frank Dehave gone over them with him

a suitcase full of notes he

very, our boss.

I

was

to

today."

"He "He them

didn't

this

The

to

have studied

morning. Incidentally, the police have looked for

hoping the notes might give them some kind of

that suitcase,

clue.

show them to you last night?" have them with him. We were

didn't

suitcase has disappeared. It's not at Casey's place,

or in Rod's

room

at the

Yale Club, or

in

your town house."

"I knew the police had searched," Eric said. "I didn't

know what exactly they were after at Rod's." Was that little exhalation of breath a sign of relief? "You saw him after the tragedy?" Eric asked. "At the police station." "Is Rothblatt right about his state of

"The

girl

was wiped

his voice cold.

out, her

"Her blood was

mind?"

head blown off," Peter said, still

staining the front of his

The only thing he could think of was vengeance. I tried told me to stay out of his way or he'd run me down. I think the worst of it for him was that he had to hurt someone and he hadn't the faintest idea who to hurt." suit.

to

calm him and he

"He "Not

me?" He had the

didn't mention

idea that someone was trying him from doing the story he planned. That could mean to him that it was someone in some way connected with you and your affairs. I came up here today because I hoped he might come home once he'd worn out his emotions.

personally.

to stop

He

can't get very far in that yellow Lotus with a five-state

alarm out for him."

eyebrows lifted. "Didn't you know? They found the Lotus abandoned on the East River Drive, somewhere near the toll bridge." Eric's sandy

"I

"He

still

have the feeling he may come here," Peter

feels responsible for

what happened 51

to Casey.

said.

He may

"

want

They have

to see Dr. Fraser.

"God,

I

a grief to share."

should have gone to see Alex," Eric said. "I've

been so concerned with "I stopped on the

my own

way

worries

—

here. He's pretty badly hit."

"Naturally. She was a lovely

girl.

Styles."

"I thought so."

Tanned

on the edge of the desk.

fingers played a tattoo

"This story he planned

—

did he mention any names? People,

companies?"

"Not

to

me." There was no

mention "those smiling assassins

point, in

till

he was sure, to

those adjoining rooms."

The study door opened without a warning knock and two men, casually dressed for the country, came in. Peter was introduced to David Chandler, Eric's brother, and to Carl Lindstrom, industrial tycoon and father of the driver of the black

Porsche. David Chandler was a blown-up version of Eric, a

man who

much, drank too much, unconcerned about hung over his belt buckle. Fat men are supposed to be jovial and good-humored, but nothing about his face suggested that he ever laughed. Carl Lindstrom was a ate too

the roll of fat that

big, powerful redhead

who looked

as though he could break

young son in half with one hand tied behind him. David Chandler and Lindstrom acknowledged the introduc-

his

tion to Peter briefly,

"Any

and then proceeded

further news, Eric?"

"Nothing," Eric

to ignore

David asked

him.

his brother.

said.

"I've alerted security," Lindstrom said. "If here in a hysterical state, ready to take potshots

Rod at

turns up somebody,

he's got to be stopped."

"We

keep a small, armed security force on the place.

Styles," Eric said. cottages,

we're

all

"We

"There are

the three big houses, guest

and about a thousand acres of land. Nowadays targets for terrorist groups of

hadn't anticipated being shot

52

one at

sort or

another."

by our own

chil-

dren," David said, his mouth a thin for

it

if it

slit,

"but we're ready

happens." The cold blue eyes fixed on Peter.

you any idea who he was out

didn't give

to

"Rod

get?"

" 'Them,' he said." Lindstrom laughed. "All of us!"

The study door opened and Millicent Chandler appeared. Her cheeks were flushed a bright pink. She held an oldfashioned glass

in

one hand, a cigarette

in the other.

"Darling, the ladies are starving to death," she said to Eric.

The blurred eyes turned

to Peter. "I think

Grace needs

you, Peter. Happy's up to his usual tricks."

"Sonofabitch!" Carl Lindstrom

said.

He was

nearest the

door and he brushed past Millicent.

"Happy

just can't resist a

woman

as attractive as

Grace,"

Millicent said.

They

all

followed Lindstrom across the entrance hall and

out onto the porch. Nothing outwardly spectacular was hap-

pening there. Happy Lindstrom had Grace backed into a

comer near

the bar, talking to her urgently.

rupted by his father

who had

He was

inter-

stopped to pour himself a

Scotch on the rocks. Lindstrom muttered some order to his son, and

Happy,

One

of them a

provocative.

and walked was taken by two women.

his face suddenly angry, turned

into the house. Peter's attention girl in

her early twenties, dark, deliberately

The other was

a faded blonde in her

fifties.

turned out that the Chandler brothers had married sisters.

It

The

who came quickly to Peter, introduced herself. "I'm Trudy Chandler," she said. "I'm David's kid. You know, I think I've read everything you've written, Mr. Styles. Now I know why Rod thinks of you as such a hero." She reached him, touched his hand. girl,

Eric, just behind Peter, introduced his sister-in-law. Faith

Chandler. Faith looked

at

him

threat to her very existence.

53

as though he

was somehow a

Lindstrom and Grace joined them as the white-coated that luncheon was served. Lindstrom

houseman announced

had turned on unexpected charm for Grace. '*I

don't ask you to forgive

Happy." he was

he can't be blamed, you know." effect is

was

woman

"In

for Grace.

nothing

at

like

all

that

smiled

at

world you come

can't be bought

—

He tumed back

any chance, you ever grow are

tired

of

this

"But

saying.

Peter but the to think there

you meet

until

your wife. Styles. Happy hasn't learned

that as a fact of life."

"What

my

He

a

to accept

"But

by — husband of yours

to Grace.

if,

you doing about Rod?" Grace asked, her voice

cool.

"We've tumed

out the marines to protect us from any kind

"We

of insanity," Lindstrom said.

away from here who

are very

also have security people

much more

likely to find

him

than the police." It

appeared that everyone was to stay for lunch. The dining

room was

room with an

a large, bright

elaborate buffet set up

along a far wall. There was another portable bar to the right of the buffet.

Two

table to help.

A

white-coated

men were behind

casual lunch in the country?

the serving

Over

the mantle

on the side wall was a portrait in oil of two beautiful blond girls. Some Beacon Hill artist had done this of Millicent and Faith Lawrence a good many years ago. They had been a lovely pair then.

Lindstrom departed to make himself a drink and Peter had

moment with Grace. "Are you all in one piece?" he

asked.

"Tve been

weekend

just a

invited to spend a

York hotel," she cottage *down by

said.

"Or

the lake.'

in

a plush

New

a leisurely afternoon in a guest

Or

a quick toss in a guest

room

upstairs."

"Bastard!" Peter

said.

"I would have been flattered except that he's a

54

little

scary,

'

Peter.

strom

wouldn't like to find myself alone with Happy Lind-

I .

'

Millicent Chandler

came toward them, balancing

a plate of

in the other. Her recommend the lobster Newburg," she said. "The Saturday special." Then she was very close and for a moment she indulged in that urgent whisper

food

one hand and a martini on the rocks

in

smile was a performance. "I

again.

"Go

while you

still

can, before you re in too deep!''

husband who was joining them, looking worried. "Introduce Mrs. Styles to the mysterious magics

She turned away

to her

of the buffet, Eric. She must be starved."

"You'd better eat something yourself, darling," Eric said. "I'm fine, Eric. I'm really quite, quite fine," she said. Eric guided Grace toward the buffet and Millicent spoke to Peter, again in that urgent whisper.

out of

It

my mind? Do

was

what

"You

think I'm drunk or

I tell you!''

actually in the last vestiges of twilight before Peter

and Grace got to leave the Chandler estate. There had been a communication from Arnold Rothblatt in New York. No trace of

of notes

Rod. And there had been no trace of the suitcase in the

full

abandoned Lotus. Eric and David Chandler

and Lindstrom wanted a detailed account of Rod's

visit

with

Grace and Peter the night before. Eric asked permission to tape Peter's account of it. Peter had tried reaching Maxvil without success. Devery was guarded in a conversation on the

phone

in

which he had nothing

to report.

Devery's man-

ner reminded Peter that there must be a dozen extensions in this

house and

that

any phone

call

Peter asked that Grace join

and Casey's

visit

could be easily monitored.

him while he described Rod

of the night before.

He

didn't want her

away from him. He pointed out, reasonably, that she might remember things about the evening with the two young people that had escaped him, or that hadn't seemed important 55

—

enough to him to remember. The three men Eric and David Chandler and Lindstrom were polite but insistent. All the while a reel of tape tumed in the comer of the room. Without any chance for collusion Peter and Grace cued each other so that there was no mention

—

of 'the polite assassins in the adjoining rooms.' Lindstrom, in the end,

was

the chief questioner.

of companies?

He asked

Names

of people?

Names

those questions a dozen times.

In the end Lindstrom indicated dissatisfaction.

"I find

it

hard to believe you're telling us everything, Mr. Styles."

"Why

should

I

hold back?" Peter asked.

know why. But what you've told us just isn't good enough. If Rod had no more to offer than you say he "I don't

did what possible interest could story? If he had no

more than he

Newsview have had in his you why the attempt on

told

his life?"

"He could have been how close he was."

close to something without

knowing

"Like what?" "I don't know."

Lindstrom leaned forward. "Has

maybe

it

occurred to you that

Casey Fraser wasn't an accident?" There it was, out on the table. "It occurred to me and to the police," Peter said. "It also occurred to us that the shooting had been meant as a warning to Rod to stop what he was doing and that the shooting of killing

Casey was an accident." "Accident, with obvious professional killers?" "It's possible," Peter said, inventing

it

for the

first

time.

"They called Rod's name. He turned and saw them. Casey was behind him. He couldn't see what she did. She may have made a move for the front door just as they fired, meaning to miss."

"Do you

really believe that?"

56

Lindstrom

said.

possible."

'*It's

And

so

went, round and round. In the end an afternoon

it

was gone and

there

was no news of Rod from anywhere. In Grace drove out through the

the dwindling twilight Peter and

birch grove, the white tree trunks taking on a ghostly look.

Peter slowed once, certain he'd seen light reflected on a gun barrel behind a

clump of evergreens. The "marines,"

the se-

curity guards.

'*rve never been so glad to leave anywhere," Grace said,

drove out through the big stone gates. "Everyone

as they

there

seems

sick.

The women!

Millicent, potted but so con-

vinced of danger for us! Faith. I'd swear David Chandler

Did you notice the black and blue marks on her

beats her.

arms?"

"No." "Because Trudy!"

"How

you

were fascinated

by

that

little

absurd can you get?"

"She's a man-eater, just the way Happy-boy has for

breakfast.

touched

his

seriously, the

men

So charming, so

are frightening, Peter.

—and

so cold!

I

don't think I've

men."

ever seen such cold, hard

Peter grinned at her. "Except

Happy-boy," he

said.

coldest and most irrational of the lot," Grace said,

not amused.

"Whatever

the Chandler brothers and Carl Lind-

strom ate concerned with I

women

She oozes sex." Grace reached out and hand where it rested on the wheel. "But

polite, so elegantly casual

"The

trollop,

it

has a reason. Money. Power. But

promise you Happy-boy

is

cold and cruel just for the plea-

wouldn't want

to

be alone with him for

sure of

it.

I

thirty sec-

onds."

"You

won't be," Peter

said.

His eyes narrowed. "Hello,

something up ahead."

There was a State Trooper's car pulled up 57

in the

middle of

the road, the circular red light

on

its

roof blinking. There was

a small black sedan on the other side of

it.

The uniformed waved his

trooper stepped into the middle of the road and

arms for Peter to stop. When the Jaguar pulled up the trooper came around to Peter's side.

*'May

I

see your registration, please?"

"Sure. What's wrong?" Peter asked.

He handed

his driv-

er's license to the trooper.

"Be good enough to get out of the car," the trooper said. He had that cool, unfriendly voice that often goes with the trade.

"What's this all about?" Peter "Get out of the car!"

said.

Peter smiled at Grace, patted her hand, opened the car

door and got out. The trooper had moved

to the

back of the

Jaguar, frowning at Peter's license. Peter waited, patiently, for

him

to speak.

"Peter!"

It

was

a short, sharp cry

from Grace.

the Jaguar.

men dragging Grace out of just a step. He didn't know at

the

to

Peter spun around and saw two

He moved quickly, moment what happened

him,

but

the

"trooper"

slugged him on the back of his head with the butt of a gun. Peter the

felt as if his skull

had been

split

with an axe, and then

whole world went blank and dark.

Peter opened his eyes and

were bright

came aware,

little

dots dancing

after a

moment,

felt

excruciating pain. There

in front

that he

He

of his eyes.

was cramped

be-

into the

passenger seat of the Jaguar. The car wasn't moving, the

motor off. He tried turning his head and saw that the car was no longer on the main road. It seemed to have come to a stop in thick

woods.

"Take your time,"

a smooth, cultivated voice said.

Peter turned his head the other way.

58

What he saw was

out

A man was sitting behind the wheel of the mask pulled over his head and face, with only

of a nightmare. car, a stocking

He looked

like

something out

say to you," the

man

said, ''so take

an opening cut for the mouth. of a late night horror movie.

"I have quite a

your time.

I

lot to

want

be sure everything

to

you." Awareness flooded back

to Peter.

The

is

quite clear to

State Trooper, the

second car, Grace's starded cry, and the blow to the back of his head.

The trooper had slugged him. There was no other

answer.

"Where

is

my

wife?" His own voice sounded strange

to

him.

"She's gone," the man I

have to say and don't

me

to

any heroics.

If

you

listen to

what

anything happens

they will send your wife back to you, packed in a

number of pieces

— "trunk." Peter

in a

'Tf you hurt her

how

said. "I suggest

try

started to threaten

and knew

was at the moment. "I want you to do something for me," the hooded man said. "If you try and you succeed your wife will be returned to you unharmed. I promise you that." The voice was almost musical with the faintest kind of accent Peter couldn't place for the moment. Was it Spanish, Mexican? "My friends and I are looking for a man," the voice said. "He is a Venezuelan business man named Juan Luis DeSansenseless that

tos."

was a name Devery had mentioned "He could afford to buy Manhattan worth," Maxvil had said. A suite at the

Something clicked.

It

as being in Rod's notes. for

what

it's

really

Beaumont Hotel, bodyguards. "You've heard of him?" the voice asked. "Vaguely." 59,

"He was kidnapped from his hotel in New York about a the hooded man said. "We believe the people

week ago,"

responsible are Eric Chandler and his brother David and a

man named Carl Lindstrom. They are people you have just come from seeing." The man was so cool, so relaxed, no weapon of any sort in sight. He seemed to be able to read Peter's mind. "You're calculating your chance Styles.

about

You

it.

probably could, but

I'm not armed,

it's

to

overpower me, Mr.

a waste of time to think

except with the knowledge of

true,

where your wife is and what will happen to her if you don't do what I ask you to do." Peter fought to keep his voice steady. "So ask," he said.

"Are you aware are patrolling the

number of armed guards Chandler property night and day?" that a fairly large

"Security people were mentioned."

"If

we go

blindly into those grounds looking for

tos, it's ten to is

one

that

we

Santos would be murdered to

a

start

equally certain that, should in

DeSan-

war without finding him. It gain the upper hand, De-

we

cold blood before

we could

get

him."

"Why? What

"A

is it all

about?"

hooded man said. "Oil is the name of the game today. Energy. The Chandler people are fighting for control of resources in South America. Not for patriotic reasons, you understand, but for personal profit. DeSantos is the key to a huge success. Sooner or later, if DeSantos isn't rescued, then he will have to be ransomed struggle for

power,"

the

with certain properties, certain rights in

oil

reserves.

We

don't intend that to happen."

"What

in

Peter asked.

God's name

am

I

The throbbing pain

supposed in his

to

do for you?"

head was unbearable,

Grace blood-chilling. "If we could know exactly where DeSantos

the anxiety for

60

is

being held,

we could

You

pinpoint our attack.

could go directly to where he

see that, of course.

We

without searching a thousand

is

dozen houses, making our presense known too long before we could find him. So you will locate DeSantos for acres, a

us."

''Why me?" "Because you have access

to the property.

ious to find Chandler's son. If dler's

show

home your

you want

to

You

make

are anx-

Eric Chan-

headquarters while they wait for the boy to

up, I'm sure they would

welcome you, give you

the run

of the property."

"I'm not

sure they trust

"You must make them

me." trust

you. For your wife's sake,

Mr. Styles." "How do you know about Rod Chandler?"

"We

have ears

in

many

places," the

man

said.

"Unfortu-

nately not inside the Chandler estate."

"Suppose they're not holding DeSantos there?" "They're holding him somewhere, Mr. Styles. I'm sure you'll try with

all

your might. Your wife

not a prize to

is

give up too easily."

"You "I

sonofabitch," Peter said very quietly.

know how you must

feel," the

man

ing to put this kind of pressure on you.

said. I

"I regret hav-

regret having to

But this is a desperate situation and we must use desperate measures." "Suppose I get lucky," Peter said. "How do I get in touch with you?" "You will drive into town to Dr. Eraser's clinic. It will be frighten your wife.

natural for

thing from to reach

you to go there to ask the doctor young Chandler. Someone there

if

he's heard any-

will tell

you how

me."

"Who?" "Someone." The man opened 61

the car door on his side.

.

"Fm going to leave you, Mr. Styles. You could try to follow me, or stop me, but if you do you will be imposing a death sentence on your wife. I suggest that you continue into New York. Get a night's rest. Come back to the Chandlers' tomorrow and say you want to wait there for some news of Rod. You feel certain he will show up there." ''And if he's already shown up?" "We have to play the cards the way they're dealt, Mr. Styles."

The hooded man stepped out of

the car.

"I'll report to

your wife that you're doing everything you can release."

He

turned and walked

woods

62

away

to secure her

into the thick, dark

Part

Two

1.

swung

Peter opened the car door and

up and

his legs out.

He

instantly clung to the Jaguar for support as the

moment

whirled around him. After a

or two,

still

stood

world

not think-

ing about anything but the immediate present, the problem of

acquiring the balance to stand without a prop,

began

He

to fade.

large lump, and his fingers

The

last

came away

to

show him

underbrush was too thick for Still

thinking only of the

down through

that the Jaguar

along a disused logging road.

It

it

felt

a

stained with blood.

vestiges of daylight filtered

enough

trees,

dizziness

touched the back of his head and

the

had been driven

had been stopped when the

have gone any

to

further.

moment, Peter walked unsteadily

back along the way they had come and discovered that the car was less than fifty yards in from the road where the holdup had taken place.

some he

sat

and

difficulty,

backed

He went back it

behind the wheel, gripping

tried to

glanced

it

with

with hands that shook,

reassemble the facts of the

at his

to the car and,

out onto the road. Out in the open

last

wristwatch and saw that

hour since he and Grace had

left

it

— How long? He was

less than

an

Eric Chandler's house.

Grace! There had only been a brief glimpse of her as she

65

struggled with two unidentifiable men, dark shadows in the

He hadn't even managed two steps toward her bephony trooper had lowered the boom on him. Then the grotesque hooded man with the Spanish accent and the improbable demands on him to secure Grace's release. It was something out of an absurd melodrama. But it was real. The bump on his head and the splitting pain were real. Grace was gone. Real. It was a kidnapping with a strange ransom attached to it. A dozen times in his career as an investigative reporter Peter had been involved with kidnappings. Not too long ago there had been a United States Senator and a famous political twilight.

fore the

columnist. Peter had actually been the agent

who would

named

the go-between,

ransom money and other

deliver

ances to the kidnappers. But

this, as

assur-

he tried to put the

still

unclear pieces of the puzzle together, was a double kidnapping. There

zuelan

oil

was Grace and

tycoon.

case of Grace, but correct, there trol

The

there

was DeSantos,

the

Vene-

Ransom money wasn't involved in the if the masked man who had laid it out was

were probably billions of

and power involved

in the

dollars'

worth of con-

case of Juan Luis DeSantos.

stakes in the case of DeSantos were staggeringly high,

but nothing compared to Grace, the stake for which Peter was

being forced to play.

You

up on a public highway, mugged, your wife abducted and her life threatened. You go for help, don't you? But who is there who can help at this moment? Not the Chanare held

up to their necks if the man in the hood was telling the truth. Something about the Hood's calm exposition of the facts had made him totally believable. The local authorities, the State Police? If they were on the level and they believed him there would be a wide alarm for Grace and her danger would be doubled. Even if he held back the Hood's fantastic story, the Chandlers, who'd be questioned,

dlers.

They were

in

it

66

would guess what had happened. If he was to follow the Hood's orders the Chandlers mustn't suspect him, mustn't even know that anything had happened to Grace. And the Chandlers, with their enormous wealth and property holdings in this town of Lakeview, might very well be said to own the community, the local authorities, the State Police. If the game set up by the Hood was the way to get Grace back, telling his story locally, looking for help here, was something he couldn't

risk.

down

Peter looked

he to

start the

at the

key

motor and drive

had suggested, and make no

in the

into

effort

New on

York, as the Hood

his

Grace? But look where? There was no way trooper's

Where

He

own

to

look for

to track the fake

car or the black sedan on this paved highway.

the hell could he look? There

could do

Was

Jaguar's ignition.

at this

was nothing on

earth he

point except follow the Hood's instructions.

started the motor.

Getting into motion, any kind of motion, did something for

him.

He began

kind of cold fury about how to He fought back his almost nauseating He was caught in a crusher between two

to think with a

handle his problem. anxiety for Grace.

power groups and he had that occurred to him was

to defeat

them both. The

seen in Lakeview.

Word

he'd stayed

neighborhood long

tate for

to

in the

New

York.

It

first

thing

that the white Jaguar shouldn't

be

could get back to the Chandlers that after he'd left their es-

could raise questions he wouldn't want

answer tomorrow.

He wandered left the village

to the

along around strange back roads until he had

of Lakeview behind him. Just before he came

Thru way he stopped

pay phone.

He

gas and to use the

reached Devery.

''I've got big trouble,"

"What

at a station for

he

said.

kind of trouble?" Devery heard the reality of

Peter's voice.

67

it

in

"I don't want to go into glanced

it

on the phone," Peter

my

watch. "I should be in

at his

said.

apartment

in

He

about

Can you be there, and bring Maxvil him?" 'T\\ be there. You've found Rod Chandler?"

an hour and a

you can

if

find

''No.

Don't

half.

don't want to waste time on the phone, Frank.

I

let

me down."

''Count on

me," Devery

said.

The apartment was almost more than Peter could Grace was everywhere. There was the

take.

faint scent of her per-

fume, the book she'd been reading, her place marked, her clothes in the

bedroom

and comb and other

closet, her brush

personal things on the dressing table, her terrycloth robe

hanging on the hook inside the bathroom door. Where was

now? How was she being

she

treated? If he ever got his

hands on the people who'd taken her

way Rod Chandler had been

the

—

!

He was

thinking just

thinking. Unlike

Rod he had

instructions for a course of action that might save Grace.

Unlike

Rod he

could hope.

He bathed the wound. He He went over to the bureau

His head had stopped bleeding. put on a clean, navy blue

and took told

Grace

ment. its

He

shirt.

his automatic out of the top drawer, the to use if

anyone

gun he'd

tried to get at her in the apart-

put on a gray tweed jacket and dropped the gun in

righthand pocket.

make himself

He was

a pot of coffee

just

when

heading for the kitchen to the doorbell rang.

Devery

and Lieutenant Maxvil were there together.

The

sight of friends

almost too much.

He

who would sympathize and

felt

choked, unable

help was

to speak.

Devery was intuitive. "Where's Grace?" he asked. "She's been abducted," Peter said. He turned sharply away from them and went into the kitchen. He messed around with the coffee percolator,

68

his

hands shaking. Neither

Devery nor Maxvil followed him, or asked him any questions.

Finally, under better control, Peter joined them.

The

two men had come into the room, but neither one of them was sitting. It poured out of Peter, the whole day and its terrible climax. Maxvil, the homicide man, listened, his eyes squinted against the smoke from his cigarette. He interrupted only once,

when

Peter

came

to the

Hood,

sitting in the

Jaguar be-

side him.

"You

couldn't see his face at

all,

the color of his hair?"

*'The hood covered everything except his chin. a shave. His beard stubble hair

growing on the back of

was his

black. There

was

He needed fine black

hands."

''Ring or rings?"

''No."

"You'd know heard

the voice with the Spanish accent

if

you

again?"

it

"Anywhere."

"Go

on."

Peter told them what the

Juan Luis DeSantos.

Hood wanted him

Infiltrate the

to

do

—

locate

Chandler household and

find the missing oil tycoon.

"You

just let

him walk away?" Devery asked when Peter

had finished. "I had no choice. His people have Grace.

I

couldn't risk

asking the Chandlers for help, or the local police.

I

couldn't

do anything but come back here and wait for tomorrow."

"The whole

thing could be a fake,

you know," Devery

said.

"In what way?" Maxvil asked. rette

and

lit

He crunched

out his ciga-

a fresh one. His eyes were bright and cold.

"The Chandlers need to know what Peter is up to. This way he's immobilized, right where they can watch him every minute. He could spend days hunting for a man who isn't 69

him

there, while they laugh at

in those 'adjoining

rooms.'

"

"Juan Luis DeSantos isn't a myth, " Maxvil said. "Peter's hooded man said he'd been missing for a week. He's a very real out

if

he

man who is

lives at the

Beaumont

Hotel. Let's find

missing."

"I've got friends

in

the

Department who could

State

help," Devery said.

"Stay out of

Maxvil

it,"

said.

"Washington

is

a city of

You make inquiries and it could get back to the wrong people. You equal Peter. You remember I told you one of leaks.

DeSantos' bodyguards was shot and killed? That case

open and

it's

mine.

It

would be

is still

perfectly legitimate for

me

to

ask to see DeSantos, and there 'd be no reason for them to associate isn't

me

with Peter. There's a telephone in the bedroom,

there?"

When

they were alone Devery tried to say something that

expressed his sympathy for what he

He fumbled with it for a minute. "God damn it, there isn't anything

knew

Peter

was

suffer-

ing.

to say, Peter."

"I know."

"So what can

I

do? Whatever Maxvil

finds out you're

going to have to go back there tomorrow.

You have no

choice."

"None." "Once you're

you have no way of making any kind of You can count on phone calls from the Chandlers' being monitored. If you leave the estate you can be sure someone will be watching you, both sides if there are two sides. What can we set up so that you can get help if you need it?" there

private contact with the outside.

Peter

felt

exhausted.

"Someone

in

Grace," Devery

the said.

He

couldn't think clearly.

clinic

"You

is

a

think

there?"

70

pipeline

to

we could

whoever has plant a patient

— *'God help me, Frank,

at

the

moment

nothing makes

sense."

"Well you damn well

better pull yourself together,"

De-

very said. ''Grace needs you thinking!" Peter

drew a deep

One

said.

time he had.

breath.

"Thanks

Hood had

thing the

He supposed

—

for reminding

me," he

was how much

not specified

they had mutually understood that

two days. No leeway for mismoves, or misjudgments. This might well be the most dangerously precise game he had ever played. You can take reckless gambles when the risk is for yourself. But it

was a

short time

a day,

takes, or false

Grace!

Maxvil came back from the bedroom.

"My

guess

it

that it's

on the other end.

I

on the level," he

man named Mufioz. DeSantos, he says, friends. He hasn't the authority to give me he reach DeSantos and try.

He

tell

can't promise.

somewhere on bitch sounded

"Double

said.

him

I

is

away

DeSantos and

his

is

friends

that

Can

He can may be

The sonofa-

I'm guessing, but I'm

tight as a top.

wrong, and

visiting

his address.

need to talk to him?

a yacht, not instantly reachable.

wound up

guessing something

talk

got to speak to DeSantos' secretary, a

your Spanish sounding

may have been telling you the truth." "So Peter's got to buy it," Devery said.

ghoul

"It doesn't really matter whether he does or not," Maxvil

"On Grace's account he's got and play the game." said.

"And if I don't "You come to

to

go back

to

Lakeview

DeSantos?" Peter said. that tomorrow or the next day," Maxvil said. "Meanwhile" he took a deep drag on his cigarette "I have a list of DeSantos' people. I talked to all of them at the time one of them was knocked off. All of them who work close to DeSantos are Spanish-speaking aliens, here on State Department visas. So, guessing again, your man in the hood find

—

71

is

one of them. As a police

cide case,

I

my

can throw

'To what end?" 'To locate them

all

available here in town, all

officer,

handling an open homi-

weight around a

for questioning. If I

little."

none of them

we can assume

think

is

that they are

not too far from the village of Lakeview, Connecticut."

"But you

can't

move

while they have Grace," Devery

said.

"I can be ready to move, and

looked

"It's the best

at Peter.

in a

I

He Muhoz may

hurry!" Maxvil said.

can do, friend.

crack on this end and admit DeSantos

is

missing."

"Not while he knows I'm looking for his boss," Peter "Because he must know if this is for real." "You better play it for real, man," Maxvil said. "Life is very cheap when there are millions of barrels of oil in the said.

kitty."

Devery had brought a briefcase with him, and he reached for it now. "We have to have some way for Peter to let us

know he needs help," he

said.

He

took a brown manila

envelope from the briefcase. "This contains some notes and an outline on a story one of our foreign boys wants to do. profile

on the head of the new government

in

Greece. Noth-

Take

ing to do with oil, or South America, or Chandlers.

with you, Peter.

I

will be searched.

them

to

you

think

you can count on

it

A

that

it

your luggage

These notes are perfectly innocent.

I

gave

for your opinion."

"And?" "It will be logical for

you," Devery

said.

bly to find Rod.

Newsview. and you

Rod you

I

I

you

to call

for

me

at least

me

to call

Chandlers' ostensiis

an employee of

will call you, quite openly, at least

will call

once a day,

once a day. News,

if

any, on

be the subject of those calls. But in passing I'll ask you've had a chance to look at the Greek notes. If you

will if

me, or

"You will be at the am concerned. Rod

72

tell

me you

on no leads

haven't had a chance, to

DeSantos.

If

you

it

tell

will

mean you've come think we should

me you

do the story, it will mean that you're getting warm and that you are, so far, all right. If you tell me not to do the story it means you need help." He glanced at Maxvil. "Make sense?"

The

'Try

detective nodded.

what," he said to Peter. "If I call you and they

"Any

know

"Both

remember what means

me you're out, I'll tell them it's me back within the hour. If you

tell

important for you to call don't call, we'll

to

you're in trouble," Devery said.

trouble you get in will be big trouble," Maxvil said.

sides in this

game

are playing for keeps, Peter. Don't

press your luck."

"I have to take any chances there are to take," Peter said.

"There's Grace."

Maxvil reached out and put

his

hand on Peter's shoulder.

"I haven't offered you sympathy, friend," he said. "But

you'd better face fresh cigarette.

all

He

of the truth."

"You

turned

away

to light a

got involved in this to try to stop

Chandler from murdering someone senselessly. Don't thinking the

you

start

way Rod

is

You won't

thinking.

thinking about revenge.

phony trooper?" "Never forget him," Peter

I

take

it

Rod start

help Grace

if

you could recog-

nize that

said.

A

muscle rippled along

his jaw.

"Paid by someone else," Maxvil said. "You've still got Rod and stop him if you can. Stop him long enough

to find

for

him

to tell

you what he knows. DeSantos' name was

his notes, according to

you.

So you're hunting

"When

I

find the

Devery. Rod for

may be

two men." took Grace

men who

in

invaluable to

—

"Listen to me," Maxvil interrupted sharply. "Grace can identify her abductors. They'll keep her alive in case they

73

need her to pressure you. But when they don't need you any longer she's had it." Peter there's

what

I

felt

his

no point ?"

legs in

turn

my

rubbery.

playing this

''Are you telling

me

game? That no matter

do—

'*rm

you you have to play the game to keep her now. I'm also telling you that, while you play the game, the only way we can get her back in one piece is to find her and rescue her." - 'We'?" "I'm going to be looking for DeSantos' men in connection with a homicide," Maxvil said. "Let's hope I get lucky." telling

alive for

74

2.

And

so

it

began, a kind of death charade.

There were dler,

at least three lives at stake.

Grace,

and Juan Luis DeSantos were pawns

in a

Rod Changame, and

they could be removed from the board in one simple move.

The power

killers

on both sides would hold them cheap.

Peter himself was expendable.

The power

killers

planned the

game and the pawns had no control over what square were moved to on the game board. Peter, not believing

it

was

mental exhaustion demanded

He woke he

felt

they

possible, slept. Physical and

it.

with early morning sunshine on his face. Inside

a coldness he had never

known

before in his

Unless he got Grace back he was going to

kill

life.

someone

for

what had been done to him. He had no idea who his targets were, no certainty. The two men who had torn Grace away from him were the enemy's pawns. He found himself remem-

Rod Chandler's tortured face. Rod wasn't interested in two men with sa wed-off shotguns. He was after 'them,' master players who had given the orders.

bering the the

In the

bathroom Peter looked

at

himself in the mirror and

was shocked. His face was gaunt and 75

pale and there

was

hatred in his eyes.

He was

longer.

He

wasn't a suave, civilized

a potential killer.

warnings.

He

dressed and packed a bag

—

To

hell

man any

with Maxvil's

his shaving things,

comb

and brush, toothpaste and bursh, underwear, socks, an extra pair of slacks and an extra jacket, a supply of pipe tobacco

and two extra pipes. There was also Devery's brown manila envelope with the notes on Greece.

He

drank some cold coffee

left in

the pot, took a raincoat

and hat from the closet by the front door, and went around the

comer

garage where he kept his

to the

from the garage he pulled over

to the

matic from his jacket pocket and locked partment.

Jaguar

When

moved

at

car.

Once away

curb and took the autoit

in the

glove com-

he reached the East River Drive and the a steady speed he found he could blot out

everything except attention to the road and the

traffic. In

an

hour and a half the game would begin, the search, the eventual squaring of accounts.

There was a heavy chain drawn across the stone gates leading into the Chandler property.

As

Peter stopped the Jaguar, a man, armed with a machine

pistol,

stepped out from behind the gate on the driver's side.

He was

also carrying a walkie-talkie radio.

He was

polite

enough.

"You want

in, sir?"

he asked.

"I'm not sightseeing," Peter said. "May I have your name, please?" "Peter Styles."

The name

didn't appear to

mean anything

to the

man. He

spoke into the portable radio. "Front gate calling." After a

was

moment someone answered. The voice, at first, "What is4t, Fred?"

to scratchy for Peter to recognize.

"A

Mr. Styles wants

in.

I

need an okay from the boss."

76

*'He's not here

moment, Fred. But Mr.

the

at

welcome." *'rm sorry, Mrs. Chandler, but '*I tell

you, Mr. Styles

is

I

Styles

is

need the boss's okay."

a friend, Fred.

quite

It's

all

right

him through." It was Millicent Chandler. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Chandler, but I've got my orders." ''I simply won't have it that way, Fred. Let him in!" ''Mrs. Chandler, you know how it is. He told me." There was a moment's frustrated pause. "Ask Mr. Styles wait for me. I'll come straight down." "Yes, ma'am," the man said, and switched off his radio.

to let

to

"You heard?"

he asked Peter.

"What the "Been some

going on?"

"I heard," Peter said.

hell's

The man shrugged.

threats,

entire place

once

in a

is

loaded with security guards.

imagine.

I

It

The

happens every

while."

"And Mrs. Chandler her own home?" "Only Mr. orders," the

let

anyone

in to

Mr. David, or Mr. Lindstrom can give

Eric,

man

has no authority to

said.

The men of the houses. "What would happen if

I

got out of the car and tried to

walk in?" Peter asked.

The man smiled, gut," he said.

He

a thin smile. "I'd shoot

tried to

make

it

sound

you

right in the

like a joke, but

he

wasn't joking. Five minutes passed, and then a

came speeding down stopped

it

convertible

Triumph

on the other side of the chain and got out. She was

wearing a pink pants-suit with a throat.

little

the bluestone drive. Millicent Chandler

There was color

ready had her

first

in

frill

of white lace at her

her cheeks. Peter guessed she'd

al-

drink of the day. She stepped over the

chain, ignoring the gua];d.

"Dear Peter," she

said.

"This

77

is

so humiliating. Eric and

David and Carl

may

—they

think the people

try to get in here.

I

can't even get

who were after Rod my own friends ad-

me

mitted to the house without their say-so. Will you take

town

into

lunch?

to

I

don't think Eric will be back for an

hour or so."

"Lunch would be

mind

fine," Peter said. In her state of

Millicent might be useful. Perhaps she'd explain her warnings of yesterday.

moved toward

Millicent

the Jaguar.

"Would you mind moving your

car,

Mrs. Chandler?" the

guard asked. "It's blocking the driveway."

"Surely

that doesn't matter, Fred, since

you can't

let

any-

you have to move it, move it." "I'll need the keys, Mrs. Chandler." "Just push it if you have to, Fred."

one

in. If

She got the

into the Jaguar with Peter.

way you came,"

she said.

"Back toward town,

"There's a very nice inn

The food makes an elegant martini."

called the Hearthstone.

is

fair,

and the bartender

Peter turned the car and headed back toward Lakeview.

"I guess said.

I

"He's

should be sorry to be mean to Fred," Millicent just

obeying orders, but aren't we all?" Her

laugh was high-pitched,

She looked

bitter.

at Peter.

Enlarged

made her eyes look vague, unconcentrated. "Why have you come back?" "Worried about Rod," he said, looking straight ahead at the road. "I want very much to talk to him before he does pupils

something foolish. Since he hasn't turned up the feeling he

would come back here

in

town

I

had

to his people, or per-

haps to see Casey's father."

"Nobody comes back cent said.

"Take

the

here

first

who

doesn't have to," Milli-

right, just

beyond

that red cot-

tage."

"You

kept giving

me some 78

kind of warnings yesterday,"

Peter said.

''How

is

didn't understand

*'I

Peter's hands tightened

"Love "but

of children

is

on the wheel. 'Tine," he

grow up and go

nothing to equal the love for a lover.

is

said.

a wonderful thing," Millicent said,

often painful, and in the end they

it's

away. There feeling

why."

your lovely wife?"

I

had the

you and Grace were lovers."

"We

are," Peter said, hands even tighter on the wheel.

"So you shouldn't let anything interfere with that, ever. Your work isn't important enough to distract you. Your concern for someone who is a stranger like Rod is Christian,

—

—

but your lover

is

more important. That's

the Hearthstone, just

ahead on the left." That ended the conversation for the moment. They parked

walked

the Jaguar and

into the inn,

house on the outside. Inside, ripped apart to

make

Millicent

a lovely old colonial

original floor plan

had been

room and a panwindows looking out over a magnifi-

a large, bright dining

eled bar-and-grill with

cent view of

its

hills.

was greeted with

a special enthusiasm

by the

manager. The Chandlers were important people. They were led to a

was

in

comer booth

in the bar-and-grill.

A

smiling waiter

prompt attendance. Millicent waved cheerfully

to the

bartender.

"Tell Edward waiter.

I'll

have

my

usual double," she said to the

"I really recommend a martini, Peter. Edward

is

a

magician." Peter nodded. She

her

own

place.

The

seemed flush

to enjoy

had grown

being here, away from in

her cheeks, her eyes

seemed clearer and brighter. "I'm glad Fred wouldn't let you in," she said. "I hope you don't mind." "Not if you don't leave me hanging," Peter said. "Hanging?"

79

*'Your warnings yesterday."

Her laugh was brittle. "You and Grace reminded me of a time when I was in love. I let other things get in the way. I was trying to warn you not to." "I think it was more specific than that," Peter said. The waiter chose that moment to deliver the martinis to the table. Millicent

promptly

lifted

eyes for an instant as though to the bartender.

back

it

her glass, tasted, closed her

was

She blew him a

ecstasy, and then

kiss.

waved

The bartender smiled

at her.

"Taste," she said

to Peter.

He tasted. It was a good martini. He could make as good a one himself. "Special," he said. The waiter placed

large hand-written

menus

in

front of

them.

"Fm better

have Edward

start

Peter realized that cent to talk helpfully

if it

order,

think you'd

making our second round now." was any hope of getting Milli-

had better be soon.

He

reached across

She snatched

though she'd been stung. Her eyes were

some

I

there

the table and touched her hand.

pected

we

sure we'll want a second drink before

Julius," Millicent said to the waiter. "In fact,

it

away

as

startled, as if she ex-

sort of indecent proposal.

"Yesterday your husband and

his brother

and Lindstrom

spoke about security guards on the grounds. Your husband

meaning all of you, were subject to terrorist atLindstrom said he'd alerted the guards in case Rod

said you, tacks.

came back with the hysterical notion of taking potshots at some of you. What kind of terrorist attacks, Milly? And why should Rod want to take potshots at any of you?" "They they said all that?" Millicent asked. Her hands

—

trembled so that she placed them both around her cocktail glass as she raised

"They

said

it

to her

all that.

mouth.

And you warned me, 80

urged

me

to take

Grace and go.

think

I

you thought

I

might stumble on some-

thing, discover something inadvertently, that

gerous for

me

to

would be dan-

know." was nothing of

the sort." She put down her was empty. Something like panic came into her eyes until she saw the waiter approaching with the second round of drinks. She took a quick swallow of the new drink. It seemed to revive her. She looked up at the waiter with her wide, vague smile. "Do you recommend the brook trout

''Dear Peter,

glass.

it

It

today, Julius?"

"Oh

yes, Mrs. Chandler."

"Not frozen?" "Heaven forbid, Mrs. Chandler." "I recommend the brook trout and "Fine," he

"And

a green salad, Peter."

said.

Edward knows

a chilled bottle of that Chablis

I

like,

Julius."

"Yes, madam." Peter wanted to slap

was so great. But him what she dared tell him, and that between non sequiturs. The waiter took off. "What did you think I might discover if I stayed on?" her, his impatience

he sensed that she'd only

tell

Peter asked. "It's important for

me

to

know

Again she cupped the cocktail glass

that,

Milly."

both hands and

him over the rim of the glass and the of her eyes were wide and dark. "I told you yesterday,

drank. She looked pupils

in

at

Peter, ours isn't a kind of world to get involved in. It's cruel

and ruthless and without compassion or love. Once you get caught up

in

it

you can't wash yourself

clean.

Do you know

mean?" "No."

what

I

I can't remember, Peter, about power David and their associates have a thirst

"There's a quotation corrupting. Eric and for

power

that's just as impossible to satisfy as

81

some people's

—

thirst for

for

for alcohol. They'll

There

it.

is

approaching a ments.

I

—

"What

kill

for

in the air

happened

I've gotten psychic about

is

it,

steal for

it,

connive

now, something

that's

I've learned to sense these

crisis point.

didn't need what's

I

know.

something

it

to

mo-

Casey and Rod

to

over the years."

it?"

tell me what his dreams were, where he was aiming. Those were good times. But it's all gotten so big, so frightening and he doesn't trust

"I don't know. Long ago Eric used to

—

me

because of

ous

moment

my

but

know this is a terribly know why. I swear that

drinking. I

don't

I

dangerto you,

Peter."

He

didn't dare ask her a direct question about Juan Luis

"You think Rod is involved?" "Or found out about it," she said. "And he

DeSantos.

dreams

—

So he might have talked to you, or occurs to them that you might be them, God help you and Grace. All they care

to be like you.

will talk to you.

dangerous to about

is

has his

that

So

if

it

no grain of sand gets into

There's no morality involved, no decency

way. What else can

I

you're fighting them?

tell

their

you, except that

Go away, make

machinery.

you get in their you can't win if

if

love to your

woman,

and forget us."

"And Rod?" "God help him. He means no more

to Eric than

he's in the way. There will be a car accident, or

you do

—or he

if

will

commit suicide."

"Rod

will kill

himself?"

Her face looked

flushed, ravaged.

"It will look like sui-

cide. Casey's death will appear to be the reason."

The waiter approached, but not with "Telephone, for you, Mrs. Chandler.

"How

It's

the

brook

trout.

Mr. Chandler."

tiresome," Millicent said, bright and

brittle again.

"Tell him I'm having lunch with a dark and handsome

82

stranger, Julius,

and

that

I'll

be

home

in

about an hour."

The waiter left. "After you take me home, Peter, please go. Go! You can't help Rod, and you can destroy yourself and your wife."

He

couldn't

tell

her that Grace might already be destroyed.

—

until there's "I'd like to stay over tonight, maybe tomorrow some news of Rod," he said. "Can you put me up?" "Oh God," she cried out. "Don't you believe anything I've told you?" The waiter came back. "Mr. Chandler would like to speak

Mr. Styles," he said. Peter excused himself and went over to the phone at the end of the bar. Edward, the bartender, smiled at him and

to you,

asked

if

he should make another martini. Peter shook his

head and picked up the phone.

"Mr. Chandler?" was smooth, cool

Eric's voice

what happened

politeness.

at the gate. Styles.

"It's quite all right," Peter said.

"I'm

sorry about

Necessary precautions."

"The end

result is a very

pleasant luncheon with Milly." Eric's voice hardened. "Is she

"I'm not "But she

qualified to is

make

drunk?"

a diagnosis," Peter said.

drinking?"

"She's had two martinis

to

my knowledge,"

Peter said.

"That's enough to start her off the rails," Eric said. "Will you get her back here as soon as you decently can, Styles?"

"We're

just about to

"Please don't

let

that," Eric said, and

be served lunch."

her tease you into anything longer than

hung up.

There was no getting Millicent back before the

call.

The brook

The waiter hovered around

to her conversation

trout, delicious,

were produced.

to serve a tossed salad.

"I associate trout with romance," Millicent said. "Did

you know I've always known 83

Eric, since

we were

kids?

He

me

used to invite

to

go

fishing for trout

—

o'clock of a

at five

summer morning. My family never suspected that he and I made love on the bank of the stream and that he'd caught the trout I took home the night before. I was only fifteen years old. As I look back, it was the best time of all in my whole

—

from college and we got married, after it was all quite legal and proper for us to go to bed together, he lost interest. I guess he had won that game, and now he was only concerned with the next one, whatever or whoever it might be. It wasn't long after that I life. It's

strange, isn't it? After he graduated

became

a disgusting

Have you

lush.

Bearnaise

the

tried

sauce, Peter?"

When

The man

they had finished lunch he drove her home.

with the machine pistol was waiting to take

down

the chain

for them. Millicent's car had disappeared, probably driven

back

As

to the house.

they drove through the sunlit birch grove she spoke for

the last time about things that mattered to her.

love this place," she said.

"So

bright, so

full

'*I

used to

of sunlight and

warmth, promising so much joy." She turned her head his way and he saw that her eyes were brimming with tears. "Is the sun shining in the birch trees

He

felt a

deep pity for

"It's odd,

isn't

her.

now, Peter?"

"Brightly," he said.

They look dark

it?

—with guns. There men hiding — anywhere. what Rod would there

are

call

It's

to

me

and

sinister.

There's no promise

Disasterville."

was waiting by the front door for them as The young man at the gate, with his walkie-

Eric Chandler

they drove up. talkie,

must have alerted him. Eric had

elegance

—

his

usual casual

a gray cardigan over a dark shirt, light tan slacks,

nicely polished loafers.

He was

smiling as Peter and Milli-

cent got out of the Jaguar and joined him, but Peter sensed

wasn't genuine.

It

masked

a tension Peter hadn't been

of yesterday.

84

it

aware

''I've

never been so embarrassed, Eric," Millicent said,

chattering.

"Not

to

be able

to invite a guest into

my own

house."

"I'm sorry,"

Eric said. "I'd appreciate a chance to talk to

Styles alone for a

moment

or two,

"Fine with me," Millicent overnight and

I'll

see to

it

my

said.

that

dear."

"Peter wants to stay

one of the guest rooms

is

ready for him." She turned and walked, not too steadily, into the house.

"Damn!"

Eric said under his breath.

Then he

turned, al-

most wearily, to Peter. "Unless you've had the experience you can't imagine what it's like to live with an alcoholic. If she happens to be up at breakfast time I may be lucky enough to get a

glimpse of the

teen and

I

girl I fell in

love with

when she was

fif-

was eighteen."

"Trout fishing," Peter

"Oh God,

said.

she told you. She seems to take a morbid de-

light in letting

everyone know she ceased

to

be a virgin

at fif-

teen."

"She was the

didn't

tell it

that

way," Peter

said.

"She

told

me

it

best and happiest time in her life."

Pain narrowed Eric's eyes. "It was a lovely time," he said. "A romantic time. But God damn it, you have to grow up and deal with the world, Styles. Romance is something for dreams, but life is facing up to and fighting the competition. Milly's never been able to understand that. Shortly after breakfast she goes to the gin bottle, and she begins to blur and become a kind of horror to me. Every day I'm concerned for what she may do to herself and what she may do to me.^ I have to shut her out of my life because when she's high she

—

could very well

spill

everything she

knows

to

my

worst

enemy. She doesn't even know who my enemies are." "They must be very real," Peter said. "That man at the gate. I saw the sun reflected on a gun barrel in the woods." 85

Eric squared his shoulders and his eyes

became cold and

hard again. ''Why have you

come back?" said. "The police and our

"Rod, of course," Peter

special

people on the magazine haven't found a trace of him.

seems certain

"To

try to

to

me

that he'll

It

come back here."

shoot one of us because he has the crazy notion

some or all of us are responsible for what happened to Casey?" "Which, of course, you're not. I have the feeling that if I could get to Rod I could talk him out of his hysteria, perhaps more effectively than you could." that

"It's possible," Eric said, frowning.

own

"I understand you Chandler.

Rod grew up

about a thousand acres here, Mr.

know every

here so he must

inch of

it

well."

"So?" "So if he wants any trouble,

to get in here

in spite

unseen he shouldn't have

of your security people. If he wants to

know

a

dozen places."

from one end

to the other,"

hide inside the grounds he must

"We've been over

it

Eric

said.

"And

he could

still

hide from you

—

who must have

a kid

it at one time." were fixed steadily on Peter.

explored every rock and bush of

"And you him when our security people have failed, when Happy Lindstrom, who grew up here like Rod, has failed, when David and I have failed?" Eric's cold eyes

think

you could

find

Peter fought the impulse to moisten dry this bill

of goods. "If

Rod

is

that

I

want

was

It's just

here, he might

to persuade

me

possible that

if

me.

—

86

to

at-

moment he he saw me, knew

try to contact

just

to sell

the

till

to stay out of danger. If

freedom of the grounds

He had

obsessed with the idea of

tacking one of you he'll stay under cover

chooses arrives.

lips.

I I

think he might

could have the

wander around, showing

myself

—

it

might work."

Eric hesitated for a

moment and

then said,

"Come

into

my

study."

The

David Chandler sprawled out in one of the green leather armchairs looking fat and sleepy and dangerous, and Carl Lindstrom standing by the window, muscuothers were there,

lar, hostile.

Eric, quickly

three

and concisely, explained Peter's

men exchanged

idea.

The

Questions and answers were

looks.

words being spoken. "What makes you think Rod cares enough about you

there without any

asked.

He

the blue just

to try

you from some kind of danger?" David Chandler

to save

turned a cigar around in his thick lips, watching

smoke

curl

upward. This one, Peter thought,

be the most ruthless of the

Grace had seen bruises on

"Rod

lot.

may

Violence for pleasure.

his wife's arms.

thinks of Styles as a kind of hero," Eric said. "I

him." what?" David asked,

think he might very well want to protect

"Protect him from cigar.

"Rod

himself

is

relishing

his

the only danger around here, isn't

he?"

me

"If he made contact with

I

might be able to talk some

sense into him," Peter said.

"And you

just

want

to

tiny smile twitched at the

Peter thought, he

knew

wander around?" David asked. A comers of his mouth. As though,

the truth.

Wander around

in

an effort

where Juan Luis DeSantos was being held. to warn the security guards or someone might take a pop at him," Lindstrom said. "It would take a while to get the word around." to find out

"We'd have

"I couldn't cover a thousand acres

in the daylight

of one

afternoon," Peter said. "Mrs. Chandler has offered to put

me up

for the night.

Even

after I've

seen me, he'll have to find a

way 87

covered

to contact

it

me."

all,

if

he's

Again the

silent question

and answer of looks took place

between the three men. *'I think it's worth a try," Lindstrom

said.

"Anything

to

turn that crazy kid off."

Peter fought to

show

nothing.

chance to search.

88

He'd got what he wanted, a

3.

The room assigned

to Peter

was

at the

overlooking the magnificent valley view.

men had brought

in his

opened

it.

He hung

One of

the house-

bag from the Jaguar and carried

Peter put the bag

stairs.

back of the house,

down on

it

the chintz bedspread

his extra slacks

and jacket

up-

and

in the closet,

put his shirts and underthings in the bureau, and carried his

shaving gear into the bathroom.

There was the brown manila envelope Devery had given him.

He

hesitated,

bureau top.

If

and then put

someone was going

he went out he might as well make

it,

prominently, on the

to search his things it

when

simple for them. Notes

on the present government of Greece were not going

to

be

very useful to them.

There was a telephone on the bedside tated,

and then he went

to

It was a private "Devery speaking."

Newsview. 'Tt's

Peter,

Frank.

I'm

it

table.

Peter hesi-

and dialed Devery' s number

line, not the

at

switchboard there.

Eric Chandler's in Connect-

at

icut."

"Any "Not

sign of yet.

Rod?" Devery

I'm about

to scout

asked.

around the place on the chance

89

he

may be hiding somewhere here." "Good luck," Devery said. ''By the way, have you had

chance

to

"Not

gave you?" Frank." That meant he had so

look

yet,

at

those notes

a

I

far

come on no

leads to Juan Luis DeSantos.

"Well, there's nothing new on

"The

police haven't

Keep

specialists.

this

end," Devery

come up with anything on

in touch,

Devery hung up. The

said.

those shotgun

man. I'm anxious about Rod."

came on. Listening, Peter Someone had been on an extension. He of excitement up and down his spine. The dial tone

heard a faint click. felt

a faint tingle

game was on, the ball was in play. He went downstairs into the main one

haps, Millicent. Eric

bottom of the

came out of

the study as he reached the

all

right for

you

to start looking in about ten

minutes," he said. "Happy Lindstrom he'll

They have pass along word to

people.

"What

that every-

stair.

"It should be

rity

aware

hall,

place was acting, putting on a show, except, per-

in the

walkie-talkies.

warning the secu-

is

One man

sees

you

the next post."

about buildings," Peter asked, "aside from the

main houses?" "I think I have a map of the place in the study," Eric said. "A landscape architect we had on the job here made it." He led the way into the study. David Chandler and Lindstrom were gone but the aroma of David's cigar was still there. Eric searched one of the drawers of his desk and produced the map. It was a beautifully made thing. Miniature houses were drawn in, labeled in fine printing. Eric pointed.

"Here we are," he said. "Just to the north is David's house here. The Lindstroms are at the far end of the

—

property tage.

—

We

here.

Here are the farm barns and the farmer's

don't really do any farming

now

garden for the three families, some apple

90

cot-

—

just a vegetable

trees,

some plums

and pears, a few grapes. Over here upper front windows

here"

—

—

Eric's finger

is

—you can

see from the

And

a guest cottage, not occupied.

moved

to a point that Peter

—

must be the extreme end of the property "here where my sister-in-law Faith, David's wife, used has a wonderful view of the mountains."

is

guessed a studio

to paint.

It

"Used to paint?" Peter asked. The look of pain crept around the comers of Eric's eyes. "Water colors," he said. "She was really quite brilliant. Had a one- woman show in Boston years ago. Much excitement, and not just because she was one of the Lawrence

He

Real talent."

girls.

handed

it

to Peter.

folded the

map

of the property and

"After she married David and came here

to live we built her the studio. Everything was fine until she became pregnant and Trudy was bom. After that, nothing. You know, Styles, she and Millicent were two of the most beautiful girls you ever saw. Now one of them is a lush and

the other an almost psychotic recluse."

Marrying Chandlers had not worked out well for the

Lawrence sisters. Eric walked out

was

into the front yard with Peter. Peter

thinking about his automatic, locked in the glove compart-

ment of the Jaguar. He couldn't go and

get

it

with Eric

watching him.

"Maybe seems back

I'll

be

to

head for the studio

at the far

first,"

Peter said.

Work my way

end of the property.

to the house, here."

"Question," Eric "Shoot."

said.

"You

Rod blames

really think

"I don't think

it's

us for Casey's death?"

possible for

him

to

make

sense

moment." "If you should happen to find

him

"It

—

tell

him

that,

in spite

him"

—

Eric hesitated

of everything,

91

I

at

—

the

"tell

care for him.

Deeply. Tell him there must be some a

new

relationship. That

I

want

it

way

—with

for us to establish

all

my

heart."

was hard to imagine that Eric didn't mean what he said. His handsome, bony face was dark with a kind of anguish. "I'll tell him," Peter said, remembering Millicent's statement that Eric cared for no one, that winning was all that It

mattered "Just

at the

end of the garden you'll find a path leading up

through the woods. the

word

take you to the studio," Eric said.

It'll

"If anyone stops you,

tell

to our security

them who you

are. Carl's

passed

people that you're free to come and

go."

was certain that Eric watched him. It was something he was to feel the rest of that afternoon. He was watched. The relief of being by himself was enormous. He had made such a point of looking for Rod that he'd almost come to believe that the boy might step out from behind a tree and hail him. Rod wasn't his objective, in spite of all the talk. But if he was somewhere here on the property the boy might be an invaluable ally. He knew the Peter

didn't

look back,

but

he

lay of the land.

The path Eric had indicated was wide and well kept, wide enough for a small car or truck. Actually Peter saw tire marks from some sort of narrow vehicle. The certainty that he was being watched made for tensions. It was warm and the woods were dappled with afternoon sunlight, sweet with the smell of It was so peaceful, so quiet, and yet Peter was certain that only yards away someone, armed, was watching him. Why had they allowed him this freedom? flowers and pines.

Because, he told himself, he would almost certainly not find

what he was looking rise

for.

As he climbed

the path to a high

of ground he began to be convinced that he was being

played for a sucker. If Juan Luis DeSantos was a prisoner of

92

the

Chandlers'

he wasn't going to be found here

woods, or in one of the outbuildings. locked away

in

Ten

one of the main houses

—

to

in

the

one he would be

Eric's or David's or

was anything to the DeSantos story at all, the story given him by the hooded man who had taken Grace, DeSantos wasn't going to be somewhere Peter would stumble on him by accident. He remembered David's smile that suggested the fat man knew what he was up to. But even if they didn't guess that he knew about DeSantos they wouldn't risk his finding the Venezuelan oil tycoon. This search of the property was a waste of time. But Peter knew he couldn't turn back, because he was being watched. He must make his supposed search for Rod look real. He felt a cold chill run along his spine. Time! The time that was being lost while Grace was God alone knew where. He had to play it out or the Chandlers would know for certain that he wasn't looking for Rod. He reached the top of the rise, the palms of his hands damp with sweat. Down below him on the other side of the rise he saw a studio that had been rebuilt for Faith Chandler. It was a small building, stone like the main houses, with a large picture-window north light. He would be expected to go down to it and look inside for Rod. the Lindstroms'. If there

—

He

down

started

the

path

for

the

studio

—and

a

rifle

cracked from not far away and above him. The bullet scarred a tree only a foot

from

his

head. Instinctively he took a

rolling dive into the shrubbery

and lay

still,

breathing hard.

There was no sound of movement from the higher ground, no second shot.

A

few yards away there was a large elm

Peter crept along through the brush until he reached

it.

tree.

Then

he stood up, keeping the tree trunk between him and the higher ground.

happening.

It

occurred to him that he

He was

to

knew what was

be accidentally shot. Everyone would

93

be very sorry

at the

made. They had

let

mistake one of the security guards had

him come out here

to

make himself

a

target.

He looked down at the studio, wondering if he could crawl down there to the comparative safety of its stone walls As he .

looked a

woman came

out of the studio door. At

first

glance

was stark naked. Then he saw that she was wearing a bikini that was almost the same color as her golden brown skin. It was Trudy Chandler, David's daughter. Large Peter thought she

round black glasses covered her eyes.

She looked up the path toward where Peter was hiding. to walk up the path. He saw that she was barefoot and she picked her way carefully, but she came straight to where he was hiding, the round black glasses focused on him as though she could see through the brush that concealed him. When she was about ten feet away from him she stopped. The sun hit her magnificent body directly through an opening in the treetops. She was like an actress, finding the spotlight. Her bright red lips quivered with Then, quite casually, she began

suppressed laughter.

"You'd

better

come

out of there, Styles, and walk

down

to

me. These security creeps would shoot a chipmunk with an elephant gun they're so trigger happy. But they won't shoot anyone walking with me. They enjoy my hip the studio with

movement

too

much." to see

you,"

him. "I should hope so," she said.

"You

Slowly Peter stood up. "I must say I'm glad he said.

She smiled

at

walk down the path and get us both

if

I'll

walk beside you. They'll have

to

they're eager."

"I was supposed to have been cleared by the boss," Peter said.

"But our Happy was stopped off for a

little

the

messenger," she

said.

"He

rape and probably never got to that

94

sharpshooter up the hill."

"Rape?" "Sometime between two and four most afternoons," Trudy

said.

"You

don't look violated."

She shrugged lovely shoulders. "I submit there's nothing better

widened.

"We

around

—

at least until

they think too

if

it

because

now." Her smile

can't just stand here, Styles.

time to think, and

to

It

much we're

gives them

really

up the

creek."

He

stepped out onto the path, and he could feel the small

He was a perfect target Trudy took two quick steps and was beside him, a slender arm slipped through his. "Put your arm around me," she said. "It will stimulate

hairs rising

now

on the back of

for that rifleman

the Peeping

He

Tom

put his

his neck.

up the

hill.

neurosis in that jerk up the hill."

arm around

down

the golden-brown shoulders and

Her shoulder, her hip, her thigh was meant to be provocative but it did nothing to him. He was straining to hear some sound of movement behind him. He had allowed himself to walk into a trap. He wondered if Trudy was part of it. They reached the studio and went into its single large room. It was barely furnished. There was a dust-covered easel in a far comer, some faded water colors on the walls. Two panels of the wall opposite the north light window were mirrors. Below the mirrors on the floor was a wide mattress, they started

the path.

pressed against him.

It

covered with a batik spread and bright-colored cushions.

There were a couple of deck chairs, with blue canvas backs and seats. There was a long stretcher table, and on it were several half-empty liquor bottles and

one of them half

"Need a drink "No, thanks."

full

some

plastic glasses,

of what looked like gin or vodka.

after

your adventure?" Trudy asked.

95

She bent down and straightened out the spread and the The scene of the rape, Peter thought. "You're wondering about Happy," Trudy said.

pillows on the mattress.

**I

wasn't," he said sharply. "I was wondering just what

the hell

going on here.

is

down by some

be shot

Am

I

supposed

to assault

"We

**What a lovely idea," she said, laughing. both die, our blood mingling

"Oh,

you and

irate relative?"

at the last

could

moment."

for Christ sake!" Peter said.

"I have an idea you're not to be had easily," she

"I'm not

to

be had

"We'll see about walked over

that, friend.

to the table, picked

drank what was

in

it.

We'll see," she said. She

up the half-empty

not for you.

is

You'd

thing long, and black, vaguely transparent, that

me

glass,

and

"I have the idea that the almost naked

or totally naked approach

take off

said.

at all."

at the right

like

some-

you could

moment. Yes?"

"No." "Oh,

well, there

is all

of time stretching out ahead of us,"

she said, with something that sounded like real regret.

"I

could help you, you know."

"Help me?"

"To

find

what you're looking for," she

said.

the black glasses, and deep violet eyes gave

look.

They were

beautiful.

startlingly

"For

She took off him a steady a

price,

of

course."

"What

"You

price?"

—now or

"I'm looking

no secret

"It's

later."

for

Rod.

It's

that that's

no secret," he said. what you say you're looking

for," she said.

"But you and

knows

so."

that's not

"Rod "I hoped

is I

off his rocker,

I

and maybe everyone else

making wild threats," Peter

could talk some sense into him."

96

said.

She reached for the vodka bottle and poured some into her glass. She sat on the edge of the table, one long leg swinging idly.

'Tm

"I'm not allowed protect me."

a prisoner here," she said.

army

the estate without an

to

to leave

"Why?"

"My

father

And

submit to being

willingly

I'd

a prime sub-

would get me away from here, get me away miserable family, from Happy's daily assaults."

snatched

from

"I'm

a millionaire," she said.

kidnapping.

for

ject

is

if it

my

She smiled. "Oh,

have an insatiable appetite for sex, but

I

Happy is such a bore and so unbelievably away from here I'd become a call girl,

get

—

crude. If

or I'd

I

could

work

in a

whorehouse on the waterfront or I'd find myself a man like you." "So how can you help me find Rod?" Peter asked. "To hell with Rod. Tell me what you're really looking for." Fifteen minutes ago Peter had imagined that he'd been sent

woods to be accidentally shot. That meant Chandlers knew he was looking for DeSantos, that Rod

out here into the the

was being used could set

up

mean

as an excuse.

to loosen his

from her

to

Now

incredible girl.

this

It

were uncertain about him. Trudy was tongue, to get him with a promise of help

that they

confirm their suspicions.

If

he spilled his guts to

her about DeSantos and she passed the word along to the

Chandlers the game was over. Grace would be

He had

to

ity that

it

"We

assume

it

was

a trap.

try to

couldn't risk the possibil-

wasn't.

seem," he

said,

keeping his voice as level as he

could, "to be getting nowhere.

hiding

He

lost forever.

somewhere on

make

I

hoped

that

the grounds, and that

if

Rod might be

he saw

contact with me. That's the whole ball

She finished what was

in

me

he'd

game."

her glass, and her nose wrinkled

97

in

a kind

'Tve shocked

of childlike concentration.

you,

haven't I?" she said.

"Maybe to

not, because that's obviously

what you intended

do."

"But

told

I

you

the truth

oner. I'd give anything

I

—

in part," she said.

know

and

to get free

"I

am a prismy own

live

life."

"And

the part that wasn't true?"

"I wouldn't become a whore," she said. "I would

me

snare myself a real man. Styles, help

try to

away!" She came over to him and put her hands on his shoulders. The violet eyes pleaded. "Help me to get away and I'll help you to find

your

It hit

woman."

him

about Grace.

and for

self,

to get

like a savage blow in the stomach. She knew He actually took her by the arms to steady hima moment her head rested on his shoulder. Then

he held her away from him.

"What

are

you talking about?" he

said,

his voice

un-

steady.

"Did Rod ever

tell

joining rooms'?"

you about

she asked.

'the polite voices in the ad-

"It's

a phrase he used ever

we were kids." "He said something like that." "It's been a game with us while we were growing

since

ing to listen to those voices," trying to listen and

any sense

"What

"My

until last night.

I

"We

up, try-

were always

made

heard something then."

did you hear?"

father and

Uncle Eric and Uncle Carl were I'll

I

his

for him. That will be the price.' said, 'So let

Jesus,

said.

really heard anything that

heard Uncle Carl say — — 'They've wife so taken

study. actly

—

we never

Trudy

remember

it

ex-

be back here looking

And Uncle

Eric laughed and

"

him look.' knew! Every

they

try to

he'll

in the

step

98

of this

had been

false.

They'd never for a moment thought he was looking for Rod. "What does it mean, Styles?" The violet eyes looked up into his. "Who's taken your wife, and who's the 'him' you're back here looking for? Because

if

you'll help

me

get

away If

told

I'll help you find him." Trudy was bait in a trap it made no sense for her to have Peter what she had. If she was not part of the game and

they discovered she'd overheard and told him, her trouble

could be just as great as

his.

He

down

looked

at

her and he

thought of Casey, her head blown away, her blood smearing

was so cheap in this world. "Tell me a couple of things, Trudy," he said quite gently. "How often are the grounds here occupied by this security

the front of Rod's suit. Life

force?"

"There are always two or three of them patroling the I can remember. But this is a big alert. There must be twenty or twenty-five of them around." "Do you know why?" "I know how it's always been explained to me," she said. "My father and Uncle Eric and Uncle Carl are always involved in big deals with foreign countries. There are people place, ever since

in

those countries

groups

nists, terror

who who

hate

them

—

are always,

revolutionists,

my

commu-

father says, trying to

disrupt the orderly transaction of big business.

He

says they

from them. We're not allowed to open a packletter here until Graninger examines them. We're supposed to be afraid of bombs even letter bombs." are never safe

age or a strange

"Who

is

—

Graninger?"

"He's an ex-G.I. who was a demolitions expert in Vietnam before he went to work for Father. You probably saw him at the front gate. Attractive guy." "But you don't know why this special alert?" "No, but you do, don't you. Styles?" "I may."

99

"

''And

Why

about your wife being 'taken'?"

this deal

not, he thought?

here yesterday afternoon. get out of the car to

turned two

"We were stopped when we left A phony State Trooper made me

show my

While

license.

men dragged Grace

my

back was

out of the car, and

was knocked cold by the phony Later I was told what I had to do to get her back." "The bastards!" Trudy said. "What do you have " started to help her

"You

heard

I

when

I

trooper.

to

do?"

Find 'him.'

it.

"Who's 'him'?" "That's where

stop,

I

Trudy," he

Her skin

said.

felt

warm

under his touch. "If you're not being used by your father

—

me "You don't

against

"I don't sweet.

If

trust

trust a

me?" damn

soul in this particular world,

you're on their team you

you're not, then

it

isn't safe for

you

to

know know

the

man I'm

If

looking for, I'm going to be

Her hands tightened on

his arms.

scarlet nails biting into him.

If

armed guards for. The anywhere near

man I'm looking

Chandlers are playing games with me. the

my

the answer. It's

a big secret; a secret that calls for twenty-five

protecting your family and the

answer.

He

I

get

mowed down."

could feel her bright

"I hate them all," she said.

"Let me help you and then you help me!" "How can I help you?" he said. "I'm the mouse in a game of cat-and-mouse. I'm going to be in everybody's gunsight every moment I'm here." "Then leave and take me with you!" "If I don't find the man I'm looking for, God help

—

Grace."

"But you said it yourself. Styles. They're not going to let you find him." She seemed to stand on tiptoe and her mouth was close to his. "I'll find him for you if you'll take me away. Please!" She kissed him, clinging 100

to

him.

"

He pushed spond

to

her gently away.

"I haven't anything to re-

you with, Trudy. I'm like ice inside, with rage and And I'm remembering Casey." He drew a

fear for Grace.

deep breath. "I've got tion.

to

regroup

my

— Since they know why I'm here

ideas,

my

plan of ac-

She moved quickly away from him and poured herself "The first thing you have to do is get

another slug of vodka.

Uncle Eric's in one piece," she said. "You're safe you know. Nobody is going to mow you down in front of Aunt Millicent or my mother. The Chandler brothers have managed to destroy the Lawrence sisters, my father with his sadism. Uncle Eric with his indifference, but the famous Boston beauties won't stand for violence that they can see. I'll take you back to the house." "Trudy, I'm more grateful to you than I can say." She smiled. "I'll show you a way to express your gratiback

to

there,

tude. You'll see. We'll ride."

She took him out a side door of the studio and there was a They started in it, up through the

small, red electric golf cart.

woods, Peter tensely waiting for some kind of attack, the almost naked girl behind the wheel, acting as though there was nothing

The

at all to fear.

noiseless cart

proached

it

they

saw

moved toward Eric and

As they

ap-

David Chandler conversing

just

the house.

outside the front door.

Trudy waved from the

cart.

"There's nothing

hospitality," she said, in a bright, hard voice.

bastard

down

there

damn

like

Chandler

"Some

crazy

near put a bullet through Styles 's

head."

David Chandler's eyes were angry in their puffy pouches. get some clothes on, you little bitch!" he said. "Anything to please," Trudy said. She reached out and touched Peter's hand. "See you around sometime. Styles."

"Go

He

got out of the cart and watched her drive

101

away

across

the lawn toward David's house.

'*What happened?" Eric asked, a note of concern

What an

voice.

Peter's hands

clenched

men

in

in his

actor!

were jammed

into his pockets to hide his

They knew exactly what had happened. The woods had walkie-talkies. The shot that had

fists.

the

missed his head by a foot had been meant

to

miss his head by

went wrong for the people who controlled They weren't so stupid as to think that being shot at would frighten Peter away. He was suddenly quite sure he knew why it had been done. It was an excuse for the next move. "Somebody took a shot at me," Peter said. "I suppose a foot. Nothing

this

world.

one of your security guards hadn't gotten the word. He probably meant to warn me, would have post to check out on

"What

me

if

it

come down from

his

hadn't been for Trudy."

about Trudy?" David asked.

"She was

in the studio,

suppose when your

me.

I

was

not a prowler."

heard the shot, came out, rescued

man saw

her with

"You see Happy?" David asked. "No." "He was supposed to have warned

me

he realized

the security.

He

I

proba-

down

there with

"I think we better talk about this, Styles," "Would you mind coming into the study?"

Eric said.

bly stopped to root around on the floor

Trudy. Animals!"

They walked into the house and across the entrance hall to the study. David crossed to the window and stood looking out over the lawn, chewing on a cigar he didn't bother to light.

Eric

sat

down behind

his

desk,

and for a moment he

pressed the tips of his fingers against his eyelids. Then he

drew a deep breath and leaned back. He didn't look 102

at

Peter

when he spoke. **You must realize that there tion here, Styles

is

some kind of

—more than our concern

that

crisis situa-

Rod might

try

something foolish."

"According

to

Trudy

there's a small

army out there,"

Peter said.

"Bitch!" David said, and turned back from the window.

"We're involved

in

some very

delicate negotiations in a

"There are people in the country we're dealing with who don't want the deal to go through. Politics. Your experience must tell you. Styles, that

deal for oil reserves," Eric said.

matters of this sort are not always settled around a conference

The opposition to this deal have chosen violence and terror as a way to obstruct it. We have reason to think they may try to strike at the top at David and Carl and me." "And at our families," David said. "If you ask me, that's what happened to Rod and his girl friend. They meant to get table.

—

Rod.

It

didn't matter that they missed as long as

we were

duly warned." It

almost sounded

"So,

until

real.

we can immobilize them,"

Eric said,

"we have

to protect ourselves."

"Police?" Peter suggested.

"Frankly we would have

to tell

them too much before

they'd feel justified in helping us. I've been to Washington

As you know, I was there when I got the news Rod and Casey. We think the terrorists are in the

for help.

about

country illegally, or

wanting

in.

at least

have

lied

about their reasons for

The C.I. A., Immigration authorities, the F.B.I, you know how long it takes these bureaucratic get under way. Meanwhile we have to protect

will help, but

agencies to

ourselves from fanatics."

"That explains the army," Peter said. waited. He knew what was coming.

He

103

j&V

own chances," David

''Rod has got to take his

''You've got to get the

We

trigger-happy.

hell out

exploded.

of here, Styles. Everybody's

can't afford to have an outsider

knocked

off by mistake."

"Especially not an outsider with your reputation and con-

"Fm

nections, Styles," Eric said.

leave at once. David and

came back

just

ready shot

at

now

you.

I

afraid

were talking about

—before we knew

Now

it's

we must

obvious

that

it

ask you to before you

someone had

al-

we have no choice."

at his temples. It was as They could drive him out and disclaim any responsibility for what might happen to him if he tried to get back in. He couldn't tell them that he knew they knew what his real reason was for being here without implicating Trudy. God knows what would happen to her, and it was entirely possible he wouldn't walk out of this room alive. A bullet in his heart, and his body found in the woods. An unfortunate

Peter could feel the blood pulsing

easy as

that.

accident, a terrible tragedy.

He found

himself staring

and elegant, the other so

at the

fat

two brothers, one so slim It was as if he

and menacing.

was engraving their faces on his memory, never them until the moment came for squaring accounts. "I will

tell

to forget

Millicent that you've been called back to

New

York," Eric said. "I can't give her the real reason, Styles. She would ask too many questions, demand too many explanations."

"This time of day she probably won't be sober enough to "God save us from women, old

ask questions," David said. or young."

"If you should happen to encounter Millicent while you're on the way to pack your things, or leaving," Eric said, "I'd consider

it

a very real favor if

you've been called back shot

at, all hell will

to

you'd simply

town.

break loose."

104

If

you

tell

tell

her that

her you've been

'*Trudy will probably

David smiled, a

thin,

"You

her," he said.

tell

her," Peter said.

cold smile.

"Trudy

will

Peter felt the blood roaring in his ears like surf. left

not

tell

can depend on that."

Once he

here his chances of locating DeSantos as a ransom for

to almost zero. They watched him, these two calm villains, knowing exactly what was going on in his head. "They've taken his wife so he'll be back here looking

Grace were reduced

for him. That will be the price." Carl Lindstrom's words.

him look, being

They'd been

willing

wouldn't look

in the right place,

to

let

he

certain

or that they could prevent

him from looking in the right place. They didn't give a damn what happed to Grace, or to him, or, for that matter, to Rod. Eric's pious protestations of affection for Rod were as phony as everything else about them. If he faced them with it here and now they would, of course, deny everything, and if he persisted they would whistle up the army and have him polished off. That tragic accident in the woods was their trump. His only chance to find DeSantos was to go, without a showdown, and find a way to get back in later. He fought to keep his voice level. "Of course I'll do what you ask," he said. "You'll let me know if there's any news of

Rod?" David smiled

know," he

his

sleepy,

Peter moistened his lips. "I

There's

in the village.

see Dr. Fraser.

still

the

You have no

"None whatever," to

evil

withdraw our

let

you

objection?"

Eric said. "I only regret that

hospitality. Perhaps

—

we can make

crisis is

we have it

up

to

past."

you," David said. "It's move around the estate. Don't get any second

"It isn't a bed we're refusing to

"We'll

may choose to stay at the inn chance Rod might show up to

you sometime when this particular "Perhaps you can," Peter said. freedom

smile.

said.

105

thoughts about

it,

Styles.

Our

security people have their or-

ders."

"Shoot

first,

ask questions later?" Peter said.

"Exactly." "If there was time to explain

understand," Eric said.

all

you'd —you " He

the details to

"So now, my

apologies

in-

dicated the door.

So you walk away, leaving them with all the cards. You walk away, your gut twisted by frustration from not being able to act direcdy. Those two in the study, and their friend Lindstrom, and their vast network of associates around the world held the power of life and death in their hands. One of the lives they controlled belonged to Grace,

they dickered and dealt for

oil, for

God damn them!

power, for huge

profits.

The life of one woman was inconsequential litter in their scheme of things. Peter swore to himself as he crossed the big entrance hall and climbed the stairs to his room that he would make them pay for every minute of discomfort Grace had felt, every minute of fear, every minute of pain. Somehow he would bring the whole corrupt structure crashing

down on Big

their heads.

talk!

How

was

it

to

be done?

room Peter got out his bag and began packing his was an almost trance-like business. Once outside the stone gates at the end of the driveway, what to do? The hooded man would have to give him time in his search for DeSantos. He'd have to get word to him through that someone who was located at Dr. Eraser's clinic. All his things were in the bag except Devery's brown In his

things.

It

manila envelope containing notes on the Greek government.

He paused

moment,

he went to

hand on the envelope, and then the phone and dialed Devery's private number. As

he listened

to the ringing signal

for a

his

106

he also heard that faint click.

Someone had picked up on

the line

somewhere

else in the

house.

'*Devery here."

'Trank,

"How

it's

Peter."

The boy show?" "No. There are some complications. I'm going to be stayif I can get a ing at the Hearthstone Inn in Lakeview room." "Oh," Devery said, sounding blank. "By the way, I glanced at those notes on the Greek story. I don't think we should do it." goes

it?

—

That said, quite simply, help! "I hear you," Devery said.

"Keep

in

Dial tone as Devery disconnected.

touch."

Then

was

there

the

click.

Peter put the envelope in his bag and the door to his

room opened and

was closing

Millicent

came

it

when

Her face

in.

was flushed. She was, he guessed, quite drunk. "Dear Peter," she said, "Eric has just told me." "You could do me a favor," Peter said. "I wish

I

knew what,

Peter." tell

them you

have an overflow of guests, and you want them

to hold a

"Call your friends

room turn

for

at the

Hearthstone and

me. They might turn

me down.

I

don't think they'll

you down."

"Of course." "Now," Peter "They

said.

He

indicated the telephone.

listen to all the out calls," she said.

"It's not a secret.

stay there. Shall

"Please.

And

I

I

told

your husband

I

was going

look up the number for you?"

dial

it

for

me,

if

you don't mind.

I

to try to

—I'm

not

very steady."

He

looked up the number

in

107

the book,

dialed

it,

and

handed her the instrument. "This is Mrs. Eric Chandler," she

said, after a

I

want to reserve a friend room, Andrew. He's a special friend about half an hour or so the

phone back

to Peter.

name of Chandler! aren't any, it

can

it

can put you

It

moment.

—Andrew? Mrs. Chandler. —Mr. A —he should be along —thank you, Andrew." She handed 'They up—but magic

Andrew room for a

"I'd like to speak to

nice

Styles.

in

are full

the

can get you hotel rooms where there

bump you

off planes,

it

can bankrupt you,

crime you didn't commit.

in jail for a

It's

a

name, Peter." here tell him where I am," Peter said. "It's urgent that I talk to him." "The Chandler name can keep you from talking to anyone

glorious, shining

"If

if

Rod shows up

inconveniences the Chandlers," she said. "Goodbye,

it

Peter.

you." "What have they done

I'm sorry for what they've done

His jaw muscles tightened.

to

to

me?" "You've been maneuvered like a puppet," Millicent said. "Everybody who isn't a Chandler man is maneuvered like a puppet." She walked vaguely toward the door and turned.

"You marry

a

man because you

think he

—and he

is

decent, and kind,

machine, without feeling, an engine of destruction. Have you ever tried to get even with a machine, Peter?" Her wide, blurred eyes stared at him as though she expected an answer, but she didn't wait for it. She weaved out the door and he and romantic, and passionate

could hear her going

He snapped main

his

hall. Eric

down

turns out to be a

the hall, running, he thought.

bag shut and carried

was waiting

for him.

it

downstairs into the

And

they went out the

door without speaking. Peter saw that a small black sedan had pulled up behind the Jaguar. There were two men

front

sitting in the front seat.

"I'm having

a

couple of security

108

men

escort

you out

through the gates, Styles," Eric said.

up

to the

danger

want

I

to

"Now

that

we've faced

be sure you get off the estate

without anything happening to you."

Sure that thought.

He

don't change

I

didn't

and hat were on the floor between the

remember leaving them

even searched

He

about leaving, Peter

put his bag on the back seat of the Jag, noticing

that his raincoat

He

my mind

there.

The

seats.

bastards had

his car.

got in behind the wheel. "It's been an interesting expe-

rience," he said to Eric.

"Someday "You're

may

I

entitled to

tell

you the whole story," Eric

said.

something for our discourtesy."

Peter started the car and drove

down

the long, winding

bluestone drive. The black sedan followed a few yards behind. the

When

machine

they reached the gate Graninger, the pistol, the

bomb

man

with

expert, undid the chain for him.

He waved cheerfully as Peter drove out onto the highway. The black sedan had stopped, and remained inside the gate, as

Graninger replaced the chain.

He drove on

for almost a mile in the direction of the

Hearthstone Inn. Then, suddenly, he almost swerved off the road as a

soft,

laughing voice spoke almost in his ear.

"Well, we made

He

it.

Styles."

righted the car and glanced up in the rearview mirror.

Trudy Chandler's smiling face was

at

his

shoulder level,

at him through her black "Kidnapping David Chandler's daughter could be a big thing," she said. "I was terrified you were the neat type, and would pick up your raincoat and put it on the back seat." Cool fingers touched his cheek. "Who knows, we could be starting World War Three."

looking

glasses in the mirror.

109

4.

''If

you're going to throw

me

out," Trudy said, "please

keep going for about a mile. There are some woods there

would give

me some

there. Styles.

You'd

better

that

Because I'm not going back

cover.

know

that,

some

before you take

kind of moral stand."

"I wouldn't send

my

worst

enemy back

there," Peter said.

"I'd join you up front," Trudy said, "but the boys

may be having you watched

till

it's

just possible

you

get out of

town."

"They know I'm going

"You

to the

Hearthstone," Peter said.

don't give up, do you, buster? Even

about to be run over by a stone crusher. Peter drove steadily, but not fast.

on?" he asked. Trudy giggled. "I'm

I

when you're

like that."

"Have you

got

some

clothes

a

little

whatever that

quite decent," she said. "I

Daddy were

time while Uncle Eric and lies

they told you.

I

think

Aunt Millicent knows I'm

"How?" "She saw me

getting in

in

I

should

Ill

you

you, though,

your car."

—crawling

signaled her to keep quiet about

tell

had quite

telling

it

in,

you might

and she nodded

say. to

I

me.

"

Maybe

she wished she'd thought of

''She'll tell

"Aunt

them

if

it

herself."

they ask her, won't she?"

Millicent? Never in the world. She

but she doesn't

spill

what she knows

brothers and their partners in crime.

don't think

little

wounds

—

may be

a drunk,

not to the Chandler

You know something?

will ever satisfy the

Lawrence

I

sis-

someday toppling the entire would really hurt Uncle Eric. And, brother, does she want to hurt him." Trudy laughed, and it had a bitter ring to it. "She wants to remind him that she's still alive, and that can only be done in a big way." Peter pulled the Jaguar to the side of the road. Then he turned to the girl who was kneeling behind him on the floor of the car. She had on a blue cotton dress, her dark hair hanging long and straight. There was a fairly large leather bag suspended by a strap over one shoulder. She was travelters. I

think our Millicent dreams of

Chandler empire. Nothing

less than that

ing light.

"Just what did you expect

me

to

do for you, Trudy?" he

asked.

"Take me going.

I

to

New York with you if that's where in New York. But since you're

could hide

"You could be helpful to me," Peter said. "How? And of course I will." "I need to know how to get back into the where to look for the man I think is being held Her smile was

twisted.

"There

are simpler

you were not

—

grounds and there."

ways

to

commit

suicide," she said.

"I need to

know how

to get in after dark,

where the most

and how to get out in a hurry." "You have to rescue this man, Styles?" He shook his head. "Just locate him so that somebody else can do the rescuing. I still have a map of the place Eric gave me, but you'll have to show me on it how to function."

likely places are to look,

112

Her face darkened. *'I could go back and look for you, but know I've gone I'll be locked up somewhere myself. And if not that, there 'd still be no way to get out to tell you what I find. Do you know that every phone in the house is bugged? There's a man at a listening post in the basement of Uncle Carl's house, round the clock." Again the twisted smile. "And I don't want to go back, Styles. I'll never get out again if I do. Not after this." "Do you have any friends in the village you can trust?" She shook her head. "The Chandlers own Lakeview. No one would dare help anyone cross them. Not even another Chandler. That's why Rod will never get to them. The word's been passed. Anyone sees Rod anywhere near Lakeif

they

view and

they'll

"Do you fifteen or

know."

think you could stay hidden under that coat for

twenty minutes?"

"Yes." "I want to register

me

expect start

to

—

at the

Hearthstone," Peter said. "They

Eric and David. If

I

delay too long they might

You hide under the coat, I park the car my bag in. I make one important call and then I and we drive away somewhere. We'll find a way to

checking on me.

and take

come

out

you to New York. She touched his hand. "Don't make phone

get

calls

from your

room through the switchboard," she said. "Uncle Eric owns them there in the Hearthstone. Every time Aunt Millicent stops there for a drink they call him. If he's asked them to check your

calls, they will."

"It's like a

"You

company town,"

Peter said.

can say that again. I'm ready. Styles, when you

are."

She

slid

down behind

the seat and pulled the raincoat over

herself.

"Good

girl," Peter said.

113

'

He It

heard a muffled laugh.

was

less than half a mile to the Hearthstone.

got out, and took his bag. "I'll be as quick as

He

parked,

can," he

I

said.

"I'm going bake

is

to

be ready for a

triple

vodka when

this

clam-

over," Trudy said from under the raincoat.

Peter walked into the inn.

A

bellboy scurried forward to

A

take his bag.

He was

man wearing

a rather gaudy sports jacket stood next to the

received cordially

at the

desk.

bald

clerk.

"I'm Andrew

Salinger,

the

manager.

Welcome, Mr.

Styles," he said. "Glad to be able to do Mrs. Chandler a '

favor.

"I'm glad to have a room," Peter said. "You're Peter Styles, the Newsview feature you.?" "Yes."

writer, aren't

"I always look forward to your articles."

"Thanks." Salinger took the key from the clerk and handed bellboy.

"Take Mr.

Number

Styles to

it

Thirty-one.

to the

It's

not

our most luxurious room, Mr. Styles, but unless you're planning to give big parties It

was

a small

I

think you'll find

room, but

it

comfortable."

tastefully furnished in

what was

probably imitation Early American. Peter unpacked, put his in the bathroom, and left the notes on the Greek government on top of the bureau in case Mr. Salinger was in-

shaving gear

terested in looking over his things.

down

Peter went back

phone

in a

comer of

He

I

forgot to

the lobby and spotted a pay

the lounge. Salinger

elbow. "There's a phone "Call

to

in

make,"

was suddenly

at his

your room, Mr. Styles." Peter said.

called Devery's private

number,

terested in having the watchful

114

collect.

He

wasn't

Mr. Salinger see him put

in-

in

more than

a dime.

A woman

answered the phone. He

rec-

ognized the voice of Allie Wilson, Devery's private secretary.

Peter Styles, Allie. Is Frank there?"

''It's

"No,

he's not, Peter. But he said

if

you called

to tell

you

he was on his way." Peter walked out to the parking

lot,

got into the Jaguar,

and drove out along the highway toward the

New York

Thru-

way.

"You

come

can

have anyone

tailing

out

now," he

said.

"We

don't seem to

us."

Trudy didn't answer. "Trudy!"

He

pulled over to the side of the road and turned his body

in the

bucket

seat.

He had been

ested in the back of his car

so careful not to

when he came

seem

inter-

out of the inn that

he hadn't noticed that his raincoat was lying quite

flat

on the

floor.

Trudy wasn't

The

late

there.

afternoon sun was hot, but

it

for the trickle of sweat Peter felt running side his shirt. in this

wasn't responsible

down

his chest in-

There wasn't a clear explanation for anything

whole goddamned

situation.

Had Trudy walked

out on

him? Had she been taken away against her will? If she had changed her mind about wanting his help to get away, why? He had found her completely believable. Was he wrong about that? Having wrung everything out of him she could, was she on the way back to the Chandlers to report? He made a U-turn in the Jaguar and headed back for the Hearthstone, driving fast this time. There were perhaps twenty cars in the parking lot, no attendant. The place where he had been parked before was open, and he pulled in and got out of the car. The surface of the lot was blacktopped. 115

Daniel Boone couldn't have read anything on left

her hiding place either of her

tarily

free will or involun-

left

something for him,

couldn't find

that

searched the back seat, the thick carpeting on the ing.

He was

Trudy had

would tell him something. anything. He opened the Jaguar's door and

dropped something he'd find

He

own

she might, he thought, have

If

it.

about to turn away

when he

floor.

Noth-

realized that

some-

was missing. He had brought a brown tweed hat along It was gone. He tried to remember if it had been there when he left Eric Chandler's house, unaware that Trudy was hidden under the raincoat. Had it been there when thing

with the raincoat.

he had

left her,

hidden again,

to register in the

memory wouldn't work for him. The portant to him when he'd had occasion His

himself that of

it.

He

if

it

Hearthstone?

hat hadn't been imto notice.

He

told

had been missing he'd have been conscious

But he might not have. picked up the raincoat, draped

walked

into the inn.

He went

to the

it

over his arm, and

desk and asked

had been any messages for him. Trudy might have call his

if

there

tried to

room. Devery might have called him. There were no

messages. As he turned away from the desk he cles tighten.

Coming toward him

muswas Happy

felt his

across the lobby

Lindstrom, a wide smile on his sun-tanned face.

"You're

a hard

guy

to locate,"

Happy

said.

"Buy you

a

-drink?"

"No, thanks,"

looks this red-haired giant

him across

that smiling

"Sit with

me

He remembered the hungry had given Grace. He wanted to hit

Peter said.

while

I

mouth.

have one," Happy

said.

"I have things to do," Peter said. "I'll

bet!" The man's gray-green eyes were cold with

anger, but he kept on smiling. "I want to talk to you about

those things you plan to do."

116

**Sorry," Peter said, and started to turn away.

A

powerful hand closed on his shoulder and turned him

back.

"You want

with

me," Happy

to

make

a scene here in the lobby

it's

okay

said.

He was close to explosion. He someone and Happy Lindstrom seemed like an

Peter shook himself free.

wanted

to hurt

ideal target.

"You

got Trudy up in your

room?" Happy asked.

"What

That brought Peter back into control.

you talking about?" he said. "She's a real nice, sophisticated said.

the hell are

hay," Happy

toss in the

"I don't blame you for wanting to take advantage of

what I'm sure was a delightful

invitation.

But

it

won't do.

Styles."

"I find you a repulsive, cheap bastard," Peter said.

Happy laughed. "

—

" he

"Don't get me wrong, chum. I don't mind sharing her with someone getting her back and else. Makes it more exciting in a way punishing her for it. But Uncle David is apt to have you fed to the lions if you don't bring her back, and in a hurry." "What do you mean, bring her back?" Peter asked very and stones

'Sticks

'

said.

—

quietly.

it

"Uncle David doesn't think he needs a computer to figure Happy said. "Trudy's missing. There's no way on

out,"

earth but one that she could have gotten past our security

way was in your car. know better. She was

people and out of the grounds. That one In the trunk,

Uncle David thought.

hidden under your raincoat."

I

He nodded

at the

coat Peter had

draped over his arm.

"You're dreaming," Peter "Smell it," Happy said. "Smell what?"

"The

raincoat,

dummy.

I

said.

know 117

the smell of

Trudy

better

than anyone.

I

ought

I've explored every inch of her

to.

every day for months and months. She has a special perfume

made

for her

—unique. A luxury

mistakable, chum.

So where

the very rich enjoy.

It's

un-

she?"

is

"I haven't the faintest idea," Peter said. "If she was hiding in

knew

—

my

car

in the trunk or

under the raincoat

—

I

never

it."

"You

Happy

are a liar, of course,"

Peter measured him.

He was

said, smiling.

man but Peter made size unim-

a big, powerful

long ago had developed karate

skills that

But he had to play it cool now. "You want to look in my room?" he asked. "I was about to ask Andrew Salinger for a guided tour when you came in," Happy said. "I think he'd be happier if

pressive.

you took

me

up."

"I'll take you," Peter said, "but before I do I want to tell you something. I don't want to run across you again. If I do I promise to take you apart in a fashion you'll never forget."

"My, my!" Happy

said.

Peter turned and headed for the stairway, with his heels.

He had

side the door of 3

her

way up

1

.

Happy

at

of concern as he hesitated out-

There was a chance

that

Trudy had found

there.

She wasn't like a

moment

a

in the

room. Happy stood frowning around him

puzzled sheepdog.

you," he said, "that when it comes to takUncle David is a master. He likes to watch it happening and he's got the experts to do it. If he stays convinced that you helped Trudy get away you'll get a "I ought to

tell

ing people apart

my

sample of how people are made

to talk just before they're

never able to talk again."

"Get out," Peter

said,

"and don't come back."

Happy's smile was wide. "Only have to, chum," he said.

if I

have

to

—and

I

hope

I

118

I

Peter stood in the middle of his room, anger sweeping over

him.

It

wasn't

Happy Lindstrom's schoolboyish

muscle-flex-

how true Millicent ''Everybody who isn't a Chana puppet." He was a specimen

ing that got to him, but the realization of

Chandler's words had been. dler

man

maneuvered

is

like

under a Chandler microscope.

was fairly clear what must have happened in the case of Trudy. The moment he'd driven away from Eric's they'd gone to question her and found her missing. It isn't usually a It

cause of alarm to parents isn't exactly

when

a twenty-two-year-old girl

where she's supposed

to

be

at

any given mo-

ment. The Chandlers hadn't assumed that she'd gone back to the studio, or instantly that

gone swimming, or for a walk. They assumed she'd found a way out, and there was only one

way she could have made it in the face of their security. Happy couldn't have been more than twenty minutes to half an hour behind. That was how quickly they thought things through,

how

quickly they acted.

The one cheering thought Peter had was ence

at the

that

Happy's pres-

Hearthstone, his corny threats, meant that Trudy

had not fallen into the hands of her family. She must have seen Happy drive into the parking lot and gotten away, somehow, before he searched the Jaguar for her. She was probably not too far away. But how to find her? Happy had come quite openly, looking. It was very likely that a member of the security force, someone Peter had no way of identifying, would be watching him, hoping he might lead the way to Trudy or to some other player in the game. He couldn't lead the way to Trudy because he had no idea where she could be hiding,

—

and he couldn't lead cause he didn't

to

some

know who

other player in the

game

be-

the other players were.

There was one thing he somehow had to manage. The hooded man had to be told what had happened, had to be persuaded to give him more time. If there was a way to get back 119

into the

Chandler grounds

After dark there might be

would have to come some chance of shaking it

army of men in main houses where he

ting past the

the

of the

felt

He had to have why and be patient

held.

—

after dark.

a

tail,

get-

woods, getting back to one certain DeSantos was being

time, and the hooded

man had

to

know

for Grace's sake.

Dr. Fraser's clinic was the only point of contact with the

kidnappers he had,

me,"

reach

the

'*

Someone

under the pretext of wanting for a sign

tell you how to So he would go there

there will

hooded man had

said.

to talk to the doctor,

and wait

from someone.

When you know

you're being watched and you don't know who's watching you, your best plan is to be quite open. To try to shake a tail would only tell them he was aware, and the surveillance would instantly be closer and involve more

was

o'clock now.

watchers.

It

enough

make any kind of move

to

five

dler property until nearly nine

on

to get this

wouldn't be dark

It

back into the Chan-

summer

night.

During

was no way to avoid being watched. could be help. Devery was ''on his way."

the next four hours there

In that time there If

he had started the

moment he

got Peter's cry for help he

should be here within an hour. Waiting for that hour was an

unbearable prospect.

He

decided he would go to the clinic

and hope for a contact.

He went down to the lobby and double-dealing Andrew Salinger was

'Tm

to the desk,

where the

a smiling mine-host.

going out for about an hour," Peter told him. "I'm

going to the clinic

to try to talk to Dr. Fraser

—

if

he's up to

it."

"Poor guy," Salinger compassion. "Next

whole track

life.

down

"That's

Is that

the

to

said, with a

medicine

that

remarkable imitation of daughter of his was his

the story you're on,

men who

Mr. Styles? To

Casey?" "There may be

try to

killed

it," Peter said.

120

calls for

me. Mr.

Devery,

who and

my

that

"Of

I

may

boss,

turn

and Mr. Devery,

calls,

if

anyone

up here. Will you

tell

he comes, that I'm

at the clinic

expect to be back here about six o'clock?"

course."

Peter went out to his car.

The

clinic

from the Hearthstone. He wondered the reception desk

was

anyone know

he was there?

that

As he drove up

was only about if

his contact. If she wasn't,

to the old colonial

a mile

the attractive girl at

how would

house he saw that there

were two State Police cars parked a little way from the front door. He told himself there had probably been some kind of traffic accident.

He

parked, got out, and went

in.

was at her desk, but she wasn't the smilyoung woman of the morning. Her eyes were swollen from crying. She looked up at Peter and the sight of him seemed to throw her. "You've come back to see Dr. Fraser?" she asked, in a broken voice. "It's too late, Mr. Styles. Dr. Fraser shot and

The

receptionist

ing, courteous

killed himself about an

Peter stood very

hour ago."

still,

waiting for her to go on.

was all too much for him," the receptionist said. "He loved Casey so very much. He acted strangely all day, but we all thought it was natural shock." Peter tried to make her look at him directly but she wouldn't. If she was supposed to make contact she must make it, regardless of how shaken she was. "I was sitting right here when I heard the shot," she said. "I thought it must have come from outside somewhere, and I went to the front door to look. Then Dr. O'Brien came run"I guess

ning

down

it

the corridor and told

me what had

happened.

We

called the State Police." It

had been a day of the unexpected.

A

came walking down the corridor from the It was Lieutenant Maxvil,

Fraser's office.

121

familiar figure

direction of Dr. his friend

from

Homicide mask.

He

in

New

York. Maxvil's face was an expressionless

didn't stop, but just

beckoned

to Peter to

follow

him. They walked out the front door and onto the stone steps leading up from the driveway.

''Any luck?" Maxvil asked, his hard, bright eyes narrowed.

"All bad," Peter

He gave him a cutdown version of "What are you doing here, at the

said.

the day's happenings.

clinic?"

"I came to Lakeview secretly looking for some Spanish-

sounding goons

"My girl

who grabbed

public reason

is

off your wife," Maxvil said.

I'm investigating the murder of a

that

named Katherine Caroline

to her old

Fraser. I came up here to talk man. Unfortunately he shot himself in the chest

about ten minutes before

"What do you mean "These

I

arrived

—they say."

'they say'?"

State Police are very bright fellows,"

"They have

a very

good

training course,

I

Maxvil

understand.

said.

They

The doctor was, underovercome by grief. He had a shotgun in his office. Would it interest you to know where that shotgun came from?" "Should it?" "It was a gift from the great and generous Mr. Eric Chandler whose money helps to support the clinic. Every fall the good doctor goes up to the Chandler estate and shoots birds get

right

to

the

core of things.

standably, in a state of shock,

with his rich friends. This time there

enough

to drive a truck

"You sound

a hole in his chest big

through."

as though

"Shooting yourself

is

it

doesn't

in the chest

fit

for

you."

with a 12-gauge shotgun

amount of acrobatics," Maxvil said. "You hold the muzzle of the gun against your chest and then you have to reach out almost your full reach with the other hand to pull the trigger. It can be done, you understand. I'm not requires a certain

122

saying

can't be

it

done."

"But—?" "But you bums. There

do

can't are

without leaving massive powder

it

no powder bums on the good doctor's

He

clothes or his chest.

has to have been shot from a good

away, and that he couldn't manage by himself withsome kind of Rube Goldberg gadget which isn't there."

ten feet

out

—

"You pointed this out "No," Maxvil said.

"Why

to the troopers?"

the hell not?"

"Because they're so eager for it to be a suicide," Maxvil said. "I'm on my way to get a court order to stop them from cremating the body before I can get an honest medical examiner to look "It's

at it."

murder

—no question?" Peter asked.

"No question." Maxvil reached "You were to come to the clinic to

for a cigarette

and

report success, as

I

lit

it.

recall

it."

Peter nodded.

"And you have no idea who your contact be?" he asked.

is

supposed to

"No." "Look,

made

I'll

catch up with you at the Hearthstone after I've

a couple of calls."

"I'll

be there

till

dark," Peter

said.

"Then I'm going back

in."

"Not

till

you've talked to me," Maxvil said. "Killing Go-

liath

with a slingshot

little

while."

is

a biblical myth. See

Peter walked slowly to the Jaguar and got

He saw

it

at

seat beside him.

you

in just a

in.

once, a folded piece of paper on the bucket

He

picked

it

up and opened

"Phone booth Hearthstone lobby."

123

it.

Part

Three

1.

Devery, chewing on a dead cigar, was chair

ing

when

lot,

Peter, breathless

arrived.

from sprinting

sitting in in

an arm-

from the park-

Without any preamble Peter moved

his

phone booth. A woman was in the glass box, talking animatedly to someone. In a low voice Peter brought Devery up-to-date. A whole day wasted while they played games with him. A world of missing people Rod, Trudy, Juan Luis DeSantos. The danger to Grace growing more serious with every tick of the friend across the lobby to the

—

clock.

The woman

in the

booth talked on and on, gesticulating as

though the person on the other end could see her. The palms of Peter's hands were damp.

The hooded man was probably

trying to call him.

The woman opened the door of the booth. "I have other short call to make," she said. "This

is

rather urgent for

"There's another phone

me,"

in the

Mr. Styles?" 127

one

Peter said.

bar," the

woman

The phone behind her rang. The woman answered it, impatient. Then: a

just

said.

"Do you know

"

'Tm

Styles," Peter said.

''Well!" the

woman

She stepped out of the booth

said.

and Peter took over, closing the door. ''Styles here," he said.

The smooth Spanish-sounding voice was on "You have news for us, Mr. Styles?"

"My

the other end.

wife?"

"She's quite

But

all right.

I

hope you have news for us."

"Nothing. They knew why

I was there. They made searchThey made an excuse for forcing me to leave

ing impossible. the property."

"Excuse?" "They knew why

was there," Peter said. "They knew wife. The place is swarming with guards. Even if I'd been able to locate your

what had happened

armed

— man

security

I

to

my

"They will move him," grown tense. "I don't

know what

I

the

hooded man

said, his voice

can do for you," Peter said. "I'm

watched." "After dark," the

man

"One chance

hundred," Peter

"There

is

in a

your wife

said.

to

said.

remind you of the urgency, Mr.

Styles."

"Put her on the phone."

"Not

possible. She's not

phone booth you."

in

where

case someone

"If anything happens

to

her

I

—"

collapse,

Mr. Styles. Your wife

—which

is

another

Peter's voice rose.

"If anything happens to DeSantos

to

am

trying to trace the call for

is

is

my

whole world

will

of secondary importance

me." "If

I

do

my

best and fail?"

"Then we may

all

be dead before morning. 128

We

can't wait

"

beyond a few hours of darkness." "How do I reach you if I have any luck?" "I will call you on this phone at eleven o'clock. not there in the lobby

make one

final try at

"Wait," Peter

"But

"Who

a way. There

if I

your times

is

—and

if I

"After midnight

line

my

is

I

will

help us all."

contact supposed to be at

—

was no way to get to the phone no longer a contact at the Clinic."

can't be here, waiting in the lobby, at one of

have news about DeSantos for you

we

will

Mr. Styles. Find a way

The

God

midnight. After that,

the Fraser Clinic? If there

"Make

you're

will try again at eleven-thirty.

I

said.

If

have

move

to

to get to the

went dead. The

— ?"

without your help,

phone."

dial tone

sounded.

Peter walked, trance-like, out of the booth to where De-

very was waiting. Devery saw the answer to his question on

The people who had Grace her go simply because there was no

Peter's face before he asked

were not disposed

to let

it.

way Peter could help them. "They insist you keep trying?" Devery asked. Peter nodded. There was still a good two hours and a before there was any hope of his getting back into grounds.

He would

then be one

man

dozen trained mercenaries; men on the Santos' people to

whole Chandler

move

bomb

the

against a couple of alert,

waiting for De-

on them. The chances were the

was booby-trapped.

estate

that smiling little

in

half

A

false step

and

expert at the gates would have ar-

ranged for you to be blown to pieces.

"Didn't you explain to them you'd Devery's voice seemed to

men

lost

come from

your usefulness?" far

are patriots with a cause," Peter said.

national hero.

I

don't

mean anything

nothing. They'll try to use results.

me

After that, to hell with

Devery blew

into the

to

away. "These

"DeSantos

as long as they can

me and

to hell with

hope for Grace."

stem of a pipe that always seemed 129

a

is

them, Grace means

to

be clogged. "Not any of to

me," he

said.

it

makes a goddamned

don't DeSantos' people go to the F.B.I. President himself

of sense

bit

necessary? DeSantos

if

the C.I. A.,

,

is

warrant from any judge they go

Chandler estate apart

my hooded man

"I think

I

—and not have

made

like that is

Oil and a search

They could take

to.

to wait

believes

if

the

a public figure.

What happens to him has to be important to them. who controls it is important to them. They could get

move

why

"If their hero has been kidnapped

till

the

dark."

it's

any kind of open

the Chandlers will liquidate DeSantos.

think he believes their only chance

is

a surprise attack

on

exactly the right place."

"But according

know

to

your

exactly what's up

girl friend,

—know

Trudy, the Chandlers

about Grace

—know

what

you're trying to do. Couldn't you persuade him that this par-

game simply won't work?" "They seem to think there is no

ticular

other

game

they can

play."

"So they're gambling against a sure thing," Devery said. "One chance in a thousand I can get back inside the grounds," Peter said. "One chance in a thousand I can locate DeSantos if I do. One chance in a thousand I can get out again and report to them in time."

"With odds Devery

like that

you don't even think about trying,"

said.

"With Grace the odds,"

at stake

you know

I

have

to try

Across the lobby Peter saw Maxvil come

They went over set in

to join

in the front

door.

him. The Homicide man's face was

hard lines.

"Let's go up to your room where being

whatever

it,

Peter said.

in a

They climbed as they

we

can talk without

fishbowl," he said. the

two

flights

of stairs to

Room

3

1

.

As soon

were alone Peter told Maxvil about the note he'd 130

found

in his car at the clinic

man

and his contact with the

who had Grace. have

''I

until

midnight to produce some results for them,"

he said.

down

Maxvil's inevitable cigarette bobbed up and

comer

mouth

of his

chance," he

as

he

spoke.

"You

don't

in the

have a

said.

"I don't have a choice," Peter said.

"The whole find

thing

is

so screwy

doesn't seem possible to

it

any kind of handle on

choices, but none of telling

you the

it," Maxvil said. them smell good. Let

me

do have

begin by

local State Police are not cooperative.

don't like an outside jerk like

me

up and throw "no powder honest, they don't like

not honest,

if

it

They

butting in. They've written

off Dr. Fraser as a suicide, just as they

they're

"We

bums"

were meant

to. I

show

in their faces. If they're

because they missed the obvious. the

them, they've got to figure a way to shut

If

own

Chandlers and Lindstrom

me up."

Devery "There are degrees and degrees of honesty," Maxvil said. "The Chandlers and Lindstrom own this town. On the surface they're *the good guys.' Eric Chandler supports the clinic. All of them help support the Art Center a theater, art "//"they're honest?"

said.

—

gallery,

historical

main business

—

museum. That Art Center

supplies jobs,

brings

in

is

the town's

transients

tronize the local inns, like this one, motels, shops.

owes

its

prosperous and relaxed

way of

life to

to

pa-

Lakeview

the Chandlers

and Lindstrom. Naturally the State Police would do them favors, lean their

help

my

way without

friends, like you, in

my

actually being dishonest.

I

business but I'm not a dis-

A murder in the clinic is bad news, much worse news than a suicide. What happened to Casey is more than enough to explain the doctor's taking his own life. I come in,

honest cop.

screaming murder, and

God knows where 131

that leads to.

With-

out being outright bought and paid for,

would

have

like to

it

suicide.

I

the

Police

State

could wind up pointing a

finger at a friend."

"But

it

murder?

is

No

doubt?" Devery asked.

at all. Suicide was physically impossible withpowder bums." "And are you pointing at someone?" "Not yet," Maxvil said. Peter was only half listening. There was still late sunshine outside the windows of the room. Two hours or more till

*'No doubt

out leaving

dark, and then an almost hopeless shot at finding DeSantos.

Somewhere Grace was ticking

down

to the

knowing

got here yester-

first

said.

"Yes. He was a pretty shattered guy, and state of mind by telling him I thought the after

was

that the clock

line.

saw Fraser when you

"Peter, you

day," Maxvil

waiting,

end of the

Casey and not Rod.

When

night, that he'd killed himself

I

didn't help his

had been

killers

the receptionist told I

found

it

me,

to-

perfectly believ-

able."

"Did he

reject the idea that

Peter hesitated.

Casey was the target?"

"In words, yes. But

something strange about him, as

if

my

—

well,

there

was

suggestion had got

him thinking. I got nowhere with that, however." "Did you make any arrangement to see him again?" "I gave him my message service telephone number in case anything occurred to him." Maxvil ground out

his cigarette.

"He

called

you," he

said.

"This afternoon about three o'clock. Just a short time before he died."

"How in

do you know?"

"Among my head

the useless bits of information that rattle around

are telephone

numbers

—

the telephone

numbers

of friends. In a routine check of the clinic switchboard

132

—out

Doctor had made

calls

the

What

did he want?"

—

I

came

across your number.

haven't checked the message service," Peter said.

*'I

''So check."

"This phone

"He Maxvil

isn't

safe."

won't have given anything unsafe

to

your service,"

said.

number

Peter picked up the phone and called the service

New

York.

He wondered

if

in

Mr. Andrew Salinger had picked

up the phone somewhere.

The

the service had several messages for him.

girl at

of them were stricdy business.

One

Four

of them was from his

Chance Tempest in whose office Casey had worked as The last one was from Dr. Eraser. "Tell you it's urgent that you get in touch," the girl at the service

friend

a receptionist. that

reported.

Peter looked at Maxvil as he hung up the phone. "If I'd called earlier

might have

I

"Don't believe

it,"

—

Maxvil

said.

"When you

talked to Dr.

know about DeSantos?" "At that time I didn't know about him," Peter said. "Except that his name had come up when Devery mentioned Rod's notes. You said he owned half the oil in Venezuela, or Fraser you didn't

something

name. At Maxvil

like

that lit

that.

But

had no reason

I

moment, God help me,

"Some making me try

a fresh cigarette.

damned hunch keeps

it

was

to

mention his

just a

name."

miserable kind of godto link the

wipeout of

DeSantos problem and Grace. I've done some checking. Casey spent Saturday and Saturday night up here with her father. She went back to New York on Sunday and then to your apartment with Rod. If she'd seen anything or heard anything while she was here in Lakeview, the Fraser family with the

wouldn't she have told Rod? Wouldn't they have passed to

you and Grace?" 133

it

on

— "Maybe Rod was saving it for what was to have been a conference with me the next morning," Devery said. "Maybe," Maxvil said. "And maybe she didn't realize what she'd seen." "I don't follow," Devery said. "I told you I've been checking," Maxvil said. "Saturday afternoon Casey drove out to the Chandler place to

visit

with

She was very fond of Rod's mother. Let's supsuppose she saw a strange man out there perhaps his face in an upper window, or somewhere else. Perhaps he was trying to attract her attention. She saw him, didn't understand what he was trying to do, forgot about it. But tomorrow or the next day DeSantos's picture may appear in the newspapers. When she sees the picture which might accompany the story of a disappearance or even a death Casey will realize she'd seen the man at the Chandlers'. They couldn't let that happen. The Chandlers know where to hire Millicent.

pose.

Let's

—

Goodbye Casey, without Rod having any idea why." that's made sense in a long time,"

professional killers for a quick job.

her having any idea "It's the

Devery

first

thing

or

said.

"And how his eyes is

why

does that

tie in

with the doctor?" said Maxvil,

narrowed against the cigarette smoke. "The doctor

something else again. The most important thing

in his life,

The The Clinic isn't a rich Clinic is supported by Eric Chandler. man's rest home. Dr. Fraser took care of people from miles around, regardless of the size of their pocketbooks. The place had to run in the red, and Eric Chandler was its fairy godfather. The doctor would do almost anything Eric asked him for example, to attend to a patient who was staying at the Chandler estate a patient who may have been wounded or hurt or had some chronic illness the Chandlers hadn't known about when they grabbed him. They'd have had a plausible aside from his parental love for Casey,

—

134

is

the Clinic.

They are important men in our world. him something like the truth, throwing a few

explanation for Fraser.

Maybe

they told

standard

excuses

like

'patriotism'

or

'national

security.'

would help them, would keep his mouth shut, because the life of the Clinic might depend on it." "But they finally didn't trust him?" Devery suggested. "Finally but would you buy this? Casey comes home from visiting Millicent Chandler on Saturday afternoon. She mentions to her father that she'd seen a stranger waving at her from one of the upper windows. She clearly had no suspicion of anything sinister. But Sunday she is murdered, and on Monday you suggest to him that it wasn't an accident. That's when he went vague on you. He was remembering that Casey had seen his patient at the Chandler house. It suddenly came to him that the Chandlers, his benefactors, may have murdered his daughter. He calls you, Peter, because he 'urgently' wants to tell you what he thinks. But then some member of the Chandler clan stops by the Clinic, perhaps to offer sympathy. Formal sympathy, because they don't feel sympathy, you understand. The doctor, his emotions stretched to the limit, accuses. There's no time to hire professional killers to take care of this crisis. The doctor's shotgun is kept somewhere in the office. Whichever one of the clan was there does a little cool thinking. He blasts away at the doctor with his own gun and slips off before the staff come running. Under the circumstances the world will surely assume suicide." Maxvil took a deep drag on his cigarette. "How do you like it?" "I like it fine," Devery said. "Maybe I should take to writing fiction," Maxvil said, "because there's hardly anything factual to back it up. Casey did visit Millicent on Saturday afternoon. But I invented the face at the window. I invented her telling her father about it. Fraser

—

I

invented the Chandlers hiring Casey's killer.

135

I

invented the

.

doctor putting two and two together. At

some

facts.

Carl and

last I

Happy Lindstrom

afternoon while you were being shot

But

if

death,

invented that too.

I

up. Except

it

to

did visit the Clinic

this

the doctor accused

come back

at up at the estate. them of being involved in Casey's So there's nothing to back any of it

smells right."

Peter had listened with an increasing bitterness. If

Max-

vil's invention was close to truth. Dr. Fraser could have told him where DeSantos was being held. Too late for that. What-

ever had been "urgent" to the doctor had died with him. But

Maxvil offered some hope.

"You,

as a police officer, can get into the Chandler estate,

can't you,

Greg?" he

said.

Maxvil 's eyes narrowed. "I have no official standing here, and the State Police aren't too eager to let me get into their act.

But

I

am

investigating

she said and did here matters for inquiry.

Chandler. But

judge

—

I

last

Casey Eraser's murder, and what Saturday afternoon are legitimate

It's logical I

doubt

I

should want to talk to Mrs.

can get a search warrant from a local

certainly not without the Chandlers being warned.

don't think anyone working in the open

man, Peter." There was

a brisk

knock on

"Who is it?" Peter called "A message for you, Mr. Peter voice.

moved

is

the door of

I

going to find your

Room

3

1

out.

Styles."

quickly to the door because he recognized the

Trudy Chandler stood outside,

Peter's felt hat

worn

at

a rakish angle.

"I came back. That's the kind of sucker

came back." Trudy reached

I

am,

Peter.

I

out to him, her smile unsteady,

and he took her hand and brought her into the room, closing

and locking the door behind

her.

136

'

2.

Her blue cotton dress was been crawling around

stained.

"Bribery and romance got breathless. I

"A

She looked as

local girl

I

went

me

here," she said, a

little

maid

here.

to school with

is

a

played the poor-little-rich-girl routine with her.

handsome lover

"My

she'd

if

in dirt.

registered

in

the

I

had a

inn." Trudy grinned

me

knew

at

was trying to see him. Andrew Salinger would report me to them if he saw me. I even managed a tear or two and a twentydollar bill." She tapped the leather bag slung over her shoulder. "My girl friend found out the number of your room and let me know when you came up here. I had to risk your two Peter.

family would punish

if

they

I

—

friends

.

'

made introductions. "What happened after I left you to register?" Peter asked. "You seemed to be gone quite a while. I suppose it really

Peter

wasn't long.

damn

straight

crawl

I

decided to take a peek out

swallowed toward the Jag.

near

under an

searched the Jag.

my I

managed

adjoining

When

car,

at the

to slip out the far door,

and wait there while he

he went into the inn 137

world and

Happy-boy was coming

cud.

I

made

for the

A

nearest hiding place.

figure out

what

to do,

with a laundry basket

my

full

Turned out

cellar door.

laundry and storage place. While

I

was hiding

romantic

be a

to

there, trying to

showed up

girl friend

of soiled linen."

"What did you mean, 'that's the kind of sucker I am,' Miss Chandler?" Maxvil asked. She gave him an appraising look. His slim, dark, intense good looks evidently pleased her. 'T could have got clean away," she

said.

"I decided against

it

—

for reasons."

"What reasons?" The dark, ghasdy

"My

violet eyes turned to Peter.

royal sonsofbitches,"

she said.

"I

sat

cellar waiting for the coast to clear.

Rod and poor right for

little

family are such

down

Casey. They were so

each other. Casey was helping to

I

there in that

thought about

much in love, make a man out

so

of

Rod, one of the few relatives I have I don't hate. Just knowing the Chandlers had wrecked their lives was enough to hold me back." "What makes you think the Chandlers had anything to do with Casey's death?" Maxvil asked. "Because I've grown up with the Chandlers and Lindstroms," Trudy said, her eyes darkening with anger. "When something unspeakable happens in the world I automatically think they must be behind it." "Did you know that while you and Peter were getting away from the Chandler place somebody murdered Dr. Fraser?" Maxvil asked.

"Oh God!" "They you

tried to

make

it

look like suicide, but

was murder." "He was a kind, good man," Trudy

I

can assure

it

into the

world.

— which

He

took care of

all

said.

"He

brought

the sicknesses

I

me

ever

were damn few. Why? Why? Dr. Alex was never anything but kind to people." had

138

"I hoped you might have a notion," Maxvil said. "Peter

Have you been aware that man prisoner somewhere on the es-

has told you what his problem

your family

is

holding a

is.

tate?"

"Not

Peter told me. That's another reason

till

sucker and didn't

make my getaway while

I

I

turned

could. Peter."

moved in a wry little smile. "The only man I couldn't turn on when I tried hard enough. He told you I heard them in what Rod used to call 'those adjoining rooms.' They knew why Peter was there. They knew what had happened to his wife. You only had to talk to Peter to know how desperate he was. You're going to She looked

try to

at

him, and her bright red

lips

go back in tonight, aren't you, Peter?" only chance," Peter said.

"My

She nodded. "That's why help you get

in.

I

I

didn't run," she said. "I can

might be able

to help

—

you

find

your man.

And there's another reason someone else I care for. Rod." "What about him?" "He wouldn't have waited all this time to get back to Lakeview pened

to

if

he thought they were responsible for what hap-

Casey. He'd have

come

straight here, yesterday."

"But he didn't," Devery said. "They say," Trudy said. "God knows, everybody warned them the New York police, Peter. They knew he was

—

this way, dreaming of revenge. I'd like to bet he came, and they trapped him. I'd like to bet he's back there at

headed

man you're looking — —and her eyes clouded "if they haven't

the place, a prisoner like the

If"

"You

for, Peter.

killed

think Eric Chandler would

kill his

him."

own son?" De-

very asked.

"If he got in the way," Trudy said.

"Oh, Uncle

Eric

wouldn't do the job himself, but he'd turn his back while

it

was done. You don't have a drink hidden somewhere here, do you, Peter?" 139

''Sorry."

we figure this out," Maxvil said. do you propose to get Peter back into the grounds?" "You're never going to be allowed to search the place," "Let's stay sober while

"How

said. "You can't get in through men everywhere, and they have little

Trudy

woods. There are

the

up

trip-traps set

that

warn them. If we're going to find your man, Peter, and Rod, we're going to have to take them." "Take them?" you'll fall over and

"If you're going after killers you've got to be ready to kill,"

Trudy said

in a cool voice.

Well, I'm a Chandler,

I

guess.

"Does

You

that

shock you?

attack. That's the only

chance you've got."

"You have

a plan?"

"A woman's

Maxvil asked.

plan," she said.

"God knows, we men haven't come up with anything," Devery said. Trudy grinned at Devery. "You haven't got the body for it, Mr. D." She was then, instantly, like a frowning child, homework problem. "The

puzzling over a are spread out

egy

is

to

make

sure

of the houses

—

on your own.

I

you can't get

in.

But once you're

ours, Uncle Eric's, the Lindstroms'

mean, there are no guards

need for them because you're not going only one

way

security people

over the grounds," she said. "Their

all

in the

strat-

one

in

—you're

houses.

No

There

to get in.

is

in."

"How?" Peter asked. "Up the main driveway

—up from

the stone gates.

But you

from Uncle Eric, or Uncle Carl. Graninger, the man on the gate, gets the okay and he drives you to where you want to go in can't travel that road without clearance

my

father, or

—

his Jeep

walk

it,

to

where you've been cleared

without Graninger as an escort

thing but that jeep

—and

—

to go.

You

or drive

it

the security boys start using

140

try to

in

any-

you

for

"

target practice."

"And Graninger

armed with a machine pistol," Peter

is

said.

"He

can be had," Trudy said, a tiny smile

at the

comer of

her mouth.

we

"Let's say

We

his.

him," Peter

take

from the house on

get clearance

we

don't get clearance,

"We

have

to

that walkie-talkie thing

of

said.

still

get stopped by the

army."

"If I'm not overestimating myself, we'll get clearance,"

Trudy

"That

said.

is,

be shocked, friends.

good enough

if

Peter

I

propose to use

is

a

my

actor.

Don't sun-

beautiful,

tanned body to get us control of young Mr. Graninger and his

machine six

pistol.

weeks

—he —

for picking

"Wait

Since he's been on the job

—which

drools every time he sees me.

a cliche

someone

is

about

think he's ripe

I

else invented."

"You

a minute," Peter said.

can't

—

"Let's have no lectures on sexual morality, friend," Trudy said.

She laughed. "I count on being saved from what my to call 'a fate worse than death' by you."

grandmother used

She leaned forward, her eyes bright with excitement. "A favor for a favor. That's how it works with Graninger. I want back

to get

in

without

my

moment of incomparable makes love

father knowing.

sex

for his

him a Now, no man trade

I'll

help.

me, Peter, with a machine pistol tucked under his arm. He's got to put that gun down if the wants what he wants. When he puts it down you take it, Peter and we're to

—

come

into

Miss Chandler," Maxvil

said.

halfway home. That's when your acting

skills

play."

"You

are a very bright girl,

"Peter has to convince. Right?"

"Right." Trudy smiled, almost affectionately don't

know

if

you can do

threatened to shoot

you ordered,

I

it.

me down

If

at Peter.

you pointed a gun

in cold

blood

if I

at

didn't

"I

me and do what

wouldn't believe you for a minute. You're too 141

man

decent a

be capable of that kind of

to

convince Graninger? Because out, Peter, or tie

him

to

go on

isn't

it

We

him up and gag him. kill

him

to

have

persuade

to

and ask for a clearance.

that walkie-talkie

has to believe you'll

Can you knock him

killing.

enough

if

he refuses.

I

He

count on one

thing."

''What's that?" Maxvil asked. ''Graninger

a well-paid mercenary soldier,"

is

Trudy

"He'll fight for his employers well and hard. But lieves you'll kill him, Peter,

I

said.

he be-

if

don't think he'll fight that well

or that hard."

could

Peter

the

feel

"You're assuming

that

I

blood

throbbing

wouldn't

have

phone booth

in

the

wouldn't

Graninger or anybody else

kill

to find

his

him," he

kill

I

fore midnight

at

temples.

said.

DeSantos and get back

lobby or Grace

is

lost.

You

if that's

"Be-

to that

think

I

the only

way?"

"You was too killer

might not be convinced

Trudy

late,"

said.

my

the only

way

until

it

patriot.

I

quote from David

kind-hearted father!"

"I don't like it," Devery said. out.

was

"That's the difference between a

and an angry man or a

Chandler,

it

There has

to

"The odds

are

still

be some legal way to go about

it."

too far

"Maybe by tomorrow sometime we

get a judge to give us "Right now we Maxvil said. the authority for a search," haven't got a shred of evidence that even hints the Chandlers and Company have committed any kind of crime. They have a right to put up a no trespassing sign, and protect their property. Peter

has until midnight. The law will

move

too slowly

for that."

"So what do you suggest?" Devery "I suggest that don't think

I'll

I

asked.

take Peter's place,"

Maxvil

said.

have any trouble convincing Graninger

mean business." 142

"I

that

I

"And

Trudy asked, her

after that?"

violet eyes fixed

on

the detective.

"Meaning?" "We're dealing with two

"You may be would

be.

better

But when

think Peter will be

at

it

comes

more

again.

But

it.

my

to

my

father and

There

effective.

everything involved to Graninger. or not believe in

of people," Trudy said.

sets

convincing Graninger than Peter

He

isn't

my

uncles

I

time to explain

has to believe in a gun,

revered family

is

something else

They don't have to be told what's involved. They're all or most of it. I've heard my father say that

responsible for the

most dangerous man

the world,

in

romantic with a cause. Peter

fits

face to face,

that description.

I

is

a

think the

Chandlers will believe, without an explanatory lecture, that Peter

would

kill to

"And how

save his wife."

at bay and at the DeSantos?" Maxvil asked. "And get back here to the phone if he finds DeSantos?" Devery added. "I told you this was a woman's plan," Trudy said, "and it involves women my mother, my Aunt Millicent, and yours truiy. We'll search for DeSantos and Rod while Peter holds the fort. I think if we find either or both of them the once glamorous Lawrence sisters from Boston may turn out to be extraordinary allies. Harm to Rod will turn Aunt Millicent into a tiger. Harm to Grace Styles will be a kind of last

does he hold the Chandlers

same time search

for

—

straw to life.

for

my

mother,

She has taken

him

to dish

it

—

—

it

who all

has been a sadist's victim

her married

out to another

life

woman

from will

my

all

of her

father, but

be almost like

sexual infidelity to her."

"But

the Chandlers haven't

harmed Grace," Devery

said.

"They're responsible for anything that happens to her," Trudy said. "Their maneuvering with DeSantos is responsible. I tell you, once we get by Graninger we have allies in143

side the gates."

Maxvil ground out his cigarette in a bedside ashtray. "I buy it," he said. "While you and Trudy play the game on the inside, Peter, I'll do my best to bring you some kind of legal help. I'm not hopeful I can manage it in time, but I can try.

There's not

much chance

of getting official help from

Washington before midnight, but

worth an

it's

effort,

De-

very. That's your department."

"And

we

low voice. "If we fail I promise you Til turn in my badge and help you get the sonsofbitches, one by one," Maxvil said. if

fail?" Peter asked, in a very

The early stages of the plan were worked out, there and The three men and the girl sat in Room 31, watching

then.

the twilight settle over the Hearthstone's grounds. In another it would be time to move. Maxvil and Trudy provided most of the scheme. Peter

half hour

watched them, feeling a slow build-up of tension

in himself.

Once

no second

was time

it

to

move,

there

could

be

thoughts, no improvising.

"You

can't use that white Jaguar, even after dark,"

"Someone coming from

vil said.

spot

it

—

car headlights. Friends of your family's in

have been

alerted.

thinking Peter

Max-

or going to the estate might

town who

People looking for you, Trudy, and

may be

still

helping you to get away."

They were two people planning an

exciting game.

Peter the next three hours were a matter of

Without Grace there was no

life.

life

Without success

in

For

or death.

time just

ahead there might be no Grace. "I have a black, unmarked coupe vil said.

"A

Dodge.

We

step further. Graninger, the fool.

We

down

trade cars, Peter.

man

My

suggestion

144

Now

at the gate, is

drive up without headlights, he

something's screwy.

in the lot,"

is this.

let's

Max-

go one

obviously no

knows

right

away

Devery drives the

car.

You

ride

up front with him, Trudy. Peter stays hidden

in

Devery stops outside the gates, quite openly. Trudy and thanks him. She's hitched a ride with a stranger. While the goodbyes are taking place Peter slips out the other side and hides alongside the road. Then Devery drives off and keeps driving. It's got to sound real to Granthe back.

gets

out

inger."

"The minute have

me

"So

I

try to step

in a torch light,"

over the chain Graninger will

Trudy

said.

Peter stays hidden," Maxvil said.

— —

"How

long will

it

?" to take you to Trudy laughed. "Convince Graninger that he's in for the experience of his life? I never timed myself under these conditions. He knows I'm missing, that's for sure. I explain I want to get back to my house without my father knowing. I offer him the keys to the kingdom." "Suppose he has to wait till he's off duty? Suppose he

—

feels he's got to stay at his post until he's relieved?"

Trudy looked

at Peter.

"Don't

down twice in one day!" And so they went on with put down his machine pistol

tell

me

the planning.

I

could be turned

When

Graninger

would have maneuvered close enough to grab it and take command. Graninger would then be ordered to contact the main house on his walkietalkie. He would inform them that Trudy had come home and needed to be driven up to the house to avoid being shot at by the security people. She and Peter would ride with him in the jeep. When they reached the house the play would have to be Peter

entirely Peter's.

"Suppose they send someone down from the house instead of authorizing the use of the Jeep?" Devery asked. "Same game," Maxvil said. "Peter takes charge." He stood up. "It will be dark enough to move in another fifteen minutes. Can you go back out through that cellar of yours, 145

Trudy?" ''Why not?"

"We will

can't risk your being seen with any of us.

be standing by the Dodge

in the

As soon

surely have the right car.

parking

lot

Devery

so that you

as you're both aboard

Devery takes off." "In the glove compartment of the Jaguar I have a hand gun," Peter said. "I need it for insurance." "Give me the keys," Maxvil said. "Your gun will be on the back seat of the Dodge. You and I go now, Devery. Give us ten minutes, and then you head for your cellar route, Trudy. Five minutes later you come down by the lobby, quite openly, Peter. You'll see Devery by the Dodge and you'll climb in the back. At that moment I'll drive off in the Jaguar. Unless someone's right on your heels they'll think you've driven

away

in

"If someone

your

own

on

my

is

car."

heels?"

"I'll take care of him," Maxvil "Don't get to like it." "Like what?" she said.

"Your encounter

said.

He looked

at

with Graninger. I'd be unhappy

Trudy.

if

you

liked it."

The

girl's

eyes were dancing.

"We

could forget the whole

thing and go off together." Then she reached out and touched Peter's hand. "I'm not forgetting what's at stake. It's

better

laugh and

to

flirt

than to think about conse-

quences." Maxvil looked away from her reluctantly. "Don't forget,

And

they have an

killers in fact within whistling distance.

Dead heroes

friend, they're killers at heart, all of them.

army of

aren't worth a

damn

to

anyone." He looked

at

his

watch

again.

"You

Peter.

In twenty-five minutes you'll be face to face with

Graninger

leave in ten minutes, Trudy; you in fifteen,

at the

gates."

He

turned to Devery. "Let's go."

146

Trudy swung her legs up on the bed and sat with her back "You keep time, Peter," she said.

against the headboard.

She watched him glance at his watch. "Are you scared? Because I'm scared out of my wits." "The only thing I'm scared of," Peter said, "is failure.

Have you ever been

Trudy?"

in love,

"I don't think so. I've been in love with the sensations of

what you mean

love, but not

"You go

along your

—

in

own way

love."

in life, satisfying

your needs

without any sense of responsibility for other people

—

or your-

And

then the right person

comes along,

and nothing else matters.

You back away from

the pleasures

self, for that

matter.

you've always enjoyed, not because those are the rules of the

game, but because there are no other pleasures. Grace and I are one person. Without each other we would be crippled. So I'm not afraid to

may muff

it.

try to

If

I

save her. I'm cold with the fear that

was a praying man

I'd pray

I

for better

odds."

Trudy nodded slowly. "I've never been given the chance to feel that life

—with

way.

My

father has never interfered with

the stable boy,

house, with Happy-boy.

He

calls

me

a

doesn't interfere. But he's never given

anyone

I

my

sex

the gardener, the guests in his

wanted for keeps." She was

whore

me

for

it,

but he

a chance to find

silent for a

moment.

Three minutes had gone by. "Is your friend Maxvil married?" she asked.

"No."

"He would hate me for what I've been." "No one could hate you after tonight," Peter said. "You didn't have to come back to help. You don't have to run the risks you're willing to run.

You're a crazy, wonderful

you know that?"

"But

I

feel

cheap."

"Why?" 147

girl,

*'What

I

"You have to had strolled down

plan to do to Graninger," she said.

know something,

Peter. If Fred Graninger

some warm summer afternoon I'd have taken him on with pleasure. He's the kind of young animal who knows that; he's sensed it from me. He would have come to the studio

sooner or

later.

Now

he could get himself killed for respond-

ing to something he has every right to believe

never

no

—

anyone

tricked

but

"So

I

before.

I've

said

yes

is

honest.

I

—sometimes

never tricked anyone before."

forget it," Peter said, and felt chilled as he said

There was no time for a new plan

that

it.

had any chance of

working.

She smiled said.

him

at

him.

"He would at the gate.

kill

"You have you

if

He's a paid

you

to juggle

tried to force

killer

else. If all

of

this

comes

to a

side.

You

Something very much

bloody end

have been on the right

your way past

without a conscience.

are something else again, dear Peter.

like to

your values," she

at the finish, I

None of

the

would

men

—

I've

grown up with would ever die for anyone else except, maybe. Rod. I don't want to be on their side when it's tomorrow. I'm right, aren't I, Peter? Tomorrow is nothing more than the product of your yesterdays. I think making the right choice today will make tomorrow livable. What time is it?"

"One minute

"Do you

to

go."

think Grace would

mind

if I

kissed you before

I

take off?" Without waiting for an answer she stood up and

put her arms around him. She kissed him, very gently and

without passion. "Thanks," she said. "See you in the backseat of an

automobile."

room, Peter had a few moments to get himself pulled together for what lay ahead. He found himself remem-

Alone

in the

bering a strange thing, a time in his childhood

mother used

to read

when

his

aloud to him. There was a story of

148

Kipling's about the animals in an

army camp. The elephant

was being chided because he didn't have the courage to pull the big guns up into the firing line. The elephant had too much imagination. He could imagine the danger, enemy

The ox had to pull the guns that last critical distance, and was quite willing to because he had no imagination. Peter was thinking of fear and courage. They went hand in hand. He had seen it in men when he'd been a commando in the jungles of the Far East. Courage was a label you attached to men who knew fear and did their job shells tearing into his flesh.

anyway. jungle

A

A

It

full

took no courage for the

men

without fear to face a

of snipers.

mile or two

down

the road there

was

just such a place.

thousand acres surrounding three stone fortresses,

trated

by an army of trained

didn't care for individual

killers.

human

monolithic struggle for world power. lives of their

own

children,

Millicent, and Trudy. vival of Peter

if

The Chandler

lives as

opposed

They

infil-

forces

to a kind of

didn't care for the

you could believe Rod, and

They would care even

less for the sur-

and Grace. DeSantos they would keep alive as

long as he was valuable, then he too would be a candidate for the shredding machine.

You had

to feel fear at the prospect

of facing them, the odds being what they were. Peter

knew

depended on how he handled the next two hours. Would he kill a man, like Graninger, in cold blood if he had to? He'd done it before, hadn't he, in the army? The enemy hadn't been human beings. They'd been

that his entire future

machines, and he had been a killing machine. There had always been one's own survival at stake, but even more

killing

important was victory or defeat.

—

You

fought for things you

vague words and "justice" and "democracy."

didn't really feel emotionally

like

"freedom"

There was nothing vague about what he was fighting for this

night.

He was

fighting for Grace.

149

Could he be cold

enough and

He

enough

ruthless

to pull

it

off?

He

almost laughed.

wouldn't have to be an actor, as Maxvil had suggested, to

—

convince Graninger

or the Chandlers

if

he got to them. To-

would kill with just as little conscience as the enemy had. Long ago he had been moved by "patriotism" and the sight of the American flag flapping on a distant hillside. Tonight those things seemed like childish motivations compared night he

to saving Grace.

He looked

at his

watch.

anything that lay ahead

He went down

the bar and grill

He was

to

woman who

were

long-haired young

at the bar.

what was about for a

A

gay people.

provided music

ready.

ready for

the road, inside the gates.

the stairway to the Hearthstone's lobby.

The dining room and ing,

He was

—up

None of

filled

man

with laugh-

with a guitar

those people could guess

happen a few miles away

—

loved laughter and gaiety as

life

or death

much

as they

did.

The inger

on the face of the bald Mr. Andrew Salat Peter from behind the reception desk he felt tensions. He was obviously supposed to

fixed smile

who waved

suggested that

report on Peter's activities.

Peter

moved

quickly out into the dark.

to see if Salinger

He

didn't look back

had him followed. There was very

little

lighting outside the Hearthstone, a "patriotic" concession to

the energy crisis.

The parking

Peter hesitated a

moment and

lighter.

Devery was trying

lot

was almost

entirely dark.

then he saw the flame of a

to light his

always clogged pipe.

Peter hurried in and out of cars to where Maxvil 's

Dodge

was parked. He opened the rear door and climbed in. Devery was already behind the wheel and Trudy was slumped down in the seat beside

"Somebody

at

him. the front entrance trying to see

went," Devery said. At that moment, Peter heard the 150

where you

distinctive roar of the

The white car, with Maxvil driving, was lot. The man at the door would assume it and if there was a tail waiting in the lot some-

Jaguar's engine.

pulling out of the

was Peter, where he would, hopefully, follow Maxvil. Devery backed out of position.

"You'll find your police special there on the back seat," he said. Peter

for

felt

it,

found

and slipped

it

it

into his jacket

pocket. Security of a sort. Trudy's cool hand reached out and

touched him.

"Here goes

the roller coaster," she said.

Peter stayed low in the back of the car until they reached

main road. He could look into the rearview mirror and he saw no sign that anyone had picked them up. "What happens if your charms don't work on Graninger?"

the

Peter asked.

That husky laugh came from the shadow

"Not you

a flattering suggestion, Peter.

he'll talk

about

it.

If

he doesn't put

pistol as a preliminary to action, less than alert.

You'll have to get

of yours. If he

tries to

swing

I

in the front seat.

At the worst

down

promise

that

machine

can promise you

tohim with

that

I

machine

that

pistol

he'll

be

hand gun

your way,

aim won't be good. I'll be that close." "Shooting will bring the whole army down on you," De-

his

very said. "It's only about a quarter of a mile

ahead," Trudy said

coolly.

No more

time for

talk,

no more time for speculation. The

a comer and the big stone gates hunched down on the floor on the far side of the car. Devery pulled up at the gates. The chain was drawn across them and Graninger' s jeep blocked the drive-

headlights

came

way

swung around

into view. Peter

itself,

inside the chain.

The

instant the

Dodge

stopped,

Graninger appeared from behind one of the gate towers, his 151

machine pistol at the ready. "Hi, Fred!" Trudy called out in a loud, clear voice. She got out of the car. 'Thanks for the lift," she said to Devery. "My pleasure," Devery said. Peter had opened the rear side door and slipped out. He literally crawled across the road into the safety of the shrub-

bery.

peared

Devery accelerated

down

his

motor and the Dodge disap-

the road.

was focused on Trudy. "They've been looking all over hell for you, Trudy," he said. "Did you ride out with that guy Styles? I said you Graninger had a heavy electric torch and

it

couldn't have."

"I have to talk to you about getting in," Trudy a love and take that torch out of off.

"There's going to be

my

hell to

said.

"Be

eyes." The torch clicked

pay unless

I

get

some help

from you, Fred. Can we talk?" "No reason you shouldn't come in. That's where they want you." Peter, across the way, heard the faint rattle of the chain.

Trudy and Graninger moved inside. He could hear voices but not what they were saying. His eyes were becoming accustomed to the darkness. There was no moon, but the sky was bright with stars. The big stone gates took shape, and the Jeep was a formless shadow. It had to be now or never. Peter took the police special out of his pocket and stood up. He couldn't see the other two, but he could hear the soft

murmur

of Trudy's voice, with an

occasional deeper note from Graninger. Peter reached the chain and stepped over

it.

The voices

were closer, but he couldn't see a damn thing. He hadn't counted on total invisibility. How would he know if Gran-

down his weapon? Then Trudy's voice came louder, only a few yards away. "Oh, Fred!" she crooned. "Oh, Fred, Fred!"

inger put

152

He had

to risk

He plunged forward and crowded

it.

them. They were standing, locked together

in a

into

passionate

embrace. His foot touched something hard on the ground and he realized Graninger had put pressed his

"Keep

own gun

perfectly

down

the

machine

pistol.

He

against Graninger' s throat.

and quiet

still

if

you want

to

make

it,"

he

said.

Graninger was breathing hard. "I've got it!" Trudy said. She was standing beside Peter, pressed against

him so

that he could feel her trembling.

She'd

picked up the machine pistol.

"You

double-crossing bitch!" Graninger said, surprised,

He made

not angry.

a

move

barrel hard into his throat. fectly

to turn

and Peter jabbed the gun

Graninger choked but stood per-

still.

"You

pull that trigger, buster,

guys crawling up your back," he

and you'll have two dozen said.

"Fred, I'm sorry," Trudy said. "It was a lousy thing to do to you.

I

"You

want you

Graninger into

my

"My

to

know why." whatever the reason,"

got yourself a stalemate,

"You have

said.

to

poke

that

gun quite so hard

neck. Styles?"

wife

is

going to be dead

in

two hours' time unless

I

can force the Chandlers to turn over a prisoner they're holding," Peter said.

"Your

"You

folks always play nice

and clean," Graninger

said.

take after them, Trudy."

"I'm desperate enough, Graninger, to do anything I have to do to get up to the house," Peter said. "There's only one way you can get up there," Graninger said. "I call them on the walkie-talkie and get you cleared. That doesn't seem likely, does it? You try to walk up there without clearance and the boys in the woods will turn you into a

Swiss cheese." 153

'

"You could get clearance for me," Trudy said. "They me back." "And not mention Styles?" Graninger laughed. "That

want

wouldn't be appreciated. What prisoner?"

"A man named DeSantos. Juan Luis DeSantos." "Never heard of him," Graninger said. "But I just work '

on the ground floor. "You're going to get clearance

to bring

Trudy up

to Eric

Chandler's house," Peter said. "Then you're going to drive

You've got about one minute to you refuse, or if you double-cross us on that

us both up in the jeep. decide.

If

walkie-talkie,

how

matter

pull this trigger

I

the chips

fall.

and we play

it

from

there,

no

Are the Chandlers worth dying

for?"

"The pay

good," Graninger

is

said.

"But

I

like

my

little better than this. You sound screwy do what you say you will. I'd also like the chance to pay off the lady for what she promised me and didn't deliver. What do you want me to do?" "Contact the house, say you're bringing Trudy up." "I've got a condition," Graninger said. He seemed, somehow, amused by the whole situation. "When we get up there you keep me in your gunsight, right? It can't look as though I made a deal with you." "You can tell it to them just the way it happened," Trudy said. "They'll believe anything you tell them about me."

chances to be a

enough

to

"I can understand why," Graninger said. "The walkie-

on a bench over there by the gate." He took a step. "Hold it right there," Peter said. "You find the machine,

talkie

is

Trudy." The girl moved away

"You know Graninger

said.

in the darkness.

this is right

"You

own, no matter what

out of a Grade

B movie.

Styles,"

haven't got a chance up there on your

it is

you want them 154

to do. Eric

Chandler

just a touch of humanity in him, but do you know David and the Lindstrom characters?" brother 'Tve met them." "They'd cut out your heart and eat it for breakfast while it was still warm," Graninger said. "Remind me of some commanding officers I had in Vietnam. Wipe out a whole village of women and kids just to create an illusion of power." "My wife is going to die to help along a power play if I

may have

don't find this prisoner before midnight," Peter said.

"You

wouldn't bullshit me, would you, pal?"

"I wouldn't bullshit you, and try to cross

I

will pull this trigger if

you

me."

Again Graninger laughed. "I can't wait to see the look on when I bring you in," he said. "Because I'm

their faces

going to take you up to the house. "I don't care

why,"

he called to Trudy.

You know why?"

Peter said. Without turning his head

"You

having trouble, Trudy?"

"Just found it," she called to him.

you why whether it interests you or "Your gun doesn't mean anything to me, Styles. I get paid to face that kind of trouble. There are a couple of dozen or more guys who could hear that gun go off, are paid just like me to face that kind of thing, and would come running when you fired just the one shot that would knock me off." He laughed again, this curious merce-

"I'm going

to tell

not," Graninger said.

nary.

ing

it.

"The way I

give up.

I

ought to play I'll

it is

just the

take you to the house.

make some bad move

way

I

am

Along

the

play-

way

me make

a good move, and you've had it." "With this gun against your head," Peter said quietly, "the only bad move I can make is to kill you too soon." Trudy joined them, carrying the walkie-talkie. you'll

"Come

to think of

it,

that'll

let

there are several reasons

why I'm

going to get you cleared and take you up to the house,"

155

Graninger

"I've had

said.

got this job.

I

had

it

it

figured

bad for you, Trudy, ever since I it would be possible some time,

is why I was so easily taken tonight." "I'm sorry, Fred," Trudy said. "Don't be sorry unless I'm wrong about you," Graninger said. "I figure you wouldn't play a lousy, teasing game on any guy unless you were in big trouble. So I figure that whenever what is going on is over it will still be possible. You'll have to say 'thank you' somehow, won't you, baby?" A shrewd guy, Peter thought. That's just the way she would be. "Get on to the house, Graninger," he said. He

which

—

handed the walkie-talkie

"But life

that's only

to the

man.

one reason," Graninger

when

I

bomb

expert there.

was eighteen. Four years

Two

I

decided

I

in

to pieces.

take either place was watching

"My

army

One

thing

in Ireland, I

bad." He laughed, but

women and kids being manwho made war on women

their motives. Besides, the this

time

it

sounded

bitter.

glad to get this job with the Chandlers. The pay

just as

I

saw

"I was is

extra

it

they're using your wife to keep

because

I

you off them.

she did on

you

me

if

her trouble wasn't big.

a clearance."

He

from the

believe

it

is

don't like

women

quiet while

I

pressed some kind of a button on

gate. Fred here, calling

pressed another button, and after a

came

I

—so keep

the walkie-talkie and pulled an aerial out

"This

I

don't believe Trudy would play the kind of trick

to be used for anything but pleasure

voice

pay was

we were fighting guys who were mean and lowdown as we were. Now you tell me

good, and the way

calling

couldn't

didn't like people

and kids, no matter what

get

whole

I

years in the British

watching people being blown gled.

said.

went in the army Vietnam. Got to be a

has been involved with violence.

from

156

What

is

top.

"Fred,

from the gate." He or two a familiar

moment

out of the box. Eric Chandler, Fred.

its

it?"

'*Got a customer for you, Mr. Chandler. Miss Trudy's

back and wants an escort up to the house." *'Well!" Eric Chandler said. *Tut her on the box, Fred."

Graninger handed the contraption to Trudy, pressed the send button for her. ''Uncle Eric?" she said, loud and clear.

my tail between my legs. Can Fred bring house?" "We've all been very worried about you, Trudy." "I needed a change," she said. am

''Here

I

me up

to the

"Your

with

father

is

pretty burned

up."

"I can imagine." "Tell Fred

it's

okay.

Don't

try

to

walk up the drive,

Trudy. The security people have orders to isn't

fire

on anyone who

accounted for."

Graninger took back the box. "See you

in a

couple of

minutes, Mr. Chandler."

They walked

Trudy carrying the machine pistol, Peter with his gun on Graninger. In the jeep Trudy sat beside Graninger, Peter knelt behind, gun at the back of Graninger' s head. With the headlights turned on there was some illumination from dash. Peter saw Graninger smiling

down

at

to the jeep,

Trudy.

"If you're going to be a gunslinger, doll, you better learn

how

to take the safety catch off

on

that

machine pistol."

Peter, watching the bluestone drive unroll in front of them,

saw

the big stone house

come

into view,

downstairs and up, brilliandy lighted.

dozens of windows, It

household might be preparing for a party. feeling that, so far, everything

looked as

He had

had worked too

157

if

the

the chill

easily.

3.

As

the Jeep

swung around

the circle in front of the house

they saw Eric Chandler standing under the porch light.

He

was wearing a blue blazer with gray flannel slacks and a white scarf tied Ascot fashion at his neck. His hands were in

He

his jacket pockets.

man

looked about as relaxed as a

could be. Peter reached forward and took the machine pistol from

Trudy. "I

know how

the safety catch works," he said to Gran-

inger. ''Stop short of

him and you and

I

will both get out this

side."

Graninger continued to be amused. just a spectator,"

how you handle

he

it,

said. "It's

'Trom

here on in I'm

going to be interesting to see

man."

Trudy got out and headed for Eric. ''If you were mine I'd turn you over and paddle your backside," Eric said, smiling at her.

He

turned to give an order to

Graninger and saw him coming around the front of the Jeep, his

hands raised.

"Sorry, Mr. Chandler," Graninger said. "I'm afraid caught napping."

159

I

was

saw Peter, who was directly behind Graninger with the machine pistol at the ready. '*Well, Mr. Styles," he said, '*You seem to be a man of Eric

He

endless surprises."

"I take hell at

you helped

set this

up? David's going

to

be sore as

you."

want you

''I

this

it

turned his bright blue eyes to Trudy.

gun

if I

know

to

have

that

I

have every intention of using

Chandler," Peter

to.

Eric smiled, almost as

if

said.

the situation delighted him. "Still

Rod?" he asked. "You know damned well what I'm looking

looking for

"Trudy heard you discussing

said.

for," Peter

with your brother and

it

Lindstrom." nodded.

Eric

"Well,

one

thing's

certain,"

he

said.

gun on me until you're quite sure you're not going to get what you want." He turned and, without apparent concern for himself, walked back into the

"You're not going

to use that

house.

Graninger laughed,

machine

feel the

how

it

is.

still

holding up his hands.

pistol in the small

Styles?

He

doesn't give a

of his back.

damn what happens

me, and he knows you haven't got what

down

—

at least until

hiding your

"March "It's

He could "You see

it

takes to

mow

to

him

you've asked him, politely, where he's

man."

into the

house," Peter

your party," Graninger

Trudy opened the

said.

said.

front screen

"Or

is

it?"

door and they walked into

saw that the study door was open and he could hear Eric's voice. "He's sending for the marines," Graninger said. "You don't have much time for being head man. Styles." Trudy touched Peter's arm. "I'll join you in a minute," she said. She turned and ran up the long, winding flight of

the entrance hall. At the far end Peter

stairs to the

second

floor.

160

Peter prodded Graninger with the machine pistol and they

headed for the study.

"David?" They heard

Eric

talking

on the telephone.

"Trudy's come back and brought Styles with her. I suspect he has some difficult questions to ask. You and Carl had better join us

Fred

— Yes,

at the

He was

he's armed.

He and Trudy managed

to take

gate."

sitting

on the edge of

his desk, his aristocratic face

amused mask. "Over there beside him," Peter

a cold but

said to Graninger.

Graninger stepped to the other side of the desk. lower

my hands?"

"Mind

he asked. "I'm dying for a butt."

if I

He

didn't wait for permission.

"It

would seem

"but we hold

"Where

is

all

you hold the gun, Styles," Eric

said.

much "Of

know him reasonably

point in saying that

course

I

have.

As

ings with him.

never heard of

well. Lindstrom Tool and

Die

I

is

very

We've had

deal-

But why should you think

is at this

"You know

I

a matter of fact

interested in the oil reserves of his country.

where he

said,

DeSantos?" Peter asked.

"There's not

him," Eric

that

the cards."

I

might know

moment?"

why. Trudy heard you. Yes, she was eavesdropping. She heard Lindstrom tell you that 'they' had taken my wife and I'd be back here looking for DeSantos. That would be the price, he said. 'They' are DeSantos' people. If I don't locate him my wife may pay with her life for your crime." "That's what they threaten?" "Yes. If I don't find him, Chandler, and I'm faced with losing Grace, I promise you that nothing on earth will stop me from using this gun." "Nothing except using your common sense if you have any," Eric said. He reached for a cigarette in the box on his perfectly well

—

161

"

desk and

with a gold lighter. "I'll break a steadfast rule

lit it

of mine, Styles, and offer you some free legal advice.

by

you

I'll

you could have brought the whole United States Army with you, and you wouldn't find DeSantos. Because he isn't here." "You've moved him to some other place." "I haven't moved him because he has never been here," Eric said. "So now let me give you my free legal advice." He watched the smoke curl up from his cigarette as though it pleased him. "To start with, you are guilty of trespass. You have attacked and overcome Graninger, which constitutes assault with a deadly weapon. You are threatening me with a deadly weapon, stolen, by the way, from its legal owner. Those counts are enough to put you away for quite a spell. I might, at this stage, agree not to bring charges because no preface

it

one has been

telling

hurt. In

your problems,

He was

my

that

any case,

this is

only the beginning of

friend."

stalling for time, Peter thought.

"I have less than two hours in which to solve my problem," Peter said. "If I have not located DeSantos and reported back to his friends by midnight "So look for him," Eric said blandly. "You are free to look for him. I will provide you with an escort to help you look for him, if you like." He turned his head slightly to one

—

side, listening.

There was the sound of

tires

spraying gravel outside the

house and a car door slamming shut. Peter moved quickly away from the study door and stood with his back to the bookcases that contained Eric's law

library.

The law! What

joke!

He

hall,

and then he and David Chandler came

They both paused machine

a

could hear Lindstrom's angry voice in the entrance

pistol,

in the

into the study.

doorway to look at Peter and the was some kind of curiosity.

as though he

Then David Chandler went

to

162

one of the big green leather

armchairs and lowered his

"Where's

that bitch

fat

bulk into

it.

daughter of mine?" he asked.

Lindstrom went over

to the

window and

stood there, glar-

on his red neck. But, Peter thought, the gun he was holding might have been a water pising at Peter, cords standing out

tol.

"Trudy's gone upstairs

who

are probably boozing

and Millicent,

to visit with Faith

up

it

He

room,"

in Millicent's sitting

Eric said. "I've just been explaining to Styles

what

his posi-

some of DeSantos' people, that we are holding Juan a prisoner somewhere on the estate. They have kidnapped his wife and threatened to harm her if tion

is.

has been told, by

Styles doesn't locate Juan for them.

course, but

I

offered to let

have told him

him search

that

I

Juan

the place for

feel sorry for isn't here.

I

him, of

have even

him."

"I would have called the cops and had the sonofabitch carted off," Lindstrom said.

Eric smiled his thin, cold smile. "I to

our friend

how

was about

useless that machine pistol

is

to point out

he's

waving

DeSantos isn't here. Styles. If you should blast away at us and kill someone you would be faced with an unbeatable murder charge. If we were kidnappers you might get off the at us.

hook, but

we

will let her

wouldn't be

are not. Perhaps the people

who have your

wife

go when they know DeSantos isn't here, but that much use to you, would it, if you were spending

the rest of your life in jail?"

"Don't waste time with him," David

said.

"Call the State

Police."

"The poor fellow's under extreme pressure," Eric said. "What harm can it do to let him look for DeSantos? He won't find him, and he can report back to the people who have

his wife that

Juan

isn't

here."

"I don't forget someone who's threatened

mon mugger on

me

like a

a city street," Lindstrom said.

163

com-

"I won't

forget you, Styles."

Peter gripped the machine pistol

What good would

ached.

He would

so tightly his fingers

a guided tour of the estate do

him?

never be taken to the place where DeSantos was

being held,

if

make

he was being held here. Perhaps Trudy would

would be overlooked, but would they let her be part of the tour? Then it occurred to him that if he was taken on what appeared to be a thorough

help to

sure no special place

know where DeSantos was not being held. That might be enough for the hooded man who was holding Grace. Something told him that if DeSantos had ever been here he had been moved. To where? Weren't DeSantos' people watching the estate from the outside? Wouldn't they have been ready for just such a move? The other problem was that a search of the place, a detailed search, would take much longer than the time he had left. The whole maneuver was a stall for time, a delaying actour of the estate he would, at least,

tion.

Grace.

would

A

an unthinkable disaster for

represented a defeat,

It

Now it

was

the time to get tough, but

how, and what

produce for him?

gentle voice spoke from the doorway. "Peter, dear,

should have stayed away.

I

told

you

you," Millicent Chandler

said.

*'0h Christ," David Chandler

said.

"The women!"

come

a couple of steps into the room, and doorway, were Trudy and Faith Chandler. Millicent was wearing a dark housecoat. Her cheeks were flushed and the dilated pupils of her eyes were burning.

Millicent had

behind her,

in the

"You have no way know

to fight

them, Peter," she said. "They

—not

you're not a killer

about Grace. There has to be a

like

way

them. Trudy's told

me

to help her, but not with

She had reached him and was standing beside him. She reached out, and then, with sudden and unexpected strength, she wrenched the machine pistol out of his that gun, Peter."

164

room was shattered by the She was aiming high, and Peter saw

hands. She spun around and the

sound of the gun

firing.

the slugs bite into the ceiling.

David Chandler rolled out of

his

chair onto the floor.

"Crazy bitch!" he shouted. Lindstrom had ducked down behind the desk. "Take that thing away from her!" Eric didn't move. He sat perched on the edge of the desk, cigarette burning between his fingers, his cold blue eyes fixed on his wife. "I just wanted to see how it worked, Eric," Millicent said, her voice unsteady. "Now that I know, I have a question for you. What have you done with Rod?" "My dear Millicent, I don't know what you're talking about," Eric said.

The gun

chattered again.

It

smashed the ash

tray right

his hand.

"You

taught

me how

to use

guns long ago, Eric

by

—when

doing things together mattered. I've remembered how. Tell

me what member

you've done that

have no future, if

to

Rod and where he

or

is

I'm no longer a civilized person, like Peter.

I

have no one

will re-

I

like Peter.

you have harmed Rod." She raised the machine

holding

it

both hands, so that

in

Eric's heart.

"Where

"For God sake,

is

let

it

I

to love, like Peter,

was aimed

pistol,

straight at

he, Eric?"

her have him!" David said, from his

place on the floor behind the green leather chair. Eric stared,

hands,

without flinching,

and then he reached into

brought out a key ring. ignored

it,

let

it

He

strike her

"You'll find him

tossed

the

at

it

his

gun

in the

wife's

trouser pocket and

fall to

wine cellar," Eric

we be done with this melodrama, Milly?" "Is Rod all right?" she asked. 165

his

toward Millicent, but she

on the shoulder and

can

in

said.

the rug.

"Now,

''He

may

appear to you to be asleep, Milly," Eric said.

Now

''He's heavily but quite safely sedated.

put

down

that

gun and go look after him." She still held the gun, rigidly pointed at him. "That wouldn't be very bright of me, would it, Eric? Trudy, will you take the keys and check out on Rod, please." Trudy moved in quickly, grabbed up the keys, and was gone. Peter watched the scene in a kind of dazed amazement.

gun

in the

hands of a reasonable

man

is

he's threatened with physical violence. this

no

A

A

threat at all unless

gun

in the

hands of

wisp of a woman, intolerably tortured by neglect, and

now by

a threat to her child, was something quite else. She was demanding a kind of justice for herself, and in the Chandlers' world a raw power, a demand for justice is a symptom

of madness. Faith Chandler, her face the color of parchment, the

room

Lawrence

to

stand

sisters

beside

Millicent.

came

The once

into

beautiful

from Boston!

"I think you had better get up off the said in a shaken voice.

floor,

David," she

"There are some questions

that

need

answering."

"You

see," Millicent said almost cheerfully,

call this a

kind of a

trial.

Faith and

the defendants, for a long time.

judges, and the executioners,

"She's

I

have been the prisoners,

Now we

if that is

stark, staring crazy!"

"You might

are the jury, the

the verdict."

Lindstrom said,

still

kneeling

behind the desk.

"You

You had better stand up," Millicent said. move a step or two to see you clearly."

too, Carl.

"I only have to

Very slowly, Lindstrom and David Chandler rose from Lindstrom was red-faced with anger, David, his eyes narrowed slits, obviously calculating a way their positions of safety.

out of this box.

166

you responsible for what has happened to Mr. David?" Faith asked. "I'm not responsible for anything other people do," David **Are

Styles's wife,

You

said.

was

could almost smell his hatred for

this

woman who

his wife.

"Oh, but you

are,

am by what you've

David. You're responsible for what

I

done. You're responsible for what Trudy

by what you allowed and disallowed. You've encouraged her to be a whore so that you could justify your hatred and is

—because

contempt for her

she's a girl and not a son

could have joined you in your cruelties. Styles's wife, but

you won't because

it

You

would cost you a few

What is it the Romans used Thumbs down? I say thumbs down!" barrels of oil.

to do, Millicent?

"You're both batty!" David said, but a little saliva ran down from one comer of his mouth.

"Your

verdict

dear Eric,

is

recorded," Millicent said

"And

cheerful voice.

my

Why

is

Rod

trickle of

in that

that brings us to you, Eric

once lover Eric.

who

could save Mr.

weirdly

—my once

in the cellar,

under sedation? Did you order Casey Eraser killed, and can he prove it?"

"Of

course

I

didn't order Casey killed," Eric said, in the

man trying to reason with a hysterical child. "You mean you didn't pick up the phone and give the order, Eric? You are always a stickler for truth. You didn't voice of a

give the order, but you did nothing to stop David or Carl

from giving Eric?

it? Is that

Had she seen

man you

this

way it was? What had she done, man DeSantos here on the place, this

the

say isn't here?"

"Listen to me, Millicent. isn't

I

promise you

here and has never been here.

that

DeSantos

So Casey couldn't have

seen him here."

"Do you

believe him, Peter?" Millicent asked, without

turning her eyes

away from

Eric.

167

"He makes

a fetish of

you

telling the exact truth. *Did

love.'

The exact

gave the match light the fire.

What he

truth.

to

He

David

tells

is,

doesn't

tell

to light the fire

—

Eric,

you

'No,

is

that

—urged

us this DeSantos isn't

has been here. The truth logical question

light the fire, Eric?'

my he

David to here and never

the exact truth. So, then, our next

where are you holding him? Bein the next hour."

cause Mr. Styles has to find him Eric shook his head patiently.

"You

are, as usual,

imagin-

ing things, Millicent."

"I say thumbs down!" Faith said

in

a shrill voice.

"I

know you used to love him, Milly. But I say thumbs down!" "The verdict is recorded, dear," Millicent said, "but the nature of the punishment will be reserved until we know what has happened to It

was

Rod."

a crazy charade, Peter thought

—

women of Madwoman

like the

the French Revolution at the guillotine, like the

would have been a comic irony if he weren't so deeply involved. The gun in his hands had been no threat to the Chandler brothers and Lindstrom. Millicent had them terrorized. A sane man can always be had with reason and argument. An outraged woman was apparently something else again. He was aware that Millicent was waiting for the sound of Trudy's return. After that, how far would she go? "You see, my once dear Eric, you have sold out!" she of Chaillot in her basement courtroom.

It

"You have

said in that high, brittle voice.

sold out

all

the

we once

cherished. You've sold out the small personal me, like Rod, like a family life together. You've sold out your integrity as a fine lawyer. You've sold out the millions of people in this country who have been led to believe in the honesty and patriotism of your kind. You've sold out everything you've touched for power. And once you have the power you don't use it for good; you don't even use it for things

things like

some kind of conscious

evil.

You

168

are

all just

fat,

bloated

bloodsuckers whose appetites can never be satisfied."

'The

class valedictorian!"

have nothing to lose

''I

me why

I

shouldn't

mow

world a better place for a

if

David muttered. you've harmed Rod, Eric. Tell

the lot of

you down and make the

of other people to live in?"

lot

"We've never been

"I say thumbs down!" Faith insisted.

allowed a defense, Milly.

The faded

was

Faith

Why

should they be?"

clearly off her rocker, but Peter

the feeling that Millicent

was

in

had

complete control of a kind.

Everything depended on the word Trudy brought back from the

wine

cellar.

She might never again,

in all

her

life,

have

the physical opportunity to control the situation.

Eric Chandler tion.

clearly paralyzed. his

the

way

amazing one

the

in this bizarre situa-

The almost

forgotten Graninger had edged

as far as he could along the rear wall. Eric

still

sat

on

edge of the desk, relaxed, swinging one leg back and

forth.

he

was

His brother David and the bull-necked Lindstrom were

His pale eyes were narrowed

at the

comers

as though

felt pain.

"I understand

how you

feel,

Milly," he said, as though

they were having a quiet family discussion. Peter thought, as though he

angry retort or sharp

knew

It

was

calculated,

very well that any kind of

command might

tighten

Millicent 's

finger

on the trigger of the machine

to use

and bring about a bloody holocaust. 'T promise you,"

pistol

he had taught her

Rod hasn't been hurt. He came here last men caught him in the grounds. He was full of angry threats and accusations There was no way to reason with him. He had to be kept quiet until we could Eric went on, "that

night and

some of

the

.

convince him that none of us had anything to do with what

happened to Casey. We offered to let him go to the police with what he believed, to let them investigate. We have nothing to hide. But that wasn't good enough for him.

seems he inherited something from you, 169

my

dear.

It

He wanted

to settle everything himself.

And

so

we had to keep him quiet He and you, Milly

—

he regained some kind of sanity.

until

have imagined us exist.

I

the estate.

Let him

to is I

you

be some kind of monsters that don't

had nothing whatever to do with what I assure you and Styles that Juan not here on the estate and has never been here on

assure

happened DeSantos

to I

Casey, and

make

Styles the

same

on the desk.

Styles.

I made to Rod. phone right here or anyone else you

offer that

call in the police to search.

Use

Call the police

—

the

choose. We'll turn the estate wide open to you.

I

promise to

forget your slightly illegal approach to the problem. Will a

police search satisfy the people

who

are holding your wife,

Styles? If he's not here they can't expect you to search the

wide world for him."

was tempting. Peter knew that Devery would be waiting some kind of word from him. He might know where to find Maxvil. "I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Peter just yet," Millicent said. She moved a step or two away from him, as though he was suddenly not to be trusted. "If you should try to take this gun away from me, I'd have to start firing without knowing for certain what they've done to Rod. You see, once the police are here this gun will be taken away from me It

at the Hearthstone for

—

and

I'll

never get

my

hands on

it

again.

You

see that, don't

you, Peter? Trudy should be back presently. That

much time

has to be mine."

"The crazy bitch will shoot!" David Chandler said. And then the whole dreamlike sequence came to an

end.

There was the sound of smashing glass and a gun blazed

from outside the casement windows. Instinctively Peter made a dive for the doorway, trying to tug the police special out of his jacket pocket. He heard someone screaming. Glancing back he saw that it was Faith Chandler, standing over Milli170

"

where she had

cent

wound

blood surging from a

fallen,

terrible

Happy Lindstrom had ripped open

in her chest.

casement and was coming

in.

the

There were other men behind

him.

'*You bastard, you didn't have to cried out at

Happy.

Happy ignored him, face. He was looking gun down

in careful

the big hall.

her!" Eric Chandler

kill

white smile pasted on his

that crazy

straight at Peter,

and he brought his

aim. Peter fired at him and raced out into

From what seemed

standing transfixed near a

like far

doorway

away he saw Trudy

that led to another part of

the house. Peter ran to her. "It's

known we get

Happy and

army," he

the

said.

"I should have

those shots Millicent fired would bring them.

How

out of here?"

"No

way. They'll have the house surrounded." Then she

took him by the arm and dragged him through the door.

found himself half-falling his

do

down

a flight of stairs

bad leg suddenly inadequate

to the

He

behind her,

moment. He could

hear someone shouting behind him in the big hall.

"In there," Trudy

said, pointing to a

door

that

opened

into

blackness.

He stumbled

past her into the space beyond.

heavy door close and a bolt being shot hands found him. "It's the in the

I

heard a

wine cellar," she whispered. "Rod's over there

comer, out cold.

breathing.

He

into place. Trudy's

was coming

I

—— thought he was dead, but I

he's

to

"There's a bolt on the inside of the door?" Peter asked.

"Yes. They'll have

"How come

to break

there's a bolt

"Long ago, during bomb shelter."

it

down

to get to

us."

on the inside?"

the war, they planned to use

171

it

as a

*'No other way ''None. If you

in or still

out?"

have your gun, Peter, we could proba-

bly hold out here for quite a while." Peter's

mouth

felt dry.

"I don't have quite a while," he

said.

172

4.

Peter leaned against the wall, breathless from the flight

down

the stairs. His right hand

was

in the

pocket of his coat

closed over the butt of his police special.

He

what was going on upstairs

There was no doubt

in his

in the study.

tried to

imagine

mind, from the brief glimpse he'd had of her, that

Millicent Chandler had tasted her last double martini forever.

This had to confront the Chandlers and Lindstrom with a pretty problem.

Happy Lindstrom was

a murderer in front of

witnesses. Peter could almost hear the story they to tell.

He, Peter Styles, had broken into the

would have

estate, over-

powered Graninger at the gate, held up the family with a machine pistol. Peter Styles, the villain of the piece. Millicent was to become the heroine, attempting to take the machine pistol away from him just as Happy and the security people opened fire from outside. Graninger would be well paid to keep his mouth shut; the dotty Faith would be discredited; Trudy might say she'd seen Millicent grab the weapon away from Peter, but that, in effect, would be part of their story. Peter's own friends, Devery and Maxvil, could not deny that he had set out to do exactly what the Chandlers would say he had done overpower Graninger and force his

—

173

"

way

in. Whatever Peter's motives were, even if DeSantos was discovered to be a prisoner on the estate, he had broken the law in spades and Millicent's death would be considered the direct resuh of his actions. Eric Chandler would be able to tell the exact truth and hang Peter from a very tall tree. At this very moment Eric was probably sending for the State

Police.

A

light

popped on

Trudy, ghostly pale

in the darkness, a single in the

unshaded bulb.

harsh light, was standing only a

few feet away from him. In the far comer of this cavernous room, lined from floor to ceiling with wine bins, Peter saw Rod Chandler stretched out on a pile of blankets, motionless, looking like a corpse.

"What happened up ''Happy broke

in,

there?" Trudy asked. shot Millicent.

think she must be

I

dead."

"Oh God!" "They'll have a perfectly good, almost true story to tell," Peter said, his voice harsh. "Millicent tried to save her hus-

band, grabbed the gun from me, and was cut

who was "But

me, the criminal." what happened!"

trying to get

that isn't

"It's exactly

what happened except for Millicent's mo-

—

and a passage of time," Peter damnedest dialogue you ever heard." tives

down by Happy

"But we know

said.

"Time

for the

—

"What we know and what we can prove are two different "The police will be on their way by

things," Peter said.

now, unless I'm very wrong. When they get here I'll be held, and midnight will be long gone. Grace" and his voice "will be long gone." broke "What do we do?" Trudy asked. "Outside this room there's the main cellar, I take it. There must be another way out beside the stair we used."

—

—

174

—

''There it

an outside door," Trudy said, ''but they'll have

is

covered, Peter. The safest thing

is

to wait here until the

come, isn't it? Happy and the others know you're armed. They won't try to break down the door to this place." "Wait for the police," Peter said, "and an all-night third degree, while the people who have Grace think I've let them down. I've got to make a try for it. Where is the outside door?" police do

"Peter!"

"Where "At the

is it,

Trudy?"

—

north end of the house

^the

full

length of the

cellar."

"Lights?" "If you turn on lights they'll

know

you're coming, Peter.

wine "Uncle Eric uses this to read the labels in the dark comers." Her fingers touched his hand as she handed him the flash. They were cold. "Dear Peter, you'll be walking right into the arms of a firing squad and the bastards will be able to justify it no matter what I say." Wait." She went

room.

On

it

to a long table in the center of the

was a small pocket

flashlight.

—

"I've got to try," Peter said.

She was

right,

of course. They

knew he

hadn't

left the

house. Every possible exit would be covered. Lights would

be blazing, inside and outside. The so-called security people

would be Yet

legally right in opening

to stay here

up on him

if

he showed.

and do nothing, with time running out on

Grace

"Thanks for the try," he said to Trudy. Then he froze where he stood. Through the thick walls of the wine room he heard a siren several sirens. The police were coming up the driveway in force. It was hard to believe they could have responded so quickly. It made^ he told himself, for a small chance. The security people might not be

—

175

quite so trigger

happy with the police there

as witnesses.

There would be minutes of confusion while someone explained to the police his watch. call

him

from the to get back

midnight

why

they'd been called.

He

glanced

at

was just eleven- fifteen. He had missed the first hooded man, but there was time, with luck, for

It

Hearthstone before the

to the

last call, the

call.

He walked

over to the heavy door and pulled the bolt.

*'Take care," he said to Trudy, and pulled back on the door.

He

stepped out into the cellar,

him *

in the

lit

only by the light behind

wine room. Somebody laughed.

'Sucker," Happy Lindstrom said. 'T figured you'd make

a break for

it,

Gimpy."

He had been

on one of the bottom steps of the He had a rifle at the ready

sitting

stairway leading up to the big hall.

and he was

rising

and aiming

in

one movement.

Peter fired the police special from his pocket, and dove for

The shot had been enough to throw Happy off was all Peter could have hoped for from it. A of light from the wine room cut across the conbut the rest of the cavernous area was dark.

the shadows.

balance.

It

single shaft crete

floor,

Happy must know

basement area like the back of his hand, while Peter had no idea of what surrounded him. His this

back was pressed against the cold stones of the foundation. If he stayed in any one place too long, Happy's eyes might get used to the darkness. To

move was

to risk

stumbling over

something and locating himself for Happy.

The

streak of light

from the wine room kept him from

completely losing his bearings. The stairway leading up to the big hall

was

to his right. If

door he would have give himself

away

to pass

to

he was to try for the outside

through that column of light and

Happy. He stood, pressed against the

stone wall, scarcely daring to breathe.

He

could smell the

scorched cloth of his jacket where he had fired through the

176

pocket.

the gun out now and at the ready. was almost stifling. If Happy was moving,

He had

The was with

silence

it

Cat-and-mouse, Peter had

the cunning of a cat.

called the

in

his

game. And he was the mouse. Then he felt ice blood. Trudy was standing, clearly visible, in the door

to

the

wine room.

"Happy, you creep," she said. "You're not going to be able to get away with this without gunning me down too. That may be hard to explain to the police. They're here, you know. If they didn't hear that first shot they'll hear the next one. They're swarming around upstairs now." Silence. Not a sound. Peter's impulse to shout at her to get out of sight almost blew the ball game.

me, Happy-boy," Trudy said, in a voice that had contemptuous laughter in it, "I might as well take what time there is to tell you what a lousy lover you are, man. Perhaps I shouldn't use that word, because you're not a man, Happy-boy, just a fumbling animal." Total silence. Then, when Trudy started to speak again in that clear loud voice Peter moved, a step or two, reaching out in the darkness to keep from knocking against something "Since you're going

to

have

to kill

hopefully in the direction of the stairway.

"What had

at

will

you do, lover- boy, when I'm not around

will?" Trudy asked. "I can't think of any

who had any time, even

choice,

let

who would

to

be

woman,

give you five minutes of her

you touch her with those clumsy hands."

Not a sound Peter waited, and then when Trudy's taunting it up again, he moved once more. "I should tell Peter that he should never have worried about his wife," Trudy said. "You could never make a

voice took

woman who

challenged you,

Happy -boy.

A woman

like

Grace Styles would turn you into a sniveling impotent. I'm surprised she didn't throw up when you made passes at her 177

the other day.'*

"Bitch!"

It

was

a whisper of outrage

—

not a foot from

was enough. gun in a whipping gesture and felt it strike the other man's skull. Happy's powerful body lurched into Peter and there was the sound of the rifle falling to the concrete floor. At the same time Peter felt himself caught in a powerful bear hug. Happy found his gun hand and gave it an excruciating twist. The gun fell from his momentarily parawhere Peter was. Peter

swung

It

his

lyzed fingers.

knew that Happy had no skills at this He used his great strength without reaching for something that might have been a killing hold. He was, literInstinctively Peter

sort of thing.

squeeze the breath out of Peter's body. Peter

ally, trying to

waited, squirming a

then he

made

his

been an expert

little

within that crushing embrace, and

move. Long ago

at this

in the

commandos he had

kind of in-fighting. His knee came up

Happy's groin. As the big man cried out in agony his grip loosened and Peter had him. An arm went around Happy's neck and pulled his head back. A knee went into the small of Happy's back as a brace and Peter gave it all the strength he had. In a matter of seconds he would hear the man's spine crack. He was thinking of Grace, he was thinking of Casey, of the dead Millicent upstairs, of Rod lying unconscious in the room beyond. He wanted to hear that snapinto

ping spine.

And

He wanted

to kill.

then the cellar was flooded with light and there was

on the stairway. One more wrench sweating head and the Chandler crowd

the thunder of footsteps

backward of that would have paid for some part of what they'd done. A choking scream came from Peter's victim. And then strong rough hands were trying to break his hold. Trudy was calling to him to stop. Nothing was going to stop him now. Nothing on earth could stop him. 178

A

calm voice penetrated. "Ease up, baby.

cold, perfectly

I

need him as a witness." Peter turned his head and in that

moment

lost his hold.

He

was dragged away and Happy lay face down on the floor, sobbing with terror. Peter saw that he was being held by three troopers.

turned

him

at

stairs

He

—

who down were crowding down the

looked, not believing,

Happy over with

Maxvil,

at

the toe of his shoe and looked

thoughtfully. Other people strangers except for one.

The one he couldn't believe

he was seeing.

The stairs

his

troopers let

—

to

Grace,

him go and he staggered

who was

to the foot

He

reaching out to him.

of the

had her

in

arms, she was real, she was warm, she was alive. Her

lips

touched his face.

"Merry Christmas," Maxvil

said,

from somewhere behind

him. Peter clung to Grace, aware that his body

was shaking

—

from head to foot partly from the strain of his struggle with Happy, mostly from the sudden relaxation from hours of unbearable tension.

He seemed

unable to take in what was hap-

pening around him, the troopers dragging Happy to his feet

and toward the rette,

Trudy

stairs,

in the

by her hands. "How ?" was

— —

Maxvil's grin, as he

door

all

to the

Peter

"They turned me over know why and we came

to

lit

himself a ciga-

wine room, her face covered

managed

to say.

Maxvil," Grace

said.

"I don't

here, along those country roads, at

about ninety miles an hour. There was no time for explanations."

"Turned you over to him?" "I was being kept in a house maybe five miles from town," Grace said. "They were very polite to me the whole time. They explained to me what they'd asked you to do. I

—

179

'

knew

they'd

start calling

man

you

at

eleven o'clock tonight. At

was a long conversation which I didn't hear I was in the next room. All I was told was that the answer had been satisfactory. I was taken to a car and driven for a short while. Then we stopped and I saw the Jaguar coming from the other direction. I thought it was you, darling. I I was let out and I ran to you. Only it was Greg. No time to talk, he said. We had to get to you before it was too late. Peter, darling, you are all right?" eleven the

in

charge called.

It

—

—

—

'Tm marvelous," he said, and held her close. Maxvil was standing by them, looking very pleased with himself.

"How did you manage it, Greg?" Peter asked. "How did you persuade them to let Grace go?" "Like rolling off a log," Maxvil said. "I traded them DeSantos for her. "You found him?" "I found him," Maxvil said. "We'd been looking in the wrong place." Coming quickly down the stairs was Eric Chandler. His handsome, aristocrat's face was the color of ashes. He brushed past them as though they weren't there and went into the wine room. Maxvil signaled to one of the troopers to follow him. The New York detective appeared to be in '

charge of the Connecticut troopers!

Some

influence must

from higher-ups. "Maybe there's a touch of humanity in him," Maxvil said, his mouth tightened as he watched Eric. "Maybe somewhere, deep down, he cares for the boy. The rest of the picture is going to be pretty grim for him and his pals. "You can make a case against them?" Peter asked. "Conspiracy to commit a homicide Casey," Maxvil Dr. said. "Homicide and conspiracy to commit a homicide have been brought

to bear

—

Eraser."

180

—

'

*'And kidnapping DeSantos," Peter said. Maxvil gave Peter an odd look. "There was no kidnapping," he said.

"But— "You

ever have something go round and round in your

head without being able to put a label to

make sense

to

Things that didn't

it?

me. The Chandlers were prepared to let you be wander around with a degree of freedom.

a guest here, to

him

Trudy reported Eric Chandler as saying. The suggestion was that DeSantos wasn't here. On the other hand DeSantos' people were convinced the Chandlers had their man. The kidnapping of Grace and pressing you into service made it certain they were convinced. I invented my little fiction, you remember? Casey had come here to visit Millicent Chandler and had seen a face at the window, a face she'd recognize when she saw it in the newspapers? After you and Devery and Trudy took off to get in here, I headed for the clinic. There was someone there who could contact you, Peter. I was convinced we'd have to find Grace and rescue her if she was to be kept alive. I thought maybe I could put some heat on that 'contact' if I could identify him or 'Let

look,' your

—

her."

"And you found him "No, but

I

another place,

—or her?"

had a brainstorm," Maxvil it

said.

"There was

suddenly occurred to me, where Casey

Fraser could have seen DeSantos. In her father's clinic."

"He was "He was a very nice

a prisoner there?" Peter asked.

there," Maxvil said, "but not a prisoner.

bedroom and

bath, and

when

I

He had

found him he was

drinking a very good French brandy, smoking a very expensive

Cuban

cigar,

and playing solitaire."

"What

are you talking about?" "DeSantos wasn't a prisoner, friends. He hadn't been kidnapped. He had sold out to the Chandlers. It was a cover for

181

him. His loyal followers would make concessions to the 'kidnappers' to set

him

free. It

was

the only

way he could

own

people.

The

clinic

dler almost literally

had

sell

was an

owns

it.

to look like a kidnapping.

It

out and not be executed by his ideal hiding place. Eric

Chan-

Dr. Fraser, dependent on him,

would do almost anything for Eric. It was I imagine, that DeSantos was a friend, in political danger, who needed a place to hide out. The doctor was willing. If Eric told him it was all right it was all right. Then Casey came home for the weekend. I suggest she was wandering around the clinic when she saw DeSantos. DeSantos probably had an eye for a pretty girl. They may have had a conversation, he not dreaming that she was the girl friend of a young man who was out to write a story about big business corruption. Casey just thought he was a patient, but sooner or later she would see his picture somewhere. Someone called the professionals, and that was that. I don't know how they found out the Chandlers. Eric came and went, openly. He probably visited DeSantos on his calls DeSantos mentions a pretty blond girl " Maxvil shrugged. "Then I think you put a bee in Dr. Eraser's bonnet, Peter. Casey's death wasn't an accident. He guessed the truth. He called you for help, but you didn't get the message in time. Lindstrom and his son turn up at the clinic to talk to DeSantos. That was while you were playing games with Trudy and a sniper in the studio. The doctor accuses. One of the Lindstroms gets the old man's gun from wherever he kept it and lets him have grateful to him,

explained to him,

—

—

—

it."

"You

can prove any of this?"

"In the end," Maxvil and appeals, and appeals

said.

kind of power they have. But gas.

Of

murder

course I've

my

"There

will

to the appeals, in the

end they

conscience will bother

committed." 182

be indictments

because

me

that's the

will run out of

a

little

—

for the

Peter and Grace stared at him.

"DeSantos," Maxvil

"I took him out of the clinic

said.

When

gunpoint and drove him to the Hearthstone. called

you

at

eleven o'clock

I

took the

He was

his great national hero.

call. I told

at

man

your

him about

very polite, he thanked

me

very cordially, and was most happy to exchange Grace for his

country's treacherous

made. They

will,

strong man.

The exchange was

of course, cut Mr. Juan Luis DeSantos into

very small pieces and feed him to the fishes somewhere. think, though,

I'll

survive the small sensations of guilt

He smiled at ma'am," he said. "Or "Not to me," Grace

feel."

ter's

Grace. should said.

cheek with her fingers.

in the

*'Nice I

to

have

I

I

may

you back,

say 'Miz'?"

She reached up and touched Pe"I hope to become a sex object

very near future."

183

H K