“Why—how perfectly wonderful. Oh, I’m so glad. Why didn’t you bring him along?”
“He had a date.” Murdock laughed when he remembered Watrous’s truculent good night. “With a bottle of Scotch. He said he was going to get a little drunk and see if he could recover his sanity. And look, kids, I’ve got to run.”
He stood up and Carroll rose with him and said he’d drive him to the hotel. Murdock said no. He said someone had to eat the rest of the sandwiches. Then, not wanting to drag things out, he walked into the hall.
“I guess,” Carroll said softly, “I guess we’re awfully lucky you came, Murdock.”
“Everyone needs a little luck.” Murdock eyed them obliquely. “And you two didn’t help any with your stories. You”—he looked at Carroll—“admitted nothing. And you, Gail, a fine thing—you telling me last night that the man who searched the place and locked you in the closet smelled of cologne. You smelled it on George Damon that day at the Art Mart,” he said accusingly, “and you—”
“I’m sorry.” Gail blushed and dropped her glance. “Maybe it was because that’s what I wanted to think.”
“Me,” Carroll said ruefully, “I was in the middle. I didn’t know from nothing.” He gave Murdock the twisted smile as he held his coat. “Sometimes I think I’m not very bright.”
Murdock started for the door. The weariness was beginning to get him again, and the old wound in his leg was beginning to throb and he was looking forward to just three things: a hot bath, a drink, and a bed. He was considering all three with pleasant anticipation when the door opened and Louise Andrada and Jack Fenner came in.
Louise had her nose in the air and her scarlet mouth was tight and grim. She did not even look at them, nor slow down. She marched past without a word, heels clicking angrily, and started up the stairs. When she disappeared round the landing Murdock said a fast good night and got out.
Jack Fenner examined him. “Why didn’t you introduce me?” he demanded. “To the other little doll. She’s cute. Who is she?”
“What do you care?”
“It’s a question I always ask,” said Fenner imperturbably.
They went down the steps and along the walk. They got into Fenner’s car without a word. When Fenner got it rolling he sighed.
“If they’re going to make a witness of that Louise,” he said, “she’s going to be in town quite a while. I think she likes me. Only she don’t know it yet.”
Murdock wedged himself in the corner of the seat and Fenner said:
“I offered to buy her a drink and she turned me down.… How about you?”
“I’m tired.” Murdock yawned audibly. “I’m whipped,” he said.
“One drink,” Fenner said, and waited. He turned a corner and then turned again into the Avenue. “One drink. In your room. After that I can tuck you in bed.”
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this ebook onscreen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
copyright 1944, 1945 by George Harmon Coxe
978-1-4532-3332-0
cover design by Mumtaz Mustafa
This edition published in 2011 by MysteriousPress.com/Open Road Integrated Media
180 Varick Street
New York, NY 10014
www.openroadmedia.com
THE KENT MURDOCK MYSTERIES
FROM MYSTERIOUSPRESS.COM
AND OPEN ROAD MEDIA
MYSTERIOUSPRESS.COM
Otto Penzler, owner of the Mysterious Bookshop in Manhattan, founded the Mysterious Press in 1975. Penzler quickly became known for his outstanding selection of mystery, crime, and suspense books, both from his imprint and in his store. The imprint was devoted to printing the best books in these genres, using fine paper and top dust-jacket artists, as well as offering many limited, signed editions.
Now the Mysterious Press has gone digital, publishing ebooks through MysteriousPress.com.
MysteriousPress.com offers readers essential noir and suspense fiction, hard-boiled crime novels, and the latest thrillers from both debut authors and mystery masters. Discover classics and new voices, all from one legendary source.
FIND OUT MORE AT
WWW.MYSTERIOUSPRESS.COM
FOLLOW US:
@emysteries and Facebook.com/MysteriousPressCom
MysteriousPress.com is one of a select group of
publishing partners of Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
The Mysterious Bookshop, founded in 1979, is located in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood. It is the oldest and largest mystery-specialty bookstore in America.
The shop stocks the finest selection of new mystery hardcovers, paperbacks, and periodicals. It also features a superb collection of signed modern first editions, rare and collectable works, and Sherlock Holmes titles. The bookshop issues a free monthly newsletter highlighting its book clubs, new releases, events, and recently acquired books.
58 Warren Street
[email protected]
(212) 587-1011
Monday through Saturday
11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
FIND OUT MORE AT:
www.mysteriousbookshop.com
FOLLOW US:
@TheMysterious and Facebook.com/MysteriousBookshop
SUBSCRIBE:
The Mysterious Newsletter
Find a full list of our authors and
titles at www.openroadmedia.com
FOLLOW US
@OpenRoadMedia
Jade Venus Page 23
