McNally's Luck

by Lawrence Sanders

  “Doesn’t look like it. He can’t spot anything missing.”

  “How’s he taking it?”

  “Hard. He’s trying to do the stiff-upper-lip bit, but it’s not working.”

  “She was a lovely woman, Al.”

  “She’s not now,” he said in the flat tones he used when he wanted to conceal his emotions.

  When we entered the house, mother was waiting in the hallway. She wore a nightgown under a tatty flannel robe, and her feet were thrust into fluffy pink mules. She glanced at Sgt. Rogoff in his uniform, then put a hand against the wall to steady herself.

  “Archy,” she said, “what’s wrong? Where is father? Has he been hurt?”

  “He’s all right,” I said. “He’s at the Gillsworth home. Mother, I’m sorry to tell you that Lydia has been killed.”

  She closed her eyes and swayed. I stepped close and gripped her arm.

  “A car accident?” she asked weakly.

  I didn’t answer that. One shock at a time.

  “Father will be staying with Gillsworth tonight,” I said. “I came back with the sergeant to pick up some papers.”

  She didn’t respond. Her eyes remained closed and I could feel her trembling under my hand.

  “Mother,” I said, “it’s been a bad night, and the sergeant and I could use a cup of black coffee. Would you make it for us?”

  I hoped that giving her a task would help, and it did. She opened her eyes and straightened.

  “Of course,” she said. “I’ll put the kettle on right away. Would you like a sandwich, sergeant?”

  “Thank you, no, ma’am,” he said gently. “The coffee will do me fine.”

  Mother bustled into the kitchen, and I led Rogoff into my father’s study. The letter was still lying on the desk blotter.

  “There it is,” I told Al. “Both the Gillsworths handled it but not my father and not me. Maybe you’ll be able to bring up some usable prints.”

  “Fat chance,” he growled, sat down behind the desk, and leaned forward to read.

  “That was the third letter received,” I said. “The first was destroyed by Gillsworth. The second is upstairs in my rooms. I’ll get it for you.”

  A few moments later I returned with the second letter in the manila folder. I did not bring along the photocopy of Peaches’ ransom note. Willigan had told us, “No cops!” And he was paying the hourly rate.

  Rogoff had his cigar burning and was leaning back in my father’s chair. He read the second letter and tossed the folder onto the desk.

  “Ugly stuff,” he said.

  “A psycho?” I suggested.

  “Maybe,” he said. “Maybe someone trying to make us think they were written by a psycho.”

  “What will you do with the letters?”

  “Send them to the FBI lab. Try to find out the make of machine used, the paper, the ink, and so forth. See if they’ve got any similar letters in their files.”

  “Even right-hand margins,” I pointed out.

  “Oh, you noticed that, did you? Got to be a word processor or electronic typewriter. We’ll see. How about that coffee?”

  When we entered the kitchen, mother was filling our cups. And she had put out a plate of Ursi Olson’s chocolate-chip cookies, bless her.

  “The coffee is instant,” she said anxiously to Rogoff. “Is that all right?”

  “The only kind I drink,” he said, smiling at her. “Thank you for your trouble, Mrs. McNally.”

  “No trouble at all,” she assured him. “I’ll leave you men alone now.”

  We sat opposite each other at the kitchen table, hunching over our coffee and nibbling cookies.

  “You suspect the husband, don’t you?” I said.

  The sergeant shrugged. “I’ve got to, Archy. Seventy-five percent of homicides are committed by the spouse, a relative, a friend, or acquaintance. These cookies are great.”

  “She was alive when he left here, Al,” I reminded him. “He talked to her on the phone. You think he drove home and killed her?”

  “Doesn’t seem likely, does it?” he said slowly. “But what really helps him is that there were no bloodstains on his clothes. I told you that place looked like a slaughterhouse. Blood everywhere. The killer had to get splashed. What was Gillsworth wearing when he left here?”

  I thought a moment. “White linen sports jacket, pale blue polo shirt, light gray flannel slacks.”

  Rogoff nodded. “That’s what he was wearing when we got there. And he looked fresh as a daisy. His clothes, I mean. Absolutely unstained. And he sure didn’t have enough time to change into identical duds. Also, we searched the house. No bloodstained clothes anywhere.”

  We sipped our coffee, ate more cookies. The sergeant relighted his cold cigar.

  “So Gillsworth is off the hook?” I asked.

  “I didn’t say that. He’s probably clean, but I’ve got to check out the timing. A lot depends on that. How long did it take him to drive from here to his place? Also, what time did the victim leave the séance? How long would it take her to drive home? What time did she arrive? Was someone waiting for her? There’s a lot I don’t know. After I find out, maybe Gillsworth will be off the hook. Right now he’s all I’ve got.”

  I stared at him. “Al, is there something you’re not telling me?”

  “Would I do that?”

  “Sure you would,” I said. “Look, I know this is your case. You wear the badge; you’re the law. You can order me to butt out. You’re entitled to do that. But I’m telling you now I’m not going to do it. That woman meant a lot to me. So no matter what you say, I’m going to keep digging.”

  He looked at me strangely. “That’s okay,” he said. “You stay on it. Just keep me up to speed—all right?”

  We finished our coffee, went to the study where Rogoff collected the letters. When we came out into the hallway mother was waiting with a small overnight bag.

  “I packed father’s pajamas, robe, and slippers,” she said. “And his shaving gear and a fresh shirt for tomorrow morning.”

  I’ll never cease to be amazed at how practical women can be, even under stress. I imagine that when the flood came and Noah was herding everyone aboard the ark, Mrs. Noah plucked at his sleeve and asked, “Did you remember to empty the pan under the icebox?”

  Rogoff took the little valise and promised to deliver it to father. This time I drove the open Miata; after inhaling Al’s cigar, I wanted fresh air—lots of it.

  We didn’t speak on the trip back to the Gillsworth home. But when we arrived and the sergeant climbed out, he paused a moment.

  “Archy, I know Roderick Gillsworth was your father’s client. Was Mrs. Gillsworth?”

  “Yes, she was.”

  “I hear she had plenty of money. Did your father draw her will?”

  “I don’t know, Al. Probably.”

  “Who inherits?”

  “I don’t know that either. Ask my father.”

  Then I drove back to the McNally fiefdom for the final time that night. I feared I’d have trouble getting to sleep but I didn’t. First I recited a brief prayer for a noble lady. I consider myself an agnostic—but just in case...

  The weekend had started badly and didn’t improve. The weather was no help; Saturday morning was dull and logy—just the way I felt when I awoke. I had an OJ, cinnamon bun, and coffee with Jamie Olson in the kitchen. He was wrapping a fresh Band-Aid around the cracked stem of his ancient briar. I had given him a gold-banded Dupont for Christmas, but he saved it for Sunday smoking.

  “Heard about Mrs. Gillsworth,” he said in a low voice. “Too bad.”

  “Yes,” I said. “It was in the papers?”

  “Uh-huh. And on the TV.”

  “Jamie, if you hear anything about enemies she may have had, or maybe an argument with someone, I wish you’d let me know.”

  “Sure,” he said. “You asked about that Mrs. Willigan.”

  “So I did. What about her?”

  “She’s got a guy.”r />
  “Oh?” I said and took a gulp of my coffee. “Where did you hear that?”

  “Around.”

  “Know who it is?”

  “Nope. No one knows.”

  “Then how do they know she’s got a guy?”

  He looked up at me. “The women know,” he said, and added sagely, “They always know.”

  “I guess,” I said and sighed.

  I went back upstairs to work on my journal. It was a slow, gloomy morning, and I couldn’t seem to get the McNally noodle into gear. I was stuck in neutral and all I could think about was pink lemonade and strawflowers in twig baskets. It wasn’t the first time a friend had died, but never so suddenly and so violently. It made me want to telephone every friend I had and say, “I love you.” I knew that was goofy but that’s the way I felt.

  My phone rang about ten-thirty, and I thought it would be my father asking me to come fetch him. But it was Leon Medallion, the Willigans’ houseman.

  “Hiya, Mr. McNally,” he said breezily. “Soupy weather—right?”

  “Right,” I said. “What’s up, Leon?”

  “Remember asking me about the cat carrier? Well, I found it. It was in the utility room, where it’s supposed to be. I guess I missed it the first time I looked.”

  “That’s probably what happened,” I said. “Thanks for calling, Leon.”

  I hung up and the old cerebrum slipped into gear. Not for a moment did I think Medallion had missed spotting Peaches’ carrier on his first search of the utility room. Then it was gone. Now it had been returned. Puzzling. And even more intriguing was the fact that I had mentioned the carrier’s disappearance to Meg Trumble.

  I was still diddling with that nonplus when my phone rang again. This time it was my father, announcing he was ready to return. He specifically requested that I drive the Lexus. He didn’t have to say that; I knew very well he thought riding in my red two-seater dented his dignity.

  He was waiting outside when I arrived at the Gillsworth home. He placed his overnight bag in the back and motioned for me to slide over to the passenger side so he could get behind the wheel. He thinks I drive too fast. But then he thinks motorized wheelchairs go too fast.

  “I’m going to drop you at home, Archy,” he said, “and then go to the office. Gillsworth wants me to inform his wife’s relatives.”

  “Shouldn’t he be doing that, sir?”

  “He should but he’s still considerably shaken and asked me to handle it. Not a task I welcome. Also, I want to review Lydia’s will.”

  “Did Sergeant Rogoff question you about that?”

  “He did, and Gillsworth had no objection to full disclosure. To the best of my recollection, she left several specific bequests to nieces, nephews, an aunt, and her alma mater. But the bulk of her estate goes to her husband.”

  “Hefty?” I asked”.

  “Quite,” he said. “I told the sergeant all that, and he asked for the names and addresses of the beneficiaries. He is a very thorough man.”

  “Yes, sir,” I agreed, “he is that. He wants me to continue my investigation of the poison-pen letters.”

  “So he said. I also want you to, Archy. Lydia was a fine lady, and I would not care to see this crime go unsolved or her murderer unpunished.”

  “Nor would I, father. Do you know where Rogoff is now?”

  “He came to the Gillsworth home early this morning. He was driving his pickup, and with Roderick’s permission he loaded the grandfather clock into the truck and drove off with it.”

  “The clock that was tipped over during the assault?”

  “Yes.”

  “What on earth does Al want with that?”

  “He didn’t say. Here we are. Please take my overnight bag inside and tell mother I’ll be at the office. I’ll phone her later.”

  I followed his instructions and then went into his study and used his phone to call the Glorianas’ office. I wasn’t certain mediums worked on Saturdays, but Frank Gloriana answered, and I identified myself.

  “Ah, yes, Mr. McNally,” he said. “About the missing cat... I intended to contact you on Monday.”

  “Then you have news for me?”

  “My wife has news,” he corrected me. “When might you be able to stop by?”

  “Now,” I said. “If that’s all right.”

  “Just let me check the appointment book,” he said so smoothly that I was convinced he was scamming me again. “Well, I see we have a very busy afternoon ahead of us, but if you can arrive within the hour I’m sure we can fit you in.”

  “Thank you so much,” I said, playing Uriah Heep. “I’ll be there.”

  Mother wanted me to stay for lunch, but I had no appetite at all. And besides, I had recently noted that the waistbands of my slacks were shrinking alarmingly. So I went upstairs and pulled on a silver-gray Ultrasuede sport jacket over my violet polo shirt. Then I went outside and jumped into the Miata for the trip to West Palm Beach.

  As I’ve mentioned before, basically I’m a cheery sort of chap, and that black cloud that had been hovering over my head since I heard of Lydia Gillsworth’s death began to lift as I drove westward. That doesn’t mean I ceased to mourn, of course, or that I was any less determined to avenge her. But the world continues to spin, and one must continue to spin along with it or step off. And I wasn’t ready to do that.

  Actually, I hadn’t called the Glorianas to inquire about Peaches. The fate of that miserable felid was small spuds compared to finding the killer of Lydia Gillsworth. But I reckoned the cat’s disappearance would serve as a good excuse for seeing the medium again. Not only did I want to learn more about her relationship to Lydia, but the woman herself fascinated me.

  When I entered the Glorianas’ suite there was no crush of clients Frank had forecast during our phone conversation. In fact, he was alone in that mauve and aqua office, listlessly turning the pages of a magazine and looking bored out of his skull. He glanced up as I came in, put the magazine aside, and rose to greet me.

  He was wearing an Armani double-breasted in taupe gabardine and sporting a regimental tie. It happened to be the stripe of the Royal Glasgow Yeomanry, a regiment of which I doubted he had ever been a member. We shook hands, and he reached to stroke the sleeve of my Ultrasuede jacket.

  “Nice,” he said. “Would you mind telling me what it cost?”

  I knew then he was no gentleman. “I don’t know,” I said. “It was a gift.” I think he guessed I was lying, but I didn’t care.

  He nodded and turned back to his desk. “I’ll tell Hertha you’re here,” he said, then paused with his hand on the phone. “We heard about Lydia Gillsworth,” he said. “Dreadful thing.”

  “Yes,” I said, “wasn’t it.”

  He pushed a button, spoke softly into the phone, and hung up. “She’s ready for you,” he reported. “This way, please.”

  He again conducted me down the hallway to his wife’s chamber. There were two other closed doors in that corridor but they were unmarked, and I had no idea what lay behind them. Gloriana ushered me into the medium’s sanctum, then withdrew.

  She was standing alongside her high-backed chair, and when the door closed she came floating forward to place her hands on my shoulders. I marveled at how petite she was: a very small wraith indeed, and seemingly fragile.

  “Lydia has gone over,” she said in that muted voice, “and you are desolated.”

  “It was a shock,” I agreed. “I still find it hard to accept.”

  She nodded, led me to her wing chair, and insisted I sit there. She remained standing before me. I thought it an awkward position for a conversation, but it didn’t seem to trouble her.

  “Did Lydia tell you how she felt about physical death?” she asked.

  “Yes, she did.”

  “Then you must believe the spirit we both knew still exists. This is not the only world, you know.”

  She said that with such conviction that I could not doubt her sincerity. But I thought her a world-class frui
tcake. Strangely, her feyness made her more attractive to me. I’m a foursquare hedonist myself, but I’ve always been intrigued by otherworldly types. They live as if they’re collecting Frequent Flier points for a one-way trip to the hereafter.

  “Mrs. Gloriana,” I started, but she held up a soft palm.

  “Please,” she said, “call me Hertha. I feel a great kinship with you. May I call you Archy?”

  “Of course,” I said, pleased. “Hertha, Lydia promised to bring me to one of your séances. In fact, she suggested the meeting last evening, but I was unable to make it. Perhaps if I had, things might have turned out differently.”

  “No,” she said, staring at me, “nothing would have changed. Do not blame yourself.”

  I hadn’t, but it was sweet of her to comfort me.

  “I would still like to attend one of your gatherings. Would that be possible?”

  She was silent for a long moment, and I wondered if I was to be rejected.

  “There will be no more sessions until October, Archy,” she said finally. “So many people have gone north for the summer.”

  The off-season seemed a curious reason to halt spirit communication, but I supposed the medium charged per communicant, so there was a good commercial justification for it.

  “Do you ever hold private séances?” I asked. “Could that be arranged?”

  She turned and began to move back and forth, hugging her elbows. She was wearing a flowered dress of some gossamer stuff, and it wafted as she paced.

  “Perhaps,” she said. “But the chances of success would be lessened. The psychic power of a circle of believers is naturally much stronger than that of an individual. I could ask Frank and his mother to join us. Would that be acceptable?”

  “Of course.”

  “And do you have a friend or two you could bring along? Individuals who are sympathetic to spiritualism even if they are not yet firm believers?”

  “Yes, I think I could provide at least one person like that.”

  “Very well,” she said. “I’ll plan a session and let you know when arrangements have been finalized.”

  Her language surprised me. She spoke as if she was scheduling a corporate teleconference.

  “Fine,” I said. “I’m looking forward to it. And now about Peaches... Have you received any messages on the cat’s whereabouts?”