1949 - The Paw in the Bottle by James Hadley Chase

Author:James Hadley Chase [Chase, James Hadley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: James, Hadley, Chase
Publisher: papachanjo
Published: 2012-01-01T22:00:00+00:00

III

Wednesday.

The morning had seemed interminable and Blanche had been particularly trying. She didn’t wish to go with Wesley to the dinner that night and vented her temper on Julie.

Blanche’s spite and tantrums and the thought that before long she would have to face Mrs. French made Julie jumpy, and she had a cold, sick feeling that remained with her all day.

It was a relief when Blanche left the flat for lunch. And as Julie was trying to settle down with the newspaper the telephone bell rang.

It was Harry.

“Julie? I’ve been trying to get you since Sunday. What’s happened, kid? Every time I’ve rung that Wesley woman answered. I’ve been worried out of my mind, thinking about you. What did Theo do to you?”

Julie felt a wave of fury run through her.

“I don’t want to talk to you, you coward !” she cried angrily. “You let that little swine knock me about, and you’ve done nothing about it. I hate you! I never want to see you again!” and she slammed down the receiver.

A moment or so later the bell began to ring again, but she didn’t answer, and after a while it stopped ringing.

She was through with Harry. All right, she had loved him a little when they had first met. But now she had Howard, she wouldn’t look at Harry.

She was startled to hear the front door bell ring, and wondered if Harry had come up to see her; or perhaps it was Theo. The bell rang again before she screwed up enough courage to answer the door. But it wasn’t Theo; it was Detective Inspector Dawson.

“Afternoon,” Dawson said gruffly and tipped his hat. “I want a word with you.”

Julie turned red and then white. He was the last person she expected to see. She stood aside and he entered the hall.

“Bit of a change after the Bridge Café, isn’t it?” he said, looking round. “Gone up in the world, haven’t you?”

“Yes,” she said in a small voice.

“Saw her Ladyship go out just now. She won’t be back for a bit, will she?”

“No.”

“That’s all right then. Let’s go somewhere where we can talk.”

She took him into the lounge and again he looked round, nodding his bullet-shaped head.

“Very nice. No utility stuff here. Well, well, we can’t all be so fortunate. You’d better sit down.”

Julie sat down. She was glad to. Her legs felt weak.

“Mr. Wesley doesn’t want his wife to know about this business. Thinks she’ll be nervous. Shouldn’t have thought she was the nervous type from the look of her. Is she?”

“No,” Julie said. She was suddenly aware that she was twisting and untwisting her fingers, and hurriedly folded her hands in her lap.

“Funny things—husbands,” Dawson said shaking his head.

“Or does he think she’ll take it out of you?”

Julie stared. What was he getting at?

“I—I don’t know what you mean.”

His cold blue eyes studied her face.

“Never mind,” he said a little abruptly. “Now let’s have the story. Mr. Wesley told us more or less about you, but I thought I’d like to have it direct.

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