A Stranger Is Watching by Mary Higgins Clark

Author:Mary Higgins Clark
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Chapter 27

Glenda Perry slept until one o’clock. It was the sound of Marian’s car pulling out of the driveway that brought her to full wakefulness. Before she opened her eyes she lay perfectly still, waiting. But the pain that often accompanied that first stirring did not come. It had been so bad during the night, worse than she had let on to Roger. Except he probably guessed, and she knew the doctor was concerned about the cardiogram.

She was not going to the hospital. They’d sedate her so much there that she’d be useless. She wouldn’t let it happen. She knew why the pains had been so frequent lately. It was the Thompson boy. He was so young and her testimony had helped condemn him.

“He knocked you down, Mrs. Perry . . .”

“Yes, he was running from the house.”

“It was dark, Mrs. Perry. Can you be sure it wasn’t somebody else running away?”

“Positive. He hesitated in the doorway before he collided into me. The kitchen light was on.”

And now Neil and Sharon. Oh God, let me remember. She bit her lip . . . a flicker of pain . . . no, don’t get upset. That won’t do any good. For God sake, think. She slipped a nitro under her tongue. That would ward off the pain before it became acute. Foxy. The way he said it. What was the association? It wasn’t that long ago, either.

The door opened a crack and she saw Roger looking in at her. “It’s all right, dear, I’m awake.”

“How do you feel?” He hurried over to the bed, touched her hand.

“Not bad. How long have I been asleep?”

“Over four hours.”

“Whose car just left?”

“That was Mrs. Vogler.”

“Oh, I forgot. What did she do?”

“She seemed to keep herself pretty busy in the kitchen. Was on the stepladder taking things from the top shelves.”

“Thank heaven. I’ve been afraid to stretch up there and they’re so dusty. Roger, what happened? Did Steve talk to . . . Foxy?”

Roger explained—” . . . so they only have a few words. Are you up to listening to them?”

“Yes.”

Fifteen minutes later, propped up on pillows, a cup of tea in her hand, Glenda watched Hugh Taylor enter her bedroom.

“This is good of you, Mrs. Perry. I understand that it’s a strain for you.”

She waved away his concern. “Mr. Taylor, I’m just ashamed I’ve wasted the whole morning. Please turn that on.”

She listened intently as Hugh ran the cassette.

“Oh, it’s so low. It’s impossible . . .”

The tense expectancy slid from Hugh’s face. His tone was emotionless as he said, “Well, thank you very much for listening, Mrs. Perry. We’re going to analyze this for voice pattern. It isn’t admissible evidence, but when we get the abductor it may help to confirm the identification.” He picked up the recorder.

“No . . . wait!” Glenda put her hand on the machine. “Is this your only record of the call?”

“No. We ran both a tape and cassette during the wiretap.”

“Will you leave this with me?”

“Why?”

“Because I know the person I spoke to last night.

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