An Evil Guest by Gene Wolfe

Author:Gene Wolfe [Wolfe, Gene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, General, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Action & Adventure
ISBN: 9780765360977
Google: Np2pwskGLLsC
Amazon: B0017SWR8W
Barnesnoble: B0017SWR8W
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 2008-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

FOURTEEN

ASK OUR FRIEND

“I’ve been questioned already,” Cassie told the detective. “Questioned by you and by that ugly man with the cigar. I’ve got to get back to Springfield—”

The detective (his name was Ed Quintin) raised a hand. “I know, ma’am. One more, and I don’t think it will take long.”

“Where’s Mr. Corby?”

“He’s been released. The lieutenant you’re going to see now finished questioning him and let him go. From what he said as he went out, he’s probably trying to get you a lawyer. Satisfied?”

Cassie nodded and rose. They went down a gloomy and rather old-fashioned hall to an elevator and up one floor. “No interrogation room this time,” the detective told her. “You’re going to his office.”

It was a corner office with four windows. Its chief furnishings included a large modern desk faced by a small chair, and file cabinets whose tops were heaped with what were, presumably, souvenirs.

The big man behind the desk stood and offered his hand. A slight twitch at one corner of his mouth might have been a suppressed smile. “Pleased to see you again, Miss Casey. I’m Detective Lieutenant Aaberg, but you can call me Scott if you’re more comfortable that way.”

“Oh! Oh, my golly!” Cassie sank into the chair facing his desk. “Why didn’t I see this coming?”

Aaberg laughed, a laugh as deep and rasping as his voice. “I ask the questions in this room, Miss Casey, and it’s a good thing I do. I couldn’t answer that one.”

She filled her lungs, determined to look and sound like a woman of great courage. “Suppose I ask you one I know you can answer, Lieutenant? Suppose I say—and yes, I’m saying it—that if you’ll answer I’ll cooperate in every possible way. But if you won’t I’ll tell you to go to blazes.”

“Margaret Briggs was your employee? You liked her?”

Cassie shook her head. “I’m not answering questions.”

“Suppose your stubborn refusal to cooperate costs her life?” Aaberg grinned. “You don’t have to answer that one.”

“I don’t have to answer anything. I can demand a lawyer, and tell you to take a hike until I get one. But I’ll say this. I’ve told every last thing I know to two officers already. I don’t think they listened to most of my answers, and I don’t think you will either. Want to hear my question?”

He nodded.

“Three or four months ago, while I was still in my apartment, I spotted a man across the street who seemed to be watching my building. When he lit a cigarette, I could see his face—your face. What were you up to?”

“You’ll cooperate if I give you a full, honest answer to that?”

Cassie nodded.

“Then I will. I don’t think we’re being overheard, but I’m going to try to do it without telling anybody who might be listening more than they ought to know. One time a friend of ours asked me to pick you up at an ice cream parlor and drive you to the place where he’d parked his car. I won’t ask whether you remember that.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.