The Second Talmage Powell Crime MEGAPACK ®: 25 More Classic Mystery Stories by Talmage Powell

Author:Talmage Powell [Powell, Talmage]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: mystery, detective, noir, hardboiled, crime
ISBN: 9781479406951
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2015-08-09T16:00:00+00:00

The old bear’s private secretary admitted Terry immediately. Hergeshimer rocked behind his desk, regarding Terry’s cowed figure with the gentlest of eyes. “Good morning, Bixby.”

“Good morning, Mr. Hergeshimer.

Mr. Hergeshimer smiled. “You’re fired, you lazy bum.”

Terry sank weakly toward a chair.

“Don’t use the furniture,” Mr. Hergeshimer said, most courteously. “You’re no longer connected with this company. You’re trespassing.”

“But, Mr. Hergeshimer—”

“No need for further talk, Bixby. Your severance pay is waiting at the cashier’s desk.”

Terry’s shaking hands wadded into limp fists. “At least you owe me an explanation.”

The old bear stopped his quiet rocking. “Owe you? If I owe you anything it’s a lawsuit to recover salary taken under false pretenses. As to my reasons for firing you, there are many. You are a prime, double-dyed example of the modern trend toward a half-day’s work for a double-day’s pay. Your sole concern is the salary and fringe benefits. The job involved is a bothersome annoyance to be shirked as easily as possible.”

The creases in Mr. Hergeshimer’s big face wreathed a pattern of raw pleasure. “In short, Bixby, you are a creep. The sword has been hanging over you for some time. Your failure with Conway yesterday cut the thread.”

“I tried to call Mr. Conway—”

“One time, Bixby. Just once. Then you were off to the country club. But Conway reached his office at three o’clock. If I hadn’t thought of giving him a ring myself, we might have lost the account.”

The old bear turned his attention to a tray of papers on his desk, blotting Terry from existence.

Terry dragged his feet into the comfortless luxury of his house and fell into a living-room chair.

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