Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine - June 1999 by June 1999

Author:June 1999
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: gnv64
Published: 2019-06-02T21:44:23+00:00

SOMETHING SIMPLE

tee-yay but was actually, I susfor a moment, and when Doreen pected, pronounced Mo-TEER.

spoke again, she sounded tired.

l� don't .wont inny!" came a "Randy's not here. I don't know loud female voice in my ear.

where he is."

''Ms. Mason?'' I asked.

Of course she could have been

'Will you leave me alone," she

lying. I did not need to hark back to

charged on, accent a foot thick. '1 my investigating days to recall that don't buy things on the phone, and

people frequently lie, even when

I never will, and--''

they don't have to. But I decided to

'Tm not a salesman," I said. 'Tm

go with it for now. ''Are you still . . .

calling about Randy."

involved with him?''

Her pause was just a tad too long.

''No. He broke it off."

'Who?''

'When?''

''Randy Ryan," I said, and took

''Last week he called"

the plunge, no doubt a bit too pre

'When last week?''

cipitously. '1s he there?''

'1 don't know. Wednesday, Thurs-

· Cell phone static hissed in my ear

day, what does it matter? He called

for a moment. '1 don't know who

and said it was over, done with. Said

you're talking about," she said 'Who

he was going away for a long time.

are you?''

c.

Said it was the best for all con

"Name's Perkins," I said 'Tm callcerned" With each phrase I heard ing from Michigan. fm looking for

the emotion welling up in her. Now

Randy." An inspiration came, and

she paused, and when she spoke

I went with it. ''His daughter asked

again, she .sounded steadier, and

me to find him."

quite dull. '1 told him it was all right.

''Yeah?'' Doreen asked, tone chal

I told him whatever he wanted,

lenging. ''His daughter, huh." Pauswhatever was best for him." She ing she asked abruptly, 'What's her

sighed. 'Tve always heard about 'if

name?''

you love something, let it go.' What

"Shyla."

they don't talk about is how much

''No. Her real name," she prodded

it hurts."

' '

gil

ca

y.

,

I let a silence grow, thinking

.• ,

"Jennifer. And her mother's Virabout what she had said. ''So you ginia. And he works for Brightondon't know where he is."

Leopold." Or worked, I thought but

''No, sir."

did not say. ''I know the wl_lole deal,"

Keeping my voice easy I said,

I said quietly. '1 got your number

''Don't know if I buy that, Doreen.

from Virginia." Doreen did not re

I mean, he's flown the coop and took

ply. I sensed she was not all that a pot of money with him, and you quick on the uptake. 'What made

were his sweetie-"

you think I was a salesman?'' I

''Oh, don't get me wrong," she cut

asked.

in, tone pointed. "'f he'd asked me,

"Caller I.D. said 'anonymous,' "

fd be with him this instant .. He's

she answered 'That usually means

the sweetest, kindest man. But I

telemarketer." Static hissed again

knew, somehow I knew all along, it

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.