Homicidal Lady by Keene Day

Author:Keene, Day [Keene, Day]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pulp, Crime
Publisher: Graphic Publisheing
Published: 1954-07-07T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

JANE WAS CONCERNED. “What do you mean there was a stake-out on the Adama place?”

Talbot had never been so tired. He felt as if he had been running for days instead of hours. He said, “Just that. Tony Graham and his partner were parked a few feet from the drive. I almost walked into the side of the cruiser.”

“They saw your”

“No.”

Jane smiled wryly. “I didn’t give Lieutenant Keller credit for so much intelligence.” She mixed a stiff drink as she spoke. “Drink this. Then you’d better take a shower and get into some other clothes. I think you’ve an old suit upstairs. Anyway a robe. You’re perspiring like a field hand.”

Talbot sipped the drink. It tasted good. “I’m beginning to think I should have stayed one.”

Jane ran her fingers through his hair. “Nonsense. Now come along and shower before we talk.”

Talbot followed her up the winding stairs to the master bedroom on the second floor. Jane drew the green shades carefully, then turned on the water in the shower. “I’ll find your robe while you bathe.” She noticed his bloody mouth and touched it with her fingertips. “What happened to your mouth?”

“Luke hit me.”

“With what?”

“His fist.”

Jane’s voice was fierce. “Why didn’t you shoot him? I gave you a gun.”

Talbot laid the gun on the dresser. “I tried to. But Luke was quicker than I was. He was also tougher. As Luke put it, being tough is his business.”

It embarrassed Talbot to undress in front of Jane. It seemed strange two people who had been so close could be so far apart. He was glad when she left the bathroom to search for his robe.

He took a hot shower, then a cold one. He was toweling when Jane returned with the robe. She was matter-of-fact about it. “Here. Put this on. Then we’ll talk.” She added, “If you want to shave, the razor I use under my arms and some fresh blades are in the medicine cabinet.”

Talbot found the razor and used it. When he returned to the bedroom Jane had turned on the ceiling fan and changed into a filmy nightdress. She was sitting with her bare feet curled up under her, leaning back against the headboard of the old-fashioned double bed.

“Now,” she said, “you look better. You look more like the Tod I knew.” She patted the bed. “Come here and sit down, Tod.”

Tod felt like a bridegroom. “You know what will happen if I do.”

Jane’s smile was wry. “I’m well aware of the physical facts of marriage. We’ve been married five years, remember? But perhaps you can restrain yourself for a few minutes.”

Talbot sat beside her. “I shouldn’t be here.

“Why not?”

“If Lieutenant Keller should think of looking here and find me with you, he could charge you with being an accessory after the fact of murder.”

Jane laid her hand on his arm. “I’ll chance that. Now tell me all that happened at the Adama place. Do you think Luke killed the Conley girl?”

Talbot didn’t know what to do with his hands.

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