Small g by Patricia Highsmith

Author:Patricia Highsmith
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780393345629
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

18

The telephone woke Rickie just before eight the next morning.

Luisa’s voice said, “Rickie, sorry to phone so early. I’m in the booth at L’Eclair—out buying groceries. I spoke with Teddie last night when Renate was out.”

“Yes?”

“His mother doesn’t want him to come to Aussersihl anymore, for one thing.”

“I could have predicted that. Frau Stevenson talked with the police?”

“Yes! She got the police to come to the house and look at that piece of metal. She gave them the address of the house where I found it. It seems nobody’s living there now, or they’re away. The police wanted to ask about people hanging around.”

Rickie frowned. “Do you know what the police intend to do now?”

“No, I don’t. Teddie said he’d tell you any news. Rickie, I’d better go now.” The line went dead.

So Teddie couldn’t come to the neighborhood anymore; at least not with his mother’s car, Rickie was sure, maybe even without. Yet love would find a way, it always did.

Rickie went back to bed, intending to sleep for an hour. Lulu leapt up and joined him with a lick of her pink tongue at the empty air, then she lay down on the top sheet and closed her eyes. On the bottom sheet was a dark red circle of Teddie’s blood, the size of a five-franc piece.

The telephone awakened him.

“Dorrie Wyss,” the voice said, and Rickie at once saw the jester in red vest, with her short blonde hair. “Tried to get you last night. Now how is our dear boy?”

Rickie was sure she didn’t mean him. “Doing well. He’s home now, in Mum’s care.” Dorrie had been at Jakob’s late enough to see Teddie on the back terrace after he’d been hurt, Rickie recalled.

“And Luisa?”

“She reports this morning that Teddie’s mother doesn’t want him coming to this neighborhood again.”

“I can understand. Rickie, I had an idea. Can’t we visit Teddie? You and I, Luisa, bring him some flowers? What’s his number? I’ll phone. I’d imagine you can’t—or maybe shouldn’t.” She gave a laugh. “I’ve got a BMW hatchback, you know. I could swoop by anytime after five today—take us all in my car.”

They planned. Rickie would reach Luisa somehow. Dorrie could park at or near the Small g. Dorrie would ask Frau Stevenson if they could pay Teddie a visit around six. Rickie took Dorrie’s work number, and made sure she had his studio number.

Rickie closed shop before five that afternoon, in order to go home and change. He showered and put on black cotton trousers, and chose his yellow jacket, which was still clean. A white shirt—no tie but a good silk scarf at his neck.

“Farewell, Lulu, I’ll be back before eight anyway.” On second thoughts, why not take her? She could stay in Dorrie’s car while they visited Teddie. Lulu didn’t mind that.

Dorrie Wyss’s shiny black van was parked near Jakob’s when Rickie approached, which was five twenty-five. And here came Luisa, crossing the street, smiling on sight of him.

“What’s up?” asked Luisa.

“We’re going to see Teddie! All three of us,” said Rickie.

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