Death of a Doxy (Crime Line)

She was trying hard to hold in, and I hoped she would make it. She had shrunk. Not only did she look even smaller than she had a week ago, but her face had positively shrunk. Her cheeks had been filled out, and now they weren't. She took the bag and said, "Give me that gun."

"It's not a gun, it's a toy. You'll get it back. As I say, I frisk everybody, and right now I'm glad I do. There's a woman here who is going to say things you won't like, and you're very impulsive. Her name is Julie Jaquette, and she was your sister's best friend. I believe you have met her -"

"I was my sister's best friend."

"You ought to know. Let's go in and sit down." I gestured. "That open door on the left."

I thought she was going to balk and she did too, but I had the gun and I could have carried her under one arm. She turned and clicked down the hall, and I followed. Two steps inside the office she stopped. I passed on by and went to Julie, who was standing by my desk. I took the pistol from my pocket and showed it to her. "This was in her bag," I said and turned and asked Stella, "Where does your husband keep his rifle?"

I don't think she heard me. I had moved up a couple of the yellow chairs, and she went to one and sat. Julie went and took the other one, and I returned the pistol to my pocket, sat at my desk, and told Julie, "You have met Mrs. Fleming."

She nodded. "That was in her bag? How did you get it?"

"Took it. It didn't fire those shots Saturday night." I eyed Stella. "Your husband shot at Miss Jaquette Saturday night, but missed. That's why I asked where he keeps his rifle."

She gawked at me. "What? My husband what?"

"He tried to kill Miss Jaquette. That's breaking it to you gently, Mrs. Fleming, there's much worse to come. I told you on the phone that I have found the right man. The reason Miss Jaquette is here is that she helped me find him. I guess the best way is to show you a copy of a letter she sent to your husband last Friday." I opened a drawer and got it. "She wrote it by hand; this is a typewritten copy. Shall I read it?"

She looked at Julie. "A letter you sent my husband?"

"Yes."

She put a hand out. "Let me see it."

I passed it over. She went through it fast and then read it again, slow. She looked at Julie. "What's it about? Who is Milton Thales?"