Manhunt. Volume 9, Number 2, April 1961

“I thought it was something like that — because I wanted to, I guess. Then I turned on the radio and I was sure.”

“What did the radio have to do with it?”

“The whole story was on the newscast — so I began to gather up everything I could find. I was going to hide all the clothes and things, but then the police came and I dropped them in the middle of the living room and ran.”

“What story, Connie? Tell me!”

She was fumbling for the knobs and a moment later the radio lit up. The voice came through a second later, beautifully timed:

“...New evidence has been uncovered by the police linking Lawrence Bowman, Central City coin machine operator, to Gloria Dane, beautiful blonde secretary of August Largo, prominent local businessman also interested in coin machine activities.

“Miss Dane’s mysterious disappearance was reported early this afternoon by Mr. Largo when he was unable to locate her at her apartment. Late last night, Miss Dane had reported her car as having been stolen and the first sinister note was added when the car was found in the possession of Mr. Bowman near a Danvers restaurant this morning.

“At the time, however, Miss Dane had not been reported missing and the police had no reason to be suspicious of Mr. Bowman for other than car theft and he was released on bail.

“But later a close check of the car revealed blood stains and a woman’s shoe in the trunk. Fast-breaking developments followed when Gertrude Armitage, a resident on Route 18 into Danvers reported that she saw a man she identified from a picture as Bowman riding into Danvers with blonde and beautiful Miss Dane yesterday morning.

“Thus, Bowman was definitely linked with the vanished girl and further evidence of what was possibly a clandestine romance came to light only a couple of hours ago when the police searched Bowman’s bungalow on Crystal Lake and found clothing identified as belonging to Miss Dane.

“Police, somewhat embarrassed at having released Bowman, have thrown out a dragnet and promise his apprehension soon. Also, they’ve begun searching the surrounding lake country for signs of foul play relative to Miss Dane’s disappearance.

“Interesting sidelights of the case involve Largo’s scheduled appearance before the Senate Rackets Committee in Washington, and rumors that Miss Dane, also scheduled to testify, would be a damaging witness for Largo.

“However, Mr. Largo denies this emphatically and claims he has nothing whatever to hide from the committee.

“Mr. Largo appears to be cleared of any suspicion by the fact that Bowman was his business rival, Bowman resisting Largo’s efforts to organize local coin machine operators.

“The two cases of polio, reported at—”

Connie lunged forward and snapped off the radio and as she drew back I realized she’d been crying during the whole newscast. I said, “Take it easy, hon. I—”

She was tight in my arms, her wet face against mine. “Oh, Larry — I love you so much it’s a great big ache! We’ve gone along from day to day and I’ve tried to hide it but when something like this happens—”

I held her tight and let her cry thinking how it’s that way sometimes — the casual day to day business, and seeing only a cute little character always ready to be attractive or understanding or sophisticated or whatever you happen to need at the moment until you look at her more as a convenience than a girl trying to be whatever you want her to be.

And not realizing you’ve been in love with her all the time.

“Baby — take it easy. Everything will turn out all right.”

She stopped crying, the effort taking a few moments before she said, “Darling. Who did this to you? Largo?”

Of course it had been Largo but there was no point in mulling that over now. I had to sit back and think. It was a little like getting suddenly smashed in the face with a blunt instrument. After you’re down you sit there for a minute trying to rattle some sense back into your head.

“It looks like Largo’s work, but the main thing is to figure out just what’s happened and what I’ve got to do.”

“You can’t give yourself up, darling. That would be fatal. Do you think Gloria Dane has been killed?”

“Who knows? Look, angel — I want you out of this.”

“But I don’t want to be out of it. I want to stay with you. I can help.”

“You can help me the most by letting me take you home. I don’t know what I’m going to do or where I’m going to do it but I’ll feel better knowing you’re safe.”

“The police will be watching my apartment, won’t they?”

“Maybe, maybe not. But they can’t arrest you. Please, Connie. I don’t want you in this and I might be picked up at any moment.”

She came through in the clutch and began to look at things realistically. “If they found me with you they’d probably arrest me too and that wouldn’t help any. As long as I’m free I can—”

I turned her face in my hands and looked straight into it. “There’s one thing I want you to understand, darling. I have never met or talked to Gloria Dane. I don’t know her and never wanted to. You’re the only woman in my life — now and forever.”