Read 1974 - Goldfish Have No Hiding Place for Free Online Page B

the bruises don't show.
    Lucilla
    I crumpled the letter and tossed it into the trash basket.
    Then I made myself a drink and sat down.
    It would seem I had a long, lonely night with panic edging my mind, ahead of me.
     
    ***
     
    At 08.00 I telephoned Jean.
    “How is Shirley?”
    “She's fine. She's right here and wants to speak to you.”
    A pause, then Shirley came on the line.
    “Steve! I'm sorry I blew my tiny mind last night: please forgive me.”
    I drew in a long deep breath.
    “There's nothing to forgive.”
    “I'll say there is! If Wally ever heard! He would kick me humpbacked! I just went crazy after seeing the darling. God! They've hurt him!” Her voice broke. A pause, then she said, “The magazine is marvellous, Steve! Wally knew the risks and so did I, but when it came, I couldn't believe these animals could be so awful.”
    “I'm telling Chandler. He'll do something for Wally. He's going to be all right. It'll take a little time. I talked with Stanstead. You're not to worry.” I didn't tell her Stanstead thought Wally might lose the sight of an eye.
    “Shirley . . . the police want to talk to you. Be careful what you say to them. No mention of Schultz. That bomb has to go off but not yet. Tell them Wally was working on the High school contract and nothing else . . . understand?”
    “Yes, of course. Jean's been a darling. We're going over to the hospital right now.”
    “I'll be in touch.”
    “You do understand, Steve?”
    “You're my girl. Would you give me Jean?”
    Jean came on the line.
    “I'm calling Chandler, then I'm going to the bank,” I said. “I'll stick around the office until you come.”
    “Okay, Steve.”
    I called Chandler's home and just caught him as he was leaving for his office. I told him what had happened and that I suspected it was because of the High school contract that Wally had been beaten up.
    Chandler rose to the occasion as I knew he would.
    “Where is he?”
    “The Northern.”
    “All right, Steve, I'll take care of it. I'll get a report on his condition. Tell his wife I'll take care of everything and I mean everything. His salary is to be doubled from yesterday. If these punks think they can intimidate me they have another think coming! Go after Hammond with no holds barred . . . understand?”
    Yes, I understood, but Chandler wasn't in the firing line.
    My turn could come. I, too, could be in the Northern with broken ribs and concussion.
    “Okay, Mr. Chandler. If you could have a personal word with Shirley?”
    “Personal word? I'm going to the hospital right away and I'll see her.” A pause, then he said, “This mag of ours is certainly stirring them up, isn't it?”
    “I guess it is.” I thought of Schultz.
    “Keep it up, Steve,” and he hung up.
    I made myself coffee, then drove over to Lucilla's bungalow. She answered my ring: a tall, gaunt woman with a mannish haircut, green, cold eyes and pinched nostrils.
    She had on shirt and slacks and she looked what she was: a bull dyke.
    “Hello, Steve, come in. Our poor invalid is still sleeping.”
    I followed her into the big lounge, carelessly furnished with no pieces that matched, but comfortable and cluttered with books. She made a living writing articles for art magazines and reviewing books for the California Times .
    Chandler seemed to think a lot of her.
    “How is she?”
    “A black eye.”
    “She told you why?”
    Lucilla nodded.
    “Some women do stupid things.”
    “Twenty thousand dollars makes stupidity expensive.”
    “It depends. It could be cheap. Both of you would have to leave here and you would lose your thirty thousand a year job.”
    “You could also have to leave here. Chandler wouldn't go along with a thief.”
    She gave a soft chuckling laugh.
    “I have my tiny bit of film. It cost me two thousand. I beat the creep down. He wanted five, but we settled for two.”
    “How do you know he hasn't kept some frames back?”
    “Why should he? It's easy money.” She laughed