Free 1953 - I'll Bury My Dead by James Hadley Chase Page B

angle’s all right, but there’s another angle that may hit the headlines tomorrow. Roy had a secretary, a girl named Mary Savitt. She also committed suicide last night.’
    Beaumont’s eyes bulged.
    ‘Good grief! Why?’
    English smiled grimly.
    ‘Maybe she was also overworking.’
    ‘Do you think anyone’s going to believe that? What were these two to each other? Was it a suicide pact?’
    ‘That’s what it could be called, but there’s no proof. If we get a break, no one’s going to connect the girl with Roy. Morilli’s leaning over backward on my side. He cost me five grand this morning.’
    Beaumont swallowed convulsively. His Adam’s apple flopped about like a frog on a hot stove.
    ‘You gave Morilli five thousand? Suppose he tells the commissioner? This could be a trap, Nick. Bribing a police officer is a serious charge. That’s the kind of charge they would love to hang on you. It’d finish you.’
    ‘Don’t be so dramatic,’ English said curtly. ‘Morilli’s all right. He’s got ambitions, and he knows by sticking with me, he stands a chance to get somewhere. Anyway, he can’t prove I’ve given him anything. I paid him in cash, and the bills can’t be traced. He pushed back his seat. Well, I’ve got to get back to the office. Don’t worry your brains about this. It’ll blow over.’
    Beaumont got to his feet.
    ‘But what made these two kill themselves?’ he asked. ‘There must have been some reason.’
    English signed the check the waiter laid on the table and left a liberal tip.
    ‘Sure, there’s a reason,’ he returned. ‘And I intend to find out what it is.’
     

VI
     
    A few minutes after six o’clock, the same evening, and after English had finished dictating the last letter of the day, Lois put her head around the door to tell him Sam Crail was waiting, and wanted to see him.
    English glanced at his wristwatch, frowning. He had promised to take Julie to a movie, and then drive her to the Garden of Eden Club where she sang. He had promised to pick her up at half past six.
    ‘Send him in,’ he said, ‘and get off home yourself. You should have been gone hours ago.’
    ‘Yes, Mr. English,’ Lois said, and turned to beckon to Crail, who was impatiently waiting behind the barrier.
    ‘Come on in, Sam,’ English said as he caught sight of him. ‘You’d better ride down with me. I promised Julie I’d take her to a movie tonight, and I don’t want to be late.’
    ‘I don’t imagine you’ll want to go to any movie when you’ve heard what I’m going to tell you,’ Crail said, lowering his bulk into an armchair. ‘Sorry, Nick, but you may even want to call Julie and break the date.’
    English stared at him.
    ‘It’ll have to be pretty important for that. This is the second time I’ve stood Julie up this week. What is it?’
    ‘I’ve opened Roy’s deposit box,’ Crail said. ‘There’s twenty thousand dollars in it - in cash.’
    English gaped.
    ‘Twenty thousand?’
    ‘Yep, in hundred bills. How do you like that?’
    ‘Well, for God’s sake! Where did he get it from?’
    Crail shook his head.
    ‘Search me. I thought you’d want to know right away.’
    ‘Yes.’ English stood staring down at the carpet, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand while his eyes brooded, then, shrugging, he went over to the telephone, lifted it and said, ‘Get me Miss Clair’s apartment, will you, Lois?’
    Crail reached out and helped himself to a cigar.
    ‘I could do with a drink if there’s one within sight,’ he said. I’ve had quite a day.’
    English motioned to the big cellarette that stood against the wall.
    ‘Help yourself.’ Then into the telephone he went on, ‘Julie? Nick. I’m held up again. Yeah, I’m sorry, but I can’t make that movie. That’s the way it is. Sam’s just come in with some news - about Roy. I’ll tell you later. Sorry, Julie. I seem to be always standing you up. What are you going to do? Look, would you like Harry to go with