Free 1974 - Goldfish Have No Hiding Place by James Hadley Chase

Steve?”
    “Listen carefully, Creeden,” I said. “I have information that your wife has been stealing from the Welcome store. My wife has been doing the same thing. I am being blackmailed. I suspect you are too. I went tonight to pay Gordy off. I found him murdered. I saw you in East Avenue where his house is and you saw me. There will be an investigation. I suggest we didn't see each other tonight.”
    A long pause, then he said, “That makes remarkable sense to me. You didn't see me . . . I didn't see you . . . right?”
    “Yes.”
    “That's how it will be,” he said and hung up.
    I put down the receiver and drew in a long deep breath.
    It was hard to believe it could be this easy.
    Now Linda.
    This was something I couldn't do over the telephone. I had to see her. I didn't want to, but I had to. As I got to my feet, I saw the gun and the holster lying on the settee. I picked them up and put them in my desk drawer. Then turning off the light, I left the house, locked the front door and started down the drive. As I reached the gate, I heard a police siren. I watched two police cars sweep past, heading for East Avenue.
    I started the long walk to Lucilla's bungalow. Again I heard approaching police sirens and I stepped off the road as another police car, followed by an ambulance went by.
    By now my heart was thumping. Fortunately there must have been a good TV show on and the sound had drowned the sirens, otherwise everyone would have been at their garden gates.
    I finally reached Lucilla's place, walked up the path and rang the bell.
    There was an irritating delay, then Lucilla opened the door.
    “Ah, Steve,” she drawled. “So you've come to give us good news . . . or have you?”
    “No good news.”
    I followed her into the living room. Linda was still reclining on the settee. She looked at me, her one eye cold and hostile.
    “Well?”
    Lucilla moved back.
    “I'll leave you two dears to talk,” she said.
    “I'd rather you stay. You could be involved in this,” I said.
    “Really?” She walked over to a chair, sat down and began to fit a cigarette into a foot long holder.
    Briefly, I told them that I had gone to Gordy's place, found him murdered and the police were already arriving.
    “If Gordy kept the film in the house and the negatives of the blow-ups and the police find them, we are in real trouble.” I was talking to Linda. Her face slowly went to pieces and her complexion turned the colour of putty.
    “Well, at least you don't have to pay the beastly man,” Lucilla said.
    Suddenly Linda exploded in hysterical rage.
    “I wish to God I had never married you!” she screamed at me. She turned to Lucilla. “Lucy! Help me! What are we going to do?”
    Watching her, seeing the way she looked at this middle-aged lesbian told me Lucilla meant much more to her than I ever did.
    “Do?” Lucilla tapped ash off her cigarette. “You want a divorce, don't you, my pet?”
    “Of course!”
    “Well, then, what could be simpler?” Lucilla looked at me. “I imagine you will give Lindy a divorce?”
    It came to me what a relief it would be to be rid of Linda.
    I had had little pleasure from her. For over three years I had put up with her grumbles and her greed.
    “Yes.”
    “Well, then there is no problem. We will leave immediately for Dallas. The story Steve has already put our that your mother has to have an operation is just a cover to stop gossip that you two are divorcing. Don't bother about clothes, Lindy. Steve will send everything you need to Dallas. I'm sure he can give you some money, but if he can't, I can. I'm sure your mother will understand.”
    Linda began to cry.
    “Oh, darling Lucy, I don't know what I would do without you,” she mumbled.
    Sickened, I took out my billfold and put the three thousand dollars I was going to give to Gordy on the table.
    “I'll leave you two,” I said and started for the door, paused, looking at Lucilla. “You really mean you can go tonight?”
    She smiled