Lying beside David, she spoke in darkness. Her words gave the impression of round eyes. David had been breathing deeply, but he was not asleep. He remained quiet as he tried to follow Nancy’s train of thought. It was, he decided, hopeless.
“Who?” he said.
“Lieutenant Masters. I’ve been thinking about him.”
“Acts like what?”
“A kind of clown. A simpleton. I think it’s his nose and the way his pants sag in the seat.”
“Well, he’s a lieutenant of detectives. That means he’s supposed to be able to weigh evidence and make deductions and things like that. It would be fair to assume that he’s not a complete fool.”
“He’s slimy, though. You’ll have to admit that. Didn’t you get the impression that he wasn’t convinced that Larry killed Lila, in spite of everything?”
“No, I didn’t. I got the impression that the conclusion was just waiting for evidence to support it. As soon as he finds Larry, he’ll have it.”
“You think so? I suppose you’re right. It does seem pretty obvious. I guess I’m just hoping that Larry didn’t.”
“Sure. Poor Larry. He must have been driven hard to make him go off the deep end that way. I wish I’d understood. I might have been able to help him.”
“You think it’s all true, then? What Larry told me last night?”
“It must be. A guy like Larry doesn’t go crazy over nothing.”
This remark seemed conclusive, and Nancy lay quietly while David began to breathe deeply again. But she was so unhappy about so much that she wondered if she would ever feel like sleeping again.
“For all anyone knows,” she said, “I might have killed her myself.”
There was sudden violent movement beside her. David had shot up to a sitting position.
“What? What, for God’s sake?”
“I said I might have killed her myself. For all anyone knows.”
“That’s what I thought you said, and why the hell did you?”
“It’s possible.”
“It’s absolute crud.”
“It’s entirely possible. There I was, I mean outside and all, while you were asleep, and I saw Larry leave. I could have gone in right then and killed Lila, or I could have come back and done it after talking with Stanley in the alley.”
“Oh, sure,” sneered David. “You had a real motive, didn’t you? Lila cheating at bridge, I think?”
“I don’t play bridge. You know that.”
“Then stop fantasizing and get the hell to sleep.”
“Maybe I had a real thing for Larry and hated Lila’s guts for what she was doing to him.”
“Of course! And I never once suspected. Listen, Cleopatra, you couldn’t think adultery without my knowing it.”
Oh, no? thought Nancy. “Well, anyway, I had the opportunity, and I’ll bet Lieutenant Masters latches on to it. He won’t reject the idea, even if you do.”
“I love you, damn it!” yelled David. “You’re my wife!”
“Now, David, you know that has nothing to do with anything.”
David was tensely silent, whereby Nancy knew he was counting to ten. “How long were you down in the alley with Stanley, did you say?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Quite a while. We smoked and talked.”
“You see what I’m getting at? I wasn’t asleep at all. While you and Stanley were in the alley, I sneaked over and killed Lila myself. It only took a few minutes.”
“You didn’t even know Larry was gone.”
“I saw him leave from the window.”
“You did not, David Howell! You were snoring your silly head off. I wish you wouldn’t make up such stories.”
“It’s no use,” said David hollowly. “I’m making a full confession tomorrow.”
Nancy lay down and rolled over on her side, and the feel of her rump made it clear that she wanted nothing more said about anything. David contentedly fell asleep.
“I think I’ll go up to bed,” Dr. Jack Richmond said.
“Let’s have a nightcap first,” his wife said. “I want to talk to you.”
“Talk? Do you think that’s wise, Vera?”
“It will probably be futile, but I’d like to try. It all depends on how honest you’re prepared to be.”
“All right. But I think you’re making a mistake.”
“I’ll have a bourbon and water, please.”
He left the living room and came back with two highballs. He handed one to Vera and carried the other to the chair he had been occupying.
“Did Larry kill Lila?” Vera said.
“It looks like it.”
“Where do you think Larry is?”
“I think he’s exactly where you think he is. Or was. He’s certainly been found, and probably removed, by this time.”
“In his office?”
“Yes.”
“Dead?”
“Of course. What other escape did he have?”
“You mean you think he committed suicide, Jack?”
“I’d bet on it.”
“If you thought Larry was a suicide in his office, why didn’t you say so to Lieutenant Masters?”
“Why should I? Let Masters find Larry himself.”
“Do you think that policeman has enough intelligence to understand what happened?”
“Don’t underestimate him. He’s not the fool he looks like. As a matter of fact, I have the feeling he’s a lot more capable than he wants people to believe. Don’t worry about his seeing what’s under his nose.”
“You talk as if you know that Larry’s killed himself.”
“It’s a logical assumption. The office was locked, his car was parked in back. Given Lila’s murder, Larry’s suicide fits.”
“Well, that should pretty well close the affair, shouldn’t it?”
“I hope so.”
Vera sipped thoughtfully. “Still, you say Masters is bright. Suppose he’s bright enough to keep on poking?”
“What about it?” asked Dr. Jack Richmond.
“I’m thinking about you.”
“Me? I appreciate your concern, dear, but I can’t see why that should bother me.”
“Can’t you? If that detective keeps on with his investigation, he may find out about your affair with Lila.”
“We agreed not to discuss that again.”
“I know, but all this rather changes matters, doesn’t it?”
“It doesn’t make me a murderer, Vera. The affair was over. I was completely candid with you about it, and you agreed to stay with me.”
“Because you wanted me to.”
“Yes, and I still want you to. I always will. Lila was a malicious bitch. She would have ruined me in time, the way she was ruining Larry. Or rather, she would have made me ruin myself. But I put an end to it, and Larry never knew, and I’m glad for that.”
“Are you sure it was over?” Vera asked, frowning.
“Are you starting to doubt me?”
“I don’t mean you. Was it over for her?”
“She had no choice.”
“Didn’t she? Can a man scorn a woman like Lila and get away with it? She would have destroyed you if she could. As a doctor you’re particularly vulnerable.”
“Are you suggesting, Vera, that I might have killed Lila because she threatened my position in this town? I’m not such a fool or coward. There are all sorts of things I could do besides practice medicine. It would be tough, but it would be a lot tougher for me to commit murder.”
“I wonder, darling,” murmured his wife. “Anyway, I’m merely trying to read the evidence as a detective might.”
“What evidence?”
“Stop and think. You were called to the hospital last night. You were gone over two hours. Where were you all that time?”
“I drove to the hospital, stayed there until I was finished, and came home.”