«How can I …»
«You’re worried about them. That’s good enough. And remember, it’s nearly over.»
MacAuliff returned. McDermott had «mistaken» the lateral catch in the guest room window as a possible sign of a break-in.
«All right, Mr. Tanner. Let’s start with when your guests arrived.»
And so John Tanner, functioning on two levels, related the blurred events of the evening. Bernie and Leila Osterman came downstairs and added very little of consequence. Ali came out of the study and contributed nothing.
«Very well, ladies and gentlemen.» MacAuliff got out of the chair.
«Aren’t you going to question the others?» Tanner also rose and faced the police captain.
«I was going to ask you if we could use your telephone. We have procedures.»
«Certainly.»
«Jenkins, call the Cardones. We’ll see them first.»
«Yes, sir.»
«What about the Tremaynes?»
«Procedures, Mr. Tanner. After we speak to the Cardones we’ll call the Tremaynes and then see them.»
«That way no one checks with anyone else, right?»
«That’s right, Mr. Osterman. You familiar with police work?»
«I write your guidelines every week.»
«My husband’s a television writer,» said Leila.
«Captain.» Patrolman Jenkins spoke from the telephone. «The Cardones aren’t home. I’ve got the maid on the line.»
«Call the Tremaynes.»
The group remained silent while Jenkins dialed. After a brief conversation Jenkins put down the telephone.
«Same story, Captain. The daughter says they’re not home either.»
22
Tanner sat with his wife in the living room. The Ostermans had gone upstairs; the police departed in search of the missing couples. Neither John nor Ali was comfortable. Ali because she had decided in her own mind who had killed the dog, John because he couldn’t get out of his mind the implications of the dog’s death.
«It was Dick, wasn’t it?» Alice asked.
«Dick?»
«He threatened me. He came into the kitchen and threatened me.»
«Threatened you?» If that was so, thought Tanner, why hadn’t Fassett’s men come sooner. «When? How?»
«When they were leaving… I don’t mean he threatened me personally. Just generally, all of us.»
«What did he say?» Tanner hoped Fassett’s men were listening now. It would be a point he’d bring up later.
«He said you shouldn’t make judgments. Editorial judgments.»
«What else?»
«That some … some people were more resourceful. That’s what he said. That I should remember that people weren’t always what they seemed… That some were more resourceful than others.»
«He could have meant several things.»
«It must be an awful lot of money.»
«What’s a lot of money?»
«Whatever he and Joe are doing with Jim Loomis. The thing you had looked into.»
Oh, God, thought Tanner. The real and the unreal. He’d almost forgotten his lie.
«It’s a lot of money,» he said softly, realizing he was on dangerous ground. It would occur to Ali that money itself was insufficient. He tried to anticipate her. «More than just money, I think. Their reputations could go down the drain.»
Alice stared at the single lighted table lamp. «Upstairs you … you thought Leila had done it, didn’t you?»
«I was wrong.»
«She was across the hall …»
«That wouldn’t make any difference; we went over that with MacAuliff. He agreed. A lot of the blood had dried, congealed. The pup was killed hours ago.»
«I guess you’re right.» Ali kept picturing Leila with her back pressed against the wall, staring straight ahead, listening to the conversation in the kitchen.
The clock on the mantel read five-twenty. They had agreed they would sleep in the living room, in front of the study, next to their children.
At five-thirty the telephone rang. MacAuliff had not found the Tremaynes or the Cardones. He told Tanner that he had decided to put out a missing persons bulletin.
«They may have decided to go into town, into New York,» said Tanner quickly. A missing persons bulletin might drive Omega underground, prolong the nightmare. «Some of those Village spots stay open. Give them more time. They’re friends, for heaven’s sake!»
«Can’t agree. No place stays open after four.»
«They may have decided to go to a hotel.»
«We’ll know soon enough. Hotels and hospitals are the first places M.P.B.’s go to.»
Tanner’s mind raced. «You’ve searched the surrounding towns? I know a few private clubs …»
«So do we. Checked out.»
Tanner knew he had to think of something. Anything that would give Fassett enough time to control the situation. Fassett’s men were listening on the line, there was no question about that; they’d see the danger instantly.
«Have you searched the area around the old depot? The one on Lassiter Road?»
«Who the hell would go out there? What for?»
«I found my wife and children there on Wednesday. Just a thought.»
The hint worked. «Call you back,» MacAuliff said. «I’ll check that out.»
As he hung up the telephone, Ali spoke. «No sign?»
«No… Honey, try to get some rest. I know of a couple of places—clubs—the police may not know about. I’ll try them, I’ll use the kitchen phone. I don’t want to wake the kids.»
Fassett answered the phone quickly.
«It’s Tanner. Do you know what’s happened?»
«Yes. That was damned good thinking. You’re hired.»
«That’s the last thing I want. What are you going to do? You can’t have an interstate search.»
«We know. Cole and Jenkins are in touch. We’ll intercept.»
«And then what?»
«There are several alternate moves. I don’t have time to explain. Also, I need this line. Thanks, again.» Fassett hung up.
«Tried two places,» said Tanner coming back into the living room. «No luck… Let’s try to get some sleep. They probably found a party and dropped in. Lord knows we’ve done that.»
«Not in years,» said Ali.
Both of them pretended to sleep. The tick of the clock was like a metronome, hypnotic, exasperating. Finally, Tanner realized his wife was asleep. He closed his eyes, feeling the heavy weight of his lids, aware of the complete blackness in front of his mind. But his hearing would not rest. At six-forty he heard the sound of a car. It came from in front of his house. Tanner got out of the chair and went quickly to the window. MacAuliff walked up the path, and he was alone. Tanner went out to meet him.
«My wife’s asleep. I don’t want to wake her.»
«Doesn’t matter,» said MacAuliff ominously. «My business is with you.»
«What?»
«The Cardones and the Tremaynes were rendered unconscious by a massive dose of ether. They were left in their car off the road by the Lassiter depot. Now I want to know why you sent us there. How did you know?»
Tanner could only stare at MacAuliff in silence.
«Your answer?»
«So help me, I didn’t know! I didn’t know anything… I’ll never forget Wednesday afternoon as long as I live. Neither would you if you were me. The depot just came to mind. I swear it!»
«It’s one hell of a coincidence, isn’t it?»
«Look, if I had known I would have told you hours ago! I wouldn’t put my wife through this. For Christ’s sake, be reasonable!»
MacAuliff looked at him questioningly. Tanner pressed on. «How did it happen? What did they say? Where are they?»
«They’re down at the Ridge Park Hospital. They won’t be released until tomorrow morning at the earliest.»