‘Why’d she go to Barter’s place?’
‘Why do you think?’
‘But why there?’
‘Why not? Good loot. I told you, we’re getting married. We can use all the loot we can get our hands on.’
‘Where’s she from?’
‘The next state. Me, too. Can’t you tell? I got an accent a mile long. These hicks don’t dig it.’
‘And she was staying at Barter’s place?’
‘Only to work. She was registered here at the hotel. That’s what I don’t get. Everybody says she left town, but she didn’t check out of this place.’
‘When did she arrive?’
‘Two days ago. She called me the first night, and then she said she’d call me again the next night. That was last night. When I didn’t get her call, I tried to reach her at Barter’s but the number ain’t listed. The people here at the hotel said she wasn’t in her room. This morning, I come right over the river. Man, I love that girl, you understand?’
‘Did she tell you anything about the place when she spoke to you?’
‘Only that she thought she could make a lot of money. She planned to stay a month, did I tell you? So how come she pulls up stakes now?’ Simms paused. ‘Something’s mighty fishy. They told me at the station she got on a Davistown train. Why Davistown?’ He paused again. ‘How come you ask so many questions?’
‘Force of habit,’ I said, smiling.
The room got very quiet. Simms poured himself another drink. The whisky splashed into the glass. He didn’t seem short at all. He seemed very tall. He sloshed the liquor around for a moment and then swallowed it. He looked at me steadily.
‘You’re a cop, ain’t you?’ he asked.
‘Yes.’
‘Vice Squad?’
‘No.’
‘What then?’
‘Just an ordinary dick. I’m on vacation. My girl disappeared at Barter’s place.’
‘So now you’re messin’ with it?’
‘Yes.’
‘All this stuff I told you about Lois...’ Simms hesitated.
‘What stuff?’
‘You know, about her being...’
‘I didn’t hear a thing,’ I said.
‘I mean...’
‘I didn’t hear a thing. We’ve been discussing life, haven’t we?’
Simms smiled. ‘What did you say your name was?’
‘Phil Colby.’
He extended his hand. ‘Simms. Johnny. You can call me Johnny.’
I took his hand.
‘I ain’t shaking with you because I want to find out whether or not you got a dagger,’ Simms said. ‘I’m saying we’re friends.’
‘I hear you.’
‘Are we?’
‘I’m shaking hands,’ I said.
‘Good.’ Simms paused. ‘I’m still gonna snoop around. If you need help, let me know. I got to find her, Colby.’
‘Phil,’ I said.
I left him and walked through the town. I had about an hour before meeting Mitchell, and it was the longest hour I ever spent in my life. After he arrived, we sort of went our separate ways because he thought he could accomplish more, not being known to Barter or the local cops. He told me later what happened, but that would probably be hearsay, and the best thing would be to have him here to tell it himself. But he’s on a plant right now, and his job is law enforcement, and he’s a more indispensable cop than I am. I have his deposition here, which I’ve been advised might be admitted as evidence. Whether it’s admitted or not, I’d like permission to read it now because it fills in some of the gaps between my talk with Simms and what happened later on.
Chapter twelve
Anthony Mitchell, being duly sworn, deposes and says as follows:
I arrived in the town of Sullivan’s Corners at 5.45 p.m. on the evening of June 4th. I was driving an unmarked police sedan which Lieutenant DeMorra allowed me to check out. I have to admit that I was a little puzzled by the trouble Phil had got himself into, and a little surprised that the lieutenant was going out on a limb to help. Actually, I shouldn’t have been surprised by anything the lieutenant did. He’s about the greatest skipper there is, and I wouldn’t trade him for Christmas every Sunday.
I found the only bank in town, and I also found the restaurant next door to it. For the record, the place was called ‘Fanny’s’. I took a table at the rear, and ordered a cup of coffee from a blond waitress who winked at me. I didn’t wink back because I happen to be married, and 1 happen to feel that winks are for the teen-agers. I’m old-fashioned that way. I’m old-fashioned because my wife Sandy is old-fashioned, too. We agreed to the words, and the words were ‘and forsaking all others keep you alone unto him as long as you both shall live’, and that made it legal, and I’m a big believer in things legal, otherwise I wouldn’t be a cop.
I couldn’t have been sitting for more than five minutes when Phil came in. He looked tired. I work with the guy, and I’ve seen him on tough assignments, and I’ve seen him on all-night plants, but he never looked quite as tired as when he walked into that place. He’s a tall guy, with blond hair, and he was wearing grey slacks and a light-blue short-sleeved sports shirt. He looked very neat even though he hadn’t shaved-blond guys don’t have to shave except every other Thursday-but there was this tired slump to his shoulders, and this tired expression around his eyes. He spotted me immediately, and came straight to the table, extending his hand. I stood up and took it.
‘Tony,’ he said.
‘Sit down. Phil,’ I told him. ‘You look about ready to cave in.’
‘I’m kind of bushed,’ he said.
I signaled for the waitress and ordered another cup of coffee.
‘I haven’t had dinner yet,’ Phil said, and I don’t know whether or not you are familar with this boy’s appetite, but to be kind I’ll say it’s somewhat wolfish. He asked for a menu, and I listened in awe while he ordered. ‘I’ve got to eat to think straight,’ he said. ‘Did the skipper tell you what happened?’
‘He told me Ann’s vanished. He also said you think she’s safe. What else is there?’
‘The place she vanished from is a whorehouse.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Positive.’
‘Mmmm,’ I said.
‘What do you think?’ Phil asked.
‘I don’t know. I just got here. How’d she vanish?’
‘From her cabin. I don’t know how. She was there asleep, and then suddenly she wasn’t.’
‘Her clothes?’
‘Gone. Luggage, too. Whoever cleaned out the cabin did a good job. Even got new tenants to take over after she was gone.’
‘Oh?’
‘Fellow named Joe Carlisle, and his alleged wife, girl named Stephanie. I checked later. Carlisle’s not married.’
‘Who was the girl?’
‘I don’t know. I thought one of the hookers at first, but her clothes were in the closet, and there was a dresser full of underwear. The closet stuff wasn’t a hooker’s working gear.’
‘What stuff?’
‘Some dresses, skirts, like that. From what I could gather talking to Simms—’
‘Who?’
‘Johnny Simms. Boyfriend of one of the girls who, incidentally, is also missing. Tony, this whole setup stinks. Did the lieutenant tell you about the blood?’