Читать онлайн "Murder — His and Hers" - Collins Barbara - RuLit

“Disaster seems to follow you, Mr. Vane, wherever you go.”

Anthony avoided the security chief’s glare. “I’ve told you a dozen times, it was an accident,” he said. “I was taking Cora — Mrs. Hazen — to see the fort and she lost her footing, and slipped on the stairs.”

“Problem with that story,” Lausen said, “is I saw you give the gal a yank, to help her along.”

Anthony said nothing.

Lausen sighed. “Of course, I’m just a little old eyewitness. I’m sure the victim herself will have her own opinion of exactly what happened.”

Anthony looked at him sharply.

“That’s right,” Lausen smiled nastily, “she’s got some broken bones, some bumps, some scratches, a concussion. But she’s a tough old gal. Dr. Swayze will be bringing her here in a few minutes to give a statement.”

Anthony sat forward, gesturing frantically. “It was an accident, I tell you. I mean, maybe it was me who slipped on the steps, and I grabbed her to catch my balance...”

“Again, let’s see what Mrs. Hazen thinks — and I’m hoping she’ll have some idea of what your motive might’ve been. After all, I can understand why you tossed your rich wife over the rail...”

“That was uncalled for.”

“It sure as hell as was.”

Anthony scowled at the smug son of a bitch. “What were you doing there, anyway, Lausen?”

“When I saw you head up the stairs, I couldn’t follow, since I was in a car,” Lausen said flatly. “I took the drive up to the top... see, my men and me have been keeping you in our sights ever since you reported your wife missing, and saw you hookin’ up with this Hazen woman. It’s gonna be real interesting findin’ how she’s involved — but I’m sure she’ll be willing to fill us in, now that you’ve just tried to kill her.”

There was a sharp knock at the door, and Lausen said, “Come on in.”

The door opened and Cora Hazen came slowly in, on crutches, one arm in a cast, a bandage wrapped around her head as if she had a big toothache. Dr. Swayze followed right behind her.

Anthony groaned at the sight of her and lowered his gaze and shook his head.

“Mrs. Hazen,” Lausen said gently, “how are you feeling?”

“Awful!” she snapped. “Just awful. Somebody pushed me down some stairs.”

“All right, all right,” Anthony blurted, “I waive my rights. I pushed her. I pushed the silly bitch!”

“And your wife?” Lausen asked.

“Ask Cora Hazen — she was there. She saw me throw Margaret over the side. She... she saw it all.”

Lausen smiled, gestured to Anthony. “Mrs. Hazen, is there anything you’d like to tell us about this man?”

Cora looked sideways at the doctor, then at Lausen, and finally at Vane. “I’ve never seen him before in my life!” she said. “But he is a nice-looking gentleman.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Hazen,” Lausen said. “That’ll be all for now.”

And when they’d gone, Lausen told Anthony.

“Alzheimer’s?” Anthony asked.

And Anthony began to laugh, laughter that turned to tears as he buried his face in hands, wishing he could forget.

That night, on deck, standing at the rail, Jennifer Kafer and Dr. Thomas Swayze looked out at the gently rolling ocean painted ivory by moonlight.

“You’ve been wonderful about Mother,” she said to him. She wore a blue evening gown and he wore his dress uniform. Her arm was hooked in the crook of his.

“Keeping her in the infirmary, under constant watch,” he said, “is a precaution I felt needed taking.”

“I hate to say this, but it is nice to have some time away from her, alone... I mean, I love her, and as you said, I feel lucky that this disease has taken only her memory, not turned her mean or ugly.”

“You can have many wonderful moments with your mother... worth remembering.”

“Even if she can’t,” Jennifer said, with sad, wry smile.

“You know what you need?”

“What do you prescribe, doctor?”

“You need some memories of your own...”

And he kissed her, and she kissed back; it was just a shipboard romance, of course, but it would be fun for both of them, to look back on in their old age.

“Inconvenience Store” Copyright © 1994 by Max Allan Collins. First appeared in Deadly Allies II. “Ms. Tree” characters created by Max Allan Collins and Terry Beatty; a trademark of Max Allan Collins and Terry Beatty