She wept briefly, alcoholically, in self pity.
“We could always run away,” I said. “But then he’d see to it that you never got a dime of his money. I’m afraid this delightful thing we’ve discovered would-go-quite sour in a cold water flat.”
“Freddy, we’re in such a mess!”
“Unless he should go away forever,” I said.
“No, no. Don’t talk about it. Just kiss me, Freddy.”
I kissed her.
The thought lay dormant between us until the night before uncle Charlie’s return. Maddy and I were in my apartment for our now-customary nightcaps when she voiced the looming fact: “Tomorrow he’ll be home, Freddy.”
“I know.”
“It was tough enough before, Freddy, not at all like what I’d once thought it would be. But now — I simply can’t stand the thought of that house and that possessive old man.”
“I know,” I said again.
“What you mentioned the other night, Freddy, about him being gone for good. It could be arranged. Old men do have accidents.”
“We’ll have to give it some thought,” I said.
“A great deal of thought,” she agreed. “We’ll have to plan very carefully.”
“Yes,” I said, “I’m always in favor of the most careful planning.”
Dutifully, I was on hand to greet uncle Charlie when he arrived at his home the next afternoon. I listened with keen attention as he told me of the medical treatment he’d received and how much better he was feeling.
Maddy lacked the acting ability with which I am generously endowed. She could not suppress entirely a slight shudder as the big-knuckled hands of the gaunt, gray old man reached to embrace her.
“Please, Uncle,” I said, “let me have the pleasure of helping to celebrate your return home in better health. I sold a property just today and you simply must permit me a spendthrift moment on this happy day. I’m having a caterer serve a small dinner tonight in my apartment for the three of us.”
Maddy gave me a puzzled look, but Uncle Charlie’s old eyes misted. He patted my shoulder. “You really are a fine boy, Freddy. You can count on us being there.”
Uncle Charlie stepped onto the stair lift that carried him to the second story of his old colonial home. As he disappeared into the upper hallway, trailed by a servant carrying his bags, Maddy gave me a fierce whisper: “What ever did you do that for?”
“The dinner? Why, darling, we’re all going to be much closer from now on as a family. Then if you and I just happen to bump into each other at your country club—”
Her anger was replaced by a secretive smile. “Sure, Freddy, nobody would think much of it. You do think of all the angles.”
“I try to. Until tonight, my sweet.”
I was alone in my apartment when Uncle Charlie and Maddy arrived. I welcomed them, thrust drinks in their hands.
Uncle Charlie looked about. “Where’s the caterer? I want food, not booze!”
“A drink to steady you, uncle Charlie, for a spot of pre-dinner entertainment.” As I spoke the words, I was crossing the room.
I flicked a switch, and the recorder began its planned playback. Voices, mine and Maddy’s, filled the room in stereo sound.
First there were spoken endearments, gusty exclamations of passion.
Violent rage began to suffuse Uncle Charlie’s face as comprehension chased away his initial bewilderment? Maddy choked on her drink, dropped the glass to the carpet.
“Freddy!” she gasped. “Have you gone mad?”
She would have rushed to me, but uncle Charlie grabbed her wrist with those surprisingly strong, big-knuckled old hands.
“Frederick,” he said in a subzero tone, “your explanation had better be good!”
I held up my hand for silence. “The tape will explain itself.”
And from the tape came the disembodied voices:
“...You think 1 married him only for his money, Freddy? Well — Perhaps I did — Just kiss me, Freddy...”
“...Tomorrow he’ll be home, Freddy...”
“...I know...”
“...I can’t stand the thought of that house and that possessive old man...”
“...I know...”
“...Old men do have accidents, Freddy... It could be arranged... We’ll have to plan very carefully...”
There was more, much more, since I’d recorded every word that had passed between Maddy and me in this apartment and then spliced the tape to my satisfaction.
But Uncle Charlie needed no more. With a sound of rage that would have done credit to a scarred old grizzly, he turned on his young, treacherous wife.
I was prepared for his action and sprang instantly: I grabbed him before he could get his hands on her throat.
“No!” I yelled. “Don’t be a fool! Is she worth the trouble you’ll cause yourself?”
I wrestled him back. Maddy complicated things by letting out a sudden screech and lunging at me with the intention of separating my eyes from their sockets.
“You dirty louse!” she screamed. “You tricked me!”
I ducked her clawing fingernails, caught her wrists; She struck the door with her back, slightly disheveled, vulgar and cheap.
“Listen, Charlie,” she said desperately, “I can explain things. If you’ll—”
“Get out,” Uncle Charlie said in a choked voice: “Get out while you have a chance!”
“Charlie—” she wailed.
“My lawyers will take immediate action,” Uncle Charlie said. “You’ve had it, you dirty little chippy. The divorce will be quick. You’ll never get a damn dime!”
Maddy looked from one to the other of us. She recognized the finality of her defeat.
She tried to kill me with one final look. Then a sob ripped through her. She opened the door and staggered out.
The apartment was very quiet. I put my arm about Uncle Charlie’s shoulders.
“I’m sorry, Uncle Charlie. Very sorry.”
“I ought to hate you, Freddy.”
“But you don’t. Because you can see that it was the only way. It didn’t take me long to see through her.”
He sighed heavily. “Just an old fool — with the wool over his eyes.”
I helped him to the couch.
“Don’t berate yourself. It’s over now. You must go about the business of forgetting her.”
“Yes,” he said with a slow breath, “you’re right, of course.”
“How about that drink now, Uncle Charlie?”
“Yes — I need it.” His eyes followed me. I gave him a smile as I dropped ice in a glass.
“You’re all I have now Freddy,” he said. “Just like before. All I have. Lucky for me you’re such a good boy.”
I chunked him lightly on the shoulder as I handed him the drink. I mixed a drink for myself, and we raised our glasses.
The room was warmed with the feeling of comradeship. He had no way of knowing that I was toasting the day in the near future when an unfortunate accident would be arranged for him.
When the divorce was final, when Maddy’s removal was complete, Uncle Charlie’s time would be up.
I’d waited for Uncle Charlie’s money, a long time. I certainly didn’t intend to risk the shock and danger again of another such as Maddy.