1965 - The Way the Cookie Crumbles Read Online Free PDF Page B

them.
    ‘Thanks for the coffee,’ Beigler said at the door.
    ‘Keep your nose clean, pint-size,’ Hess said.
    The two detectives went out, shutting the door behind them.
    Edris remained still for several minutes, his face mottled with hot, rising blood. His eyes gleamed. His stumpy fingers scratched on the arms of the chair as he wrestled with his rage.
    Later, when the hands of his watch moved to 07.15 hours, he got to his feet and crossed to the telephone. He dialled a number. As he waited for the connection, he lit a cigarette.
    A woman’s voice said, ‘This is the Graham Co-Educational School.’
    ‘I want to speak to Dr. Graham,’ Edris said. ‘This is very urgent.’
    ‘Who is this?’
    ‘My name is Edward Edris. This is a matter that concerns Norena Devon one of your pupils. It’s an emergency.’
    ‘Will you hold it please?’
    Edris sucked in smoke and released it down his nostrils.
    There was a little delay, then a man’s voice said, ‘This is Dr. Graham.’
    ‘Doctor, this is Edward Edris. I am a friend of the Devon family. Norena knows me well. There has been an accident. Her mother is very seriously hurt.’
    ‘I am sorry to hear that. What would you like me to do, Mr. Edris?’
    ‘Would you break the news to Norena? Don’t tell her how serious it is. Just say there’s been an accident. Dr. Graham, it so happens that Mr. Stanley Tebbel, Mrs. Devon’s attorney, is in Greater Miami right now. I have already spoken to him. As he is returning to Paradise City immediately, he would drive Norena back with him. This would save time. Her mother is asking for her.’
Edris waited, aware of his mounting tension. This was the crux of the conversation. Would Graham play or was he going to be difficult?
    ‘Mr . . . who did you say?’ Graham asked, after a pause.
    ‘Stanley Tebbel.’
    ‘Does Norena know this gentleman.’
    ‘She must know of him. I doubt if they have met. Dr. Graham, I can understand what you are thinking. One doesn’t let a girl of seventeen go off with a strange man. I appreciate your cautiousness. But this is extremely urgent. To put it bluntly, Norena’s mother is dying. Look, I suggest, you break the news to Norena, tell her I telephoned, she knows me well. Ask her to call me and I will explain to her about Mr. Tebbel. My telephone number is Seacombe 556.’
    Again there was a pause, then Dr. Graham said ‘That won’t be necessary, Mr. Edris. I’ll see Norena goes with Mr. Tebbel as soon as he arrives. I am very sorry about this.’
    ‘Thank you, Doctor.’
    ‘Norena will be ready to travel in half an hour. Good day to you, Mr. Edris,’ and the connection was cut.
    Edris hung up. His face was bright with a sly, wicked grin. Suddenly, he began to jump up and down, throwing his stumpy legs out like a Cossack dancer and clapping his stumpy hands together.
    He went dancing round and round the room, a sinister little figure of evil.
     
    * * *
     
    Dr. Wilbur Graham, a tall, balding, harassed-looking man, paced up and down his big study, his bony hands clasped behind his back. It was three days to end of term and he had still a lot to do, but he found he couldn’t settle to work until this sad business to do with Norena Devon, one of his favourite pupils, had been settled.
    He had already seen the girl and had broken the news to her. He had also told her that her mother’s attorney would be arriving any moment to take her home to her mother.
    Norena wasn’t a particularly attractive looking girl. She wore blue plastic framed spectacles and her complexion was sallow, but she was well built and her blonde hair was glossy and cared for.
    ‘Is - is she going to die?’ she had asked.
    ‘She is badly hurt, Norena. You must be brave about this. I think Mr. Edris would have said if she was in danger, but she is bad,’ Graham had said, shrinking from the truth.
    He was still pacing up and down when the maid announced Mr. Stanley Tebbel.
    ‘Show him right in,’ Graham