A Room to Die In Read Online Free PDF

Christmas, Ann.’ Not what I’d call effusive.”
    “I never felt
effusive.”
    “But he kept the
card. He also carried your photographs. Out of sentiment?”
    “I wouldn’t
know.”
    “Still, you
stand to inherit from him, unless a will providing otherwise turns up.”
    “Whatever’s left
after blackmail and taxes.”
    Tarr considered
the bankbook once again. “There should be at least thirty thousand cash. A
comfortable sum. There’s another twenty thousand represented by that
withdrawal. I’d like to know where it went. If your mother got it, she’d
naturally claim it was a gift. Unless threats or duress could be proved, that’s
the last you’d see of it.”
    “She can keep
it, as far as I’m concerned.”
    “I’ll certainly
want to talk to your mother.”
    He opened the
bottom drawer. There was nothing in it but a ream of typing paper. On the left
side of the desk was a single drawer that proved to be locked. Tarr brought the
keys from his pocket and unlocked it. He withdrew a bulging nine-by-twelve-inch
manila envelope and opened it. “Stock certificates issued to Roland Nelson.” He
sheafed through them. “Kaiser Aluminum, a hundred shares. Lockheed, two hundred
shares. Pacific Gas and Electric, fifty shares. No, here’s more—two hundred and
fifty. U.S. Rubber, five hundred. Sinclair Oil, Southern California Edison,
International Harvester, DiGiorgio Farms, Lykes Steamship, Koppers, National
Cash Register, Fruehauf Trailer . . . there must be a hundred thousand dollars
here. Good heavens, woman— you’re wealthy!”
    Ann tried to
keep her voice even. “Unless there’s a will.”
    Tarr reached
into the drawer and brought out a long white envelope, from which he withdrew
two sheets of typing paper. “Speaking of wills . . .” He read to himself with
what seemed maddening deliberation. Ann forced herself to sit quietly, though
her heart was pounding and she felt hot, stupid and greedy.
    “Speaking of
wills,” said Tarr once again, “here it is. Holographic.” He handed the will to
Ann. Her eyes raced across the handwritten sentences:
    Inisfail, California
    March 11, 1963
    LAST
WILL AND TESTAMENT
    I,
Roland Nelson, being of sound mind, good health, and in a noteworthy state of
sobriety, declare this to be my last will and testament. I bequeath all the
property of which I die possessed to my daughter, Ann Nelson, and I nominate
her to be executrix of this will, subject only to the following exceptions and
provisions:
    1.
She must pay all my legitimate debts;
    2.
I bequeath my corpse to any medical or educational institution which will
accept said corpse. If such institution is not conveniently to be found, I
direct my executrix to dispose of said corpse by the least costly method
consistent with the laws of California, without the intercession of
participation of priest, dervish, witch doctor, seer, shaman, professional
mourner, monk, fakir, exorcist, musician, incense -swinger, or other religious
practitioner, or cleric of any sect, cult, or superstition whatsoever;
    3.
She must by all lawful and practical means retain in her personal and immediate
possession for a period of at least twenty years from the date of my death that
article of medieval Persian craftsmanship presented to me by Pearl Maudley
Nelson on or about February 2, 1962;
    4.
She must pay to Mrs. Harvey J. Gluck of North Hollywood, California, the sum of
ten cents per annum, at the demand of the said Mrs. Harvey J. Gluck, for the
duration of the life of the said Mrs. Harvey J. Gluck;
    5.
To each of all and any other claimants upon my estate, I bequeath the sum of
one cent.
    In witness whereof,
on this eleventh day of March, 1963 I subscribe my signature:
    ROLAND
NELSON
    This instrument,
having been signed and declared by Roland Nelson to be his last will and
testament, in our presence, on this eleventh day of March, 1963, in the
presence of Roland Nelson and each other, we subscribe our names as