Darkroom Read Online Free PDF

sight of Jim and beckoned, furtively, as if she didn’t want anybody else to see her. ‘Excuse me a minute,’ he told Vinnie. ‘Medusa calls.’
    They called Mrs Frogg Medusa because of her gray, snake-like hair and her pale-green bulging eyes. Vinnie reckoned that all of the white marble figures that supported the front of West Grove Community College were former members of staff who had dared to talk back to Mrs Frogg, and whom she had instantly turned to stone.
    â€˜Something I can help you with?’ Jim asked her.
    â€˜Dr Ehrlichman wishes you to come to his office, Mr Rook. There is a police detective who would like to have words with you.’
    â€˜A police detective? What about?’
    â€˜Not for me to say, Mr Rook.’
    Jim turned and gave a brief wave to Vinnie, tapping his wristwatch to indicate that he was definitely going to keep their appointment tomorrow. Mrs Frogg wordlessly led the way along the corridor, her rubber-soled shoes squelching. She made Jim feel as if he were thirteen years old again, summoned to the principal’s office for blocking up the water fountains with blotting paper.
    Mrs Frogg knocked and an irritable voice called out, ‘Yes, yes! Come on in!’ When Jim went in, Dr Ehrlichman was sitting at his desk in his shirtsleeves, his bright-green necktie askew, looking troubled. He was small and bald. He wore old-fashioned, heavy-rimmed spectacles, and he had a large, hooked nose and a little bristly moustache. He looked as if he had bought spectacles, nose and moustache, all joined together, from a magic store. But it was the man standing by the window with his back turned who immediately caught Jim’s attention. He was almost square – with shoulders so broad that they had strained the stitching of his crumpled tan coat – and short, stocky legs. He had a wiry tangle of sandy-colored hair and dandruff on his collar.
    â€˜Well, well,’ said Jim. ‘Lieutenant Harris. I thought I read in the paper that you retired.’
    Lieutenant Harris turned around. Although Dr Ehrlichman’s office was air-conditioned, his face was crimson and he was sweating. ‘I decided to stay on for another three years. If you knew my wife, you’d understand why. How about you, Mr Rook? I thought you’d gone for good.’
    â€˜I went to Washington, yes, but things didn’t really work out.’
    â€˜Sorry to hear that. I can’t truthfully say that I’m delighted to see you back.’
    â€˜Thanks. Good to see you again, too.’
    Lieutenant Harris managed a sweaty smile. ‘Nothing personal, Mr Rook. It’s just that whenever you’re around … it seems like spooky things start to happen.’
    â€˜Spooky things happen all the time, Lieutenant.
Life
is generally spooky. Maybe you’re more aware of life’s general spookiness when I’m around, because you think
I’m
spooky.’ He paused, and when Lieutenant Harris didn’t answer, he said, ‘What’s the problem this time?’
    Lieutenant Harris took out his notebook, licked his finger and turned over two pages. ‘Two students of yours – Robert Tubbs and Sara Miller …’
    â€˜I’m sorry – this is my first day today. I haven’t had the chance to get to know any of my students yet, not by name.’
    â€˜These two, you never will. At nine thirty this morning they were both found dead.’
    â€˜Oh, God. I’m sorry. How did it happen?’
    â€˜Very spookily, which is why I wanted to talk to you.’
    â€˜Why me? I never even met them.’
    â€˜I know. But I think you might be able to help us.’
    Jim held up his hand. ‘Listen … before you continue, I don’t get involved with any of that stuff any more. I came back to West Grove to lead a normal, boring, underpaid, ordinary life. I’m very sad to hear that two young people have died, but as far as I’m