Fear is the Key Read Online Free PDF Page A

crack and the hollow reverberations ofthe Colt. Donnelly was on the floor, both handsgripped round his lower thigh, staring up at mewith an expression compounded of incomprehensionand dazed disbelief.
    â€˜We’ve all got to learn some time,’ I said flatly.I glanced at the doorway, the shots were boundto have attracted attention, but there was no onethere. Not that I was anxious on this point: apartfrom the two constables – both of them temporarilyunfit for duty – who had jumped me atthe La Contessa, the sheriff and Donnelly constitutedthe entire police force of Marble Springs.But even so, delay was as foolish as it was dangerous.
    â€˜You won’t get far, Talbot!’ The sheriff’s thin-lipped mouth twisted itself into exaggerated movementsas he spoke through tightly clenched teeth.‘Within five minutes of you leaving, every lawofficer in the county will be looking for you: withinfifteen minutes the call will be state-wide.’ Hebroke off, wincing, as a spasm of pain twistedhis face, and when he looked at me again hisexpression wasn’t pretty. ‘The call’s going out for amurderer, Talbot, an armed murderer: they’ll haveorders to shoot on sight and shoot to kill.’
    â€˜Look, now, Sheriff––’ the judge began, but gotno further.
    â€˜Sorry, Judge. He’s mine.’ The sheriff lookeddown at the policeman lying groaning on the floor.‘The moment he took that gun he stopped beingyour business … You better get going, Talbot: youwon’t have far to run.’
    â€˜Shoot to kill, eh?’ I said thoughtfully. I lookedround the court. ‘No, no, not the gentlemen –they might start getting death or glory ideas abouthaving medals pinned on them …’
    â€˜What the hell you talking about?’ the sheriffdemanded.
    â€˜Nor the young ladies of the high school. Hysteria…’ I murmured. I shook my head thenlooked at the girl with the dark-blonde hair. ‘Sorry,miss, it’ll have to be you.’
    â€˜What – what do you mean?’ Maybe she wasscared, maybe she was just acting scared. ‘Whatdo you want?’
    â€˜You. You heard what the Lone Ranger said –as soon as the cops see me they’re going to startshooting at everything in sight. But they wouldn’tshoot at a girl, especially not at one as good lookingas you. I’m in a jam, miss, and I need an insurancepolicy. You’re it. Come on.’
    â€˜Damn it, Talbot, you can’t do that!’ JudgeMollison sounded hoarse, frightened. ‘An innocentgirl. You’d put her life in danger –’
    â€˜Not me,’ I pointed out. ‘If anybody’s going toput her life in danger it’ll be the friends of thesheriff here.’
    â€˜But – but Miss Ruthven is my guest. I – I invitedher here this afternoon to –’
    â€˜Contravention of the rules of the old southernhospitality. I know. Emily Post would have somethingto say about this.’ I caught her by the arm,pulled her none too gently to her feet and outsideinto the aisle. ‘Hurry up, miss, we haven’t –’
    I dropped her arm and took one long step up theaisle, clubbed pistol already reversed and swinging.For some time now I’d had my eye on the broken-nosed character three seats behind the girl and theplay and shift of expression across the broken landscapeof his Neanderthalic features as he struggledto arrive at and finally make a decision couldn’thave been more clearly indicated by ringing bellsand coloured lights.
    He was almost vertical and halfway out into theaisle, with his right hand reaching deep under thelapel of his coat when the butt end of my Coltcaught his right elbow. The impact jarred even myarm so I could only guess what it did to his: quitea lot, if his anguished howl and sudden collapseback into the bench were any criterion. MaybeI’d misjudged the man, maybe he’d only beenreaching