Kill as Directed Read Online Free PDF Page A

I’d like you—”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDr. Welliver never got into trouble. I can protect you—”
    â€œNo.”
    Gresham did not seem offended. “Well, let’s drop it for the time being. Of course, it’s been something of a shock to you. It’s my fault, Harry; I should have prepared you. But please remember I’m not asking you to commit any crimes, just to give me your confidential help on the rare occasions—”
    â€œ No .”
    â€œI won’t accept that till you’ve had time to think it over, Harry. Let me repeat: You’ll be very well paid—”
    â€œ No !”
    But he had let Kurt Gresham walk out of his office in the small hours that night, leaving the check for five hundred dollars on the desk. And he had slipped the check into his drawer after Gresham’s departure, not destroying it. And he had not reported the wounded woman, or her two subsequent visits for routine treatment—both late at night, long after hours. And the following week he had unlocked the desk drawer, slipped the check into his pocket and had gone over to his bank and cashed it.…
    Yes, the mysterious dead girl was connected with Kurt Gresham in some way, with one of his night clubs. It had to be; there was simply no other explanation. But how she had got into his apartment, and for what purpose; and why had Gresham said nothing to him about it in advance—to these questions Dr. Harry Brown had no answer.
    He was sure of only one thing: he was in something way over his head—in something deep, dark-and dirty.
    The door of the bare precinct-room opened and Detective Lieutenant Galivan came in. “Well, Doctor? Remember anything?”
    â€œNothing,” Dr. Brown said.
    â€œYour office checked out, by the way. You showered, shaved and changed all right. Here’s your key.” Harry took it. “Oh. What are your office hours?”
    â€œTwelve to two, four to seven. Otherwise, by appointment.”
    â€œNow about the lady,” Galivan said. “We have some interesting facts.”
    â€œYes, Lieutenant?”
    â€œUnfortunately, we found no purse, so we don’t know her name or where she lives. But the clothes are expensive and her body looks like a beautician’s ad. Recall a woman whose initials are L. M.?”
    Harry thought, “One or two patients, maybe. Why, Lieutenant?”
    â€œL. M. was embroidered on her panties. You’ve prescribed narcotics in your practice, haven’t you, Doctor?”
    â€œNaturally.” The sudden question jerked his head up.
    â€œA lot?”
    â€œNo more than normal.”
    â€œKept records?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œWe’re going to have to check them tonight. We’re also going to go through them for female patients with the initials L. M. Sorry to give you such a rough night, Doc.”
    â€œWhat’s all this about narcotics?” Harry asked casually. At least he hoped he sounded casual.
    â€œThe girl died of an overdose of heroin. She was an addict, a mainliner. Whenever you’re ready, Doc. First we’ll take your formal statement.”
    A police stenographer took his statement in the squad room, and then Galivan, young Murphy and two other policemen took him uptown to his office, where his records were closely examined.
    â€œClean on the narcotics, from the looks of it,” Galivan said.
    â€œThank you,” Harry said without enthusiasm.
    There were three female patients with the initials L. M., all from the previous year. Despite the hour, Galivan telephoned them.
    They all answered their phones, very much alive.
    â€œThat’s it, Doc,” Galivan said. “It’s out of your hands now and in mine. I’ll keep in touch. Give you a lift home?”
    Six days later, exactly at noon, Detective Lieutenant Galivan strolled into Dr. Harrison Brown’s office.
    â€œYou’ve identified her,” Harry