Kiss and Kill Read Online Free PDF Page B

troubles and problems. You get a line on your patsy’s particular ones, and jump off from there. If you know human nature, you can’t miss. Every successful salesman pulls the same trick.” He steered onto the highway. “Check that list the tour guy, Carmano, gave us. Who’s nearest?”
    Ed spread out a typewritten sheet. “Maynard and Susan Barton, Rural Route 2, Corby, Colorado.”
    â€œThe old retired couple, Fibber McGee and Bess Truman. We’ll stop in a motel if you’re tired.”
    â€œI couldn’t rest. Keep driving.”
    In the valley below, a village lay in strong shadow. The snow-capped peaks beyond were salmony in the setting sun. A graveled drive led past a gatepost with a crude sign: “THE BARTONS.” A weathered little frame cottage snuggled beneath scented pines.
    â€œWhat the hell did they want to go to Mexico for when they live in country like this?” Barney said. “But I suppose the angels get tired of Paradise. Nobody home?”
    There was no car in the little garage. The front door was barred and padlocked.
    â€œA new lock,” said Barney. “That’s funny.”
    â€œMaybe,” said Ed, “the Bartons have gone on another trip.”
    â€œLet’s check the windows.”
    All the windows were shuttered tight except one; it looked into an old-fashioned kitchen. A bunch of Dutchman’s-breeches drooped in a vase. Unwashed dishes filled the sink.
    â€œPeople don’t usually leave dirty dishes when they go on a trip,” said Barney. “Get the tire iron out of the car, Ed, and I’ll jimmy this window.”
    â€œWait!” Ed pointed to a thin insulated wire running between the window molding and the frame. His finger traced it to where it led into the house. “If you pry up that window, Barney, you’ll break a connection.”
    â€œYou’re the electrician.”
    Ed shrugged. “It could be attached to a bomb.”
    â€œThere’s only one way to find out,” said Barney.
    They located a coil of bailing wire in the garage and hooked it to the window wire. Reeling out about twenty yards of it, Barney got behind a tree and yanked. He was braced for an explosion, but nothing happened. After two minutes Ed stepped out from behind his tree and checked the window. He listened for a moment, then walked back.
    â€œYou started some mechanism working inside the house. I think it’s a signaling device.”
    Barney grinned. “We’ll hide the car, take cover, and see who set the alarm.”
    They parked in a woods a hundred yards down the road, then hid behind a clump of evergreens beside the driveway. Cold air flowed down from the peaks like a mountain stream, and they began to shiver.
    â€œHow long do we wait?” asked Ed. “It’s been a good half hour.”
    â€œThere’s somebody coming now.”
    A car had appeared on the road below, its headlights shooting here and there like tracers as it rounded the hairpin turns. It negotiated the last half mile with its lights off and halted at the gate with a crunch of tires. Barney drew his gun.
    For a minute nothing happened. Then suddenly a powerful searchlight blazed from the top of the car. It played over the cottage as a voice bellowed through a speaker:
    â€œCOME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP!”
    Barney let his breath out. He was chuckling. “We hooked ourselves a lawman.”
    â€œThen there’s no problem,” said Ed.
    At that moment the beam vanished. A wiry figure in khaki got out of the car and walked up the drive, spearing his flashlight before him. He passed ten feet from the hidden men, and they saw a gun in his right hand. Barney gripped Ed’s arm, cautioning him to keep quiet; he had found it wise not to try to surprise men who carried guns. The lawman went directly to the wired window, studied it for a moment, then directed his flash into the kitchen.
    â€œThe problem