The Cradle Will Fall Read Online Free PDF

slippers, I'll
    just have to start calling you Cinderella. We'll call your husband
    Prince Charming." Vangie was nuts about her husband.

     
    But Vangie had just pouted and said impatiently, "Prince
    Charming was Sleeping Beauty's boy friend, not Cinderella's."
    Edna had just laughed. "Never mind—before you know it, you'll
    have your baby and be back in pretty shoes again."

     
    Last night Vangie had pulled up that long caftan she'd started
    wearing to hide her swollen leg. "Edna," she'd said, "now I can
    hardly even get this clodhopper on. And for what? For what?"
    She'd been almost crying.

     
    "Oh, you're just down in the dumps," Edna had said. "Good
    thing you came in to talk to Dr. Fukhito. He'll relax you."

     
    Just then Dr. Fukhito had buzzed and asked her to send in Mrs.
    Lewis. As Vangie started down the corridor to his office, she
    stumbled. She'd walked right out of that loose left shoe.

     
    "Oh, to hell with it!" she cried, and just kept going. Edna had
    picked up the moccasin, figuring Vangie would come back for it
    when she finished with Dr. Fukhito.

     
    But when Edna was ready to go home around nine o'clock,
    Vangie still hadn't come back. Edna decided to ring Dr. Fukhito
    and tell him she had the shoe, but there was no answer. Vangie
    must have left by the door that led directly to the parking lot.

     
     
    That was crazy. She'd catch her death of cold getting her foot wet.

     
    Irresolutely Edna had held the moccasin in her hand and locked
    up. She went out to the parking lot toward her own car just in
    time to see Vangie's big red Lincoln Continental pull out with Dr.
    Highley at the wheel. She'd run a few steps to wave to him, but it
    was no use. So she'd just gone home.

     
    Now, checking her calendar, she wondered if Dr. Highley had
    already made a new appointment with Vangie. She decided to
    phone her just to be sure. She dialed the number. The Lewis phone
    rang once, twice.

     
    A man answered. "Lewises' residence."

     
    "Mrs. Lewis, please. This is Dr. Highley's office. We want to
    set up Mrs. Lewis' next appointment."
    "Hold on."
    She heard muffled voices talking. What could be going on? The

     
    voice returned. "This is Detective Cunningham of the Valley
    County prosecutor's office. I'm sorry, but Mrs. Lewis has died suddenly.
    You can tell her doctor that someone on our staff will contact
    him tomorrow."

     
    "Mrs. Lewis died!" Edna's voice was a howl of dismay. "Oh,
    what happened?"

     
    "It seems she took her own life." The connection was broken.

     
    Slowly Edna lowered the receiver. It just wasn't possible.

     
    The two-o'clock appointments arrived together: Mrs. Volmer
    for Dr. Highley, Mrs. Lashley for Dr. Fukhito.
    "Are you all right, Edna?" Mrs. Volmer asked curiously.
    Edna knew Mrs. Volmer had sometimes talked to Vangie in the

     
    waiting room. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell her she was
    dead. But some instinct warned her to tell Dr. Highley first.
    His one-thirty appointment came out. He was on the intercom.
    "Send Mrs. Volmer in, Edna."
    "Doctor, may I step into your office for a moment, please? I'd
    like to have a word with you."

     
    "Certainly." He didn't sound very happy about it.

     
    She hurried down the hall to his office, then timidly stepped inside.
    "Doctor," she began, "you'll want to know. I just phoned
    Vangie Lewis to make an appointment. A detective answered and

     
     
    said she killed herself. They're coming to see you tomorrow."

     
    "Mrs. Lewis did what?"

     
    Now that she could talk about it, Edna's words came tumbling
    out in a torrent. "She was so upset last night, wasn't she, Doctor?
    She acted like she didn't care about anything. But you must know
    that; I thought it was the nicest thing when I saw you drive her
    home. I waved to you, but you didn't see me. So I guess of all
    people you know how bad she was."

     
    "Edna, how many people have you discussed this with?"
    There was something in his tone that made her nervous.