Trevayne Read Online Free PDF

within a half-hour; I’m sure he’ll tell you the same thing. Now, I’ll stay and wait, but I know my wife would like to go out to the Swansons’. Is that all right with you?”
    The detective sighed audibly. “It’s fine.”
    “Do you need my son any longer? May he drive her?”
    “Sure.”
    “Can we take her home?” asked Phyllis Trevayne anxiously. “Take all of them back to our house?”
    “Well, there are certain formalities …”
    “Never mind, Phyl. Go on out to the Swansons’. We’ll call you as soon as Walter gets here. Don’t worry. Please.”
    “Dad, shouldn’t I stay? I can tell Walter …”
    “I want you to go with your mother. The keys are in the car. Now, go on.”
    Trevayne and Detective Fowler watched the two of them leave. When the door was shut, Trevayne reached into his pocket for a pack of cigarettes. He offered one to the police officer, who refused.
    “No, thanks. I eat pistachio nuts instead these days.”
    “Good for you. Now, do you want to tell me what this is all about? You don’t believe there’s any connection between that heroin and those girls any more than I do.”
    “Why don’t I? It’s a very expensive connection.”
    “Because if you did, you’d have them down here and booked. Precisely because it is expensive. You’re handling the entire situation in a very unorthodox manner.”
    “Yes, I am.” Fowler walked around his desk and sat down. “And you’re right, I don’t believe there’s a connection. On the other hand, I can’t dismiss it. Circumstantially, it’s explosive; I don’t have to tell you that.”
    “What are you going to do?”
    “This’ll surprise you, but I may be guided by your attorney.”
    “Which reinforces my statement.”
    “Yes, it does. I don’t think we’re on opposite sides, but I’ve got problems. We’ve got the evidence; I certainly can’t ignore it. On the other hand, the manner of our getting it raises questions. I can’t legally hang it on the kids—not considering everything …”
    “I’d have you in court on false arrest.
That
could be expensive.”
    “Oh, come on, Mr. Trevayne. Don’t threaten. Legally, those girls, including your daughter, admitted using marijuana. That’s against the law. But it’s minor, and we wouldn’t press it. The other is something else. Greenwich doesn’t want that kind of publicity; and a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of uncut heroin is a lot of publicity. We don’t want a Darien here.”
    Trevayne saw that Fowler was sincere. It
was
a problem. It was also insane. Why would anyone want to incriminate four young girls to the extent of throwing away such an enormous sum of money? It was an extraordinary gesture.
    *   *   *
    Phyllis Trevayne came down the stairs and walked into the living room. Her husband stood in front of the huge glass wall looking out over the sound. It was long after midnight, and the moon was an August moon, shining brightly on the water.
    “The girls are in the adjoining guest rooms. They’ll be talking till dawn; they’re scared out of their wits. Can I get you a drink?”
    “That’d be nice. We both could use one.”
    Phyllis crossed to the small built-in bar to the left of the window. “What’s going to happen?”
    “Fowler and Walter worked it out. Fowler will release the finding of the packages and the fact that they were uncovered as a result of telephone tips. He’s forced to do that. But he won’t mention any names or locations on the grounds that an investigation is under way. If he’s pressed, he’ll say that he has no right incriminating innocent people. The girls can’t tell him anything.”
    “Did you talk to the Swansons?”
    “Yes. They panicked; Walter calmed them down. I told them Jean would stay with us and join them tomorrow or the day after. The others are heading home in the morning.”
    Phyllis handed her husband a drink. “Does it make any sense to you? At all?”
    “No, it doesn’t. We can’t