Vanish in an Instant Read Online Free PDF Page B

wal­let was missing.”
    â€œWhat difference does that make?”
    â€œHis friends claim he always carried a fair amount of cash.”
    â€œHe did.”
    â€œIt makes me wonder about your anonymous stranger at the bar. I gather you didn’t take Margolis’ wallet?”
    â€œWhy should I?”
    â€œBecause you’re broke.”
    â€œSo you’ve been checking up. Afraid you’re not going to get paid?”
    â€œI’ve been checking. Your car isn’t paid for, your house is mortgaged, your husband is . . .”
    â€œLeave Paul out of this,” she said sharply. “And get one thing straight—if I want money, I don’t have to go around lifting wallets.”
    â€œYou can ask your mother.”
    â€œThat’s right, I can.”
    â€œWell, here’s your chance.” Meecham glanced at his watch. “She should be arriving right now.”
    The overhead lights went off suddenly and the feeble rays of the morning sun filtered in through the barred win­dows like dim hopes.
    Virginia got up and looked out the window at her little square of sky. “I can’t see her in here. There must be some other place.”
    â€œI’ll see what I can do.” He opened the cell door and stepped out. “Miss Jennings?”
    Miss Jennings came up, swinging her keys. “All through for now?”
    â€œMrs. Barkeley’s mother is coming to visit her. They haven’t seen each other for a year. I thought we might be able to borrow some other room for a while, Miss Jen­nings.”
    â€œWell, I guess so. I’ll see. After all, one’s own mother. ” She glanced rather uncertainly at Virginia. “I’ll have to stay with you all the time. Mr. Meecham can talk to you in private because he’s your lawyer. But anyone else . . . There are rules, even about mothers.”
    â€œWhat do you think she’s going to do,” Virginia said, “slip me a loaf of bread with a chisel inside?”
    Miss Jennings laughed hollowly. “She’s a great one for joking, isn’t she, Mr. Meecham?”
    â€œJust great.” He gave Virginia a warning glance and she went and sat down on the cot again with her back to them both.
    Miss Jennings locked the cell door. “I’ll go and ask the Sheriff if you can use his private office. But I don’t guaran­tee a thing. He’s not at his best this morning.”
    â€œThanks for trying, anyway.” When Miss Jennings had gone, he spoke through the bars to Virginia: “It’s time you started to win friends and influence people.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œPut on an act. You’re an innocent flower, dirt has been done by you, and now your dear old mother has come to visit you from the faraway hills.”
    â€œWhat ham. It’s too thick to slice.”
    â€œHam or not, try some,” Meecham said. “By the way, do you know Margolis’ wife?”
    â€œI’ve met her. She has a bad complexion.”
    â€œHow did you meet her?”
    â€œThat’s none of your business.”
    â€œEverything about you is my business until you get out of here for good. How did you meet Margolis?”
    â€œHe built the house for me. For me and Paul, that is.”
    Miss Jennings returned and opened the cell door again. “Your mother’s waiting in the Sheriff’s office, Mrs. Barke­ley. My, she doesn’t resemble you a bit, except maybe just around the eyes. Family resemblances fascinate me. Here, you can borrow my compact mirror to see how you look.”
    â€œI know how I look,” Virginia said.
    â€œNow, is that nice?” Smiling cheerfully, Miss Jennings replaced the compact in her pocket. “You look sulky, if you want the truth.”
    Virginia opened her mouth to reply, caught another warning glance from Meecham and changed her mind. She followed Miss Jennings silently down the hall. Her face was calm,