Woman in the Dark Read Online Free PDF

of the road. A policeman stood beside it-between it and his motorcycle-and stolidly wrote on a leaf of a small book while the man at the sedan's wheel talked and gestured excitedly.
    Luise Fischer blew breath out and said: "Well, they were not police."
    Brazil grinned.
    Neither of them spoke again until they were riding down a suburban street. Then she said: "They-your friends-will not dislike our coming to them like this?"
    "No," he replied carelessly; "they've been through things themselves."
    The houses along the suburban street became cheaper and meaner, and presently they were in a shabby city street where grimy buildings with cards saying "Flats to Let" in their windows stood among equally grimy factories and warehouses. The street into which Brazil after a little while steered the car was only slightly less dingy, and the rental signs were almost as many.
    He stopped the car in front of a four-story red brick building with broken brownstone steps. "This is it," he said, opening the door.
    She sat looking at the building's unlovely face until he came around and opened the door on her side. Her face was inscrutable. Three dirty children stopped playing with the skeleton of an umbrella to stare at her as she went with him up the broken steps.
    The street door opened when he turned the knob, letting them into a stuffy hallway where a dim light illuminated stained wallpaper of a once-vivid design, ragged carpet, and a worn brassbound staircase.
    "Next floor," he said, and went up the stairs behind her.
    Facing the head of the stairs was a door shiny with new paint of a brown peculiarly unlike any known wood. Brazil went to this door and pushed the bell button four times-long, short, long, short. The bell rang noisily just inside the door.
    After a moment of silence, vague rustling noises came through the door, followed by a cautious masculine voice: "Who's there?"
    Brazil put his head close to the door and kept his voice low: "Brazil."
    The fastenings of the door rattled, and it was opened by a small, wiry blond man of about forty in crumpled green cotton pajamas. His feet were bare. His hollow-cheeked and sharp-featured face wore a cordial smile, and his voice was cordial. "Come in, kid," he said. "Come in." His small, pale eyes appraised Luise Fischer from head to foot while he was stepping back to make way for them.
    Brazil put a hand on the woman's arm and urged her forward, saying: "Miss Fischer, this is Mr. Link."
    Link said, "Pleased to meet you," and shut the door behind them.
    Luise Fischer bowed.
    Link slapped Brazil on the shoulder. "I'm glad to see you, kid. We were wondering what had happened to you. Come on in."
    He led them into a living room that needed airing. There were articles of clothing lying around, sheets of newspaper here and there, a few not quite empty glasses and coffee cups, and a great many cigarette stubs. Link took a vest off a chair, threw it across the back of another, and said: "Take off your things and set down, Miss Fischer."
    A very blonde full-bodied woman in her late twenties said, "My God, look who's here!" from the doorway and ran to Brazil with wide arms, hugged him violently, kissed him on the mouth. She had on a pink wrapper over a pink silk nightgown and green mules decorated with yellow feathers.
    Brazil said, "Hello, Fan," and put his arms around her. Then, turning to Luise Fischer, who had taken off her coat: "Fan, this is Miss Fischer, Mrs. Link."
    Fan went to Luise Fischer with her hand out. "Glad to know you," she said, shaking hands warmly. "You look tired, both of you. Sit down and I'll get you some breakfast, and maybe Donny'll get you a drink after he covers up his nakedness."
    Luise Fischer said, "You are very kind," and sat down.
    Link said, "Sure, sure," and went out.
    Fan asked: "Been up all night?"
    "Yes," Brazil said. "Driving most of it." He sat down on the sofa.
    She looked sharply at him. "Anything the matter you'd just as lief tell me about?"
    He nodded.