A Long Goodbye-Raymond Chandler

8/18/2019 A Long Goodbye-Raymond Chandler

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man fell off the seat an! lan!e! sitting on the groun!$ ,o I

went o"er an! stuc# my nose in their &usiness although it%s

always a mista#e to interfere with )eo)le who are !run#$ I

)ic#e! him u) an! )ut him on his feet$

%Than# you so much% he sai! )olitely$ I thought I hear! anaccent$

%He is so English when he%s !run#% she sai! in a har! "oice$

Than#s for catching him$%

%I%ll get him in the &ac# of the car% I sai!$

%,orry mister &ut I%m late for an a))ointment$% ,he starte! to

!ri"e off$ %He%s ust a lost !og% she a!!e!$ %Perha)s you can fin!

a goo! home for him$% An! then she was gone$ An! the guy was

aslee) in my arms$

I carrie! him to my car$ He was hea"y$ As I )ut him in the

front seat he wo#e u) an! than#e! me again an! went &ac# to

lee)$ He was the )olitest !run# I%! e"er met$ *hile I !ro"e I

oo#e! at him once in a while$ The right si!e of his face was

one &ig scar that the !octors ha! wor#e! on$ They ha!n%t faile!&ut they ha!n%t succee!e! either$

I was li"ing that year in a house on 'ucca A"enue in the

Laurel Canyon area$ The rent was low )artly &ecause the

owner !i!n%t want a written agreement an! )artly &ecause of

he ste)s$ ,he was getting ol! an! they were too stee) for her$

I got him u) them somehow$ Insi!e I )ut him on the sofa an!

et him go &ac# to slee)$ He sle)t for an hour$ *hen he wo#e


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u) he loo#e! aroun! an! at me an! wante! to #now where he

was$ I tol! him$ He sai! his name was Terry Lennox an! that he

i"e! in *estwoo! alone$ His "oice was stea!y$ He sai! he

coul! han!le a cu) of coffee$

*hen I &rought it he as#e! me why he was here$ I tol! him heha! )asse! out outsi!e a restaurant an! his girl ha! !ri"en off

an! left him$ He sai! he coul!n%t &lame her$

%'ou English+% I as#e!$

%I li"e! there once$ I wasn%t &orn there$%

He finishe! the coffee an! I !ro"e him home$ He !i!n%t say

much on the way exce)t that he was sorry$ He ha! )ro&a&ly

ai! it so often that it was automatic$

His a)artment was small an! em)ty$ There was a little

furniture &ut no )ersonal items at all$ It !i!n%t loo# li#e a )lace

where any&o!y li"e!$ He offere! me a !rin#$ I sai! no$ *hen I

eft he than#e! me again &ut not as if I ha! clim&e! a

mountain for him an! not as if it was nothing at all$ He was shy

&ut "ery )olite$ *hate"er he !i!n%t ha"e he ha! manners$

.ri"ing home I thought a&out him$ I%m su))ose! to &e tough

&ut this one &othere! me$ I !i!n%t #now why unless it was the

white hair an! the scar an! the clear "oice$ There was no

eason I shoul! see him again though$ He was ust a lost !og

i#e the woman sai!$

///


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It was a month later when I !i! see him again a&out three

&loc#s from my office$ There was a )olice car sto))e! in the

mi!!le of the street an! the men insi!e were staring at

omething on the #er&$ That something was Terry Lennox - or

what was left of him$ His shirt was !irty an! o)en at the nec#$

He ha!n%t sha"e! for four or fi"e !ays$ His s#in was so )alehat the scar har!ly showe!$ It was o&"ious why the )olicemen

were loo#ing at him so I went o"er there fast an! too# hol! of

his arm$

%,tan! u) an! wal#% I sai!$ %Can you !o it+%

He loo#e! at me an! no!!e! slowly$ I wasn%t e"en sure he

ecogni0e! me$ %I%m ust a little em)ty% he sai!$

He ma!e the effort an! let me wal# him to the street$ There

was a taxi there$ I o)ene! the &ac# !oor an! got him insi!e$The )olice car )ulle! u)$ A co) with grey hair as#e! me %*hat

ha"e we got here+%

%He%s not !run#% I sai!$ %He%s a frien!$%

%That%s nice% the co) sai! sarcastically$ He was still loo#ing atTerry$ %*hat%s your frien!%s name )al+%

%Phili) 1arlowe% Terry sai! slowly$ %He li"es on 'ucca A"enue

n Laurel Canyon$%

The co) stare! at us &oth$ He was ma#ing a !ecision$ It too# him a little while$ %O2$ 3et him off the street at least$% The

)olice car !ro"e away$


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*e went to a )lace where you coul! get ham&urgers that you

coul! actually eat$ I fe! Lennox a cou)le an! a &ottle of &eer

an! too# him to my )lace$ An hour later he was sha"e! an!

clean an! he loo#e! human again$ I ma!e two "ery mil! !rin#s

an! we tal#e! as we !ran#$

%Luc#y you remem&ere! my name% I sai!$

%Not only that% he sai!$ %I loo#e! u) your )hone num&er too$%

%,o why !i!n%t you call+ I li"e here all the time$%

%*hy shoul! I &other you+%

%Loo#s li#e you ought to ha"e &othere! someone$%

%As#ing for hel) isn%t easy% he sai!$ %Es)ecially when it%s all

your own fault$% He loo#e! u) with a tire! smile$ %1ay&e I canto) !rin#ing one of these !ays$ They all say that !on%t they+%

%It ta#es a&out three years$%

%Three years+% He loo#e! shoc#e!$

He turne! an! loo#e! at the cloc# an! change! the su&ect$ %I

ha"e a suitcase worth two hun!re! !ollars !own at the

Hollywoo! &us station$ I coul! get money for it$ 1ay&e not

wo hun!re! !ollars &ut enough for a &us tic#et to Las 4egas

an! I coul! get a o& there$%

I !i!n%t say anything$


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%A man I #new well in the army runs a &ig clu& there$ His

name%s Ran!y ,tarr$%

,omething must ha"e shown on my face$ %'es% he continue!

he%s )art gangster &ut they all are an! the other )art of him

sn%t &a!$%

%I can gi"e you the &us fare an! some extra% I sai!$

He shoo# his hea!$

%I want you out of my hair% I ex)laine!$ %I%"e got a feelinga&out you$%

%'ou ha"e+% He loo#e! !own into his glass$ %*e%"e only met

wice$ *hat sort of feeling+%

%A feeling that next time we meet I%ll fin! you in worse trou&lehan I can get you out of$ I !on%t #now why I ha"e this feeling

&ut I !o$%

He touche! his scar gently$ %1ay&e it%s this$ 1a#es me loo#

i#e trou&le I su))ose$ 5ut I got it honestly$%

%It%s not that% I sai!$ %It%s this$ I%m a )ri"ate !etecti"e an! you%re

a )ro&lem that I !on%t ha"e to sol"e$ 5ut the )ro&lem%s there$

1ay&e that girl !i!n%t !ri"e away that time ust &ecause you

were !run#$ 1ay&e she ha! a feeling too$%

He smile! faintly$ %I was marrie! to her once$ Her name is still

Lennox$ I marrie! her for her money$% *hen he saw my face

his smile !isa))eare!$ %'ou%re won!ering why I !i!n%t as# her


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for hel)$ .i! you e"er hear of )ri!e+%

%'ou%re #illing me Lennox$%

%1y )ri!e is !ifferent$ It%s the )ri!e of a man who has nothing

else$ ,orry if it &others you$%

It &othere! me an! he &othere! me too although I coul!n%t

un!erstan! exactly why$ Any more than I #new why a man

woul! star"e an! wal# the streets &efore he%! sell a suitcase$

*hate"er his rules were though he )laye! &y them$

I went !own to the &us station an! got his suitcase for him$

*hen I came &ac# he sai! he ha! calle! his )al in Las 4egas$

He was sore at me &ecause I ha!n%t calle! him &efore$%

%It ta#es a stranger to hel) you% I sai! an! )ut a hun!re!

!ollars in front of him$ %An! ta#e the suitcase with you$ 'ou

might nee! to sell it later$%

%I !on%t want it% he sai!$ %If you li#e you can #ee) it for me$%

He change! his clothes an! we went out for !inner$ No !rin#s$Afterwar!s he caught the &us an! I !ro"e home thin#ing a&out

his an! that$

///

At nine-thirty the tele)hone rang an! the "oice that s)o#e wasone I ha! hear! once &efore$

%Is this 1r Phili) 1arlowe+%


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%It is$%

%This is ,yl"ia Lennox 1r 1arlowe$ *e met for a moment

one night last month$ I hear! afterwar!s that you ha! &een #in!

enough to ta#e Terry home$%

%I !i! that$%

%I%"e &een a little worrie! a&out him$ No&o!y seems to #now

where he is$%

%I notice! how worrie! you were the other night% I sai!$ %He%son a &us to Las 4egas$%

%Las 4egas+% This news seeme! to cheer her u)$ %How sweet of

him$ That%s where we were marrie!$%

%I guess he forgot that% I sai! %or he woul! ha"e goneomewhere else$%

Instea! of hanging u) she laughe!$ It was a )retty laugh$ %Are

you always as ru!e as this to la!ies+%

%I !on%t #now that you are a la!y$ The man was li"ing in the

treets$ He ha! no money none at all$ 'ou coul! ha"e foun!

him if you%! really wante! to$ He !i!n%t want anything from

you then an! he )ro&a&ly !oesn%t want anything from you now$%

%That% she sai! coolly %is something you #now nothing a&out1r 1arlowe$ 3oo!-night$%

,he was com)letely right of course an! I was all wrong$ 5ut


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!i!n%t feel wrong then$ I ust felt angry$


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CHAPTER T*O

An Englishman's Drink

Three !ays &efore Christmas I got a che6ue on a Las 4egas

&an# for one hun!re! !ollars$ A note came with it$ He than#e!

me wishe! me a 1erry Christmas an! sai! he ho)e! to see me

oon$ The sur)rise came at the en!$ %,yl"ia an! I were marrie!

again$ ,he says not to &e angry with her for wanting to tryagain$% I rea! the rest of the story on the society )age of the

news)a)er$

%All are ha))y with the news that ,yl"ia an! Terry Lennox

ha"e remarrie! at Las 4egas the !arlings$ ,yl"ia is of course

he youngest !aughter of millionaire Harlan Potter$ An! what

!oes .a!!y thin# of the marriage+ One can only guess$ Potter

s one )erson who ne"er e"er gi"es inter"iews$%

*ell I thought if he wants her money let him ta#e it$ I ust

!i!n%t want to see him again$ 5ut I #new I woul! - if only&ecause of the suitcase$

It was fi"e o%cloc# on a wet 1arch e"ening when he wal#e!

nto my little office$ He loo#e! change!7 ol!er more serious

&ut calmer too$ Li#e a man who ha! learne! a har! lesson$

%Let%s go to some 6uiet &ar% he sai! as if he ha! seen me ten

minutes &efore$ *e !i!n%t sha#e han!s$ *e almost ne"er !i!$

Englishmen !on%t sha#e han!s all the time li#e Americans !o


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an! although he wasn%t English he ha! their manners$

*e went to 4ictor%s$ On the way I sai! something stu)i! a&out

his new life an! he sai! that if he wasn%t ha))y at least he was

ich$ An! he sai! that he wasn%t ha"ing any trou&le at all

han!ling his !rin#ing these !ays$

%Perha)s you were ne"er really !run#% I sai!$

At the &ar we !ran# gin an! lime an Englishman%s !rin#$

Lennox sai! they !i!n%t #now the right way to ma#e them here$

wasn%t intereste! in tal#ing a&out !rin#s so I as#e! him a&outhis )al in Las 4egas$ .own my street I sai! ,tarr was #nown

as a tough customer$

%Ran!y+ In Las 4egas he%s a straight &usinessman$ 'ou shoul!

!ro) in an! see him next time you%re there$ He%ll &e your )al$%

%Not too li#ely$ I !on%t li#e gangsters$%

%That%s ust a wor! 1arlowe$ *e ha"e that #in! of worl!$ The

wars ga"e it to us an! we%re going to #ee) it$ Ran!y an! I an!

another guy were all in a little !anger once together$ It%s!ifferent for the three of us$%

%,o why !i!n%t you as# him for hel) when you nee!e! it+%

He finishe! his !rin# an! signalle! for another$ %5ecause he

coul!n%t refuse$ I !i!n%t want to &eg from him$%

%'ou &egge! from a stranger$%


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He loo#e! me straight in the eye$ %,trangers can #ee) going

an! )reten! not to hear$%

*hen he finishe! the secon! !rin# he !ro"e me &ac# to the

office$

8rom then on it &ecame his ha&it to !ro) in aroun! fi"e

o%cloc#$ *e usually went to 4ictor%s$ I !i!n%t un!erstan! why he

enoye! &eing with me instea! of &eing in his &ig ex)ensi"e

house$ I as#e! him a&out that once$

%Nothing for me at the house% he sai! !rin#ing his usual ginan! lime$

%Am I su))ose! to un!erstan! that+%

%A &ig film with no story as they say in the film &usiness$

,yl"ia is ha))y enough$ 5ut not with me$ In our circle that%s

not too im)ortant$ 'ou see the rich !on%t really ha"e a goo!

ime$ They ne"er want anything "ery much exce)t may&e

omeone else%s wife an! that%s a )ale !esire com)are! with the

way a &utcher%s wife wants new curtains for the li"ing room$

1ostly I ust #ill time$ A little tennis a little swimming$%

I tol! him it !i!n%t ha"e to &e the way it was$ He sai! I shoul!

won!er why she wante! him not why he wante! to &e there$

%'ou li#e ha"ing ser"ants an! &ells to ring% I sai!$

He ust smile!$ %Coul! &e$ I grew u) as an or)han with no

money$%


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I &egan thin#ing I li#e! him &etter !run# hungry an! &eaten

an! )rou!$ That night he woul! ha"e tol! me the story of his

ife if I%! as#e! him$ If I ha! as#e! an! if he ha! tol! me it

might ha"e sa"e! a cou)le of li"es$ It might ha"e$

///

The last time we ha! !rin#s together was in 1ay$ It was

earlier than usual an! the &ar was nearly em)ty$

%I li#e &ars at this hour% he sai!$ %I li#e to watch the man fix the

first one of the e"ening$ I li#e to taste it slowly$ Alcohol is li#eo"e$ The first #iss is magic$%

Then he starte! tal#ing a&out her$ %I feel sorry for ,yl"ia$ ,he%s

o terri&le &ut I thin# I li#e her$ One !ay she%ll nee! someone

an! no one else will &e there$ An! I%ll )ro&a&ly ma#e a mess of

t$%

%*hat%s this a&out+% I as#e!$

%,he%s scare!$ I !on%t #now of what$ 1ay&e her father$ He%s a

col! man$ He !oesn%t e"en li#e her$ If she annoys him toomuch something might ha))en to her$%

%'ou%re her hus&an!% I )ointe! out$

%Officially$ Nothing more$%

%I coul!n%t listen to this$ I stoo! u) an! !ro))e! some money

on the ta&le$ %'ou tal# too much an! it%s always a&out you$ ,ee

you later% I wal#e! out$


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Ten minutes later I was sorry &ut ten minutes later I was

omewhere else$ I !i!n%t see him again for a month$ *hen I

!i! it was early in the morning$ The !oor&ell wo#e me u)$ He

was stan!ing there loo#ing li#e hell$ An! he ha! a gun in his

han!$

The gun wasn%t )ointe! at me( he was ust hol!ing it$

%'ou%re !ri"ing me to Tiuana to get a )lane at ten-fifteen$ I

ha"e a )ass)ort &ut I !on%t ha"e trans)ortation$ I%ll )ay you fi"e

hun!re! !ollars for the ri!e$%

I stoo! in the !oor an! !i!n%t mo"e to let him in$ %How a&out

fi"e hun!re! !ollars )lus the gun+% I as#e!$

He loo#e! at it an! then !ro))e! it in his )oc#et$

%Come on in% I sai! an! he came in an! fell into a chair$

%I%m in trou&le% he sai!$

%It%s going to &e a &eautiful !ay$ Cool too$ 'eah I guesse! you

were in trou&le$ Let%s tal# a&out it after coffee$ I always nee!my morning coffee$%

He followe! me into the #itchen$ I )oure! him a &ig !rin#

from a &ottle off the shelf$ He ha! to use two han!s to get it to

his mouth$

%.i!n%t slee) at all last night% he sai! wea#ly$

I )oure! him another !rin# an! he !ran# this one with one


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han!$ *hen he finishe! it the coffee was rea!y$

I sat !own across from him$ *ithout warning his hea! came

!own on the ta&le an! he was crying$ He !i!n%t seem to notice

when I too# the gun from his )oc#et$ I smelle! it$ It ha!n%t &een

fire!$

He lifte! his hea! an! sai! %I !i!n%t shoot any&o!y$%

I hel! u) my han!$ %*ait a minute$ It%s li#e this$ 5e "ery

careful what you tell me if you want me to hel) you$ I can%t &e

ol! a&out a crime you%"e committe! or a crime you #now has&een committe!$ Not if you want me to !ri"e you to Tiuana$%

He loo#e! straight at me for the first time since he ha! come

n$ %I sai! I was in trou&le$%

%I hear! you$ I !on%t want to #now what #in! of trou&le$ It%s a

matter of law$ I can%t #now$%

%I coul! ma#e you !ri"e me$ *ith the gun% he sai!$

I grinne! an! )ushe! the gun across the ta&le$ He !i!n%t toucht$ %I%m a man who sometimes has &usiness with guns$ I%! loo#

tu)i! trying to tell the )olice I was so scare! I ha! to !o what

you tol! me to$%

%Listen% he sai! %they won%t e"en loo# in the &e!room until

mi!!ay$ ,he won%t &e there$ The &e! will &e too neat so they%lloo# in the guest house$ ,er"ants always #now what goes on$%

%An! when they see her% I sai! %they%ll thin# she%s !run#


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ight+ An! that%s the en! of the story$ That%s all I want to hear$

'ou%re sic# of it all( you%"e &een thin#ing of lea"ing for some

ime$%

%I calle! her father last night% Lennox sai! remem&ering$ %I

ol! him I was lea"ing$%

%*hat !i! he say+%

%He was sorry$ He wishe! me luc#$ Oh yes he also as#e! me if

nee!e! money$ That%s all he e"er thin#s a&out$%

%.i! you e"er see her with a man in the guest house+% I as#e!

u!!enly$

He loo#e! sur)rise!$ %I ne"er e"en trie!$%

%O2 so this is how it is$ 'ou came to me this morning an!wante! a ri!e to Tiuana$ 'ou coul!n%t &ear life with her

anymore$ *here you went was none of my &usiness$ *e are

frien!s an! I !i! what you as#e! me$%

%How !oes it soun!+% He loo#e! at me ho)efully$

%.e)en!s on who%s listening$%

%I%m sorry% he sai!$

%'our ty)e%s always sorry an! always too late$ I%"e still got thatuitcase of yours$ 'ou nee! luggage$ It%ll loo# &etter$% I got it

from where I%! #e)t it an! )ut some things in it$ Nothing use!

nothing mar#e!$ Then I got the car out loc#e! u) an! we left$


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*e !i!n%t ha"e much to say to each other on the way !own$

The &or!er )eo)le ha! nothing to say to us either$ *hen we

eache! the air)ort the )lane was there &ut no one was

hurrying$

Terry went to get his tic#et an! came &ac#$ There were only afew )eo)le waiting with us$

%O2$ I%m rea!y% he sai!$ %This is where I say goo!&ye$%

*e shoo# han!s$ He loo#e! tire! "ery tire!$

%I owe you% he sai! %&ut you !on%t owe me$ *e ha! a few

!rin#s together an! I tal#e! too much a&out me$ I left a fi"e-

hun!re!-!ollar &ill in your coffee ar$%

%I wish you ha!n%t$%

%I%ll ne"er s)en! half of what I ha"e$%

%3oo! luc# Terry$ 3o get on the )lane$ I #now you !i!n%t #ill

her$%

He stare! at me$ He turne! away then loo#e! &ac#$

%I%m sorry% he sai! 6uietly %you%re wrong a&out that$ I%m going

o wal# slowly to the )lane$ 'ou ha"e )lenty of time to sto)

me$%

He wal#e!$ I watche! him$ He went through a !oor$ He was

outsi!e now$ He sto))e! there an! loo#e! towar!s me$ He

!i!n%t wa"e$ Neither !i! I$ Then he went u) the ste)s into the


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I !on%t #now I guess I was tire!$ 1ay&e I felt a little guilty$ %I

!on%t ha"e to say anything$%

.ayton s)o#e u)$ %Answer the 6uestions 1arlowe$ 9ust co-

o)erate$ It%s healthier$%

Right away I !i!n%t li#e him$ His "oice was a har! !on%t- fool-

with-me "oice$ I went to the &oo# shelf an! too# !own the &ig

tate law &oo#$ I hel! it out to him$ %8in! me the )art that says I

ha"e to answer your 6uestions$ There%s no such law$%

%,it !own% 3reen sai! im)atiently$ %Lennox%s wife has &eenmur!ere!$ :gly o&$ 1ur!erer use! something &lunt$ 1ust

ha"e hit her more than a !o0en times$ Hus&an! is missing$ *e

fin! your tele)hone num&er in his !es# mar#e! with to!ay%s

!ate$ ,he%! &een seeing other men$ *e foun! that out too$%

%Terry Lennox woul!n%t !o anything li#e that$ He%s #nown

a&out the other men for a long time$%

%He%s not going to tell us anything ,ergeant% .ayton sai!$

He%s rea! that law &oo#$ He thin#s the law li"es in the &oo#$

.on%t you 1arlowe+%

I sai! nothing$ I wasn%t going to hel) him$

%,tan! u)% he sai!$

I starte! to get u)$ I was half way u) when he hit me$ I sat&ac# !own an! shoo# my hea!$ .ayton was smiling( 3reen

was loo#ing away$


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%Let%s try again% .ayton suggeste!$ I !i!n%t mo"e or s)ea#$ If I

too! u) he%! hit me again$ 5ut if he hit me again I%! hurt him$

He coul!n%t hit me har! enough to sto) me from hurting him

next time$

%That was stu)i!% 3reen sai! to .ayton$ %That%s ust what hewante!$ A goo! reason for not tal#ing$%

I no!!e!$ %Terry Lennox is my frien!$ 1ay&e you ha"e enough

e"i!ence$ In court I%ll answer 6uestions$ 5ut not here$ Not now$

'ou%re not a &a! guy 3reen$ 'our )artner has )sychological

)ro&lems that%s all$ An! if he hits me again he%ll ha"e me!ical)ro&lems too$%

They ha! no choice$ They )ut the &racelets on me an! too# me

n$

///

At the station I still !i!n%t feel li#e tal#ing$ 5ut now the

)erson I wasn%t tal#ing to was a ca)tain$

%Thin#s he%s tough% the Ca)tain sai!$ %*e coul! change that$%He !i!n%t soun! as if he really care!$ %3uess we%! &etter$ 'ou

can tal# now$%

I !i!n%t say anything$ He reache! for the coffee cu) on his

!es#$ I was in a chair facing him$ The &racelets were on tight$

That%s the way he wante! them$ 5ut when he threw the coffeeat me I was faster than he was$ 1ost of it misse!$

%.oesn%t li#e coffee$ Loo# )al you%"e got some information


22/110

hat I want$ ,aying nothing at all is no goo!$%

%If I tell you what you want% I as#e! %will you ta#e the

&racelets off+%

%1ay&e may&e not$ Tell me first$%

%If I say I ha"en%t seen Lennox to!ay woul! that satisfy you+%

%It might$% 5ut he was losing )atience$ %If I &elie"e! you$%

%I%! li#e to tal# to a lawyer$ How a&out that+%

The Ca)tain laughe!$ It was a short ugly laugh$ He leane!

across the !es# an! hit me with a han! of stone$ There was

hun!er insi!e my hea!$ *hen he s)o#e to me again the wor!s

eeme! to come from far away$

%I use! to &e tough &ut I%m getting ol!$ 'ou ta#e a goo! &low

1arlowe an! that%s all you%ll get from me$ *e ha"e younger

tronger guys for this wor#$ O2 you won%t tal# to me &ut you%ll

al# to them$ I )romise you that$%

The tele)hone rang$ 3reen han!e! it to the Ca)tain$

%'es sir% the Ca)tain sai! %he%s here$ Really+ Is that an or!er+%

His face was re! an! getting re!!er$ %8ine sir$% He )ut the

ele)hone !own with a &ang$ He was sha#ing with anger when

he turne! to s)ea# to me$ %The .A wants you for himself$'ou%re his hea!ache now$%

He tol! 3reen to get me out of there$ 5efore we reache! the


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24/110

He shoo# his hea!$ %If you mean Lennox an! of course you

!o no they ha"en%t caught him$%

%If they ha"en%t got Terry why are they hol!ing me+%

He frowne!$ %I thin# I can hel) you get out of here so let%swor# on your )ro&lems an! not Terry%s$ .on%t you want my

hel)+%

No I tol! him I !i!n%t$ *hen a cle"er lawyer gets you out of

ail &efore the )olice are rea!y to let you go )eo)le tal#$ They

ay un#in! things$

%Listen% I sai! %I%m not in here for Lennox$ I%m in here for me$

%m in a &usiness where )eo)le come to me with trou&les$

Trou&les they !on%t want to share with the )olice$ That%s why

%m not tal#ing$ 'ou can tell Terry that$%

%I see your )oint% En!icott sai! %&ut I ha"e to tell you I%m not

n contact with Lennox$ If I #new where he was I%! ha"e to tell

he )olice$ I%m a lawyer an! that%s the law$%

%'ou &elie"e in the law+%

The 6uestion annoye! him$ %The law% he sai! %is not ustice$

t%s ust a half-&ro#en machine$ If you )ush the right &uttons

an! you%re luc#y at the same time you might get some ustice$

Now !o you want my hel) or not+%

I still !i!n%t$ %I%ll wait a few more !ays$ If they catch Terry they

won%t care how he got away$ An! if they !on%t get him they%ll

want to forget it all fast$ 5y the way why ha"en%t any re)orters


25/110

&een in to see me+ I thought the ol! man Harlan Potter owne!

nine or ten news)a)ers$ *ith all that money an! )ower he

houl! &e a&le to ma#e this into a real )arty$%

En!icott loo#e! at me col!ly$ %'ou%re strange 1arlowe$ 'ou

#now so little$ All that money an! )ower can also &uy a lot of ilence$%

He o)ene! the !oor an! went out$ The guar! too# me &ac#

an! loc#e! me in again$

I ha! sai! I woul! wait a few !ays &ut it turne! out I !i!n%tha"e to$ A few hours later another guar! came an! too# me to

ee someone in the .A%s office$

*e went through the !oor without #noc#ing$ A fat man with a

6uare chin an! stu)i! eyes was )ushing something into the

!rawer of his !es#$ The guar! left an! I )ulle! a chair o"er an!

at !own$

%I !i!n%t say you coul! sit !own% the man sai! shar)ly$

I too# out a cigarette$

%An! I !i!n%t say you coul! smo#e% he shoute! at me$

I lit my cigarette$

%Ta#e another !rin# from that &ottle in the !es#% I sai!$ %It%llma#e you feel &etter$%

He waite! a minute$ Then he sai! %A tough guy huh+ ,ome


26/110

har! guys come in here &ut that%s not the way they lea"e$ They

ea"e here small$ I want a full statement from you$%

%I get so tire! of it% I sai! loo#ing into those stu)i! eyes$

%Tire! of what+%

%Har! little men in har! little offices tal#ing har! little wor!s

hat !on%t mean a thing$ 'ou thin# a few !ays in here is going to

ma#e me cry on your shoul!er+ 8orget it$ An! forget the

hreats$ If you%re &ig enough you !on%t nee! them an! if you

nee! them you%re not &ig enough to scare me$%

The fat man )laye! with some )a)ers on his !es#$ Then he

oo#e! u) smiling$ %It !oesn%t really matter if you !on%t tal#$

*e%"e foun! your frien!$%

I !i!n%t &elie"e him an! I let him #now it$

%5elie"e me$ 5elie"e me too that we ha"e )eo)le that saw

you with him at Tiuana Air)ort$ 'ou want the whole story+

Lennox got off the )lane in 1a0atlan$ He !isa))eare! for a&out

an hour$ Then a tall man with &lac# hair an! !ar# s#in an! acar may&e a #nife scar &oo#e! to Torreon un!er the name of

,il"ano Ro!rigue0$ He was too tall to &e so !ar#$ The )ilot

urne! in a re)ort on him$ The )olice were too slow in Torreon

&ut they followe! him to a little mountain town calle!

Otatoclan$ He rente! a hotel room there$ He was wearing a gun

oo &ut that%s not unusual in 1exico$ 5ut the )olice were right&ehin! him see+ They foun! him in the hotel$%

I laughe!$ %That%s a terri&le story$ Lennox is too smart to try to


27/110

&e a 1exican in 1exico$ 'ou !on%t #now where he is$ That%s

why you want my statement$%

He too# the &ottle out then an! ha! a !rin#$ Then he )ic#e! u)

one of the )a)ers from his !es# gra&&e! a )en an! signe! it$

I%"e ust set you free$ *ant to #now why+%

I stoo! u)$ %If you want to tell me$%

%The in"estigation%s finishe!$ Lennox finishe! it$ He wrote a

full confession this afternoon in his hotel room in Otatoclan$

Then he shot himself$%

I stoo! there loo#ing at nothing$ The fat man watche! me

ner"ously$ I thin# he thought I might hit him$ I !i!n%t$ I ust

wal#e! out an! close! the !oor$ I close! it 6uietly as if on a

oom where someone ha! ust !ie!$

///

I met a frien! !ownstairs on my way out$ He wante! to #now

why I was there so I tol! him$ 1organ is a re)orter an! he

ga"e me a ri!e home &ecause he is my frien! an! &ecause he isa re)orter$

%4ery neat !on%t you thin#+% he as#e! after he ha! listene! to

my story$

%'ou thin# this isn%t straight+%

%Two things$ Harlan Potter is a "ery rich man who hates ha"ing

his name in any news)a)er e"en his own news)a)ers$ ,o the


28/110

rial woul! ha"e annoye! him$ Now Lennox is !ea! an! there%s

not going to &e a trial$ Con"enient for Potter$%

He continue! after a minute$ %Then there%s a chance that the

)oor fool ha! a little hel) shooting himself$%

I !i!n%t thin# he ha! nee!e! hel)$ He ha!n%t thought much of

himself lately$ 5ut may&e 1organ wasn%t all wrong$

5efore he !ro))e! me off he ha! one more thing to suggest$

If I were a cle"er re)orter instea! of a stu)i! one I%! thin#

may&e he !i!n%t #ill her at all$%

It was something to thin# a&out &ut I was too tire! to thin#$ I

went in an! ma!e some coffee !ran# it an! too# Terry%s fi"e-

hun!re!-!ollar &ill out of the coffee ar$ I &rought in the

news)a)ers that were on the front ste)s an! rea! a&out Lennox$

There was e"en a short story a&out me$

One thing &othere! me though ; the way she%! &een #ille!$ I

was still sure Terry coul!n%t ha"e !one that$ 5ut no one was

going to ex)lain it to me &ecause no ex)lanation was

necessary now$ The mur!erer ha! confesse! an! he was !ea!$t was goo! wor# either way$ If he ha! #ille! her it was sim)le

ustice$ If he ha!n%t that was fine too$ He coul!n%t !eny it now$


29/110


30/110

waiting room$ He was sitting &y the win!ow rea!ing a

maga0ine$ He loo#e! 6uite comforta&le$ He ha! thic# !ar# hair

an! was "ery &rown from the sun$ His clothes )ro&a&ly cost

more than I earne! in a cou)le of months$

He threw the maga0ine onto the low ta&le$ %The stuff theywrite these !ays$%

%*hat can I !o for you+%

He loo#e! at me for a moment an! then laughe!$ %A hero on a

&icycle$%

%*hat+%

%'ou 1arlowe$ A hero on a &icycle$ .i! they hurt you much+%

%*hy !o you care+%

He !i!n%t answer$ Instea! he stoo! u) an! wal#e! into my

office$ I followe! him$

%'ou%re a little man$ Loo# at this )lace$ 'ou !on%t ma#e much

money !o you+ A chea) little man$%

I let him tal# an! sat !own &ehin! my !es#$

%That%s it$ 'ou%re a chea) guy$ Chea) feelings$ Ha"e a few

!rin#s with some&o!y an! su!!enly you%re his )al$ 'ou ha"enothing$ A hero on a &icycle$%

He leane! o"er the !es# an! sla))e! me$ It !i!n%t hurt an! I


31/110


32/110

much$ That%s why his hair was white$

%Ran!y an! I s)ent money to fin! him$ He%! sa"e! our li"es$

All he got from his share was half of a new face$ An! then

when he%s really in trou&le he !oesn%t come to us$ He comes to

you Chea)ie$ That ma#es us ma! see+ I coul!%"e hel)e! him$nstea! he%s !ea! an! you thin# you%re a hero$%

I shoo# my hea!$ %No I !on%t$%

%Of course you !o$ The story is o"er 1arlowe$ E"en if-% he

to))e! in the mi!!le of the sentence$

%E"en if Terry !i!n%t #ill her% I sai!$

%If that%s the way Terry wante! it then that%s how it stays$ ,ee

you aroun! Chea)ie$%

I felt ol! an! tire!$ I got u) slowly an! )ic#e! u) his cigarette

case from my !es#$ %'ou forgot this% I sai! going towar!s him$

%,o what+ I%"e got a !o0en% he sai!$ He !i!n%t e"en reach for it$

%How a&out a !o0en of these+% I as#e! mo"ing in fast an!

close an! hitting him as har! as I coul! in the stomach$

He fell &ac# against the wall ma#ing the soun!s a cat ma#es

when it%s sic#$ Then "ery slowly he straightene! u)$ I )atte!

his chee# gently$ He !i!n%t )ush my han! away$

%I !i!n%t thin# you ha! the courage% he sai! wea#ly$


33/110

%Next time &ring a gun$%

%I got a guy to carry the gun% he sai!$ %1ay&e you%ll meet him

one of these !ays$% He wal#e! out slowly$

///

After that nothing ha))ene! for three !ays$ ,yl"ia Lennox

was &urie!$ The )ress was not in"ite! to the funeral an! her

father as usual ga"e no )u&lic statement$

In the afternoon of the thir! !ay the tele)hone rang an! Ifoun! myself tal#ing to a man name! Howar! ,)encer a New

'or# )u&lisher who sai! he ha! a California )ro&lem$ *e

agree! to meet in the &ar of his hotel the next morning$ I

nee!e! the o& &ecause I nee!e! the money ; or thought I !i!

until I got home an! foun! a letter$

The en"elo)e was co"ere! with 1exican stam)s$ I recogni0e!

he han!writing in the a!!ress$ I was hol!ing a letter from a

!ea! man$ I o)ene! it an! rea!$

It !i!n%t start with my name( it ust starte!$

I%m sitting in a hotel room in a town calle! Otatoclan$ There%s

a mail&ox ust &elow the win!ow an! when the &oy comes with

he coffee I or!ere! he is going to mail this letter for me$ I%m

going to watch him )ut it in the &ox an! then I%ll )ay him$

I can%t mail it myself &ecause I can%t lea"e my room$ They%re

outsi!e waiting for me$ I want you to ha"e this money &ecause

!on%t nee! it an! the )olice woul! steal it if I #e)t it$


34/110

1ay&e you thin# I !i!n%t #ill her$ It !oesn%t matter though$ Her

father an! her sister were always goo! to me$ A trial woul! hurt

hem$ I !on%t want that$ I !on%t care what ha))ens to me$ I%m

!isguste! with my life$

I%"e written a confession$ 'ou rea! a&out this in &oo#s &utyou !on%t rea! the truth$ The truth is I feel sic# an! "ery

care!$ 5ut I%m going to !o it anyway$ ,o forget it an! me$ 5ut

first !rin# a gin an! lime for me at 4ictor%s$ After that forget

he whole thing$ 3oo!&ye$

That was all$ That an! a fi"e-thousan!-!ollar &ill$ I loo#e! att carefully$ I ha! ne"er seen one &efore$ Lots of )eo)le who

wor# in &an#s ha"en%t either$ 1enen!e0 )ro&a&ly ha! a !o0en$

///

I met 1r Howar! ,)encer at ele"en the next morning$ I was

early an! he was late$ *hile I was waiting I loo#e! at the

)eo)le who come to a hotel &ar at ele"en in the morning$ There

were two young men with a tele)hone at their ta&le$ They too#

urns ma#ing calls an! shouting at each other an! at the )eo)le

hey calle!$ There was a man sitting at the &ar who was tellinghe story of his life to no one in )articular a long sa! story$

I ha! almost &ecome tire! of waiting when a !ream in a white

#irt wal#e! in$ There are &lon!es an! &lon!es$ .ifferent

#in!s$ I #now( I%"e stu!ie! the su&ect$ There are &lon!es who

ea! &ig long &oo#s an! write )oetry$ There are &lon!es whoi#e )arties an! laugh lou!ly at all the o#es e"en the ol! ones$

There are &lon!es too who marry millionaires an! li"e on the

outh coast of 8rance an! #iss their hus&an!s goo!-night


35/110

!ownstairs$

5ut this one was not any of these #in!s$ ,he was uni6ue$ ,he

was 6uite tall an! ha! eyes li#e a summer s#y$ ,he smile!

gently at the ol! waiter who )ulle! out a chair for her$ I ust

hel! my &reath an! watche!$ I was still watching when a man%s"oice sai! close to my shoul!er %I must a)ologi0e for &eing so

ate 1r 1arlowe$ I%m Howar! ,)encer$%

I ha! trou&le tearing my eyes away from the !ream to loo# at

him$

He was a&out forty-fi"e years ol! wearing a suit that was fine

for 5oston &ut all wrong for California$ He was carrying an ol!

eather case$

%Two new &oo#s in here% he sai! )atting the leather$ %I%m sure

hey are awful$ 5ut I !on%t su))ose you care a&out )u&lishers%

)ro&lems$%

%I coul!% I sai! %if it has anything to !o with the o&$% I a!mire!

he way ,)encer was loo#ing right at me not gi"ing any

attention to the &lon!e$

He or!ere! !rin#s an! ex)laine! the o&$ One of his authors

i"e! out here a man name! Roger *a!e$ I #new the name &ut

ha!n%t rea! the &oo#s$ A))arently e"eryone else !i! though

&ecause *a!e was one of ,)encer%s &iggest writers$ Exce)t that

*a!e ha! &een ha"ing a &a! )erio! lately$ He !ran# too much,)encer sai! an! went a little cra0y sometimes$ He ha! hurt

his wife$ 1ore im)ortant to ,)encer howe"er he ha! also

to))e! writing$ All that ,)encer wante! was for me to sa"e


36/110

he wife from the writer the writer from himself an! a half-

finishe! &oo# from the &ottle in *a!e%s !es#$ That%s all$

It was interesting$ It was also im)ossi&le$ I tol! him that what

he nee!e! was a male nurse not a !etecti"e$ I coul!n%t sto) a

man from !rin#ing an! if the wife was li"ing with him Icoul!n%t )rotect her either$ Not !ay an! night$

%'our answer is no then+%

%I%m sorry 1r ,)encer$ I !on%t thin# I%! &e a&le to hel)$%

,u!!enly a "oice that was not ,)encer%s sai! %'ou%re wrong

1r 1arlowe$ I%m sure you coul! hel)$% It was a "oice li#e

honey$

I loo#e! u) into a )air of "iolet eyes$

%He !oesn%t want to hel) Eileen% ,)encer sai!$

,he smile!$ %I !isagree$%

I sto))e! staring long enough to answer$ %I !i!n%t say I wasn%t

ntereste! 1rs *a!e$ I ust !on%t thin# it woul! wor#$ I%m

orry$%

I thought she woul! argue &ut she !i!n%t$ ,he ga"e me her car!

n case I change! my min! than#e! me an! left$ 9ust li#e that$

sat !own gra&&e! my whis#y an! watche! her wal# out of he hotel$ *hat a wal#<

*hen she ha! gone ,)encer turne! to me something new in


37/110

his eyes$

%Nice% I sai! %&ut you shoul!%"e loo#e! at her once or twice

while we tal#e!$ ,he%s much too )retty to ignore$%

,)encer went re! in the face$ %,he%s marrie! 1r 1arlowe$%

I smile!$ %That !oesn%t ma#e her ugly 1r ,)encer$%

*e !i! not sha#e han!s when he left$

///

That night I recei"e! a tele)hone call from 3reen$

%Thought you might want to #now$ They &urie! Lennox !own

n 1exico to!ay$ ,ome lawyer too# care of it$%

En!icott I thought$ %Than#s for telling me ,ergeant$ Anything

else+%

%9ust this$ Lennox is &urie! an! so is the rest of it$ Lea"e it

alone$%

,weet !reams to you too I thought$


38/110

CHAPTER 8I4E

Dr Verringer's Farm

Next morning the &ell rang ust as I finishe! sha"ing$ I

o)ene! the !oor an! loo#e! into a )air of "iolet eyes again$ ,he

was wearing a &rown suit this time$

%Come in 1rs *a!e$ Li#e a cu) of coffee+%

,he came into the li"ing room an! sat !own$ %Than# you$

5lac# coffee )lease$%

I &rought the coffee in my goo! cu)s$ They were the only twon the #itchen that matche!$

%The last time I ha! coffee with someone was ust &efore I

went to ail% I sai!$ %I guess you #new I%! &een to ail 1rs

*a!e$%

,he no!!e!$ %They thought you hel)e! him esca)e !i!n%t

hey+ He must ha"e &een insane$%

I fille! a )i)e an! lit it$ %'es he must ha"e &een$ He was &a!ly

hurt in the war$ 5ut I !on%t thin# you came here to tal# a&out

hat$%

It too# a little more con"ersation an! another cu) of coffee to

fin! out what the )ro&lem was$ Roger *a!e was missing$


39/110

,)encer ha!n%t tol! me &ecause ,)encer !i!n%t #now$ This was

1rs *a!e%s little secret$ A))arently *a!e !i! this often$ 5ut

his time his wife was worrie!$ ,omething was wrong she sai!$

%1r ,)encer sai! the same thing 1rs *a!e$ He thought it

might &e some hi!!en guilt that ma#es your hus&an! !rin# somuch$ *hat !o you thin#+%

,he sai! she !i!n%t #now$ ,he a!!e! that if *a!e ha! a secret

e"en a &a! secret something criminal for instance she

woul!n%t care$ ,he ust wante! him &ac#$

%Let%s say I say yes this time% I as#e! her %where woul! I start+

.o you ha"e any i!ea where he is+%

%'es an! no% she re)lie! after thin#ing$ %He%s at some !octor%s

)lace I%m sure$ He goes to them when he%s &een !rin#ing

hea"ily an! they hel) him sto)$ 8or a few !ays at least$ 5ut I

!on%t #now these !octors$%

,he !i! howe"er ha"e a note she foun! in her hus&an!%s

!es#$ He ha! written %I !o not li#e you .octor 4 &ut right now

you%re the man for me$%

*e ha! finishe! all the coffee$ %Please% she &egge! %fin!

Roger an! &ring him home$%

How coul! I refuse a la!y li#e that twice+ I coul!n%t$ I sai! I

woul! try an! she than#e! me an! left$

No matter how cle"er you thin# you are you ha"e to ha"e a

)lace to start from( a name an a!!ress something$ All I ha!


40/110

was the letter 4$ ,o I !i! what I !o when I nee! hel)( I calle! a

frien! an! as#e!$

3eorge Peters wor#e! for a &ig !etecti"e agency &ut he ha!n%t

forgotten the ol! har! times$ ,ure he sai! he coul! gi"e me

en minutes if I came to his office$

He ha!n%t change! much with the years$ He was still thin he

was still all smiles an! he was still a &usy man$

%*hat can I !o for you+% he as#e! from &ehin! a !es# li#e a

foot&all fiel!$

%I%! li#e to see your file on the !octors in the hotel &usiness$

'ou #now the ones where you go when no one #nows where

you are$ I%"e got a missing man who%s )ro&a&ly trying to sto)

!rin#ing$ He%s rich an! his wife is worrie!$%

Peters foun! the file an! we loo#e! at it together$ There were

hree names an! a!!resses un!er the letter 4$ I co)ie! them

!own$

%Than#s )al$ I%ll !o the same for you one !ay$%

%8orget it% Peters sai!$ %5y the way I hear! something a&out

your frien! Lennox that might interest you$ One of our men

#new a guy in New 'or# fi"e or six years ago$ He%s certain it

was Lennox exce)t his name wasn%t Lennox then$ It was

1arston$ Of course he coul! &e wrong$%

I sai! I !ou&te! it was the same man$


41/110

%Our man thin#s it was$ He%s in ,eattle now &ut I can ha"e him

call you when he returns if you want$%

%,ure$ *hy not+% An! I left to chec# on the !octors$

If you are an honest !octor in California you might get rich or you might get )oor( if you are a !ishonest !octor you are going

o ma#e money$ I ha! three names7 4arley a &one !octor(

4u#anich ear nose an! throat( an! 4erringer who calle!

himself .octor &ut !i!n%t say of what$

I starte! with 4u#anich an un)leasant character who)reten!e! not to un!erstan! that I wante! more than an

examination$ He !i! not seem to &e my man anyway$ He ha!

nothing more than a small office$ Not fancy enough$

4arley was in another class$ He ran a )ri"ate hos)ital an! was

"ery frien!ly$ He smile! when he sai! he coul!n%t hel) me an!

he smile! as he as#e! me why I was loo#ing for *a!e here$ I

ex)laine! that the hos)ital was on a list of )laces where certain

hings ha! ha))ene! in the )ast things in"ol"ing the )olice$ .r

4arley &ecame su!!enly less frien!ly$ *e en!e! our

con"ersation there &ut I ha! alrea!y seen enough of 4arley%shos)ital$ He too# care of the ol! an! the wea#$ He wasn%t tough

enough to han!le real trou&le$ I crosse! him off too an! went

o fin! .r 4erringer$

His )lace was out in the hills$ I li#e! that an! not ust &ecause

he air was cleaner there$ I li#e! a )lace where )eo)le woul!n%t&other to loo# for a man$ I got there ust as it was getting !ar#$

4erringer ha! a farm with a circle of small &uil!ings


42/110

urroun!ing the main house$ This time I !eci!e! not to &e

)olite$ I !ro"e )ast the front gate )ar#e! off the roa! an! came

&ac# on foot$

I clim&e! the fence &ehin! the farm an! went slowly towar!s

he lights of the &uil!ings$ It was !ar# an! I ha! a )oc#et torch&ut I !i!n%t want to use it$ I was carrying a gun too an! I !i!n%t

want to ha"e to use that either$

I sto))e! at the e!ge of an em)ty swimming-)ool$ I hear! a

!oor o)en so I hi!$

A light went on outsi!e the main house a single &right light

hat ma!e a circle in the !irt &etween the &uil!ings$ Into this

circle ste))e! a cow&oy !resse! li#e a mo"ie cow&oy with an

enormous hat a )air of sil"er guns at his si!e an! a ro)e that

he swung o"er his hea!$ He )laye! with the ro)e for a fewminutes an! then )ractise! ta#ing his guns out of his gun&elt as

6uic#ly as he coul!$ He was fast$ He was also o&"iously a little

cra0y$ *hen he%! finishe! his game whate"er it was he went

&ac# into the house$ The light went out as he went in$

There was another smaller light on in one of the &uil!ings far from the &ig house$ I wal#e! o"er mo"ing as 6uietly as

)ossi&le$ I !i!n%t want to &e in the cow&oy%s mo"ie tonight

&ecause his guns ust might ha"e &een loa!e!$

I reache! a win!ow of the hut$ It was now !ar# enough to loo#

n without &eing seen$ There was one man on a &e! an! another on a chair$ They were tal#ing$ The man on the &e! was angry

&ut he was so wea# that his shout was no lou!er than a whis)er$

The other man was s)ea#ing calmly an! )atiently$


43/110

The man on the &e! sai! %I alrea!y )ai! you an! I )ai! you

well$ 'ou got six hun!re! !ollars$ An! that was too much$%

The man in the chair !i!n%t !isagree$ He only sai! %'ou calle!

me remem&er+ I came to you in your hour of nee!$ I tol! you

t woul! &e ex)ensi"e$ 'ou insiste!$ I want another fi"ehousan! !ollars *a!e$%

%I was !run#% *a!e sai!$ %I woul!%"e )romise! you anything$%

'ou%ll write me a che6ue my frien!$ Now at once$ Then you%ll

get !resse! an! Earl will ta#e you home$%

*a!e laughe!$ %A che6ue+ ,ure I%ll gi"e you a che6ue$%

The !octor smile!$ %'ou thin# you can call the &an# later an!

ell them not to acce)t it$ 5ut you won%t$ Earl will !ri"e you

home$%

%No than#s$ That &oy%s insane$ Cra0ier e"ery time I see him$%

4erringer shoo# his hea!$ %Earl isn%t normal I #now &ut I ha"e

ways of han!ling him$%

%That%s what you thin#% a new "oice sai! an! Earl came

hrough the !oor in his )retty cow&oy suit$

%2ee) that mon#ey away from me% *a!e shoute! an! this

ime it was not a whis)er$

Earl !i!n%t li#e the !escri)tion$ He starte! for *a!e$ 4erringer

um)e! &etween them an! was )ushe! roughly asi!e &y the


44/110

cow&oy$ I ran for the !oor an! came into the room with my gun

out$ Earl s)un aroun! forgetting *a!e$ The !octor was )ic#ing

himself u) off the floor$

The cow&oy came right at me$ He !i!n%t touch his guns an! he

!i!n%t seem to see mine$ I fire! through the o)en win!ow o"er he &e!$ Earl sto))e! loo#e! at the hole in the win!ow screen

an! loo#e! &ac# at me smiling$ %That%s a real gun isn%t it+ Oh

&oy$%

%Ta#e the gun&elt off$ ,lowly$%

Earl #e)t his smile$ %O2$ Only these aren%t real guns you

#now$% He too# the &elt off an! )ut it !own$ *a!e gra&&e! a

gun$

%He%s right$ They%re toys$%

Earl ga"e *a!e a !irty loo# &ut then he notice! the !octor

who was leaning against the wall ru&&ing his hea!$

%,orry% Earl sai! in a small "oice$

The !octor )atte! Earl gently on the shoul!er an! smile!$ I

)ulle! *a!e out of there while I ha! the chance$ 4erringer

watche! us lea"e an! sai! nothing until we were almost too far

o hear him an! then he calle! out$

%'ou )romise! me *a!e$ 8i"e thousan!$%

I )ut *a!e in my car an! we starte! for home$ His home first$


45/110

He wante! to tal#$ I coul!n%t sto) him$

%'ou were great &ac# there$ *ho are you+%

I tol! him$ I ex)laine! that his wife ha! hire! me$

%*hate"er she%s )aying you it isn%t enough$%

%,he isn%t )aying me 1r *a!e% I tol! him %you are$ I%! li#e

he money from you$ ,eems &etter that way$%

*a!e agree!$ Then his thoughts turne! to the !octor$ %'ouhin# I shoul! )ay him the fi"e thousan!+ He too# goo! care of

me$ He%s not a &a! guy$ Tries to #ee) Earl from #illing himself

from #illing e"ery&o!y else$ .on%t #now why he &others$ He let

his &usiness go to hell &ecause of that cra0y &oy$ I !on%t

un!erstan! that$ An! I%m the &ig writer su))ose! to un!erstan!

)eo)le$ ,houl! I gi"e him the money+%

I tol! him I !i!n%t ha"e an o)inion either way$

%'ou !on%t li#e me !o you 1arlowe+ *ait a minute$

1arlowe$ I #now you$ 'ou were mixe! u) with Lennoxweren%t you+%

I sai! I ha! &een$ *a!e no!!e!$ He #new them he sai! Terry

an! ,yl"ia$ He #new her &etter than he #new him he sai!$ He

as#e! me 6uestions I !i!n%t want to answer$ He was ust a o&

an! that%s what I tol! him$ *hen we reache! his house he wenttraight in$ I was going to !ri"e off &ut she came out$ To than#

me$


46/110


47/110

CHAPTER ,I=

Empty Like a lass

The next !ay was ust another !ay at the office$ A giant came

n an! tol! me someone was trying to )oison his !og$ He

us)ecte! the la!y next !oor$ He wasn%t ha))y when I tol! him

coul!n%t hel) &ut at least he !i!n%t hit me with my !es#$

A woman with a face li#e a sa! story came in &ecause she

hought the girl she li"e! with was ro&&ing her$ ,he wante! me

o come o"er an! scare the girl$ ,he left as !isa))ointe! as the

giant$

Then a man came in with the ol!est story in the &oo#( a young

wife who ha! ta#en the money an! run$ He !i!n%t want the

money$ He wante! his wife &ac#$ I coul! hel) him an! I !i!$ It

was easy enough$ I !i!n%t get rich on it &ut why shoul! I care+

was a man with a fi"e-thousan!-!ollar )iece of go"ernment

)a)er in my )oc#et$

Three !ays later Eileen *a!e calle! to in"ite me o"er for

!rin#s the next e"ening$ 8oolish curiosity ma!e me say yes$

8oolish curiosity also ma!e me re-rea! Terry Lennox%s letter

after I hung u)$ It remin!e! me that I ha!n%t ha! the gin an!

ime at 4ictor%s he%! as#e! me to ha"e$

The &ar was almost em)ty when I got there$ Terry woul! ha"e


48/110

&een )lease!$ I was sur)rise! to hear the woman in front of me

or!er the same !rin#$ ,he wasn%t English either$ I might ha"e

foun! out more a&out her if I ha!n%t notice! I was &eing

watche!$ I a))roache! the man straight on$

%'ou%re watching me$ If I sit here next to you it will ma#eyour o& easier$%

%,ure )al sit where you want$%

%'ou% re one of 1en!y%s &oys right+ A little guy with no

name$%

He !i!n%t li#e the con"ersation$ %I got a name$ An! I%m not one

of the &oys I%m his num&er one$ 1ore than you can say

1arlowe$%

%'ou%re su))ose! to watch me$ O2 watch me lea"e$%

I )ai! for the !rin# an! went out the !oor$ The &oy came out

ight &ehin! me$ There might ha"e &een trou&le if this

enormous man ha!n%t got out of an enormous car an! )ic#e!

he &oy u) with one huge han!$

%I #ee) telling you chea) gangsters$ ,tay away from my

fa"ourite )laces$ 'ou s)oil my a))etite$%

The giant threw my watcher against the outer wall of the &ar

with the one arm that ha! &een hol!ing him an! 1en!y%snum&er one &oy hit it har! an! staye! there until the giant

!isa))eare! into 4ictor%s$


49/110

%*hat was that+% I as#e! as the &oy foun! his feet$

%5ig *illie 1agoon$ A )oliceman$ He thin#s he%s tough$%

%'ou mean he isn%t sure+% I as#e! him )olitely$ The &oy ignore!

me an! lim)e! away into the Hollywoo! night$

*hen I reache! the *a!e house the next afternoon the )arty

ha! alrea!y &egun$ I )ar#e! my ol! car &etween two new

ex)ensi"e ones an! wal#e! in$ A 1exican in a white coat

o)ene! the !oor for me li#e! my name an! let me in$

It was the same )arty e"ery&o!y has$ Peo)le were tal#ing too

ou! an! not listening at all$ E"eryone ha! a glass in his han!

an! the glasses were all half-em)ty$

Eileen *a!e came u) an! sai! she was "ery gla! I coul!

come$ Her hus&an! wante! to see me she a!!e!$ He ha!n%t

oine! the )arty &ecause he hate! )arties$ He was in his stu!y

he sai!$ The 1exican too# me to see him$ He also warne! me

hat ,enor *a!e was "ery &usy$

*a!e was &usy lying on a sofa$ There was a )ile of >?llow)a)er next to the ty)ewriter on his !es#$

The 1exican left an! *a!e sat u)$ %3oo! of you to come

1arlowe$ .i! you ha"e a !rin# or two+%

I sai! no an! as#e! him how his wor# was going$

%8ine$ It ust comes out$ That%s how it is when it%s goo!$ If it%s

har! wor# it%s &a! writing$%


50/110

He sai! this almost angrily so I was #in! enough to !isagree$

It was har! for 8lau&ert an! his stuff%s goo!$%

%Oh 3o! an intellectual !etecti"e$ *ell I hate intellectuals$

%m not !rin#ing an! I hate e"eryone$ I hate you too$%

%I un!erstan!% I sai!$ %'ou nee! some&o!y to insult$ 3o ahea!$

*hen it &egins to hurt I%ll let you #now$%

*a!e laughe!$ %I hate myself too$ An! my terri&le &oo#s that

ell an! sell$ ,o how can you hel) me+%

%1ay&e I !on%t want to hel)% I sai!$

%Let%s ha"e a !rin#$ 5ecause I li#e you$% He was laughing

again$

%Not in here )al$ Not you an! me alone$ I !on%t want to ha"e towatch you ta#e the first one$%

%'ou #now 1arlowe I thin# you coul! hel)$ *hy !on%t you

come an! li"e here an! #ee) me safe from harm an! tell me all

a&out 8lau&ert+%

I shoo# my hea!$ %I coul!n%t sto) you$%

%Try it$ I coul! finish the misera&le &oo#$ I ha"e to finish it$ If

can%t finish things I start I might as well &e !ea!$%

I !i!n%t want to listen to this #in! of nonsense$

%'ou !i! as much for Lennox% he sai! su!!enly$


51/110

I wal#e! right u) to him an! ga"e him a har! stare$ %I got

Lennox #ille!$ That%s what I !i! for Terry$%

*a!e sai! I was tal#ing li#e a fool$ He curse! at me &ut

without much feeling$ I coul!n%t really hel) anyway he sai!

elling me what I alrea!y #new$ It was something )ersonal heai!$

%A&out your wife+%

%I !on%t thin# so$ I thin# it%s a&out me$ 8orget it though$ Let%s

go out an! ha"e that !rin# an! see all those nice )eo)le who !owant to watch me ha"e that first one$%

The )arty was lou!er than &efore$ *a!e sai! hello here an!

here an! then hea!e! for the &ar$ As Can!y the 1exican

mixe! our !rin#s I saw a face I #new$ It was the woman from

4ictor%s the one who ha! or!ere! the gin an! lime$ *a!e ga"e

her a real smile$

%Hello Lin!a$ This is Phili) 1arlowe$ 1arlowe this is Lin!a

Loring$ 'ou ha"e something in common$%

If she recogni0e! me from the night &efore she !i!n%t show it$

,he exten!e! her han!$ %Hello 1r 1arlowe$ *hat Roger won%t

ay is that I%m ,yl"ia Lennox%s sister$ An! I #now who you are$%

Her han! was cool an! she !i!n%t let me #ee) it for long$ As

he too# it &ac# a thin man with a neat &ear! an! a "ery whiteface came u) to us$ He ignore! me an! ga"e *a!e an ugly

oo#$


52/110

Lin!a Loring sai! %1y hus&an! 1r 1arlowe$%

He !i!n%t e"en loo# at me$ He was gi"ing all his )oisonous

attention to *a!e$ %I ha"e something to say to you *a!e$ ,tay

away from my wife$%

*a!e seeme! amuse!$ %'ou%re my guest to!ay .r Loring so

all I%ll say is that I thin# you%"e misun!erstoo! something$%

Loring foun! a glo"e in one of his )oc#ets an! sla))e! *a!e

across the face with it$ The writer !i!n%t mo"e a muscle$ %4ery

!ramatic .octor$ Next time why !on%t you !o it when I ha"e achance to answer the challenge+ It woul! &e more interesting$

Right now I thin# you%re loo#ing for the !oor$ Can!y will show

t to you$% *a!e turne! &ac# to the &ar$ %Can!y the !octor is

ea"ing$%

Loring gra&&e! for his wife%s han! &ut she was too 6uic#$ %I%m

not lea"ing% she sai!$ %'ou are$%

Loring raise! the glo"e again &ut *a!e ste))e! &etween the

hus&an! an! wife$ %*e !on%t !o that here .octor$%

%.on%t we+% Loring as#e! sarcastically &ut he )ut the glo"e

away an! left$ Can!y shut the !oor &ehin! him$ I )ic#e! u) my

!rin# an! loo#e! aroun! for *a!e &ut he ha! !isa))eare!$ No

won!er he !i!n%t li#e )arties$ I too# a wal# out to the terrace

an! settle! into a soft chair facing the la#e$ A minute later

Eileen *a!e was sitting next to me$ ,he wante! to #now if Iha! acce)te! Roger%s offer to stay with them$ I tol! her I ha!n%t$

sai! that if she wante! to hel) her hus&an! she shoul! fin!

him a goo! )sychiatrist$


53/110

,he loo#e! sur)rise!$ %A )sychiatrist+ *hy+%

%I%m not an ex)ert &ut I thin# your hus&an! !oes ha"e a secret

a secret he has &urie! so !ee) insi!e himself that he can%t fin!

t$ 1ay&e something he !i! when he was !run#$ ,o he !rin#s to

fin! it$ :nless he ust !rin#s &ecause he can%t write anymore$%

,he frowne!$ %It%s not that$ Roger has a great amount of talent$

His &est &oo# is still insi!e him$%

%Then may&e it%s something &etween the two of you$%

,he answere! imme!iately$ %No$ I lo"e my hus&an!$ Not the

way a young girl lo"es )erha)s &ut I !o lo"e him$ A woman is

only a young girl once$ The man I lo"e! then is !ea!$ He !ie!

n the war$ His initials strangely enough were the same as

yours$ They ne"er e"en foun! his &o!y$ ,ometimes I e"en

hin# I see him$ At a )arty or in a restaurant$ It%s silly I #now

&ut we were "ery much in lo"e$ That cra0y lo"e that !oesn%t

ha))en twice$%

,he wasn%t loo#ing at me anymore$ ,he was staring at the la#e$

loo#e! &ac# at the house an! *a!e was there in the !oorway$

I oine! him$ He ha! ha! more than that first !rin#$

%How%s my wife 1arlowe+ .i! you gi"e her another #iss+%

I sai! I was lea"ing$

%3o ahea!$ 5ut I%ll tell you what the !octor tol! me$ ,tay away

from my wife 1arlowe$ 5ecause it isn%t any goo!$ ,he%s not


54/110

here see+ Em)ty li#e a glass$ .i! she tell you a&out her ol!

o"e+ The one that !ie! in Norway &ut they ne"er foun!+ 5e

careful 1arlowe$ Peo)le !o !isa))ear$%

I wal#e! away from him$ As I )asse! the &ar Can!y calle! to

me$

%,enor one !rin# left$ 'ou want it+%

I tol! him to !rin# it &ut he sai! he was a &eer man$ He sai!

hat%s how the ,)anish were$ He sai! that he was "ery ,)anish

an! that he ha! the #nife to )ro"e it$ He !i!n%t nee! me to hel)him ta#e care of his &oss$

%'ou%re !oing such a goo! o& Can!y$ *ho &rought him

home+%

I s)ea# enough ,)anish to #now what he calle! me$ He !i!n%t

hol! the !oor for me when I left$


55/110


56/110

He was right where she ha! )ointe! lying on his stomach$

The &ac# of his hea! was stic#y$ I tal#e! to him &ut he !i!n%t

answer$ I trie! to lift him !ro))e! him trie! again an! got him

across my &ac#$ He was as hea"y as stone$ I ma!e it into the

house an! !ro))e! him on the sofa$ 1y &ac# screame! as I

traightene! u)$

1rs *a!e came in an! sai! she%! calle! her !octor$ He ha!n%t

wante! to come she sai!$ This confuse! me until she ex)laine!

hat Loring was her !octor$

He showe! u) fifteen minutes later too# a glance at *a!e%scut an! sai! there was no !anger$ He )ut his hat &ac# on an!

tarte! to lea"e$

%I can%t get him u)stairs alone .octor% I sai!$

%Then lea"e him where he is% Loring sai! col!ly$ %'ou might

wash his hea! too$ He%s not my )atient$%

%I%m not as#ing you to treat him .octor$ I%m as#ing for some

hel) in getting him to his &e!room% I sai! &eginning to get

angry$

%An! ust who are you+% he as#e! shar)ly$

%1y name%s 1arlowe$ *e were intro!uce! last wee#$ All I

want is$ $ $%

He interru)te! me$ %I%m not intereste! in what you want$% He

tarte! for the !oor &ut I ste))e! in front of it$


57/110

%9ust a minute$ 'ou%re a !octor an! this man nee!s hel)$ I can%t

get him u)stairs alone$ *hat !o you say+%

%3et out of my way% he sai! through his teeth %or I shall call

he )olice$ I%m a )rofessional man an! as a )rofessional$ $ $%

This time I interru)te! him$ %As a )rofessional man you%re a

ac# of !irt$% I ste))e! out of his way$ He went out li#e a storm$

Perha)s he ha!n%t &rought his glo"e this time$ Instea! his eyes

mac#e! me as he went through the !oor$

In the en! Can!y came home an! we carrie! *a!e u) thetairs together$ The 1exican wante! to #now what I was !oing

here$ I !i!n%t li#e his curiosity an! tol! him so$ He showe! me

his #nife$ Can!y !i!n%t li#e me$ I coul!n%t un!erstan! why( I%m

"ery easy to li#e$ He as#e! me if I ha! hit *a!e$ I tol! him his

&oss ha! fallen an! that he wasn%t hurt &a!ly$ The #nife!isa))eare!$ *e un!resse! *a!e an! )ut him to &e!$ Can!y

went to change$ I washe! the cut an! *a!e o)ene! his eyes$

%*hat ha))ene!+%

%I%! say the usual$ Exce)t you also fell an! cut your hea! thisime$ It%s not serious$ *hy !on%t you get some slee)+%

%,lee)% he sai! %what%s that+%

%1ay&e a )ill woul! hel)$ 3ot any+%

He sai! there were some in the !rawer$ They were 1rs *a!e%s

)ills an! they were strong$ Loring%s name was on the )lastic

&ottle$ I ga"e *a!e one an! he swallowe! it !ry$ He was 6uiet


58/110

for a while an! then he sai! slowly %I remem&er something$ .o

omething for me$ I wrote some cra0y stuff$ I !on%t want Eileen

o see it$ It%s on the ty)ewriter$ Tear it u) for me$%

I sai! I woul!$ Then I thought he ha! fallen aslee) until he

o)ene! his eyes again an! as#e! %E"er #ill a man 1arlowe+%

%'es$%

%Nasty feeling isn%t it+%

%,ome )eo)le li#e it% I sai!$

%How coul! they+% he as#e! an! then he was aslee) for real$ I

waite! a minute an! then I turne! out the light an! left him$

I went !ownstairs$ Eileen wasn%t there so she must ha"e &een

u) in her room$ I won!ere! a&out that$ .i!n%t she want to #nowhow her hus&an! was+ Or was she ust too tire! of the trou&le

he cause!+ 1ay&e she !i!n%t lo"e him as much as she sai! she

!i!$ A&out that I !i!n%t #now$ No one can see into someone

else%s heart not e"en a goo! !etecti"e$

I went to his stu!y an! foun! the )a)ers$ I &egan rea!ing

hem$ He was right it was cra0y stuff$

He wrote a&out the moon watching him an! wanting to scream

an! 4erringer$ He wrote &a! things a&out 4erringer &ut in a

#in! way$ Then he sai! he was a rose an! tal#e! a&out awoman who was slee)ing in com)lete silence an! that was

wrong he wrote &ecause you always ma#e one soun! or

another when you slee)$ Then he sai! he ha! gi"en Can!y too


59/110

much money he ought to ha"e #ille! him instea!$ %A goo! man

!ie! for me once why not that insect in his stu)i! white

ac#et+%

Then he &egan to come out of whate"er &a! !ream he was

ha"ing an! he wrote that he ha! to call someone he was in a&a! way$ An! that was the en!$ That%s where he sto))e!

writing$

I !i!n%t tear the )a)ers u)$ I fol!e! them an! )ut them in my

)oc#et$ I stoo! there loo#ing out of the win!ow at the calm

!ar# la#e$ Then I hear! a shot$

Her room was em)ty so I #e)t running$ ,he was in his room

an! they were struggling$ 5efore I coul! hel) her she ha!

)ulle! the gun from his han!s$ ,he fell against me as she )ulle!

he gun free an! I hel! her$ ,he was crying$

%Roger how coul! you+%

%I saw someone$ He ha! a #nife$ I gra&&e! the gun from the

!rawer here% he )ointe! to the little ta&le where I%! foun! the

)ills %an! I shot$ 5ut it must ha"e &een a !ream &ecause noone was there$%

It was a misera&le story from start to finish$ The gun ha!n%t

&een in the !rawer$ I ha! seen the )ills some )a)ers a set of

#eys$ 5ut no gun$ An! she ust wasn%t strong enough to ha"e

a#en the gun from him unless he wasn%t really fighting$ It ha!all &een a )erformance$ He wante! sym)athy I guesse!$ Poor

Roger is trying to #ill himself he wante! her to thin#$


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%3o &ac# to &e!% I tol! her$ %He won%t !o it again$% I too# the

gun$ ,he ga"e me a har! loo# an! then wal#e! out$

%'ou were ust )laying% I tol! him when she ha! left$ %'ou

!on%t want to !ie$%

%I guess I !on%t% he sai!$

%*hat goo! man !ie! for you+% I as#e! him$

At first he !i!n%t un!erstan! an! then he remem&ere!$

%I tol! you it was cra0y stuff$ I was !run#$%

%An! isn%t Can!y ta#ing your money &ecause he #nows

omething he shoul!n%t+%

He close! his eyes an! re)eate! %It was ust cra0y stuff$%

I close! the !oor an! came &ac# an! sat on the &e! an! sai!

'ou can%t #ee) running$ Can!y !oes #now something$ *hat is

t a woman+%

His eyes were still close!$ %1ay&e you &elie"e that fool

!octor$%

I too# a wil! guess$ %No he%s wrong$ It wasn%t his wife it was

her sister ,yl"ia$%

*a!e o)ene! his eyes wi!e$

%Is that why you%re here+% he whis)ere! an! I #new I ha!


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guesse! right$ %'ou lea"e me alone% he sai!$ %I%m not the first

hus&an! to !o what I !i!$%

I !i!n%t as# him ust what he ha! !one$

%It%s &een hell% he sai!$

%That%s o&"ious$ The interesting )oint is why$%

I ga"e him another one of his wife%s )ills an! watche! him fall

aslee) again$ *hen he was finally in !reamlan! he loo#e!

half-!ea!$ He wasn%t going to hurt anyone tonight$ 1ay&e heha! ne"er hurt anyone at all$

I went !own the hall &ut at the to) of the stairs I sto))e!

&ecause Eileen was stan!ing in the !oorway of her room$

%He%s gone &ac# to slee)% I sai!$

%I #new you woul! return% she sai! softly$ Her "oice was

change!$ %E"en after ten years I ha"en%t sto))e! waiting$%

*on!erful I thought$ Now she%s cra0y too$

%Come in an! shut the !oor% she whis)ere! an! went into her

oom$ I followe! her in &ecause it seeme! li#e a goo! i!ea$ ,he

hrew herself into my arms$ %It%s always &een you% she sai! an!

#new she wasn%t tal#ing to me$

I might ha"e !one the wrong thing &ut Can!y sa"e! me$ I

hear! his footste)s sto) at the !oor an! I um)e! an! o)ene! it

an! he ran !own the stairs$ *hen I came &ac# to the room all I


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aw was a cra0y woman tal#ing to herself$ I close! the !oor

an! went !own to the stu!y an! foun! *a!e%s &ottle an!

)oure! myself a &ig !rin#$ Then I )oure! another$ I lay !own

on the sofa there an! soon the &ottle was em)ty an! I fell

aslee) too$

I wo#e u) with a hea! li#e a !ea! tree an! the first thing I saw

was Can!y$ He wasn%t smiling$ He as#e! me if I wante! coffee$

%,ure$ Than#s$%

%,le)t !own here+ ,he threw you out+%

%*hate"er you say )al$%

He laughe! at me$ %'ou !on%t loo# so tough this morning$%

He &rought me my coffee$ I !ran# it I ha! more smo#e! acigarette an! then I was O2$ I mean I was still ali"e$ *hen

Can!y came to ta#e the em)ty cu) I as#e! him %How much are

you getting for your silence+ I &et less than two hun!re!$%

He smile! a &a! smile$ He still !i!n%t li#e me$ %1ay&e yougi"e me two hun!re! so I !on%t say what I saw last night$%

%'ou !i!n%t see anything$ There was nothing to see$ Now get

out of here Can!y &ecause I%m wa#ing u)$%

I went to the li"ing room$ ,he was there an! she was sur)rise!o see me$ %I !i!n%t #now you were here 1r 1arlowe$%

,he was har! to &elie"e$ I wal#e! o"er closer to her$ ,he was


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wearing something strange on a chain aroun! her nec#$ It was

ome #in! of army &a!ge$ I as#e! her a&out it$

%I ha! a )eculiar !ream last night% she sai!$ %,omeone I use! to

#now came to see me$ That%s why I%m wearing this$% ,he

ouche! the &a!ge gently$ %He ga"e it to me$%

%I ha! a )eculiar !ream too% I sai! loo#ing right at her %&ut

now I%m awa#e an! I !on%t !ream when I%m awa#e$ *hat I%m

aying is I !on%t thin# I%ll come here again$ There%s something

wrong here$ 4ery wrong$%

%Oh Roger will &e fine in a !ay or two$ 'ou%ll see$%

%No he won%t% I sai!$ %If you want to hel) him you%ll get him

he right #in! of !octor - an! 6uic#$ 5ut% I a!!e! not caring

hat it was nasty %I !on%t thin# you really want to hel) him$%

I left her there in her li"ing room her hus&an! u)stairs

lee)ing a !rugge! slee) her )retty nec#lace aroun! her )retty

nec# an! her )retty "iolet eyes full of anger at what I ha! sai!$

!ro"e home !own a &eautiful roa! an! saw nothing &eautiful$


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CHAPTER EI3HT

#he Smell of unsmoke

At home I ha! a long shower sha"e! change! into fresh

clothes an! &egan to feel clean again$ I rea! a story in a

maga0ine that was goo! &ut not great$ At mi!!ay my tele)hone

ang$

It was the .octor%s wife$ ,he sai! she ha! to see me$ I tol! her

%! meet her at my office$ I sto))e! for a san!wich on the way

o she was alrea!y there when I came in$ I ne"er remem&er to

oc# u)$

%'ou !on%t e"en ha"e a secretary% she sai!$

%No I !on%t$ *hy are you loo#ing for a o&+%

%'ou coul!n%t )ay me enough% she sai!$

%'ou%re wrong$ I%"e got money$ I%"e got a fi"e-thousan!-!ollar

&ill$% I too# it out of my safe an! she loo#e! at it carefully$

%'ou got this from Terry Lennox$ He use! to carry it aroun!$ A

goo! luc# )iece or something$ 'ou !ro"e him to Tiuana$ 'ou

also !on%t thin# he #ille! my sister$ .i! he gi"e you a list of her )ecial frien!s is that it+ Is that why you%"e &een at the *a!e%s

hol!ing Roger%s han!+ 5ecause you thin# may&e Roger #ille!

,yl"ia when he was I !on%t #now !run# an! cra0y+%


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%I met the *a!es &ecause a New 'or# )u&lisher wants a &oo#

finishe! 1rs Loring$ Terry ga"e me no list no names$ An!

yes I was su))ose! to hel) *a!e &ut I can%t$% That was all the

ex)lanation she !eser"e!$

5ut there was a 6uestion I wante! answere! too$

%I saw you at 4ictor%s the other night$ 'ou were ha"ing a rather

unusual !rin# I notice!$ Coul! it &e that you !on%t thin# Terry

#ille! your sister+%

%*hat I thin# !oesn%t matter% she sai!$ ,he meant it too$ %I!i!n%t come here to tal# a&out Terry Lennox in any case$ I came

o in"ite you to my house$%

%*hy+%

%,omeone woul! li#e to tal# with you$%

I ha! a strong feeling who that someone woul! &e$ %The ol!

man+%

,he frowne!$ It was a )retty frown$ %I !on%t call him that 1r 1arlowe$ *ill you come+%

I sai! yes$ E"en a cat can loo# at a #ing$

*e went in her car$ The !ri"er was a &lac# man in his mi!!le

fifties who e"en o)ene! our !oors when we sto))e! in front of her house which was ust a&out the ugliest )iece of

architecture I ha! e"er seen$ It loo#e! li#e a san!castle that a

ittle &oy &uil!s when he%s ma! at his )arents$ 1rs Loring saw


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my ex)ression an! smile!$ %Horri&le isn%t it+ 1y father ga"e it

o me as a we!!ing )resent$ 1y hus&an! lo"es it$%

*e went in$ ,omeone o)ene! the !oor for us an! then

"anishe!$ 8rom the hall we entere! a room that was at least

e"enty feet long$ At the far en! a man was sitting waiting$ Hega"e us &oth the same col! stare$

1rs Loring ma!e the intro!uctions an! a)ologi0e! ust in case

we were late$

%Tell them to &ring the tea% he sai!$ %,it !own 1r 1arlowe$%

I sat !own an! we loo#e! at each other without tal#ing at all

until the tea came$

%Two cu)s% Harlan Potter comman!e! as his !aughter )oure!$

'ou can ha"e your tea in another room Lin!a$%

,he smile! wea#ly an! left$ I too# out a cigarette$

%.on%t smo#e )lease$ It &others my health$%

I ha! to &elie"e him although he certainly !i!n%t loo# sic#$ He

was a long way o"er six feet an! nearly as wi!e as he was tall$

His hair was not yet grey$ His "oice seeme! to come from the

next room$ ,o this is what a hun!re! million !ollars loo#s li#e

thought$

He !i!n%t e"en touch his tea$ He ust tal#e!$ He sai! he #new

who I was what I was an! what I ha! !one for Terry$ He went

on to say that my in"estigation was interfering in his )ri"ate


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ife$ I tol! him I wasn%t in"estigating anything at the moment$

He !isagree!$

%Perha)s you thin# Roger *a!e is in"ol"e! in my !aughter%s

!eath$ 8orget that i!ea$ 8orget you e"en #now Roger *a!e$ I

!on%t rea! his &oo#s myself% he sai! %&ut I ha"e &een tol! thathey are 6uite chil!ish$ As chil!ish as whate"er strange i!eas

you may ha"e$%

I ex)laine! again how I ha! come to meet *a!e$ I tol! him

a&out 1enen!e0 too &ut he sai! the name meant nothing to

him$ I as#e! him what I coul! !o to ma#e him ha))ier$

%All I want is )eace an! 6uiet 1r 1arlowe$ I )ay goo! money

for it an! I ex)ect it$ *e li"e in a !irty worl! where e"eryone

wants to hear terri&le stories a&out the rich an! the )owerful$ I

e)eat( I )ay money to #ee) my life )ri"ate$ How much !o youwant 1arlowe+%

%Nothing I !on%t want your money$ If I get rich I might

&ecome li#e you$%

He laughe!$ Then he stoo! u) an! I saw ust how much o"er ix feet he was$ He was "ery &ig$ *hen he shoo# my han! my

fingers crie!$

%9ust !on%t &e a hero young man$ It%s not a "ery cle"er role for

a cle"er man$%

1rs Loring%s !ri"er too# me home &ut woul!n%t acce)t the

!ollar I trie! to gi"e him$ ,o I trie! to gi"e him a &oo# of

)oetry &ut he sai! he alrea!y ha! that &oo#$


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Life left me alone again for another wee# an! then I got two

ele)hone calls in one morning an! I was &ac# into what

Harlan Potter ha! clearly tol! me to stay away from$

The first caller was Roger *a!e$ He wasn%t crying for hel)

his time( he was in"iting me to lunch$ I acce)te!$

The secon! call was from that frien! of 3eorge Peters$ He was

&ac# in town$ He sai! he !i!n%t #now if it woul! hel) now &ut

he was sure he ha! seen Terry Lennox in New 'or# a few years

&ac# an! that his name then ha! &een Paul 1arston$ He a!!e!

hat 1arston ha! &een wearing a 5ritish Army &a!ge$

*ith this new information I !eci!e! to tal# to someone who

was su))ose! to #now what was going on$ I tele)hone! 3reen

at Homici!e$ He wasn%t )lease! to hear from me$

%*ar recor!+ 'ou !on%t listen !o you 1arlowe+ The

n"estigation is o"er$ 5ut if you can%t slee) nights worrying

a&out it I%ll tell you$ Lennox ha! no war recor!$%

I tol! him 1en!y%s story$

%1en!y is a gangster$ He is also a liar$ An! you%re a fool to

&elie"e him$%

He !i!n%t gi"e me a chance to tell him what I thought he was$

He ust hung u)$

I !ro"e to *a!e%s house at noon$ It was too hot to &e a nice

!ay$ E"en the win! was hot$


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#itchen$

%5ut what are you )aying him for+% I as#e! *a!e$

%'ou%re going to start that again+%

%An! the goo! man that !ie! for you+ Let me tell you$ Terry

Lennox$ Can!y #nows you were seeing ,yl"ia so you )ay

him$%

*a!e as#e! me %'ou thin# I #ille! her+%

%I%m not loo#ing for her #iller$ *hat%s !ri"ing you insane is that

you !on%t #now$ 'ou were !run# an! you !on%t remem&er$

That%s how it was$%

He was going to say something &ut Can!y came in carrying

he san!wiches an! two &ottles of &eer$ *a!e loo#e! at the&eer an! shoo# his hea!$ %3et me a real !rin# Can!y$%

The 1exican sai! there was only &eer an! that he was lea"ing

now( he remin!e! *a!e again that it was his !ay off$

%,o go$ I%ll get the stuff myself$%

They left the room together an! then *a!e returne! a minute

ater with a &ottle of whis#y an! a glass$ He fille! it !ran#

hen fille! it again$

%*here%s your wife+% I as#e! him as he )ut the &ottle an! the

glass !own on his !es#$


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I went &ac# outsi!e to wait for someone to come home an!

#ee) an eye on the fool$ The &oat continue! to roar along the

hore of the la#e$ I wal#e! !own to get a closer loo#$ The man

&ehin! the wheel wa"e! at me$ 1ay&e he !i!n%t #now he was

wrec#ing a nice 6uiet afternoon an! may&e he #new an! !i!n%t

care$ I wal#e! &ac# to the house$ The &oat mo"e! !own thea#e an! too# its awful noise with it$ At the to) of the gar!en

te)s I hear! the !oor&ell ringing$ I went in an! o)ene! the

!oor for Eileen *a!e$

%Oh 1r 1arlowe$ I thought it was Can!y or Roger$ I forgot

my #ey$%

%It%s Can!y%s !ay off$%

There must ha"e &een something in my "oice$

%Is anything wrong+% she as#e!$

%*ell a little !rin#ing is &eing !one$ He%s in his stu!y$

Pro&a&ly aslee) &y now$ An! I must get going$%

%Oh !on%t go$ ,tay an! ha"e some tea$%

I !on%t #now why I sai! yes$ I !i!n%t want any tea$

,he too# off her ac#et$ %I%ll ust loo# in an! see if Roger is all

ight$%

I watche! her cross to the stu!y !oor an! o)en it$ ,he loo#e!

n for a moment an! close! the !oor an! came &ac#$


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CHAPTER NINE

#he $iss of Death

5esi!e him on the sofa was the gun$ It was &loo!staine!$ The

i!e of his hea! was more than &loo!staine!$

I touche! his wrist$ It was warm &ut he was 6uite !ea!$ I

oo#e! aroun! for a note &ut there wasn%t one$ They !on%t

always lea"e notes$ I won!ere! why I ha!n%t hear! the shot an!

hen I remem&ere! the &oat$ He must ha"e waite! until the &oat

was )assing an! then fire! the &ullet$ *hy woul! he wait for

he &oat+ I !i!n%t li#e that &ut no&o!y care! what I li#e!$

I went out an! close! the !oor$ ,he was in the #itchen ma#ing

our tea$ I !i!n%t say anything exce)t that I !i!n%t ta#e sugar or

mil#$ ,he sai! she%! learne! to !rin# tea in Lon!on !uring the

war$ *hen she met that man - &ut she sto))e! the story there

an! change! the su&ect$

,he starte! tal#ing a&out her hus&an! - something woul! ha"e

o &e !one to hel) him$ I sai! it was too late$ ,he !i!n%t

un!erstan! that remar# at first then she glance! towar!s the

tu!y$

%Is$ $ $ is there something wrong in there+%

I no!!e!$ ,he ran out of the #itchen an! &y the time I reache!


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her she was #neeling &y the sofa$

I left her there with him an! calle! the )olice$ A co) was at the

house within fi"e minutes$ *hen I too# him to the stu!y she

was still #neeling &y the &o!y$

%I%m sorry% he sai! %&ut you really shoul!n%t touch anything$%

%It%s my hus&an!% she sai! angrily$ %He%s &een shot$% ,he loo#e!

ight at me$ %I thin# he !i! it% she sai! )ointing$

It wasn%t a nice thing to say &ut I got luc#y$ The )olice!etecti"e who showe! u) ten minutes later was my frien!

5ernie Ohls$ He was my frien! &ut that !i!n%t mean he !i!n%t

ha"e to thin# a&out it first$

%'ou were here with him alone right+ ,he says you #new

where the gun was$ Although it loo#s more li#e suici!e right

now$ An! you%re may&e too cle"er to &e the only )erson aroun!

when you #ill someone$ 1ay&e &ut I thin# you woul! ha"e

!one it !ifferently$%

%Than#s 5ernie$ 'ou%re right though( I woul! ha"e$%

%,o it loo#s goo! for suici!e$ Exce)t that *a!e was rich his

&eautiful wife is u)stairs crying for him an! I can%t see why

he%! want to #ill himself$ If you #now $$$ if you #now anything

you%! &etter &e rea!y to tal#$ I%ll see you later$ 1ay&e sooner$%

As it turne! out I ha! time to go home change ha"e a nice

!inner out an! come home again &efore Ohls calle!$ The

message was sim)le7 come to the sheriff%s office an! !on%t


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home &ut that I%! ha"e to come &ac# the next !ay to sign the

tatement I%! ma!e$ He e"en shoo# my han! when I left$ I

guesse! that meant he &elie"e! me$

///

A few !ays later they close! that in"estigation too$ It was

uici!e they sai!$

Ohls came o"er that afternoon$ It was o"er &ut that !i!n%t

mean he ha! to li#e the answer$

%*a!e was a writer 1arlowe$ That%s what &others me$ He

wrote &oo#s he wrote notes to himself he wrote all the time$

An! then he #ills himself an! he !oesn%t e"en write a goo!&ye$

t seems wrong$%

I )ointe! out that *a!e ha! &een !run#$ That !i!n%t satisfy

5ernie$

%There%s the &oat too$ *hy woul! you care if anyone hear! the

ast shot you%! e"er fire+ Or the wife who forgets her #eys an!

has to ring the &ell to get in when she coul! ha"e wal#e!aroun! to the &ac# of the house an! come in from the gar!en+

%"e &een a )oliceman too long an! it ust !oesn%t smell right$ I

woul! swear she !i! it exce)t there%s no moti"e$ ,he coul!

ha"e !i"orce! him an! still ma!e a fortune$%

He tal#e! for an hour a&out the *a!es an! for an hour Ial#e! a&out them too &ut all my tal# coul!n%t co"er u) the

fact that I wasn%t telling him e"erything$ He left angry( angry at

e"ery&o!y inclu!ing me$


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I tal#e! to someone else the next !ay who wasn%t any ha))ier

a&out *a!e%s !eath than 5ernie was &u

A Long Goodbye-Raymond Chandler

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Transcript of A Long Goodbye-Raymond Chandler