cw.imarriedadeadman-第25章

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ness；　above　his　restraining　hand。
　Then　they　dropped　closed。　She　didn't　struggle　against　him。
　He　carried　her　that　way　out　the　door；　and　along　the　hall；　and　down　those　stairs　she'd　climbed　so　differently　a　little　while　ago。　Just　within　the　street…entrance　he　set　her　down　upon　her　feet　again。
　〃Stand　here　a　minute；　while　I　look　out〃　He　could　tell　by　her　passiveness　now　that　her　recalcitrance　had　ended。
　He　withdrew　his　head。　〃No　one　out　there。　You　left　the　car　around　the　corner；　didn't　you？〃　She　didn't　have　time　to　wonder　how　he　knew　that。　〃Walk　along　close　to　me；　I'm　going　to　take　you　back　to　it。〃
　She　took　his　arm　within　a　doublecoil　of　her　own　two；　and　clinging　to　him　like　that；　they　came　out　unobtrusively　and　hurried　along　together　close　in　beside　the　building…front；　where　the　shadow　was　deepest。
　It　seemed　a　long　distance。　No　one　saw　them；　better　still；　no　one　was　there　to　see　them。　Once　a　cat　scurried　out　of　a　basement…vent　up　ahead　of　them。　She　crushed　herself　tighter　against　him　for　a　moment；　but　no　sound　escaped　her。　They　went　on；　after　the　brief　recoil。
　They　rounded　the　corner；　and　the　car　was　there；　only　its　own　length　back　away　from　the　corner。
　They　crossed　on　a　swift　diagonal　to　it；　and　he　unlatched　the　door　for　her　and　armed　her　in。　Then　suddenly　the　door　was　closed　again；　between　them；　and　he'd　stayed　on　the　outside。
　〃Here　are　the　keys。　Now　take　it　home　and…〃
　〃No；〃　she　whispered　fiercely。　〃No！　Not　without　you！　Where　are　you　going？　What　are　you　going　to　do？〃
　〃Don't　you　understand？　I'm　trying　to　keep　you　out　of　it　I'm　going　back　up　there　again。　I　have　to。　To　make　sure　there's　nothing　there　linking　you。　You've　got　to　help　me。　Patrice；　what　was　he　doing　to　you？　I　don't　want　to　know　why；　there　isn't　time　for　that　now；　I　only　want　to　know　what。〃
　〃Money；〃　she　said　laconically。
　She　saw　his　clenched　hand　tighten　on　the　rim　of　the　door；　until　it　seemed　to　be　trying　to　cave　it　in。　〃How'd　you　give　it　to　him；　cash　or　check？〃
　〃A　check；〃　she　said　fearfully。　〃Only　once；　about　a　month　ago。〃
　He　was　speaking　more　tautly　now。　〃You　destroyed　it　when　it　came　back；　of　c…？〃
　〃I　never　got　it　back。　He　purposely　kept　it　out。　He　must　still　have　it　someplace。〃
　She　could　tell　by　the　way　he　stiffened　and　slowly　breathed　in；　he　was　more　frightened　by　that　than　he　had　been　by　anything　else　she　had　told　him　so　far。　〃My　God；〃　he　said　batedly。　〃I've　got　to　get　that　back；　if　it　takes　all　night。〃　He　lowered　his　head　again；　leaned　it　in　toward　her。　〃What　else？　Any　letters？〃
　〃None。　I　never　wrote　him　a　line　in　my　life。　There's　a　five…dollar　bill　lying　in　there；　by　him；　but　I　don't　want　it。〃
　〃I'd　better　pick　it　up　anyway。　Nothing　else？　You're　sure？　Now；　think；　Patrice。　Think　hard。〃
　〃Wait；　that　night　at　the　dance…he　seemed　to　have　my　telephone　number。　Ours。　Jotted　down　in　a　little　black　notebook　he　carries　around　with　him。〃　She　hesitated。　〃And　one　other　thing。〃
　〃What？　Don't　be　afraid；　tell　me。　What？〃
　〃Bill…he　made　me　marry　him　tonight　Out　at　Hastings。〃
　This　time　he　brought　his　hand　up；　let　it　pound　back　on　the　door…rim　like　a　mallet　〃I'm　glad　he's…〃　he　said　balefully。　He　didn't　finish　it。　〃Did　you　sign　your　own　name？〃
　〃The　family's。　I　had　to。　That　was　the　whole　purpose　of　it　The　justice　is　mailing　the　certificate　in　to　him；　here　at　this　address；　in　a　day　or　two。〃
　〃There's　still　time　enough　to　take　care　of　that；　then。　I　can　drive　out　tomorrow　and　scotch　it　out　there；　at　that　end。　Money　works　wonders。〃
　Suddenly　he　seemed　to　have　made　up　his　mind　what　he　intended　doing。　〃Go　home；　Patrice；〃　he　ordered。　〃Go　back　to　the　house；　Patrice。〃
　She　clung　fearfully　to　his　arm。　〃No…　What　are　you　going　to　do？〃
　〃I'm　going　back　up　there。　I　have　to。〃
　She　tried　to　hold　him　back。　〃No！　Bill；　no！　Someone　may　e　along。　They'll　find　you　there。　Bill；〃　she　pleaded；　〃for　me…don't　go　back　up　there　again。〃
　〃Don't　you　understand；　Patrice？　Your　name　has　to　stay　out　of　it　There's　a　man　lying　dead　upstairs　in　that　room。　They　mustn't　find　anything　linking　you　to　him。　You　never　knew　him；　you　never　saw　him。　I　have　to　get　hold　of　those　things…that　check；　that　notebook。　I　have　to　get　rid　of　them。　Better　still；　if　I　could　only　move　him　out　of　there；　leave　him　somewhere　else；　at　a　distance　from　here；　he　mightn't　be　identified　so　readily。　He　might　never　be　identified　at　all。　He's　not　from　town　here；　there　isn't　anybody　likely　to　inquire　in　case'　of　his　sudden　disappearance。　He　came　and　he　went　again；　bird　of　passage。　If　he's　found　in　the　room　there；　it'll　be　at　once　established　who　he　is；　and　then　that'll　bring　out　of　lot　of　other　things。〃
　She　saw　him　glance　speculatively　along　the　length　of　the　car；　as　if　measuring　its　possibilities　as　a　casket。
　〃I'll　help　you；　Bill；〃　she　said　with　sudden　decision。　〃I'll　help　you…do　whatever　you　want　to　do。〃　And　then；　as　he　looked　at　her　dubiously；　〃Let　me；　Bill。　Let　me。　It's　a　small　way　of…making　amends　for　being　the　cause　of　the　whole　problem。〃
　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃I　can't　do　it　without　the　car；　anyway。　I　need　that〃　He　crowded　in　beside　her。　〃Give　me　the　wheel　a　minute。　I'll　show　you　what　I　want　you　to　do。〃
　He　drove　the　car　only　a　yard　or　two　forward；　stopped　it　again。　It　now　stood　so　that　only　the　hood　projected　beyond　the　corner　buildingline；　the　rest　of　it　still　remained　sheltered　behind　that。　The　driver's　seat　was　exactly　aligned　with　the　row　of　store…fronts　around　the　turn。
　〃Look　down　that　way；　from　where　you　sit；〃　he　instructed　her。　〃Can　you　see　that　particular　doorway　from　here？〃
　〃No。　I　can　see　about　where　it　is；　though。〃
　〃That's　what　I　mean。　I'll　stand　in　it；　light　up　a　cigarette。　When　you　see　that；　bring　the　car　on　around　in　front　of　it　Until　then；　stay　back　here　where　you　are。　If　you　see　anything　else；　if　you　see　something　go　wrong；　don't　stay　here。　Drive　straight　out　and　away；　without　making　the　turn。　Drive　for　home。〃
　〃No；〃　she　thought　stubbornly；　〃no；　I　won't。　I　won't　run　off　and　leave　you　here。〃　But　she　didn't　tell　him　so。
　He'd　gotten　out　again；　was　standing　there　facing　her；　looking　cautiously　around　on　all　sides　of　them；　without　turning　his　head　too　much；　just　holding　his　body　still；　glancing　over　his　shoulders；　first　on　this　side；　then　on　that。
　〃All　right；〃　he　said　finally。　〃It's　all　right　now。　I　guess　I　can　go　now。〃
　He　touched　the　back　of　her　hand　consolingly　for　a　minute。
　〃Don't　be　frightened；　Patrice。　Maybe　we'll　be　lucky；　at　that　We're　such　novices　at　anything　like　this。〃
　〃Maybe　we'll　be　lucky；〃　she　echoed；　abysmally　frightened。
　She　watched　him　turn　and　walk　away　from　the　car。
　He　walked　as　he　always　walked；　that　was　one　nice　thing　about　him。　He　didn't　slink　or　cringe。　She　wondered　why　that　should　have　mattered　to　her；　at　such　a　time　as　this。　But　it　made　what　he；　what　they；　were　about　to　attempt　to　do　a　little　less　horrible；　somehow。
　He'd　turned　and　he'd　gone　inside　the　building　where　the　man　was　lying　dead。
　
　
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　It　seemed　like　an　eternity　that　he'd　been　up　there。　She'd　never　known　time　could　be　so　long。
　That　cat　came　back　again；　the　one　that　had　frightened　her　before；　and　she　watched　its　slow；　cautious　circuitous　return　to　the　place　from　which　they　had　routed　it。　She　could　see　it　while　it　was　still　out　in　the　roadway；　but　then　as　it　closed　in　toward　the　building…line；　the　deeper　shading　swallowed　it。
　〃You　can　kill　a　rat〃；　she　found　herself　addressing　it　enviously　in　her　mind；　and　they　praise　you　for　it。　And　your　kind　of　rat　only　bites；　they　don't　suck　blood。
　Something　glinted　there；　then　was　gone　again。
　It　was　surprising　how　clearly　she　could　see　the　match…flame。　She　hadn't　expected　to　be　able　to。　It　was　small；　but　extremely　vivid　for　a　moment。　Like　a　luminous　yellow　butterfly　held　pinned　for　a　second　at　full　wing…spread　against　a　black　velvet　backdrop；　then　allowed　to　escape　again。
　She　promptly　bore　down　on　the　starter；　trundled　around　the　corner；　and　brought　the　car　down　to　him　with　facile　stealth。　No　more　than　a　soft　whirr　and　sibilance　of　its　tires。
　He'd　turned　and　gone　in　again　before　she'd　reached　him。　The　cigarette　that　he'd　used　to　attract　her　lay　there　already　cast　down。
　She　didn't　know　where　he　wanted　to…wanted　to　put　what　he　was　bringing　out。　Front　or　back。　She　reached　out　and　opened　the　rear　door　on　his　side；　left　it　that　way；　ready　and　waiting　for　him。
　Then　she　stared　straight　ahead　through　the　windshield；　with　a　curious　sort　of　rigidity；　as　though　she　were　unable　to　move　her　neck。
　She　heard　the　building…door　open；　and　still　couldn't　turn　her　neck。　She　strained；　tugged　at　it；　but　it　was　locked　in　some　sort　of　rigor　of　mortal　terror；　wouldn't　carry　her　head　around　that　way。
　She　heard　a　slow；　weighted　tread　on　the　gritty　sidewalk…his…　and　acpanying　it　a　softer　sound；　a　sort　of　scrape；　as　when　two　shoes　are　turned　over　on　their　softer　topsides；　or　simply　on　their　sides；　and　trail　along　that　way；　without　full　weight　to　press　them　down。
　Suddenly　his　voice　breathed　urgently　（almost　in　her　ear；　it　seemed）；　〃The　front　door。　The　front〃
　She　couldn't　turn　her　head。　But　she　could　move　her　arms　at　least。　She　extended　them　without　looking；　broke　the　latch　open　for　him。　She　could　hear　her　own　breath　singing　in　her　throat；　like　the　sound　a　teakettle…spout　makes　when　it　is　simmering　toward　a　catastrophic　overflow。
　Someone　settled　on　the　seat　beside　her。　Just　the　way　anyone　does；　with　the　same　crunchy　strain　on　the　leather。　He　touched　her　side；　he　nudged　her　here　and　there。
　The　muscular　block　shattered；　and　her　head　swung　around。
　She　was　looking　into　his　face。　Not　Bill's；　not　Bill's。　The　mocking　eyes　wide　open　in　the　dark。　His　head　had　had　to　swing　toward　her；　just　as　hers　had　toward　him…it　couldn't　have　remained　inert！…to　make　the　grisly　face…to…face　confrontation　plete。　Even　in　death　he　wouldn't　let　her　alone。
　A　strangled　scream　wrenched　at　her　windpipe。
　〃Now；　none　of　that；〃　the　voice　of　Bill　said；　from　just　on　the　other　side　of　him。　〃Get　in　back。　I　want　the　wheel。　I　want　him　next　to　me。〃
　The　sound　of　his　voice　had　a　steadying　effect　on　her。　〃I　didn't　mean　it；〃　she　murmured　blurredly。　She　got　out；　got　in　again；　holding　onto　the　car　for　support　in　the　brief　transit　between　the　two　places。　She　didn't　know　how　she　did　it；　but　she　did。
　He　must　have　known　what　she　was　going　through；　though　he　didn't　look　at　her。
　〃I　told　you　to　go　home；〃　he　reminded　her　quietly。
　〃I'm　all　right；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　all　right　Go　ahead。〃　It　came　out　tinny；　like　something　on　a　worn…out　disk　played　by　a　feathered　needle。
　The　door　cracked　shut；　and　they　were　in　motion。
　Bill　kept　the　car　down　to　a　laggard　crawl　the　first　few　moments；　using　only　one　hand　to　the　wheel。　She　saw　him　reach　over　with　the　other　and　tilt　down　the　hat…brim　low　over　the　face　beside　him。
　He　found　time　for　a　word　of　encouragement　to　her；　conscious　of　her　there　behind　him；　though　still　he　didn't　turn　to　glance　at　her。
　〃Can　you　hear　me？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Try　not　to　be　frightened。　Try　not　to　think　of　it。　We've　been　lucky　so　far。　The　check　and　the　notebook　were　on　him。　Either　we　make　it　or　we　don't　Look　at　it　that　way。　It's　the　only　way。　You're　helping　me；　too；　that　way。　See；　if　you're　too　tense；　then　I'm　too　tense　too。　You　react　on　me。〃
　〃I'm　all　right；〃　she　said　with　that　same　mechanical　bleat　as　before。　〃I'll