Part 33 (1/2)
I earing a new suit purchased that rey, that no one who knew him could believe that Harry Fletcher would be seen in public wearing it It o sizes too large for me, and I had padded myself with hotel towels to alter my shape entirely I had also self-barbered ed style and dusted it with talcue When I peered at oldrimmed spectacles in the nize myself At seven h the rey checked wool, a full length black leather coat and a s leather hat with a narrow businesslike brilasses, but her expression was set and deterh the crowd of tourists
I felt the sick slide and turn of uts as I saw all my suspicions and fears confir a pace behind and to her side, was the sure of the man she had introduced to me as Uncle Dan He wore a tweed cap and carried an overcoat across his arm More than ever he exuded an air of awareness, the hunter's alert and confident tread as he followed the girl
He had four of his men with him They moved quietly after him, quiet, soberly dressed men with closed watchful faces
”Oh, you little bitch,” I whispered, but I wondered why I should feel so bitter I had known for long enough now
The group of girl and five men stopped in the centre of the hall and I watched dear Uncle Dan issuing his orders He was a professional, you could see that in the way he staked out the hall for ate and every exit
Sherry North stood listening quietly, her face neutral and her eyes hidden by the glasses Once Uncle Dan spoke to her and she nodded abruptly, then when the four strongar the arrivals gate Get out now, Harry,” the little warning voice urged ain Run, Harry, run”
Just then the public address- systeht on which I had made a reservation the previous day I stood up froy suit and shuffled across to the Inquiries Desk The little blonde Swissair hostess did not recognize me at first, then her mouth dropped open and her eyes fleide She covered her lee
”The end booth,” she whispered, ”the end nearest the departures gate” I winked at her and shuffled away In the telephone booth I lifted the receiver and pretended to be speaking, but I broke the connection with a finger on the bar and I watched the hall through the glass door
I heard
”Miss Sherry North, will Miss North please report to the inquiries desk”
Through the glass I saw Sherry approach the desk and speak with the hostess The blonde girl pointed to the booth beside mine and Sherry turned and walked directly towards me She was screened from Uncle Dan and his racefully about her long legs, and her hair was glossy black and bouncing on her shoulders at each stride I saw she wore black leather gloves to hide her injured hand, and I thought she had never looked so beautiful as in this moment of my betrayal
She entered the booth beside me and lifted the receiver Swiftly I replaced my own telephone and stepped out of the booth As I opened her door she looked around with iood reason why I shouldn't break your head,” I said
”You!” Her expression crumpled, and her hand flew to her mouth
We stared at each other
”What happened to the real Sherry North?” I demanded, and the question seemed to steady her
”She was killed We found her body - alnizable - in a quarry outside Ascot” ”Manny Resnick told me he had killed her-_2 I said ”I didn't believe hihed at me when I went on board to do a deal with him and Suleihed at rinned at her lopsidedly ”He was right - wasn't he? I was a fool”
She was silent then, unable to uessed
”So after Sherry North was killed, they decided not to announce her identity - but to stake out the North cottage Hoping that the killers would return to investigate the new arrival - or that some other patsy would be sucked in and lead them home They chose you for the stake-out, because you were a trained police diver That's right, isn't it?”
She nodded, still not looking atabout conchology as well ”then you wouldn't have grabbed that piece of fire coral - and saved me a lot of trouble”
She was over the first shock of my appearance Noas the ti to She remained silent, her face half-turned away, her cheek flushed with bright blood beneath the dark golden tan
That first night, you telephoned when you thought I was asleep
You were reporting to your superior officer that a sucker had walked in ”They told you to playAnd - oh baby - how you playedwith defiance, words seemed to hod behind her closed lips, but she held them back and I went on
”That's why you used the back entrance to Jihbours who knew Sherry ””that's why those two goons of Manny's arrived to roast your fingers on the gas-ring They wanted to find out who you were - because you sure as hell weren't Sherry North They had killed her”
I wanted her to speak now Her silence earing my nerves
”What rank is Uncle Dan - Inspector?”
”Chief Inspector,”she said
”I had him tabbed the moment I laid eyes on hih with it?”she demanded
”I was suspicious at first - but by the time I knew for certain I was crazy stupid in love with you”
She braced herself, as though I had struck her, and I went on reether that you felt pretty good about me In my book when you love someone, you don't sell them down the river”
”I'm a policewoman,” she flashed at me, ”and you're a killer”
”I never killed ato kill me first,” I flashed back, ”just the way you hit Suleiht her off-balance She stammered and looked about her as if she were in a trap