“Your theory doesn’t hold much water,” Abe said. “You’ve written enough mysteries to see it’s full of holes.”
Hardy shrugged elaborately. “Very true. If this were a plot, however, I’m certain I could devise a sequence of events to explain the apparent inconsistencies, to plug the ‘holes’ as you put it. Let me put it before you, instead, that I’ve been a close acquaintance of Brian Blake for several years. To say that he is a womanizer would be a gross understatement. I have no idea what might have befallen Janice’s parents, but the girl herself is probably, at this very moment, in a motel somewhere along the highway with Brian betwixt her thighs.”
“Betwixt?” Jack mumbled.
“Let’s hope so,” Abe said.
“I suspect they’ll return eventually, but Brian once vanished for three weeks after meeting a young lady at the MGM in Vegas. I’ve told all this to the police, of course. They’re checking with motels along the coast. Unfortunately, I’m in no position to wait. I have commitments that require me to leave here first thing in the morning.”
He nodded at Jack. “This is where you come in. Or you, Abe. Either of you men, I’m sure, would be more than capable of doing this little assignment. Brian’s responsibility, you see, was to photograph the interior of Beast House. He’d planned to do it tonight, but since he’s not here…”
“You want one of us to do it,” Jack finished for him.
“I’m prepared to pay a thousand dollars.”
“Cash?” Jack asked,
“Two hundred cash, the balance by check.”
“Since you’re offering that kind of money,” Abe said, “I assume you don’t have permission from the owner.”
“The Kutch woman won’t allow photos of the displays.”
“So we’re talking about an illegal entry,” Jack said.
“I shouldn’t think that would present a problem to a man of your background.”
“A piece of cake.”
Abe looked at Hardy. “This was supposed to be Blake’s job. Was he trying to break in and get those photos last night.”
“No, no. In fact, he left the camera in his room. His disappearance, I’m sure, had nothing to do with our project.”
“If you want the pictures so badly,” Tyler said, “why don’t you break in and take them yourself?”
“I’ve considered that option, of course. The truth of the matter, quite simply, is that I would prefer not to. I admit the venture involves a certain amount of risk. I’m not as young as these men. For me, it would hardly be a “piece of cake.” That’s why I’m willing to pay such an exorbitant amount to have it done by one of them.”
In other words, Tyler thought, you’re chicken.
He took a sip of his martini. Then, smiling as if quite pleased with himself, he reached into his back pocket and took out his wallet. He removed two bills. Tyler saw that they were hundreds. “Do I have a volunteer?” he asked.
Jack and Abe looked at each other.
While they hesitated, Nora blurted, “Shit,
Hardy chuckled.
“You think I’m kidding? I can always use some extra…”
“I’ll do it,” Jack said calmly. “No sweat.” He reached out and Hardy placed the two hundred dollars in his hand.
“Are you sure you want to do that?” Abe asked him.
“Hey, a thousand bucks is a thousand bucks.” He grinned at Hardy. “You’ve got the camera, film, flash equipment?”
“They’re back in my room. I’ll give you a check for the balance when you pick them up.”
“What is it you want, exactly? Just pictures of the dummies?”
“That’s basically it. I’ll require good coverage of each display, perhaps one long shot for the overview, and two or three from a closer range for details. I would also like the attic stairway and the attic itself, if possible. The nursery, if you’re able to unlock its door. And the cellar. The cellar is extremely important. According to my sources, you should find a hole in its floor. A fairly large hole, perhaps two or three feet in diameter. I would like both a long shot and a close-up of that hole, if it exists.”
“Okay,” Jack said. “You got it.”
“I’ll go with you,” Nora said.
“No way, babe.”
“Oh, come on. You’ll need a lookout, won’t you?”
“I’ll look out for myself,” he assured her.
“Please. I won’t be in your way. I’d like to see what that place is like at night. Bet it’s creepy as hell.”
“You just stay with Tyler and Abe.”
“Whether it’s dangerous or not,” Abe told her, “it is illegal. Better that you stay out of it.”
She frowned at her Mai-Tai, then at Jack. “I don’t think I like the idea of you going in there alone.”
“He won’t be going in alone,” Abe said.
A chill crawled through the pit of Tyler’s stomach. She stared at Abe. He put a hand on her thigh. “Don’t worry,” he said. “We’ll be back before you know it.”
“I can take care of it myself,” Jack told him.
“Sure you can. But you won’t let your buddy miss out on the fun, will you?”
Tyler cut into her lamb chop. She forked a bite-sized piece and and stared at it. Her mouth was dry. She didn’t want to eat the lamb, or anything else.
“I’m sorry,” Abe said.
“I know. I’m sorry, too. That bastard.”
“Jack?”
“No, of course not. It’s not his fault. It’s that goddamn Gorman Hardy.”
“I can’t let Jack go in alone.”
“I know you can’t. I wouldn’t ask you to. But don’t you think there’s any way you can talk him out of it?”
“A thousand dollars is a good piece of money. Besides, I’ve known Jack for a lot of years. He’s a guy who likes to take chances. He gets a kick out of it. Don’t let on to Hardy, but he could’ve got Jack to go in there for a six-pack of Dos Equiis.”
“What if I give him a thousand dollars not to? I’ll let Hardy have his goddamn interview, and turn the money over to Jack.”
“You’d do that,” Abe asked, “to stop him from going in?”
“To stop you.”
He looked down at his plate as if no longer able to bear her tormented eyes. “I’ll see if I can talk him out of it. I know he won’t take your money, though, so forget about giving that interview.”
“Do you think he’ll listen?”
“I could stop him, if I had to. But he’s my friend. I know how eager he must be to get in there. Right now, he’s probably hoping there
Tyler peered across the dimly lighted dining room at the corner table where Jack and Nora sat. Jack looked like an overgrown kid, grinning as he shoveled steak into his mouth.
“You think he really wants to do it that badly?”
“I know he does.”
“What about you?”
Abe raised his eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“Are you hoping there
He stared at her with solemn eyes. “A lot of killing’s gone on in that house. Whoever’s behind it—or whatever—murdered Dan Jenson. I take that personally.”
