'No, never! Not in a million years! Wait till Aunt Minna hears this.'
Calmly, Dr Holmes came to his feet. 'Your Aunt Minna is never going to hear this. If you reject me, you're going to be dead.'
'Dead?' Cathleen whispered hollowly. 'Surely you're teasing me, joking.'
'Dead,' Holmes repeated, 'unless you comply. I'll give you a few minutes to think about it. I'm going to see Karen next. I'm sure she's more sensible.'
Turning his back on Cathleen, he left the bedroom, shut the door, and carefully locked it.
He walked down the hall to the other bedroom. He unlocked it and stepped inside.
Karen was seated in an easy chair, fully dressed, legs crossed, tapping one foot angrily. 'So here you are,' she said. 'What in the devil do you mean locking me into this bedroom? I wanted to get out for a breath of fresh air. I thought you were our host, not our warden.'
Holmes smiled. 'I'm not your host, whatever Minna Ever-leigh may think.'
'Just tell me what you want and let me out of here.'
'You, I want you,' said Dr Holmes. 'That's what I want. You've been a virgin too long. I want to make you a woman.'
Karen came to her feet. 'You'd have to rape me to accomplish that.'
Dr Holmes rose slowly, clearly offended. 'I've never contemplated rape, never. I can't imagine forcing myself on a female. I've never done that in my life.'
'Then let me out of here immediately!'
'I couldn't do that either,' said Holmes softly. 'I want you. If I can't have you, no one else shall. What I'm offering you, Karen, is an affirmation of life. Otherwise I can offer you only death.'
She met his burning eyes. 'I think you actually mean that.'
'I've meant it before.'
'You're an absolute madman! I'm getting out of here!'
As she tried to pass him, Dr Holmes roughly grabbed her and spun her around in a violent lurch.
She looked at him, frightened.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Colt.45. 'You're going nowhere except where I tell you to go. Right now we're going to Cathleen's room to join her. She's expecting me. Get out into the hall and turn left.'
Waving his gun at Karen, he forced her out of the room. Then, prodding her with the metal gun, he marched her up the hall to Cathleen's bedroom. There, gun trained on Karen, he unlocked the door and pushed it open.
Cathleen was seated on the foot of the bed, very still, stricken. The sight of the gun at Karen's back made her recoil.
Holmes gestured Karen into the bedroom, and commanded her to sit beside Cathleen.
'All right, the two of you,' Dr Holmes said in a low voice, 'last chance.'
'Why are you doing this?' Karen asked weakly.
'Because I made a proposal to the two of you,' he answered, 'and if I freed you – well, you could be witnesses against me and ruin me.'
'What if we gave in to you?' Karen asked. 'How would that protect us?'
'I'd find a way,' said Holmes mysteriously. 'I could make you happy – one at a time – after I tied the other up. What do you say?'
Cathleen glanced at Karen. 'I couldn't,' she said.
Karen gazed at Holmes directly. 'Neither could I,' she said emphatically.
Dr Holmes snorted. 'Stupid,' he said, 'but your choice.' He aimed the gun first at one, then the other. 'Both of you, on your feet.'
He backed out of the bedroom, signalling them to walk through the doorway, past him.
'Where are we going?' Karen wanted to know.
'Down the hall, that way. Then down the staircase. I'll be right behind you. Try to get away and you're dead. At the bottom, turn to the right and go to the blank wall.'
In a single file they crossed the hallway and descended the stairs, with Holmes pointing his gun at their heads.
They turned right and continued to the blank wall. They stopped and waited for his next command.
Holmes, still holding the gun on them, went to the far side of the wall and pressed a button.
A portion of wall slid open. The women stared into the eerie, partially illuminated room, barren except for the examination table.
'Go inside,' Holmes commanded. 'Step up to the table and wait. Don't try to escape. There is no escape.'
'What – what's going to happen?' Karen wanted to know.
'You'll see,' said Holmes.
He pressed the button and the wall slid closed on the airtight room.
Satisfied, chuckling, Dr Holmes pocketed the Colt, pivoted, and started for his office. As he entered the room and strode over to the gas lever panel, there was the sound of the front doorbell.
This was unexpected, and Holmes halted in his tracks. He peered over his shoulder at the entry as the doorbell rang again and again, more persistently.
Should he answer the doorbell?
Or should he continue to the lever and turn on the gas?
He remained where he was standing, unable to make up his mind.
TEN
Still hesitating, Dr Holmes tried to make up his mind if he should continue to the lever or turn around and find out who was so insistently ringing the doorbell. Holmes told himself it could be no one important. He expected no one. At most, this could be a patient without an appointment, or possibly someone with a minor complaint.
If the visitor was indeed someone with a minor complaint, Holmes felt that he could dispose of the patient quickly. On the other hand, if it was a true emergency, the bell ringer might not cease in the effort to gain admittance.
Wanting to be alone and unhurried to savour the elimination of Cathleen and Karen, Holmes decided to answer the doorbell. Better to get his caller out of the way before indulging himself in the pleasures ahead.
Dr Holmes turned away from his office, went back into the entry hall, crossed to his front door, took the knob firmly and pulled the door open.
He was surprised to find himself facing two young men, both well-dressed and seemingly in the best of health. One was tall, husky, while the other was slightly smaller, but wiry.
The husky young man spoke first. 'Dr Herman Holmes?'
'Yes, I'm Dr Holmes,' the physician said, wondering who they were.
'I'm Bruce Lester,' he said with a tinge of Southern accent. 'This is Alan Armbruster.'
Holmes recognized neither one, and because of his tense state, their names were only dimly familiar.
'What can I do for you?' asked Holmes impatiently.
'We've been sent here by Minna Everleigh -'
'By Minna Everleigh?'
'Yes. The mayor has lifted his ban on the Everleigh Club. The Club is to be reopened today. Minna – my Aunt Minna
– is frantically trying to get her place in shape. She's giving a banquet for the prince of Prussia tonight. All her servants, musicians, and girls are back. I am very grateful to you for taking care of Cathleen and Karen. My Aunt Minna told us to borrow her car to bring them back to the Club as soon as possible – especially since my friend Alan is going to marry Cathleen this evening. Sorry to disturb you, but here we are to take your guests off your hands.'
Dr Holmes was momentarily confused. 'Well, I don't know – I mean, I'm afraid you're too late,' he said finally. 'Cathleen and Karen did spend the night in my house, but they're no longer here.' Holmes gestured behind him.
