customer with a complaint. Turn on the service-is-us charm,
okay?
“Customer? Complaint?” Glassy-eyed, Killegrew gazed at
Judith. “So what’s the problem, little lady? Not enough lines?
Interference on toll calls? Equipment not up to Western
Electric standards? Well, let me tell you, ever since we started
letting those little yellow people over there in Chinkville build
phones, we’ve had…”
“Frank!” Margo screamed right into the CEO’s ear. “Stop
it! You’re the most bigoted man I ever met!”
“Hey!” Killegrew whirled on Margo. “I hired you, didn’t
I? And Gene and Ava and…and a bunch of
other ethnic types. Get off my back before I fire your scrawny
Asian ass!”
“I already quit!” Margo yelled back. “You’re a disgrace,
Frank! You embarrass everyone, especially yourself!”
“Awww…” Killegrew waved a hand in disgust. “Got to see
what this little lady wants. Need to set things straight. Service, that’s what counts. Where’s m’ slide rule?”
Judith finally got Killegrew into the elevator. She was filled
with doubts about her proposed plan. In the CEO’s current
inebriated state, she wondered if he’d even remember his
terrible crimes, let alone be incited to act in a manner that
would incriminate him.
“I thought,” Judith said in an uncertain voice as they moved
slowly down the second-floor corridor, “we might speak
privately in your room. I’d prefer not to have anyone overhear what I have to say.”
“Privacy,” Killegrew murmured, his speech no longer
slurred. “Confidential. No letters to the editor, no complaints
to the state utilities commission, no calls to the FCC. That’s
the way it ought to be, just one-on-one, as if you were a real
person.”
“Yes,” Judith agreed, though Killegrew’s ramblings weren’t
uppermost in her mind. “Here we go—your room, right?”
“My room. My corner room. My beds. My…stuff.” He
staggered inside, allowing Judith to close the door behind
them.
“Well.” Judith put her hands together in a prayerful attitude. “Do you remember when my cousin and I told you
about our insurance?”
“Insurance?” Killegrew’s expression was puzzled. “Wait a
minute—are you selling insurance?”
Judith shook her head. This wasn’t going to be easy, she
thought. Maybe she had miscalculated. “I’m speaking of the
insurance we have regarding the killer. We know who has
killed all these people, Mr. Killegrew.” She paused,
taking a deep breath. “We know it was
