‘Oh, Mrs. Burnett…’
Val stopped and turned.
The girl was shabbily dressed. She wore a grubby white sweater, a skirt that had an oil stain on the front of it, and her shoes were run down. She was around twenty-three, a badly dyed blonde, unattractive and her complexion was bad.
‘Oh, Mrs. Burnett, you don’t know me, but of course, I know, you,’ the girl said. ‘I am Mary Sherrek. I know you have never heard of me, but I’m a representative of the Miami Sun. It’s not much of a paper, but I did so hope…’ She paused and looked hopeless at Val in her neat dress, looking with envy at her perfect grooming. ‘I don’t suppose you want to talk to me but I just had to… well, I just had to speak to you.’
‘That’s all right,’ Val said. ‘What is it?’?‘You really mean you don’t mind me speaking to you? That’s wonderful. You wouldn’t give me an interview, would you? I—I — well, I…’ She stopped and looked uneasily at Val who waited. The girl finally went on, ‘About your husband … he disappeared, didn’t he? It would be wonderful for me if you could tell me something about him. You see, I’m not very good at this job and I think they are going to get rid of me. But if I could go back there and give them an exclusive interview with you… well, it would… you understand?’
While the girl was stammering this out, Val scarcely listened. Her sharp mind was busy. She suddenly saw how it could be possible for her to begin to find out the mystery behind Sue Parnell’s death. The idea that had flashed into her mind sent her blood racing excitedly through her body.
‘Let’s go over there and have a coffee,’ she said. She led the way across the street and into a cafeteria that was almost empty. She ordered two coffees while Mary Sherrek sat clutching her shabby bag, staring at Val with wide, expectant eyes.
‘You really mean you will give me an interview, Mrs. Burnett?’ she said. ‘It would save my life. Honest. They are ready to throw me out. If I…’
‘How long have you been working for this newspaper?’ Val asked.
Mary Sherrek looked startled.?‘About six months. I got a diploma through a Correspondence College. But I don’t think I’m really much good. I just haven’t…’
‘But have you a press card?’?‘Oh yes. I couldn’t go around without a press card, but it doesn’t mean much. It just gets you into places.’
‘Could I see it, please?’?‘Of course.’
The girl took the Press card from her bag and offered it to Val who studied it for a brief moment. It merely stated that Mary Sherrek represented the Miami Sun, and she should be granted facilities to assist her in her work. There was a depressing photograph of the girl stuck on the card which was signed by Chief of Police Terrell.
Val put the card on the table.?‘Do you want to go home, Mary?’
The girl’s eyes opened wide.?‘I can’t go home. My folk live in New York. I just haven’t the money to get there. No, I can’t go home,’
‘If you had the money, would you go?’?‘Oh yes. I hate it here. Yes, I’d go, but Mrs. Burnett, I should be asking you the questions. You don’t want to be bothered with my troubles.’
‘I want your press card,’ Val said quietly. ‘I will give you two hundred dollars for it. With that money, you can get home. Will you sell me your press card?’
The girl stared at her as if she thought she had gone out of her mind. ‘You can’t want my press card! But why? I don’t understand.’
Val opened her bag and took from it two one hundred dollar bills.?‘Never mind why I want it… I want it. Here’s the money. Can I take the card?’ Mary Sherrek stared at the two bills. She drew in a deep breath.?‘You really mean it?’?‘Here is the money,’ Val said, trying to control her impatience. She pushed the money across the table and picked up the card. This she put in her bag. ‘Now go home. I get these odd whims. I like to help people. Good luck…’
She got to her feet as the girl continued to stare at the two bills on the table. Then she walked quickly from the cafeteria.
A passing taxi stopped at her signal. As she got into the cab, she looked back. The girl was coming out of the cafeteria, looking bewildered, but happy.
Val gave the driver the address of her hotel. As the cab moved off, she took the Press card from her bag and studied it. Back at the hotel, she had a spare passport photograph of herself. This she could easily stick on the card. Armed with this authority, she now had a remote chance of finding out more about Sue Parnell’s murder.
Homer Hare strode into Terrell’s office like a fat Avenging Angel. He met Terrell and Beigler’s bleak stares with a stare even more bleak.
‘Where’s my son-in-law?’ he demanded, coming to rest before Terrell’s desk. ‘If you’ve so much as laid a finger on him, I’m going to my attorney. Where is he?’
Terrell slapped the brief-case lying on his desk.?‘Who gave you this money?’ he demanded in his cop voice.?‘I’ll answer questions when you answer mine!’ Hare rumbled. ‘Don’t you think you can scare me! I know my rights! Where’s Karsh?’
‘He’ll be along,’ Terrell said. ‘Where did you get this money from?’?‘That’s my business.’ Hare lowered his bulk into a chair. ‘I want him right here and now! Unless you produce him, I’m not talking.’
Terrell nodded to Beigler who left the office. Terrell and Hare regarded each other.?‘I didn’t think you were this much of a fool,’ Terrell said. ‘You’ve been in your racket now for over thirty years. You’ve done pretty well. You haven’t been entirely honest, but you’ve kept within the line. Blackmail isn’t a pretty thing, Hare. I’d have thought you’d have been smart enough to resist that temptation.’
Hare glared at him.?‘I haven’t an idea what you’re talking about.’ he said. ‘You be careful! Blackmail! You’re lucky there are no witnesses!’
The door opened and Beigler came in, shoving Karsh before him. Karsh had a black eye and was sweating and shaking.
Terrell stared at him in apparent astonishment. ‘What happened to him then? How did he get that shiner?’
Beigler shook his head sadly.?‘I guess he’s born clumsy. He fell over his feet and took a toss down the stairs. But he’s all right now, aren’t you, Shamus?’
Karsh shied away from him. He held his hand to his eye and groaned.?‘Sit him down,’ Terrell said. He looks in need of a rest.’
Beigler slammed a chair behind Karsh’s knees and he sat down violently.?‘Are you all right, Sammy?’ Hare asked, staring at him.?‘Do I look all right?’ Karsh snarled, mopping his eye with his handkerchief.?‘Hare!’ Terrell barked, ‘Where did you get this money from?’
Hare leaned against the chair back making it creak. ‘It’s a retainer. An important client. No business of yours.’
‘I happen to know who your client is,’ Terrell said. ‘This a retainer? Twenty thousand dollars? Come on, spill it, what’s it all about?’
Hare smiled calmly.?‘You must ask my client,’ he said. ‘I was paid this amount for services to be rendered. It’s not police business strictly private business. If you do know who my client is, then ask my client.’
He got to his feet and picked up the brief-case.?‘One little thing, Chief, if you know who my client is, you’ll also know you’ll have to watch your step very carefully. My client draws lots of water in this town. You could be on the retired list if you play the wrong card. Come on, Sammy. They can’t hold us. Let’s go.’
‘Just a moment,’ Terrell said, his hands in fists on the desk. ‘You’re having a run, Hare, but it won’t last. From now on, I’m out to get you.’
Hare winked.?‘You try. You won’t get me. I’m strictly honest.’?‘And another thing,’ Terrell said. ‘I have the numbers of those bills. You spend one of them and you’ll be in trouble.’
‘Think so? You talk to my client,’ Hare said and stumped out of the office, followed by Karsh.
Terrell and Beigler exchanged glances.?‘Well, I didn’t play that one too smart,’ Terrell said, frowning. ‘I thought he just might crack.’
‘Hare? Crack?’ Beigler snorted. ‘So what do we do now?’
Terrell reached for the telephone.?‘Get me the Spainish Bay hotel. I want to talk to Mrs. Val Burnett,’ he said to the police operator.
A few minutes later, the operator told him Mrs. Burnett was out.
