1984 - Hit Them Where it Hurts by James Hadley Chase Read Free Book Online Page A

get on with me, she went to look after Miss Angela.’
    ‘You must have seen the two children grow up from babies,’ I said. ‘How did you react to Terry?’
    Smedley stared gloomily at his empty glass.
    ‘Mr. Terry was a good boy, Mr. Wallace. He and I got along fine together. He would often come into this room and talk with me. He was interested in my past and my parents. It made him sad that my wife and I didn’t get along together. He told me he couldn’t put up with his father any longer. As soon as Mr. Thorsen went off to his office, Mr. Terry would go up to the music room and play and play. He was a natural genius. He couldn’t read music. He had only to hear a tune and he could play it. His father wouldn’t allow him to take lessons, but he didn’t want lessons. He just played. When he left, that was some two years ago, he came to me, took my hand and said goodbye. I was so upset, I just gripped his hand, and when he had gone, I cried.’
    ‘That glass looks empty, Josh,’ I said. ‘What’s wrong with a refill?’
    He scrambled to his feet and lurched to the closet.
    ‘How about you, Mr. Wallace?’
    ‘I’m fine.’
    He came back to his chair, nursing another big Scotch.
    ‘How about Miss Angela?’ I asked. ‘How did you get along with her?’
    ‘When she was a kid, Mr. Wallace, we got along fine, but when she began to grow up, she became difficult. She got to dislike me. I guess my wife put in the poison. No, I guess Miss Angela and me didn’t get along.’
    ‘Did she get along with her brother?’
    He nodded.
    ‘They were very close. Oh, yes. I liked to see them together. When he left home, she changed. It was as if the sun had gone out of her life. Then when Mr. Thorsen died, she moved into the cottage and my wife went with her. I don’t see her anymore.’ He drank and sighed, and I could see the sadness on his shrivelled face.
    ‘Mr. Thorsen died suddenly, a year ago?’
    ‘Yes, but not unexpected.’
    ‘How’s that, Josh?’
    ‘He was a strong-living man. Very hot, fierce. Too much for his weak heart. He had been warned by his doctor many times. But he had to have his own way all the time.’
    ‘Did that make it difficult for you?’
    ‘Not me. I knew him, over all those years, but some people. . .’
    ‘Some people upset him easily?’
    ‘Surely.’
    ‘Did he quarrel with them?’
    ‘Not quarrelling, because he had business to do with them. He was very clever with money, those folks’ money.’
    ‘But he often lost his temper with them?’
    ‘Yes. With them, with me, even with. . .’
    ‘Even Miss Angie?’
    ‘Well, just that once, about Mr. Terry.’
    ‘When was that, Josh?’
    ‘That day. . .’ He reached for another gulp at his drink.
    ‘Did you hear them quarrelling? Miss Angie raise her voice at him?’
    ‘I don’t listen to all that. It’s just voices at me. I did hear her say Mr. Terry’s name, quite loud. Then she went out.’
    ‘Did you tell the coroner that?’
    ‘He never asked, and it was family talk, purely family talk.’
    ‘I am looking for Terry. It’s important that I find him. Can you tell me where he is?’
    Smedley shook his head.
    ‘I wish I could, Mr. Wallace. I would so much like to see him again and talk with him. I haven’t heard from him since he walked out.’
    ‘I’ll tell you why it is important that I get in contact with him. An old lady has left him one hundred thousand dollars. She was a Miss Angus and she was murdered. The money can’t come to him until I can contact him. One hundred thousand dollars, Josh.’
    I waited, watching him.
    ‘The old lady was murdered?’ he asked, staring at me.
    ‘Yes. The killer must have found out that she kept all this money in her apartment at the Breakers where Terry lived. The killer was looking for the money, but he was too late. It is now in a bank, and waiting for Terry to claim it.’
    ‘I just don’t know where he is, Mr. Wallace.’
    I got to my feet and moved to the