Cape Fear by John D. MacDonald Read Free Book Online

ranging around killing chickens or digging up flower beds. She never went off the place unless she was with the kids.”
    “Some people just don’t like dogs.”
    She turned around, wiping her hands on a dish towel, her expression grim and intent. “You’re never home when theschool bus comes, Sam. Marilyn knew the sound it makes when it comes up the hill. And wherever she was, she’d start heading out for the end of the drive and be there waiting when it stopped. If somebody followed the bus in a car they’d know about that. And then the next time they could go ahead of the bus and throw that poisoned stuff out where she’d be sure to find it when she came to meet the bus.”
    “It could have been just a coincidence.”
    “I think you know better than that. I think you feel the same way I do. I’m not being hysterical. There’re dogs all along Milton Road. I’ve been trying to think of who doesn’t have one, and the only ones are the Willeseys. And they’re over a mile from here and they’ve got all those cats and they wouldn’t poison a dog anyway. And we’ve lived here seven years now, and I’ve never heard of such a thing happening. So, the first time it happens, why was it
our
dog?”
    “Now, Carol …”
    “Don’t you ‘now, Carol’ me. We’re both thinking the same thing and you know it. Where was that wonderfully efficient private eye?”
    Sam sighed. “All right. He’s not on the job any more.”
    “When did he stop?”
    “Wednesday night.”
    “And just why did he stop?”
    He explained Sievers’ reasons to her. She listened intently, expressionlessly, mechanically continuing to dry her hands on the towel.
    “And just when did you know all this?”
    “Yesterday morning.”
    “And you didn’t say a word last night. I was to go on thinking everything was just dandy. You had it all fixed. I’mnot a child and I’m not a fool and I resent being … over-protected.”
    “I should have told you. I’m sorry.”
    “So now this Cady can roam around at will and poison our dog and work his way up to the children. Which do you think he’ll start on first? The oldest or the youngest?”
    “Carol, honey. Please.”
    “I’m a hysterical woman? You are so damn right. I am a hysterical woman.”
    “We haven’t any proof it was Cady.”
    She threw a towel into the sink. “Listen to me.
I
have proof it was Cady. I’ve got that proof. It’s not the kind of proof you would like. No evidence. No testimony. Nothing legalistic. I just
know
. What kind of a man are you? This is your
family
. Marilyn was part of your
family
. Are you going to look up all the precedents and prepare a brief?”
    “You don’t know how—”
    “I don’t know anything. This is happening because of something you did a long time ago.”
    “Something I had to do.”
    “I’m not saying you shouldn’t have. You tell me the man hates you. You don’t think he’s sane. So
do
something about him!”
    She had taken a step closer to him, glaring at him quite fiercely. And then her face crumpled and she was in his arms again, shivering this time. He held her and then he took her over to the bench by the trestle table and sat beside her, holding her hand.
    She tried to smile and said, “I despise sniveling women.”
    “You have the best reason in the world to be upset, honey. I know how you feel. And I know you’ve got cause forcomplaint. I provide food, clothing and shelter. Very civilized. It would be a hell of a lot easier to handle Cady during more primitive times, or in a more primitive part of the world. I am a member of a social complex. He is the outsider. I would rally my gang and we would kill him. I would very much like to kill him. I might even be able to manage it. You are reacting on a primitive level. That is actually what your instinct tells you I should do. But your logic will tell you how impossible that is. I would be sent to prison.”
    “I … I know.”
    “You want me to be effectual and