Death Before Bedtime by Gore Vidal Read Free Book Online Page A

not entirely sure. We
do
know that only someone who knew the Senator’s habits fairly well could have contrived the … trap which worked so successfully. It would also seem that whoever did the murder could not haveplanned it too far in advance because the 5-X explosive was brought to the house only yesterday by Mr. Pomeroy. Four paper cartons of 5-X were kept in Mr. Pomeroy’s room. Mr. Pomeroy discussed the new explosive with the Senator yesterday morning at the Senate Office Building in the presence of Mr. Hollister. He then joined Mrs. Pomeroy, Mr. Langdon, Miss Pruitt, Mrs. Rhodes and Miss Rhodes here in the house and there was, I am told, more talk of the new explosive. In short, all the guests, with the exception of Mr. Sargeant, knew about the 5-X, knew that Mr. Pomeroy had four cartons of it in his room, cartons which were to have been turned over to the army this afternoon with Senator Rhodes’ recommendation. The cartons were kept in a special fireproof bag which was locked. Some time between four in the afternoon, when Mr. Pomeroy placed the bag in his closet, and one-thirty-six the next morning when Senator Rhodes lit the fire in his study, the murderer went to Mr. Pomeroy’s room, broke the lock on the bag and took out a single container which he then placed in the fireplace of the study. I believe that whoever did this must have known something about explosives because, had he taken all four and put them in the fireplace, the house would have been wrecked and the murderer killed along with everyone else.” The Lieutenant paused. All eyes were upon him. The room was silent except for the rather heavy breathing of Mrs. Pomeroy beside me, struggling with her cold.
    “Now,” said the Lieutenant, with a juvenile actor’s smile, “I realize that you people are very busy. Your affairs are very important to the country and the Department wants to do everything in its power to make this investigation as easy as possible for you. Unfortunately, until we have a clearer idea of what we’re up against, you will have to be inconvenienced to the extent of remaining in this house for at leasta week.” There was an indignant murmur; the official soft soap forgotten.
    “Do you realize, young man,” said Miss Pruitt, “that a national election is coming up? that I have a million things to do in the next few weeks?”
    “I certainly do, Miss Pruitt. Everyone knows how important your work is but we’re all caught in the law. The Department, however, has agreed to allow you ladies and gentlemen to leave the house on urgent business, on condition that we always know where you are. Mrs. Rhodes has kindly consented to let us keep you here in the house for the next few days so that you’ll be available for questioning. I realize how inconvenient this must be but those are my orders.” And the law took command. There were a few more complaints but the comparative freedom allowed us put everyone in a better mood. The Lieutenant then permitted a recess until five o’clock, at which time there would be more questioning. Like children we trooped out of the dining room.
    Verbena Pruitt was the first to leave and, from the grim look on her face, I was quite sure that she would be in touch with the White House before many minutes had passed: after all she was, in a sense, The American Woman. Mr. Pomeroy murmured something to his wife and also left. Walter Langdon went upstairs and Rufus Hollister tangled with the Lieutenant in my presence.
    “Lieutenant, you must let me get certain papers out of the Senator’s file. It’s extremely urgent, as I’ve said before.”
    “I’m sorry, Mr. Hollister, but those papers are all being gone over by the Department. There’s nothing I can do about it.”
    “I don’t think you realize how serious this is, Lieutenant,” said Hollister, flushing angrily. “The papers I want havenothing to do with the murder … I swear to you they don’t. They involve, however, certain people