Night-World

Night-World by Robert Bloch Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: Night-World by Robert Bloch Read Free Book Online
Authors: Robert Bloch
Tags: Horror, Mystery
triggered into violence.
    “Make no mistake about it, whoever killed those people knows exactly what he’s doing, and why. He’s out to destroy all evidence of his identity—anything, and anyone. And that means you yourself are in jeopardy.”
    “But that’s ridiculous—”
    “Is it?” Lieutenant Barringer broke in with a frown. “The morning paper carried a frontpage story on the slayings. Your name is in it.”
    Karen didn’t say anything, but her hands tightened on the rim of her purse.
    “Please don’t misunderstand. We’re not trying to alarm you. But perhaps now you can realize the importance of cooperation on every level. Your own safety is involved. Anything that you can tell us that might lead to the apprehension of the slayer—”
    Karen’s fingers pressed into the folds of the purse, but she shook her head. “I’ve already told you everything I know.”
    “All right,” said Lieutenant Barringer. “I guess we go downtown.”
    “Downtown?”
    Barringer nodded. “I’m going to have to hold you in protective custody.”
    “No—” Karen rose quickly.
    “Sorry. You’re a material witness.”
    “But you already have my statement.”
    “If there are any further developments in the case, we may have to talk to you again.”
    “You don’t need to lock me up for that! I’m not going to leave town. I’ve got a job here, you can reach me any hour of the day or night—”
    “And so can the person who committed the murders.” Lieutenant Barringer shook his head. “It’s our responsibility to see that you’re not in danger.”
    “But this could go on for weeks! I’ll lose my job—”
    “And save your life.”
    “Please! There must be some other way.” Karen spoke hastily. “Suppose you gave me a bodyguard—”
    “Have you any idea of the number of men already involved in this case? We’re short-handed as it is. What you’re asking involves assigning at least three men to you, working on eight-hour shifts. And it’s not just manpower, it’s the taxpayers’ money we have to think about.”
    “I’m a taxpayer. It’s my money, too. And if I lose my position at the agency because of this—” Karen felt the tears, fought them. “Please, you’ve got to give me a chance!”
    Barringer glanced at Dr. Vicente.
    “All right,” he said. “But I want it clearly understood. No statements to the press, no television interviews. Whoever’s assigned to duty with you, you’re to follow his orders.”
    “I promise.”
    “Better think it over. It’s not going to be easy. You won’t have any privacy—there’ll be someone watching you night and day. And if anything happens—”
    “Nothing’s going to happen,” said Karen, quickly. “You’ll see.”
    She stared at the two men as she spoke, trying to read their faces, wondering if they believed her.
    Not that it mattered.
    Because she didn’t believe herself.

CHAPTER 9
    T he weather forecaster had kept his promise. It was fair and warmer in Los Angeles.
    Not that people were thinking about the weather. They were too busy reading the headline story in the Times and listening to the early newscasts. And, warm as it was, a collective shudder swept across the city. Memories began to stir.
    There had been a strangler in Boston, cold-blooded murderers on the prairie, a rampaging rifleman on a tower in Texas, a psychotic slayer in Phoenix, a killer of migrant workers who filled more than two dozen shallow graves dotting the California farmlands. Somewhere around the Bay Area a slayboy turned homicides into an ego-trip, as he boasted of his tally of victims in letters to the newspapers which he signed with the nom de doom of Zodiac. And right here in fair and warmer Los Angeles, people were remembering the Manson family.
    All men are brothers—but which brother is named Cain?
    An unfair question, perhaps, and an unfair comparison. For Cain slew Abel for personal reasons, unacceptable but understandable.
    There was nothing personal

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