Payoff for the Banker by Frances and Richard Lockridge Read Free Book Online Page B

with the comfortable but unquestionably small apartment over the antique shop.
    â€œDid she know Merle?” Weigand wanted to know.
    Merle had met Laurel, Murdock agreed.
    â€œHer name’s Laurel Burke,” he said. “I’d like to keep her out of this.”
    That was natural, Weigand said. It did him credit. It was not likely to be possible. Particularly as the apartment was more hers than Murdock’s.
    â€œDid Merle think she was your wife?” Weigand wanted to know.
    â€œI introduced her as my wife,” Murdock said. “I don’t know what he thought. I don’t know that he thought about it.”
    Apparently, Weigand decided, the two men had known each other only during working hours. There was no meeting of families to match the advertised meeting of minds.
    â€œBy the way,” Weigand said and stopped. The waiter returned with the drink. Murdock said he needed it. Murdock proved it.
    â€œDid you happen to know Mr. Merle’s family?” Weigand asked, casually.
    â€œOh yes,” he said. “Josh and Ann. They’re his children. His wife’s dead, you know. And his sister—Mr. Merle’s sister. She lives at the place out at Elmcroft. And Jamie. It’s going to be pretty tough on Josh and Ann.”
    Weigand agreed that it was a very sad thing. He thought that Murdock knew more about Mr. Merle’s domestic life than Merle had known of Murdock’s. Which might very well be the way it would work out, considering their respective positions. If Merle were of an old enough school.
    Murdock seemed ready to go on about the Merle family, but Weigand did not encourage him. They would have to be met—Joshua Merle was even now waiting to be met. Weigand summed it up.
    â€œSo you did not write Merle a letter telling him to come to the apartment. Right? You have no idea why he happened to go there. Right? You know nothing about his murder?”
    â€œThat’s right,” Murdock said.
    Weigand said he hoped so.
    â€œAnd he wasn’t in the habit of dropping in at your apartment, I gather—at Miss Burke’s apartment. Since he had only met Miss Burke casually. Right?”
    â€œI don’t think he was ever there,” Murdock said. Weigand watched his eyes. Just for a second Murdock’s eyes grew shallow again. “I didn’t spread it around. I don’t see how—”
    â€œRight,” Weigand said. “We know where we stand, at the moment. You’ll understand that this is only the beginning as far as you’re concerned, Mr. Murdock. You’ll understand that there’s still a lot to explain—a lot for you to explain.” He stood up and looked down at Murdock. “I could arrest you now,” he said. “I could make it stick, maybe. I’m not, simply because there is too much still to be cleared up. But stick around.”
    Murdock’s barbered round face sagged. He nodded without speaking.
    â€œAnd,” Weigand said, “I want Miss Burke’s address. I want to see her—and I don’t want you seeing her until I do. Or communicating with her. If I find out you have—and I will find out—I’ll have you picked up on suspicion. Is that clear?”
    â€œAll right,” Murdock said. “That’s clear.”
    Weigand wished it were quite that clear, really. He wished he knew how he was going to keep Murdock from getting in touch with Laurel Burke—how he was going to find out if Murdock did. There was just a chance that Murdock might credit him with clairvoyance and be afraid to risk it.
    He noted down the girl’s address.
    â€œIs her name still Mrs. Murdock?” he inquired politely.
    Murdock nodded.
    â€œRight,” Weigand said. “I’ll be seeing you.”
    This promise did not enliven Murdock perceptibly. As Weigand walked away he heard the little bell on the table tinkle anxiously. Murdock needed sustenance. That was