Vanish in an Instant by Margaret Millar Read Free Book Online Page B

need a rest, a change of climate. You need hospital treatment, he said. I went to him three times, and the third time he told me what I had. It was only a word to me then, a pretty word like a girl’s name, Leukemia, Leukemia Smith, Leukemia Ann Johnston. Chronic myeloid leukemia, he said. He didn’t tell me I was dying. But I knew, I knew. He never sent me a bill.
    â€œLoftus,” Cordwink said.
    Loftus jerked his head up. “Yes, sir.”
    â€œGo on. You were saying?”
    â€œI—oh, yes. Yes. I saw Mrs. Barkeley once when I went to the doctor’s office. She was in the yard raking up leaves.”
    â€œDid you talk to her?”
    â€œNo, oh no. I just passed by.”
    â€œDid she notice you?”
    â€œI don’t think so.”
    â€œHave you ever talked to her?”
    â€œJust on Saturday night, that’s the only time.”
    Cordwink turned to the deputy he had brought with him, a young intense-looking man in a tweed suit. “Dun- lop, you’re getting all this down?”
    â€œYes, sir,” Dunlop said. “‘Just on Saturday night, that’s the only time.’“
    â€œWhen Mrs. Barkeley came into the bar, Loftus, did you recognize her?”
    â€œOf course. She’s a very pretty woman.”
    â€œWhat was the name of the bar?”
    â€œIt’s in there, in my confession.”
    â€œTell me anyway.”
    â€œSam’s Café.”
    â€œAre you sure? I thought it was Joe’s.”
    Loftus shook his head. “It was Sam’s. If you’re trying to confuse me, you can’t. I remember everything very clearly. I only had one drink, a beer. I was just finishing it when Mrs. Barkeley came up to the bar and sat down beside me. This is all written down, but I suppose you want me to re­peat it, just to test me, is that it?”
    â€œGo on.”
    â€œShe smiled at me and said hello. I was flattered, think­ing she might have remembered me. Then I saw how drunk she was, eyes glassy and out of focus, and her smile not real at all, just sort of painted on like a doll’s smile.”
    â€œWhat else did she say?”
    â€œYou mean her exact words?”
    â€œYes.”
    Loftus thought a moment. “She said, ‘God, this place stinks.’“
    Meecham made a sound like a laugh and covered it with a cough. Cordwink turned and stared at him. “Is some­thing amusing you, Meecham?”
    â€œNo.” Meecham coughed again. “I have a slight cold.”
    â€œIs that a fact? Dunlop.”
    â€œYes, sir,” Dunlop said.
    â€œRead that back. Mr. Meecham wants a good laugh.”
    Dunlop bent over his notes. “‘God, this place stinks.’“
    â€œThere. Is it as funny as you thought it was, Meecham?”
    Meecham looked as if he intended to make a sharp reply but he held it back. “No.”
    â€œAll right then. What else did Mrs. Barkeley say to you, Loftus?”
    â€œShe said she wanted a drink but she’d left her purse in the car. I bought her a beer. She had just started to drink it when Margolis came in. He was an impressive-looking man. I’d seen him before at the county hospital where I go for my X-ray treatments and shots. His firm was building the new T.B. wing and he used to hang around a lot, talking to the nurses. Margolis remembered me too. I’m quite a—freak.” He looked down at the floor. “Margolis asked Mrs. Barkeley to leave. She said she didn’t want to go home, and why didn’t all three of us go to another place for a drink. Margolis humored her. When she started for the door he said I was to come along and he’d give me a lift home. I accepted. I wanted a lift home, but there was more to it than that. I was excited, thrilled as a high-school kid at suddenly becoming a part of all that—glamor, I guess you’d call it. I didn’t realize until we got out to the car that offering me a lift home