Читать книгу Murder At the Cubbyhole - Alice Zogg - Страница 5

There were four men and two women assembled in their secret meeting place. They had arrived one by one in assigned five-minute intervals, donning their eye masks before they entered, and now sat in their numbered chairs at a long rectangular table, three on each side. Seat number one at the head of the table, reserved for their leader, was empty. The members of the group stayed nameless within that setting and simply referred to themselves as Member One, Two, Three and so forth.

Member Seven asked, “Does anybody know why this special meeting was called?”

No one spoke up.

“Come on, some of you must know! I just flew in this morning. What’s up?”

Again, there was no response.

Member Seven was about to press the point further but shut his mouth when the door was pulled open and Member One entered. As he walked to his place at the head of the table with his customary long stride, the rest of the group got to their feet and only sat back down after he did.

There was no question about Member One’s mood when he glared at the assembly and said, “I called you here because we have to deal with the stupidity of two of our members.” He paused and, staring at Member Five and Six in turn through his eye mask, continued, “I’m referring to the theater episode.”

His voice cut like a knife as he went on, “You violated two of our rules. We only acknowledge one another during assignments and in this room. Knowing good and well that contact among our members outside the job is forbidden, you did so regardless. On top of that, you broke our non-violence code. You put us all in jeopardy by your pinheaded action.”

He turned to Member Five and thundered on, “Did you really think I wouldn’t catch on? Let me inform you that all is as plain as day to me! You don’t know who I am nor are you familiar with each other’s identities, but never forget that I know all about every single one of you down to the last detail.”

Member Five said, “We had no choice. She saw - -”

Their leader cut in, “You had tons of better choices than jumping the gun the way you did.”

“I tell you, Megan realized that the - -”

“No names, please!”

“Like I said, she got wise to me. I couldn’t take the chance of her going to the police; we had to act fast.”

Member One exploded, “Without consulting me? How dare you?”

He obviously did not expect an answer and pointing his thin, long finger at Member Six continued, “And you couldn’t wait to try out your explosives. Both of you are idiots. Sooner or later someone will make the connection. If not the police then somebody else.”

Member Six was about to speak up in an attempt at justification, but Member One stretched out his arm in a silencing gesture and stated, “Enough said. Our only option is to lay low for a while. Next month’s job is therefore postponed until further notice. Don’t forget to leave at your assigned intervals nor remove your masks until after you’ve exited. Meeting adjourned.”