Читать книгу Orchids to Murder - Footner Hulbert - Страница 6

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LEE had seen Jack Fentress on several occasions before—Jack was a familiar figure in the gaudier spots around town, but now in his friend's apartment Lee regarded him with a new interest. What constituted his extraordinary attraction for women? Lee saw a man in his late twenties, of average height and good figure; sufficiently good-looking, not remarkably so. Fentress had uncommonly thick and lustrous black hair and apparently a heavy beard; the notable thing about him was the quick turn of his dark eyes, the swiftness of all his movements. He was always on wires, as the saying is; he seemed to give off a kind of electricity. He was an actor, but he had never won distinction on the stage.

At the moment he was a sorry sight. His clothes were in order; he was still wearing the fashionable suit he had put on for his wedding; but the skillful painting had partly worn off his black eye; both his eyes were bloodshot; his face was gray and haggard; he had not shaved.

"I told you I wasn't in very good shape," he said deprecatingly; "I couldn't shave, my hand trembled so. Jim and I got stinking drunk last night."

"Hardly surprising," said Lee.

"What do you know about Mary?" asked Jack imploringly.

"Nothing," said Lee, spreading out his hands.

"This is not like Mary!" cried Jack. "It's not like her!"

"It is not," said Lee.

Rutledge spoke up: "If you and Mr. Mappin want to talk privately, I'll go out." He was a nice-looking young fellow with a weak face; the kind who is always somebody's best friend or best man, but who rarely occupies the center of the stage himself.

"No!" said Jack. "There's no reason you shouldn't hear everything. You've been a good friend to me through this, Jim."

"She told her grandfather she was going up to Greencliffe Manor," said Lee. "But of course she's not there."

"That's right," said Jack. "We had planned to go to Greencliffe; but not until today."

"No reservation had been made."

"My fault, I forgot it in my excitement. The whole thing was got up in such a hurry. It was only when Mary learned that the show was closing Saturday night that we decided on it. She wanted to spend last night at my place because we have had such happy hours there."

"Then I take it," said Lee dryly, "that you had not waited for the wedding?"

Jack spread out his hands appealingly. "You know how it is, sir! We were so crazy about each other, but we had nothing to marry on. When Mary made her big hit, I still wanted to wait because I had nothing, but when the play closed she insisted that that would give us the opportunity for a real honeymoon that might not come again for years!"

"I'm not judging Mary," said Lee quickly. "She's the mistress of her own actions."

"So I gave in. How could I stand out against Mary?"

"I'm not blaming you.... Perhaps she has telephoned to your flat."

"No, I called there. The hallboy told me there had been only one call for me and that was a man. I told them where I could be found."

"It was I who called," said Lee.

"Oh God! what could have happened?" cried Jack, clutching his head. "Last night I thought she had stood me up and I was wild. I couldn't bear the thought of that being noised around town. That's why I got drunk. It looks different now. I don't think she stood me up. I think she was prevented from coming."

"When did you see her last?" asked Lee.

"Saturday night. I wanted to pick her up and drive her to the church last night. That would have been the natural thing to do. But she wouldn't have it because..."

"Mrs. Gannon explained that to me."

"Then you've seen Mrs. Gannon."

"I phoned you from there."

"Mary wouldn't even let me see her during the day yesterday, but she couldn't keep me from calling her up. I talked to her several times. I was so afraid something might happen. You see, there were other men in the running."

"She didn't appear to have anything on her mind then?"

"Oh no, sir! On the contrary, she was as happy and excited as I was."

"You speak of other men. Mrs. Gannon told me about the trouble on Saturday night."

"She would," said Jack with a curling lip.

"Blanding? ..." suggested Lee.

Jack turned on his heel. "The hell with Blanding," he said contemptuously. "Mary never took him seriously. A mere chauffeur! Blanding followed her around like a sick cat, but he hadn't the guts to do anything about it."

Lee was not altogether convinced.

"There's another man," said Jack darkly; "a man who constitutes a real threat!"

"Who?"

"George Restorick. I've always feared him."

"Why?"

"Because he's so goddamned rich. He's been after her for years. And look what he can offer her. Security; a lifetime of luxury; a famous name. Any ordinary girl would have jumped at it long ago. I've always been afraid that Mary might fall for Restorick in the end.... Besides..."

"Besides what?"

"Well, I don't suppose there's anything in it, but it's a thing I can't forget. Restorick was continually asking Mary to marry him. Once when she turned him down he flew into a rage and told her that if he couldn't have her, no other man should. Mary herself told me. She laughed it off, but I couldn't."

"We'll investigate that," said Lee. "First tell me what happened last night."

Jack didn't like to recall that humiliating scene. "I bet Nina Gannon gave you an earful on that," he said, scowling.

"Never mind what she told me," said Lee. "Let me have the straight dope."

"There's nothing to tell. Mary didn't show up, that's all."

"Describe your movements before you went to the church."

Jack dropped on the sofa and lit a cigarette. He passed a hand over his face. "Let me think," he murmured. "My brain's in a muddle! ... I started to dress about five o'clock, I guess. Jim can tell you; he was with me."

"A man always acts like an idiot before his wedding," put in Jim.

"At six-thirty we went out to eat," Jack went on, "but the food choked me. At seven-thirty I phoned to the garage for my car, and soon after I sent Jim downtown to pick up Nina, though he protested that it was half an hour too soon."

"Seven forty-five," corroborated the grinning Jim. "Nina gave me hell for showing up so early."

"Soon after Jim left, I couldn't stand it any longer," Jack resumed, "and I started out in my car."

"Where is your apartment?" put in Lee.

"Madison Avenue between Eighty-seventh and Eighty-eighth. My first stop was to pick up flowers at Lamarr's down the street. Orchids. It's a special kind that Mary likes; green and black. They were to go with a black suit and green hat she was wearing. The florists don't stock them; too expensive. I had ordered them in advance on Friday. Ninety dollars for a spray of six blossoms. I suppose you think that was foolish, poor as I am. Don't you see, it's because I'm broke that I had to make a splurge like that."

"Very natural," said Lee.

"By the way, what became of the box, Jack?" asked Jim.

"You can search me!"

"The flowers are now sitting on the parson's desk," put in Lee blandly.

"The hell with them!" said Jack. "So you've been to the parson's, too?"

"Go on with your story."

"I was looking at my watch every minute," said Jack, "so I can give you an exact timetable of my movements. It was eight-five when I left the florist's. I cut through to Third Avenue and filled my tank at the Yorkville Garage. Eight-twelve when I pulled away from there. There was little traffic and when I got to Madison Square I saw by the clock in the Metropolitan tower that I still had half an hour to spare.

"I just drove around. Made a circuit of Gramercy Square and down Irving Place. Parked my car for a few minutes and went into Lüchow's to get a drink. I needed it. When I came out, there was another big clock across the road; gas company, isn't it? It said three minutes to nine. I got in a hell of a rush then, hustled down Fourth Avenue and west through Ninth Street.

"I was in such a sweat that I ran through a red light at the corner of University Place, there by the Cafe Lafayette. A cop stopped me and I lost some minutes more arguing with him. Told him I was on my way to be married. The church was just around the corner. So he came with me, saying if my story checked he wouldn't give me a ticket. It did check and I got rid of him. It was nine-five when I arrived at the church."

"You can skip what happened at the church," said Lee. "Nina told me. Where did you and Jim go afterwards?"

"We hung around waiting for Mary until after ten. Then we took Nina home and proceeded to tank up. I didn't want to be seen anywhere, so we bought a couple of bottles and brought them up here. I left Jim for a few minutes and went over home to see if there was any message. There wasn't. So I came back here. Jim went to sleep, but sleep was impossible for me. Toward morning I went over to my place again. No message. It was impossible for me to stay alone, so I came back and woke Jim up. That's all."

"I see."

"Why don't you call up George Restorick?" asked Jack. "I can't do it because we're not friends. When he's in town he lives in that goddamn palace on Sutton Place overlooking the river. It's not far from Mary's house."

"I know it," said Lee. "It's near my place, too."

Jack gave him the number and Lee called it. There was a long wait. Lee could hear the phone ringing at the other end. No answer. Just as Lee was about to hang up, a woman's voice came over the wire.

"This is Mr. Restorick's house. He's not here. The house is closed. I'm the caretaker. No, I don't know where he is or when he'll be back. The house is closed until further notice."

"Try the Restorick Estate office in East Thirty-sixth Street," suggested Jack. "George doesn't trouble it much. They bank his rents and all he has to do in the world is write checks. But they may know where he's to be found."

This call was answered by a courteous male voice. "Mr. Restorick is out of town. Is there anything I can do for you, sir?"

"No, thank you. It's a personal matter. Where is Mr. Restorick?"

"He took a plane at La Guardia Field for Mexico City an hour ago, sir. As a matter of fact, I saw him off."

"Have you a forwarding address?"

"Not yet, sir. Presumably that will come later."

"This was an unexpected trip, then?"

"Yes, sir. Mr. Restorick had to buy out another passenger in order to secure a place on the plane."

"Did he go alone?"

The voice sounded surprised. "Why yes, sir."

"I thought he might have taken a servant."

"No, sir, the servants have been paid off and the cars put in dead storage."

"He'll be away for some time, then."

"No date has been set for his return, sir."

Lee considered for a moment. "I was negotiating with Mr. Restorick for the purchase of one of his cars," he ventured.

"In that case, you should communicate with the garage where they are stored, sir. It's the Atlas in East Fifty-first Street."

"Thank you very much," said Lee, hanging up. He and Jack exchanged a glance. "What did I tell you? What did I tell you?" cried the latter excitedly. "Restorick is the man!"

Lee shrugged dubiously.

"Restorick is so damned rich he could hire somebody to do his dirty work!"

"Well, I shouldn't think he would advertise his departure among his employees if he had a crime on his conscience," said Lee mildly. "He could have slipped away secretly."

"But to Mexico!"

"Mexico wouldn't do him much good if he's guilty. We have an extradition treaty."

"But how easy to reach Guatemala or one of those other Central American countries!"

"Wait a minute," said Lee. He called up Stan Oberry's office. "Stan," he said, "first, have you turned up anything about Ewart Blanding or the red convertible?"

"No, Mr. Mappin. He seems to have disappeared into thin air."

"Well, here's another item for you. George Restorick boarded the eleven o'clock plane for Mexico City at La Guardia Field. Have you a good agent down there?"

"One of the best, sir."

"Telegraph him to watch for the arrival of that plane and to notify us if Restorick gets off. If so, he is to keep Restorick under constant surveillance and report daily."

"Very good, Mr. Mappin. You can make your mind easy about Restorick. A man so well known couldn't possibly lose himself."

"I hope you're right. As yet, I don't know if he'll be wanted."

Lee hung up. "Jack," he said, "we have now reached the point where we must let it be known that Mary has disappeared."

Jack groaned. "It will cause a sensation! God! How I dread the publicity!"

"I also. But you can see that it is ridiculous to proceed on the assumption that harm has come to Mary while there is still a possibility she may be resting in seclusion in some country hotel."

"I suppose you're right, sir."

"I will go to my friend, Inspector Loasby, and ask him to send out a general alarm. Loasby will be goggle-eyed, but we don't have to tell him the whole story yet. As for the press, we will simply say that Miss Stannard's present whereabouts are unknown to her friends and they are anxious. Nothing about the interrupted marriage. If Mary is still alive and conscious, such an item will instantly bring word from her."

"The reporters will hound us for further particulars," groaned Jack.

"Just refer them to me. I'm accustomed to dealing with those boys."

"Just as you say, sir. Can I drive you down to police headquarters? My car is at the door downstairs."

"Glad to accept a ride," said Lee.

When Lee issued out of police headquarters after a brief interview with Inspector Loasby, the head of the detective force, he found Jack looking much better. "I had myself shaved while I was waiting for you," he said, "and the barber touched up my eye."

"In this neighborhood, painting out black eyes is quite an industry," remarked Lee.

"What's our next move, sir?"

"Let us drive up to the Atlas Garage and take a look at Restorick's cars."

"Good!"

Lee glanced at the young man's drawn face. "First we must eat," he said. "We'll stop at the old Brevoort on our way uptown."

"Oh, let's don't waste time eating," pleaded Jack. "The thought of food is horrible to me!"

"When did you eat last?"

"I don't remember."

"Then we'll eat now," said Lee firmly. "I don't want you to collapse on my hands. Find a place to park near the Brevoort."

When the food was actually put before him, Jack made a good meal. "I suppose I needed it," he said, "though I had no feeling of hunger."

Continuing uptown, they stopped at Schracht's, the florist, on Lexington Avenue. Jack went into the shop with Lee.

"Are you open on Sunday evenings?" Lee asked the salesman.

"From five until eight-thirty, yes, sir. There's so much entertaining on Sunday nights nowadays that we do a brisk trade between those hours."

"Last evening," Lee went on, "I have reason to believe that a young man bought flowers here near your closing time, and carried them with him. They were in a box of that size." He pointed.

"Those are used for orchids, sir. Can you describe the young man?"

"I was hoping you could do that for me."

"Oh, sir, there were eight or ten sales of orchids last evening. That is what is mostly called for."

"How about the Investia orchid?" put in Jack. "That green and black kind, very expensive."

The salesman's face lighted up. "Why yes, sir. There was such a sale. I wouldn't forget that. The flowers are so rare."

"Who bought them?" asked Lee.

"He is a stranger to me, sir. A cash customer. Nobody stocks Investias. They're not enough of them. They're grown by a nurseryman in Madison, New Jersey, and must be ordered in advance. This young fellow ordered them last week and paid cash for a spray of six, ninety dollars."

"Describe the man."

"A handsome, well-built young fellow, sir. Blond. I happened to notice his car standing at the door. A big red convertible with a khaki top."

"That's description enough. Thank you very much. Come on, Jack."

When they had left the shop, Lee said: "What made you think of Investias?"

"Just a guess in the dark," said Jack. "Blanding knew as well as I that Mary was crazy about them.... Damned cheek," he growled. "A chauffeur! Spending ninety dollars for flowers to give my girl!"

Lee murmured softly: "Mary must have been wearing those lovely blossoms when she..."

"Don't say it, sir!" cried Jack sharply.

"... When she went away from us," amended Lee.