Read Online A Killer is Loose by Gil Brewer - Free Book Online

sheen of perspiration covering his face had dried, and save for that pallor, he looked quite normal. I wanted very much to get Lillian alone and talk with her. Maybe she knew something, could tell me something. But that was a laugh. It wouldn’t matter what she knew. Nothing mattered save the moment itself.
    “Much farther, pal?”
    “No, it’s not too far.”
    I tried not to think about Ruby. It was the only way. But I couldn’t stop thinking about her. It was such a simple thing. I told myself I would promise anything to see her. I wouldn’t tell anybody about him. But I knew that was a promise I wouldn’t be able to keep. It wasn’t a question of just stopping this guy. He had to be stopped all the way.
    “This is a nice town,” he said. “A good town, a clean town. I like clean towns, pal.”
    Pretty soon we reached my street. We were still several blocks from the house. But far down there, out on the sidewalk, I saw a pair of blue shorts and a red sweater.
    Betty Graham. Maybe there would be some way of telling her, tipping her off. She could get the cops. She would be right next door. If only I could reach her. She had seen me with Angers this morning, and something told me she hadn’t liked the guy.
    “Ralph,” Lillian said, “don’t you think we should go someplace and eat? I haven’t eaten since yesterday. The phone didn’t work at the hotel.”
    He grinned at her. “I disconnected it,” he said. “It would have been rather silly, leaving the phone connected, don’t you think?”
    “There’s nothing to eat at my place,” I said. “Maybe we could go to a restaurant, Ralph. I’ve got some money.”
    He just turned and looked at me.
    Up ahead, Betty Graham was still standing on the sidewalk. She was watering her lawn with the hose again. We were a block and a half away, but she saw us coming. She waved and I watched her cross the lawn to shut off the hose.
    “Isn’t she the woman who stopped you on the street?” Angers said. “In the car?”
    “That’s right.”
    “I see.”

Chapter Seven
     
    B ETTY G RAHAM came toward us across her lawn. She was frowning. She glanced at Lillian, then looked hard at Angers, and I saw she remembered him. Then she looked at me.
    “Steve, you haven’t been to the hospital yet.”
    We paused on the sidewalk and Angers watched her.
    “No, I’ve been busy, Betty.”
    “Oh.”
    “Have you heard anything?”
    She shook her head. “Just that they want you at the hospital, Steve. I think you should get right over there. I thought you were on your way hours ago.”
    “Yes.”
    “Let’s move along,” Angers said.
    “I live right there,” I told Angers. “Right next door.”
    “Steve,” Betty said, “who are these folks? Couldn’t you introduce me?”
    “Friends, Betty.”
    We all stood there, staring at each other. I knew Lillian would have liked to talk plenty and Betty was suspicious of something. She had every right to be. She knew it wasn’t like me not to be at the hospital.
    “So that’s where you live,” Angers said to me. He was watching Betty Graham. He started up the walk toward Betty Graham’s front porch. “Come on, pal. You too, Lil. I’ve changed my mind. We’re going to stay here. There might be trouble next door. But if there is—” He shrugged. “We’ll watch it, eh?” He turned and waited for us. Lillian and I looked at each other and went on up to him.
    “What is this?” Betty asked. “What is all this, Steve?”
    “I can’t explain,” I said. “Not now. Just do as he says, that’s all.”
    “But I don’t understand, Steve.”
    “Listen,” Lillian said. She spoke to Betty and her expression was very intent. “The idea is that we’re going to come into your house.”
    “Come on,” Angers said. “Let’s go inside. I want to get out of this coat. It’s hot.”
    Betty didn’t know what to say. She wanted to understand, but it was a little beyond understanding. She sensed something, I could see it