Read Online Cop Out by Ellery Queen - Free Book Online

smiling. “Young Tru in?” Old Tru had retired the year before and taken his grouch and arthritis to St. Petersburg, Florida. The whole town had breathed out. He had always been the one who stood up in town meeting and threw a monkey wrench into the works.
    â€œHe’s going through the mail.” She got up and opened the door to the inner office. “It’s Wes Malone, Mr. Hyatt. Can you see him?”
    â€œWes? Sure thing!” Young Tru sounded eager.
    Here we go again.
    Malone went in. Hyatt was waiting with his best sales smile. He was a tall thin man with a badly pockmarked face, dressed as always like an Esquire ad. He was one of New Bradford’s ladies’ men, big on church socials and parties, the last one home. He was supposed to have been sleeping with Edie Golub for years—he had an old black leather couch in his office—with her “Mr. Hyatts” in the presence of third parties as their coverup.
    â€œSit down, Wes, park it. How’s the manhunt going?”
    â€œOh, they got away.” It was the fourth time he had had to say it.
    â€œI understand Tom Howland was in on it up to his fat ass.”
    â€œWhere did you hear that?” It was impossible to keep a secret in New Bradford.
    â€œIt’s all over town,” Hyatt said. “I heard it in the bank a few minutes ago. Is it true, Wes?”
    â€œI wouldn’t know. I went off duty before the case broke. Tell you what I dropped in for, Tru—”
    â€œI knew that outfit would get shlogged some day,” Hyatt said. “Whoever heard of a company in this day and age still paying their help in cash? If they’d invest a few bucks in a modern bookkeeping system—with an honest bookkeeper, ha-hal—put in one of those computers, pay off in checks … But I guess they got a big inventory in pay envelopes.”
    â€œYou’re right, Tru, they asked for it all right,” Malone said. “Oh, what I’m here for. We’ve been having a little trouble over at the Lake. Now that the season is over some kids have been going down there nights to booze it up and generally raise hell—they’ve broken into a few cabins—and we’ve had some complaints from people who lease by the year. I’ve been getting up a list of the year-round renters to make sure we don’t miss any. You know how some people are, afraid to make a complaint. Did you place any one-year rentals at the Lake in, say, the past six-seven months, Tru?”
    â€œI don’t think so. Bob Doerr gets most of that Lake stuff. Did you try Bob?”
    â€œI got a few names from him. Well, I won’t keep you.” There was only one real estate office in town he had not covered. If I strike out at Taugus Realty …
    â€œNo, wait a minute,” Hyatt said.
    He sat still.
    â€œNow that I think of it, I seem to recall there was one. Edie?”
    She popped her hairdo in. “Yes, Mr. Hyatt?”
    â€œDidn’t we write a lease for one of the Lake cabins around May, June, somewhere around there?”
    â€œI really don’t remember.”
    â€œWell, look it up, will you?” Hyatt sat back. “Y’know, Wes, I can never figure you out.”
    Find it Edie.
    â€œWhat have I done now, Tru?”
    â€œHere you are off duty and you’re working. What are you, bucking for John’s job? Don’t you ever relax?”
    â€œI guess I’m not the relaxing type.”
    Find it Edie .
    â€œThat’s the thing with you married suckers. You don’t know how to live. Now you take me.”
    â€œThe way I hear it,” Malone said dutifully, “you’ve been taken by experts.”
    â€œWho, me? The hell you say! Who said that?”
    â€œHere it is, Mr. Hyatt.” Edie Golub had a lease in her hand. Malone watched it all the way across the rug. Hyatt took it from her, and she stood there. But when he stared up at her she left quickly,