Read Online Cover-Up Story by Marian Babson - Free Book Online

water over them, but there was no water in the room. Only a half-empty bottle of bourbon, and I couldn’t bring myself to waste it.
    Gerry stopped them. The flash of light from the camera halted them all. They blinked, and separated, dazed. Then Gerry stepped into the breach. He gave Lou-Ann his warmest smile. I had seen Gerry in action before. I could never copy his technique – I still didn’t believe it. But it worked every time.
    They have laws to protect poor fish. Dynamiting trout is illegal in all civilized countries. When civilization reaches a more advanced stage, they may get around to protecting people from onslaughts of sheer concentrated charm. (Or perhaps television will eventually prove an immunizing agent.)
    Meanwhile, there is no defence. I watched Lou-Ann smooth her hair, pull down her jacket, and generally prove that a rag, a bone, and a hank of hair has the same reactions, no matter where in the world it originated. She gave Gerry a shy, hesitant smile.
    â€˜I got some splendid shots during the performance,’ he told her. ‘But now I’d like a few relaxed, natural pictures, for my own scrapbook – if nothing else.’
    Lou-Ann still looked doubtful, but Maw Cooney dealt herself into the action at this stage.
    â€˜It can’t do any harm,’ she advised Lou-Ann. ‘You jes’ let the nice gentleman take any pictures he wants. After all –’ she simpered at Gerry, who didn’t turn a hair – ‘even if he takes them, that ain’t to say he’s going to pass them around, is it?’
    â€˜Assuredly not.’ Gerry nearly bowed. ‘I shouldn’t dream of doing anything that didn’t have your full approval.’
    He had Lou-Ann’s plaits piled coronet-style on top of her head by that time, and her jacket off. ‘Suppose we just try this,’ he murmured. He turned the jacket back to front and swathed her in it, hiding the awful blouse.
    Sam watched him with narrowed eyes. Maw Cooney’s eyes were narrow, too, but I thought I recognized the look in them. I had seen it before, in other hopeful mothers mentally measuring Gerry for a wedding-ring. That was always before they knew him very well.

CHAPTER VI
    IF YOUR LUCK is in, you stand a good chance with an Award Presentation. Provided that no one declares war, assaults a photogenic female, or ingeniously murders a spouse, there’s a sporting chance that some desperate editor will throw you into an empty space.
    It took no effort at all, next day, to persuade Penny to gather a few friends into a Black Bart Fan Club and elect her President. Since Sam was ultimately footing the bill, we decided on a silver-plated miniature guitar – but big enough to photograph well – and I sent Penny off to find one and get it engraved.
    I was on the phone, putting out the photo call, when Sam walked into the office. He sat down and breathed heavily for a few minutes.
    â€˜Can’t you afford a building with an elevator?’ he finally wheezed.
    â€˜You mean a lift,’ I told him. ‘Since you ask, we can’t. Apart from which, it’s considered healthier for people to take gentle exercise – like climbing a few stairs or going for long walks every day. I thought your doctors over there were dead keen on the idea.’
    â€˜Then let them climb the stairs!’ Sam was recovering enough to sit up and take notice. He looked round the room carefully, obviously deciding that Nathan’s investment hadn’t been frittered away in pursuit of sybaritic luxury. The furniture was second-hand Utility, and even at the rate bygones were coming back into style these days, we weren’t going to live long enough to see any of it make us a profit on the antique market.
    â€˜Would you like a cup of tea? Or a cigar?’ It wasn’t much, but it was the best I could offer. He shot me an odd glance and shook his head.
    Well, I’d done my best to be