Read Online The Sinful Ones by Fritz Leiber - Free Book Online Page B

had persuaded their rather flustered aunt to have lunch with them.
    Suddenly Carr didn’t feel hungry any more. Any thoughts of subtle pleasures to be derived from idle shopping vanished from his mind. He wanted to get to his place at the office.
    It wasn’t the incident itself. Nothing extraordinary about that. Just two house detectives picking up a shoplifter when the alarm signal sounded.
    It was in what the thing suggested.
    It had app happened too inconspicuously. It made you distrustful of crows and any security you might have thought rested in them.
    Outside, the city was noisier, pushier, less friendly.
    When Carr got to the office he was annoyed to notice that his heart was pounding and that he was hurrying guiltily. He forced himself to slow down and it turned out that everyone was so busy that no one had time to look up at him or say hello. As he settled down with an exaggerated feeling of relief, his phone buzzed. His heart sank, he didn’t know why.
    “Morning, Carr.”
    “Morning.” His lips worked. “Marcia, I’m sorry—”
    “Head still on?”
    “Uh?” Carr’s mind fumbled wildly at the remark. It might be sarcasm, but he couldn’t figure what sort. Of course he had “lost his head” last night but—
    “Well, mine isn’t,” Marcia continued briskly. “I had a wonderful evening though, in case you’re interested.”
    That cut. Marcia lost no time in punishing people, all right. Still he had it coming to him. “Marcia, I acted like a fool,” he began.
    “Simply wonderful. Never know the food to be better at Kungsholm.”
    She said it in the pleasantest sort of voice. No suggestion that she was trying to hurt him.
    “And afterwards—that was marvelous too.”
    Carr winced. The easy confidence he’d felt toward Marcia earlier in the morning evaporated. He felt altogether jealous and miserable.
    “Listen, Marcia, I told you I acted like a fool—”
    “What I wanted to call you about,” she interrupted, “was that I’m glad you’ve decided to change your mind about Keaton Fisher.”
    The phone was silent. Carr got to the point, or thought he did. She’d forgive him, if he’d go after the Fisher job. Well, that was all right, he’d come around to that way of thinking himself. But he hated to let her believe she’d forced him into it. Still—
    “I have changed my mind, Marcia,” he said.
    “And I want you to make a really good impression on him Friday night.”
    “I’ll try.”
    “I know you will. Goodbye, darling.”
    He replaced the receiver. Well, that was that. He’d committed himself. Probably for his own good.
    Might have known Marcia would get her way in the end. He wondered what man she’d gone out with last night, decided he ought to put that question out of his mind.
    “Coming?”
    He looked up. People had their hats on and were going to lunch. Tom Elvested was standing beside his desk.
    “Sure, sure,” Carr said hurriedly. “Be right with you.”
    Going over to the Italian’s, his mood brightened. After all, he’d made his peace with Marcia, even though at a price. Something of the calm elation he’d felt earlier in the morning returned to him. He was half of a mind to tell Tom about last night, yet felt a queer reticence. Plenty of reason for feeling that way, though, he told himself. For one thing, he didn’t want it to get back to Marcia. For another, if he described it to Tom, it would seem just silly. Finally, there was his persistent impression that Jane knew Tom, was connected with him in some way, and right now he didn’t want to know any more about her or get involved with her in any way.
    So when they’d found a table at the Italian’s and decided that the veal cutlet parmigiana looked the best, and Tom asked, “How was your date with Marcia?” Carr merely said, “Swell.” He hurried on to ask in turn, “And how did you get along with Midge and he girlfriend?”
    “Her friend didn’t come. We couldn’t scare up another date for her