James Chase - Tell It to the Birds

“This is something I must think about,” he said. “Meg, may I stay the night?”

With him on the hook, she could afford to be generous. After all, in the past she had slept with dozens of less savoury men than Anson.

“Of course…”

She came to him and putting her arms around him, she pressed herself against him, trying to control the shudder of revulsion that went through her at the touch of his hands.

For the past hour, Anson had been lying on the bed, sleepless. The time was after three o’clock a.m. The white light of the moon fell across the bed, lighting the hollows and the curves of Meg’s naked body as she lay sleeping by his side.

Suddenly Anson’s mind became alert. For no reason at all, he thought of Harry Davis and the conversation they had had together over lunch. He remembered what Davis had said: I have a teenage daughter… you never know, once a swine like that rapes a girl, he wants to rape another.

He sat up abruptly.

“Meg!”

Meg’s quick, light breathing faltered. She stirred and became awake.

“Meg!” Anson gripped her arm, “Wake up! I want to talk to you!”

She moaned, then half sat up.

“What is it?”

“Have you yesterday’s newspaper?”

She stared at him as if she thought he had gone crazy.

“Newspaper? Yes… it’s downstairs.”

“Get it! Make some coffee! Come on, Meg, wake up! I have an idea… get moving!”

Still dazed with sleep, but urged on by his tone, Meg slid out of bed and put on her wrap. She walked unsteadily to the door.

“Hurry!” Anson exclaimed.

He turned on the light and pulling the sheet over him, waited impatiently for her return.

After some minutes, she came back into the room, the newspaper under her arm, carrying a tray with the coffee things.

Anson snatched the newspaper from her and read the headlines as she poured two cups of coffee.

“What is it?” she asked.

When he waved her to silence, she shrugged and sat on the foot of the bed, sipping her coffee and watching him.

After some minutes, Anson let the paper drop and took the cup of coffee she handed to him.

“I think I’ve got it!” he said. “See this?” He pushed the newspaper towards her, pointing to the headlines.

Still dazed, Meg stared at the paper, then at Anson.

“I don’t understand!”

Impatiently, Anson pointed to the headlines.

Maniac Kills Youth: Girl Companion Assaulted.

“A nut like that always strikes again,” Anson said. “We’re going to make use of him. He’s going to kill Barlowe and attack you! Even Maddox will have to accept a situation like that!”

Meg stared at him as if she thought he had gone out of his mind.

“What are you saying… attack me?”

Anson finished his coffee and set down the cup.

“It says here the police are warning all courting couples that this man might strike again. This means the police expect him to strike again! Can’t you see this is just the set-up we are looking for?” He threw the paper aside. “The girl has given the

police a description of the man. She says he is short with a fat face and staring eyes. He was wearing a black top coat and a black slouch hat. When she was struggling with him, his hat fell off: he was as bald as an egg. What a description!

This is the man who is going to murder Barlowe! You will give the police his description! They are waiting for him to kill and rape again! They’ll accept what you say without question! This is the foolproof way to get rid of your husband and get the money!”

Meg remained motionless, her mind slowly grasping what he was saying.

“Didn’t you say your wedding anniversary was coming up towards the end of the month?” Anson asked. “When is it exactly?”

Bewildered, Meg said, “Next Friday… what has that to do with it?”

“Four days’ time! It’s exactly right! It has everything to do with it! You must persuade Barlowe to take you out to dinner, then after dinner, you must persuade him to drive out to some lonely spot… Jason’s Glen would do fine. I’ll be there… waiting.”

Meg’s eyes opened wide.

“And then…?”

Anson pointed to the paper.

“That happens again.”

Meg flinched.

“You mean… you’ll shoot Phil?”

“That’s what I mean… and attack you. Look, Meg, you can’t expect to pick up fifty thousand dollars for nothing. You’ll have to be found in such a state the police, and more important, Maddox, will have no doubt you were attacked by this maniac. You’ll give them a description of the man who attacked you… they won’t suspect you… they can’t suspect me… it’s the perfect set-up !”

“But John…”

“Don’t argue about it!” Anson said impatiently. “This is the foolproof way we can do it in the time we have left. I’m certain Maddox won’t be suspicious but if I tried some other way to get rid of Barlowe, Maddox would be suspicious. The trick with this set-up is the police expecting it to happen again!

We have four days in which to work this out. Well…”

“John!” Meg’s voice rose a note. “You must listen to me! I see it’s a good idea, but you haven’t thought enough about it.

Suppose it rains? Phil wouldn’t go out to Jason’s Glen if it was pouring with rain.” v Anson, impressed, nodded.

“You’re right. We must hope it doesn’t rain, but if it does, then I’ll have to do it here. Your story will be you heard someone prowling around the house: Barlowe went to see who it was: you heard a shot: then this maniac came in and attacked you. It’s better if we do it up at Jason’s Glen, but if we can’t, then we’ll do it here.”

“But suppose this man is arrested before Friday night? Suppose we don’t know he has been arrested?” Meg said. “I’d look a fool giving the police a description of a man who is already in jail, wouldn’t I?”

Anson stared at her for a long moment, then he nodded. “You’re using your head,” he said. “I missed out on that one, and it’s important. I have yet to work out the details. This is just the outline of the plan. We can get over that snag. You will be in such a state of shock after you’ve been attacked, you won’t be able to be questioned for two or three days. In the meantime I’ll have found out if this man has been arrested or not. Because you are the wife of one of my clients, I can send flowers to you. If this man has been arrested, I’ll send you carnations. If he is still at large, I’ll send you roses.

You won’t say a word to the police until you get flowers from me.”

“What happens if he is caught?”

“We’ll think up a description of some other man. It often happens that after an attack like this some other maniac gets inspired and does the same thing, but if we can give a description of the original killer we’re in a much safer position.”

There was something obviously worrying Meg and Anson, staring at her, sharply asked her what it was.

“I don’t understand what you mean… I’ll, be in such a state of shock… what does that mean?”

Anson picked up the newspaper and tossed it to her.

“The girl was chased through a wood, knocked down, beaten up and then raped. She was in a hell of a state! Read it…

see for yourself! That’s what has got to happen to you! This won’t be play acting, Meg! Maddox will want the doctor’s report. He has got to be convinced. It’s up to you… you either are ready to take it or you don’t do it.”

Meg walked over to the window. She lifted aside the blind and looked out into the dark night. A feeling of cold, sick fear was growing inside her. She thought of Hogan. / want that money by the end of the month or you and me are through! The thought of never seeing Hogan again, never feeling his hard, muscular arms around her, never hearing him cursing as he made love to her was something Meg couldn’t contemplate.