Дэвид Балдаччи - One Good Deed

“Too late for that, Marjorie. And you should have read the fine print, it was all right there. But then again, you wouldn’t think to do that, only being a woman.”

“You bastard!”

“You should be thanking me. I got rid of your husband for you, didn’t I? If Hank’s gambling had kept up, those Vegas boys would have come and taken your house and more. That’s why you begged me to have him killed, wasn’t it, so you could sell out? Even though he was already dying? Because a dying man can still gamble, but a dead one can’t.” He grew quiet for a moment. “Only you didn’t know about all his other debts. That equaled a lot more than two hundred thousand dollars.” He paused. “But I’m a fair man. You get to keep the house.”

“But I can’t afford to live there!” she wailed. “And I have no money to pay the debts!”

“Then sell it. I’ll give you a couple of bucks for that monstrosity. But in the future, Marjorie, try to remember that size does not equal good taste.”

On the tape, Marjorie didn’t respond to this barb. The real Marjorie was sitting as motionless as the fox around her shoulders.

The room was so quiet that not only could one hear a pin drop, one could probably hear the air being propelled along by the pin as it fell.

Then the whole courtroom nearly jumped out of their seats at the next sound.

The single gunshot cut through the room like one had actually gone off in their midst. As though not only had someone cried out fire inside a crowded room, but there actually was an inferno. And then came the sound of a body falling to the floor.

When these sounds ceased, on the tape Marjorie said, “How’s it feel, Lucas? Being killed by ‘just’ a woman?”

On this, Archer turned off the machine and looked at Marjorie. “Well?” he asked.

She was silent for a few moments.

When she spoke, the woman’s voice was tranquil, even... happy.

“That’s the most fun I’ve had in my whole life, killing that man.”

Archer looked up at the judge and said, “I rest my case.”

Archer stood next to Irving Shaw’s hospital bed. The detective was sitting up, looking far better than the last time Archer had seen him. Herbert Brooks, the district attorney, walked in and came over to the bed.

“They told me back in Poca City that you had driven over to see Lieutenant Shaw,” said Brooks to Archer. He looked keenly at the detective. “And how is the patient?”

Shaw gingerly moved his damaged arm. “Not bad. Want a smoke bad, but they said no. They got oxygen around.”

Brooks eyed Archer. “Now, a few things. I’ve spoken with the DOP and they have agreed that in light of, well, recent developments, you are deemed to have completed your three-year parole and may freely move about as you desire.” He added, “I would imagine that you have no wish to remain in Poca City.”

“I think it’s time for me to head on.”

Then he held out to Archer an envelope.

“What’s that?” asked Archer.

“Two thousand dollars, from the city government. This was deemed to be fair compensation for all that you endured.”

Archer didn’t move to take the money until Shaw nudged him. “Go on, Archer. You earned it, son. You solved three murders on your own. You need to hang out your gumshoe shingle. Use the money as a stake to get started.”

Archer reluctantly took the envelope. “I wouldn’t have solved anything if it weren’t for you, Mr. Shaw. You should get half of this.”

“No can do. I’m a public servant. It’s my job.” Shaw looked over at Brooks. “Any word on Draper?”

“He passed away the other night. But he would’ve been hanged anyway. Marjorie Pittleman talked like a canary, though we heard most of it already on the recorder. Draper killed Pittleman on Lucas Tuttle’s orders after he and Marjorie agreed on the sale of the businesses. And then they tried to frame Archer for it. And Dill and Draper killed Sid Duckett, and they tried to kill Jackie Tuttle, at Marjorie’s direct request.” He shot Archer a glance. “And you were right. We found Hank Pittleman’s Smith and Wesson in Marjorie’s home. It was the gun she used to kill Tuttle.”

“What’ll happen to her?” asked Archer.

“I doubt the state has the stomach to hang a widow. But she’ll die in prison.”

“And that fancy house of hers?” asked Shaw.

Brooks shrugged. “Maybe someone can turn it into a hotel.”

Archer looked at Shaw. “You called it, Mr. Shaw. You said early on that Marjorie was involved in her husband’s death.”

“Well, unfortunately, between husband and wife, it’s usually one or the other doing the killing.”

“Reason enough to stay single,” said Archer.

Shaw said, “So Lucas Tuttle killed his wife and scared his daughter into keeping silent?”

Archer glanced at Brooks. “I guess a man’s word is worth more than a woman’s? You sorta told me that before.”

Brooks said quietly, “I guess you could say that was the case, yes.”

“There’s nothing right or fair about that.”

Shaw cleared his throat. “There’s some more information about Ernestine Crabtree’s past, Archer. Thought you might want to hear it.”

“What’s that?”

“Those men did rape her.” He added in a far more somber tone, “In fact, she could never have children after that because of her injuries.”

There was an awkward silence until Brooks said, “I have to say the way you handled yourself in that courtroom was truly remarkable, Mr. Archer, particularly so for a person with no legal training.”

“When a man’s fighting for his life, what choice does he have except do what he has to so he can survive?”

Shaw said, “Amen. Every man who fought in the war damn sure knows that.”

Archer eyed Brooks and said, “So you have no reason to go after Jackie, right? You’re convinced that Lucas Tuttle killed his wife?”

Brooks nodded. “I am convinced, Mr. Archer. She has nothing to worry about from me. It was a terrible thing for her to endure. Even more so for a young woman. They are very delicate.”

Archer’s gaze at the man sharpened. “You married?”

Brooks looked surprised at the question. “Well, yes.”

“You work, and your wife stays at home?”

“She has no head for matters outside of the home.”

“You might be surprised about that, Mr. Brooks. I mean, I don’t see much logic behind men being the breadwinners and all except it’s just the way it’s always been, and for no good reason. Everybody deserves a fair shake.”

Brooks shook his head and smiled. “A woman’s place is in raising children and keeping the home and assisting her husband. But it’s still important work nonetheless and quite proper for someone with their fairer sensibilities. It’s a hard world out there, Mr. Archer, and men are designed to thrive in that world, not our women. I mean, that’s why they’re referred to as the weaker sex, after all.”

“Well, by the time I’m an old man, maybe the world will see things differently.”

After Brooks left, Archer said to Shaw, “You taught me a lot.”

“I can say the same about you. So what’s next for Aloysius Archer?”

“Maybe a bit of wandering.”

“Would that wandering take you to see a couple of gals far away from here?”

“Couple of gals?”

“Yeah.”

Archer smiled. “I’m not sure. As you know, I’m sort of susceptible to the spell they can cast over me.”

“Hell, boy, we all got that problem. Ain’t enough reason to stay away, though, so I say go for it. Hey, you got a smoke, Archer?”

“I thought you said—”

“Come on, son, don’t make me pull my gun.”