Gene Wolfe - An Evil Guest

“It’s an instrument heavier than a butcher knife used for chopping meat,” Sharon explained. “They’re also called meat axes. As you can imagine, a cleaver makes a fearsome weapon.”

“You say one was found there?”

Sharon nodded. “Not only was one found there, but it was covered with blood. What appears to have happened — this is what my police sources tell me — is that Dr. Gideon Chase, whose apartment is on that floor, observed that the door of a neighboring apartment had been forced. He seems to have gone inside to investigate and surprised the burglar, who shot him. Apparently Dr. Chase ran into the kitchen, where he found a cleaver and used it to defend himself, cutting the burglar deeply at least once.”

“He must be a brave man.”

“He certainly has that reputation,” Sharon said, “and my guess is that he deserves it. He’s a world traveler who often inserts himself into dangerous situations.”

“You’ve met him? I know Tommy Pergram’s had him on several times.”

Sharon nodded. “I’ve interviewed him, and a friend of mine’s dating him. We showed this clip on my five fifteen spot yesterday.”

Suddenly Sharon and the young woman she called Dorothy were displaced by Cassie herself and Gideon Chase, smiling and holding hands at a table in Walker’s.

“That brings us to my third point,” Sharon’s voice continued. “I’ve been in touch with her — she’s the famous actress Cassie Casey, and the Tommy Pergram Show ought to have her on sometime.”

Dorothy and Sharon returned, and Dorothy said, “The deeper we get into this, the more interesting it gets.”

“That’s my feeling exactly,” Sharon agreed. “Cassie’s terribly distraught. She doesn’t know where Dr. Chase is and wanted to know whether he was in the hospital. The police are watching the emergency rooms, of course. So far he hasn’t been to any of them.”

“Doctors are required to report gunshot wounds, aren’t they?”

“They are. This isn’t one of the points I came to make, but maybe it’s more important than any of them.” Sharon paused to look straight into the camera. “You know me, Gideon, and you know I’m on your side and Cassie’s, no matter what happens. You’re not wanted by the police. You haven’t been charged with anything, and nobody I’ve talked to thinks you will be. You won’t be arrested if you seek medical attention.”

Sharon turned back to the young woman. “I have one more point, Dorothy, and it may be the most interesting of all. May I give it?”

“Of course! We want to hear it.”

“It’s that the FBI is looking into this case. Nobody seems to know why, but an agent’s flown up from Washington. He’s questioning the people who live in that apartment as we speak.”

“We’ll have more on this,” the young woman announced, “as soon as we learn something new. Stay tuned.”

Cassie took the remote from Margaret and switched off the vid. A moment later, she became aware of the man in coveralls and said, “Yes?”

“Wanted to tell you I’m finished, miss. Your wall’s patched and caulked. Caulk’s still wet, so I wouldn’t push on the patch. Be dry tomorrow, and I’ll come back to paint soon as I can.”

“Thank you,” Cassie said. “Do I owe you anything?”

“No, miss.”

Margaret said, “The building takes care of it, I’m sure.”

Cassie nodded absently as the man in coveralls let himself out. “Do we have anything else to discuss?”

“Will you need me tomorrow at one, Miss Casey?”

“I don’t see why I should. It’s just a read-through. I’m going to phone Zelda — wait. There is something. Two somethings. Sit down, please.”

Margaret did.

“Here’s the first thing. Mr. Rosenquist took that bracelet from you, so there’s a chance he may give it back to you. If he does, tell me right away.” Cassie paused. “Nobody knows where Dr. Chase is now, but that could change. If he’s around, give it to him. Either one of us, but as fast as you can. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Miss Casey. Absolutely.”

“Good. Here’s the second one. Have you heard what happened to Jimmy? You seem to have known him better than any of us.”

Margaret shook her head. “I’ll try to find out, Miss Casey.”

“Do that, please. And tell me what you find.”

When Margaret had gone, Cassie dialed a familiar number.

“Youmans Agency, stage, vid, and modeling.”

“Zelda? This is Cassie.”

“Great! I was getting ready to call you. We’ve got a contract. Dating the Volcano God ? India Dempster said you knew all about it.”

“I don’t, Zelda. I don’t know how good my part is or what they’re going to want me to do. I don’t know how good the show’s likely to be. Or — ”

“I’ve taken care of that, Cassie. You’ll see when you vet the contract. There’s extra money for you if they cancel before the first performance. There’s more money if it runs more than three months. They gave me everything I asked for. You’ll see.”

“Yes, I will, and I’m not signing till I do. My guess is that I won’t sign at all, but don’t tell India that.”

“She’ll be pressuring you.”

“I know it, but I think I’ve got a way to pressure back if I need to. How much money’s behind this, Zelda? Have you any idea?”

“Uh-huh...”

“That was a smirk, Zelda. I couldn’t see it, but I could hear it. What do you know that I don’t?”

“Oh, lots and lots of things. I couldn’t tell you all of them. It would take all day, and I’d be selling out my sources. But there’s a lot of money.”

Cassie went looking for something to pry with. “It’s not all this guy Wallace Rosenquist, is it? I figure he has backers.”

“You figure wrong.” Zelda’s voice had become deadly serious. “Backers have him. He operates under a dozen names, and one of my sources thinks he may be the richest man in the world. He’s not somebody you want to cross, Cassie.”

“I’d heard he was dangerous.”

“You heard right,” Zelda said. “Can you meet me for lunch tomorrow? One o’clock at the Greek place?”

“I’ll try.”

“We need to talk face-to-face,” Zelda told her, and hung up.

There was a knock at the door, and Cassie hung up, too.

It opened before she got there. Gideon Chase stepped in, shut it behind him, and threw the bolt.

“You’re limping,” was the first thing Cassie said.

Gideon nodded. “I took a bullet through my right leg.” There was no grin.

“Sit down! For God’s sake, sit down.”

Gideon dropped into the only armchair, leaving Cassie her well-worn blue couch. “I might argue with that from a philosophical standpoint, but I need to sit too badly.”

“They’re looking for you.”

He nodded. “Whom do you intend by ‘they,’ Miss Casey?”

“Call me ‘Cassie.’ ” It was said as firmly as a trained actress could manage. “You sound like Margaret for Pete’s sake. I’m going to call you ‘Gid.’ You’re going to call me ‘Cassie.’ That’s settled!”

He nodded again. “I’ve got it, Cassie.”

“Now — where the hell have you been? They’re looking for you.”

“I’ll try to tell you, Cassie, but not until you tell me who’s looking for me.” He laid a polished brown walking stick across the arms of his chair.

“The police and the news media. Sharon, just to start with.”

His smile was small and pained, but unmistakably a smile. “That’s good. That’s very good. I’m putting you in danger, Cassie, just by being here. Listen carefully, please. Are you a good liar?”

“I’m an actress, Gid. Use your head. Yes, I’m a terrific liar.”