James Chase - You Can Say That Again

I stayed watching the sun sink and the moon climb.

Watching the moon, I remembered what Mrs. Harriet had said: Whenever there is a full moon, she will be confined.

The moon was nearly full: in another three days, the moon would be full.

My mind switched to Loretta. I was sure she was out of her mind. She had to be! But this talk of about a full moon I couldn’t accept.

Why should I worry? I told myself. I was now a member of the Ferguson’s staff. I was free. I wasn’t supervised any longer. John Merrill Ferguson, enormously rich and powerful, was pleased with me.

What more could I want?

Leaving the terrace, I returned to the suite. I took a shower, then put on one of Ferguson’s shirts and slacks.

As I moved into the living room, Jonas came in, wheeling the dinner trolley.

The meal was marvelous. When Jonas had served me, he left. I regretted eating alone. How much better it would have been to have had Sonia with me. In a day or so, I told myself, I would fix that, but it wouldn’t be here: some quiet restaurant by the sea, lit by the moon and with soft music.

The meal finished, I wandered out onto the big balcony and sat in a lounging chair. I was at peace with the world. I sat there, watching the moon light the lawn and the trees, seeing the guards move around and not caring about them. They no longer had become a problem. How life can alter abruptly, I thought.

Yesterday, I was scared of being murdered, now I was relaxed, without a care in the world.

Around 22.50, I stubbed out my cigarette, got to my feet and decided I would go to bed. I found a paperback among the books Mazzo had brought me.

I turned off the living room lights and went into the bedroom, switching on one of the lamps.

I yawned. It had been some day, and the meal had been excellent. Maybe, I wouldn’t read. I would sleep.

Then my body stiffened with shock.

Sitting by the window was Loretta.

chapter eight

How life can alter abruptly, I had thought while sitting on the balcony, contemplating my seven-year contract, feeling secure. I had then been at peace with the world, but when I saw Loretta, my feeling of peace and security vanished.

‘Hello, Jerry,’ she said, and smiled at me. ‘I have been watching you. You look happy.’

My mouth had turned so dry, I couldn’t speak. I stared at her like a rabbit confronted by a ferret.

In the dim light of the lamp, she looked beautiful.

She was wearing a pale blue, silk wrap, and her long legs and feet were bare.

Had she come to share my bed? The thought of touching this demented woman horrified me.

‘Is something wrong, Jerry?’ she asked, her head a little on one side, her eyes quizzing.

‘Surprised,’ I managed to say, then walked to a chair and sat down. ‘I wasn’t expecting you.’

‘I had to talk to you. Durant is back.’

‘Yes.’

‘You went to the office?’

‘Yes.’

‘What did he want?’

‘Just papers to sign.’

‘Did he say anything about me?’

‘No.’

‘The will hasn’t come, but it must come tomorrow.’

I didn’t say anything.

‘I’m no longer allowed to see John. I went to his suite this morning. There was a guard at the door. He said John wasn’t well enough to see anyone.’

I remembered what Mrs. Harriet had said: Don’t pay attention to what poor Etta says. Be kind to her. Pretend you will do what she asks you to do. During the next few days, she will become more and more imaginative .

‘I’m sorry,’ I said.

‘His room is above mine. I hear him walking up and down, up and down. He sounds like a caged animal,’ she went on. ‘Up and down. Up and down.’ She stared at me, her eyes big and haunted. ‘The last time I saw him, the curtains were drawn. He was sitting in semidarkness. He was like a stone man. When I spoke to him, he said nothing. His nurse wouldn’t let me near him. Now, I’m not even allowed to see him. I keep wondering: is he going to die?’ She suddenly beat her clenched fists together. ‘If he dies, what will happen to me? That old bitch will get all his money!’

I listened, feeling the horror of this thing.

‘Last night, I tried her door. She locks it now. I have talked to Mazzo.’ She lifted her hands in a gesture of despair. ‘He is afraid of her.’

I wondered if she had talked to Mazzo. Was this another delusion? My main thought was to persuade her to leave me.

There was a long pause while she continued to stare at me.

‘You say nothing, Jerry. I am relying on you. I need your help. I will buy your help! Think! Two million dollars!’

Mrs. Harriet had said: Pretend to do what she asks you to do. There will be a full moon in a few days, and then she will be confined.

‘I haven’t forgotten,’ I said. ‘I must think again. I am sure I will find a solution.’

‘You must!’ Her voice turned strident. ‘Think!’ She got to her feet. ‘They are watching me! I thought I could rely on Mazzo.’ She came to me and ran her fingers through my hair. The touch of her fingers sent a cold chill through me. ‘Dear Jerry! Think! Help me!’

I got hurriedly to my feet.

‘They mustn’t know about us. You had better go.’

She put her hand on my arm.

‘For God’s sake, Jerry, don’t believe what that old bitch tells you. Don’t believe what Durant tells you. Believe what I am telling you!’

I looked into the haunted despair in her eyes. I thought of Larry Edwards and Charles Duvine.

‘Listen to me!’ she went on. ‘Don’t believe what anyone tells you, Jerry. Believe me!’

I moved her to the door.

‘Yes. Relax. I am on your side.’

She paused at the door.

‘For your sake, Jerry, remain on my side. Don’t let them persuade you. I’m warning you. That old bitch and Durant are evil, greedy devils. They could murder me, Jerry. They could murder you.’

There was this desperate, wild note in her voice that brought back all my old fears.

‘I’ll find a solution,’ I said and opened the door.

She peered out into the corridor, then whispered, ‘We have so little time, Jerry. I will come tomorrow night. Find the solution,’ then she moved swiftly and silently down the corridor.

Closing the door, I walked out onto the balcony. I stood looking down at the moon lit grounds. Mrs. Harriet had said Loretta was crazy. She had to be! Yet there was that warning! They could murder me! They could murder you!

I forced myself to face the frightening facts. I was sure they had murdered Larry Edwards and Charles Duvine.

Panic gripped me.

I sat down and tried to calm myself.

I thought of John Merrill Ferguson with his warm friendly smile. You are too valuable to lose .

I thought of Mrs. Harriet. The baby boy was miscarried. From that moment, Etta went mentally to pieces. She began having delusions .

The iron barred windows of the left wing was where Loretta was confined when she had her attacks, but according to her, it was where John Merrill Ferguson, mentally ill, was confined.

His room is above mine. I hear him walking up and down, up and down. He sounds like a caged animal .

Delusions?

I rubbed my sweating face with the back of my hand.

This morning, I had met and talked with John Merrill Ferguson in his office. The footfalls she claimed to have heard must be a delusion. Ferguson was certainly not locked in the left wing suite. Then I thought of Loretta’s haunted, despairing eyes as she told me. Was someone locked up there?

I had to find out!

Getting to my feet, I went into the living room and tried the door. It was still unlocked. Moving silently, I walked down the corridor to the head of the stairs. The light was on, but there was no guard. Mazzo had said that I was one of them now. It looked as if the guards had been removed. I paused for a long moment figuring out how I could reach the left wing. I retraced my way back to the main corridor, then walked down the left hand corridor which was dimly lit. I wished I knew the geography of this immense house. I remembered from seeing the outside, the barred windows were at the far end, so cautiously, moving silently, I kept on.