1953 - The Sucker Punch Read Free Page B

water I had used after shaving.
    "I'm afraid not. She may be quite some time, Mr. Winters."
    "I would like a sheet of notepaper and an envelope."
    That came as a surprise. After a moment's hesitation she indicated a rack containing paper and envelopes.
    "Thanks," I said. "Do you mind?" I leaned forward and lifted her typewriter away from her, set it before me on the other side of the desk, pulled up a chair and sat down.
    She began to say something then changed her mind. She continued to write in an engagement book, but I could see I had taken her right out of her stride.
    I pounded out the following note:
    Dear Miss Shelley,
    I have been waiting to see you for the past fifteen minutes. Miss Dolan now informs me that you may yet be delayed further.
    I am a man with a conscience, and I feel it is my duty to remind you that every minute I remain relaxing in your beautiful garden, I am wasting both your time and your money—particularly your money. There is an old saying that the stock markets don't stand still while investors sleep.
    There is also a little matter regarding a mink coat that appears to need our combined attention somewhat urgently.
    I signed this note, put it in an envelope, crossed the room and dug my thumb into the bell push.
    A minute or so passed, then the door opened and a young footman came in.
    "Take this note to Miss Shelley right away," I said.
    "Yes, sir."
    There was a long impressive silence as I wandered over to the casement windows and stared out at the gardens. I lit a cigarette to steady my nerves. I had hold of myself, but inside, I was pretty worked up.
    Minutes ticked by. I kept my eyes on my watch and wondered if my bluff was going to fail. Then I heard a knock on the door and the door opened. An apologetic cough sounded just behind me. I turned.
    The young footman stood respectfully at my side.
    "Miss Shelley will see you now, sir. This way if you please."
    I followed him to the door, then as he went on ahead I paused to look at Miss Dolan.
    She sat motionless, staring at me, her face bewildered and perhaps slightly admiring.
    I gave her a long, slow wink, and then set off after the footman.
    I felt as if I were walking on clouds.
    I had no complete picture in my mind of what Vestal Shelley would look like. Seeing her propped up in an enormous bed with a high quilted headrest and on a raised dais gave me something of a shock.
    She was a little thing: there was nothing of her so far as I could see. The first thing I noticed was her shock of mashed carrot-coloured hair that stood up in a gollywog cut, surrounding her small head in a fiery halo.
    She was painfully thin. Her big glittering eyes were sunk deep into dark-circled sockets. Her small bony nose looked like the beak of a hawk. Her mouth was large and hidden under a plaster of blood-red lipstick.
    I looked at her and she looked at me.
    "You are Chad Winters?" she asked.
    She had a surprisingly deep musical voice that was in odd contrast to her size and thinness.
    "Yes, Miss Shelley. I am to take over from Leadbeater. No doubt, Mr. Sternwood ..." I stopped short because I could see she wasn't listening.
    She was waiting to speak.
    "You wrote this?" She held up my note.
    "Yes."
    She studied me for a long, uncomfortable moment.
    "You are very handsome, Mr. Winters. Did you put those clothes on for my benefit?"
    "Certainly. You seem to tire very quickly of the conventional clerk from the bank. You have used up fifteen of them, Miss Shelley, and there's only me left. I thought a change of scene might appeal to you."
    "That was clever of you." She waved the note. "And this was clever too. I intended to keep you waiting for some time."
    "I thought you might. That was why I wrote the note."
    She inclined her head, studied me a little longer, then waved to the foot of the bed.
    "Wouldn't you like to sit down?"
    I climbed the four steps to the top of the dais and sat on the foot of the bed.
    "What's this about my mink coat?" she asked, her eyes