Murder on the Yellow Brick Road Read Free Page A

pores.
    â€œIs Miss Garland here, Cassie?” Hoff said showing a beautiful double row of near-white teeth. He was clearly a Kolynos toothpaste man. What was their ad? “Now you can make your teeth look their romantic best.”
    I never knew what I was brushing my teeth with. I used samples the drug company salesmen gave to Sheldon Minck, the dentist I shared my office with.
    â€œJudy took a … something to calm her nerves,” Cassie James explained softly. “I think she’s sleeping.”
    â€œNo, I’m not.”
    The voice came from the other side of a high backed flower decorated sofa in the corner. Judy Garland sat up and looked sleepily at the three of us.
    Cassie James stepped over to her and took her hand.
    â€œThis is Mr. Peters, Judy,” she explained, “the man you called.”
    The name rang a bell, and she brushed some of the sleep from her eyes. She stood up and tried a weak smile, but I could see that something had gotten to her, probably the dead Munchkin. She was several things I didn’t expect. I had seen the little girl in The Wizard of Oz. It was the same person, but she was not a little girl. She was also shorter than I expected, no more than 5′2″ and her clothes were definitely not little girl’s clothes. She wore a white fluffy dress with a big patent leather belt and her hair was built up on her head to make her look taller or older or both.
    â€œMr. Peters,” she said taking my hands. The voice belonged to a more familiar Dorothy of Kansas, but it was filled with sadness and pleading. I wanted to hold her and tell her everything was going to be all right. If she cried, and she looked as if she might, I probably would have turned into a fool running around looking for a handkerchief.
    From the corner of my eye I could see Hoff sliding his way to Cassie James’ side. He was looking at Judy Garland, but the body warmth was going to Cassie James. I didn’t feel sorry for my pal Warren anymore.
    â€œI’m sorry if I’ve caused you any trouble Mr. Peters,” Judy Garland continued, that near sob in her voice, “but I panicked. You know how that can happen? I … Cassie and I saw him lying there, and I just turned and ran to the nearest phone and called information. They gave me your office, and a Dr. Minck told me you were at Warner Brothers and I just …” She shrugged, gulping in air and led me to the sofa. We sat while she held both of my hands tightly and looked into my eyes. My God, there was a tear forming in one eye. In another second, I’d be lost.
    â€œYou knew the dead man?” I asked.
    She shook her head in a decided, sad no.
    â€œTo tell the truth Mr. Peters,” she said softly, “I … I didn’t even like most of the little people who worked on the film. They like to be called little people you know, not midgets or dwarfs.”
    â€œI didn’t know that,” I said noticing that Cassie James was listening to our conversation with concern and that Hoff was so close to her I couldn’t tell if they were touching. “Why didn’t you like them?”
    â€œOh,” she said, “I didn’t dislike all of them, just some of them. One especially who kept touching me and asking for dates and saying things … I.”
    â€œO.K., O.K.” I said. “You saw the dead Munchkin, and you felt glad and guilty. I’ve seen a few dead ones, and my first reaction was always, I’m glad it’s not me. The second reaction is to feel queasy in the stomach. Cops, hospital people and some soldiers get used to it, but the rest of us feel lucky, sick and guilty.”
    â€œI guess it was something like that,” she said taking a deep breath. “Mr. Peters,” she began and then turned her head toward Cassie James. “Cassie, could I please talk to Mr. Peters alone for a minute?”
    Cassie James showed a slight smile of perfect teeth