Fletch(2)
“So? A month’s a month.”
“When you make a decision like this … that you’re going … to be dead … you uh … decide to do it as quickly, as soon as possible. You try to cut the dying time.”
Hands behind his back, the man was facing the french windows. Fletch guessed he was in his early thirties.
“Why don’t you kill yourself? Why do you need me?”
“My company has me insured for three million dollars. I have a wife and child. There is no point in losing the money, which I would, or rather my heirs would, if I committed suicide. On the other hand, for three million dollars it’s not worth going through that much pain and unpleasantness. I believe I have made an entirely rational decision.”
The paintings in the room were not particularly good, in Fletch’s opinion, but they were real.
“Why me?”
“You’re a drifter. You suddenly showed up in town. You just as suddenly leave. No one will think about it in particular, or connect you with the murder. There will be no way of connecting you and me. You see, I have planned your escape. It is very important to me that you escape. If you were caught, and talked, as you would, the insurance would be voided.”
“Supposing I’m not a drifter. Supposing I’m just on vacation.”
“Is that what you’re telling me? That you’re on vacation?”
“No.”
“I’ve been watching you off and on the last few days. You’re on the beach with the dregs of society. You associate exclusively with drug addicts. I must assume you are one yourself.”
“Maybe I’m a cop.”
“Are you?”
“No.”
“You have a deep body tan, Irwin Fletcher. You’re as skinny as an alley cat. The soles of your feet are callused. You’ve been on the road a long time.”
“Why did you pick me over the other kids on the beach?”
“You’re no kid. You look younger, but you’re almost thirty.”
“I’m twenty-nine.”
“You’re not as far gone as the others. You’re addicted, I suppose. Otherwise you couldn’t stand to live with those freaks. But you still seem able to operate.”
“I’m a fairly reliable-looking drifter.”
“Don’t feel complimented.”
Fletch said, “What makes you think I want to commit murder?”
“Twenty thousand dollars. And a guarantee you won’t get caught.”
After staring out the window, it took the man’s eyes a moment to adjust to the room. He was unable to look at Fletch without an expression of mild disgust.
“You can’t tell me you don’t need money. Addicts always need money. Even beginners. Maybe your taking this opportunity will prevent your committing more genuine crimes.”
“Why isn’t this a genuine crime?”
“It’s a mercy killing. Are you married?”
“I have been,” Fletch said. “Twice.”
“And now you’re on the road. From where are you originally?”
“Seattle.”
“So you commit an act of mercy, make some money, and split. What’s wrong with that?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure.”
“Are you ready for more?”
“More what?”
“More of the plan. Or are you ready to quit?”
“I’m ready. Go ahead.”
“I want to die next Thursday, a week from tonight, at about eight-thirty. It should look like the usual murder-robbery scene. The servants will be out, as they are now, and my wife will be at a committee meeting at the Racquets Club.
“These french windows will be unlocked. The damned servants always forget to lock them anyway.” He swung the door open and closed it with his hand. “I used to complain about it until I realized their stupidity could be useful. At the moment, we do not have a dog.
“I’ll be in this room alone, waiting for you. I will already have opened the safe, and in it will be twenty thousand dollars, in tens and twenties, which will be yours after you have murdered me. I don’t imagine opening a safe is one of your skills?”
“No.”
“Too bad. It would look better if it were authentically burglarized. At least be sure to wear gloves. I don’t want you to get caught.
“In the drawer here,” he said, reaching inside the top right-hand desk drawer, “is a gun which is always loaded.” It was a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson. The man showed him that it was loaded. “I figure you should use my gun, so no one can trace it to you. Before you come, I will mess up the house a bit to indicate robbery.
“The trick will be to make it look as if I have caught you at burglary, you have already been in my desk, you have my gun, you shoot me. Can you shoot?”