Fletch(50)
“What did you say?”
“I said you have a lousy management company. Not only are you nosy parkers, but these apartments are not adequately protected against burglary.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I was robbed last night.”
“You were?”
“Yes. All my cosmetics.”
“Your cosmetics?”
“All of them.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Come. I’ll show you.”
In the bathroom, she opened the medicine chest.
“This morning, that window was open, and all my cosmetics were missing.”
The medicine chest was bare, as were other shelves in the bathroom.
“Only your cosmetics were missing?”
“Some aspirin. My toothpaste.”
“Your towels are here.”
“No. One towel is missing.”
“One towel is missing. They must have used it to carry off the cosmetics.”
“That’s what I figure.”
“Surely, Mrs. Faulkner, that window is not large enough for an adult.”
“I wouldn’t think so.”
“Some child in the neighborhood must have broken in and stolen your cosmetics.”
“I would say so.”
“Probably afraid to venture farther into the apartment.”
“I’m glad you’re so busy protecting the morals of the children in this neighborhood, Mr. Whatever-your-name-is, Greene Brothers Management. I’d hate to have them thinking dirty thoughts while they’re in jail for burglary.”
23
It was lunch time. The corridors of the News-Tribune were cool and empty.
Fletch dropped two wrapped sandwiches and a carton of milk on his desk and took off his suit jacket.
He picked up the phone and dialed the number of the managing editor.
“This is Fletcher. I want to talk to Frank.”
“Are you in the office, Fletch?”
“Yes.”
“He’s at lunch. He’ll be back at two o’clock. Can you wait till then?”
“I’ll twiddle my thumbs. Please make sure I see him at two.”
Fletch loosened his tie and sat down.
While eating the sandwiches, he found the subpoena. Ordered to appear in court Friday morning at ten o’clock. Failure to pay alimony to Barbara Ralton Fletcher. Contempt of court. Failure to appear will cause instant arrest.
“Jesus Christ.”
Friday morning he had the choice of receiving a Bronze Star and thus being arrested, or facing contempt charges in court and thus being fired.
“Jesus Christ.”
The phone rang.
“Hello, for Christ’s sake.”
“Is this Mr. Fletcher?”
“If you insist.”
“What?”
“Who is this?”
“This is Mr. Gillett, of Gillett, Worsham and O’Brien.”
“Jesus Christ.”
“Mr. Fletcher, I regret to tell you that the check you gave me the other day as payment of back and present alimony to Mrs. Linda Fletcher, in the amount of three thousand, four hundred and twenty-nine dollars, is no good.”
“You bastard. I asked you not to cash it for ten days.”
“I didn’t try to cash it, Mr. Fletcher. However, I did take the precaution of making an inquiry at the bank. You don’t even have an account in that bank, Mr. Fletcher.”
“What?”
“You do not now, you never have had an account in the Merchants Bank. Not a checking account, not a savings account. Nothing.”
“Nice of you to tell me.”
“Where did you get that check, Mr. Fletcher?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you. I was clearing my throat.”
“It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I warned you when we met in your office last Friday that if you didn’t play straight with us from now on, I would lower the boom on you. I would bring you back to court. You have provided me with ample opportunity for doing precisely that.”
“Mr. Gillett—”
“You listen to me. This morning I have gone into court and seen to it that contempt charges are filed against you. A subpoena ordering you to appear in court Friday morning at ten o’clock will arrive within minutes.”
“No.”
“What do you mean, ‘No’?”
“I can’t be there Friday morning.”
“Why not?”
“I’ve already been subpoenaed to appear in court Friday morning at ten o’clock to answer contempt charges for not paying alimony to my first wife, Barbara.”
“Mr. Fletcher, I can’t care about that.”
“Well, I can’t be in two places at the same time.”
“At least we know Friday morning you will not be before a justice of the peace getting married again.”