Killer's Choice

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The killer of Annie Boone must have been getting worried.

The killer had no reason to worry because the police were nowhere near yet. But the killer remembered something and anticipated the police, and made a phone call—and perhaps that was a mistake.

The killer called the child.

The killer called Monica.

The killer asked her not to tell her grandmother she had spoken to anyone, but she told her grandmother anyway, and that was why she got a visit from Carella and Kling.

She recognized Kling the moment he came into the room.

She said, 'Hi, ja find her?'

'Not yet,' Kling said. He assumed the child still didn't know about her mother. Or if she did, she had adjusted to it miraculously well. 'This is Detective Carella, Monica,' Kling said.

'How do you do?' Monica asked.

'I hope this won't be a gruelling experience for her,' Mrs Travail said. 'She's only a child.'

'We only want to ask a few questions, Mrs Travail,' Kling said. 'This is Detective Carella.'

'Yes,' Mrs Travail said, nodding briefly at Carella. 'May I stay?'

'Certainly,' Carella said, and he smiled at Mrs Travail, and Kling noticed that she responded warmly to his smile, and he wondered what it was about Carella that made women respond warmly to his smile. He consoled himself with the knowledge that he still had Monica.

'You say the child received a phone call this morning, is that right?' Kling asked.

'Yes,' Mrs Travail answered. 'So she says.'

'Well, I did,' Monica answered.

'I don't question it,' Mrs Travail said. She turned to the detectives. 'It's just that she seems rather vague about it.'

'What does vague mean?' Monica asked.

'Did you receive a phone call?' Kling asked, smiling.

'Sure, I did.'

'What time was this? '

'I don't know.'

'She can't tell time,' Mrs Travail said. 'It was this morning sometime. I kept her home from school because she has the sniffles. Besides… I'm not too sure I trust her f-a-t-h-e-r.'

'Father,' Monica said, reading the spelling.

'After what happened, he may try to seize her. I'm not too keen on letting her out of the house.'

'Do you think whoever called knew she was home?'

'I'm sure I don't know,' Mrs Travail said.

'Did this person who called ask for you, honey?' Kling asked.

'Yep. The person said, "Is this Monica Boone?" and I said Yes, this is Monica Boone. That's how we started the conversation.'

'Where was your grandmother?' Carella asked.

'I was down doing some shopping,' Mrs Travail answered.

'This person who called,' Kling said. 'Was it a man or a woman?'

'I don't know,' Monica said.

'Didn't you talk to the person?'

'Yes.'

'Well, was it a man or a woman?'

'I don't know.'

'This is what I meant about her being vague,' Mrs Travail said.

'What does vague mean?' Monica asked again.

'It means you're not sure, honey,' Kling said.

'Well, I'm not sure,' Monica said, nodding.

'Had you ever heard this person's voice before?'

'No.'

'This was the first time?'

'Yes.'

'What kind of a voice was it?'

'I don't know.'

'Well, you said you couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman. Was it a deep voice?'

'Sort of.'

'Like a man's?'

'Sort of.'

'But you're not sure?'

'No. It could have been a lady, too. It was hard to tell. It sounded as if the voice was coming… I don't know… through a long box or something. It was funny.'

'Through a handkerchief?' Kling asked Carella.

'Possibly. What did this person say to you, Monica?'

'Well, let me see. First it said, "Is this Monica Boone?" and I said Yes, this is Monica Boone. Then it said, "How are you, Monica?" and I said I'm fine, thank you, how are you? Grandmother told me to always be polite on the phone.'

'Then what?'

'Then it said…'

'This person?'

'Yes. I don't know whether to say him or her.'

'You can say "it",' Kling said.

'Well, it said, "Would you like to be a good little girl?" So naturally I said Yes I'd like to be a good little girl. Then it said, "Are you a smart little girl?" I don't like to boast, but I said I was a smart little girl.'

'Then what?'

'Then it said, "Your mother got a letter a week or so ago. In a blue envelope. Did you see it around the house any place?" Well, I couldn't remember seeing it, but I said, Maybe, who's this?'

'And what did the person say?'

'The person said, "It doesn't matter who this is, Monica. This is a friend of Mommy's." So I said Who?'

'Did the person tell you?'

'No. It just said, "A friend of Mommy's. Did you see the letter?" I remembered then that I did see the letter because Mommy was pretty upset when she got it. I mean, I remembered her opening it, and then looking pretty worried. You know how mothers are. They get worried over letters and things.'

'Sure,' Kling said. 'Did you tell this person you'd seen the letter?'

'Yes.'

'What did the person say?'

Sitting on the couch, Carella began to take notes on the telephone conversation. He used two names: Monica and Suspect. He did not bother to write down Kling's questions. He concentrated only on the telephone-conversation between Monica and the suspect. He listened to every word, and he wrote every word down in his rapid longhand.

SUSPECT: Where did you see the letter, Monica?

MONICA: I don't know. When Mommy got it.

SUSPECT: She mentioned it to you?

MON: No. I saw her reading it.

SUS: She didn't tell you what was in it?

MON: No, she never tells me what's in her letters.

S: Was this letter in a blue envelope?

M: Yes.

S: Are you sure, Monica?

M: Yes. I remember because I said to Mommy, that's a pretty blue.

S: What did Mommy say?

M: She didn't say anything. She was bothered by the letter. You could tell she was bothered.

S: Did she say who it was from?

M: No.

S: Did she guess at it?

M: What do you mean?

S: Did she say anything about it being funny the letter wasn't signed?

M: No.

S: But did she seem to know who it was from?

M: No. Who is this, anyway?

S: A friend of Mommy's. Now think, Monica. What did Mommy do with the letter when she finished reading it?

M: I don't remember.

S: Think!

M : I am thinking. I don't remember. I have to go dress my dolly now.

S: Wait, Monica! Did she put it in her purse?

M: No. She didn't have her purse with her.

S: Where did she put it?

M : I don't know. She went to make a telephone call, I think.

S: Who'd she call?

M: I don't know.

S: The police?

M: I don't know. I know a cop, did you know that? He's a detective and he has a gun and everything.

S: Did you tell this detective about the letter?

M: No. Why should he care about an old letter? He was looking for a little girl who's missing.

S: Did you mention the letter to anyone?

M: No. Who cares about an old letter?

S: Now think, Monica.

M: I'm thinking. What is it?

S: Where's the letter now?

M: I don't know.

S: Is it still in the house?

M: I think so.

S: How do you know?

M: I saw it around some place, I think.

S: Where?

M: Someplace.

S: But where, Monica?

M: I don't remember. I really have to go now. Dolly's lying all naked and everything.

S: Monica, think a minute.

M: Well, what is it because I really have to go. I don't want her to catch cold.

S: She won't catch cold. Where's the letter?

M: I already told you. I don't know. It's some place. Do you have any dolls?

S: No. Think, Monica.

M: For Pete's sake, I am thinking, you know. I'm thinking as hard as I can think. But my dolly…

S: Was it in the living-room?

M: I don't remember.

S: The dining-room?

M: We haven't got a dining-room.

S: Mommy's bedroom?

M: Maybe. Maybe she put it in her desk.

S: Did she?

M: For Pete's sake, how do I know? You sure ask a lot of questions

S: I'm only trying to help Mommy. That letter is very important. Did she put it in her desk?

M: Maybe.

S: Her closet, maybe?

M: Maybe.

S: Would you look?

M: Right now, you mean?

S: Yes.

M: Where do you want me to look?

S: In her desk, and in her closet.

M: Right now, you mean?

S: Yes.

M: I don't want to. Not right now. I have to dress Dolly.

S: When can you look?

M: I don't want to look. I'm not allowed in Mommy's drawers and things. She doesn't allow it. She says it's invasion of privacy, if you know what that means.

S: Well, we don't have to tell her you looked.

M: She'll find out. She'll know the minute she comes back. She's on a vacation, you know.

S: Oh, is she?

M: Sure. Granma told me. She won't be back for a while.

S: I see. Well, if she's gone, then she won't know you looked through her drawers and things, will she?

M: Oh, she'll know, all right. Mommy always knows. She knows everything. She can even tell when I'm lying. Right off. Did you know that? She's very smart.

S: But she won't know you looked if you're very careful. And also, if you find the letter, I'll buy you a nice present.

M: What will you buy me?

S: A doll, if you like.

M: I have a doll.

S: You can always use two dolls.

M: No, I can't. I have Dolly, and she's enough.

S: Well, what would you like?

M: Nothing.

S: There must be something you'd like.

M: Yes.

S: What?

M: A mink coat. Mommy always says she'd like one.

S: All right, I'll buy you a mink coat.

M: All right.

S; Will you look for the letter now?

M: No.

S: Well, why not? For God's sake…

M: Because I don't really want a mink coat. I don't really want anything. Besides, I'm very busy. I already told you, didn't I? I have to dress Dolly.

S: Monica…

M: You shouldn't shout. Mommy says it's impolite to shout, even on the telephone.

S: Monica, will you please…

M: I have to go now. G'bye. It was nice talking to you.

S: Monica!

M: What?

S: Is the letter in her desk?

M: I don't know.

S: Is it in her room?

M: I don't know. G'bye.

Carella looked up from his notes.

'Was that all?' he asked.

'Yes,' Monica said. 'I hung up. I had to dress Dolly. Besides, to tell you the truth, I was getting a little bored. I always get bored on the telephone, especially when I'm talking with grown-ups. All they want to know is how are you and have you been a good little girl. They never know how to talk. Only my friends know how to talk on the phone. I can dial Marjorie's number all by myself, did you know that? Would you like to see me dial Marjorie's number?'

'Not now,' Mrs Travail said.

'Did this person say he'd call back?' Kling asked.

'Well, I don't know if it was a he,' Monica said.

'Well, whoever… did he say he'd call back?'

'No. I just hung up.'

'Did he call back?'

'No.'

'Where is this letter, Monica?'

'I don't know. I think Mommy threw it out.'

'Then why did you tell him…?'

'Well, this person seemed so interested, I didn't have the heart to say Mommy'd thrown it out. Besides, I'm not so sure she did.'

'Could we look through her room, Mrs Travail?' Carella asked.

'Certainly,' Mrs Travail said.

'Mommy won't like it,' Monica said ruefully.

'We'll be very careful,' Carella said.

'Still. She won't like it. She's very fussy how her clothes are. Sometimes, when I play Red Cross Nurse and things, I use her scarfs for bandages. She takes a fit, she really does. She doesn't like her drawers all messed up. She's very fussy that way. You'd better be careful.'

'We'll be very careful,' Kling said.

'Do you think there's anything to this letter?' Mrs Travail asked.

'The person who called Monica seems to think it's pretty important,' Kling said. 'As a matter of fact, your daughter thought so, too. Important enough to write and tell Ted Boone about it.'

'She wrote to Theodore?' Mrs Travail asked, interested.

'Yes.' Kling paused. 'Mrs Travail, I thought you liked him.'

'I do, immensely.'

'Then why won't you release Monica?'

'Do what?' Monica asked.

'I don't think a child should live without a woman,' Mrs Travail said. 'If he wants to take both of us in, I'll let her go tomorrow.'

'I see. You said a while ago you didn't trust him.'

'I don't. Not where it concerns Monica.'

'Was Annie a drunkard, Mrs Travail?'

'Certainly not!'

'Did you know that Mr Boone was attempting to obtain legal custody by showing that Annie was a drunkard?'

'No. I didn't know that. But I'm not surprised. I love Theodore. But I'm afraid he would stop at nothing to get the child.'

'Except murder,' Carella said.

Mrs Travail glanced quickly at Monica.

'We checked his alibi,' Kling said. 'You'll be happy to know he's in the clear.'

'I told you that when first I talked to you,' Mrs Travail said.

'Who's this?' Monica asked. 'Daddy?'

'Yes,' Mrs Travail said. 'I love that boy. I wish he'd take us both in. I hate this. I hate legal battles and courts and everything that goes with it. But how else can I let him see which way is the right way? I hate distrusting him. I absolutely hate it.'

'Well, he seems to have legal right to the child now.'

'Maybe,' Mrs Travail said, and she shrugged. 'What about this person who called Monica?'

'What about it?'

'The… the one who did it?'

'Possibly.'

'Did what?' Monica asked.

'Nothing,' Kling said.

'Is there any way of tracing the call that came?' Mrs Travail asked.

'None whatever. Even if the party is still on the line, it's a pretty difficult thing to swing. Too much of the telephone company's equipment nowadays is automatic. If a call is made from a dial phone, it's impossible to trace. And if it's made from a phone without a dial—where you have to give the operator the number you're calling—it's next to impossible to trace. Sooner or later, the call gets circuited into the automatic system, and then you're lost in a maze of calls that could have originated anywhere. Police don't trace too many calls, Mrs Travail. That's one of the popular fictions of crime detection.'

'Well,' she said, dubiously. 'I suppose.'

'Do you think we could look at Annie's room now?' Carella asked pleasantly.

Mrs Travail smiled. 'Of course,' she said.

'This may take a little while,' Carella said. 'We want to do a thorough job.'

So far, the killer was lucky.

They did a very thorough job—but they did not find the letter.