Nemesis

Chapter X

He didn’t sleep much that night.

About six in the morning he dropped into an uneasy doze; when he woke the sun was streaming in the window and Fran was standing beside the bed with a cup of coffee.

It was ten in the morning.

He didn’t feel rested. He felt lousy. He drank the coffee and it didn’t help much. He put on a robe and slippers and got the telephone number from his watch pocket. It was Summerville 8649. He didn’t know where it was going to lead, but he intended to keep following every lead he got until he learned something.

He sat down beside the telephone stand and lit a cigarette. Then he dialed the department maintained by the telephone company. He gave the operator the number and she said, “One moment, please.” A little later she said, “I’m sorry, sir, that is an unlisted number. We can’t give you the address.”

He hung up slowly. He smoked the cigarette down and put it out. Then he dialed Summerville 8649. The phone buzzed twice before a suave voice said, “Yes?”

Larry talked quickly. “This is the proof department of the City Directory. We’re checking addresses for our next issue. Could you give me your address so we can check against our directory listing?”

There was a long pause. Then the suave voice said, “I’m sorry. This is an unlisted phone.” Larry heard a click as the receiver was replaced.

He swore softly. There must be some way to get the address of an unlisted phone. He remembered then a friend of his, Charlie Barret, an employee of the telephone company, had told him once that it could be done.

He called Charlie Barret. When he told him what he wanted Barret was dubious. “I can do it for you, Larry, but it’s against all our regulations. Are you sure this is important?”

“Of course,” Larry said.

“All right. It might take a little while. But I’ll get it. And keep this quiet, will you?”

Larry spent the afternoon waiting for the phone call. When it came he grabbed the phone nervously. He said, “Yes?”

“This is Charlie. I got it. But I waited until I got home to call you. I couldn’t talk from an office phone.”

“Okay, what is it?”

“Summerville 8649 is registered for Judge Avery Mills. The address is 1000 Lake Shore Drive, suite eleven-B.”

“Judge Avery Mills,” Larry repeated slowly. He was writing on the telephone pad.

“That’s it. 1000 Lake Shore Drive. Suite eleven-B.”

“I got it. Thanks a million, Charlie.”

He hung up and looked at the name. Judge Avery Mills. It didn’t mean much to him. He had heard it now and then. Mills was a Circuit Judge, a fairly young man, and well thought of, politically.

Well he would know more about it damn soon...