The Cradle Will Fall

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

AFTER Gana Krupshak's excellent pot-roast dinner, Gertrude gratefully accepted a generous slice of homemade chocolate cake. "I don't usually eat this much," she apologized, "but I haven't swallowed a morsel since we found poor Edna."

Gana nodded soberly. Her husband picked up his coffee cup. "I'm gonna watch the Knicks," he announced, not ungraciously. He settled himself in the living room in front of the television.

Gana sighed. "The Knicks… the Mets… the Giants… But at least he's here. When I come home from bingo, I know I'm not going into an empty place, like poor Edna always had to."

"I know." Gertrude thought of her own solitary home, then reflected on Nan, her oldest granddaughter. "Gran, why not come to dinner?" or "Gran, are you going to be home Sunday? We thought we'd drop in to say hello." She could have it a lot worse.

"Maybe we should go take a look at Edna's place," Gana said.

"I kind of hate to do it, but it's something you can't avoid."

"I'll get the key."

As they hurried across the courtyard, Gana thought of Edna's lovely imitation-leopard coat. Maybe she could take it home tonight. It was hers. Inside the apartment, they became quiet. Inadvertently they both stared at the spot where Edna's crumpled body had lain.

"There's still blood on the radiator," Gana muttered.

"Yes." Gertrude shook herself. Get this over with.

Gana went to the closet and removed the leopard coat. It did not take them long to finish sharing the contents of the apartment. Gana had little interest in the furniture; what Gertrude did not want Gana was giving to the Salvation Army, but she was delighted when Gertrude suggested she take the silver plate and good china. "I guess that's it." Gana sighed. "Except for the jewelry, and the police will give that back to us pretty soon."

The jewelry in the night-table drawer. Gertrude thought of Dr. Highley. He had started to open that drawer.

"That reminds me," she said, "we never did look there. Let's make sure we didn't forget anything." She pulled it open. The police had removed the jewelry box. But the deep drawer was not empty. A scuffed moccasin lay at the bottom of it.

"Now why would Edna save that thing?" Gana said. She held it up. It was stained and out of shape.

"That's it!" Gertrude cried. "That's what had me mixed up."

Gana looked mystified, and Gertrude tried to explain. "Mrs. DeMaio asked me if Edna called one of the doctors Prince Charming. She didn't, of course. But Edna did tell me how Mrs. Lewis wore terrible old moccasins for her appointments. The left shoe was too loose, and Mrs. Lewis was always walking out of it. Edna used to tease her that she must be expecting Prince Charming to pick up her glass slipper."

Gertrude reflected. "I wonder. Could Mrs. Lewis' shoe be what Dr. Highley wanted from this drawer? You know, I've half a mind to go to Mrs. DeMaio's office and talk to her, or at least leave a message. Somehow I feel I shouldn't wait till Monday."

Gana thought of Gus, who wouldn't have his eyes off the set until midnight. Her desire for excitement surged. "Tell you what: I'll drive over there with you. Gus'll never know I'm gone."

DANNYBOY Duke zigzagged across Third Avenue, racing toward Fifty-fifth and Second, where he had the car parked. The woman had missed her wallet just as he got on the escalator. He'd heard her scream, "That man robbed me."

She had come rushing down the escalator after him, shouting and pointing as he went out the door. The security guard would probably chase him.

If he could just get to the car. He couldn't ditch the wallet. It was stuffed with bills. He'd seen them, and he needed a fix.

Was he being followed? He didn't dare look back. He'd call too much attention to himself. In a minute he'd be in the car. He'd drive home to Jackson Heights and get his fix.

He looked back. No one running. No cops. Last night had been so lousy. The doorman had almost grabbed him when he broke into that doctor's car. And what did he get for his risk? No drugs in the bag. A medical file, a messy paperweight and an old shoe. He'd have to get rid of it all.

He was at the car. He opened it, slipped in. He put the key into the ignition, turned on the engine, then heard the siren as the police car came racing the wrong way up the block. He tried to pull out, but the squad car cut him off. A cop, his hand on the butt of his pistol, jumped out.

The cop yanked open the door, reached in and pulled out the ignition key. "Well, Dannyboy," he said. "You're still at it, right? Don't you never learn any new tricks?"

THE plane circled over Newark. The descent was bumpy. Chris glanced at Joan. She was holding his hand tightly, but he knew it had nothing to do with flying. Her face was composed.

"Chris," she'd said, "I can't bear thinking that Vangie committed suicide because of me. Don't worry about dragging me into this.

Tell the truth; don't hold anything back."

If they ever got through this, they'd have a good life together.

Joan was a woman. He still had so much to learn about her. He hadn't even realized he could trust her with the simple truth.

Maybe because he'd gotten so used to shielding Vangie.

They were silent as the plane taxied to the gate. Inside, Chris was not surprised to see two detectives waiting for him-the same two who had been at the house after he found Vangie.

MOLLY settled back as the orchestra began the overture to Otello. Bill was already totally absorbed, but she couldn't relax. She glanced around. The Met was packed as usual. Overhead the twinkling chandeliers began to fade into darkness.

At the first intermission she'd phone Katie. She should have insisted on going to see her in the hospital tonight. But she'd be there in the morning before the operation and make sure Katie wasn't too nervous.

The first act seemed interminable. Finally intermission came, and Molly hurried to a phone.

A few minutes later, white-lipped, she rushed to Bill. Half sobbing, she grabbed his arm. "Something's wrong. The hospital wouldn't put the call through to Katie's room. They said the doctor forbade calls. I got the desk and insisted the, nurse check on Katie. She just came back. She's a kid, she's hysterical. Katie's not in her room. Katie's missing."