The Galton Case

Chapter 31

THEY DROPPED me at the airport, and I got aboard a plane. It was the same two-engine bucket, on the same flight, that had taken me north three weeks ago. Even the stewardess was the same. Somehow she looked younger and more innocent. Time had stood still for her while it had been rushing me along into premature middle age.

She comforted me with Chiclets and coffee in paper cups. And there was the blessed Bay again, and the salt flats.

The Matheson house was closed up tight, with the drapes pulled over the windows, as if there was sickness inside. I asked my cab-driver to wait and knocked on the front door. Marian Matheson answered it herself.

She had been living on my time-schedule, and growing old rapidly. There was more gray in her hair, more bone in her face. But the process of change had softened her. Even her voice was gentler:

“I’ve been sort of expecting you. I had another visitor this morning.”

“John Galton?”

“Yes. John Galton – the little boy I looked after in Luna Bay. It was quite an experience meeting him after all these years. And his girl, too. He brought his girl along.” She hesitated, then opened the door wider. “Come in if you want.”

She took me into the darkened living-room and placed me in a chair.

“What did they come to you for, Mrs. Matheson?”

“The same thing you did. Information.”

“What about?”

“That night. I thought he had a right to know the truth, so I told him all I told you, about Culligan and Shoulders.” Her answer was vague; perhaps she was trying to keep the memory vague in her mind.

“What was his reaction?”

“He was very interested. Naturally. He really pricked up his ears when I told him about the rubies.”

“Did he explain his interest in the rubies?”

“He didn’t explain anything. He got up and left in a hurry, and they rocketed off in that little red car of his. They didn’t even wait to drink the coffee I was brewing.”

“Were they friendly?”

“To me, you mean? Very friendly. The girl was lovely to me. She confided they were going to get married as soon as her young man worked his way out of the darkness.”

“What did she mean by the darkness?”

“I don’t know, that was just the phrase she used.” But she squinted at the sunlight filtering through the drapes, like someone who understood what darkness meant. “He seemed to be very concerned about his father’s death.”

“Did he say what he was going to do next, or where he was going?”

“No. He did ask me how to get to the airport – if there were buses running. It seemed kind of funny, him asking about buses when he had a brand-new sports car standing out front.”

“He’s evading arrest, Mrs. Matheson. He knew his car would be spotted right away if he parked it at the airport.”

“Who wants to arrest him?”

“I do, for one. He isn’t Galton’s son, or Brown’s son. He’s an impostor.”

“How can that be? Why, he’s the spitting image of his father.”

“Appearances can be deceiving, and you’re not the first one to be taken in by his appearance. His real name is Theo Fredericks. He’s a small-time crook from Canada with a record of violence.”

Her hand went to her mouth. “From Canada, did you say?”

“Yes. His parents run a boardinghouse in Pitt, Ontario.”

“But that’s where they’re going, Ontario. I heard him say to her, when I was out in the kitchen, that there were no direct flights to Ontario. That was just before they took off from here.”

“What time were they here?”

“It was early in the morning, just past eight. They were waiting out front when I got back from driving Ron to the station.”

I looked at my watch. It was nearly five. They had had almost nine hours. With the right connections, they could be in Canada by now.

And with the right connections, I could be there in another eight or nine hours.

Mrs. Matheson followed me to the door. “Is this trouble going to go on forever?”

“We’re coming to the end of it,” I said. “I’m sorry I couldn’t keep you out of it after all.”

“It’s all right. I’ve talked it out with Ron. Whatever comes up – if I have to testify in court or anything – we can handle it together. My husband is a very good man.”

“He has a good wife.”

“No.” She shook the compliment off her fingers. “But I love him and the boy, and that’s something. I’m glad it all came out between me and Ron. It’s a big load off my heart.” She smiled gravely. “I hope it works out some way for that young girl. It’s hard to believe that her boy is a criminal. But I know how these things can be in life.”

She looked up at the sun.

On the way to International Airport my taxi passed the Redwood City courthouse. I thought of stopping and getting in touch with Trask. Then I decided not to. It was my case, and I wanted to end it.

Perhaps I had a glimmering of the truth.