Dead Letter (Digger)

by Warren Murphy

  "No, Digger, please," she said.

  "Dammit, Allie, what does it take for you to wake up? This is a fucking death threat. You got that? A death threat. It’s not a fucking lark anymore. Somebody’s threatened to kill you. Dead. In a fucking grave. With maggots where your beautiful green eyes used to be."

  The young woman blinked tears into her eyes.

  "Digger, I don’t…I…I don’t want to leave town right now. With school and everything."

  "If you go, I’ll go with you," Danny said from across the room.

  "No," she said sharply. She turned back to Digger. "You can put me in a hotel. Nobody will know I’m there except you and Danny. I’ll be safe there. Can you catch the person who wrote this note?"

  "Yes," Digger said. "I can."

  "Well, whoever he is, he won’t know where I am. I’ll be safe and I can take my tests."

  "No," Digger said.

  "A deal," she said. "I’ve got one last exam tomorrow. If you don’t catch him by then, then you can call my father. Then I’ll go home."

  Looking at her, into her pleading eyes, Digger understood how Frank Stevens would believe anything his daughter wanted him to believe. Her eyes were not eyes you could deny, not eyes you could argue with. Digger found himself, almost against his will, nodding one more time.

  "All right, goddammit," he said. "But now I need some answers from you."

  She smiled at him.

  "Anything you want, Digger," she said.

  "I want to know about Hatcher."

  "What about him?"

  "You lived with him," Digger said.

  Young Gilligan got up from the chair. "I’m going next door to shave and shower up. Call me when you want me," he said.

  Digger nodded.

  After he had left the room, Allie said, "Danny can’t stand to think about me with another man. Even though it was a long time ago. He’s still jealous. How did you learn about me and Henry?"

  "It doesn’t matter. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?"

  "I didn’t think it was important," she said. She sat alongside him on the bed. In other times, in other circumstances, Digger knew he would have put his arm around her, pulled her back onto the bed and made love to her. But not here. Not now. And, Jesus Christ, she was the boss’s daughter whose vanished virginity he had been sent to Boston to protect.

  "Well, it goddam well is important," Digger said. "Especially if he’s the guy who’s writing these notes. Now talk."

  "I told you, last year, this was a girls’ dorm. It didn’t bother me much because I spent most of the year hooked up with Henry."

  "How’d it happen?" Digger asked.

  "I went next door to his office to talk about some courses and he was really nice to me. Doctor Langston was living with him then, still together, I mean. And then one time when she was away at some psychologist’s convention, he called me and invited me to stop by that evening. Well, he had a candlelight dinner and the whole number. One thing led to another and we wound up in bed. When Doctor Langston came back, she left him and got an apartment in town. I didn’t really cause it, Digger. I wasn’t the first."

  "I know," Digger said.

  "I liked her, too, and I wouldn’t have done anything to hurt her," Allie said.

  No, Digger thought, women never would do anything to hurt another woman, particularly one they liked. But somehow they always seemed to find some kind of rationalization for sleeping with that woman’s husband or boyfriend or whatever. Men never slept with best friends’ wives, but women were always climbing into bed with their best friends’ husbands.

  "So what happened?"

  "As I said, Doctor Langston moved out and I hated it here in this stupid women’s dorm, so I started to spend my time over with Henry."

  "And of course you thought you loved him?" Digger said.

  She shook her head and he watched her breasts vibrate.

  "No. Well, maybe, just for a little while, but I understood it was really teacher-student infatuation. But he was in love, Digger. He started talking about getting married and us leaving and going somewhere else. It started to spook me. So, finally, I left. He was awful about it."

  "How ‘awful’?" Digger asked.

  "He used to call me all the time and beg me to come back. Finally, I had to tell him to stop once and for all or I’d report him."

  "No threats from him?" Digger said.

  "No. Oh, I mean, he’d say stupid things like I could never be happy with anybody but him, but nothing that sounded like a threat. No, no threats."

  "Did Doctor Langston ever know about you?"

  "Sure, she did," Allie said. "It wasn’t much of a secret. Besides, I told her myself."

  "Why?"

  "I told you, when I was first here, I went to her for counseling. I really liked her. Then I got to feeling guilty about her splitting up with Henry. I mean, I know it wasn’t my fault, but I was feeling guilty. It really affected my head. I was writing these sappy suicide poems and so I had to go see her. Mostly, I wanted some help to get out of my depression, but it turned out that it went away just by talking to her about it. I guess knowing that she didn’t blame me about the breakup was what I needed."

  "How did she take it?" Digger asked.

  "She must have known about me and Henry, but you never know with Doctor Langston. I don’t think she was upset or anything. She told me she was planning to leave him for a long time, and she didn’t blame anything on me. That made me feel pretty good. Anyway, when I came back this year, this place was a coed dorm and Danny and I hooked up early. We’ve been together ever since." She leaned closer to Digger and spoke softly. "He gets upset hearing about my past. He has this idea that my life should have begun the day I first met him. You know, Digger, just talking to you makes me feel better about this whole thing. I’m glad you’re around."

  His eyes met hers and she was smiling and he said, "You’d better pack a bag and get ready to leave here before I do something I’m not responsible for."

  "Promises, promises, all I get are promises." She rose from the bed and said, "I’m going to shower. I’ll only be a few minutes."

  Danny came back into the room while Allie was running her shower.

  "What do you think, Mister Burroughs?" he asked.

  "I wanted to ask you that, Danny. You know the people around here. What about Hatcher?"

  "What about him?" The young man’s attitude seemed suddenly defensive and Digger realized how much of a sore spot Allie’s old affair must be with him.

  "Allie told me he took their breakup pretty hard. Do you think he’s the kind of guy who could be writing these notes? Who might kill Professor Redwing?"

  "I don’t know," Danny said. "I always thought he was after Allie’s money from the little she told me. I used to watch her with him all the time. I knew it was all wrong, that he was just using her, but…" He shrugged. "I never thought she and I would wind up together. I’ll—never use her, Mister Burroughs. I loved her from the first day I saw her."

  "You don’t do much of a job of keeping it secret, kid," Digger said. "What about this note? Who spotted it?"

  "Allie, when she woke up this morning. She said it was stuck under the door, like, not all the way into the room. She opened it and when she saw what it was, she called me right over. Then she decided to call you. She was really upset."

  "When was the note left?" Digger asked.

  "Well, we were here studying and watching television last night until about twelve-thirty. So it had to be after then."

  "You don’t have anybody on desk duty downstairs at that hour?" Digger asked.

  "No. They lock the door at midnight when the desk student goes off."

  "Who has a key?"

  "Everybody who lives here," Gilligan said.

  "How about Hatcher?"

  Danny shrugged. "He’s the dean. I guess he would have one. The dean should, I guess, for all the dorms."

  "You don’t like Hatcher," Digger said.

 
"No. I don’t like people who take advantage. I think he’s the kind of person who takes advantage of people because of his position and all. I think he took advantage of Allie. A lot of professors are like that. They don’t really care about the students, they’re just trying to get over any way they can."

  The shower water stopped.

  "You think Hatcher might be the kind of guy who’d write these notes and kill Redwing? I asked you and you didn’t answer."

  Danny thought for a while. Then he nodded.

  "Yes," he said. "I think he might be."

  When Allie came out of the bathroom, she was already dressed. She went to a closet and pulled out a small overnight bag and turned to Digger with a smile.

  "Packed already?" he asked.

  "Never know when you might have to leave town," she said.

  Digger checked Allison and Danny into a small suite at the Copley Arms Hotel, registered under his name. Then took a cab to police headquarters, where he was ushered right into Lieutenant Terlizzi’s office.

  Terlizzi looked tired. His dark eyes were ringed with apparent fatigue and he was gulping black coffee from a cardboard container.

  "I’m sure you’ve had better days," Digger said.

  "I didn’t get too much sleep," Terlizzi said.

  "Oh, one of those. Orgy night."

  "No, I wish it was," Terlizzi said. "Did you come here to pump me about my sex life?"

  "No. Just to give you this." He handed the newest chain letter across the desk and sat down in a hard-backed wooden chair, facing the lieutenant.

  "Who got this?" Terlizzi said.

  "Allison Stevens. I’ve moved her off campus. She’ll be safe."

  Terlizzi’s hand reached for the telephone and Digger said, "I already called Doctor Langston’s office. As soon as I saw this. Her secretary said she was inside talking to a student. She’s okay."

  "Thanks, Burroughs. It’s not just a prank anymore, is it?"

  "No. Not anymore," Digger said. "It’s at least a murder threat."

  "Any ideas?" Terlizzi asked.

  "I’ll show you mine if you show me yours," Digger said. Terlizzi lit one of his twisted cigars while he considered Digger’s offer. Finally, he nodded. "You first," he said.

  "Okay," Digger said. "We know it’s not a prank because Redwing was killed and it wasn’t an accident."

  "We do?"

  "Yeah. Maybe the car was stolen two times. But it wasn’t going to start on the Waldo campus and two thieves later wind up back there to run down a professor. So much for that."

  "I didn’t think you realized that," Terlizzi said.

  "And I didn’t think you did. Isn’t it more fun being honest with each other?"

  "Jesus, don’t be cheery. I hate cheery," Terlizzi said.

  "Okay. It all comes up Henry Hatcher, Langston’s ex-husband," Digger said.

  "Why?"

  "She dumped him for chippie-chasing. One of the chippies was Allie Stevens, the one who’s getting these notes. When Allie dumped him, he was all twisted up and talked a little crazy. He blew his chance for being a vice-president at the school because of the broads. Redwing, the dead professor, was the guy who was probably going to get the job. And Hatcher was the one who got the first letter, delivered to him by mistake. And this letter was delivered to the dorm sometime last night after midnight. He’s probably got a key to the building. And his ex-wife’s name is on the list."

  He looked at Terlizzi for confirmation but the policeman shook his head and blew a smoke ring.

  "Too thin," he said.

  "I know it," Digger said. "I just can’t square him with being a car thief. And everything I said is just a damned coincidence. You could just as easily pin it on Langston herself with those clues."

  "I know," Terlizzi said.

  "So tell me about your meeting with our esteemed shrink," Digger said.

  "Is it okay if I skip the menu and the personal parts?" Terlizzi said.

  "Skip what you want. If you think I’m telling you where I found all this juicy information, you’re dreaming," Digger said.

  "I didn’t find out much. She’s a nice lady and I’m taking her out again. But what was important was what happened after I took her home. I got back to my house and I was just in the door when she called. She said someone was looking in her window. Well, I sent a car there right away, and I drove back over. But whoever it was was gone."

  "You think she was dreaming?" Digger said. "Or trying to find some way to get you back into her nice warm bed?"

  "Bullshit. I spent the night on her couch," Terlizzi said. "So much for her lusting for my body."

  "You don’t believe her when she says she doesn’t know anything about that letter, do you?" Digger said.

  "No, I don’t."

  "You know what that means, don’t you?" Digger asked.

  "Tell me. I like to hear everything I know coming from your lips," the policeman said.

  "It means it’s one of her patients. If she had a clue, she’d tell you. Or me. Why not? But she wouldn’t if it was one of her patients. That’s the way shrinks are."

  "Problem is everybody’s her damned patient," Terlizzi said. "Almost every kid in that school for morons has been on her couch one time or another."

  "I know. So when are you going out with her again?" Digger asked.

  "Tonight."

  "Steal her office keys for me?" Digger said.

  "What?"

  "Get her office keys to me somehow. I’ll go through her files and then get the keys back to you before she knows they’re gone. Maybe I can find out something."

  "You’ve got more brass than a Calcutta junk shop," Terlizzi said.

  "I know."

  "Suppose you get caught?"

  "Who’s to catch? They’ve got no security system at the college to speak of. The only thing I’ve got to worry about is a silent burglar alarm."

  "That’s a big enough worry," Terlizzi said.

  "That’s why I thought you might drive over to her office at quitting time and help her lock up. Engage her in brilliant casual conversation about the office’s security or lack thereof. And then tell me what to watch out for."

  Terlizzi stubbed out his cigar and lit another one before answering.

  "You’re asking me to break the law and I don’t even know you," he said.

  "Some of the finest cops in the United States have broken the law with me," Digger said.

  "It might work," Terlizzi said.

  "She’s never got to know. And no court would ever give us a warrant—confidentiality and all that bullshit. If there’s something in there, I’ll get it—maybe in time to do somebody some good."

  "You know it’s my ass if you get caught?"

  "Nope," Digger said. "First of all, if I get caught, I’ll swallow my cyanide pill. All us insurance types carry one just in case we’re grilled. Think how good you’re going to look when we catch the guy. You’ll be solving a murder that nobody even knew was a murder. By the time you get done with all the interviews and TV appearances, somebody’s going to have you running for mayor."

  "Not in Boston. I’m not Irish."

  "My company can take care of that. We’ll get your name changed and spread the word that you’ve got an alcohol problem. No one will ever know. Insurance companies can do anything."

  "I don’t know why I should trust you," Terlizzi said.

  "Look at this smiling, open face. Is this the face of somebody you shouldn’t trust?"

  "I’ll never trust you but I’ll do it. Or give it a try. If I can figure out a way to do it without going to jail."

  "Good," Digger said. He glanced at his watch. "It’s eleven…oh, shit."

  "What’s wrong?"

  "I was supposed to be in the hospital two hours ago," Digger said.

  "The public good always has to come before private considerations," Terlizzi said.

  Digger let out a long sigh. "Anyway, I’ve got a room registered to me at the Copley Arms. Why don’t y
ou bring Langston there for a drink before you go out to do whatever unsuccessful thing it is you’re going to try on her? Make believe you’re going to the men’s room and leave the keys for me in an envelope at the desk. Room 309. Tell me about the burglar alarms. It shouldn’t take but an hour or so for me to finish up, then I’ll go wherever you’re eating dinner and slip the keys back to you. She’ll never know."

  "All right," the officer said. "You know, I can’t understand why she isn’t really frightened."

  "Is she dopey?" Digger asked. "Maybe she’s just not too bright."

  "No, she’s bright enough. You should hear her theories."

  "It goes with the territory," Digger said. "All shrinks have theories and they’re all wrong."

  "She was talking about…I think she was trying to tell me something, but I don’t know what. She was saying like how everything is different and nothing is what it seems to be."

  "A big breakthrough in psychological theory," Digger said.

  "Like people who are always happy. That’s not because they’re happy. It’s just a mask that some people wear to hide their problems."

  "That’s bullshit," Digger said. "Shrinks are always trying to do that. Black isn’t black. It’s really white. Happy isn’t happy. It’s really sad. Why the hell can’t somebody be happy just because they’re happy?"

  "That’s just what I asked her," Terlizzi said.

  "What’d she say?" Digger asked.

  "She said I was stupid."

  Chapter Twelve

  Digger stopped at a public phone outside headquarters and called Room 309 at the Copley Arms but there was no answer. So where the hell were Allie and Danny? They should have been in their room.

  But it was lunch time and maybe they had gone out to eat.

  Yeah.

  And maybe they hadn’t, so Digger took a cab over to the Waldo campus.

  There was a new student working the desk in the dorm building. He was very intense and so was his acne.