“I want to see Miss Wilkerson,” said Collins.
“She’s not here just now. She ought to be home any time, though.”
Collins looked up and down the road. The girl said. “She won’t let anybody come inside the house while I’m baby-sitting, so you can wait on the steps.”
Collins seated himself on the second step and leaned back on his elbows to listen to the sounds of the neighborhood. From the house next door came the squawk of a television program. From behind him squealed the complaints of a pair of small children and the reprimands of the babysitter. A telephone bell shrilled; Collins heard the baby-sitter’s voice. The sun disappeared behind the eucalyptus across the way.
A black Valiant sedan came down the road and turned into the driveway, and a woman in black slacks and a jade blouse got out. She was tall and lean, with a harpy swiftness of movement, about thirty years old; she had a big nose in a clever face. Her eyes were grotesquely made up; her hair rose in a great sour-looking puff. She surveyed Collins with calculation. “You waiting for me?”
“You’re Molly Wilkerson?”
“That’s me.”
“I’m Inspector Omar Collins, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.”
“What have I done now?”
“Nothing, I hope,” said Collins. “I need information.”
“Just a minute till I send the baby-sitter home. Come in,” she added, as an afterthought.
Collins followed her across the porch into a living room furnished with a television set, an overstuffed sofa, two matching chairs, and two end-tables, each bearing an enormous lamp.
Molly Wilkerson looked into a bedroom where the children were playing. She heard a short recital of deeds and misdeeds, then the girl departed. “Don’t forget I’m working tonight,” Molly called after her. “You be here at eight-thirty.”
“Okay, Mrs. Wilkerson.” The front door slammed.
Returning to the living room, Molly surveyed Collins through careful eyes. “I can’t imagine why you want to talk to me.”
“I’m making inquiries into the death of Earl Genneman.”
Molly lifted her heavy eyebrows. “Who?”
“Earl Genneman, owner of Genneman Laboratories.”
“I wouldn’t know anybody like that.”
“You never even heard the name?”
“Definitely not. Should I of?”
“I thought it possible. Steve Ricks is involved.”
Molly lit a cigarette. “Steve Ricks,” she said. Cigarette smoke drifted up past her face.
Information out of this one was going to be hard to get, thought Collins. “I take it you’ve been notified of Ricks’ death?”
“What?” She seemed genuinely startled.
Collins said gravely, “I’d assumed his friends were notified.”
“Nobody said anything to me.”
“When did you see him last?”
Molly blinked. “How did Steve die?”
“He was murdered. Possibly by the killer of Earl Genneman.”
“You didn’t say Genneman was killed. What’s the connection with Steve?”
“You saw Steve when?” Who was questioning whom? Collins wondered.
Molly took a reflective puff. “Genneman . . . He had a big drug company, you say?”
Something was ticking at the back of Molly’s mind. But she shook her head again. “How could Steve be tied up with a big shot like that?”
Collins thought her perplexity forced. “When did you see him last?”
“Let’s see . . . You know where I work?” She seemed determined not to answer the question. It made him just as determined to get her to do so.
“Smoky Joe’s. You’re a waitress there.”
Molly pursed her lips, gave her head a fastidious shake, stubbed her cigarette out with delicate dabs. A wolverine, thought Collins, half fascinated. “I was born in a high-class family, Inspector. I was never expected to turn a hand for a thing. Then I was forced to make my own living. I just had to do something to keep my children from starving.”
“What about Steve Ricks?”
“Steve—well, he was a man I knew. A lot of fun for the races, the fights, a poker party—not the kind I’d take seriously.”
“Naturally not.” Collins tried to keep the weariness out of his voice.
“Especially after he went to Fresno, to play at that honky-tonk.”
“The Clover Club?”
“That’s the place.”
“And when did you see him last?”
Molly said suddenly, “Oh, two, three weeks ago, something like that.”
Collins sighed. “And what was the occasion?”
“No occasion. He came up on business, dropped by. We talked over old times, had a drink or two, then we went out for a steak. Then I had to go to work.”
“He came to Smoky Joe’s?”
“Oh, yes. He wanted to play at Joe’s bad.”
“He came there often?”
“Not often. I might see him like once a month.”
“He’d come with friends?”
“Once in a while. But don’t ask me who they were, because he never introduced me. Thought ’em too good for me, maybe. And my grandmother from one of the best families in Texas! That’s a fact, Inspector.”
“Of course. Why did Ricks keep coming to the Down Home Cabaret?”
“He was always trying to get on the orchestra.”
“Did he play that last night—sit in with the orchestra?”
“I don’t believe so. To tell you the truth, I didn’t pay much heed. I was rushed as usual. Inspector, if you want to know what work is, you try handling all those tables. It’s a real hassle.”
Collins surveyed her. “Steve Ricks stayed till the place closed?”
“Yes, indeed. At least I think so. I just can’t be sure. He might have left earlier.”
Collins’ suspicions deepened. Molly Wilkerson clearly wanted to tell nothing. “He was alone?”
“I believe he was talking to some friends part of the time. Steve loved to talk. He was a real talker. I’m sorry to hear he’s dead.” It seemed a rather belated expression of grief.
“Who was he with that night?”
“I didn’t notice. That was one of our real busy nights. I was rushing around like a mad woman.”
“Mrs. Wilkerson,” said Collins. “Are you trying to tell me that you failed to notice who your boy friend was sitting with?”
“Please don’t yell. My children are in the other room.” She was a slippery customer, all right. “I’m telling you; you can believe it or not. Someday you try it, working thirty-three tables on a busy night—”
“I’d like to remind you that Ricks was murdered. Somebody may go to the gas chamber if we can get the evidence. It’s your duty to help supply this evidence. Now I’ll ask you once again: who was sitting with Ricks the last night you saw him?”
Molly rose, unabashed. “If you think I pay attention to every drunk at every table, you’re crazy.”
“So there were drunks at the table. Who was drunk—Steve? The others?”
“I didn’t say that. I’ve got to get ready to go to work, Inspector.” Molly nodded coldly, and Collins took his leave.
He walked down to the road, glanced back at the house. Molly’s shadow moved across the living room. He ran quietly into the driveway, holding to the shadows beside the house. Just overhead was the open window from which he had heard the ring of the telephone bell.
Molly was already talking, Collins pressed his ear as near the window as he dared.
“. . . asking all kinds of questions about Steve Ricks,” Molly was saying in a portentous voice. “Did you know that Steve was murdered? . . . Well, that’s what this cop said. It’s a fact . . . No . . . He wanted to know all about Steve, who his friends were, and especially who Steve was with two weeks ago at the Down Home . . . I didn’t mention any names. I figured knowledge is money, and it might be worth something to you to be kept out of
it . . . Naturally not . . . I know you wouldn’t do anything like that. I’d never protect somebody I thought was crooked. Not unless they paid me an awful lot of money, haha! . . . No, I don’t. I’ll leave it to you; whatever it’s worth . . . That’s okay; all donations gratefully accepted. ’Bye now.”
Collins waited, but the Wilkerson woman made no more calls. When he heard her talking to the children, he walked out and got into his car, where he sat for a moment grinning wickedly. Collins was not one to feel remote from his job. Lies were no novelty, information was often denied him, and such things annoyed him. But not as much as this one.
This was different, a quality of cold reptilian greed; it affected him differently.
He started the car and drove slowly back to South Jefferson and into Bingham Valley Road, then north up Latham Avenue. Ahead a sign burned blue and green: LEO’S FASHION RESTAURANT. It was seven o’clock and he had eaten nothing but a sandwich since breakfast. He parked and went into the restaurant, which was crowded. He gave his name to the hostess and found a seat at the bar. He ordered a bourbon highball.
He thought of Molly Wilkerson and chuckled grimly. The day had not gone badly . . .
He remembered some loose ends and went to the phone booth. First he called Buck James and asked if he were acquainted with Steve Ricks. Buck James claimed no such acquaintance. Collins then checked Red Kershaw’s number in the directory, and dialed, but there was no answer.
He had better luck at the Genneman house. A young, gruff masculine voice, Earl Junior’s, answered.
“Miss Jean Genneman, please,” said Collins.
There was no response. But Collins waited, and presently Jean came to the phone. “Hello?”
Collins identified himself. “I called earlier today, but you were playing golf.”
She seemed embarrassed. “I suppose it seems unfeeling of me, but I was going out of my mind. Buck called and asked if I felt like some fresh air, and it seemed a good idea.”
“Oh, you’ve made up with Mr. James?”
“It’s not exactly the romance of the century,” Jean said in a cold voice. “We’re merely friends. But you didn’t call to ask about my love life.”
“I’d like to know if your father—or anyone else—has ever mentioned a Steve Ricks.”
“Steve Ricks? I don’t believe so. Let me think. No . . . What does he do?”
“He’s a musician. Plays guitar. Cowboy music.”
“He wouldn’t be a friend of Earl’s,” said Jean positively. “Earl wanted to deport all folk singers and cowboy musicians to Russia.”
“Well, keep thinking, Miss Genneman, and if you remember the name Steve Ricks in any connection at all, let me know. It would be a big help.”
“I’ll do my best. Have you learned anything more about who killed Earl?”
“We’re accumulating information. This Steve Ricks matter is part of it. But there’s nothing definite yet. How did you make out in your finals?”
The question seemed to annoy her. She said shortly, “I did okay. Is that all, Inspector?”
“That’s about it for now. Is Mr. Kershaw there?”
“Yes, he’s here.”
“May I speak to him, please?”
Red Kershaw came to the phone and reported no acquaintance with Steve Ricks.
Collins returned to the bar. Peculiar. Why should Jean Genneman resent his asking her about her finals?
He was called to his table.
During dinner and the drive home he pondered the identity of the person Molly Wilkerson had telephoned and presently evolved a scheme to extract the answer. The plan afforded him a degree of acrid amusement. Its principal drawback lay in the fact that it could hardly be put into effect until the following night. In the meantime much might happen. Molly was playing a dangerous game.
CHAPTER 8
The case was heating up. The morning papers covered each of the murders, though making no connection between them. The killing of Earl Genneman inspired the most detailed coverage:
MOUNTAIN MURDERER
STILL AT LARGE
Police Comb Wilderness
for Shotgun Maniac
ran the headline. Below appeared the usual garbled account of developments to date, with a map of the Copper Creek Trail and a statement from Detective Captain Bigelow.
Steve Ricks was given a box at the bottom of the page with what Collins considered an over-optimistic head:
PROBE SLAYING OF FOLK GUITARIST;
POLICE CLOSE TO HAMMER KILLER
The story dealt with the finding of the body, a short interview with Mrs. Ramon Menendez, and a statement from Sergeant Rod Easley. Collins was not mentioned in either of the stories, a fact he noted with a cynical grunt.
He went to Bigelow’s office for a conference. Today being Saturday, Bigelow was anxious to get to the golf course. Collins also had the weekend off, but he was more interested in his scheme for extracting information from Molly Wilkerson before she either collected her hush-money or was killed. He explained his plan and was gratified to see Bigelow grin. “Clever. It may work, Omar. It’s certainly; worth a try.”
At least Bigelow wasn’t one to veto an idea simply because of its unorthodoxy. Or maybe, thought Collins unkindly, he didn’t know the difference.
“Phelps called from the park,” said Bigelow. “His men have made what he calls ‘an informal search’; they’ve checked trails within a thirty-mile radius of Persimmon Lake and found not a damn thing.”
“Steve Ricks is the key to the entire affair,” said Collins. “If we find who killed him and why, we’ll crack the Genneman case. At least that’s my opinion.”
Bigelow nodded wisely. “Has Easley turned up anything?”
“Not much. The landlord paid no attention to Ricks; the neighbors never noticed him except when he practiced his guitar. Easley covered neighborhood service stations but nobody claims to have known him.”
“What about Sullivan and Kerner in the park?”
“Nobody so far remembers Ricks or his car. They’ll need another day or so to finish.”
“And the service station where Ricks used to work?”
“Easley’s looking for it. I’ll mention it to him again.”
Collins returned to his office.
Earl Genneman had been killed by a shotgun blast a day and a half’s hike into the wilderness.
Steve Ricks had hiked the same trail, either independently or following the Genneman party, and on his return to Fresno had been killed. From these events a multitude of theories could be formulated, with insufficient facts to prove anything. Was there another woman in Genneman’s life? His wife appeared to think not; his stepdaughter had also scouted the possibility. Interesting situation with Jean. Almost as if Genneman’s death had been a signal, or had removed a barrier, she and Buck James were back on friendly terms. Had the offer of a managership in Wisconsin been contingent upon Buck’s staying away from Jean? A device to get him out of the way?
Nothing was impossible. Collins drummed on the desk, and reached for the telephone directory. He made a list of establishments which rented camping equipment. Then, procuring a photograph of Ricks from Easley’s desk, he left.
On his third try, at Bain’s Sporting Goods, Collins struck pay dirt. The clerk both remembered Ricks’ face and, after considerable rummaging, found a record of the transaction. Collins examined the slip with interest. It was dated June 12, Friday, the day before Ricks had entered the National Park. There was no notation as to when the equipment had been returned, but the clerk explained that none was usually made.
“What time Friday did he come in?” asked Collins.
The clerk shook his head. “I don’t remember.”
“The slip has a number. Would that tell you anything?”
“Maybe so.” The clerk went back to the files, checked slips dated Friday, June 12, noted the lowest number and the highest number extrapolated, “I’d say—just a guess—that he came in about ten o’clock.”
Collins studied the receipt. It noted only a pack-frame and a sleeping bag, and Ricks had paid in advance for one week.
“He also got some dehydrated food,” said the clerk. “I forget just what it was. Seems like it wasn’t very much, but I don’t rightly remember.”
“Did he say where he was going?”
“He might have. I didn’t pay particular attention; I see twenty people a day like him.”
Collins continued to study the slip; there was a set of numbers at the top. “This must be the number of his driver’s license.”
“Yes. That’s how we keep our customers honest. We don’t lose much gear.”
“Think back a bit. Did Ricks say anything at all about this trip? If he was to meet someone, or where he expected to go?”
The clerk shook his head. “I simply don’t remember a thing he said. I don’t believe he had much to say. Just wanted some gear for a few days in the mountains.”
“Was anyone with him when he came into the store?”
The clerk started to speak, stopped. Then he said, “No, but now that I think of it, he parked in that loading zone across the street. Parking’s real tight around here, and he seemed nervous that he was going to get a ticket. Anyway he kept looking over his shoulder all the time he was in the shop.”
“Anyone in his car?”
“I didn’t notice. I remember, though, the car was a new Ford Galaxie. My father has one just like it, the same color and everything.”
“What color?”
“Off-white, sandy-white, desert tan, whatever they call it. Some fancy name.”
“Well, well. You didn’t by any chance notice the license number?”
“Lord, no.”
“Did Ricks talk to anyone else while he was in here?”
“No, sir. But don’t put too much store by what I’m telling you. I paid the man no attention; he was just another customer. I’m surprised I even recognized his picture.”
Collins returned to headquarters, where he found Sergeant Easley, who reported no success after a morning spent checking service stations. Collins told Easley what he had learned at Bain’s Sporting Goods. “What puzzles me,” he said, “is the new white Ford Steve was driving.”
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