6 Great Short Novels of Science Fiction

by Edited by Groff Conklin

  This is my game, Peg. The only one I can think of where I’ll never know who won. If you call the police about now, chances are they’ll find him here. Make it an anonymous tip, and don’t use this note as evidence of any kind. Voisier is going to get his; Janice is here and besides, the place is equipped with a very fine wire recorder. I’ll handle all the dialogue. I’m sorry about all those dope fiends I had to supply to undercut his rotten racket. Take care of ‘em.

  And down in the corner, where he had ostensibly written his phone number, were these words: “Sorry I can’t keep that appointment. The condition is already arrested.”

  Peg phoned the police. The police found Robin English dead. Robin English left everything he had to Peg and Warfield equally. And in due course Voisier was electrocuted for the murder. The recording found in his apartment, coupled with the testimony of one Janice Brooks, was quite sufficient. Voisier’s defense, that Robin was torturing him, held no water; for where is a law that specifies mental torture as grounds for justifiable homicide?

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