The Andre Norton Megapack - 15 Classic Novels and Short Stories

mind onto helping me. Even your Victorian women will have to wait. We’ll put crime detection first for a little while.”
    In spite of herself, Fredericka was interested. “But why you? I wondered about it yesterday when you said you’d been giving James the third degree. I mean I thought Thane Carey was the one—” She stopped and then said apologetically: “I don’t mean to be rude, only—well, you’re not Scotland Yard in disguise or anything, are you?”
    “Do you know that we have been standing in front of the campus gate for five full minutes and that we could be much more comfortable in your living room, if only you would ask me in? No, don’t interrupt, I haven’t finished. I have a further suggestion to offer. If you don’t mind, I will just run in to my room and collect my toothbrush. Then if you’ll let me sleep on the couch in the office I’ll play watchdog for tonight. I’d been afraid to suggest it but after what you have just told me I must. By tomorrow I expect Thane’ll put a man on to the job. Of course you’re not in any danger. The fact that you weren’t touched last night is proof of that. It’s just that I think you’ll rest more comfortable like.”
    “Oh, Peter,” Fredericka said, and the relief made her words trip over each other, “Will you? I mean, won’t it be grim?”
    “Not in the least. As a matter of fact, I know that couch well. There was a burglary scare once and I played guard for Miss Hartwell until the thief was apprehended. Of course, you’ll have to give me breakfast and the town will hear about it from the alley cats and talk, but I’m banking on the fact that they’ll have something so much more interesting to talk about that they’ll overlook us.”
    “But you haven’t told me why you know so much about all this—and—” But Peter had left her standing alone by the gate.
    “Back in two minutes,” he called cheerfully.
    As the sound of his footsteps died away, the silence closed in around Fredericka. She moved toward the gate and leant against its cold iron face—conscious of her need for support and more than ever ashamed of her own terror.
    “Scared, weren’t you?” Peter laughed as he rejoined her.
    “Well, yes, I confess it.”
    “Understandable, but no need to be. Otherwise Carey would have sent a man around at once after he talked to you on the phone this morning. Look at it reasonably and let your mind, not your emotions, run the show. Catherine Clay’s death here was accidental. There’s nothing to connect the murder and the bookshop. She could have taken that pill at any time and died anywhere. What’s more, you’re the least likely of anyone to be victim number two. You’re new to the place, and though you found the—er—c orpus delicti, you don’t know anything more about what happened than twenty or more others do. You were at the bazaar along with me and nearly everyone else in the place. I’m just staying here tonight in order to help your beauty sleep, as I’ve already pointed out.”
    They had entered the house and as Fredericka switched on the light she could see the broad grin on his face. “And how badly I need it, my dear Holmes,” she said, and was able to smile back at him. “Of course you and I alibi each other for the afternoon, but from what you say, those poisoned pills could have been put in—well—almost any time, but I suppose in the morning. Vitamins are usually taken after meals.”
    “I like both your smile and your talent for deduction. Now I happen to know that dear mad Lucy keeps a small supply of nightcaps in a cupboard on the right-hand side by the kitchen sink—of all places. Shall we indulge, or was that revolting limeade strong enough for you?”
    “I didn’t like it much,” Fredericka confessed. “Well, since you know so much about it, perhaps you’ll do the honours. And, I just might join you.”
    Later, sitting in the living room with their drinks, Peter said quietly: “You asked, quite reasonably, why I’m in on this show. And just so that you will know I’m not the murderer in disguise, I’ll try to explain myself—though it isn’t easy.” He hesitated for a moment and then went on slowly as though choosing his words with care. “You know that I teach at the college and that I am trying to train bright young and not-so-young men to be better diplomats, or, shall we say, servants of their country in foreign parts. My actual subject is called “Military