OnThursdayafternoonMrs. Carke, dressedforgoingout, tookherhandbagwithhermoneyandherkeyinit, pulledthedoorbehindhertolockitandwenttotheover 60sClub. ShealwayswentthereonThursdays. Itwasaniceoutingforanoldwomanwholivedalone.
Atsixoclockshecanehome, letherselfinandatoncesmeltcigarettesmoke. Cigarettesmokeinherhouse? How? How? Hadsomeonegotin? Shecheckedthebackdoorandthewindows. Allwerelockedorfastened, asusual. Therewasnosignofforcedentry.
Overacupofteashewonderedwhethersomeonemighthaveakeythatfittedherfrontdoor-amasterkeyperhaps. SoshestayedathomethefollowingThursday. Nothinghappened. Wasanyonewatchinghermovements? OntheThursdayafterthatshewentoutatherusualtime,dressedasusual, butshedidntgototheclub. Insteadshetookashortcuthomeagain, lettingherselfinthroughhergardenandthebackdoor. Shesettleddowntowait.
Itwasjustafterfouroclockwhenthefrontdoorbellrang.Mrs. Clarkewasmakingacupofteaatthetime. Thebellrangagain, andthensheheardherletter-boxbeingpushedopen. Withthekettleofboilingwaterinherhand, shemovedquietlytowardsthefrontdoor. Alongpieceofwireappearedthroughtheletter-box, andthenahand. Thewireturnedandcaughtaroundtheknobonthedoor-lock. Mrs. Clarkeraisedthekettleandpouredthewateroverthehand. Therewasashoutoutside, andtheskinseemedtodropoffthefingerslikeaglove. Thewirefelltothefloor, thehandwaspulledback, andMrs. Clarkeheardthesoundofrunningfeet.
返回查字典首页>>