Double Indemnity - James M. Cain [27]
"Go on."
"The next thing, tomorrow they open my husband's safe deposit box. The state has something to do with that. On account of the inheritance tax."
"That's right. The policy's in there?"
"Yes. I put it in there about a week ago."
"All right then, this is what you do. It'll be at your lawyer's office, is that it?"
"Yes."
"Then you go there. The state tax man will be there, under— 68 the law he has to be present. They'll find the policy, and you hand it to your lawyer. Instruct him to put your claim in. Everything waits until you do that."
"Put the claim in."
"That's right. Now wait a minute, Phyllis. Here's something you mustn't tell that lawyer—yet. They're not going to pay that claim."
"What!"
"They're not going to pay it."
"Don't they have to pay it?"
"They think it's—suicide—and they're going to make you sue, and put it in the hands of the jury, before they pay. Don't tell your lawyer that now, he'll find it out for himself later. He'll want to sue, and you let him. We'll have to pay him, but it's our only chance. Now Phyllis, one other thing."
"Yes."
"I can't see you."
"But I want to see you."
"We don't dare see each other. Suicide is what they hope for, but they're mighty suspicious all the way around. If you and I began seeing each other, they might tumble to the truth so fast it would make your blood run cold. They'll be on your trail, for what they can find out, and you simply must not communicate with me at all, unless it's imperative, and even then you must call me at home, and from a drugstore, never the same drugstore twice in succession. Do you get me?"
"My you sound scared."
"I am scared. Plenty. They know more than you'd think."
"Then it's really serious?"
"Maybe not, but we've got to be careful."
"Then maybe I'd better not sue."
"You've got to sue. If you don't sue, then we are sunk."
"Oh. Oh. Yes, I can see that."
"You sue. But be careful what you tell that lawyer."
"All right. Do you still love me?"
"You know I do."
"Do you think of me? All the time?"
"All the time."
"Is there anything else?"
"Not that I know of. Is that all with you?"
"I think so."
"You better hang up. Somebody might come in on me."
"You sound as though you want to get rid of me."
"Just common sense."
"All right. How long is this all going to take?"
"I don't know. Maybe quite some time."
"I'm dying to see you."
"Me too. But we've got to be careful."
"Well then—good-bye."
"Good-bye."
I hung up. I loved her like a rabbit loves a rattlesnake. That night I did something I hadn't done in years. I prayed.
Chapter 9
It was about a week after that that Nettie came into my private office quick and shut the door. "That Miss Nirdlinger to see you again, Mr. Huff."
"Hold her a minute. I've got to make a call."
She went out. I made a call. I had to do something to get myself in hand. I called home, and asked the Filipino if there had been any calls. He said no. Then I buzzed Nettie to send her in.
She looked different from the last time I had seen her. Then, she looked like a kid. Now, she looked like a woman. Part of that may have been that she was in black, but anybody could see she had been through plenty. I felt like a heel, and yet it did something to me that this girl liked me. I shook hands with her, and sat her down, and asked her how her stepmother was, and she said she was all right, considering everything, and I said it was a terrible thing, and that it shocked me to hear of it. "And Mr. Sachetti?"
"I'd rather not talk about Mr. Sachetti."
"I thought you were friends."
"I'd rather not talk about him."
"I'm sorry."
She got up, looked out the window, then sat down again. "Mr. Huff, you did something for me once, or anyhow I felt it was for me—"
"It was."
"And since then I've always thought of you as a friend. That's why I've come to you. I want to talk to you—as a friend."
"Certainly."
"But only as a friend, Mr. Huff. Not as somebody—in the insurance business. Until I feel I know my own mind, it has to be in the strictest confidence. Is that understood, Mr. Huff?"
"It