1956 - There's Always a Price Tag by James Hadley Chase Page B
Authors: James Hadley Chase
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Burnett,
Because of your years of experience as an attorney, I don't suppose what I am about to write to you will shock you over much. I've come to the end of things, and tonight I intend to shoot myself. You know enough about my affairs to realize as I do that there is now no future for me.
You know too how badly Helen has treated me. I have no intentions of letting her profit by my death. I have seen Maddux of the National Fidelity Insurance Company and have arranged with him to cancel the clause in the policy covering self-destruction. The new clause covering this is attached to the policy which you will find in the right-hand top drawer of my desk.
So the position is that since I am shooting myself the policy will be cancelled. However, Helen is desperate for money, and three-quarters of a million is a tempting sum. It is possible she may be desperate enough to attempt to defraud the insurance company. She could do so by making my suicide appear to be murder. This sounds far-fetched to you, doesn't it? But I know Helen a lot better than you do. I have a young fellow working for me: his name is Glyn Nash, and it is possible Helen may fake my suicide to look as if I had been murdered by him or some unknown person. If she does do this, I am most anxious that you should not interfere. I have no doubt that Maddux will find her out, but if she succeeds or if she makes a mistake that will endanger her life, you will then, of course, take action and show this letter to the police.
I feel a short term in prison for attempted fraud would do her a lot of good. You think I am being vindictive? Perhaps I am, but I feel justified.
To satisfy your legal mind I am asking Miss Lennox to witness my signature. I repeat again that I am killing myself, and no matter what Helen says, this is not a case of murder but of suicide.
Miss Lennox has, of course, no knowledge of the contents of this letter.
So long.
ERLE DESTER
Witness: MAY LENNOX
Secretary,
1145c Marlin Avenue
Hollywood.
'What are you doing?' Helen asked sharply. I turned and looked at her. White-faced, she stood in the doorway, watching me.
I folded the letter and put it in my pocket.
'What are you reading?' she asked.
I scarcely heard her. I was remembering his words: You have only to fake clues, tell enough lies to turn my suicide into murder, and then - if you have been very clever and you haven't made any mistakes - you will get the money.
Three-quarters of a million!
I realized that his letter gave me protection if I could only think of a way to turn his suicide into murder. If I made a mistake, if I was found out, I had only to produce this letter to keep out of trouble.
'Glyn!'
It was the first time she had ever called me by my first name.
'Wait,' I said. 'Don't do anything. Let me think.'
'We must get a doctor and call the police,' she said. 'I'll use the phone upstairs.'
'Wait!' I said again.
There was a note in my voice that stopped her dead. She stared at me.
'Don't call them yet. Don't do anything. Go upstairs and wait for me.'
'But we must tell them...'
I went up to her and taking her by the arms I gave her a vicious little shake.
'Do what I tell you! Wait for me upstairs!'
She must have seen by my face that this was no time to argue.
I went into Dester's study and stood looking at him. If only I could put the clock back. If only I had time to think out a perfect murder plan. If only I had known the fool was going to kill himself so I could have set the stage.
Three-quarters of a million!
It was worth any risk except a murder rap and I didn't have to bother about that. His letter would keep me in the clear if I slipped up and the police thought I had killed him.
If he would only stay just as he was until I had time to work out a foolproof plan. In a little while rigor mortis would set in. A police surgeon would know to within an hour when he died. The police would then find out that both Helen and I were in the house when he died. If
Because of your years of experience as an attorney, I don't suppose what I am about to write to you will shock you over much. I've come to the end of things, and tonight I intend to shoot myself. You know enough about my affairs to realize as I do that there is now no future for me.
You know too how badly Helen has treated me. I have no intentions of letting her profit by my death. I have seen Maddux of the National Fidelity Insurance Company and have arranged with him to cancel the clause in the policy covering self-destruction. The new clause covering this is attached to the policy which you will find in the right-hand top drawer of my desk.
So the position is that since I am shooting myself the policy will be cancelled. However, Helen is desperate for money, and three-quarters of a million is a tempting sum. It is possible she may be desperate enough to attempt to defraud the insurance company. She could do so by making my suicide appear to be murder. This sounds far-fetched to you, doesn't it? But I know Helen a lot better than you do. I have a young fellow working for me: his name is Glyn Nash, and it is possible Helen may fake my suicide to look as if I had been murdered by him or some unknown person. If she does do this, I am most anxious that you should not interfere. I have no doubt that Maddux will find her out, but if she succeeds or if she makes a mistake that will endanger her life, you will then, of course, take action and show this letter to the police.
I feel a short term in prison for attempted fraud would do her a lot of good. You think I am being vindictive? Perhaps I am, but I feel justified.
To satisfy your legal mind I am asking Miss Lennox to witness my signature. I repeat again that I am killing myself, and no matter what Helen says, this is not a case of murder but of suicide.
Miss Lennox has, of course, no knowledge of the contents of this letter.
So long.
ERLE DESTER
Witness: MAY LENNOX
Secretary,
1145c Marlin Avenue
Hollywood.
'What are you doing?' Helen asked sharply. I turned and looked at her. White-faced, she stood in the doorway, watching me.
I folded the letter and put it in my pocket.
'What are you reading?' she asked.
I scarcely heard her. I was remembering his words: You have only to fake clues, tell enough lies to turn my suicide into murder, and then - if you have been very clever and you haven't made any mistakes - you will get the money.
Three-quarters of a million!
I realized that his letter gave me protection if I could only think of a way to turn his suicide into murder. If I made a mistake, if I was found out, I had only to produce this letter to keep out of trouble.
'Glyn!'
It was the first time she had ever called me by my first name.
'Wait,' I said. 'Don't do anything. Let me think.'
'We must get a doctor and call the police,' she said. 'I'll use the phone upstairs.'
'Wait!' I said again.
There was a note in my voice that stopped her dead. She stared at me.
'Don't call them yet. Don't do anything. Go upstairs and wait for me.'
'But we must tell them...'
I went up to her and taking her by the arms I gave her a vicious little shake.
'Do what I tell you! Wait for me upstairs!'
She must have seen by my face that this was no time to argue.
I went into Dester's study and stood looking at him. If only I could put the clock back. If only I had time to think out a perfect murder plan. If only I had known the fool was going to kill himself so I could have set the stage.
Three-quarters of a million!
It was worth any risk except a murder rap and I didn't have to bother about that. His letter would keep me in the clear if I slipped up and the police thought I had killed him.
If he would only stay just as he was until I had time to work out a foolproof plan. In a little while rigor mortis would set in. A police surgeon would know to within an hour when he died. The police would then find out that both Helen and I were in the house when he died. If
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