The Key West citizen., 1940-09-24
Chapter 80
The Whnie Truth

1iStGHlIlS. OUT OOI Z LIlIlh julia
thought of tnat or would have
cared if she had. She went
straight to JEFF and put both her
hands in his.
Well get you out of this" she
said in the voice you would use
to frightened child. 1T isn't
that Dan thinks you did it: he
just has to take some action. It's
the second murder and they
haven't got anywhere with the
first. yet"
ITS worse than that" he said
through stiff lips. They found a
blood stained towel in my .aun-
dry hamper. Dan asked me TO ex-
plain il. but how could l? | don't
know how it got there"
Julia's eyes blazed. Someone's
trying to frame you. Any idea
Who?"
Don't you suppose I'd tell if
] knew?" he asked YEARLY Who
gave her that black eye? didn't" ="
She drew a deep breath. and
her face warmed almost to
smile.
Il knew you didn't" she said.
l looked away from them. be
cause II wasn't decent 10 see their
defenseleSs eyes. But h d
learned something. Il was the first
time had seen JEFF with the bar
rlers down.
They stayed down only an in
slant Suddenly he freed his
hands from hers nd b OK d
way. fairly bristling with
barbed wire defenses. don't
think It was anything she said
or did; II was just reaction from
that moment of forgetfulness.
How would il be" Julia be
gan bravely. IF we sat down and
talked If over? Maybe we could
think of something
There's 40 place to sit except
one chair and the bed" he said
churliSnly. And there's nothing
to talk over If you've come here
to pump me you can get out" He
glanced al Julia's hurt. bewilder-
ed eyes and seemed to grow an
grier He was like a man fighting
his own shadow
you've probably heard he
went on. with cold leok at me.
that my wife was afraid TO Oc-
cupy room with me You can be
lleve that or not. lust as you
please. It's a matter of indiffer-
ence to me | married her don't
know who killed her don't know
who killed Ivan And you can
pump until you're black IN the
face and still go back and tell
Dan that's all you found out"
Julia stamped her foot.
u did not come here to find out
things for Dan" she stormed. 81
came here 10 help you. but | don't
know why | bothered. I've al
ready lied myself blind. and so
has kay"
She stopped, appalled, at what
she had said.
Then you'd better tell the
truth from now on" he said iclly.
when | need lies told for me I'll
let you know"
He went to the door and opened
it, held it until we had passed
through.
Head high. Julia marched down
the corridor and out Of the hospi-
tai. but as soon as we were in the
car she gave way to q storm of
tears. | took the wheel and drove
aimleSsly for a while, waiting for
her to get control of herself.
Cold Fury
IF ONLY Adam were here"
L said finally. out of the depths
of my thoughts Julia. he was
right. jeff was right. We'd better
tell your father the truth"
"Oh. no Kay. YOU don't mean
that-not with Dan already think
ing jeff killed heri"
But the only way we can do
anything to help jeff if he isn't
the murderer is to find out who
is And how can we expect to ar
rive at the truth until we all pool
our knowledge"
But don't YOU see-all we've
withheld Is just what will make
it look blacker for jeff. And !
knotO he didn't do it."
"Oh no. that isn't all. How
about Mimi-you said il was her
car that night at the barge We
haven't told that"
Il never said that" she said
quickly. desperately. You're i'm
agining things"
So that was the way of it. | fell
silent. thinking. until we drew Up
once more at the coloners quar-
terS Then. before ! got out
gave her my considered decision.
I'm sorry. Julia. If Adam were
here I'd 60 to him with it. Since
he isn't it will have TO be your
father"
You mean - you're going to
tell him everything?"
She looked stunned. as If her
last friend had deserted her. and
had to steel myself against sym
pathy.
Everything" | said firmly It's
different now. Sandra'S death
and the way she was killed
There's no use talking. Julia.
someone around here isn't hu-
man And every lie we tell is in
that creatures service. I'm not
going 10 take the responsibility
Il See." she said.
Her tears were dry, and there
was cold fury in her voice. She
got out Of the car and walked.
without a backward glance. into
the house and up the stairs to her
room
| had TO see the colonel at four.
/ followed her into the house.
eO0ssSSSSsssS
CIIDCCDDE EOn THE