A Handy Death

“I did.” Ross motioned Carter toward the far side of the long room, out of earshot of the two girls. He paused a moment, sizing up the other without coming to any immediate conclusion. “All right, Mr. Carter, just what are you doing here?”

“I just came in to see Molly, and she—”

“Please!” Ross said sternly. He put on his best cross-examination manner, while managing to keep his voice low. “I want the truth, Mr. Carter, and I’m prepared to take whatever steps are necessary to get it. You come here with a flimsy story about looking for a dentist on the other side of town, a story nobody but a child — or Molly — would believe. First you’re looking for a Dr. Ross, and then it turns out it’s a Dr. Gross. You should have prepared your part better, Mr. Carter. Now, I’m going to ask you one more time. What are you really doing here?”

Carter’s face was flaming red; he twisted his hat in his hands. He looked down at the floor, up at the walls, over at the magazines on the end table, and only with great effort finally managed to face Ross.

“Mr. Ross,” he said in a low voice, “I... I—”

“Yes, Mr. Carter?”

“I... I—”

“I suggest you face the simple fact, Mr. Carter, that your charade is over. Answer my question.”

Carter’s embarrassment was painful to see. He bit his lip and finally spoke.

“All right, Mr. Ross. I’ll tell you. I saw Molly at a dance one night and I wanted to meet her. But I — well, I was too shy. I wanted to cut in on her while she was dancing, but I didn’t have the nerve. I tried to work up to it, but before I could, she’d gone home. Someone told me she worked here, for you, so I finally managed to get up my courage and I came up here, but when I saw her...” He sighed. “I lost my nerve again, so I made up the first story that came into my head.” There was no doubt of the honesty of his story. He shrugged apologetically. “I–I don’t have too much imagination...”

There were several moments of silence; then Ross grinned.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I have enough for both of us.”

He smiled at the embarrassed man and walked back toward the corridor, winking at Molly as he passed. Sharon joined him.

“Well?” she asked curiously.

“You remember that special account you opened to cover the expense of your fabulous night out on the town with Jimmy?” Ross asked. “Well, you can transfer it—”

“And add it to Mr. Quirt’s?”

“No,” Ross said sadly. “To mine. Nondeductible.”

He smiled down at Sharon and put his arm around her shoulder. Then the two of them continued down the corridor toward the conference room to learn Billy Dupaul’s decision.