Lay Her Among The Lilies

“Just let me get this straight,” I said. “Did you hatch this little plot from the beginning?”

“We needn’t go into that,” he said curtly.

“It was his idea,” Maureen said. “All along it’s been his idea. He’s been gambling with the

Trust. Janet found out. It was he who persuaded mother to lock Janet up in the sanatorium. If

it hadn’t been for Douglas, he would have had me locked up, too.”

“Be quiet!” Willet snapped, and his face hardened.

“I guessed it was something like that,” I said. “Someone to do with the Trust had to be in

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on it. I began to wonder about you when you were reluctant to report to the other Trustees.

Then, when Janet was taken from my secretary’s apartment, I knew. No one except you and

me and Paula knew Janet was there.”

“What does it matter?” he said impatiently. “If it hadn’t been for Sherrill and this mad

woman it would have worked. But I don’t stand for murder. As soon as they started that game

I made up my mind to stop her. And she can be stopped. Are you coming in with me? I’ll

split the insurance money with you fifty-fifty.”

“Suppose I don’t?”

“I’m ready for a get-away,” he said. “I don’t want to go, but I will if I have to. I’ll have to

keep you both here until I collect the insurance. It won’t be easy, but it can be done. But if

you’re smart, you’ll come in with me.”

I looked at Maureen.

“Haven’t you anything to say to all this?”

“There’s nothing she can say,” Willet said impatiently.

“She either goes into a home or to jail. She’s too dangerous to be left free.”

I ignored him and said again, “Isn’t there anything you want to say?”

She smiled then, a tight, hard little smile.

“No; but there’s something I’m going to do.”

She must have had the gun wedged down the side of the chair all the time. The shot

sounded like a thunderclap. The gun-flash set fire to the loose cover of the chair.

Willet dropped his gun and took two unsteady steps forward, his hands clutching at his

chest. I saw him fold at the knees, then I threw myself out of my chair across the narrow

space that divided my chair from hers. I clutched her wrist as the gun came round in my

direction. It went off and I felt the gun-flash burn the side of my neck. She and I and the chair

went crashing to the floor. I wrenched the gun out of her hand, gave her a hard shove, and

scrambled to my feet.

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“Okay, okay; take it easy,” Mifflin said from the casement windows, and Jack Kerman and

he came into the room.

“You all right, Vic?” Kerman asked.

“Yeah; did you hear all that?”

“We heard,” Mifflin said. “Is he hurt bad?” And he started towards Willet.

“Watch her!” I shouted and jumped forward.

Maureen had made a dart towards the casement window. I made a grab at her, but she was

too quick. She ran out on to the verandah and down the terrace steps.

“He’s dead,” I heard Mifflin say in disgust as Kerman and I ran out after her.

We reached the first terrace as she reached the fourth. I grabbed Kerman and held him

back.

“Let Mifflin go after her if he wants her,” he said.

Mifflin came thudding down the terrace steps to join us.

“Where’s she gone?” he demanded.

I pointed.

She was running well, and already had reached the lowest terrace. Mifflin started after her;

then stopped. She ran straight towards the cliff edge, and she was still running when she went

over.

For some moments we stood motionless, listening and waiting. But we heard nothing. It

was as if the space between the cliff head and the sea had opened up and swallowed her.

“That’s the best way out for her,” I said and turned back to the house. I felt a little sick.

Even if she was crazy, she had been beautiful, and I always feel sorry when something

beautiful gets broken.

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As we reached the verandah, I asked, “Did you climb the cliff?”

Kerman nodded.

“I came over the bulge,” he said with an exaggerated shudder. “I’m going to dream about

that for the rest of my days. Paula’s somewhere around. She’s looking for Janet Crosby.”

“Now we’ll have to explain the set-up to Brandon,” I said as Mifflin came panting up.

“That should be a lot of fun.”

“Smashed herself to pieces,” Mifflin said, glaring at us. “Now, come on, you two smart

punks, get in there and talk!”

We went in there and talked.

The End

This James Hadley Chase e-book was created by: Mohamed Watfa

Comment on improvements to: medwatt@hotmail.com

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