Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine Annual, No. 3, 1973

“Useless, Miss Fleming,” said a remarkably satisfied voice to her right.

Desiree snapped her head, stared at Doctor Samuel Herchenfelder. He was seated in a wing chair across the bedroom. His legs were crossed, he was smoking a cigarette, and he looked comfortable.

“I learned my karate at the YMCA,” he said casually. “You?”

“The YWCA,” Desiree Fleming snapped.

He nodded. “I had the impression you recognized the blow. What belt do you cherish?”

“Let me up from here, you fool!”

“Careful, Miss Fleming. Anger will reap no harvest.”

“Holly has to know!”

Sam seemed to settle lower in the wing chair. Desiree fumed. He smoked. “I have been sitting here, Miss Fleming, and I have been thinking.” He drew on the cigarette, blew out smoke. “I have also reached a couple of conclusions. A scientist’s prerogative, you know. I’ve concluded that in addition to being attractive you are a very imaginative young lady.

“I’ve concluded that because of this imagination and because you are new in your work — you must be new, you are not old enough to be experienced in anything — you tend to allow this imagination to sway decisions.

“Now, long ago, I learned to appreciate imagination, but I also, through years and experience, have learned to examine its product guardedly. Thus I am inclined to be cautious when another person’s imagination is designed to have a direct effect on me.”

Desiree struggled fiercely against the cord shackles. “Let me free, you fool!”

He considered her. “Only if you promise to settle down. Only if you promise not to telephone your superior. You have failed to discover one thing about me, Miss Fleming. I may be an egghead, but it does not necessarily follow that I am a coward. Nor are my colleagues.

“My entire scientific life has been in the field of weaponry. Ditto for Blue and Gray. And we are not totally naive men, as you seem to think. We are aware that because of the nature of our work there always has existed, and does exist, an element of personal danger.

“We are aware that there are other governments deeply interested in our findings, that some of these governments will go to almost any means to pick our brains, or to keep this nation from reaping the fruits. On the other hand—”

Desiree broke in, “Very fancy words! So you guys don’t run scared.”

He nodded. “In a nutshell. In spite of your sarcasm, Miss Fleming — precisely.”

“And that’s supposed to fill me with relief? That’s supposed to make Holly wonder why he even bothered to send his people out here in the first place?”

“A point I attempted — and failed — to make with your Mr. Holly several days ago.”

“A lot of people have a stake in what you have stored inside your head, Sam. Take a look at a big chunk of the world. These people live free lives, for the most part, because of men like you. They depend on you to keep them alive and free. They depend on your mind and this minds of others. They don’t want the man or the mind destroyed.

“And that’s Holly’s job. That’s my job. To keep you alive and healthy and thinking. If you had been, you and I would be on a train or a bus or a plane or a go-cart, anything, and heading back into Washington this very instant.

“Come on; cut me loose. My arms are beginning to tingle and I have a monstrous headache. I’m not going to run, Sam. I’m not going to scream. If you think we can ride this thing out sans bloodshed, I’ll be a fool and go along, against my better judgment.”

He left the chair and untied the knots in the cords. “I suppose I’ll now have to pay the hotel for a pair of lamps.”

“You can always tell them that someone broke in here and attempted to electrocute you.”

“Knock it, Miss Fleming.”

She stopped rubbing her wrists and looked up at him in surprise. “Why, Sam! I do believe you have become domineering.”

“I can be. Can I trust you?”

“Can you?”

They stared at each other for several seconds without moving. They allowed their eyes to talk. Desiree kept the challenge in hers. He probed. Finally he stood erect. “I’m going to bed, Miss Fleming. Tomorrow already has all the earmarks of a tiring day.” He left her bedroom.

Desiree knew a pinch of satisfaction. She was gaining ground on Doctor Samuel Herchenfelder. He had not closed her door when he had left the bedroom. She watched him cross the main room, enter his bedroom. He also left that door ajar.

Desiree found aspirin in her purse and spent fifteen minutes in her bath. She knew a tremendous urge to loll in the tub of hot water, watch the water pink the natural tan of her skin, but she also was aware of the danger.

She toweled quickly and returned to the bedroom, and put on fresh clothing. She examined her reflection in a mirror. She liked the fit of the yellow Capris. They should give Doctor Samuel Herchenfelder something to think about in the morning now that his eyes were slightly open. Something other than weaponry, that is.