I Will Fear No Evil Part 8

"So I know. I am sorry-truly sorry!-to be forced to say this this, Johann-but I am the only lawyer you can turn to."

"What do you mean?"

"Johann, you are now a ward of the Court. I am your guardian."

Johann Smith was slow to answer, then barely whispered: "Conspiracy. I never thought it of you, Jake."

"Johann, Johann!"

"Do you mean to keep me locked up forever? If not, what's the price to turn me loose? Is the Judge in on it? And Hedrick?"

Salomon controlled himself. "Please, Johann, let me speak. I'm going to pretend that you never said what you did say . . . and I'll have a transcript of the proceedings brought here for you to see. h.e.l.l, I'll have the Judge himself fetch them. But you've got to listen."

"I'm listening. How can I help listening?-I'm a prisoner."

"Johann, you will cease being a ward as soon as you are able to appear in court-in person-and convince the Judge-Judge McCampbell, it is, an honest man as you know-convince McCampbell that you are no longer non compos mentis non compos mentis. He took the step reluctantly-and I had to fight to be named your guardian, as I was not the pet.i.tioner."

"So? And who asked to have me committed?"

"Johanna Darlington Seward, et aliae et aliae-meaning your other three granddaughters, too."

"I see," Johann said slowly. "Jake, I owe you an apology."

Salomon snorted. "For what? How can you do or say anything calling for an apology when you are legally non compos mentis?" non compos mentis?"

"Whew! Hand me the traditional piece of snuff; that was razor sharp. Dear little Johanna-I should have drowned her at birth. Her mother, my daughter Evelyn, used to shove her into my lap and remind me that she was my namesake. Jake, the only thing that brat ever did for me was to pee on my trousers-on purpose. So June and Marla and Elinor are in it, too. Not surprising."

"Johann, they darn near made it. I had to resort to everything short of treason to get it into Judge McCampbell's court. Even then, only the fact that I have held your general power of attorney for an unbroken fifteen years kept the Court from naming Mrs. Seward as guardian and conservator. That and one other thing."

"What other thing?"

"Their stupidity. If they had shot for guardians.h.i.+p right off, they might have made it. Instead their first move was to try to have you declared legally dead."

"Well! Jake, do you suppose-later-that I can cut them out of my will entirely?"

"You can do better than that; you can outlive them. Now."

"Mmm, yes, I suppose I can. I will! It'll be a pleasure."

"That move wasn't serious, just stupid. Stupid lawyer. Took four days for the expert witnesses to unwind, took the Court four minutes to rule in accordance with 'Estate of Parsons v. Rhode Island.' Hoped I had seen the last of them then; that diploma-mill shyster seemed pretty cowed. Then Parkinson got into it . . . and his his lawyer is lawyer is not not stupid." stupid."

" 'Parkinson'? Our boy Parky, our idiot ex-director?"

"The same."

"Hmm. Von Ritter was right; it doesn't pay to humiliate a man. But how could Parky show an interest?"

"He didn't. That Parkinson put them up to it is simply a conclusion but a firm one-Parkinson's mother-in-law's lawyer and Parkinson himself present every day in court, a happy spectator. Johann, I didn't dare ask that the matter be continued during your recovery; our own expert witnesses were unwilling to testify that you would ever be yourself again, able to manage your own affairs. So we stipulated your temporary lack of competence-surprised 'em, caught 'em unprepared-and I had our attorney move that I be appointed your guardian pro tem. Made it. But Johann, as soon as this was in the wind I started shuffling stock around. For several weeks Teal held a big chunk of your voting stock-Teal is okay; you made a good choice-Teal held all of your stock that I now hold, using money I lent him. An open transaction that could be verified, none of this 'ten dollars and other valuable considerations' dodge. During that period, your stock that I had sold to Teal using my money, plus Teal's stock that he already had, plus what I have long held, was voting control . . . because I knew that if I lost, the next day Parkinson would show up with proxies for your stock-signed by your granddaughters-and demand a stockholders' meeting and kick me out of the chair and fire Teal as president. Yet I didn't dare buy stock from you myself-or I would go into court as an interested party and the other side might sniff it. It was touch-and-go for a while, Johann."

"Well, I'm glad we're out of the woods. Parky."

"We aren't. Other actions coming up, none of which you need worry about today."

"Jake, I'm not going to worry about anything anything. I'm going to think about birds and bees and fleecy clouds and enjoy the wonderful taste of Cream o' Wheat. And prunes, strained prunes fixed baby-style. I'm just glad to know that my oldest friend didn't knife me while I was unconscious and sorry as h.e.l.l I thought so even for a moment. Oh, I still think you're a timid, gutless, stinking sissy not to help me out on this mirror nonsense but we'll argue that another day. I can wait if I have to; I see why you don't want to buck a psychiatrist if I have to go into court when I'm up and convince Judge McCampbell that I can still hit the floor with my hat."

"I'm glad to hear it. And I'm glad to see that you are getting well, Johann. I'm certain you are since you are again, or still, the same stinking bad-tempered, unreasonable old scoundrel you always were."

Johann chuckled. "Thanks, Jake-and I see that you are in good health, too. May we never see the day we talk sweet to each other. What else is now? Oh, yes! Where in h.e.l.l is my secretary? Eunice, I mean. There is not a one of this gang of kidnappers around me who ever knew her . . . and they show no interest in trying to find her. Oh, Garcia knew her by sight-but he says that he doesn't know where she is and claims he's too busy to run errands. Told me to ask you."

"Oh." Salomon hesitated. "Do you know her address?"

"Eh? Somewhere at the north end of town. I suppose my accountant has it. Wait a moment! You took her home once, I remember clearly."

"So I did. It was indeed somewhere in the north end. But those rabbit warrens all look alike. My guards may know. Hold it-your mobile guards escorted her for several months, right up to the time you went in for surgery. Have you asked them?" mobile guards escorted her for several months, right up to the time you went in for surgery. Have you asked them?"

"h.e.l.l, Jake, I haven't been allowed to see anyone. anyone. I don't even know that they are still working for me." I don't even know that they are still working for me."

"I'm fairly sure they still were when I left for Europe. But, Johann, while we can ask them, I doubt if it will do any good."

"Why not?"

"Because I did did see Eunice just before your operation. She was interested-she was fond of you, Johann, much more so than you deserved-" see Eunice just before your operation. She was interested-she was fond of you, Johann, much more so than you deserved-"

"Conceded! Make it march."

"Well, she didn't mention specific plans but I don't think she intended to stay in secretarial work. h.e.l.l, man, none of us expected that you would ever need need a secretary again. I would happily have hired her myself; she is a good secretary. But-" a secretary again. I would happily have hired her myself; she is a good secretary. But-"

"I'm sure you would, you old goat. But surely you let her know that she could stay on my payroll forever? Well, until I died, at least."

"She knew that. But she is a proud girl, Johann. Not a parasite. I'll make an effort to find her. However, if I don't, there are many good secretaries. I'll find one for you. That's a promise."

"Look, I don't want another secretary; I want Eunice Branca."

"I meant-"

"I know what you meant. You'd find me some old witch who does perfect work but is no fun to look at or have around . . . while you've probably got Eunice stashed away in your office."

Salomon said slowly, "Johann, I swear by all that's holy that I do not have her in my office nor anywhere."

"Then she did did turn you down. Jake, I trust you with my life and all my worldly goods. But I don't trust you er any man not to steal a perfect secretary if he can." turn you down. Jake, I trust you with my life and all my worldly goods. But I don't trust you er any man not to steal a perfect secretary if he can."

"Nolo contendere. I did offer her a job anytime she wanted it. She did not accept."

"So we find her. You You find her." find her."

Salomon sighed. "What clues can you give me? Her husband, perhaps? Isn't he an artist?"

"I suppose you could call him that. Look, Jake, don't hold this against Eunice-but I I would call him a gigolo. But I'm old-fas.h.i.+oned. I had to get a report when she married him. He was clean, no reason to lose the best secretary a man ever had just because she chose to marry him. Yes, he was an artist, one who didn't sell much; she supported him. That was would call him a gigolo. But I'm old-fas.h.i.+oned. I had to get a report when she married him. He was clean, no reason to lose the best secretary a man ever had just because she chose to marry him. Yes, he was an artist, one who didn't sell much; she supported him. That was her her business; Branca was all right-didn't use drugs, didn't even drink. But he wasn't up to her. Illiterate. Surely I know how common that is today; I'm not prejudiced, I've got illiterates right in this house-and only G.o.d and Accounting know how many are working for Smith Enterprises. Branca may never have attended a school in which reading is taught. But I can give you one lead-if Eunice is not working as a secretary-easy to check through Social Security-and if they aren't on the Welfare rolls-she won't be, he might be-then check model agencies, video, artists, photographers, et cetera. For business; Branca was all right-didn't use drugs, didn't even drink. But he wasn't up to her. Illiterate. Surely I know how common that is today; I'm not prejudiced, I've got illiterates right in this house-and only G.o.d and Accounting know how many are working for Smith Enterprises. Branca may never have attended a school in which reading is taught. But I can give you one lead-if Eunice is not working as a secretary-easy to check through Social Security-and if they aren't on the Welfare rolls-she won't be, he might be-then check model agencies, video, artists, photographers, et cetera. For both both of them. For he was as handsome as Eunice was beautiful; the snoopshot with the security report made that plain." of them. For he was as handsome as Eunice was beautiful; the snoopshot with the security report made that plain."

"Very well, Johann; I'll get a skiptrace firm on it."

"h.e.l.l, put a regiment of detectives on it!"

"But suppose they dropped out? People do."

Johann sniffed. "Perhaps he would, I would lay any amount that she never would. But if necessary, I want every Abandoned Area in this city combed."

"Expensive. You send a private detective into an A.A. and the premium on his life goes sky high."

"Didn't you tell me that I have more money than I know what to do with?"

"True. But I don't relish hiring a man for hazardous work even if he wants the job. But we're borrowing trouble; it may take nothing more than getting Accounting to dig out that address. Or do a back check on a Social Security number with the customary small bribe. I'll let you know."

Salomon stood up to leave. Smith said, "Hold it. Will I see you tomorrow? And will you phone in a report-tell Hedrick or the physician on watch; they won't let me talk on the phone-phone a report each day? Till you find her?"

"Every day, Johann."

"Thanks, Jake. You'll make Eagle Scout yet. Tell nursy she can come out of the comer now. They're probably waiting to slip me my Mickey Finn-this is the longest they've let me stay awake so far."

Two rooms away Salomon stopped to speak to Dr. Hedrick. The physician looked at him. "Rough," he stated.

"Quite. Doctor, how long do you expect to keep your patient from using a mirror?"

"Hard to say. Progress has been rapid lately . . . but Smith still has very imperfect control of the new body. Plus tingling and itching and numbness-all to be expected-and imaginary pains. Psychosomatic, rather; they are real to the patient. Counselor, if you expect me to have my patient ready for a competency hearing any time soon, emotional shocks must be delayed as long as possible. That's my opinion, though of course I am strongly influenced by Dr. Rosenthal's judgment. Besides imperfect body control, our patient is weak and emotionally extremely unstable."

"So I am aware."

"Mr. Salomon, you look as if you needed another tranquilizer. May I?"

Salomon grudged a smile. "Only if it involves grain alcohol."

Hedrick chuckled. "Will you settle for some bottled in Scotland?"

"Yes! No water. Well, just a touch."

"I'll dispense the drug, you add water to taste. I'll prescribe for myself, too-I also find this case a bit trying. Even though we are making medical history."

8.

Dr. Garcia rubbed Jake Salomon's arm where he had just injected him. "Now wait three minutes. With a tenth cc. of 'Tranquille' in you, you could attend your own hanging in a calm mood."

"Thank you, Doctor. Dr. Hedrick, what's bothering Johann now? Your message was not specific."

Hedrick shook his head. "The patient won't talk to us. Simply demands to see you."

"Uh . . . he has found out? Or, rather, if he has, what then?"

Hedrick turned to his colleague. "Dr. Garcia?"

"You know my opinion, Doctor. Your patient has recovered, is simply weak from being too long in bed. There is no longer any excuse-any medical medical excuse-for restraints." excuse-for restraints."

"Dr. Rosenthal?"

The psychiatrist shrugged. "The human mind is a weird and wonderful thing-and the longer I study it the less I'm sure about anything concerning it. But I agree with Dr. Garcia on one point: You can't keep a patient tied down forever."

Hedrick said, "I'm afraid that's it, Counselor."

Salomon sighed. "And I've been appointed a volunteer."

"Any of us will go in with you if you wish, sir. But the patient flatly refuses to talk to us. us. We'll be standing by, ready to move fast if a crisis develops." We'll be standing by, ready to move fast if a crisis develops."

"The dummy-switches dodge again?"

"Oh, certainly. And this time the nurse has been instructed to get out if you tell her to. You You, not the patient. But don't worry; I'll be watching and listening by closed-circuit video; Dr. Garcia and Dr. Rosenthal will watch the monitor scopes."

"I'm not worrying, that drug must have hit me. Okay, I'll go in-and if I have to ride the tiger, I'll hang onto its ears."

Johann Smith said, "Jake! Where the h.e.l.l have you been? You've come to see me just once once in the past three weeks. Once! d.a.m.n you." in the past three weeks. Once! d.a.m.n you."

"I've been working. Which is more than you can say."

"You think so, eh? Physiotherapy is d.a.m.ned hard work, harder than you ever do, you shyster-and I have to go through it seven days a week."

"My heart bleeds, Johann-want a chit to see the Chaplain? I was laid up sick for ten days-which I'm sure Hedrick told you-and I still don't feel chipper, so move over, you lazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d, and let me stretch out. d.a.m.n it, Johann, I'm not as young as I used to be; I can't jump through hoops every time you snap your fingers."

"Now, now, Jake, don't take that line with me. I'm sorry you were ill. I told 'em to send you flowers. Did you get them?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"That's odd, I didn't send any. Caught you, didn't I? Jake, I never intend to overwork a man-but, d.a.m.n it, when he's on my payroll, I expect to hear from him occasionally. And see him."

"I'm not on your payroll."

"Huh? What nonsense is this?"

"When the Court appointed me your guardian pro tem and conservator, McCampbell awarded me a token fee of ten dollars a month. That's all I am allowed to accept from you-and I haven't collected it."

Johann looked incredulous. "Well, we'll change that in a hurry! You get word to Judge McCampbell that I said-"