Getting Old Is Criminal Part 33

Looking at the watch again. She reaches the stage. "Time's up. We're through talking. Go back to my office, and tell Tim to go into my private files and get the photos for you. Videos of those shows, too, if you want them. Make sure he makes copies of the originals and you sign for them. I want first rights to the story of his trial. Hmm, I wonder if they'd let him out to play himself? Good-bye, Mrs.-uh, whoever you are."

And the whirlwind is gone.

I can't believe it. I have all the proof the police need!

And, while I was at it, I got a huge pack of autographed eight-by-tens of all the stars on both her old show and her new one to take home to Dora Dooley.

FIFTY.

ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO.

Icall Morrie from home. "This is Gladdy. I have

something very important to tell you."I can hear Morrie getting angry. "What did I tell you? You didn't listen, did you?"

"Before you make a tsimmis tsimmis out of it, I have positive proof. Positive proof that Ray Sullivan is a killer." out of it, I have positive proof. Positive proof that Ray Sullivan is a killer."

That stops him. "Then get it over to the station right away. I'll have the task force waiting for you." I guess he isn't mad at me anymore.

Ida picks up on my excitement. "So you got the goods on him."

"He's finished."

"When are they gonna rescue Evvie?" Sophie asks.

"It better be soon."

Bella is concerned. "But won't she be sore if they take Philip away from her?"

"Not when she realizes that he is a killer after all." I exchange glances with Ida. She knows how difficult that will be.

I hug them all. "See you later."

"Don't worry, we'll be waiting." Ida actually has tears in her eyes. "Good luck."

The huge conference room in the Fort Lauderdale police station is filled. The task force from all over the state and from Georgia, as well, listen to everything I report. The most chilling moments are watching actor Ray Sullivan, playing Philip Smythe, murdering one of the cast member "widows" on video.

Hearing him say, "'Parting is such sweet sorrow,'" as he pushes the actress under the bubbles in the tub, horrifies me. I could imagine how it was for Esther Ferguson at the last moments of her life.

And now I am told what the task force has found. Widow after widow dying suddenly at the end of Philip/Ray's planned stays at each retirement home. They've already discovered seven so far. Unlucky women who had no families, so no one raised any questions. When Esther Ferguson's family showed up, Philip must have panicked. She'd hidden the fact of her family by changing her mailbox address, but when Alvin and s.h.i.+rley came to visit unexpectedly, that sealed Esther's fate. That was his fatal mistake. He panicked. He should have left Esther alive. But he was too rigidly set in his patterns.

And none of these retirement complexes ever dug deep enough to see these coincidental deaths. I shudder. They are still searching. How many more will there be? Evvie, oh, Evvie, we've got to get you out of there.

Oz Was.h.i.+ngton comes over to congratulate me. He sees how nervous I am. "I'm worried about getting my sister out safely."

"It will be all right," he tells me. "I make fun of my bud, Morrie, but he's one h.e.l.l of a good cop."

"Can I have that in writing?"

He pats me on the shoulder and joins the others.

They are all action now. Gathering up materials, conferring with one another, making phone calls.

Morrie walks over to me. "By the way, about his aunt Dorothy? He didn't kill her. He was away at boarding school."

"That's a surprise. I was so sure he did it. Morrie," I ask, looking at my watch, "it's already nearly three o'clock. When are we going up to Palm Beach?"

"Tonight. Late."

This upsets me. "Why?" I want to go now.

"Because we decided it was better to move in fast, with everyone asleep; Ray Sullivan should be off guard and hopefully we can pull him out of his apartment without many people aware of it. Hope Watson and Donald Kincaid will let us in."

That is if Evvie doesn't start screaming and

wake the entire place. The plan is sensible, but I am very nervous. I feel Evvie needs me. Now.

"Dearest, wake up. Please. It's almost four." Evvie shakes Philip's shoulders gently. shakes Philip's shoulders gently.

He pushes her away. "Tired," he mumbles into his pillow. his pillow.

She starts to pull the drapes.

"No," he shouts. "No light."

She knows how badly he slept last night. In fact, for the last few nights, it seemed like he was having for the last few nights, it seemed like he was having more and more headaches. And more nightmares. more and more headaches. And more nightmares.

She is about to open the door and go downstairs, but she hesitates. The last thing she wants is to run into that cop, Donald. Something is very to run into that cop, Donald. Something is very wrong in her room with Philip-and outside as wrong in her room with Philip-and outside as well. Something is brewing. Part of her wants to well. Something is brewing. Part of her wants to confront this stranger, and another part doesn't confront this stranger, and another part doesn't want to believe her imaginings. Maybe Donald is want to believe her imaginings. Maybe Donald is just what he said-a guard at Wal-Mart. just what he said-a guard at Wal-Mart.

Evvie picks up the phone and orders room service.

The day drags on. I twiddle my thumbs while the cops continue to discuss their plans. They have maps of the facility and they are marking routes. When they need to know something about the layout of Wilmington House, they call me. Otherwise, I'm left on my own.

Evvie doesn't know what to do. He woke up for a while, took some pills, then went back to sleep while, took some pills, then went back to sleep again. The food she ordered for him was cold now. again. The food she ordered for him was cold now. She thinks she might read, but the light would She thinks she might read, but the light would bother him, and she won't leave him. bother him, and she won't leave him.

She finds herself thinking of Gladdy. She wonders where she is. She needs to talk to her sister. Maybe she can call from the kitchen, but she's Maybe she can call from the kitchen, but she's afraid Philip will wake up and catch her. afraid Philip will wake up and catch her.

I go for a walk. My fingers itch to pick up the phone and call Evvie. I want to tell her to get out of there. Now! But if Philip is right there next to her . . . What if something goes wrong? What if she gets hurt?

When I get back, dinner is brought in. Everything tastes like cardboard to me. I can't eat.

He finally wakes up.

"Are you all right? Evvie asks.

"My migraine's really bad today. Nothing much to do but try to keep very quiet until it's over." to do but try to keep very quiet until it's over."

"What can I do for you?"

"Just sit here by my side."

"I will."

He closes his eyes again.

There is nothing for her to do but think, and her

thoughts are troubling. Something is the matter with him. She can't keep pretending there isn't. with him. She can't keep pretending there isn't. She's been feeling this for some time now, but resisted its implications. It's as if Philip is at war with She's been feeling this for some time now, but resisted its implications. It's as if Philip is at war with himself. And it's coming out in his dreams. It's important, but her mind won't reveal it to her. Maybe himself. And it's coming out in his dreams. It's important, but her mind won't reveal it to her. Maybe it's because she's afraid to know. it's because she's afraid to know.

I come back to Morrie's office. It's empty. I have such a headache. I didn't really sleep much last night, so I lie down on his small couch for a few minutes.

The next thing I'm aware of is Oz gently shaking me. I leap up. It's actually dark out.

"I can't believe I slept."

"You needed the rest."

"Are we going?"

"Yes. Everyone's outside ready to roll."

Evvie convinces Philip to eat a little dinner.

"This is not fun for you." He pats her hand.

"I don't mind. Philip, dear, I know something is bothering you. Can't you share it with me? Maybe bothering you. Can't you share it with me? Maybe I can help." I can help."

He looks at her and she can't read his expression. His eyes grow dark and distant. Then he smiles. "Whatever are you talking about?" smiles. "Whatever are you talking about?"

Oh, Philip. Why are you lying to me?

Evvie is utterly exhausted. She lies down beside him and falls asleep him and falls asleep At last, we arrive at Wilmington House. The trip seemed endless to me. Everyone is taking positions.

"Stay in the car, Glad." The night air is cool. Morrie hands me his jacket to keep warm.

I take the jacket, but I jump out. "No way am I waiting here. I'm going with you." I grab on to his arm. "Don't even try to talk me out of this."