Close to my Heart by Chester S Read online

  Mammoth Mystery, January, 1946

  Hatred caused Reece to send his rival a gift to be worn next to the heart. But he forgot to say whose heart ...

  LEVERLY placed floodlights

  concealed by the shadows, which showed that

  silhouetted the girl’s slim body she had still to gain the statue-like immobility C through the filmy robe draped in necessary in a professional photographer’s graceful folds about her. Without the ultra

  model. Reece hesitated a moment in the act of

  modern bathroom background, she might have

  squeezing the shutter release bulb, looking at been some shy nymph poised beside a pool in

  her. He felt the strange feeling of aching

  a hidden forest glade.

  tightness well up into his throat. He’d taken

  “Hold it, now!” Reece said with quiet

  pictures of scores of beautiful women, but be

  urgency from where he stood beside the big

  couldn’t recall having felt this way before.

  camera. He watched her tensely, conscious

  This was the first time any girl had ever been that the shutter release bulb was dangerously

  more than a common object of photographic

  slippery in his hand. It was stiflingly hot in the composition, a mere problem in lights and

  studio, and Reece had already taken three shadows, and he was afraid. Afraid because shots of the girl, rearranging the lights and

  what he felt was so new and rare he could not

  setting each time in the effort to be certain that bear the thought of disappointment.

  he got one picture which would be exactly

  Reece swallowed hard and pressed the

  right.

  bulb. “That’s all,” he told Leila,

  Leila Nesbitt held the pose, though

  The girl slipped at once into the

  with an evidence of strain, fortunately comparative darkness to one side of the softly

  Mammoth Mystery

  2

  floodlighted bathroom scene and began electric current.

  quickly to pull on a more substantial robe.

  He said slowly, “The pictures are

  Reece was careful not to watch her. He busied

  important to me, too, Leila. Jerry Kendall and himself with the camera, sharply aware of the

  I are running this advertising agency on a

  small rustling sounds she made.

  partnership basis, with Jerry taking care of the He liked her shyness, her natural business end while I handle the art work.

  unspoiled modesty. It was this, even more

  We’re both in the same boat. Naturally, I’m

  than her refreshing vivacious beauty, which

  hoping the pictures turn out well. Getting that had attracted him, for it had set her apart from contract from the Dahlia Cosmetic Company

  the women he knew. Photographer’s models

  would establish us among the big firms and

  usually become quite unconcerned and base

  bring in more business.”

  after a time about displaying their physical

  Leila smiled ruefully. “You look too

  charms, and in this respect Reece found Leila

  much like an artist, Floyd. I keep forgetting

  different. She was a newcomer to the that you’re a businessman, too.”

  modeling game. He had met her a little over a

  Unintentionally, the girl had touched

  month before, a short time after she had Reece in a sensitive spot. To hide the sudden arrived in the city, looking for work. bitterness which twisted his face, he turned Fascinated at once by the novelty of her quickly to a nearby table and picked up the reserve, Reece had hired her. And all too soon photographic plates which he had just

  he had found himself thinking in terms of

  exposed. He resented his appearance—a

  wedding rings and apartments for two.

  resentment which had grown entirely out of

  “Do you think the pictures will turn

  his association with Kendall. Short and thin

  out all right, Floyd?” Leila asked anxiously as and with a sedentary pallor, Reece was all too Reece turned off the floodlights. She was aware that he cut a poor figure beside Kendall, barefooted, looking almost child-like in the

  who was tall and athletic. He did not like to

  long green robe. Her chestnut hair, the hue of have the contrast referred to, no matter how

  polished mahogany, had been piled atop her

  indirectly, and coming from Leila, the hurt

  small head for the picture, and now she began

  was especially keen.

  deftly to rearrange it, searching Reece’s face

  “Are you going to develop the pictures

  questioningly.

  yourself, Floyd?” Leila asked, indicating the

  Reece flashed her a grin of plates.

  reassurance. “Don’t worry, Leila. With you in

  Forcing an expression of calmness,

  them, the pictures are certain to be perfect.”

  Reece nodded. “This is a rush job, and with

  “I didn’t mean that,” Leila said everything depending on the results. I quickly, her delicate features reddening. “I

  wouldn’t care to trust any of the assistants

  was thinking about Mr. Kendall. You know

  with them.”

  how important these pictures are to him.”

  “I’m going to get dressed, then,” Leila

  said. She smiled at Reece and started toward

  REECE glanced at the girl sharply, feeling a

  the dressing room adjoining the studio.

  sudden wrench of dismay. He wondered why

  “Oh, just a minute, Leila!” Reece

  she should be so concerned about Jerry called.

  Kendall. Could it be that she was interested in

  “Yes?” She turned back to him

  him? Reece went cold at the thought. He had

  questioningly.

  not considered Kendall as a rival, but now the

  “I ... I hope you won’t think I’m

  possibility came to him with the shock of an

  rushing matters, but I’d like to know if I could

  Close to My Heart

  3

  take you out again tonight.”

  Now he grinned with an expression of

  “I’m sorry, Floyd. Mr. Kendall has exaggerated boasting and waved a hand of already asked me.”

  which the thumb and forefinger formed a

  Reece had an abruptly sick feeling.

  circle, the remaining three fingers stiffly erect.

  “Jerry? You ... you’re going out with Jerry?”

  Kendall seized the pictures impatiently

  Leila stared at Reece wonderingly. As

  and spread them out on his desk. He and Leila

  though frightened by what she saw in his face, scrutinized them with exclamations of delight.

  she turned quickly away.

  “They’re great!” Kendall said. “You

  For some seconds, Reece stood there

  did a swell job, Floyd. As soon as the copy is as though in a daze. Finally he roused himself ready, we’ll ship the layout to the Dahlia

  into motion, started leadenly toward the Cosmetics people. The pictures alone are sure darkroom. He walked as though through the

  to win us the contract.”

  shards of broken hopes. He knew that there

  Sliding the pictures together, Kendall

 
was no longer any hope for him, if Jerry

  placed them carefully in his desk. “This calls Kendall were interested! in Leila. His envy of for a celebration. Get your coat on, Floyd, and Kendall suddenly became cold relentless we’ll all go downstairs for a few drinks.”

  hatred.

  “Right with you!” Reece assented

  In the darkroom, going mechanically

  lightly. He was relieved to see Leila’s face

  through the process of developing the plates,

  clear up at his ready acceptance of the

  Reece found himself toying with the though of

  invitation. He knew she had dismissed as

  murder. If Kendall were out of the way, he

  unimportant his chagrin earlier at the news

  would have a clear field where Leila was

  that she was going out with Kendall. Soon she

  concerned. And the agency would belong to

  would forget about it entirely. Thus when

  him entirely. Kendall had organized and Kendall died, she would have no reason to advanced it to the point where Reece felt he

  suspect Reece.

  could easily carry on.

  Slipping into his coat, Reece rejoined

  But the stumbling block in Kendall’s

  Leila and Kendall, and together they rode the

  elimination was how to do it safely. Reece

  elevator down to the combination restaurant

  knew he had to avoid suspicion not only from

  and cocktail lounge on the main floor of the

  the police, but from Leila also. Especially

  building. Kendll’s elation at the certainty of from Leila, since the girl had already guessed the deal with the cosmetic company filled him

  his feelings. With vengeful determination, with small-boy mischief. He pointed at Reece Reece began to ponder ways and means.

  teasingly.

  “Look at that coat, Leila. Have you

  JERRY KENDALL was in his office, talking

  ever seen anything like it? Why, it’s stuffed

  to Leila, when Reece entered with the finished more full of junk than a kid’s pockets. Floyd

  prints. Kendall rose eagerly to his feet. “How is a regular perambulating junk shop!”

  did the pictures turn out, Floyd?”

  Reece chuckled good-naturally, though

  Reece had already decided on the inwardly he ached with rage. “Going through attitude he would assume for the duration of

  trash cans is an old habit of mine,” he returned his relations with Kendall—relations to be easily. “I manage to pick up a few things here terminated as soon as a fool-proof plan for

  and there. Every little bit helps, business being murder presented itself. He would be the way it is.”

  completely friendly and ingratiating, as

  Kendall and Leila laughed

  though nothing at all were going to happen.

  appreciatively. Leila said, sobering:

  Mammoth Mystery

  4

  “I’ve often noticed the way your

  Reece knew Vallo quite well, as did

  pockets bulge, Floyd. Just what do you carry

  Kendall also, since Vallo’s art gallery and

  in them anyway?”

  curio shop was on the same floor as the

  “Photographic equipment, mostly. A agency offices. Leila had already met him, miniature camera, spare film, photometers, having been introduced by Reece a few weeks reference books, and things like that. Good

  before.

  pictures are all around you, and it pays to be At Reece’s gesture of invitation, Vallo

  prepared.”

  pulled up a chair and sat down. He proceeded

  Kendall slapped Reece’s back. “That’s

  at once to fix Leila with a devouring gaze.

  the proper attitude, Floyd. But going around in

  “Madonna!” he exclaimed at last. “It

  a coat with so many suspicious bulges, I cannot be, but my eyes, they do not lie. Each should think you’d scare the pictures away.”

  time I look at you, Signorina, I am reminded Reece choked back his anger, keeping

  of a certain miniature in my collection.”

  the smile fixed rigidly on his face. He was

  “You’ve mentioned that before,” Leila

  painfully aware that Kendall was making him

  said. “Just what is this certain miniature

  look like a fool—and in front of Leila. His

  you’re always talking about?”

  determination to kill Kendall became a thing

  Vallo leaned toward her confidingly,

  of burning intensity.

  but watching him, Reece thought he detected

  In the cocktail lounge, they found a

  in the other’s attitude a strange hint of

  table and ordered drinks. Kendall exuberantly

  contradiction. Vallo’s eyes, for some reason,

  proposed a toast.

  seemed to become lidded, guarded, as though

  “Here’s to Dahlia Cosmetics. May he were hiding as much as what he intended to their lipstick never smear and their mascara

  reveal.

  never run!”

  “The miniature is a little painted

  portrait, just so big.” Vallo held out a thumb THEY laughed and drank. Kendall began to

  and a forefinger, separated by a space of some discuss plans for expansion of the agency as if two inches. “It was made in Venice around the

  the Dahlia Cosmetic contract was a foregone

  time of the Borgia’s. It is old, very old, and conclusion. Reece forced a pretense of valuable. But most important, Signorina, the interest, fuming as he noticed how Leila hung

  face of the girl in the miniature is almost the on Kendall’s every word.

  same as your own!”

  Reece was pleased when Dominick

  Vallo leaned forward still further, to

  Vallo appeared beside the table. The presence

  the amusement of Reece and Kendall and the

  of the moody Italian art dealer would serve

  dismay of Leila. “Ah, you must see this

  excellently to divert Leila’s attention from miniature, Signorina. I will show you other Kendall.

  things. Famous paintings—”

  “Ah, my friends, how are you?” Vallo

  Kendall chuckled. “Come up and see

  greeted effusively. He seemed to have had a

  my etchings, said the spider to the fly.”

  few drinks too many. As always, his

  Vallo drew back with an injured

  expensively tailored suit was wrinkled and

  expression. “What! You suggest that I,

  mussed. His great shock of curly black hair,

  Dominick Vallo, might have what you call

  streaked with white, stood on end as though

  dishonorable intentions? It is an insult!” Vallo from repeated nervous combing with his promptly forgot his honor as a bar hostess fingers. He had sad liquid eyes and a long

  appeared with a tray of drinks. He buried his

  melancholy face.

  long nose in a glass eagerly. When he finally

  Close to My Heart

  5

  set it down, his mournful expression had he’d have burst with the volcanic fury inside returned.

  him.

  “Ah, no, the Vallo’s have long been

  Reece remained for a while at the table

  known as men of integrity and virtue. The

  with Vallo. The mournful-looking art dealer

  little Signorina would be quite safe in my kept exclaiming at intervals over the marvel of hands. Why . . . why, gladly would I lay down

  Leila’s resemblance to the lady in the

  my life to protect her! There is nothing I

  miniature. Reece wa
s only dimly aware of

  would not do. She has only to say the word,

  what Vallo was saying. He was grappling

  and I would gladly end my life.” Vallo once more with the problem of his intended thumped the table and looked at Leila with a

  murder of Kendall.

  kind of mournful determination.

  “Don’t believe him,” Kendall told the

  A WEEK passed. The Dahlia Cosmetic

  girl. “Dominick tells that to all the ladies. In Company approved of the pictures and layout,

  fact, he has quite a reputation around here as a and the contract was duly signed. Reece found

  potential suicide. The only reason why he isn’t himself suddenly overwhelmed with an influx

  dead already is because he always passes out

  of new business. He saw little or nothing of

  from too much bottled courage before he can

  Leila, but from occasional remarks dropped by

  commit the bloody deed.”

  Kendall, he knew Kendall was seeing the girl

  “Ah, but this time it is different,” Vallo

  frequently—all too frequently.

  insisted. He seemed determined that Leila

  Recce’s problem was still unsolved.

  should not take his threat lightly. “This time I No safe plan for murder had yet suggested

  mean it. Long I have been in love with the girl itself. And with the element of time now

  in the miniature. And now to find her in the

  introduced by the growing intimacy between

  flesh, alive . . . .” Vallo released a doleful Kendall and Leila, the whole thing was

  sigh. “Ah, if I were only young again; But,

  beginning to look hopeless.

  Signorina, perhaps you do not mind?” Vallo During a lull in his work, one

  asked, leaning suddenly toward Leila again.

  afternoon, Reece seized the opportunity to