10-Story Detective Magazine Cover — page 24: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

22 and saw two guys in uniform and Kane, the spidery director, crowded in a corner of the room. I could hardly get the word out, but I wanted to know. “Voss?” I whispered, EDGEWICK’S voice was low, guarded. “Dead,” he said soft- ly. “Died just after the police arrived. But he confessed. You had the motive on the Riceoni killing, but only part of it. He was afraid if the girl ditched him completely for Ricconi, she’d be through with him in pictures. And he needed her influence to keep going. He snapped at the chance to frame you. And then the script girl jammed the works. She was a problem. She’s where he slipped.” “Yeah,” I agreed, ‘“‘she’s where he slipped. And I almost muffed it. Me, right at the very end, I almost muffed it. It wasn’t until I realized why the girl was insisting on the retakes that it hit me. Whoever moved Ricconi handled a pretty messy body. And it was a good bet that he’d have to do some permanent clothes changing. “So if the script girl noticed some- thing wrong—a coat, maybe, or gloves —when you filmed the scene, that would explain her murder. I figure it was the gloves, probably.”’ “You hit it,” Hedgewick said, “It was the gloves. He wore his heavy black riding gauntlets the night we drove to your place. And he ruined them, moving Ricconi. So he used a pair of black gloves, instead, when we filmed a scene this morning. But they were gloves, not gauntlets. And the script girl noticed it. He knew she’d bring it up, to Kane and myself, when she insisted on a retake. And he couldn’t afford that, with you on the spot, looking for a lead on the murder. So he killed her.” He hesitated, his eyes puzzled. “I still don’t understand how you uncovered him.” I grinned at him. “‘I didn’t, mister,” I said. “Not me. I knew what the set- up was, and that somebody had made a mistake. And that that somebody 10-STORY DETECTIVE would have to get rid of the films, fast. But it didn’t have to be Voss. It could’ve been anybody who was in the picture. Right up until five minutes ago, when I saw him standing behind you, I’d’ve put my dough on Kane. It could’ve been him.” It could’ve been Vera Reynault, too, ‘but I didn’t say that. I didn’t have to say it. Hedgewick knew it, He raised his voice suddenly, let- ting it carry across the room, “Well,” he said, “I’m not sorry I killed him,” and I sat up in bed, staring at him. His lips closed in a thin line and he shook his head at me slightly. He said some- thing in a low tone to Kane, and the director left the room, the cops fol- lowing. The producer waited until the door closed behind them, then spoke slow- ly. “Listen, Craig,” he began, “Vera Reynault saved your life. She killed Voss, I didn’t—we both know that. But it was a question of saving you. You owe her something for that. “The publicity would ruin her, I’ve had her taken away, back to Holly- wood. And I’m going to keep her name out of this as much as possible. If it be- came known that she shot a man— she’d be through. It wouldn’t matter about the circumstances.” He went on, speaking seriously. “I’m counting on your cooperation. I need it.” I leaned forward, raising my voice, I wanted-to be sure he heard it. “It wasn’t killing him,” I said evenly. “Hell, I was trying to do that myself. The guy was a murderer, That was okay. It was the way she acted about it. The way she said, ‘‘Got him!’ like he was an animal, or something. She’s too much for me, Hedgewick. Way too much,” I dropped back, relaxing against the soft pillows. I was suddenly tired, dead tired. I finished slowly. “You don’t have to worry about me talking about her, though. Hell, I don’t even like to think about her. I’m trying to forget her, right now.” That was eight months age. And I’m still trying. ECORMMICLOOokKks (C@