Better to Eat You by Charlotte Armstrong

do,” said David with his mouth full.
    Consuelo, who was supping from a tray, put her fork down. “He is some distant connection of Fox’s. He hails from Fresno. I got on the phone. Seems this Edgar got into a jam. He either did, or was only suspected of doing, what no ethical doctor would do. And while he got off with a verdict of ‘not proven,’ his practice fell out from under him. So Edgar was down and out and very low, some four or five years ago, when he approached the Fox. Now, I imagine he is up there for two reasons. One, I think he’s lazy and Fox keeps him. Two, his reputation has that spot on it.”
    â€œThree,” said David, “he is wild for Malvina and as green-eyed as they come.”
    â€œImagine!” sighed Consuelo. “And is Malvina wild for him?”
    David cast her a worried glance. “What about the money? Did you find out anything?”
    â€œSure. I found out that if you are brash enough you can intimidate respectable people into telling you a heck of a lot more than they should. I pumped young Gordon. Fox is in the chips, all right. Willed it, share and share alike, to those girls.”
    â€œDon’t tell me. Let me tell you,” groaned David. “When one girls dies without an heir …”
    â€œWrong!” said Consuelo. “Survivor does not take all. Fox is too smart to set up anything like that.”
    â€œThen I can’t see …”
    â€œNeither can I. And there’s this, too, Davey. Sarah gets a modest allowance, right now, but Malvina gets a good-sized amount on the excuse that she is Fox’s right-hand woman and earns it. Looks as if Malvina has no money motive whatsoever but to count her blessings. And look at their attitude. You say they seem to worry about Sarah, say they seem to want to help her, ask you right in there just to give Sarah a job and keep her happy. Sounds to me,” said Consuelo dejectedly, “as if we are fresh out of villains. Edgar may not always have been the most upright soul in the world, but what on earth motive would he have to harass the girl? Malvina, who rattled around with some pretty scummy people when she was young, may or may not be a reformed character, but she is sitting pretty. As for Fox, he seems to have been the noble benefactor all around.”
    David’s hand was massaging the back of his neck. “Well, I dunno,” said he.
    â€œYou don’t!” cried Consuelo with delight. “Tell me.”
    â€œOne little thing …”
    â€œGo on. Go on.”
    â€œListen carefully while I quote.”
    â€œI’m falling out of my chair listening, you great goop.”
    â€œWhen I put it to Fox that I wanted Sarah to work for me, this is what he said.” David began to mimic the old man’s voice. “‘I do appreciate your interest and your courage, too, Mr. Wakeley. You are not frightened? The accident doesn’t …’” David stopped and looked up at her. “Right there, Malvina breaks in and says quickly, ‘Of course Sarah’s little accidents don’t frighten Mr. Wakeley, Grandfather. Mr. Wakeley is a reasonable man.’ So then Fox says, ‘Perhaps you would be very good for our poor Sarah. Yes. Yes, I do think so.’”
    David’s mimicking voice ceased.
    â€œAccident …” said Consuelo thoughtfully.
    â€œ The accident. Not plural.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œNow, Consuelo, I have heard many people say ‘He don’t’ incorrectly. But I’ve never heard one say “They doesn’t.’ Fox was talking about one accident. And what accident? Mine. I’m certain that Fox knows about my car.”
    Consuelo felt a goose go over her grave.
    â€œHow does he know? I didn’t tell anyone, especially not Malvina. I think there must have been some slip. He thought I had told Malvina.”
    â€œAnd she tried to cover up that slip!”