The Kissed Corpse by Brett Halliday Page B

Bridge and out to the bungalow where Nip and Tuck pretended they were totally disinterested in my return, but gave away the show because they couldn’t control their tails.
    I let them out for a run in the yard, went into the bathroom where the mirror showed a faint crimson stain still on my mouth. I went to work with a soapy cloth and had it cleaned off by the time Burke pulled up in front.
    He and Laura were in the front room when I came out. They’d let the pups in, and Laura was squatting down with her full skirt spread out on the floor, making up to Tuck.
    It was disgusting to see the way he squirmed and fawned on her when she petted him. Nip, though, came to me when I sat at a table and poured myself a drink. I’ve always thought she had more discernment and dignity than her frowsy mate.
    Burke sat in the chair opposite me and told me to spill it. Laura played with the pup, pretending not to listen while I told Burke everything that had happened from the time I picked her up in the rain until we were brought into the Juarez police station, omitting only an explanation of the lipstick on my mouth, and, for Laura’s benefit, not mentioning seeing him across the line.
    When I finished, Burke got up and paced the floor slowly for a couple of minutes. He didn’t seem to be disturbed … only curious. His eyes went to Laura several times, but she paid not the slightest attention to him.
    He came back to his chair and sat down, got his pipe going. Laura was sitting on the rug and Tuck’s head was in her lap, his eyes contentedly closed.
    Jerry Burke turned his chair to face her and said: “Now, Miss Yates.”
    â€œYour stooge has told you my part of it.” Her gaze met his frankly.
    I poured myself another drink and kept quiet.
    Burke frowned and asked: “How well did you know Leslie Young?”
    â€œQuite well.”
    â€œEnough so his wife was jealous of your intimacy?”
    â€œI don’t like your use of the word ‘intimacy’. Les and I were rather friendly.”
    â€œFriendly enough for Mrs. Young to object?”
    Laura laughed coldly. “That doesn’t mean anything. Myra Young was jealous of Leslie’s shadow.”
    â€œWhen did you last see him?”
    â€œThis afternoon.” Laura’s gaze was steadily on Burke’s face.
    â€œWhere?”
    â€œIn the canyon, about a mile above his house.”
    â€œTell me about it.”
    She shrugged her shoulders. “There isn’t much to tell. We’ve met there often to avoid an unpleasant scene with Myra. I drove out in my car and he met me on horseback. He called me about noon, told me about the O’Toole note, and we arranged to meet. When we met he told me of the telephoned warning for him to stay away from the hacienda , which naturally made him more determined to go. It sounded interesting and I asked him to take me along. He agreed to pick me up in his car just the other side of Zaragoza. I was waiting for him when your friend came along and picked me up.” She nodded toward me with a half-smile.
    â€œLeslie Young was alive when you left him this afternoon?” Burke persisted.
    â€œOf course. Would I have been waiting out in the rain for a man whom I knew to be dead? Don’t be absurd. You haven’t told me …”
    â€œYou’re telling me, Miss Yates. What time was it when you last saw Leslie Young?”
    â€œAbout two-thirty. It was approximately three o’clock when I reached my apartment on Tularosa.”
    â€œHow long have you known him?”
    â€œAlmost two months … ever since I’ve been in El Paso. As a matter of fact, I came here from the east particularly to contact him.”
    Burke puffed on his pipe and said: “Suppose you explain that .”
    She shrugged her shoulders again. “There’s nothing in our relationship that I have any reason to hide. I’m a free-lance writer … specializing in