The Kissed Corpse (23 page)

Authors: Brett Halliday

“She'll plead the unwritten law,” said Laura in a cool voice which concealed her real feelings. “With me for the âother woman' at whom the finger of scorn can be pointed no jury of Texas gentlemen will convict her.”

“Probably not.” Jerry shook himself as though to shed the depressing train of thought and got up.

“Wait a minute,” I said. “There's still that anonymous telephone call warning Young to stay away from Dwight's.”

“Oh, that?” Burke smiled. “There wasn't any telephoned warning. Myra threw that in for good measure to make her husband's death appear to be tied up more definitely with the note from Michaela and the secret negotiations between Dwight and the Mexicans. Just as she marked the cross on his cheek, and later left the silver cross on Dwight's body after shooting him. Simply to becloud the issue and make things seem what they weren't â¦ in which she succeeded admirably.”

He yawned and picked up his hat. “Being a salaried slave of the taxpayers instead of an indolent fictioner, I'll have to run along. Think you can make a yarn out of it, Asa?”

“I'm going to give it a whirl.”

“Good luck. What'll the title be?”

“There's only one appropriate title,” I told him. “The Kissed Corpse.”

Burke chuckled and glanced at Laura, then went out.

“So, it was
you
who slugged me?” I asked accusingly, taking a shot at random.

“Of course â¦ that is, I had a Free Press reporter do it for me. I had to have that telegram for my exclusive.”

I took a sip of brandy and didn't look at her. After a little time of silence she asked, low-voiced:

“You hate me, don't you?”

“No,” I told her honestly, “but somehow I wish I did. It would simplify matters.”

I didn't know whether she would understand what I meant or not, but I guess she did â¦ for she refilled both our glasses and didn't say anything.

About the Author

Brett Halliday (1904â1977) was the primary pseudonym of American author Davis Dresser. Halliday is best known for creating the Mike Shayne Mysteries. The novels, which follow the exploits of fictional PI Mike Shayne, have inspired several feature films, a radio series, and a television series.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover design by Andy Ross

ISBN: 978-1-5040-1934-7

This 2015 edition published by
MysteriousPress.com
/Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

345 Hudson Street

New York, NY 10014

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