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soon, Linda thought, they would investigate. |
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Eventually she was forced to give up that idea. Mrs. Bates was old. Perhaps she did have a bad heart. The likelihood of the police ever hearing of her death was very small. In all probability her own doctor would issue the death certificate. Whoever left that candy was clever. Linda was sure there would be no obvious sign of foul play, and the police were not notified of cases of natural death. |
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Then Linda thought of telling Peter. The moment the idea came to her, she felt better. Her lips began to curve into a smile. The thought of Peter was accompanied by the tinkle of shattered glass and the creak of rocking furniture. Nonetheless it was a bright, stimulating idea, warm, comfortable, and utterly delightful. |
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The first shadow on the brightness was purely practical. It would be hard to speak to Peter alone in Mrs. Bates's apartment for long enough to explain the complicated story. Linda knew he lived on the same street, but not which house. Nor did she know the name of his place of business. She could not ask Gertrude, and she could not endure waiting until he dropped in and she could ask. She had to tell someone right away. |
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The phone book. Peter must have a telephone. His addressOh, Lord, what was she thinking of? What if Peter had left the candy? Every instinct Linda had recoiled from that notion. If he had done it, it was a deliberate attempt |
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