Murder Can Ruin Your Looks Read Online Free Page A

be
    ginning to conjure up.
    ‘‘Everything’s fine, Ellen, really,’’ I assured her hurriedly.
    ‘‘I just want to tell you about this very attractive man I—’’
    It was as far as I got. ‘‘Ohhh, Aunt Dez!’’ she shrieked.
    ‘‘You met someone!’’ Her voice was so piercing I had to hold the receiver away from my ear. Ellen is nothing if not enthusiastic. When she can’t find anything to stew about, that is.
    ‘‘Well, there is someone. But not for me. For you. He’s a young lawyer who started at the office about three weeks ago.’’
    MURDER CAN RUIN YOUR LOOKS
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    I guess I should explain. By ‘‘the office,’’ I was referring to the law offices of Gilbert and Sullivan (that’s right, Gil
    bert and Sullivan), where I rent space. And Elliot Gilbert and Pat Sullivan not only make it possible for me to con
    duct my business in a decent section of the city, but these two very sweet guys also throw work my way whenever they can. Plus, under my arrangement with them, I am able to avail myself of the services of the best secretary in Manhattan. But back to Ellen . . .
    She wasn’t quite as pleased with my news as I’d hoped she’d be. ‘‘You didn’t!’’ she accused so shrilly that I had to remove the receiver from my ear again. A moment later, she said more calmly, ‘‘I know you have my interests at heart, Aunt Dez, but it is so embarrassing to—’’
    ‘‘Just hold on!’’ I commanded. ‘‘I did not do what you’re thinking I did. Will Fitzgerald approached me about intro
    ducing him to someone. He hasn’t been in New York very long, and he’s busy studying for the New York bar most of the time, so he hasn’t been able to develop much of a social life. We got into a conversation this morning, and he asked if I knew any nice girls, and I said no. The only one I know jumps to all kinds of conclusions and has her poor old aunt on a Maalox diet.’’
    Ellen giggled for a second, then stopped abruptly. ‘‘I’m sorry. Really,’’ she said, chastened. ‘‘I guess I’m overly sen
    sitive sometimes. Tell me, what’s he like?’’
    ‘‘Well, this was the first time we actually talked—I mean, besides our usual ‘good mornings’ and ‘good nights’—but he’s very personable. And Elliot Gilbert was telling me last week how bright he is. And he’s really nice-looking, too. Not very tall, but taller than you—five-nine or -ten, I’d say—with curly brown hair, a good build, and a dynamite smile.’’ It was time to close the sale. ‘‘Look, what have you got to lose? I thought maybe the two of you could come over for dinner Sunday night. I don’t think Will has much money; besides, I figured if it didn’t click, you could excuse yourself right after the meal and cut out.’’
    She agreed that the dinner was a pretty good idea. ‘‘You
    know how nervous I get when I don’t know someone, so your being there should make it a little easier. But I hate to see you go to any bother.’’
    Now, I love to cook—as Ellen is very well aware. (She’s eaten at my place often enough, for heaven’s sake.) But,
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    Selma Eichler
    at any rate, I assured her I’d be happy to do it, and she thanked me and said great and that she’d come.
    Then I told her about my new case.
    ‘‘Oh, my God!’’ she exclaimed. ‘‘I read about that in the papers. It was just awful! They were really beautiful, too, weren’t they? And even younger than I am!’’ She mulled the whole thing over for a moment, then said excitedly,
    ‘‘You know this case could make you famous, don’t you, Aunt Dez?’’ Those last words were barely out of her mouth when she gave me another ‘‘Oh, my God.’’ But this time it came out in a whisper.
    ‘‘What’s the matter?’’
    ‘‘You could get yourself killed; don’t you realize that?
    You said you’d never accept another murder case as long as you lived. And you had a good reason for saying it, too. Don’t you