The Night People and Other Stories
Edward D. Hoch
Language: English
Pages: 286
ISBN: 0786231467
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
Book by Hoch, Edward D.
nabbed the two stickup men within an hour. They’d had his picture on the front page of the paper, and he’d gotten a promotion. How long ago was that? He was only a beat cop then, nearly forty-five years ago. It had been a long time, a long life. But what was there now? Not the things other men had. Not the wife he’d wanted but never found. Not the children to comfort you when there was nothing else. The Police Department had been his whole life, and now they were taking it away. Just one more
quickly to the bed, and removed the small red star from her dress. The duplicate went on quickly in its place. It was so easy he couldn’t quite believe the thing had been done. All of Falconi’s talking and planning had gone towards this—five seconds in Tonia’s hotel room. Somehow he didn’t yet feel like a spy. Later, after the screening of the British short subject. Win found an opportunity to slip away from Tonia’s watchful eyes. While she chatted with Baine and some of the other Americans, he
theatre door where anything might lurk. No, he’d wait in the street for them, hoping that a passing car or two might save his life. “Mister Chambers,” one of them said thickly. There was no mistaking that these were the Russians. He broke into a trot, heading towards the hotel. Turning to look over his shoulder, he saw one of the men reach into his coat, but the other put out a restraining hand. They wouldn’t shoot, not while they didn’t have the star. But they followed. He reached the hotel
“Thanks. I stopped being afraid of anything a long time ago.” She followed him to the little car and waited while he piled the bags in the back seat. Then she said, “You’re Steve Hampton, aren’t you? I see you on television every night.” “The price of fame,” he said with a smile. “I’m on vacation, really. I picked this little valley because I figured nobody would know me here.” “We have television sets,” she said a bit indignantly. “Just like in the city.” “I know. I stand corrected.” He
you here? We’ve seen your light other times recently.” “I’m searching for treasure,” he answered. “There is no treasure here,” the priest responded angrily. “This church collapsed …” “Because of an earthquake!” “Or because of a treasure room beneath it.” “There is no treasure room! Get out of here or I’ll have the police on you!” “I …” “Get out of here!” the old priest repeated. Quarn hesitated a moment. Then, deciding that further pleading was useless, he scurried away up the steps.