The Man Who Wasn't All There by David Handler (book recommendations website TXT) 📕

another one just like it. Also another frayed, yellowing white button-down shirt that was a size too large around his neck and another clip-on tie. Same matching gray hair, complexion and teeth.

Over his shoulder I could see the Hardy Boys gazing at him wide-eyed from their ladders near the front porch.

‘You must be Miss Nash,’ he said in his thin, reedy voice. ‘I’m Michael Talmadge.’

‘Please come in, Mr Talmadge. But do try to keep it short. Hoagy’s recovering from a concussion.’

‘So I understand. I’m terribly sorry.’ He came in, moving in that frail, unsteady way of his, and gazed around the parlor. ‘The Winthrops were quite wealthy, but didn’t go in for grandeur. Still, one could be very comfortable here.’

‘We like it,’ Merilee said, treating him to a smile.

He looked at Lulu on the sofa with her bandaged paws and, finally, at me. ‘I’m probably the last person in the world who you want to see right now.’

‘No, not at all, Mr Talmadge,’ I assured him, intensely curious to hear what he had to say. ‘Please, sit down. Would you like some tea?’

‘Nothing, thanks,’ he said, his pale tongue flicking at dry lips. He selected the chair Merilee used at her writing table so that his right ear, the functioning one, would be best positioned to hear me, then sat and immediately began to tremble. Austin was in a body bag at the M.E.’s headquarters in Farmington and yet still he trembled. ‘I’ve come to apologize to you for the harrowing ordeal you and your dog were subjected to through absolutely no fault of your own. It didn’t sit right with me. Needed to tell you how sorry I am, face to face.’

‘That’s very kind of you, Mr Talmadge. But it’s really not necessary.’

‘No, I assure you it is. I’ve instructed a member of my business staff to contact Dr Jen, the village vet, as well as the billing office at Middlesex Hospital. I’m covering every penny of your expenses.’

‘Also not necessary. I’m not a charity case.’

‘I’m well aware of that,’ he said, glancing over at the world-famous movie star in the room. ‘But I need to do it.’ He reached a shaky hand into the breast pocket of his suit jacket, removed an envelope and held it out to me. ‘I also wanted to give you this.’

Merilee got up off of the sofa, grabbed it and passed it to me. I opened it. Inside I found a check from the Talmadge Investment Group made out to me in the amount of $100,000.

‘I can’t accept this, sir,’ I said.

‘Yes, you can. Look at it this way – you’ll be doing me and my conscience a huge favor if you do.’

‘Sorry, I can’t help you. Or your conscience.’

‘Will you at least hold on to it? Perhaps you’ll change your mind.’

‘OK, but I’m not going to change my mind.’

‘May I inquire as to how you’re doing? You haven’t suffered any permanent physical damage, have you?’

‘I’ll be fine. So will Lulu. But how about you, sir?’

He furrowed his brow. ‘Me? Whatever do you mean?’

‘You’ve lived in terror of your brother for your entire life. And yet, even though he’s gone, you’ve still shown up here with four ex-Green Berets and an attack dog. Why?’

‘You pose an interesting question.’

‘Thank you, I try.’

‘Forgive me for smiling.’ He wasn’t smiling. ‘But you no doubt think that this must rank as a joyous day for me. At long last, I’m free of him. I no longer have to hide in my fortress of a home. Can just walk right out my front door, jump in a convertible like that beauty of a Jaguar you have and go zipping around Lyme with the top down like a normal person. But I assure you that nothing could be further from the truth.’

‘Why, Mr Talmadge?’ Merilee wondered.

‘Because I could be next,’ he answered darkly.

I tugged at my ear. ‘Next?’

‘Indeed. What if this wasn’t someone getting even with Austin for his deplorable behavior? What if it was actually targeted because of his immense wealth? If so, then his killer is very likely planning to come after me next. Great wealth creates great resentment. There are those who despise people such as me.’

‘I see …’ So the terror lived on, Austin or no Austin. Did Michael have a genuine reason to be afraid, or did he simply know of no other way to exist? I wondered what Annabeth McKenna would have to say about that. ‘Mr Talmadge, do you have a woman in your life?’

‘I have never had a woman in my life,’ he stated flatly. ‘I was too afraid of what Austin might do to her.’

‘Austin’s not around anymore. You’re free to take up with anyone you choose, provided she doesn’t mind living in a high-security fortress and traveling with an armed security detail. But I suppose that’s not so unusual these days among people of great wealth.’

‘I know several stars who never go anywhere without a team of bodyguards,’ Merilee said. ‘Especially if they have children.’

‘I have always wanted to find a woman with whom I could share my life,’ Michael admitted. ‘But how can I be sure that she isn’t merely after my money?’

‘By choosing someone who has money of her own.’

‘You make a wise point, sir.’

‘Would you like to have children?’ Merilee asked him.

His eyes widened in horror. ‘Never. These genes must never be passed along or we could end up with another Austin. No, I’ll likely remain a bachelor for the remainder of my days. It’s probably for the best. I’m rather set in my ways.’

‘Do you have a circle of male friends?’ I asked him.

‘I have colleagues. I have no friends. In fact, I’m not sure I even know what it means to have a friend. And now I shall leave you nice people in peace,’ he said, getting slowly up out of his chair. ‘I’ve taken up enough of your time.’

‘It was kind of you to stop by,’ Merilee said as she led him toward