sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第53部分

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handled。　But　Mrs。　Temple　was　such　a　great　lady；　with　such　big　problems。　He　smiled　at　her　and　said；　
　〃It's　okay；　Mrs。　Temple。　I　understand。〃　
　And　he　got　back　into　his　car。　Jill　waited　until　she　heard　the　car　drive　away。　Then　she　started　back　up　the　stairs。　Halfway　up；　a　wave　of　dizziness　hit　her　again；　and　she　had　to　cling　to　the　banister　until　it　passed。　She　could　not　stop　now。　If　she　did；　she　would　be　dead。　She　walked　to　the　door　of　Toby's　room；　turned　the　knob　and　entered。　Nurse　Gallagher　was　seated　in　an　easy　chair　working　on　needlepoint。　She　looked　up　in　surprise　as　she　saw　Jill　standing　in　the　doorway。　
　〃Well！〃　she　said。　〃You've　e　to　visit　us。　Isn't　that　nice？〃　She　turned　toward　the　bed。　〃I　know　Mr。　Temple　is　pleased。　Aren't　we；　Mr。　Temple？〃　
　Toby　was　sitting　up　in　bed；　propped　upright　by　pillows；　his　eyes　carrying　his　message　to　Jill。　I'm　going　to　kill　you。　Jill　averted　her　eyes　and　walked　over　to　Nurse　Gallagher。　
　〃I've　decided　that　I　haven't　been　spending　enough　time　with　my　husband。〃　
　〃Well；　now；　that's　exactly　what　I've　been　thinking；〃　Nurse　Gallagher　chirped。　〃But　then　I　could　see　that　you've　been　ill　yourself；　and　so　I　said　to　myself　〃　
　〃I'm　feeling　much　better　now；〃　Jill　interrupted。　〃I'd　like　to　be　alone　with　Mr。　Temple。〃　
　Nurse　Gallagher　gathered　up　her　needlepoint　paraphernalia　and　got　to　her　feet。　
　〃Of　course；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　sure　we'll　enjoy　that。〃　She　turned　toward　the　grinning　figure　on　the　bed。　〃Won't　we；　Mr。　Temple？〃　To　Jill；　she　added；　〃I'm　just　go　down　to　the　kitchen　and　fix　myself　a　nice　cup　of　tea。〃　
　〃No。　You're　off　duty　in　half　an　hour。　You　can　leave　now。　I'll　stay　here　until　Nurse　Gordon　arrives。〃　Jill　gave　her　a　quick；　reassuring　smile。　〃Don't　worry。　I'll　be　here　with　him。〃　
　〃I　suppose　I　could　get　some　shopping　done；　and　　〃　
　〃Fine；〃　Jill　said。　〃You　run　along。〃　
　Jill　stood　there；　immobile；　until　she　heard　the　front　door　slam　and　Nurse　Gallagher's　car　going　down　the　driveway。　When　the　sounds　of　the　motor　had　died　away　on　the　summer　air；　Jill　turned　to　look　at　Toby。　His　eyes　were　focused　on　her　face　in　an　unwavering；　unblinking　stare。　Forcing　herself　to　move　closer　to　the　bed；　she　pulled　back　the　covers　and　looked　down　at　the　wasted；　paralyzed　frame；　the　limp；　useless　legs。　The　wheelchair　was　in　a　corner。　Jill　moved　it　over　to　the　bedside　and　positioned　the　chair　so　that　she　could　roll　Toby　onto　it。　She　reached　toward　him；　and　stopped。　It　took　every　ounce　of　her　willpower　to　touch　him。　The　grinning；　mummified　face　was　only　inches　away　from　her；　the　mouth　smiling　idiotically　and　the　bright　blue　eyes　spewing　venom。　Jill　leaned　forward　and　forced　herself　to　lift　Toby　by　his　arms。　He　was　almost　weightless；　but　in　Jill's　exhausted　condition；　she　could　barely　manage　it。　As　she　touched　his　body；　Jill　could　feel　the　icy　air　begin　to　envelop　her。　The　pressure　inside　her　head　was　being　unbearable。　There　were　bright　colored　spots　before　her　eyes；　and　they　began　to　dance　around；　faster　and　faster；　making　her　dizzy。　She　felt　herself　starting　to　faint；　but　she　knew　that　she　must　not　allow　that　to　happen。　Not　if　she　wanted　to　live。　With　a　superhuman　effort；　she　dragged　Toby's　limp　body　onto　the　wheelchair　and　strapped　him　in。　She　looked　at　her　watch。　She　had　only　twenty　minutes。　
　It　took　Jill　five　minutes　to　go　into　her　bedroom　and　change　into　a　bathing　suit　and　return　to　Toby's　room。　She　released　the　brake　on　the　wheelchair　and　began　to　wheel　Toby　down　the　corridor；　into　the　elevator。　She　stood　behind　him　as　they　rode　down；　so　that　she　could　not　see　his　eyes；　but　she　could　feel　them。　And　she　could　feel　the　damp　cold　of　the　noxious　air　that　began　to　fill　the　elevator；　smothering　her；　caressing　her；　filling　her　lungs　with　its　putrescence　until　she　began　to　choke。　She　could　not　breathe。　She　fell　to　her　knees；　gasping；　fighting　to　stay　conscious；　trapped　in　there　with　him。　As　she　started　to　feel　herself　blacking　out；　the　elevator　door　opened。　She　crawled　into　the　warm　sunlight　and　lay　there　on　the　ground；　breathing　deeply；　sucking　in　the　fresh　air；　slowly　getting　back　her　energy。　She　turned　toward　the　elevator。　Toby　was　seated　in　the　wheelchair；　watching；　waiting。　Jill　quickly　pushed　the　chair　out　of　the　elevator。　She　started　toward　the　swimming　pool。　It　was　a　beautiful；　cloudless　day；　warm　and　balmy；　the　sun　sparkling　on　the　blue；　filtered　water。　Jill　rolled　the　wheelchair　to　the　edge　of　the　deep　end　of　the　pool　and　set　the　brake。　She　walked　around　to　the　front　of　the　chair。　Toby's　eyes　were　fixed　on　her；　watchful；　puzzled。　Jill　reached　for　the　strap　holding　Toby　into　the　chair；　and　tightened　it　as　hard　as　she　could；　pulling　on　it；yanking　it　with　all　that　was　left　of　her　strength；　feeling　herself　growing　dizzy　again　with　the　effort。　Suddenly　it　was　done。　Jill　watched　Toby's　eyes　change　as　he　realized　what　was　happening；　and　they　began　to　fill　with　a　wild；　demonic　panic。　Jill　released　the　brake；　grasped　the　handle　of　the　wheelchair　and　started　to　push　it　toward　the　water。　Toby　was　trying　to　move　his　paralyzed　lips；　trying　to　scream；　but　no　sound　came　out；　and　the　effect　was　terrifying。　She　could　not　bear　to　look　into　his　eyes。　She　did　not　want　to　know。　She　shoved　the　wheelchair　to　the　very　edge　of　the　pool。　And　it　stuck。　It　was　held　back　by　the　cement　lip。　She　pushed　harder；　but　it　would　not　go　over。　It　was　as　though　Toby　were　holding　the　chair　back　by　sheer　willpower。　Jill　could　see　him　straining　to　rise　out　of　the　chair；　fighting　for　his　life。　He　was　going　to　get　loose；　free　himself；　reach　out　for　her　throat　with　his　bony　fingers　。。。　She　could　hear　his　voice　screaming；　I　don't　want　to　die。。。　I　don't　want　to　die；　and　she　did　not　know　whether　it　was　her　imagination　or　whether　it　was　real；　but　in　a　rush　of　panic；　she　found　a　sudden　strength　and　shoved　as　hard　as　she　could　against　the　back　of　the　wheelchair。　It　lurched　forward；　upward　into　the　air；　and　hung　there；　motionless；　for　what　seemed　an　eternity；　then　rolled　into　the　pool；　hitting　with　a　loud　splash。　The　wheelchair　seemed　to　float　on　top　of　the　water　for　a　long　time；　then　slowly　began　to　sink。　The　eddies　of　the　water　turned　the　chair　around；　so　that　the　last　thing　Jill　saw　was　Toby's　eyes　damning　her　to　hell　as　the　water　closed　over　them。　
　She　stood　there　forever；　shivering　in　the　warm　noonday　sun；　letting　the　strength　flow　back　into　her　mind　and　body。　When　she　was　finally　able　to　move　again；　she　walked　down　the　steps　of　the　swimming　pool　to　wet　her　bathing　suit。　Then　she　went　into　the　house　to　telephone　the　police。　
　
　Toby　Temple's　death　made　newspaper　headlines　all　over　the　world。　If　Toby　had　bee　a　hero；　then　Jill　had　bee　a　heroine。　Hundreds　of　thousands　of　words　were　printed　about　them；　their　photographs　appeared　in　all　the　media。　Their　great　love　story　was　told　and　retold；　the　tragic　ending　giving　it　an　even　greater　poignancy。　Letters　and　telegrams　of　condolence　streamed　in　from　heads　of　state；　housewives；　politicians；　millionaires；　secretaries。　The　world　had　suffered　a　personal　loss；　Toby　had　shared　the　gift　of　his　laughter　with　his　fans；　and　they　would　always　be　grateful。　The　air　waves　were　filled　with　praise　for　him；　and　each　network　paid　tribute　to　him。　There　would　never　be　another　Toby　Temple。　
　The　inquest　was　held　at　the　Criminal　Court　Building　on　Grand　Avenue　in　downtown　Los　Angeles；　in　a　small；　pact　courtroom。　An　inquest　examiner　was　in　charge　of　the　hearings；　guiding　the　panel　of　six　jurors。　The　room　was　packed　to　overflowing。　When　Jill　arrived；　the　photographers　and　reporters　and　fans　mobbed　her。　She　was　dressed　in　a　simple　black　tailored　wool　suit。　She　wore　no　makeup　and　she　had　never　looked　more　beautiful。　In　the　few　days　that　had　elapsed　since　Toby's　death；　Jill　had　miraculously　bloomed　into　her　old　self　again。　For　the　first　time　in　months；　she　was　able　to　sleep　soundly　and　dreamlessly。　She　had　a　voracious　appetite　and　her　headaches　had　disappeared。　The　demon　that　had　been　draining　her　life　away　was　gone。　Jill　had　talked　to　David　every　day。　He　had　wanted　to　e　to　the　inquest；　but　Jill　insisted　that　he　stay　away。　They　would　have　enough　time　together　later。　〃The　rest　of　our　lives；〃　David　had　told　her。　
　There　were　six　witnesses　at　the　inquest。　Nurse　Gallagher；　Nurse　Gordon　and　Nurse　Johnson　testified　ab