Mystery Magazine
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MYSTERY MAGAZINE NEW stories presenteLICENSEDd by thTOe UNZ.ORG AAASTER OF SUSPENSE ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Richard E. Decker, Publisher Gladys Foster Decker, Editorial Director Ernest M. Hutter Editor Patricia Hitchcock Associate Editor Nick J. Scrtorio Circulation Director Marguerite Blair Deacon Art Director LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED VOLUME 14, NO. 1 JANUARY 1969 \ ALFRED HITCBCOCKS mystery magazine CONTENTS NOVELETTE A SINGULAR QUARRY by Ed Lacy ,. ......i..,.;. 141 SHORT STORIES A BORN KILLER by Max Van Derveer ^._^y 2 HOLIDAY by Hal Ellson 19 ^ CHAVISKI'S CHRISTMAS by Edwin P. Hic\s 27 DROPOUT by JacI^ Ritchie 42 THE GUIDE'S STORY by Dion Henderson .......... 50 THE. MAN IN THE CHAIR by Clayton Matthews 59 COMPROMISED CONFESSIONAL by Margaret E. Brown ,. : 70 NIGHT STRIKE by Miel Tanburn 80 MONEY TREE by Jaime Sandaval : 83 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by Michael Brett 92 FAVOR by Stephen Wasyly\ 97 A NAME IN THE PHONE BOOK by Erlene Hubly 110 THE SKIM by Richard Deming 121 THE PROBLEM OF CHRISTMAS by Al Nussbaum 138 ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE I„leSVpt?o"is'&Tr^TyeaW?h?6Ml&^s and Possessions; elsewhere S7.00 (In U.S. lunds) for one year. Published monthly by H. 8. D. PubUcations, Inc., 2441 Beach Court, Riviera Beach, Fla. 33404. Publications office. 10 Ferry Street, Concord, N. H. 03302. Second class postage paid at Concord, N. H. Copyright H. S. D. Publications, Inc., 1968. All rights reserved. Protection secured under the International and Pan-American copyright convention. Title registered U. S. Pat. OflSee. Keproductlon or use without express permission ol editorial or pictorial content in any manner Is pro hibited. Postage must accompany manuscripts M return is desired but no responsibility will be assumed for unsolicited material. Manuscripts and changes ol addresses should be sent to Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Maga zine, 2441 Beach Court, Riviera Beach, Fla. 33404. No similarity between any of the names, characters, persons and/or institutions appearing In this magazine and those of any living or dead porson or institution Is Intended and any simltarity which may exist Is purely cotooldental. Printed in the U.S.A. LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED With the thought that "all men are created equal," one mttsi hope the filler instinct is an acquired trait. ^ ' IJARRY POLE snapped home the bolt of the rifle and grinned at Peter. "I'm damned," he said, "if you aren't the most opposite guy I've ever known. One minute you kill as if by nature and the next minute you befriend a mongrel pup." Peter chuckled. "I like kids, too, Larry." "Yeah, that'd figure." "Kids and dogs." Peter stroked the head of the mangy pup he had found. He was> content. He had known Larry Pole eleven days. Pole had come in as a replacement, and they had been #- -W^ P^^^^^t^^^'^- ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MVSTERV MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED teamed by the lieutenant. Pole had child before him, and there was a a wife and a child in Chicago; different man. That Peter Holiday k that's all Peter really knew about —fantastically wealthy by birth and the man, and in the beginning he now the only son of a widowed had treated Pole as he did all new mother—was gentle, understanding acquaintances, with caution. Most and sympathetic. people, when they discovered who "I guess my makeup is a bit dif Peter really was, attempted to feed ferent," Peter admitted. "Until now on him, but not Larry Pole. He had Pve never felt whole, but I'm a com seemed unimpressed when he first plete man here, Larry; confident, heard the name Peter Holiday, and in balance. It's as if there has been he had remained unimpressed. Pole a void in my life until now." seemed to like him for the chem Pole continued to wag his head. istry inside. For that reason, Peter "Man, the way I hear it, there can't Holiday liked Larry Pole. have been too many holes in your Now they sat side by side on a life. Some of the guys say you could Uttle hump of ground deep inside buy the U. N. building if yoti took the tall grass. Out there ahead of the notion." - them, obliterated for the moment "I know wealth and its comforts, ^ by the height of the grass, was the yes," Peter nodded. "But something war: the Viet Cong, the snipers, the has been missing, too." suicide squads. But here inside the "Until you got into this man's grass there was quiet and peace and Army, huh?" friendship and the dog. The.pup . Peter was somber. "Until I killed was infested with lice, and Peter my first man, Larry." picked carefully. "Hey, pal, you don't- wanna fig "Kids, dogs and killing." Larry ure that way! That ain't healthy Pole shook his head. "Boy, that's thinking! A guy gets to figuring he some combination." has to kill to be happy and it's like \Peter laughed softly. Pole's ob riding the drug needle. Strictly servation pleased him, because here acid." in Vietnam he had discovered him- Peter, amused by Pole's concern, • . self to be a born killer. He had the laughed. He found a new patch -of instinct and desire and never had lice on the pup and picked- "Maybe known exhilaration such as that ex I should have been born a hood. perienced when he was able to A professional killer." watch another man die. by his gun, "No. Nobody should be born a knife or hand; but put a pup or a killer!" A BORN KILLER LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED The lieutenant's voice came over as he stared briefly at the blue vyater tile grass and down to them: "Holi of the swimming pool, then he day? Pole?" faced the blonde child who stood They stood, the grass waved beside his chair. against their chests, and the sniper's The child was small and trim, bullet went through the pup's head very delicate; in construction. She and into Peter's body. > belonged to Clarence, the combina Peter was discharged and sent tion chauffeur and handyman who home to the California mansion now was beyond the pool, polish and the pampering, blue-rinsed ing the sedan in the shadow of the mother, but neither was salve for three-stall garage, and to Helga, the depression that had settled on who was currendy busy in the him. A sniper's bullet had made kitchen of the main house. The him an incomplete man; he was child, was Peter's friend and' now out of balance again. He fretted. she stood inquisitively silent with He knew the medicine he needed, the dachshund pup at her feet. The but there were laws and mores pup sat with his short forelegs here ... spread and stiff, his head cocked He was not sure when the idea slightly, his long ears drooping, his came to him but he was suddenly large eyes bright and questioning, acutely conscious of the relief he too. experienced with it. His first Peter widened his grin and thoughts centered on someone un "reached out to scratch the pup's known, a nonentity, perhaps a wino head. "Fritzie," he said, and then in a dark alley. • he looked directly into the child's No good.' A defenseless man deep blue eyes. "What is it, Mary- would not bring total satisfaction. anne?" He turned his attention to people The child fidgeted. "Are we . he disliked; \here were many. He going to the beach this~ afternoon? had to plan, lure. He already could You'n me and Fritzie?" smell the danger. His blood ran Peter chuckled and teased, "Do fast. Who was to be his victim? you want to go to the beach ?" Man or woman ? Young or old ? "Yes." "Mr. Peter?" "All right. How 'bout,. oh, At the soft sound of' the child's say, around four o'clock ? I want to voice Peter shot forward in the nap and then—" webbed pool chair, suddenly "Oh, goodie . ; and thank you, stopped. He forced an easy grin Mr. Peter!" ALFRED HITCHCOCK S MYSTERY MAGAZINE LICENSED TO UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED The child ran off around the end She shuffled. "I keep thinking a of the swimming pool, the pup change of scenery might be what—" scuttling along beside her. "No. I don't want to go any "Daddy!" she shrilled. "Mr. Peter where." is going to take us to the beach." "Well ... all right," she said Peter entered the house thro.ugh. softly, and started out of the room, the French doors that opened onto walking toward the carpeted stair the pool patio and stretched out on way. a couch. He smiled. The frolicking Peter stared after her. ActuaUy, child and dog pleased him. He she looked absurd in the yellow . found it difficult to turn his mind sunsuit. She was far too old for to darker thoughts. sunsuits. She was fleshy and unco- Then his mother came through , ordinatcd. There were globs of fat the French doors. She wore a bril in her legs and her arms. Her years liant yellow sunsuit and a huge, of being attractive, exciting and use floppy hat this early afternoon, and ful were far behind-her. _ there was the sheen of perspiration She disappeared up the stairway, on her pink skin. She smiled fondly and the mansion was still in the at Peter "as she swept oil the hat. afternoon heat that poured in the He grimaced inside.