R. Ruttenberg,
Managing Supervisor
ACME SECURITY AGENCY
1402 “D” Street
Washington, D.C.
Reference #2-179-210 July 20, 1946
Dear Monsieur Barbet:
Global Airways has unexpectedly filed for bankruptcy and is going out of
operation. As far as I can learn, this move was forced by the refusal of the Dallas
First National Bank to grant the loan that was promised. Subject is now unemployed
again and back to earlier patterns of behavior, as outlined in previous reports.
I will not pursue any investigation into the reason for the bank’s refusal of the
loan or Global Airways’ financial difficulties unless you specifically advise me to do
so.
Sincerely,
R. Ruttenberg
Managing Supervisor
Noelle kept all the reports and the clippings in a special leather bag to which she had
the only key. The bag was kept inside a locked suitcase and stored at the back of her
bedroom closet, not because she thought Demiris would pry into her things, but because
she knew how much he loved intrigue. This was Noelle’s personal vendetta, and she
wanted to be sure that Demiris remained unaware of it.
Constantin Demiris was going to play a part in her plan of vengeance, but he would
never know about it. Noelle took a last look at the memorandum and locked it away,
satisfied.
She was ready to begin.
It started with a phone call.
Catherine and Larry were having an uneasy silence-filled dinner at home. Larry had
been home very little lately, and when he was home he was surly and rude. Catherine
understood his unhappiness.
“It’s as though some demon is on my back,” he had told her when Global Airways
had gone bankrupt. And it was true. He had had an incredible run of bad luck. Catherine
tried to reassure Larry, to keep reminding him of what a wonderful pilot he was and how
lucky anyone would be to have him. But it was like living with a wounded lion. Catherine
never knew when he would lash out at her, and because she was afraid of letting him
down, she tried to understand his wild rages and overlook them. The phone rang as she