The Second Letter
About three-fifteen Belder rang Bertha in her office.
“Everything all set?” Bertha asked when she heard his voice on the line.
“Mrs. Cool, I’m afraid this is more complicated than I’d suspected.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Mrs. Goldring is down here for some specific purpose. I’m afraid that letter did more damage than I had anticipated. Sally seems to have left, and my wife may have decided to leave also. She may have met the person who wrote those letters, and— I can’t explain in detail—”
“And your mother-in-law doesn’t know where Mabel is?”
“No. And she’s sticking with me every minute of the time so that I can’t do a thing. My hands are completely tied.”
“Where are you now?”
“Out at my house.”