Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. Vol. 20, No. 1, January 1975

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It was not a party that Leopold wanted to attend.

Celebrating fortieth birthdays, or helping others to celebrate them, was not especially his idea of a good time. He was too far past forty himself to want a reminder of it, and of the happy home life that went with it. By his own fortieth birthday he’d been divorced six years.

However, Lieutenant Fletcher had urged him to come. “Hell, Captain, it’s a night out! Pete Garraty doesn’t turn forty every day. His wife especially asked me to urge you.”

“I know,” Leopold said with a sigh. “She phoned me too. But it’s different for you and Carol. For one thing, you’re about his age. And for another, you’ve got a wife to bring along.”

“Millie said you could bring someone if you wanted to.”

Sure.

“Ah, come on, Captain! Pete’s an assistant D.A. It won’t look good if you don’t show up. He’s getting popular at city hall.”

Departmental politics could be even worse than fortieth birthday parties. Leopold surrendered and reached for his afternoon coffee. “All right, Fletcher, I’ll be there. What time?”

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