The Accused / The Snatch - Paperback

THE ACCUSED

Alvin Morlock isn't looking for a wife, but after a wild weekend away from his duties teaching English to a bunch of unresponsive college students, meeting Louise is a nice surprise. She seems so demure, quiet and sensitive. But after their hasty marriage, Morlock finds out that Louise is anything but demure.

It starts with her not paying the household bills, several hundred dollars' worth. Then she starts staying out, coming back drunk and argumentative-or not coming back at all. All Morlock wants is a bit of peace and quiet. All he wants is to be left to his memories of better days... Now he finds himself on trial for murder, with every witness testifying against him.

THE SNATCH

There are three of them now, but the plan started with two-Howard Mollison and Lou Morgan. Mollison is a used car salesman who got in too deep with a financial scam, and now has to come up with several thousand dollars in a hurry. Morgan tried to keep up his social position and borrowed more than he could afford, and is just as desperate to get his hands on some quick cash. So the two of them decide to kidnap the money-lender Anacosta's young grandson.

Mollison doesn't trust Morgan to do the job right, so he brings in simple-minded Patsy to guard the kid at the old textile mill. He knows he can get Patsy to do what's necessary when the job is done. But he was right not to trust Morgan. Because Morgan begins to develop a conscience. Keeping the boy alive is more challenging than the snatch itself because Morgan has to outwit his own partner to do so.