NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Crime writer John D. MacDonald, a master of the genre, was so prolific that sometimes even he couldn't keep up with what he was doing.
He might have dozens of stories in submission at once and would leave some unfinished or unpublished as he moved on to a new idea. One of the surviving manuscripts was recently discovered and appears this week in the literary quarterly which has run rarities by and many others. "The Accomplice鈥� is an early work from the author known for his Travis McGee series and for the novel 鈥淭he Executioners,鈥� retitled 鈥淐ape Fear鈥� in two film adaptations.
The newly seen story, a narrative of lust, betrayal and dangerous choices, was found in the archives at the University of Florida.
鈥淩aw and gritty, the narrative embraces classic noir tropes, only to flip them in quintessential MacDonald style with an unexpected and thought-provoking finale,鈥� Strand managing editor Andrew F. Gulli writes in the current issue.
鈥淭he Accomplice鈥� is set in a grocery store where a 鈥渘early鈥� 18-year clerk named Joey works alongside the middle-aged owner, John Mallon, and his younger wife, Belle, whom MacDonald introduces as tall and long-faced, very white and so thin and taut that 鈥渉er hips stuck out against the dresses she wore.鈥� Before long, she is paying close attention to Joey, who would prefer 鈥� at first 鈥� that she keep it all professional.
鈥淚t scared him a little when he realized that when they were alone, in the store he鈥檇 head for the space behind the meat counter or the entrance to the cellar where the stock was kept, knowing that she would find some excuse to go by him,鈥� MacDonald writes.
鈥淎fter he realized that, he had a hard time getting to sleep at night and sometimes he would dream about her. In the dreams she was cold to touch, and like snakes. And then she would get mixed up in the dream with other girls.鈥�
In a plot turn known to fans of 鈥淒ouble Indemnity鈥� and other noir favorites, Belle proposes that they kill her husband and use the insurance money to go into business together.
"She whispered, 鈥楬ow are we going to do it, Joey?鈥欌��
MacDonald was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, in 1916, and later moved with his family to Utica, New York, where he was still living when he wrote 鈥淭he Accomplice.鈥� He settled in Sarasota, Florida in the early 1950s and remained for decades before dying in Milwaukee, in 1986. His books have sold millions of copies and numerous authors, including Stephen King, have cited him as an influence. He is especially loved in Florida, and was honored in song by another famous state resident, Jimmy Buffett, who offered tribute in 鈥淚ncommunicado.鈥�
According to MacDonald scholar Calvin Branche, the author likely wrote 鈥淭he Accomplice鈥� in the late 1940s-early 1950s and set it aside amidst other projects. His wife, Dorothy, had gotten one of his stories published while he was serving overseas in World War II, and he was anxious to follow up, writing some 80 hours a week. MacDonald was still a few years away from his Travis McGee books, but Branche said that 鈥淭he Accomplice鈥� did anticipate the moral struggles of McGee and other MacDonald protagonists.
鈥�(Joey) stands up to her temptation despite having initially thought her plan and a future with her might be good,鈥� Branche says. 鈥淭he reader is pleased with this conclusion, and it is the kind of insight characters find in many of the stories.鈥�
Hillel Italie, The Associated Press
