The Great Slay

by P C Hatter

  “Sure.”

  The elevator in her building was an automated one. And the thick rugs and marble lined corridors were filled with antique furniture and knickknacks. This place was luxury.

  “How can you afford this on a secretary’s salary?”

  “Roommates. Lacy you’ve already met but weren’t formally introduced. She’s the hedgehog. Rita’s a fox. What would you like to drink?”

  “Beer if you have it.”

  We talked, and I told her about the case and little Danny. When I checked my watch, I realized how late it was and told her I had to leave. Elenore did a good job of trying to convince me to stay, and if it wasn’t for the cub, I would have. Instead, I gave her a kiss and told her, “Hold that thought.”

  The thing is, I had trouble getting the thought of her out of my head. So much so I didn’t realize my apartment door had been jimmied or felt the momentary catch in the tumblers before the key when around. I swore and rammed the door with my shoulder before I hit the floor. I heard them, made a grab for them, and they ended on top of me.

  Had I been paying attention, I could have blown their head off, but I didn’t have my gun ready and they got lucky. I thought I had the guy when something hard slammed me in the head and it was lights out tiger.

  CHAPTER 4

  Somehow, I got my eyes open, but getting up off the floor took effort I wouldn’t have used had someone not been pounding on my door. Add to that, the phone was ringing. When I got to the door, the thing was unlocked. The nurse could’ve waltzed right in. Instead, she took one look at me and scowled.

  “I wasn’t drunk,” I said. “Someone jumped me, and I got bashed in the head.”

  The cub didn’t care. He wiggled out of the hedgehogs grasp and climbed up my pantleg into my arms. The little guy had sharp claws. Dawn was shining through the windows, and the phone was still ringing.

  “Sorry about the time.” I turned and picked up the phone leaving the nurse to look around my place. “Hello.”

  “Kaiser, this is Duke. Get down to my office on the double.”

  “What now?”

  “Other than there’s been another murder, and it’s got your name all over it? Get down here before the D.A. sends someone to arrest you. What’s the matter with you?”

  “Other than someone tried caving my head in? I’m fine. I’ll be down in a bit.”

  “Now.”

  I hung up in time to see a delivery boy in the room with a package. “Are you Mr. Wrench?”

  When I nodded, the squirrel handed me a package from Young’s Shop and asked me to sign. The box was stuffed full of clothes for the cub along with a note from Leslie Haze.

  The nurse was still giving me the evil eye, so I handed her back the cub and sat down. “Danny’s father was murdered, and I’m trying to find out who made him an orphan. Somebody doesn’t want me snooping around. At any rate, there’s a chance this’ll happen again. The little guy’s probably safer downstairs with you.”

  “Let me see your head.” The nurse checked me out while the cub found my shoelaces fascinating.

  While she searched for holes I said, “Arrangements are being made for Danny’s permanent care. I don’t know about these things, but hopefully it won’t take long.”

  “There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong, but you should still see a doctor. As for whatever mess you’re dealing with, do keep it away from Danny.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  The nurse took the cub and the package of clothes and went back to her apartment. I cleaned up best I could and headed out. When I got to the station one of the D.A.’s assistance had me ushered into an interrogation room. The chubby chinchilla looked arrogant.

  He didn’t look so smug when Duke came in barking. “What do you think you’re doing? Since when do you take over the duties of my department? I handle homicide, not you.”

  The chinchilla shook a finger at Duke. “The D.A. gave me full—”

  “Get out.” Duke backed it up with a toothy growl, and the guy bolted for the door. “The little shyster tried getting me out of the building on a phony call.”

  “Guess he wants to earn points with his boss.”

  Duke said a few choice words along with an anatomically impossible suggestion and sat down. “I’m sick of that bird walking all over my department. Did you know we tried a raid last night, and all we got was an empty room with holes in the wall and a black board. His crusade is making us all look like idiots.”

  “Was it one of Dean Taylor’s wire rooms?”

  “Who else would it be? Taylor’s is the outfit in this town. As for the D.A., if he tries running roughshod over me again, I’ll cook his goose with the newspapers.”

  “Where is the peacock?”

  “In his office.”

  “Do you mind telling me who got murdered before we go to see him?”

  “Carl Lachlan.”

  “The kiwi? You’ve got to be kidding. Lachlan was Daniel Griggs buddy down at the docks. They were playing the ponies and Lachlan introduced Griggs to Lenard Whitetip. The loan shark I asked you about yesterday. It was yesterday wasn’t it? Anyway, Griggs lost his shirt but somehow managed to pay Whitetip back. The shark has proof.”

  Duke whined and rubbed at his eyes, but when we walked out of the room, he looked like he was ready to tear someone apart. I followed him out the door straight to the D.A.s office. The chinchilla answered Duke’s knock.

  The peacock looked like he was holding court as he sat at his desk with two assistants and two plainclothes thugs as retainers.

  “Sit down Wrench.”

  Ignoring everyone’s look of annoyance, I walked over, planted my hands on his desk and said, “You call me Mr. Wrench. I’m not going to take any crap from you and your lackeys. I came down here to save you the embarrassment of being slapped with a false arrest charge. Do not make me regret that.”

  That ruffled a few feathers, but he wasn’t about to let it go. “We have the facts.”

  “And they are?”

  “Carl Lachlan was shot with a .45.”

  “That would have made a nice hole. Is the bullet from my gun?”

  That’s where his case fell apart. “The bullet went out the window. We’re still looking. But your fingerprints are all over the place, and the landlady identified your picture. She even said you threatened Lachlan.”

  “So, for some reason I went back and shot him? Have you got rocks in that pea brain of yours? Don’t you even bother to ask a person if they have an alibi before you arrest them?” I pointed to the intercom. “Get Mrs. Elenore Blacksaddle in here.”

  The D.A. looked all out of joint, but he called Elenore into his office. She smiled at me but gave the D.A. a puzzled expression until the peacock asked, “Mrs. Blacksaddle, were you with this tiger last night at around eleven o’clock?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where?”

  “In a bar on Fifty-Second Street.”

  “That will be all, Mrs. Blacksaddle.” She walked out of the office and back to her filing while Duke and I headed out of the building to a restaurant down the street. Neither of us said anything until we were seated.

  “You’re a lucky bastard, Kaiser.”

  “That bird has had it in for me from day one. Let’s hope he doesn’t get reelected for another term. Him and his goons are always giving the department a black eye.”

  “I won’t argue with that.”

  “Who’s got to get murdered next before that idiot puts anyone on the case? You’ve got three murders all tied together with a bow.”

  “Relax, Kaiser, I do have some dogs working on the case. The print boys picked up more than just your prints.”

  “Let me guess, Griggs and the mole that sells newspapers on the corner? Who by the way has a record.”

  “With you around, I don’t need a lab.”

  “Your way is easier and safer.”

  Duke took a drink of his beer. “So, tell me what you think happened.”

>   “Just like I told you in your office. What I can’t figure out is who paid off his debt. The docks have been slow, so that leaves borrowing again or stealing. Only he broke into the wrong apartment, and his buddies weren’t buying the excuse.”

  “Why does someone kill Carl Lachlan?”

  “Someone who doesn’t want to be fingered. They kill Griggs because of his screwup, the raccoon because he’s afraid he’ll talk. Seems he’d do the same to Lachlan just in case Griggs said something to him.”

  Duke nodded. “Sounds like what I was thinking.”

  “And you’d be wrong. Griggs had gone straight until he borrowed that money. Whoever paid his debt is the one who put the screws on him, and they had it all planned out. When Griggs made the mistake, he didn’t have time to correct it because Mrs. Haze could of come to at any minute and call the cops.”

  I rapped my knuckles on the table as I talked. “Griggs went back to his apartment to get his cub intending to run but gets trapped. When his partners can’t find the loot on him, the driver kills the raccoon and goes back to search Griggs’ place.”

  “So, you think the driver is responsible for Griggs’ death?” asked Duke.

  “Seems that way.”

  “Where is he?”

  “Wish I knew. I’d put a bullet in his head.”

  Duke looked at me sideways for a while until I asked, “What?”

  “Did you tell Guy Marsh that you were going to give him the business if he had anything to do with Daniel Griggs?”

  “How’d you find that out?”

  “I have my own sources, so please stay away from Guy, and don’t get to messing with police cases. The D.A. has that chameleon followed all night and day.”

  “Then why was I pulled in today? The D.A.’s goons would have seen me at the Aquarium Bar.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Dean Taylor and Guy Marsh were at the Aquarium Bar last night.” Duke’s ears flattened, his hair rose, and he barred his teeth. There was only one explanation. “I take it Guy Marsh gave your dogs the slip.”

  Duke went back to his beer. “Guy Marsh has nothing to do with Daniel Griggs. There is no connection. And whatever you do, don’t try pulling a frame.”

  Surprised by the comment I asked, “What made you think I’d do that?”

  “I don’t know. Just… The two aren’t connected.” Duke drained his glass and left the bar. Work was definitely getting to Duke.

  The bartender asked if I wanted another beer. I said no, but I did need change for a quarter in order to use the payphone. Leslie Haze wasn’t at home. She was at the Magic Theater located just outside Greenwich Village. When I called the theater, I was told she was rehearsing, but if I was a friend, I could come down and watch.

  From the outside, the theater looked more like a warehouse and with the weather turning hot outside, inside the building turned into a sauna with a side of heavy perfume.

  A cat in a toga let me in and locked the door behind me. The female wiggled her backside as she led me in the direction of all the noise. Two other females were standing in the wings cool as you please. One of them had her toga wide open, and I could see why. The Whippet didn’t have a stitch on underneath.

  “Doris, we have a visitor,” said the cat.

  The Whippet ran her eyes over me and replied, “Yes, we do.”

  I smiled, tipped my hat and stepped into the auditorium. The view felt more normal with the plush seats facing the stage, and I had an even better view of Leslie Haze.

  When the director called for a break, Leslie rushed off the stage to meet me. “Did you get my package?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. How is the cub?”

  “Better than me. Someone tried to bash my head in last night. If I find out who the guy was, I’ll knock some sense into him.”

  “You’re all right, aren’t you?”

  “I’m still standing.”

  The swelling on her face had gone down, and the shiner covered in makeup. Leslie was gorgeous and looked at me like she knew what she wanted for dinner. “Maybe I can help you with that.”

  “Later, unless you want to give your cast ideas.”

  “That’s a thought. But no, I want you all to myself. Tonight then.”

  I pulled out my cigarettes and lit one up. “There’s been another murder.”

  “Oh no. Who?”

  “Griggs’ buddy from the docks. A kiwi by the name of Carl Lachlan. This whole case is like some insane chain reaction.”

  “Well my upstairs neighbor was convinced to keep his money in the bank. None of the neighbors want to chance meeting a burglar.”

  “Too bad he didn’t think of doing that before. You could have been killed.”

  Leslie squeezed my arm. “What are you going to do now?”

  “Keep digging. There’s been some interesting names that have popped up. Names like Dean Taylor, Guy Marsh, and Nelson Saldonia.

  A tigress stepped out from behind a curtain and walked over. “Nelson Saldonia? Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long while.”

  I had to blink several times before I could comprehend who I was seeing. Nancy Steward was one of the top ten actresses in Hollywood, and she was standing right in front of me.

  Leslie did the introductions, and like an idiot, I asked, “Why are you here?”

  “It’s not only a hobby, but good publicity.”

  It took Leslie poking me in the back to stop acting like a moonstruck fan, and I asked, “How do you know Nelson Saldonia?”

  “I didn’t actually know him, but he was an avid letter writer. All the stars and starlets received letters from him along with flowers, cards, and gifts. Ask Leslie, she also got her share of fan mail. Though I think she had a secretary to deal with most of it.”

  “That was a while back.”

  The tigress twirled her cigarette holder and made a tsk noise. “It’s not nice to remind an actress of the passing of time, but I’ll forgive you.”

  “Did Saldonia ever follow up his letters?”

  “No.” Nancy shook her head. “When he was still news, the papers would mention his current crushes, but as far as I know, he never came out to the coast. What’s so important about him?”

  “Probably nothing. His name’s come up a couple times in an investigation, that’s all.”

  “Kaiser is a private investigator,” said Leslie.

  “Sounds exciting.”

  Leslie gave Nancy a hard glare while holding onto my arm, and the tigress responded with a pout before looking at me, “Perhaps I’ll see you around.”

  I smiled and watched her wander off. “Is there anything or anyone else I need to be warned about?”

  “You mean like starlets, television personalities, and comics? There’s a few backstage.”

  “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll stay where I’m at.” I squeezed the hand she had wrapped around my arm and smiled.

  A young leopard with his arm in a sling tapped Leslie on the shoulder, “Two minutes, Mrs. Haze.”

  She nodded in acknowledgement, and he walked back to the stage.

  “He’s got a crush on you.”

  “Yes. Poor thing. He’s the one I told you about falling off a ladder. I rushed in to help and now he’s infatuated. Next month it will be someone else.”

  “Don’t be so sure.”

  Somewhere on stage someone started banging on a piano and several beauties wandered across the stage not caring what they were showing off, putting me on visual overload.

  “I’m getting jealous, Kaiser.”

  I turned around to find Leslie lounging in a chair without her toga and wearing an impish grin.

  “You don’t have to be jealous of anyone.”

  CHAPTER 5

  Once out of the dark theater and back into the bright light of the sun, I sat in my car smoking until I could get ahold of myself again. Seeing all those gorgeous females with Leslie and Nancy out front was more t
han I could handle.

  Eventually, my thoughts returned to the case and the questions that went with it. I started the car and decided to visit the bar where I first met Lachlan.

  The bartender remembered me when I walked in the door and glanced around as if looking for help or a possible escape route. There was no one in the bar, and the bull didn’t look like he could run the obstacle course and not get his horns stuck in something.

  “I just want to know who they were.” I leaned in close, so my coat hung loose enough to see the straps of the holster.

  “Look I—”

  “How nice do you want me to ask the question?” I followed up the question with a toothy smile.

  “They said they were private detectives. They had badges. I don’t know who they are, but one of the guys said they were uptown heavies. The coyote called the pig Knuckles.”

  “Anything else?”

  “That’s all I know. I swear.”

  I gave him a low growl, but he only flinched. “Do me a favor. The next time you see either of those two, call the cops.”

  The bull looked at me like I was crazy. “And get my head blown off?”

  “Listen. Griggs, Lachlan, and a raccoon are all dead because of what they got up to. Someone is cleaning house, and you don’t want to be mistaken for part of the trash. Got it?”

  He stared at me wide eyed until my words sank in. “Got it.”

  When a couple of longshoremen walked in, I walked out and found myself a comfortable payphone to sit and call the other agencies in the city. The thugs could have fake badges, but there was always a chance they were legit.

  None of the agencies knew the description, but when I switched to calling uptown precincts, one of the desk sergeants said he thought the name was familiar. So, I called Duke.

  “Can you look up a private detective with the nickname of Knuckles? He’s a pig and his partner’s a coyote.”

  “I am not your personal secretary.”

  “Of course not. You don’t have the legs for it.”

  “I’m serious, Kaiser. I’ve got enough trouble trying to do my job and keep the D.A. off my back. Not only did another raid go south, but Taylor was down here with a bunch of lawyers. My own dogs are being investigated, and I hate that.”