by Jay Bennett
“Why do you come to me with such twisted thoughts, Eddie? Why didn’t you come to me and say, I’m hurt. Help me, Mia. I’m hurt.’ But instead you come as you would to an enemy. An enemy.”
She touched his cheek and kissed it, sending a throb through him. She whispered, “Believe in me, Eddie. Believe.”
“Mia. Mia.”
Her hair brushed close to his face and then strayed over his lips. Her delicate scent was all about him.
“Please. Please.”
All about him, making his blood pound and causing the words to rush to his tight lips, and then break through them.
“Mia. I want so much to believe you. I never loved anybody before. Never in the years I knocked around. There were always girls but never anybody I loved. Not till you came into my life. Not till then.”
“If you love me then you believe me.”
She pressed closer to him, her eyes pleading, her cheeks flushed and hot. The dark green dressing gown had fallen open and he felt the softness of her breasts against the seared flesh of his body. Soft and yielding and cooling. While in his head a hammering began.
“Mia.”
“If you love me as I love you,” she whispered.
Her lips were upon his. Her body quivered in his arms. Her legs trembled against his.
“Mia.”
“Eddie. Hold me closer, dearest. Dearest. Dearest.”
He kissed her again and again and as he did he saw Mateo’s face in the flickering firelight. The poised knife. Its blade hot to his flesh. And for a fleeting instant his body stiffened with terror. Then the instant passed and he began to love Mia with a harsh and desperate hunger.
And as he did, all his doubts and fears vanished.
Only Mia naked in his arms remained.
Only Mia.
Mia.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
He opened the door and stepped into his room. He was about to snap on the light when he heard Al’s voice.
“Keep it off, Eddie.”
Then he saw the solid figure seated on the white bed. The curtains were drawn together and the room was dark. The light from the corridor crept in under the door in a thin line.
Eddie went over to the bed.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” Al said.
“I’m here.”
“Good.” Al’s face appeared harsh and grim in the flare of a match and then vanished back into the darkness. The smell of cigarette smoke weaved about the room. “You’ve been followed much?” he asked.
“I’ve been followed.”
“Sons of bitches were on my back like monkeys. Wouldn’t let go for a minute.” He laughed low and then said, “But I was able to throw them. For a good two hours.”
He grunted. “When they picked up my trail again, they let me have it. Cut me off at a road crossing. Just about sundown. They beat the crap outa me. Looking for the guns.”
“They find them?”
“Had them hidden under the car. Tied to the muffler. No, Eddie. They didn’t find them.”
“Al?”
“Yeah?”
“Ferer wants the money.”
No sound came from the beach; the ocean was wide and silent.
“And?”
“Tomorrow. At ten.”
The cigarette glowed in the darkness.
“We’re to bring it to the Lorraine. Or else.”
“Or else my can,” Al said. “The hell with him.” Eddie sighed low and then said, “I’ve been thinking it over, Al. Doing some real hard thinking. From all angles.”
“And?”
Eddie paused and then said, “I want you to give the money over to him.”
“What?”
“It’s on my back. I want it off once and for all.”
He heard the creak of the bed as Al’s body swung off it. Then he saw the solid figure come through the darkness and over to him. The face was in shadows, but the eyes stood out fierce and bright.
“What’s with you, Eddie? What?”
“I told you I’ve been doing some thinking.”
Al’s voice rang through the room. “The hell with your thinking,” he said. “The hell with it. I told you to leave that to me. Goddam you, Eddie, I told you that.”
His hand reached out and grabbed Eddie’s shoulder. “Where the hell have you been that you come up with such talk now? Where, Eddie?”
“Take your hand off, Al.”
“Where? I got everything all set up. We’re ready to sucker the bastards and take off and you come up with this. With this!”
“Take your goddam hand off me.”
Al slowly released his grip. His breath came in short heavy gasps. “Where were you, Eddie?”
“Where?” Eddie suddenly burst out. “On a beach bare-ass while Ferer tried to burn my guts out.”
“What do you mean?”
“They gave me the works because you ducked out on them.”
“The Spic sons of bitches.”
“They had a knife at my nuts. Ready to cut them off.” His voice rose. “They want the money, Al!”
“Numbers guys. That’s how numbers guys operate. Especially the Spic ones. They go right for where you live. Real savages.”
“They’re not numbers at all. The money was collected for some revolution in South America.”
“What?”
“South America somewhere.”
“South America,” Al said with a short hard laugh. “Who told you that? Ferer?”
Eddie was silent.
“Ferer. He tries all ways on you, don’t he, Eddie? He’ll burn you and soft-soap you all at the same time. He’s a real cutie, isn’t he?”
“Stop laughing at me, Al.”
“Revolution. South America.”
His mocking laughter filled the room. Eddie rose swiftly and faced him. His hands closed into big fists.
“Stop laughing, Al, or I’ll clip you.”
The laughter died out. Then Al said, “I wasn’t laughing at you, Eddie. If anybody’s doing any laughing, they are.”
He turned away from him and went over to. the bed and sat down. Eddie stood still in the darkness, his face tense and white. Then he heard the manager’s voice.
“Revolution. What a load of crap this Ferer baby can sling. Especially when he’s up against a big simple joker like you.”
Eddie moved forward a step. “Take it easy, Al. Stop crowding me.”
“I’ll crowd you to hell and back when it comes to a hundred grand. Revolution. South America. What else did he tell you? That his belly’s all wrapped up in a Spanish flag? I suppose he gave you a song and dance about starving people. Starving people and a dictator snapping the whip over them. And you taking the money away from these poor people. Eddie Doran, the big louse.”
“Shut up!”
But the voice went grimly on. “Your heart’s always in your face, Eddie. And this guy Ferer plays both sides of the street with you. If he can’t burn the money out of you, hell soft-talk it out. Why didn’t he try that load of crap with me?”
Eddie was silent.
Al laughed in a low, taunting voice. “Because he knows I’d spit it right back into his eye. They’re numbers, Eddie. Tough and hard. And for a hundred grand I can be just as tough and hard.”
His voice rose. “Yeah, even tougher. I picked up the guns, Eddie. And now they can go hump themselves for all I care. And if you want to drop out now that’s okay with me.”
“What?”
“That’s what I said, Eddie. I didn’t screw you up to now. I kept my part of the bargain. It was to be an even split down the line. That’s how we always operated, wasn’t it?”
Even from across the room Eddie could still see the glitter in the black eyes.
“If the money’s on your back, fine. Just shift it all over to mine. I can carry it. All the way, Eddie.”
And he thought he could see the scar, threading down the dark face.
“I’ll take them on alone, Eddie. I got nothing
to lose and everything to gain. And if they get me, okay. At least I’ll know I went down with a hundred grand in my hands.”
Eddie listened to the voice and thought of Mia and how much he wanted to be free of the money.
Mia in his arms, and the world was full of hope again. He was no longer a cast-off pug with nowhere to go, but a man in love, a man who had everywhere to go.
“You know where I got this scar, Eddie? When I was a kid, before I met up with you, a guy tried to take something from me. Something that was mine. He ripped my face open, but I still held on to what I had. Yeah, the blood was coming down all over me, but I held on. He never got it, Eddie. Never.”
But the money, the hated money, still stood between them. Until it was back to where it belonged, there would never be any peace in his soul.
“So if you want me to take over, just let me know. I’ll walk out of this room and you’ll never see me again.”
“Al,” Eddie suddenly shouted. “The hell with the money! The hell with it! The hell with it! So it’s numbers money, the hell with it! Let them have it and let them screw themselves with it. Give it back. I want you to get it and give it back. It’s starting to stink!”
“No.”
He moved swiftly over to the bed, his face taut. “It’s got to go back. Do you hear me?”
“I said, no.”
“Al!”
He reached his big hands out to grab him, but as he did he saw the glint of the gun barrel.
“Stay put, Eddie.”
“Al.”
“Stay put or I’ll kill you.”
Eddie stood there, his hands tense at his sides. The barrel was pointed straight at his head. Al’s face was like a block of stone, gray in the darkness.
Then he heard him say, “Listen, you damn fool. Listen to me. You’re being taken for a ride. All the way. Even Joey Alcan’s daughter is in on it.”
“Mia?”
“Mia Alvarez. She’s in with them, you jerk. I told you not to trust her. I told you the minute I saw her.”
Eddie’s hands trembled. And he felt the sweat break out upon his cold forehead.
“She was out to see you on the beach, wasn’t she? I know she was. Laura saw her with you. Saw her kissing you. Was that where you were tonight? Is that where you got the big ideas?”
“Mia?” Eddie whispered.
“In with them. Part of the Ferer deal.”
“Not Mia.”
“Yes. She wants you to give the money back, doesn’t she?”
Eddie looked silently down at the harsh face. And as he looked he felt the whirling, lost feeling begin within. As if it had never ended, but was always lying there, always, always.
He heard Al’s voice as if it came from a great distance.
“It’s the old confidence gimmick. The girl. Use the girl. You get more with a pair of legs, more and quicker than you’ll ever get with a gun. She knows how to use those legs, doesn’t she, Eddie?”
And Eddie heard himself shout, “Shut up, Al! I’ll kill you, gun or no gun!”
“Okay, Eddie.”
The room was silent again. Eddie turned slowly away from him and went over to the window and stood thera Then his hands opened the curtains a bit and he stared into the black night, searching for the cooling sight of the ocean.
Somehow he felt that if he could see it, see it flashing, the pain would leave him.
But all he saw was the dark sweep of the night. Then after a while he said in a dull voice, “How did you know?”
“After I picked up the guns I went back to Collins Avenue. I saw her talking to one of the guys who had been tailing me.”
Eddie didn’t say anything.
“They were standing in front of the bank, Eddie.”
“Ferer knows the money is in the bank,” Eddie said, almost to himself.
“And how do you think he knows?”
Al’s voice clipped out again. “How?”
Eddie’s eyes kept thrusting into the night, the big head bent forward tautly. The image of Mia rose up before him. Mia standing in the splash of sunlight, her black hair shining and the eyes looking luminously into his.
“They’re numbers, Eddie. She’s with them.”
The night rushed in and blotted out Mia’s shining figure. The luminous eyes vanished and all that remained was emptiness.
Eddie fiercely drew the curtains together again. His hands dropped slackly to his sides.
The destroying voice began again. “They got you coming and going, Eddie. If they can’t burn it out of you they’ll screw it out of you. Coming and going. What do you really know about her? What, Eddie?”
“Nothing,” Eddie said.
“Nothing but that she’s Joey Alcan’s daughter. And that’s it. Suddenly she comes out of nowhere and right into your life. From out of nowhere, Eddie. You’ve been doing a lot of thinking. Well, think on that one a while. Did you ever know that Joey Alean was mixed up with some Spic hoods? Did you?”
“No.”
“Well, he was. And he threw two fights for them. They made their dough and then they dumped him.”
“Joey was not the kind to go into a tank.”
“I’m telling you he did. Twice. They dumped him because he was no longer of any use to them. But he was marked all right in their book. And I’m betting you a thousand to one this Ferer guy is of the same mob. That’s how your girl friend comes to be with them.”
Eddie went away from the window and over to the chair. He sat down slowly and heavily upon it. His hands dangled.
“These Spies stick together, Eddie. They were always that way. You should know that.”
“I don’t know anything any more.”
“Still feel like giving the money back?”
The bed creaked and Al got up and came over to him. Eddie saw the light threading along the gun barrel.
“It’s yours, Eddie.”
Then he felt the grim weight of the gun as Al dropped it into his jacket pocket.
“Keep it, pal. I got one, too. Nobody’s going to get you on any beach any more bare-ass. Nobody’s going to horse you around. Not with that in your fist, Eddie. Not with that!”
Eddie’s fingers touched the cold metal and then drew away.
“We’re back in business, Tiger. Aren’t we?”
“Who the hell knows?” Eddie muttered.
“We’re back in business and tomorrow we’ll pick up the money and get the hell out of here.”
Eddie felt the manager’s hand go to his head and rub it vigorously. “Forget her. It was a bad deal and it’s over now.”
Eddie jerked his head away.
“You’re starting to get angry, Eddie. And that’s a good sign. A real good sign.”
Eddie looked up at the patch of face and said harshly, “You got some drinks in your room?”
“Sure, Eddie boy,” Al said.
“I could, use a few.”
“Sure, Eddie. Just killed a bottle with Laura, but there’s always more left. Liquor we always got enough, huh kid?”
Eddie saw him go to the door. Just as the hand reached for the glimmering knob, Eddie asked, “What about Laura?”
Al stopped and turned. “What do you mean?”
“How does she figure in on tomorrow?”
“She’s in, Eddie. All the way.”
He came back through the gloom to him. “I’m making it up to her for the way I treated her last night.” “You should,” Eddie grunted.
“I was off balance. You know I’m not that way with her. I got thrown. You never saw me hit her before, did you? Did you?”
“No.”
“I was the guy who made you take her down here, wasn’t I? And then I got to go and clout her. Off balance, Eddie.” “You were.”
“But I’m back in saddle with her. Just had one of the greatest times with her. The greatest.”
“Get the drinks,” Eddie said.
“Coming up, Tiger.”
The door opened and closed.
Eddie was alone in the darkness.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
He had told Mia that he was going to return the money to Ferer. Once and for all he was going to face up to Al, make him get the money out of the vault box and hand it over. Once and for all. Then he would drive to the Lorraine and rid himself of the hated hundred grand. After that he would call Mia and tell her he was free of it.
He had told Mia that when he was in her arms, the tender darkness hovering about them.
Now it was sunlight, harsh and glaring sunlight. Now he sat in the open car, Laura and Al on either side of him.
“Looks like it’s going to be a good day,” Al said.
“Yeah.”
“A real good one, Tiger. Huh?”
“We’ll make it.”
“That’s the spirit.”
Laura sat silent, her tanned arm leaning on the door, her hair glinting red in the sun. The small face was taut.
“How do you feel, Laura?” Al asked.
“Fine.”
“You know what to do?”
“I know what to do.”
“Check.”
His thick hand rested lightly on the steering wheel; a sardonic smile played on his lips. Eddie glanced at him and then away.
Looking at Al’s face, he had felt a sudden sense of unreality sweep through him. They were not on their way to a bank but just driving along under a tropical sun—three people out for a joy ride.
But his hand went to his pocket and felt the cold metal of the gun, and he knew that everything was real.
“You didn’t have much for breakfast, Laura,” Al said.
“Didn’t have much of an appetite.”
He chuckled. Then he said, “Don’t let it get you, baby.”
“I won’t.”
Al had gone over the plan step by step with them. He had wakened Laura and brought her into the room with him. They had sat in the darkness, drinking and talking. Eddie remembered how coldly and precisely the manager had spoken, while outside on the beach somewhere in the night, the two figures stood motionless.
The same two figures sat now in a car following them.
“I feel like having a swim,” Al said, staring at the sparkling sky. “It’s a shame we don’t have time for it.”
Then he added with a grim smile. “But we’ll have time later on, eh Eddie?”