by Simon Swift
He strided through the door, with Daniels at one side and the dandy at the other, scanned the room and smiled when his eyes settled on me. He didn't hold eye contact for more than a second, ordered drinks from the bar and whispered something in the ear of his sidekick before coming over.
He stood over me offering a huge hand. I remained seated and he made a comic face at Daniels before joining me in the booth sitting right across from me.
"Mr. Black, may I take the opportunity to welcome you to Woodstock. What an honor it is to meet you at last and that's no lie. An honor indeed. How are you sir?"
I failed to answer and so the man continued...
"First of all, I must apologize for the rather cloak and dagger way I have gone about this but my patience was at an absolute end. I am not a gangster I want you to understand. Far from it in fact, although my late brother was quite accomplished in that particular trade. I may have learned a few tricks from him before he died," he said innocently before carrying on...
"When I have explained the situation you will understand I am sure you will."
He shook his watermelon head. "You've been proving a very difficult man to get hold of, I'm afraid. It seems that all the rumors and mystique about the daring, brilliant Errol Black are true. Too true..."
"Tell the kid to put his piece on the table," I interrupted. "Either he puts it right there, where I can see, it or he walks out of here. Alternatively I walk out of here."
"I don't think that you will do that, Mr. Black. Not before hearing me out. Audrey," he said and looked over his shoulder at the kid, "Why don't you wait in the car."
The kid scowled, gave me a 'you're dead' look and stomped out of the bar, kicking the sawdust as he went. The dandy looked at Coward who nodded and then he too left the bar.
"There is no need to be so confrontational Mr. Black, there really isn't. Audrey is a good kid, he is not here to cause you any discomfort or harm."
"Audrey is far from a good kid. Not only is he wanted in the City for a string of crimes, but I'm sick of the sight of him. You do know that he's been my regular little companion these last few days, what with breaking into my apartment and then my hotel room and all the while he's been sticking closer to me than my own hair. He's a goddammned pain in the ass!"
The Portly Gangster giggled. "He has been paying you close attention that much is true. Although you will soon understand my reluctance to let you out of my sight I am sure you will."
"He's lucky I haven't put a bullet in him."
"Come come, Sir. I was hoping this would be a friendly meeting. Let's not us start off on the wrong foot."
I smiled inwardly. After what he had been up to he was now worried about starting off on the wrong foot. The man was a card, I'd give him that.
"We already got off on the wrong foot Coward when you killed Dyke Spanner."
His face was filled with surprise and horror. "Be careful, Mr. Black. I would not go repeating such lies if I were you. I had nothing to do with the unfortunate death of the young man Spanner. Am I not correct in thinking that it is you that is suspected of such a crime, not I or anyone that I am involved with?"
He was right so I left it at that. I had no evidence at all to suspect that Dyke's murder was connected to The Coward and even if I did, I wanted to hear what he had to say. Not however before I knocked him back a peg or two.
"Okay, so we'll cross murder off the list, but how about kidnap? You admitted as much on the telephone and as I am sure you know I do record all my telephone messages."
The Coward raised his nose in the air and dabbed at his considerable cheeks with his handkerchief, unmoved by my threat. He took a measured sip of his drink and plucked out a long, gold cigarette holder, before filling it with a French Gauloise and lit it up. The smoke burned brightly and smelled foul.
"Ah yes, the voluptuous Marlow...so helpful. You are very much the hero aren't you, Mr. Black? I bet that you thought you could swagger into this bar, sling her over your shoulder and ride off into the sunset. Mmm, very interesting. She is in absolute first class health I assure you...And..."
I tried to interrupt, but the tone of the man's voice loudened, "You will get your chance to talk to Miss Marlow a little later. If you are cooperative, of course. She is, what they call my banker, my ace in the hole if you like. But before we get to your love life we have some very important business to take care of."
Again the man giggled, his flabby cheeks beaming out like a beacon.
I stayed silent and took another drink. I was damned if I was going to get into an argument with this clown. Not yet. Soon enough the truth would come out. I would just have to bide my time and play along.
"I don't take kindly to threats, Mr. Black, as has become crystal clear neither do you? So let's put all our threats, our anger and all of our macho bargaining aside just for the minute. You asked for Audrey to leave and he has. You have threatened me and I - in my haste - have done likewise. If you really believe me to be the perpetrator of the heinous crimes you allege then there is nothing to prevent you from shooting me down right now. You would probably escape as well a man of your talents. But I urge you to hold fire for just a moment and let us talk like the gentlemen that we are."
I ordered another drink and the bartender brought it over promptly, once again leaving us alone.
"Okay, let's cut to the quick shall we. What do you want from me?" I said.
The man smiled and giggled like a child. "First, I must ask you one question and I would appreciate it if you give me a truthful answer."
I nodded.
"Are you here alone, like I requested? As you can see I am now here alone, so are you? I do hope so."
I took a sip of the beer. It was still cold and it slowed the perspiration on the back of my neck. I nodded and said, "Yes I am alone. Now I ask you once more, what do you want from me?"
The Coward pursed his lips, his big bulbous, purple lips and dabbed at the corner of his mouth with his handkerchief before tucking it back in his breast pocket. He looked at me as he said it.
"Okay, enough joking around, let's get down to business..."
His eyes widened with excitement. Two tiny specks on a mass of flesh,
"I will now tell you the story of the Hope Diamond. It is truly one of the most special and treasured gems that the world has ever seen. Named after a one-time purchaser Henry Thomas Hope, this particular diamond has an illustrious history most of which is shrouded in mystery, myth and make believe. Are you a diamond lover, Errol, are you? Surely a man such as yourself knows that it is the diamond that is a girl's best friend, although maybe you beg to differ?"
I said nothing, only I couldn't help smiling as this preposterous man, would-be killer, continued his tale...
"One significant part of the story cannot be verified, but is now largely accepted as fact. This is that the Hope is in fact a cutting from the more famous Blue Tavernier Diamond, a stone once owned by King Louis XIV. The Tavernier was discovered many centuries ago somewhere in southern India where it was revered and worshipped for having mystical powers, probably due to it's unique color and size. It's not your average engagement ring diamond, no the Tavernier is a very special deep, indigo blue and is quite exquisite in its beauty.
"It was in 1642 that the Tavernier was brought to Europe by the good King Louis. In his haste, the silly man had the diamond cut from 113 carats to a mere 67.50 and the more famous Hope was created. It was so big, you understand, that it could be cut and still the result was quite incredible. Not long after it was cut the diamond went missing, probably stolen during the French revolution and in fact did not turn up again for quite a while.
"It is in this time that many stories, much of which I am sure are quite untrue, started circulating. The diamond passed from owner to owner, from sultan to king, from jeweler to thief. Nobody knows exactly where it was during the years that it was stolen but in 1830 when a diamond much smaller than the original Tavernier, but with a remarkably similar color
and texture, was bought by Henry Thomas Hope, an English banker, the Tavernier had been restored to the world. Although from now on it would of course come to be known as the Hope diamond, rather an absurd name considering the fate that had befallen its owners to date.
"At the turn of the century it was purchased as a gift for a young lady, Evalyn Walsh McLean the wife of Ned McLean. Ned owned the Washington Post and the Cincinnati Enquire and paid an incredible $185,000 from the current owners Cartier. It is Mrs. McLean that still owns this incredible diamond and good luck to the woman but it is not there that the story ends."
He stubbed out his cigarette and took a long drink before wiping the corners of his mouth. He now had my full attention. I had a good idea where he was leading but I decided to remain silent and waited for his next move.
"So far, Mr. Black I have not told you anything that you could not easily have discovered for yourself. A few hours in the Central Manhattan Library for instance or perhaps a few telephone calls around the more knowledgeable scholars of our great nation. However it is not the Hope diamond that interests me."
"It's not?" I said in mock surprise.
"What it does not tell you in the history books, and this is probably because it is still as yet unconfirmed by the correct authorities, is that the Hope was in fact one of two cuttings taken from the Tavernier. It was the larger and I am quite sure the most expensive but for the true admirer of the essence of diamonds it was quite certainly the lesser beautiful stone."
The bartender once again replenished our empty glasses but this time we both ignored the man. I was quite engrossed in this story of unchartered history and Coward was an equally enthusiastic storyteller...
"Think about it, Sir. The Tavernier was originally 113 carats and the Hope is a mere 67.5. This does not mean that the second diamond is 45.5, as you are probably aware it does not work quite like that but it is still a considerable stone."
He closed his tiny eyes and took a deep breath, as if savoring the finest fragrance before breathing out and his lips trembled in ecstasy.
"A very fine gem indeed, Sir, a most wonderful gem and what is more its rightful owner is sitting right here."
I smiled. "Is that right?"
The Portly Gangster nodded.
"Can I have a look at this blue rock?"
His smile evaporated and a look of anger flashed across his oversize face. There was a pause, quite a long pause that must have lasted almost five minutes. All the time I stared right at The Coward and he studied my bland face as if searching for the diamond behind my eyes.
Eventually he broke the spell.
"The history of the second diamond is much harder to chart than that of the Hope. For whatever reason it was lost in time and what's lost is sometimes forgotten. But I did it. I found it, Mr. Black, and it took a good deal of my life. Not just a little searching you understand for that I would have hired a man such as yourself, no to find this diamond it needed a lifetime's dedication and that is what I gave it."
"What does this have to do with me?" I asked, looking at my watch, "If you found the diamond then everyone's happy."
"Ah well, yes indeed I did find it, Sir, but as things often are in life it was taken away from me. Stolen you could say and not in a night raid by some unsavory character. No the diamond was plundered from me by my own flesh and blood."
I repeated, "And what does this have to do with me?"
"We have now reached our endgame, Mr. Black. You have been a very good listener and now it is time for cards to be laid on the table as it were. Some years ago - how shall I put it? - you were witness to a very significant event. You must remember Sir; it quite irreversibly changed your life?"
"There's been a few cases that beat me - not many but every now and then it does happen and there are many reasons for that. A heavy cold or good beating, no way, but sometimes cases aren't meant to be solved. That said there are very few that have changed my life."
"You really are a character, by Christ you are. You make me want to offer you a deal. How about it Sir, do you fancy coming on board? We'll do what we have to do, and then you can become my personal detective. It'd sure be worth it, just for your little quirks and comments, I'm sure it would."
I looked at him with distaste. "Don't be sure I'm as crooked as I'm supposed to be," I answered. "Hell, you could probably pay me more money than I could ever earn, but I don't like you or your boys and I don't like your methods one bit. Get on with the story or I will walk!"
The man couldn't control his laughter. "A character, that's no lie."
He took a while, but soon enough calmed down, stopped laughing and began again...
"Well Sir, the incident that I have in mind did indeed change your life. The incident in question my good man is the closest you ever got to the big time. It was in all the papers, talked about on the news although your name and that of your associates was curiously absent. That was extremely skillful hiding, Mr. Black and you have my compliments."
I remained silent...
The Portly Gangster sighed a heavy sigh, which sounded like the deflation of a rather large rubber dinghy before continuing…
"You may as well quit the mask of innocence, Mr. Black. Of course you already know all about the Diamond because you are in possession of it, or at least you have access to it. I do not doubt that you were not fully aware of its unique history, its incredible value or indeed who it belongs to. But now, Mr. Black you are in full possession of the facts I think maybe it is time to do some real business. I will of course pay you very handsomely, very much more than the market value of the blue rock as you so eloquently put it."
He watched me like a child waiting for candy.
I shook my head. "I'm sorry Coward, you’ve lost me. I don't know anything about the damn diamond and even if I did..."
"The mask of innocence is very impressive, Mr. Black. Very impressive indeed, maybe you should consider a career in the movies when all of this is over. I have several very good contacts in the Hollywood industry I could put a good word in for you..." he held up a finger, "but it does not wash. This is where we come around to your friend, Dyke Spanner. He has told me all about it you see. How you were the last person to talk to my dying sibling before he was taken to the hospital. There was you, there was Spanner and there was your former boss. Now there is just you, as the others are both no longer with us."
I got to my feet. The Coward put a hand on my shoulder and shook his head.
"He refused to do business until you were present. He said that it was you that held the key to the diamond. That is quite understandable, but there was no need to kill the man. I could quite easily have had that arranged for you and still paid you your dues for the diamond."
"I don't know what Spanner told you but he was lying. I don't know a damn thing about any diamond and..." I leaned over the Coward and took his collar in my fist, lifting it high enough to make his face redder than it already was, "I did not kill him. But I have got a good idea who did. If he refused to do business with you then that seems like a pretty good motive to me."
I relaxed my grip and started to walk away.
"I have a witness Mr. Black."
I stopped and turned around. The Portly Gangster was smiling widely and patted the seat. My eyes narrowed as a wave of anger washed over me. I took a deep breath and once again sat down.
"Yes indeed, you do remember Audrey don't you Sir? As you already know he is in rather a bit a trouble with the law enforcement boys but..." he opened his palms,"...deals can be done. You see Dyke Spanner refused to sell the diamond. You tried to persuade him but he would not budge. I don't suppose that you meant to kill him, but your attempts were repeatedly knocked back and it just happened. Audrey saw you do it..."
"Audrey is a no good murderous punk, he'd be laughed out of court."
"As did Miss Marlow, although I am sure she would not want to testify."
And it was now that his grin got wider and he beamed at me like a wicke
d child.
"So if you killed her also to shut her up," he sighed deeply. "Well that may be just enough to convince the most hardened doubter."
This time I got up and did not turn back. I heard Coward's parting shot which was, "Think about it Black. Don't be hasty there is a lot at stake here. I will be in touch."
But I was too mad to think straight and I just walked right out of the Wyatt Earp and kept on walking until I was too tired to walk any longer.
Chapter Fourteen – Liam Tighe
If anyone had been following me they would have had it easy as I was taking no precautions. I was way too mad to bother about double backing on myself or looking in shop windows for surreptitious tourists. My body was shaking and my mind was spinning which was not good news for self preservation and when I found myself down by the park I took a seat on a bench and smoked five Lucky Strikes. All that achieved was to give me one hell of a sore throat and a raging headache but thirty minutes later, I was back in the land of the living and began to contemplate the worsening situation I found myself in.
It was now patently clear that I had been set up right from the beginning. I was not certain who was part of the set up and who was an innocent bystander, or who had been used in the scam, but this whole thing went right back to the night when Claudia walked into my office and everything after was dubious.
I felt sure that Dyke had been killed by the Portly Gangster for refusing to sell the diamond, but I had little chance of proving this. Instead it looked like I would be chasing my own tale to avert being strapped to the happy chair and sent to sleep. Everything he said was right; I was on the spot with a motive a means and a track record to have carried out the murder myself. Add on a witness in Audrey Daniels who was eager to cut a little slack with the NYPD, backed up by the more believable Marlow and my bacon was in the fryer. With the only alternative to Marlow's testimony being her own murder, which was sure to be another set up to make it look like I had done her in as well. That was the ingenious bit; why else would I follow her here to Woodstock whilst under a restrictive court order not to leave the City. Her body would be cold and the police would be breaking down the door of my hotel suite before I had a chance to do anything about it.