Wheres the gun?
I give you credit enough to have gotten rid of it.
What happens when you put those witnesses on the stand?
He frowned and grated his teeth again.
It sounds to me, I told him, that they might make pretty crummy witnesses. They must be sterling characters.
Theyll do, he said. Im waiting to hear who it is that can alibi you.
I didnt have to answer that. Pat walked in the office, his face gray around the mouth, but when his eyes lit on the smirking puss of the D.A. it disappeared. Bright boy gave him an ugly stare. Pat tried for a little respect and didnt make it. Ive heard him talk to guys in the line-up the same way he did to the D.A. I was with him last night. If you had let the proper department handle this you would have known it sooner. I went up to his apartment about nine and was there until four A.M. playing cards.
The D.A.s face was livid. I could see every vein in his hand as he gripped the end of the desk. Howd you get in?
Pat looked unconcerned. Through the back way. We parked around the block and walked through the buildings. Why?
What was so interesting at this mans apartment that made you go there?
Pat said, Not that its any of your business, but we played cards. And talked about you. Mike here said some very uncomplimentary things about you. Shall I repeat them for the record?
Another minute of it and the guy would have had apoplexy. Never mind, he gasped, never mind.
Thats what I mean about having witnesses with sterling characters, mister, I chipped in. I take it the charges are dropped?
His voice barely had enough strength to carry across the room. Get out of here. You, too, Captain Chambers. He let his eyes linger on Pat. Ill see about this later.
I stood up and fished my other deck of Luckies. The cop with the smashed cigars still sticking out of his pockets watched me with a sneer. Got a light? He almost gave me one at that until he realized what he was doing. I smiled at the D.A., a pretty smile that showed a lot of teeth. Remember about my license. Ill give you until the end of the week.
The guy flopped back in his chair and stayed there.
I followed Pat downstairs and out to his car. We got in and drove around for ten minutes going nowhere. Finally Pat muttered, I dont know how the hell you do it.
Do what?
Get in so much trouble. That reminded me of something. I told him to stop and have a drink, and from the way he swung around traffic until we found a bar I could see that he needed it.
I left him at the bar to go back to the phone booth where I dialed the Globe office and asked for the sports editor. When Ed came on I said, This is Mike, Ed. I have a little favor to ask. Rainey was knocked off last night.
He broke in with, Yeah, I thought you were going to tell me if anything happened. Ive been waiting all day for you to call.
Forget it, Ed, things arent what youre thinking. I didnt bump the bastard. I didnt know he was going to get bumped.
No? His tone called me a liar.
No, I repeated. Now listen . . . what happened to Rainey is nothing. You can do one of two things. You can call the D.A. and say I practically forecasted what was going to happen last night or you can keep quiet and get yourself a scoop when the big boom goes off. Whatll it be?
He laughed, a typical soured reporters laugh. Ill wait, Mike. I can always call the D.A., but Ill wait. By the way, do you know who Raineys two partners were?
Tell me.
Petey Cassandro and George Hamilton. In Detroit they have quite a rep, all bad. Theyve both served stretches and theyre as tough as they come.
Theyre not so tough.
No . . . you wouldnt think so now, would you? Well, Mike, Ill be waiting to see what gives. Its been a long time since I had a scoop on the police beat.
Pat wanted to know what I did and I told him I called the office. I straddled the stool and started to work on the highball. Pat had his almost finished. He was thinking. He was worried. I slapped him on the back. Cheer up, will you? For Petes sake, all you did was make the D.A. eat his words. That ought to make you feel great.
Pat didnt see it that way. Maybe Im too much cop, Mike. I dont like to lie. If it wasnt that I smelt a frame I would have let you squirm out of it yourself. The D.A. wants your hide nailed to his door and hes trying hard to get it.
He came too damn close to getting it to suit me. Im glad you got the drift of the situation and knew your way around my diggings well enough to make it sound good.
Hell, it had to sound good. How the devil would you be able to prove you were home in bed all night? That kind of alibi always looks mighty foolish on a witness stand.
Id never be able to prove it in a million years, chum, I said.
The drink almost fell out of his hand when it hit him. He grabbed my coat and spun me around on the stool. You were home in bed like you said, werent you?
Nope. I was out seeing a guy named Rainey. In fact, I shot him.
Pats fingers loosened and his face went dead-white. God!
I picked up my glass. I shot him, but it wasnt in the head. Somebody else did that. I hate like hell to put you on the spot, but if were going to tie into a killer the both of usll do better than just one.
Pat rubbed his face. It still didnt have its normal color back. I thought he was going to get sick until he gulped down his drink and signaled for another. His hands shook so bad he could hardly manage it without the ice chattering against the glass.
You shouldntve done it, Mike, he said. Now Ill have to take you in myself. You shouldntve done it.
Sure, take me in and have the D.A. eat your tail out. Have him get you booted off the force so some incompetent jerk can take your place. Take me in so the D.A. can get his publicity at the expense of the people. Let a killer go around laughing his head off at us. Thats what he wants.
Hell, cant you see how the whole thing smells? It reeks from here to there and back again. Pat stared into his glass, his head shaking in outrage. I went to see Emil Perry. Rainey was there. Perry tied up with Wheeler because he gave an excuse for Wheelers suicide when actually he didnt even know the guy except to say hello to at business affairs. Perry ties in with Wheeler and Rainey ties in with Perry.
Every month Perry had been pulling five grand out of his bank. Smell it now. Smells like blackmail, doesnt it? Go on, admit it. If you wont heres something that will make you admit it. Yesterday Perry withdrew twenty grand and left town. That wasnt traveling expenses. That was to buy up his blackmail evidence. I went out to his house and found what was left of it in his fireplace.
I reached inside my coat for the envelope and threw it down in front of him. He reached for it absently. Now Ill tell you what started the Rainey business. When I first saw Perry I told him I was going to find out what it was that Rainey had on him and lay the whole thing in the open. It scared him so much he passed out. Right away he calls Rainey. He wants to buy it back and Rainey agrees. But meanwhile Rainey has to do something about it. He took a shot at me right on Broadway and if I had caught a slug there wouldnt have been a single witness, thats the way people are.
When I went out to see him I put it to him straight, and just to impress him I ploughed a hole in his leg. I did the same thing to one of his partners.
I didnt think Pat had been listening, but he was. He turned his head and looked at me with eyes that had cooled down to a sizzle. Then how did Rainey stop that other bullet?
Let me finish. Rainey wasnt in this alone by a long shot. He wasnt that smart. He was taking orders and somewhere along the line he tried to take off on his own. The big boy knew what was cooking and went out to take care of Rainey himself. In the meantime he saw me, figured I
d do it for him, and when I didnt he stepped in and took over by himself.
Pat was picturing the thing in his mind, trying to visualize every vivid detail. Youve got somebody lined up, Mike. Who?
Who else but Clyde? We havent tied Rainey to him yet, but we will. Rainey isnt hanging out in the Bowery because he likes it. Ill bet ten to one hes on tap for Clyde like a dozen other hard cases he keeps handy.
Pat nodded. Could be. The bullet in Raineys leg and head were fired from the same gun.
The other guy was different. I used his pals automatic on him.
I dont know about that. The bullet went right through and wasnt found.
Well, I know about it. I shot him. I shot them both and left the guns right there on the table.
The bartender came down and filled up our glasses again. He shoved a bowl of peanuts between us and I dipped into them. Pat popped them into his mouth one at a time. Ill tell you what happened down there, Mike. The one guy who wasnt shot dragged his partner outside and yelled for help. He said nobody came so he left Rainey where he was figuring him to be dead and pulled his buddy into a car and drove to a doctor over in the Glenwood development. He called the cops from there. He described you, picked out your picture and there it was.
There it was is right. Right there you have a pay-off again. The killer came in after I left and either threatened those two guys or paid em off to put the bee on me and keep still as to what actually did happen. They both have records in Detroit and one carried a gun. It wouldnt do either one of em any good to get picked up on a Sullivan charge.
The D.A. has their affidavits.
Youre a better witness for me, kid. What good is an affidavit from a pair of hoods when one of the finest sticks up for you?
It would be different under oath, Mike.
Nuts. As long as you came in when you did it never gets that far. The D.A. knew when he was licked. In one way Im glad it happened.
Pat told me to speak for myself and went back to his thinking. I let him chase ideas around for a while before I asked him what he was going to do. He said, Im going to have those two picked up. Im going to find out what really happened.
I looked at him with surprise and laughed. Are you kidding, Pat? Do you really think either one of those babies will be sticking around after that?
One has a bullet hole in his leg, he pointed out.
So what? I said. Thats nothing compared to one in the head. Those guys are only so tough . . . they stop being tough when they meet somebody whos just a little bit tougher.
Nevertheless, Im getting out a tracer on them.
Good. Thats going to help if you find them. I doubt it. By the way, did you check on the bullets that somebody aimed at me?
Pat came alive fast. Ive been meaning to speak to you about that. They were both .38 specials, but they were fired from different guns. Theres more than one person who wants you out of the way.
Maybe he thought Id be amazed just to be polite, at least. He was disappointed. I figured as much, Pat. It still works down to Rainey and Clyde. Like I said, when I left Perry, he mustve called Rainey. It was just before lunch-time and maybe he figured Id eat at home. Anyway, he went there and when I stopped to pick up my coat and gloves he started tailing me. I wasnt thinking of a tail so I didnt give it a thought. He must have stuck with me all day until I was alone and a good target.
That doesnt bring Clyde into it.
Get smart, Pat. If Rainey was taking orders from Clyde then maybe Clyde followed him around too, just to be sure he didnt miss.
So Clyde took the second shot at you himself. You sure made a nice package of it. All you need is a photograph of the crime.
I didnt see enough of his face to be sure it was him, fit it was a man in that car, and if he shot at me once hell shoot at me again. Thatll be the last time hell shoot anyone.
I finished my drink and pushed it across the bar for more. We both ordered sandwiches and ate our way through them without benefit of conversation. There was another highball to wash them down. I offered Pat a Lucky and we lit up, blowing the smoke at the mirror behind the bar.
I looked at him through the silvered glass. Who put the pressure on the D.A., Pat?
Ive been wondering when you were going to ask that, he said.
Well . . .
It came from some odd quarters. People complaining about killers running loose and demanding something be done about it. Some pretty influential people live out in Glenwood. Some were there when the questioning was done.
Who.
Ones on the Board of Transportation, another is head of a political club in Flatfish. One ran for state senator a while back and lost by a hair. Two are big businessmen and I do mean big. They both are active in civic affairs.
Clyde has some fancy friends.
He can go higher than that if he wants to, Mike. He can go lower where the tougher ones are too if its necessary. Ive been poking around since I last saw you. I got interested in old Dinky Williams and began asking questions. There werent too many answers. He goes high and he goes low. I cant figure it, fit hes not a small-timer anymore.
I studied the ice in the glass a minute. I think, pal, that I can make him go so low hell shake hands with the devil. Yeah, I think its about time I had a talk with Clyde.
Chapter Nine
I didnt get to do what I wanted to do that night because when I went back for my car I checked into the office long enough to find Velda gone and a note on my desk to call Connie. The note was signed with a dagger dripping blood. Velda was being too damn prophetic.
Dagger or no dagger, I lifted the phone and dialed her number. Her voice didnt have a lilt in it today. Oh, Mike, she said, Ive been so worried.
About me?
Who else? Mike . . . what happened last night? I was at the club and I heard talk . . . about Rainey . . . and you.
Wait a minute, kitten, who did all this talking?
Some men came in from the fights on the island and they mentioned what happened. They were sitting right behind me talking about it.
What time was that?
It must have been pretty late. Oh, I dont know, Mike. I was so worried I had Ralph take me home. I . . . I couldnt stand it. Oh, Mike . . . Her voice broke and she sobbed into the phone.
I said, Stay there. Ill be up in a little while and you can tell me about it.
All right . . . but please hurry.
I hurried. I passed red lights and full-stop intersections and heard whistles blowing behind me twice, fit I got up there in fifteen minutes. The work-it-yourself elevator still wasnt working so I ran up the stairs and rapped on the door.
Connies eyes were red from crying and she threw herself into my arms and let me squeeze the breath out of her. A lingering perfume in her hair took the cold out of my lungs and replaced it with a more pleasant sensation. Lovely, lovely, I said. I laughed at her for crying and held her at arms length so I could look at her. She threw her head back and smiled.
I feel so much better now, she said. I had to see you, Mike. I dont know why I was so worried fit I was and couldnt help it.
Maybe thats because I remind you of your brothers.
Maybe fit thats not it. Her lips were soft and red. I kissed them gently and her mouth asked for more.
Not in the doorway, girl. People will talk. She reached around behind me and slammed it shut. Then I gave her more. Her body writhed under my hands and I had to push her away to walk into the living room.
She came in behind me and sat down at my feet. She looked more like a kid who hated to grow up than a woman. She was happy and she rubbed her cheek against my knees. I had a lousy time last night, Mike. I wish I could have gone with you.
&
nbsp; Tell me about it.
We drank and danced and gambled. Ralph won over a thousand dollars then he lost it all back. Anton was there and if we had gone with him he wouldnt have lost it.
Was Anton alone again?
He was while he stayed sober. When he got a load on he began pinching all the girls and one slapped his face. I didnt blame her a bit. She didnt have anything on under the dress. Later he singled out Lilies Corbett-she works through the agency-and began making a pass at her in French. Oh, the things he was saying!
Did she slap him too?
She would have if she understood French. As it was the dawn began to break and she gave him the heave-ho. Anton thought it was all very funny so he switched back to English and started playing more games with Marion Lester. She didnt have any objections, the old bag.
I reached down and ran my fingers through her hair. So Marion was there too?
You should have seen her switching her hips on the dance floor. She got Anton pretty well worked up and he isnt a man to work up easily. A guy about a half a head shorter than she was moved in on Anton and outplayed him by getting him soused even worse. Then he took Marion over and Anton invited everyone up to his place. What a time they must have had.
I bet. What did you do then?
Oh, some more gambling. I wasnt having much fun. Ralph would rather gamble than dance or drink any day. I sat and talked to the bartender until Ralph lost the money had had won, then we went back to a table and had a couple of champagne cocktails.
Her head jerked up and that look came back on her face. That was when those men came in. They talked about the shooting and about Rainey and you. One said he read about you in the papers not so long ago and how you were just the type to do something like that and then they started betting that the cops would have you before morning.
Who lost the bet?
I dont know. I didnt turn around to look. It was bad enough sitting there hearing them talk about it. I . . . I started to get sick and I guess I cried a little. Ralph thought it was something he did to me and began pawing. me to make up for it. I made him take me home. Mike . . . Why didnt you call me?
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