Mary Oto was standing before an open shower stall. Abe Schoenfeld was just visible through a cloud of steam. The hiss of the water was going to make eavesdropping difficult, thought Joe. Fortunately it meant they had to raise their voices too, so he cautiously edged closer, keeping a central row of lockers between himself and the couple, and by dint of standing on a bench so that his head was above the locker level, he began to pick up the conversation.
'So that's it then. All set,' said the man.
That's it. After the race, we're home and free.'
'She won't like it.'
'You know what they say about omelettes and eggs,' said the woman indifferently.
Shoot! thought Joe. This was one callous lady!
His indignation and rise in water sound as the man increased the shower pressure made him miss the next bit of the exchange.
'She will do it, won't she?' the man was saying as he turned the jet down. 'One thing I've learned about your sister is she hates not being in control.'
'The other thing you should have learned is, she's not stupid. She'll dig her heels in, but she won't cut herself off at the ankles to keep them dug.'
'I guess so. Hey, come on here, give me a kiss to celebrate.'
'Piss off, you idiot, I'm getting soaked!' cried Mary, but she didn't sound really angry and Joe thought, time to get out of here if they're going to start slapping their meat.
He turned to go, stepping gingerly off the bench, then paused and climbed up again as the woman disengaged herself and said, 'So that just leaves the little gumshoe to worry about.'
'Yeah, he's persistent, ain't he? You got a line yet?'
'No. But whatever, now we've got this far, he can't be any bother to us, can he?'
'None in the world. Come here!'
They re-engaged. Joe turned once more, only this time he completely forgot he was standing on the bench, and his first step sent him crashing to the floor.
'Oh shoot!' he said, pushing himself to a sitting position and feeling for broken bones. But there was no time for first aid.
'What the hell was that?' cried Schoenfeld. And the next moment he was round the end of the row of lockers and glaring with angry disbelief at Joe.
Some folk might say that there's no way a stark naked man, however big, can take on a fully clothed man, however small, without feeling his disadvantages.
Joe, however, wasn't brought up to take advantage of the unprotected. Indeed, when he accidentally brushed against Schoenfeld's private parts as he rose to his feet, where a lesser man might have grabbed hold and twisted, he flushed and said, 'Hey, man. I'm sorry.'
The only reward for his forbearance was a left hook to his temple which sent him reeling sideways.
'So what's your game, dickhead?' demanded Schoenfeld.
Doubting whether the guy really wanted an answer, Joe did the only thing a sensible PI could do in the circumstances and ran.
He made it out of the door at such a speed he went straight into the wall opposite and bounced back into Abe Schoenfeld's waiting arms. The same arms instantly put him in a headlock which he recalled from Mr. Takeushi's classes. Pity he couldn't recall the counter to it. As the blood flow to his head became seriously interrupted, his principal feeling was of shame. Surely the conquerer of Marble-Tooth of the S AS in all his finery could deal with a mother-naked Yank?
Schoenfeld was screaming something about 'the truth' but he couldn't make it out over the roaring of his blood, and anyway he doubted if it had much to do with the truth that would set him free.
Then another voice spoke.
This anyone's fight, or are you two just in love?'
Joe twisted his head round, or rather Abe twisted it round, so that he found he was looking at Douglas Endor.
Joe said, 'Arrghh.'
Schoenfeld said, 'You want a fight, you got it,' and hurled Joe towards the agent. Joe had never worn a thousand-pound mohair suit but he knew it was worth every penny if it felt as comfortable on as it did against his face as he embraced Endor for succour and support.
Endor said, 'Easy there, Abe. Let's sit down and talk about this.'
Schoenfeld said, 'Too late for talking,' and balled his fists.
Joe closed his eyes and prepared for a renewed attack. Good Samaritans were OK for succour, but you couldn't really expect them to take on your fights. He only hoped Endor would have the sense to run off and call Security.
Then Mary's voice said, 'Abe.'
She was standing in the changing-room door.
