Trying to convince him the time for games is over. Yesterday you came into my office, handed me a cock-and- bull yarn about being 'curious' about a rock. I'm a peaceful guy, love the quiet, easy life... but since you've brought that rock to me, I've been punched and blackjacked, my office has become a shambles, my secretary has been murdered...”
Will stared up at me, his one good eye wide with fear. “That girl in the papers—thought I recognized her!”
“And she got it the hard way, beaten to death. Now stop the bunk and tell me the truth about this damn rock!”
“Will, tell him... tell him everything!” Thelma pleaded.
He got to his big feet, helped Thelma up, said in an offhand voice, “Fix yourself up, Thelma. Your... is loose.” He pointed to her bra. She gasped, ran out of the room.
“That little girl... dead,” Will whispered. “See, I never thought anything like that would come....”
“What about the rock?” I asked, shaking him.
“See, it was like I said, came through the window and all that. Only, when it hit the copper vase it split. Mean, what I gave you was only a sliver. The rock was about a half inch long, maybe a quarter of an inch thick. I kept the big piece, only now I ain't got it... they robbed me.”
“Who did?”
“Two big guys.” He lowered his voice to a whisper again. “See, I was up at this Margrita's apartment, had some drinks, she was... nice to me. Then suddenly she gets cold, gives me the gate. When I step outside, two guys jump me, knock me cold. When I came to, the rock is gone. Had it sewn in here.” He held up a torn part of his gray mailman's coat. “And it was worth ten grand. See, that's why I came to you, find out where it came from, if it was mine, if I could sell it and...”
“Take it slow. This little hunk of stone was worth ten grand?”
He nodded. “About a week after it hit this room, I got curious, took it to a jeweler on my route. He said he never saw one so big. Comes from Brazil, what they call a carbonado.”
“What the hell you talking about? What is a... carbonado?”
“It's a diamond, see?”
BOOK THREE
I
I sat or fell down on the nearest chair. Will sprawled on the couch, called out, “Thelma, bring some tea.” Then he saw the bottle, took a good hooker.
“Are you telling me a diamond...?”
“An industrial diamond, the jeweler called it.”
“... an industrial diamond worth ten thousand bucks came tearing into your living-room... just like that?” I asked.
“That's the truth, Hal.”
I ran over and grabbed him by the collar. “Stop handing me fairy tales! I want the truth, the...”
“I swear it!” Will gasped.
“Let him alone, what he said is the truth, all we know.” I turned and saw Thelma standing in the doorway. She sat down beside Will, opened his collar, stroked his face, said, “Tea is on, dear.” He buried his face in her hands, mumbled something, and began to sob.
I stood there, staring at the two of them with my mouth open. I knew they were telling me the truth, yet it didn't add up... made less sense than before.
“Look at your face, Will,” Thelma said, “how will you go to work tomorrow?”
“I'd better call up sick. I am sick, too, Thelma, a sick, frightened fool!”
“Aw, Will, you...”
I said, “Thelma, pack a bag—right now. Got any place in the country you two can go for a few days?”
“My sister has a cottage in Lakewood.”
“Can't stay away for a few days,” Will said. “Even if I called up sick, they might send an inspector around and if I wasn't home, lose my job....”
“You can both lose your lives if you don't get out of here! Get this through your dome, we're playing in the big leagues now. At the moment I may not know my can from a base on balls, but I'll find out. Meantime, we're dealing with a killer, and through chance you seem to be involved with him up to your ears. Thelma, get dressed, pack that bag!”
“But I have an icebox full of food...?” she said, thinking aloud.
“Stay here and it will be eaten at your wake!”
She fled to the bedroom. I heard her drag out a suitcase. Will said, “This all sounds like a bum movie, unreal....”
“Anita's body was damn real!”
“That poor child. But they have the stone now, they'll leave me alone.”
“How do you know? How do we know what the stone means? They slugged me, took the sliver, but that didn't stop them from giving me another going over, asking about money.... Will, you involved in any kind of mail fraud, a swindle with dough?”
