“I guess you didn't expect to see me?” he said evenly.
Little Ernie licked his lips. His small monkey-like face turned a little green.
“I'm the guy you tried to rub out tonight,” Dillon said; “I guess this burg's too small for both of us. I guess you're comin' for a ride. Ernie... a one-way ride.”
Ernie said, “Don't be a fool. You an' me can do things together in a big way.” His voice was thick, as if he'd a clot in his throat.
Dillon sneered. “Yeah?” He shook his head. “You're too late on that stuff, Ernie.... It's curtains for you.” While he was speaking, he shifted his gun a little, so that he held it by its barrel. Then with a quick savage swing, he struck the blonde behind her ear with the butt of the gun.
She went down like an inanimate doll. Dillon had Ernie covered in one movement.
Ernie looked down at the blonde and shook his head. “That was a lousy one to pull,” he said.
Dillon said, “Get goin'... you an' me are goin' for a ride.”
Ernie looked at him, hesitated, then he turned and walked into the other room. He paused then. “I guess you'll let me dress?” he said.
Dillon said, “Get outta the window... quick.” He rammed the gun into Ernie's back.
Ernie climbed out of the window. He started back against Dillon when he saw Roxy. Dillon shoved him forward roughly. “Get goin',” he said.
Roxy stood aside. Ernie began to move to the stairs. Dillon quietly slipped the gun into his holster and bent down quickly. He caught Ernie by his ankles and with a great heave threw the little man over the rail. It was done so quickly that Roxy couldn't believe his eyes. Ernie was there one second and vanished the next.
Just one terrified squeal sounded in their ears, then a heavy dull thud as Ernie hit the flags down below.
Dillon gripped Roxy's arm. “Get goin',” he said viciously. “We gotta get out of this quick.”
They pelted down the escape and blundered into the dark alley. Dillon didn't pause to look at Ernie, but ran on to the street.
Myra started the engine as she heard them coming Dillon swung himself on to the running-board. “It's okay,” he said. “You get into the back Roxy can drive.”
She clambered over the seat and Roxy got in under the wheel. His teeth were chattering, but he managed to engage the gear.
Myra said, “Did you get him?”
“What the hell do you think?”
Roxy said, “There's a guy in Springdale who'll hide us up until this blows over.”
“Yeah?” Dillon said. “That's a good idea. You know this bird?”
“Sure....” Roxy spun the wheel at Twenty-third Street and headed the car up Kansas Avenue Bridge. “I know him all right He's safe and they won't look for us there.”
They shot across the bridge fast. Suddenly Myra leant forward violently and gripped Roxy's shoulder. “Stop!... stop!... stop!” she screamed.
Roxy was so startled he nearly piled the car into a wall. He crammed on his brakes, throwing Dillon forward. “What the hell's wrong?” he demanded.
Myra's face was livid in the street light. “Quick... where did you get this car?” she gasped.
Roxy twisted and looked at Dillon. “She gone nuts?” he asked angrily. “Jeeze, I nearly crashed this heap.”
Dillon didn't like the look on Myra's face. He demanded harshly, “What is it?”
“Where did you get this car?” Myra repeated, pounding Roxy's arm with her fist.
“Where the hell do you think I got it?” Roxy said surlily. “I knocked it off.”
Myra turned wildly to Dillon. “The fool's finished us,” she shouted. “Can't you see we've taken this heap over the State line!”
Dillon suddenly turned on Roxy, his fist clenched above his head. “You sonofabitch!” he snarled. “You've got the Feds on to us.”
Roxy stiffened. “Hell! You'll have a crowd round us. What the hell do you mean... got the Feds on us?”
Dillon said furiously, “It's a Federal offence to take a stolen car over the State line... Didn't you know that, you goddam bastard?”
Roxy engaged his gear. His face had gone the colour of putty. “They'll hang Hurst on to us now,” he said unsteadily. They're sure goin' to get us now.”
Myra said, “Get on... get on quick! We gotta get under cover.”
The big car quickened. Dillon said, “When that bastard Strawn hears about this, he'll come a- runnin'.”
Myra said between her teeth, “See what you've done, you lug.” She beat her fists on her knees. “We had it all an' you must get smart. I'm finished with you, do you understand? I'm washed up. We're through.”
Dillon said, “You're through when I say so, an' not before. You know too much, an' what's more, Strawn will pin somethin' on to you... don't you think he won't.”
Roxy called, “We gotta switch cars... this broken screen'll stop us. I'm goin' on a bit further, then we'll have to walk.”
They drove on in silence. The night was very dark. There was no moon, and heavy threatening clouds hung low. Once in the open, the big beams of the car lit up the dirt road and they lurched and jolted as Roxy tried to keep up speed.
Dillon said in an undertone to Myra, “You got any dough?”
She said quickly, “What you think? I came away in a rush.” She put her hand cautiously on her bag that hung on her wrist. Dillon leant forward and ripped the bag from her. For a moment she hesitated, then she flung herself forward. Dillon was expecting her to start something, and he swung a backhand, knocking her into the corner of the car. “Cut it out,” he said viciously. “You ain't got no dough, so what you gettin' sore about?”
He put his hand inside the bag and felt the big roll of money. He grinned to himself in the dark. Taking the roll out, he transferred it to his own pocket. He tossed the bag into her lap.
She said feverishly, “Give me that dough.”
Dillon said, “Be careful.” There was such an ugly threat in his voice that she shivered.
Roxy slowed down. “Springdale's just ahead,” he said, “I guess we'll ditch this heap an' walk.”
He ran the car off the road and stopped. The three climbed out. Dillon said. “I'll look good carrying this Thompson.”
Roxy said, “Suppose you wrap it in your coat?”
Dillon took off his coat and did as Roxy suggested. They began to walk down the dark road. Round the bend they could see lights.
Roxy said, “This guy we're goin' to has big ideas. You'll have to pay him plenty.”
Dillon said coldly, “We'll see about that.”
They walked some way, Myra between the two men. Her mind was busy as she stumbled along the dirt road, not seeing where she was going. Dillon had got her money; without that she couldn't leave him. The Feds wouldn't stop until they got Dillon. Especially a guy like Strawn, who was just laying for him. Somehow or other she had got to get the money away from Dillon and get out quick, before anything happened. The Feds hadn't the same ideas as the cops when handling a woman.
“That's it,” Roxy said suddenly.
Just ahead of them they could see the outline of a building. One solitary light gleamed through the window.
