Lady - Here's Your Wreath
James Hadley Chase
CHAPTER ONE
THE BOYS, WHO had come to see Vessi die, were lined up before the bar. They were putting up a good front, but they were all scared sick.
I came into the bar just when the liquor was hitting them. When they saw me, they let out a groan.
“For Gawd's sake, look who's here,” Barry shouted. “The nine days' sensation himself.”
Barry Hughson was a good guy, but he'd got plenty of gristle mixed with his brains. I just called for a rye and gave them a grin. “H'yah, boys,” I said, waving my hand. “I bet some of you're goin' to change your tune mighty soon.”
They didn't like that crack, and gathered round looking tough. Hughson poked me in the chest with his forefinger. That's a thing I love. Some guy poking me in the chest. Barry was tight, so I let it slide.
“Listen, Bud,” he said, screwing up his eyes to get my face in focus, “this little business is by invitation only. You don't stand a chance. Be a nice lad an' scram.”
I belted the rye and showed him my card. “You boys ain't the only guys,” I said. “I'm with you all the way.”
Hackenschmidt of the
I nodded. “I know,” I said, “it's tough, but there it is... better to be early than late, as the airline hostess said to the passenger.”
Hughson filled his glass. He looked at the clock. “Deadline 12.1,” he said.
Hackenschmidt grabbed a handful of drinking-straws and broke them in two; discarded one lot and carefully counted the rest. I watched him thoughtfully. “You've left me out,” I said, after he was through.
The guy lifted his thick lip. It was his idea of a sneer. “Yeah?” he said. “I guess you ain't in this.”
I leant forward and picked up a straw. “Put it in the bundle and don't be a punk,” I said, offering it to him.
He looked at me, and I looked at him. Then he took the straw. Some of these flabby guys think they're tough. Hackenschmidt was just punk, right through.
One of the straws was a lot shorter than the others. The guy who drew the short one got Vessi's last words. I wanted the job bad.
Hughson pulled the first straw, but he didn't get the short one. I let three more have a go, then I shoved a little, and the other guys gave way. I knew the short one, so I got it.
The others stood round, glaring at me.
“You gotta play ball,” Hughson said. “Don't start anythin' that ain't on the level.”
I tossed the straw away. “You'll get it all,” I said. “Don't you worry.”
The time was 11.20. Just time for a couple more drinks. Those guys belted their rye like they expected to die themselves.
Outside, we crowded into three cars that were waiting to take us to the prison. Hughson, Hackenschmidt and I, with two other guys, got in the first car. Hughson drove and I sat beside him.
When he'd got the car moving, he said: “Why the interest, Nick?”
I grinned in the darkness. Hughson was a cagy bird, but he wasn't getting anything from me. “Why not?” I asked him. “Vessi made a big noise, didn't he? I thought I'd see him go. Anyway, this gas stunt's a new one on me.”
Hughson swung the car past an overloaded truck.
“Not much you miss, is there?”
I shrugged. “I get by.”
“Think Vessi did it?”
I grinned again. “Don't you?”
Hughson swore softly: “Listen, you bum, if there's anything behind this, let me have it. I've done things for you, an' I guess—”
“Skip it,” I said shortly. “How the hell do I know whether he did it or not? The jury pinned it on him, didn't they?”
“I ain't interested in what the jury thought. I'm askin' what you think.”
“I never think, brother,” I said hastily. “I just wait until somethin' happens.”
