He stood glaring at me furiously. “What a pal,” he spluttered. “Think you're gettin' that hundred? What a laugh.”
“Now listen, Mo,” I said quietly, “there is more in this than meets the eye... you're right. But it ain't the sort of news you can print. If I'd let you go ahead just now your rag would be up to its ears in a libel suit. A libel suit with Kennedy on the wrong side would put your crowd out of business. If you're a good boy and keep your trap shut, I'll give you the inside dope... it ain't to be printed, though.”
Ackie could never stay mad for long. He scowled at me, then his face cleared. “I might have known it,” he grumbled. “Of all the double-crossin' punks, you are the biggest. All right, I'll keep it quiet. Now what's it all about?”
I lowered my voice. “Seems like the Colonel got too ambitious. You know what he is with dames. Well, this one wasn't playin', an' what's more she outs with an equaliser an' starts poppin'. This dame is one of the upper crust. Even I don't know who she is. I agreed with Kennedy to smuggle her out while you boys were talkin'.”
Ackie brooded. “No one got hurt?” he asked bitterly.
I shook my head.
“Hell! There ain't a story at all. Everyone knows about Kennedy an' his women. That ain't news. Pity she didn't drill him. Boy! That would have been a front-page splash!”
I looked at him with distaste. “Ain't you a nice guy?” I said. “But now you know. You can see it wasn't worth the fuss.”
Ackie glanced at his watch. “I guess I'm beatin' it,” he said. “Maybe I was a little hasty about the hundred bucks. I'll see you get it.”
I grinned. “Suppose we split it?” I said. “Send me fifty an' I'll receipt the hundred.”
Ackie nodded. He looked quite happy again. “You ain't such a bad punk,” he said. “Maybe you'll play straight one of these days, an' then I'll quite like you.”
The other boys began to crowd out of the room. They looked at us curiously, but Ackie didn't let on. He took them off to the waiting cars.
“You wantta come?” he asked over his shoulder.
I said, “Sure... I ain't got any reason to walk.”
Kennedy appeared at the doorway. “No,” he said, “You stay. I want to talk to you.”
I was glad. I liked this guy, and I was getting mighty hungry.
As soon as the last car had driven off, Kennedy came back from the porch and shut the front door. He grinned at me. “Well, that was a nice bit of work,” he said approvingly. “You sure pulled me out of a jam. It seems that I'm continually getting into your debt.”
I said hastily, “Forget it, will you? That sort of talk gives me the itch.”
He laughed. “I haven't seen you for so long, I guess we got plenty to catch up on. You're going to stay with me for a few days. What do you say?”
I hesitated, but he shook his head. “You're staying, Mason, so make up your mind.”
I grinned. “It's okay with me,” I said.
He glanced at the clock. “Suppose we have some lunch and then I can telephone for my man to pick up some of your things and bring them out here. He's got to bring some of mine, so he may as well make himself useful.”
Lunch was ready by the time we had had a wash and a drink. It was laid out in the suntrap outside: a small verandah, screened by glass, overlooking the river. We sat down to a swell meal.
“You got a grand spot here,” I said, helping myself to lobster salad.
Kennedy nodded. “It is very convenient,” he said, with a faint smile. “I don't see people for weeks here. Just the place for relaxation.”
I looked at him quickly. “I've got another name for it,” I said with a grin.
He laughed. “You don't look as if you've had much relaxation,” he said. “What have you been doing with your face?”
That put me in a fix. I wasn't sure how far he might be involved in this business.
I said carelessly, “Oh, I got into a scrap last night.”
We finished our meal and sat there in the sun with a nice cigar and some old brandy, and talked. I said casually, after we had been talking some time, “I'm thinkin' of buyin' some stock. Can you advise me?”
He began to go through a list of names that didn't mean much to me.
“What about Mackenzie Fabrics?” I shot out.
He looked startled. “That's funny,” he said, “I've just been getting rid of some of those myself.”
“What's so funny about it?” I asked, keeping my voice casual.
He shook his head. “Oh, nothing,” he said shortly, and changed the subject.
I wondered if the dame who'd just gone had anything to do with this. I didn't like to risk asking him outright who she was. These guys, once they've been through the army, have got ideas about mentioning names of women who they've compromised. He might have turned tough, so I shelved it for the moment.
After we had settled our lunch, we went out and had a look at the grounds. The more I saw of the place the more I liked it.
