you.”
I shrugged. I certainly wasn't getting anywhere on these lines. “What do you know about Spencer?”
She looked blank. “Never heard of him.”
If she and Ananias got swopping stories, I'd know who I'd have my money on.
“Ever heard of a girl called Mardi Jackson?”
Again she shook her head. I gave up. She was too tough to get wild with. She would only laugh at me.
“Okay, sister,” I said, getting to my feet. “I can see you an' I ain't goin' places. Maybe one day you'll think better of it an' give it me straight. I'm hoping it won't be too late for you. Suppose you tell me your plans. I can't keep you here, you know.”
She said, “I'm leaving this town to-morrow. I want you to go along to my apartment, put some things together for me, and bring them back here. Then I'm off.”
For nerve, this dame was the tops. I was too tired to argue.
“Anythin' you say,” I grunted. “You'll be comfortable either in here on the couch or in my bed.... I don't care which you have, just make up your mind. I'll take the other.”
The following morning was dull and overcast. I got up around eight. It didn't take me long to get to her apartment. A spare key was under the mat. I'd taken the fat guy's .45 along with me. It didn't seem to have suffered from the water, and I had taken care to have cleaned it well. I wasn't going to be surprised by Katz, and I don't mind telling you that I was a bit nervous going into the place.
She had given me a list Of the things she wanted. It was not a long list and I was soon through. I then went carefully through the apartment and searched it pretty thoroughly, but I didn't find anything.
After all the excitement, I was no further to finding Mardi. That was getting me steamed up. I had one taste of the type of thug that Spencer employed, and if they were capable of getting tough with Blondie the same methods could be handed out to Mardi.”
I was certain that Blondie knew something and they were trying to find out what it was. The fact that she had made up her mind to leave town showed that she was scared. To leave a nice little apartment like this in a hurry, as well as to lose her connections, pointed that she knew that she was on the spot.
I'd never get anything out of her unless she wanted to tell me. She was far too shrewd to be jumped. Now that Mardi was missing, I had to bust this thing open. There was no other way round it.
When I got back to my apartment I found Ackie there. He was sitting on the foot of my bed, talking to Blondie.
I stood in the doorway and glared at him. He looked over his shoulder. “H'yah, pal,” he said. “I'm mighty glad I looked in.”
I dumped the suit-case down and glanced over at Blondie. She seemed to be enjoying herself.
“Well, for God's sake,” I said, “can't you keep out of my place when I'm busy?”
Ackie shook his head. “You may have to thank me,” he said. “Don't bother to introduce us, we've already done that.”
“So I see,” I said sourly. “You might keep your trap shut about this... I don't want the whole town talkin'.”
Ackie grinned. “Hear that?” he said to Blondie. “You'd think he was a saint, wouldn't you?”
Blondie liked to see me getting fussed. “He ain't no saint,” she said, bringing her arms and shoulders into view.
“Come on, Buddy,” I said, “you an' me will have a little talk outside. The lady wants to get up.”
He was obviously reluctant to go, but I got him outside at last.
“Well, well,” he said with a leer, “I shouldn't have thought it of you.”
I was pardonably annoyed. “I can't explain just now,” I said heatedly. “But for Gawd's sake keep your trap shut about this. You recognise that dame?”
Ackie screwed up his face thoughtfully. “Yeah,” he said, “I know her all right. I suppose you're still chasing up the Vessi affair. Well, I guess you're having a swell time doin' it.”
“Suppose you tell me what you want bustin' in like this?”
He thought for a moment, then his face brightened. “You know, I'd forgotten all about it. When I walked into your bedroom and found that dame in your bed, I certainly had a shock. Yeah, now about to-night. The boys are throwing a little party down at Hughson's place. I thought maybe you'd like to come with me. It's as well to meet the boys every now and then, what do you say?”
To get rid of him, I'd've agreed to anything. “Sure,” I said, “that's grand. Suppose you pick me up, and we'll go along together.”
I took him by the arm and led him to the door. He got it all right. “Now mind you be careful,” he said.
I shoved him out of the door and slammed it behind him. Then I went back to Blondie. She was doing her hair with my hair-brushes. Everyone seemed to be using my place like it was a hotel. I sat on the bed.
“A real funny guy,” I said.
“Oh, I like him, darlin',” she said, glancing back over her shoulder. “I think he's cute.”
She would. They were a pair.
“Well, baby,” I said, anxious to get her off my hands, “I got your stuff so I guess you'll be moving
