had left his torch. She held the light while I fixed a Bacardi cocktail. Then we sat down on the table with the torch between us.
“I'm interested in this guy Curtis,” I said. “Suppose you tell me about him.”
She sipped the Bacardi thoughtfully. “There isn't anything to tell. He's got some dough, likes a good time, runs around with anything easy and changes his bedfellow once a week.”
I wondered what the hell Mardi was doing with him. You can tell if a girl's a tramp more times than not, and I was prepared to swear that Mardi was on the level.
“What's he do for a living?” I said.
“Oh, he's something big in the Mackenzie Fabrics. Secretary of the company or something. Do you mind not talking about him any more... I'm getting bored.”
“Sure, that's all right,” I said.
My brain was busy. So this guy was tied up in the same business. That told me why Mardi wanted to keep my name out of it. I told myself that Mardi knew something and I was going to find out what just as soon as I got her to myself.
Because she expected it, I did a little necking with Dawn and then left her sitting on the table in the gloom, patiently waiting for me to come back. I'd made up my mind that I wasn't going to be alone any more with that dame that night.
I looked into the sitting-room. The party was still going on. Mardi was dancing with Hughson. Just as I was going to walk in I heard the telephone in the hall ringing. Hughson looked at me and he called: “See who it is, will you, Nick?”
I said, “Sure,” and went over to the telephone. “Hullo? This is Barry Hughson's apartment.”
A woman said: “Is Mr. Curtis there? Mr. Lee Curtis?”
I said, “Hold on,” and put the telephone down. I went into the sitting-room. Curtis was doing his stuff with Ackie's Spanish dame. I went over. “You're wanted on the 'phone,” I said.
He looked startled. “You sure?” he asked, getting to his feet.
“If your name's Curtis, I am,” I said.
He gave me a quick, hard look and then went outside. I saw him shut the door carefully behind him, and I looked around for Mardi. Before I could spot her, the Spanish dame started doing her stuff. At times, women are hell.
By the time I'd got away from her Curtis had come back into the room. He was looking mad all right. He went over to Hughson. “I'm sorry,” he said, “I've had an urgent telephone message. I've got to get home.”
Hughson didn't worry a lot. He made sympathetic noises. “You're not taking Mardi with you?” he said anxiously. “She an' I are gettin' on well together.”
I moved a little closer so that I could hear.
Curtis looked down at Mardi. “I'll take you home first,” he said, “or do you want to stay? I'm damn sorry about this....”
She shook her head. “I'll stay. You go on. Maybe you can come back.”
He hesitated. I could see he didn't want to go and he was sore as hell.
Hughson put in: “I'll see her back. You don't have to worry.”
“All right, I'll see you to-morrow,” Curtis said to Mardi.
He went out of the door quickly, not bothering to say good-bye to any of the others. That's the sort of guy Curtis was. No one was of any interest to him unless he was sure that he was going to get something out of them.
Mardi said to Hughson: “I'd love a gin-and-lime.”
“Sure, I'll fix you one. Just wait a moment. I won't be long,” kidding himself that she was going into mourning until he came back.
I stepped up to her as soon as he went into the kitchen. I was hoping that Dawn would hold him for a little while. “I want to talk to you,” I said quietly. “May I take you home?”
She nodded.
I got a swell feeling just standing looking at her. “Mind if we go soon?”
She shook her head. “When you like,” she said.
Hughson came back with the gin-and-lime. When he saw me his face darkened. “On your way, big boy,” he said. “There's a virgin in the kitchen waiting for you.”
I shook my head. “You're too late. Mardi an' me are old friends. She's just having the drink an' we're going home... together and alone.”
Hughson turned to Mardi. “I've warned you about this guy,” he said heatedly. “He spends all his time grabbing things that don't belong to him and wrecking homes.”
Mardi laughed. “I feel like being wrecked right now,” she said. “It's getting late, Barry, and I ought to go.”
Hughson groaned. “Give me one more dance and I'll let you,” he said. “You had much better let me see you home.”
I nodded to her behind his back. I didn't want this to look too sudden. They danced off together and I went over to Ackie. I told him I was moving off.
