I drew in a quick gasp of relief.
“You’re not going to walk at all. I’m going to carry you,” I said, and took her in my arms.
She put her arm round my neck.
“I’ve been so frightened, Johnny. I’ve missed you so.”
“It’s all going to be all right,” I said. “In a week, darling, you’ll have forgotten this ever
happened.”
I went to the front door and opened it.
Captain of Police Hame stood just outside. He had a .45 in his hand and he rode me back
into the room, his blue eyes like chips of ice.
199
III
I set Ginny down in the armchair and raised my hands as Hame moved into the room,
closing the door with his foot.
“Looks as if I’ve caught up with you at last,” he said. The .45 centred on my chest. Ricca
lived long enough to tell me you killed him. You’re getting as dangerous as a mad dog,
Farrar.”
I heard Ginny catch her breath in a horrified gasp.
“Now look …” I began, but Hame stopped me.
“I got proof you killed Reisner and the Wertham woman, and now Ricca,” he went on.
“That’s one murder too many. Back up against that wall!”
I knew what he was going to do. I could read it in his eyes. He couldn’t afford to let me
stand trial. I knew too much about him. The easiest out for him was to put a slug into me
while resisting arrest.
My eyes went to Ginny. She was staring at me: her face was white and horrified.
Hame followed my glance.
“And you too,” he said to her. “You’re in this. Back up against the wall with him!”
She would have to go, too. He wouldn’t want a witness to my killing.
“Wait, Hame!” I said. “We can do a deal.”
“Back up against that wall!” he snarled at me. “I’m not making any deals with you. I don’t
have to!”
“You don’t have to, but you will,” I said, speaking fast, knowing any second he might
shoot. “I’ve got half the casino’s reserve: a quarter of a million dollars!”
That held him, as I knew it would hold him. His eyes flickered.
“You don’t bluff me, Farrar,” he said in a grating voice, “and you don’t talk yourself out of
this,” but there wasn’t any conviction in his voice.
“Turn us both loose and I’ll split it with you. A hundred and twenty-five grand in cash!”
“Where is it?”
200
“Where you won’t get your hooks into it without my say so,” I said. “This is cash, Hame.
Money that can’t be traced. All I want is three hours to get clear, Is it a deal?”
“I wouldn’t make a deal with you unless I saw the money,” he said.
“You can see it, but I want your word you’ll turn us loose with a three-hour start when you
get the money.”
A thin, sneering smile came to his sun-burned face.
“I take the lot, Farrar. You haven’t a thing to bargain with. I’ll take the lot and you can
have an hour’s start.”
“No! I’ll give you two hundred grand. I’ve got to have something. I’ve got to have a
getaway stake, and I want three hours.”
“The lot or I’ll put a slug into both of you and take a chance of finding the money.” He was
