brutally as he had got rid of June.
Dolores had no illusions about Maurer. She knew he thought no more of taking a life than he thought of drinking a Scotch and soda.
She had been his wife now for four years, and the wonder was she had lasted so long. It was only because she had never given him a chance to complain, never looked at any other man, that she had lasted. She knew he was growing impatient for his freedom. He wouldn't dare divorce her. She knew too much about his business affairs to risk her being free from his watchful influence. She was sure that before long, probably when he returned, he would tell one of his hoods what to do, and she would the. She would have a car smash or a shooting accident; she might get carried out to sea when she was bathing. There were many convenient ways in which she could the: convenient for Maurer, of course.
She reached out for a cigarette, lit it and released two thin trails of smoke down her finely shaped nostrils.
She wasn't alarmed, but she realized she would have to do something if she were going to survive. Already her quick wits and her shrewd razor-sharp mind had created a passible solution. Now Maurer was out of the ways she must make immediate use of her opportunities.
She stood up and walked over to the wall mirror and surveyed herself. She smoothed her hands down her long, sleek flanks as she studied her body with thoughtful narrowed eyes. She thought of Gloria Lyle with her short legs and ridiculous bust. What did Maurer see in her, she wondered. What could he see in her? He was no better than an alley cat himself in search of any new sensation with an animal urge for something fresh, no matter how ugly it was.
Shrugging her shoulders, she began to dress, her mind still occupied. Her position was dangerous. She had thought of taking her jewellery and the clothes he had once showered on her and trying to hide herself somewhere, but she knew there was nowhere safe from his long-reaching arm.
She snapped a garter into place, smoothed her dress over her solid hips and walked out of the shower room and along the passage to the cocktail bar.
Abe Gollowitz sat on a high stool, sipping a martini. His fat buttocks spread over the stool, making the stool look like a grotesque mushroom.
She stood in the doorway, looking at him. In him was her only hope, and she felt a little shiver of disgust run through her. Pot-bellied, oily old men were her only refuge, she thought: the only men who had the power and the money that were essential to her way of life. If only Abe were like that flash, hard-muscled Seigel. She had often wondered what Seigel would be like as a lover. Several times she had been tempted to experiment, but she knew the danger. Once she had made Seigel her lover, her life would be hanging on a thread.
She studied Gollowitz as he sipped his martini, unaware of her presence. She could do anything with him, and she had long known he lived for the day when he would take over Maurer's position. But would he be strong enough to protect her when the time came?
'Hello, Abe,' she said, coming up to him and smiling her brilliant, sensual smile. 'So Jack's gone.'
He hurriedly slid off the stool, his fat, dark face lighting up.
'Yes, he's gone,' he said, his eyes undressing her. 'How beautiful you look, Dolly. How do you manage it?'
She shrugged and climbed up on a stool next to his.
'Oh, I don't know. Jack doesn't notice it any longer, Abe.'
He scowled.
'Jack doesn't appreciate the best things in life.'
'You know he's got that Lyle woman on board?' Dolores said, taking the icecold martini the barman gave her.
Gollowitz stiffened.
'I had heard. It's no business of mine.'
'Abe, is Jack in trouble?'
'No, no, nothing like that. He suddenly decided . . .'
'Please, Abe, tell me. You're the only one I have now who I can trust. He is in trouble, isn't he?'
Gollowitz glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was within earshot.
'He could be. We thought it wiser for him to be out of reach – for the time being.'
'It's because of June?'
Gollowitz hesitated, then, nodded.
'How will the organization react, Abe? Could this be the end of Jack?'
'This is dangerous talk, Dolly, but since you ask me, I can only tell you I don't know. He's not paying much attention to the organization these past months. He has said something about making a clean break.'
This was news to Dolores, but she was careful not to let Gollowitz see her startled surprise.
'I know. He's said something about that to me. Isn't it unwise, Abe?'
'I think so.'
This time it was her turn to hesitate, but she knew if she didn't seize every opportunity it might be too late when Maurer returned.
Lowering her voice, she said, 'If anything happened to Jack, you would take over, wouldn't you?'
Gollowitz eyed her uneasily. He was on perilous ground, but he was also aware that Dolores's present
