'You like it the hard way, don't you? Now just once I'm going to tell you something and I want an answer. Scarface Hooker is dead. He was shot last night and because you know who they were you might be sitting on top of a powder keg. In case you're not sure, let me tell you that you are right now with me. I'm going to bust you wide open or leave you for those babies to handle.'
The guy started to sweat. It formed in little cold drops along the ridges of his forehead and rolled down his cheeks. He made a swipe with the back of his hand across his mouth and swallowed hard. 'They was private detectives.'
'They were like hell.'
'Look, I'm telling ya, I saw their badges.'
'Tell me some more.'
'They come in here looking for Hooker. They said he was working against the union and pulling a lot of rough stuff. Hell, how'd I know? I'm a union man myself. If that's what he was doing he shoulda got beat up. They showed me their badges and said they was working for the union so I played along.'
'Ever see them before?'
'No.'
'Anybody else see them?'
'Yeah.'
'Goddamn it, say something! Don't give me one word.'
'One guy says they was uptown boys. They was roughs... strong-arm boys. The little guy... I heard the other one call him Nocky.'
'What else?'
'That's all. I swear to God I don't know no more.'
I slid my elbows off the bar and gave him a tight grin. 'Okay, friend, you did fine. Let me give you a word of advice. If either of those boys come in here again you pick up the phone and call the nearest precinct station.'
'Sure. I'll ask 'em to blow my crazy head off, too.'
'They might do it before you reach the phone, mister. Those lads were after Hooker and it might have been them who got to him. They won't like anybody who can put the finger on 'em. Remember what I told you.'
He started to sweat again. All along his neck the cords were standing out against the layer of fat. He didn't look a bit happy. A couple of longshoremen pushed in through the door and lined up at the rail and he had one hell of a time trying to keep the glasses under the beer tap. He didn't want to look up when I left, but he had to and I could feel his eyes on my back.
So they were private dicks and one's name was Nocky. Anybody could pick up a badge to flash if he wanted to, but there was just the chance that they were the real thing, so the first pay station I came to I changed two bucks into, nickels and started dialing all the agencies I knew of.
None of them picked up the description, but one of them did hear of a Nocky something-or-other but was sure it was a nickname. He couldn't give me any further information so I tried a couple precincts uptown where I had an in at the desk. A Sergeant Bellew came on and told me the name was familiar, but that was all. He had the idea that the guy was a private dick too but couldn't be sure.
On the off-chance that Pat might know, I called his office. He picked up his phone on the first ring and his voice had a snap to it that wasn't too nice. I said, 'It's Mike, Pat. What's eating you now?'
'Plenty. Listen, I'm pretty busy now and...'
'Nuts. You're not that busy.'
'Damn it, Mike, what is it now?'
'Ever hear of a private cop called Nocky? It's a nickname.'
'No.'
'Can you check on it for me?'
'Hell no!' His voice had an explosive crack to it. 'I can't do a damn thing except obey orders. The D.A.'s working up another stink ever since this afternoon and he's got us nuts up here.'
'What happened, another raid go sour?'
'Ah, they all go sour. He closed down a wire room and pulled in a couple of punks when he was looking for something big. Ed Teen came down with a lawyer and a bondsman and got them both out within the hour.'
'No kidding? So Ed's taking a personal interest in what goes on now.'
'Yeah. He doesn't want 'em to talk before he does a little coaching first. You know, I think we're onto something this time. We had to pull a Gestapo act and check on our own men, but I think we have that leak located.'
'How does it look?'
'Lousy. He's a first-grade detective and up to his ears in hock. He's one of three who have been in on every deal so far and money might be a powerful persuader to get him to pass a sign along somehow.'
'Have you picked up the tip-off yet?'
'Nope. If he's doing it he's got a damn good system. Keep shut about this. The only reason I mentioned it is because I may need you soon. The guy knows all the other cops and I may have to stick a plant along the line to see who's picking up the flash from him.'
'Okay, I'll be around any time you need me. If you run into anything on that Nocky character, let me
