"What is this 'hill' business? Who's up on what hill?" He waited a moment, sucking on his lips. "You kiddin'? No, guess you ain't." He pointed a gnarled finger over my shoulder. "Big place up there just around that ridge. Can't see it from here, but she has a private road that comes right down to the lake, all fenced in. Whole place like that. You can't get in or out unless they let you."
"Who lets you?"
"City people. That's Mister Simpson's place. Big manufacturer of something or other. Never met him myself. He likes it private."
I let out a grunt. "He sure does. He has a real goon squad working for him. I met a couple last night. They needed straightening out."
This time his grin got broader and he chuckled. "So you're the one. Willie told me about that. Could be you'll make trouble for yourself, if you don't watch out."
"It won't come from two-bit punks, pop. Trouble is, if Simpson's such a big one, what's he doing with guys like that on his place?"
"Maybe I could tell you."
I waited.
"This Simpson feller was a big one long time ago. Bootlegging or something, then he went straight. He had all this money so he went into business. Few times a year he comes up here, does some business, and leaves."
"Everybody in town is scared, pop. That's not good business."
His eyes seemed to scratch the ground. "Ain't the business he does."
"What then?"
"The girls. He sends down to Pinewood for girls."
"The place looks big enough to support a few hookers."
"Mister, you just don't know country towns. Comes end of summer and
"Listen, a guy that big wouldn't try . . ."
He interrupted with a wave of his hand. "You got me wrong. He . . . employs them."
"Well, what's wrong with that?"
"They go up there, all right, but they don't come back . . . well, the same . . . Rita Moffet and the oldest Spencer girl moved over to Sunbar. Bob Rayburn's only girl, she never would speak to anybody and last year they had to send her to the State Hospital. She still won't speak to anybody at all. Flori Dahl and Ruth Gleason went off to New York. Flori died there and nobody has heard from Ruth in months."
"Nice picture."
"Others, too. That's not all. Some are still here and every time Simpson and the bunch comes in they go up there to work. Like they enjoy it. He pays them plenty, oh, you can bet that. What stuff they buy, and all from New York."
"Any complaints?"
The old man frowned. "That's the funny part. None of 'em say nothing."
I stood up and stretched. "You know what I think? This Simpson guy pays them mighty generously and for the first time they get a look at how the other half lives and want to give it a try. So they leave town. It's an old story. The others won't leave, but let the gravy come to them. How about that?"
"He got funny people working for him. They bring trouble to town, mister."
"Okay, so he hires hoods. I know reputable businessmen who have done the same."
Steiger thought it over. "Maybe, but did you ever see such a scared town in your life, mister?"
The drizzle had stopped. I zippered up my jacket and shoved my hat on. Mort Steiger watched me carefully.
Finally he said, "You're a funny one, too, mister."
"Oh?"
"You got a real mean look. You're big and you look mean. You tell me something true?"
I opened the door of the pickup and said over my shoulder, "Sure I'll tell you true, pop."
"You ever kill anybody?"
I slammed the door shut and looked at him. He was completely serious.
Finally I nodded. "Yes. Six people."
"I don't mean in the war, son."
"I wasn't talking about the war."
"How'd you do it?"
"I shot them," I said and let the clutch out.
The druggist had my prescription ready and handed it over without a word. I knew he had checked on the doctor who issued it and had another check going through different channels. I ordered a Coke, took two of the capsules, and pocketed the rest.
A fresh rain slick was showing on the street and the weather forecast was that it would continue for a few days. So I'd fish in the rain. I'd take a six-pack of Blue Ribbon and a couple sandwiches along and anchor in the middle of the lake under an umbrella.
I went outside, flipped a mental coin to see where I'd eat. The coffee shop in the hotel won and I hopped in the truck. At the corner the blinker was red on my side and I rolled to a stop. As I did, a new black Caddy with Kings County (New York) plates made the turn and I had a fast look at the driver.
His name was Benny Quick, he had done two turns in Sing Sing on felony counts and was supposedly running a dry-cleaning place in Miami. There was somebody beside him and somebody in the back, but I couldn't make them out.
I made a U turn, passed the sedan, turned right two blocks farther on, and let the Caddy pass behind me. That's all I needed to pick up the license number. A friend back in New York would do the rest.
I couldn't figure what Benny Quick was doing up this way, but I made a living being nosy and I had been too long at it to let a vacation take me out of the habit.
Back at the Pines Hotel, I shared the coffee shop with a half dozen teenagers sipping coffee and feeding the jukebox. None of them paid any attention to me. The waitress snapped the menu down in front of me.
When I looked up I said, "You ought to smile more, Miss Dahl."
"Not for you, Mr. Smith."
"Call me Kelly."
She ignored me completely and waited. I told her what I wanted, and while I waited scanned a newspaper. The headlines were still all about football.
Dari Dahl came back, fired my cheeseburgers at me, and put the coffee down so hard it spilled. I said, "Go back and get me another cup."
"What?"
"Damn it, you heard me. I've had about all the crap from you I can take. You be as sore as you please, but, baby, treat me like a customer or for kicks I'll throw these dishes through your front window. This town is giving me the business and from now on the business stops. Now shake your butt and get me another coffee and do it right."
The next time the coffee came slow and easy. I said, "Sit down."
She paused. "Mr. Smith . . ."
When I looked up and she saw my face, she grew chalky and pulled out a chair.
Dari Dahl was a magnificent woman, even scared. The tight nylon uniform outlined the daring cut of her under-things. The word bra was disputable for all that it was, and below it, far below, was a bikini-like thing beautifully discernible.
"I heard about your sister," I said.
"Let's not discuss it."
"Dari baby, it won't be too hard to find out someplace else. I remember the rough details. Any old newspaper account could fill me in. Anybody around town ought to be glad to talk about the bit."
The hardness came back again, her mouth pulling tight at the corners. "You should be able to understand it. My sister was a drug addict, when she could no longer supply her need, she killed herself. Eventually, you'll do the same."
