curtain across the front of the stage had the signs of the zodiac painted in faded gold all over it. A couple more people drifted in and then the show started.
It wasn’t a bad show – it wasn’t good, either. The best thing about it was Mollo’s assistant. She was a brunette with wistful eyes and a perfect figure. Mollo was a little guy with long black hair and a wisp of black moustache. He didn’t seem to care whether the audience liked the show or not – maybe there weren’t enough of them to matter.
But when it was finished, he came back on stage and bowed to the smattering of applause. The curtain came down and the people filed out. All except me. I stayed. I lit another cigarette and waited.
After a while, the barker walked in. He looked at me. ‘The show is over, bud,’ he said. ‘You’ve got to pay if you want to see it again.’
I flipped him a quarter. He looked at me curiously, then climbed up to the stage, ducked behind the curtain and disappeared. A minute later Mollo came out. He looked at me curiously, too.
‘I hope you don’t mind my staring,’ he said in a cultured voice that was tinged with sarcasm, ‘but this is the first time that anyone has ever paid twice to see my show!’
‘Yeah?’ I raised by eyebrows.
‘I feel flattered,’ he said.
‘You needn’t be,’ I told him, ‘it was the dame I wanted to see.’
‘Oh?’ The sardonic gleam was still in his eyes. ‘Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’m afraid she never talks to a member of the audience – never!’
I flicked ash onto the floor. ‘How is Ivy these days?’ I asked him. ‘Still peddling dope on the side for a fast buck?’
His eyebrows came together. ‘I’m sorry – I don’t follow you.’
‘You don’t have to,’ I said. ‘Just tell Ivy that Rex Kaufman wants to say hullo.’
‘Very well,’ he bowed and withdrew between the curtains.
Ivy came out a few seconds later. ‘Why, Rex!’ She made it sound enthusiastic. ‘How are you?’
‘Fine,’ I said, ‘just fine.’ She was still in her costume and she looked very nice. ‘How are you keeping these days?’
She wrinkled her nose. ‘I’m making out – just. But what with four shows a day, my feet are just killing me!’
‘If anyone could make a fast buck, you could,’ I told her. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve turned honest?’
‘I have, Rex,’ she said seriously. ‘I learned my lesson the last time. If you hadn’t squared things with the cops for me, I’d still have been in gaol right now. Never again!’
‘I’m glad to hear it,’ I grinned at her, ‘even if I don’t believe it. How about me buying you a cup of coffee?’
‘I’d love to, Rex,’ her big blue eyes shone at me, ‘but I’ve got another show in twenty minutes – sorry.’
‘That’s the last one, isn’t it?’
‘That’s right, she agreed.
‘Then I’ll buy you a cup of coffee after that. I’ll wait outside for you.’
‘But, I…’
‘You’ve got time for a cup of coffee,’ I told her. I’ll see you after the last show!’
I walked out, wondering if I should ask the barker for my quarter back, then thought it looked as if they were having a tough time, anyway. I went and saw the harem girls. At close quarters, they could have been called the harem mothers to advantage. The trouble with me is that I’ve got no illusions left.
When the show was over, I strolled back and waited outside Mollo’s sideshow. I waited a quarter of an hour, then Ivy came out. She looked good. Ivy always looked good, I remembered. I drove downtown to where the lights were brighter and we stopped for coffee in a joint that didn’t put cloths on the tables, but they made good coffee.
‘How’s the private eye business these days, Rex?’ Ivy asked.
I shrugged my shoulders. ‘It could be better, but I’m not starving.’ I drank some coffee. ‘How is Mollo’s show doing?’
She wrinkled her nose again. ‘I don’t think he’ll stay in business much longer. We average about fifteen a show – that’s not quite four bucks, gross!’
‘Does it worry you if it folds?’
‘I’ve got to earn a living,’ she told me, ‘it’s not easy.’ She reached out her arm and flicked ash into the ashtray. Then she looked at me suddenly and grinned. ‘Come clean, Rex,’ she said softly. ‘You didn’t look me up just to buy me a cup of coffee – or even just to look into my bright blue eyes! What’s on your mind?’
I hesitated for a moment. ‘You really sure you’re clear of the rackets now?’
‘Of course I am!’ she said indignantly. ‘I told you I had learned my lesson!’
‘Okay, Ivy,’ I said, ‘only there’s a nice racket being worked in the carnival show and I’m interested.’
‘Oh? She looked interested. ‘What is it?’
‘I don’t know,’ I admitted.
Ivy looked blank. ‘You don’t even know what it is? How do you know there is a racket?’
‘There must be,’ I said. ‘You just told me that Mollo is averaging four bucks a show – four shows a day makes it sixteen bucks. He can’t pay expenses on that! I spent yesterday and today at the carnival. I’ve been to about a dozen sideshows all told. They’re all the same – fifteen suckers inside the tent and they’re doing well!’
‘So?’
‘So where is the pay-off?’ I said. ‘They all lose dough, but they all stay there.’
She shook her head. ‘I think you’re imagining things, Rex. I don’t think there are any rackets. Things have been tough lately, that’s all. People stick there because it’s a permanent site and the rents are cheap. If carnival is doing badly here, it’s probably doing badly all over the country at the moment.’
I grinned at her. ‘You could be right, but I don’t think so. Anyway, keep your eyes open, will you? If anything looks funny, let me know.’ I took one of my cards out of my wallet and gave it to her. ‘Just in case you’ve forgotten the phone number.’
‘I’ll keep my eyes open, of course, Rex,’ she said, ‘but I think you’re wasting your time. Who’s your client, anyway?’
‘Client?’ I said. ‘Who said anything about a client?’
‘You wouldn’t be working for free,’ she dimpled, ‘that’s for sure. I imagine, for a private eye, you come expensive, Rex.’
After we’d finished the coffee I offered to drive her home, but she said she had to call on a girl friend, so I drove myself home – which wasn’t half so interesting.
I got myself a drink when I got home and sat down at the table and thought how far I’d got with the case. I came up with a snap decision of… nowhere. I’d seen the district attorney that morning. My face was still red remembering how it had gone.
His office was neat and very plush. The district attorney is around forty, the right type in looks but not in brains. He’s strictly a political appointment – they could have chosen a more suitable man with their eyes shut.
He gave me a sour look as soon as I got into his office. ‘I can give you ten minutes, Kaufman,’ he said. Then he put his watch on the desk.
‘It’s about the carnival lot,’ I started to say.
‘What about it?’ he snapped.
I took a deep breath and tried to keep my voice polite. ‘There is something going on there, sir. Something illegal.’
‘Such as?’
‘I don’t know,’ I said.
He bristled. ‘Is this your idea of a joke, Kaufman? Wasting my time like this?’
‘No sir,’ I said.
He wagged his index finger at me. ‘Now look here, Kaufman. You’re a private detective – your licence is issued from this office, don’t forget. I appreciate you are working for a client and obviously your client in this case is Dusberg. Dusberg owns that carnival lot!’
‘That is quite correct, sir,’ I said. ‘But the thing is that the people who have shows there are losing money. I’ve
