Gilroy said, “Seems a shame to turn that list over to the cops.”
Duffy shrugged. “You ain’t thinking of handling a thing that big?” he asked.
Gilroy shook his head. “I don’t handle dope,” he said. “I just don’t like to give those punks a break.”
Duffy grinned. “It’ll wash up Morgan, so what the hell?”
English was surprised to see him. He took the book from Duffy, glanced at it, then said, “So this is the first step, eh?”
Duffy nodded. “You turn that over to the Narcotic Squad. It ain’t evidence, but it might stampede some of those hopheads Anyway, it’ll stop Morgan running the same game.”
English nodded. “Have you found Annabel yet?”
“It won’t be long.” Duffy went to the door. “I’ll get in touch pretty soon.”
Out in the street once more, he went over to the Buick. Gilroy said, “Ain’t it time to eat?”
Duffy climbed in. “Go ahead,” he said. “I’ve got time on my hands till six.”
Schultz swung the car in a half-circle, reversed her back again, then, spinning the wheel hard round, he turned her completely, heading rapidly east.
CHAPTER XV
SHEP CAME IN JUST after five o’clock. Duffy was cleaning his Colt. Gilroy and Schultz sat in chairs, watching him.
Duffy looked up sharply and said, “Found her?”
Shep waddled in, sat down and blotted his face with his handkerchief. “Yeah,” he said. “Guess where?”
Duffy put his gun on the table. His mouth became a thin line. “Where?” he said.
Shep smiled happily; he said, “It’s rich. She’s gone hot pants for Morgan’s nance.”
Duffy’s eyebrows rose. “Clive?”
Shep nodded. “She’s over at the little rat’s apartment right now. He’s in bed, screaming hell, because someone trod on his pan.”
Duffy got to his feet. “We’ll go right over and pick her up,” he said, slipping the gun down his waist- band.
Gilroy said, “All of us?”
Duffy shook his head. “Suppose Shep and me go,” he said.
Shep said, “Sure.” He mumbled something to Gilroy and gave a loud tinny laugh.
Duffy said, “I’ll go on to the Belmont Plaza after. Suppose you two boys get down there and watch the lobby. We ain’t going to take any chances with Morgan.”
Gilroy nodded. “Okay,” he said.
Duffy and Shep went out and climbed in the Buick. Duffy took the wheel. As he pushed the Buick down the street, he said, “If that jane gets tough, knock her off.”
Shep nodded. “She’s a grand looker, ain’t she?” Then he said sadly, “It’s tough being fat.”
Duffy shot him a side-glance. “You don’t know when you’re getting the breaks,” he said shortly. “That jane’s poison.”
Shep gave him some directions, then said wistfully, “I guess it’d be good, going places with a honey like that.”
Duffy said nothing. “He drove fast. After a ten-minute run, he said, “This the street?”
Shep stuck his little head out of the window and peered.
“That’s right.”
Duffy drew into the kerb. They both got out. “What number did you say?”
Shep hunted in his pockets, found a scrap of paper, screwed up his eyes, then said, “1469.”
Duffy checked the house near him. “It’s on the other side farther down.”
Together they crossed the street and began walking casually down. Duffy said, “They’re both dangerous; you got to watch ’em, Shep.”
Shep grinned. “Me… I’m scared to hell… like hell,” he said.
1469 was a tall, gaunt apartment house. Duffy ran up the steps and checked the list of names. “Clive Wessen,” he said. He rang the next bell, waited until the latch gave, pushed open the door and walked in. Shep shuffled behind him. “Third floor,” Duffy said, keeping his voice down.
They climbed the stairs slowly. The place was clean and bright. Duffy said, “These punks live well, don’t they?”
Shep said nothing, he was saving his breath. On the third floor, Duffy took the Colt out; he held it loosely in his hand, hanging down by his side.
He nodded to a door at the far end of the passage. “There it is,” he said. “Can you open it?”
Shep said, “I can open any door. Watch me.” Moving very quietly, he went to the door, examined the lock, then turned his head and beamed. “It’s a cinch,” he said.
“Get going,” Duffy murmured.
Shep felt in his pocket, took out a little tool, fitted it in the lock and turned. Duffy heard the lock slip with a faint click. He said in Shep’s ear, “Give me two minutes, then come on in.”
Shep nodded and stood aside. Duffy gently turned the handle, pushed open the door, and walked in. He found himself in a small hall, about twelve feet by sixteen. Facing him were two doors. He trod quietly over and listened. He thought he heard someone talking behind the right-hand door. Holding his gun waist-high, he pushed open the door, stepped in quickly. Then he said in a cold voice, “You seduced him yet?”
Annabel spun round. She was standing by a divan, on which Clive was lying. Clive’s face was beautifully bandaged with plaster. Someone had made a very neat job of it. All Duffy could see of Clive’s face was two eyes that hated him.
Duffy said very sharply, “Don’t start anything. Keep still.”
Clive said in a curiously adenoidal voice, “Get out of here.”
Annabel ran her fingers through her hair. She smiled at Duffy. “I think you’re cute,” she said.
Duffy said, “Sit down.”
Shep wandered in. He looked first at Clive, then at Annabel. He puffed out his cheeks, then took off his hat.
She had sat down on the foot of the divan. She said in her breathless voice, “Who’s your gentleman friend?”
Shep beamed and fingered his necktie. He glanced at Duffy. “What a honeypot!” he said.
Duffy had his eyes on Clive. Although Clive was dressed, he had a rug over him, hiding his hands. Duffy said, “Put your hands where I can see them.”
“Suppose we be friends…?” Annabel broke in.
Duffy turned his head a little. “You’re coming with me,” he told her. “We’ve got a home for you to go to.”
She said, “Now?”
Duffy said, “That’s k. Right now.”
She stood up. “Home?” she said suddenly. “What do you mean… home?”
Duffy said, “You’ll know. Say good-bye to your boyfriend, you ain’t seeing him any more.”
She looked at Clive, then she shrugged a little. “I don’t mind,” she said. “He’s not quite in one piece. He’s a waste of time.”
Shep grinned. “A jane like you ain’t got no right running with a nance,” he said seriously.
Clive said in a low voice, “Get to hell out of here, all of you.”
Annabel said, “May I get my things?”
Duffy shook his head. “You can come as you are,” he said. “I want to talk to you… come on.”
She giggled. “I love you when you get like that,” she said. “Let’s talk; I’ve got lots to tell you.” She waved her hand at Clive. “About him and Morgan. You’ll eat it up.
Clive drew his lips off his teeth, then he shot her. Duffy just caught the slight movement under the rug as the
