“You ain’t got much gas,” I said, looking at the gauge. “That’s careless of you, Mo. I shall have to stop and get some.”
Ackie didn’t say anything for a minute… I guessed he was giving himself a shot. Then he said: “That’s your funeral, Bud, me an’ the girl friend’ll leave all that to you.”
I said: “For Pete’s sake keep as sober as you can.”
“If you were right here, you’d try an’ get as tight as a tick… that’s what keeps me from goin’ crackers. How’d you like to be sitting next to a corpse? She’s looking at me all the time. I’m tellin’ you, this dame just can’t see enough of me. It’s givin’ me the heebies.”
“Aw, shut up,” I said, and concentrated on the dark road. After a little while Ackie began to sing. I couldn’t stand that. I took my foot off the gas-pedal and stamped on the brake. I twisted round in the seat. “For suffering in silence,” I said, “will you lay off it?”
“She likes it,” Ackie said. “You ask her an’ see.”
I switched on the light inside the car. Ackie was crouched up on the far side away from Blondie, his face the colour of a fish’s belly and his eyes popping. I reached out a hand and took the bottle away from him. He’d been working on it. There was only just one small drink left, and I had it. I tossed the bottle off the road.
“Take it easy,” I said; “for Pete’s sake take it easy.”
“Sure… you just go on… we’re fine here. I tell you we’re fine.”
I started the car rolling again. The gas was getting low and I couldn’t risk running out on a well-lit road. I’d have to take some on board at the nearest hick station.
I didn’t have to go far before I sighted one. I slowed down.
“I’ve got to pull in for some gas,” I said. “Keep quiet an’ don’t start anything.”
“Start anything? Don’t make me laugh. Blondie an’ me are playin’ at graves.”
I wished Ackie had kept away from the bottle. In this state he was likely to land us all in a jam. When I thought of Blondie sitting right behind me, I sweated some.
I swung the big car into the narrow station and killed the engine. An old guy came out with a goatee beard. So that he didn’t get too close to the car I stepped out.
“Give me ten,” I said briefly.
As he was adjusting the dial a motor-cycle came banging up out of the darkness. When I saw the dim outline of the Stetson hat I stiffened. It was a State trooper.
I said to the old guy, “Snap into it, Buddy, I’m rushed.”
The State trooper dismounted and wandered into the light. I recognized him. He was a guy named Flanaghan. I’d known him in my cub days. Although I tried to duck into the shadows he recognised me.
“Ain’t you Mason?” he said, peering at me.
I gave him my hand. “Well, well,” I said, pump-handling him. “Ain’t it a small world?”
I’m glad that guy couldn’t read my thoughts. He was a nice social fellow and he might have had a shock.
“What are you doin’ around here?” he asked after we had got through with the back-slapping.
“Been staying at Colonel Kennedy’s lodge,” T told him. “Just taking a run into town.’”
He glanced over at the car. At that minute Ackie rolled the window down and stuck his head out. “Hey, Nick,” he bawled, “watch this dame.”
Flanaghan took a step forward. “Well, if it ain’t that old son-of-a-gun from the
Ackie gaped at him. “H’yah,” he said feebly. “Who thought you’d be around?”
“Who’s the dame?” Flanaghan asked. He had always been a great guy for the dames.
Ackie glanced at me. This had sobered him a little. “You don’t have to worry about her,” he said, keeping his voice down. “She’s cock-eyed.”
“How do you mean, cock-eyed? You mean she’s stiff?”
Ackie jerked his head at me. “Did you tell him?” he asked in a croaking voice.
I said, “Mo means she’s a little tight.”
There was an awkward silence, then Flanaghan said, “I hope you boys ain’t up to no dirty work.”
Ackie withdrew into the car and sat down. Past his shoulder I could see Blondie’s big hat. I felt the sweat trickling down my back. “You know how it is,” I said. “She ain’t used to our drinking and she took a little too much. We’re taking her right home to sleep it off.”
Ackie moved over to Blondie and put his arm round her. I guess that guy was still pretty high.
Flanaghan stepped round me and peered into the car. Ackie took a quick look at him over his shoulder and moved closer to Blondie. He effectively screened Blondie from Flanaghan.
He said in a loud voice, “Hey I Wake up, honey. There’s a cop askin’ after your health.”
I took off my hat and wiped my forehead.
Flanaghan pushed in closer.
“You all right, baby?” Ackie bawled.
Then out of the silence that followed a horrible soprano voice floated out of the car. “Sure I’m all right. Tell the officer to go take a pill.”
With horrified fascination I saw Blondie nod her head twice and move her arm a little.
Satisfied. Flanaghan stepped back. “I guess that dame’s as stiff as a board,” he said. “You’d better get her home.”
I shoved some money into the hand of the old guy and slid under the wheel. “I’ll be seeing you some time,” I called, and I engaged the gears. The car shot away from the service station fast, leaving Flanaghan scratching his head, looking after us.
Ackie said in a faint voice, “You wouldn’t call this dame a hot one now. I’m about frozen to death.”
I said, “For the love of Mike keep quiet, you bum.”
We drove the rest of the way in silence. When we reached Blondie’s apartment it started to rain. Big drops the size of nickels came splashing down on the street. That was the one break we had had on the journey. Rain as hard as this would keep the streets cleared.
I swung open the car door and climbed out. “Wait until I get the door open,” I said.
Ackie said, “Sure, leave me with the corpse every time.”
I went over to the front door. In the faint light I could just make out the glitter of the plate. I thought she wasn’t going to need that any more. I only had a vague idea of how I was going to get in, but when I tried the handle the door opened. I stood hesitating, then I stepped inside. I ran up the stairs quickly to Blondie’s room. There was no one in the bedroom and the room was in darkness.
Down I went again and called to Ackie. “It’s okay. We’ll get her out.”
Handling Blondie this time wasn’t so bad. It was just like you had got hold of a wax dummy. When I got my arm round her, she was as hard as wood. I eased her out. She had stiffened in a sitting position, her hands folded in her lap.
Ackie said, “You get one side, I’ll handle the other.”
We got her under the arms and ran across the pavement with her. I had to take her up the stairs, there wasn’t room for the three of us. I can tell you when I reached her bedroom I was mighty glad.
Ackie said behind me, “Put her in a chair. She’ll sit more natural that way.”
Then the bathroom door opened quickly and Katz slid into the room. He took just one look at me and went for his gun.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
IF A GUY PULLS a rod on you in a small room and starts popping at you, there is only one thing to do, apart from saying your prayers. You’ve got to start throwing anything you can lay hands on at him as hard and as fast as you can.
Well, there I was stuck in the doorway with Blondie like a marble statue in my arms. Ackie was right behind me, but he couldn’t do anything, not only because he was still pretty tight, but because I was in his way.
I did the best thing I could do under the circumstances. I didn’t like doing it, but when it’s a question of
