killed.’
Gina came across the room, swinging her neat hips carrying a large glass of whisky and ice. As she offered Hardy the glass, she said spitefully, ‘She was just an old, old flame that flickered out… a nobody… a tart.’
Val scarcely heard what she was saying. She was staring with rooted concentration, feeling a chill crawling up her spine, at the heavy gold bracelet around Gina’s slim wrist. From the bracelet hung a cluster of five miniature gold elephants.
CHAPTER TEN
The police search for Jacko and Moe had been intensified. Every officer that Terrell could spare was now thrown into the hunt. Somewhat late in the day, road blocks were set up.
Officers Tom Lepski and Bill Williams were told to go to Lee Hardy’s penthouse.
Beigler said, ‘You won’t find those two hoods there, but they might have been there. Get rough with that pug-faced girl. She might have seen something. Put pressure on Hardy. He could have staked them to get rid of the. Check his bank. See if he has made a big withdrawal yesterday or today.’
‘We’ll go to the bank first,’ Lepski said to Williams as they got into their car. ‘I’d like to have a few facts to ram down Hardy’s throat.’
Williams, a tall, youngish man who spent most of his time in the finger-print department was resentful that he should have been taken from his safe desk and teamed with a crazy man like Lepski. He was sure Lepski could lead him into trouble. The thought of suddenly being confronted by two such vicious thugs as Jacko and Moe scared him. It was all very well for Lepski who had had years of experience handling thugs. He was unmarried and as reckless as a madman. Williams up to now had managed to keep clear of violence. Besides, his wife was expecting their third baby. What would happen to her if he got killed?
Lepski, wiry, tough, his sun-tanned face lined and his clear blue eyes alert, drove the police car swiftly to the Commercial and South Banking Corporation where he knew Hardy banked.
‘What’s the matter with you?’ he demanded, as he weaved the car expertly through the heavy traffic. ‘You look like you swallowed a bee.’
Williams shifted uneasily.?‘There’s nothing the matter with me,’ he said shortly. He couldn’t admit he was sick with fear. That kind of confession might get back to Terrell.
Lepski poked his head out of the car window and cursed a driver who was trying to cut in. The driver started to curse back, then seeing the black and white stripe on the car with the word POLICE on the hood, he hurriedly bit back his angry words.
Lepski sneered at him, then turned his attention once more to Williams.?‘Relax. You can only die once. I’d rather get a slug in the gut than cancer.’
Williams flinched. He shifted lower in the car seat. His hot, sweating hand moved inside his coat and touched the butt of his .38. The feel of the cold metal gave him no comfort.
Parking, the two men walked into the bank and after a brief wait, they were shown into the manager’s office.
The manager, lean and balding, was one of the best .22 rifle shots in Miami. He had shot against Lepski often enough and Lepski was one of the few members of the rifle dub who could match him. He beamed as he shook hands.
‘I’ll be at the club tonight,’ he said. ‘I have a pal coming who can shoot nearly as good as I can.Will you be there, Tom?’
‘I guess not,’ Lepski said regretfully. ‘I have a murder hunt in my hair. If I can, I will if only to show your pal a trick or two.’
The manager whose name was Werner, laughed.?‘What’s this murder hunt, Tom?’?‘A couple of hoods. Look, you could help. I don’t expect you to give bank secrets away, but this is important. Has Lee Hardy asked you for money… today or yesterday.’
‘Now, Tom, you know that’s not a proper question to ask.’?‘Yeah, but we have reason to believe Hardy could have staked these two for a quick get away. They are his men. So far they have murdered three not-so-important people. If we don’t find them fast, they could murder others… more important.’
Werner looked shocked. He hesitated, then said, ‘All I can tell you is a certain party came here and wanted five thousand dollars. He was in the red, and I wouldn’t give him credit. He was here around ten o’clock this morning.’
‘Thanks,’ Lepski said. ‘Maybe I will be seeing you at the club tonight after all.’
When they got back to their car, Lepski said, ‘Now we’ll go talk to Hardy.’?‘Think it would be an idea to call the Chief?’ Williams asked without much hope. ‘Maybe he would want to talk to Hardy himself.’
‘We go talk to Hardy,’ Lepski repeated and started the car. As he moved the car into the stream of traffic he went on, ‘How are you with a gun, Bill?’
‘Not so good,’ Williams said, sweat on his face. ‘I haven’t been to the range for a couple of years. You know, Tom, this is beginning to bother me. Suppose we walk into those two?’
‘What two?’ Lepski asked. ‘You mean Jacko and Moe? So what? They either come quietly or they come dead. Even if you are a lousy shot you couldn’t miss a fat slob as big as Jacko. Shoot him in the gut… that’ll let the gas out of him!’
‘Those two are pretty handy with a gun themselves,’ Williams said miserably. ‘My wife is expecting a baby.’
‘Is that right? Well, so long as you don’t have the baby, why should you worry?’ Lepski said and swinging the car into a parking bay, he switched off the ignition. ‘Come on: let’s go talk to Hardy.’
The two men walked down the street until they came to Hardy’s apartment block. Nearby, Lepski spotted a patrol officer. He signalled to him. The officer hurried up.
‘Look, Jamey, I’m going to talk to Lee Hardy. I don’t expect trouble, but I could walk into it. If you hear guns, get the boys. Understand? Don’t come up and be a hero: get the boys. Then get back here and pop those two if they come out… we’re after Jacko and Moe.’
That seemed to make sense to the officer and Williams, who was now feeling pretty sick, envied him.
‘Okay. There’s a call booth at the end of the road,’ the officer said. ‘hear shooting and I’ll be in there faster than a Sputnik.’
Lepski sneered at him, then nodding to Williams, he walked into the apartment block.
The porter, standing behind the big desk, eyed him suspiciously. He recognised him as a cop.
‘Seen Mr. Hardy go up?’ Lepski asked.?‘He went up five minutes ago,’ the porter said. ‘If you want him, I’ll call him.’?‘No, you don’t,’ Lepski said, giving the porter a hard stare. ‘Keep your paws off the telephone or I’ll make your future life a misery.’
Then again nodding to Williams, he went across the lobby and entered the elevator. As they ascended to the top floor, Williams said, ‘So what do we do now?’
‘I’m not expecting trouble,’ Lepski said. ‘Hardy wouldn’t be such a mug as to hide those two in his place. I ring on the bell and walk in. You keep out of sight, behind the wall. If trouble starts, then come in shooting, but for God’s sake make sure you don’t shoot me. Get it?’
Williams said he got it.
The elevator came to a halt opposite Hardy’s ornate front door. Lepski and Williams moved out into the wide corridor. Lepski showed Williams where he should stand. He winked at him.
‘Don’t lay an egg,’ he said. ‘This should be an easy one.’
Williams watched him step up to the front door and ring the bell. He had to admire Lepski’s cool courage. He was no more ruffled than if he were calling on a Mormon Bishop.
There was a pause, then the door opened and Gina stood there. Lepski could see into the lounge. Hardy and a tall, slim girl were staring towards him. He didn’t hesitate. He walked forward, riding Gina out of his way.
‘Hey! Who are you?’ Gina said shrilly. ‘What…?’
But by then Lepski had entered the lounge. He and Hardy looked at each other. Hardy knew Lepski and he lost colour.
