1945 - Blonde's Requiem (14 page)

When Gordan let go of Audrey
’
s hands, she sat up and did something to the other thug. He fell down on his knees, holding his hands to the back of his neck, making a whining sound. She slid off the desk.

I avoided Starkey
’
s rush, and tossed a heavy ashtray through the window.

The crash of breaking glass was followed by a silence you could cut with a knife.

Then Starkey said:
“
You
’
ll be seeing me again.
”
The vicious anger in his voice came through the, mists that clogged my brain and chilled me.

A boot crashed into my side and then a door slammed.

I settled myself more comfortably on the carpet and dissociated myself from further activities.

I must have lain there at least ten minutes before I was disturbed again. Someone shook me gently and I was conscious of a smell of lilac. I opened one eye cautiously and found Audrey Sheridan bending over me.

Her thick tresses almost touched my face.

I dug up a low groan and firmly closed my eye. She shook me again.

“
Don
’
t be a baby,
”
she said.
“
You
’
re not really hurt. It
’
s only because you
’
re a little soft and out of condition. Come on, sit up. I
’
ve driven them away and it
’
s quite safe now.
”

This annoyed me. I opened my eyes and regarded her coldly.
“
Is that a nice thing to say?
”
I demanded heatedly.
“
I get kicked, trodden on, bashed on the head and beaten up by three great thugs and you
’
ve got the crust to say I
’
m not hurt.
”

She sat back on her heels, her hands resting on her thighs, and smiled.
“
I thought New York detectives were made of iron,
”
she said.

I felt my scalp gingerly.
‘“
You
’
ve got that out of a book,
”
I said, raising myself on my elbow and wincing as pain stabbed through my head.
“
I
’
m a mass of bruises and shattered bones. My back
’
s broken and my truss
’
s slipped. I
’
ll never be able to walk again.
”

She continued to regard me with the half-mocking smile. Then I remembered how Starkey had burned her with the cigarette and I gazed at her with blank incredulity. She was pale but her smile was genuine all right.

“
Talking about being made of iron,
”
I went on,
“
you
’
re not so bad yourself.
”

She looked at the livid red circle on her arm and grimaced.
“
That hurt,
”
she said.
“
But it wasn
’
t that I minded so much as the way they did it.
”
Her violet eyes glittered angrily.
“
What filthy brutes some men are!
”

I looked around the disordered office, with my head in my hands and my elbows on my knees.
“
You wouldn
’
t have any hard liquor in this joint, would you?
”
I asked.
“
I could do with a shot, and it wouldn
’
t poison you.
”

She got to her feet and moved slowly and limply across the room. From a cupboard she produced a bottle of Scotch and two glasses. She came back and flopped on the floor again.

I took the bottle from her and poured out two stiff drinks.
“
Hair on your chest,
”
I said, nodding at her.

“
Hair on yours,
”
she said, nodding back.

We drank.

“
That
’
s better,
”
I sighed, sniffing the whisky.
“
What happened? Did the cops come?
”

She nodded.
“
While you were swooning on the floor, I dealt with the cops,
”
she said.
“
Trust a man to leave all the dirty work for the woman to do. I told them the ashtray slipped out of my hands. They believed me. And after I
’
d said what big strong men they were and how grateful I was for their kindness, they went away as smug and happy as only men can be.
”

I regarded her reproachfully.
“
Something tells me you
’
re a cynic,
”
I said.
“
In my present condition I
’
m not in a fit state to talk to cynics. Shall we patch ourselves up and go home? Perhaps we can meet again later when I
’
m feeling stronger and have a long intimate talk.
”

“
All right,
”
she said, setting down her drink.
“
We
’
ll do that. Do you think you
’
re strong enough to reach the bathroom, or would you like me to carry you?
”

“
Sarcasm in one so young reveals a sophistication I abhor,
”
I said, crawling painfully to my feet.

“
Do you usually talk like a Walt Whitman fan or are you lightheaded?
”

I balanced myself carefully on the flat of my feet and held onto the desk.
“
Lady, I
’
m lightheaded, but you want to hear me when I
’
m drunk.
”

She showed me the bathroom and stood by as I bathed my bruised head. I felt a lot better when I was through, although my ribs gave me some pain.

“
Would you like me to bandage your head?
”
she asked.
“
You
’
d look awfully sweet and people would think you
’
ve been using it to break coal with.
”

“
Never mind,
”
I returned, surveying myself in the mirror. I didn
’
t look any worse than if I
’
d been run over by a truck.
“
But if you
’
ll give me something to work with I
’
ll bandage your arm.
”

She shook her head.
“
No, thanks. I
’
ve always looked after myself and I won
’
t make a change now.
”

We went across the devastated room to the door.
“
I
’
m sorry I
’
m not well enough to help you put all this straight,
”
I said, stopping and looking round.
“
But I think it would be a little too much for me.
”

“
That
’
s all right. You don
’
t have to act like a gentleman with me. I
’
m a detective myself.
”

I sighed.
“
Stop ribbing me,
”
I complained.
“
And get that arm fixed. We ought to talk. How about tonight? I think I
’
ll be strong enough by then. Have dinner with me?
”

She shook her head. .
“
I don
’
t eat with detectives,
”
she said firmly.
“
I like to keep business and fun as far apart as possible.
”

“
Don
’
t be difficult,
”
I pleaded.
“
You could have an awful lot of fun with me.
”

She regarded me with serious eyes.
“
I believe I could,
”
she said,
“
but that doesn
’
t mean I
’
m going to.
”

“
Okay, I won
’
t try to persuade you. Suppose I come out to your place sometime tonight? We have a lot to talk about.
”

She hesitated, then nodded.
“
I
’
ll be in after nine o
’
clock. Goodbye now, and thanks for horning in. If you feel faint, get yourself some smelling-salts.
”

I said I would and left her.

I
was awakened around six o
’
clock by someone knocking on my door. I raised my head cautiously, decided I felt better, and went over to unlock the door. As I passed the mirror I took a quick look and winced. I still looked pretty terrible.

Marian French gazed at me with startled eyes as I let her in.
“
Whatever
’
s happened?
”
she asked, her hand going to her face with a gesture of shocked concern.

“
I had an argument with a midget,
”
I said, smiling crookedly.
“
It
’
s surprising how strong the little guys are. But come in. I don
’
t feel as bad as I look.
”

“
Oh, your poor head!
”
She came in, took a quick look at the crumpled bed and went on:
“
I
’
ve disturbed you.
”

“
It
’
s all right,
”
I said, sitting on the bed and feeling my head gingerly.
“
I was getting up, anyway.
”

There was a bump on the top of my head that felt no smaller than a doorknob and my ribs were still sore, but I could have been worse.

She sat beside me and with cool, gentle fingers explored the bruise and the bump.

“
I
’
ll fix that for you,
”
she said.
“
Just you lie back on the bed and take it easy.
”

“
Don
’
t you bother,
”
I said, trying to appear brave about it.
“
A little bang like this doesn
’
t worry me.
”

“
Don
’
t be tough and obstinate,
”
she said firmly.
“
Lie down and leave this to me.
”
She pushed me back on the bed. That was all right with me. I considered I was due for a little fussing.

“
Now I won
’
t be a minute,
”
she said.
“
Don
’
t move until I come back.
”

When she had gone I lit a cigarette and related. The sun made pools on the shabby carpet and the room was hot, but I didn
’
t care. The telephone jangled and, frowning, I reached for it.

I recognized Wolf
’
s growling voice.
“
I
’
ve got the Gazette,
”
he told me.

“
Now what the hell am I going to do with it?
”

“
You
’
ve got it?
”
I repeated blankly.
“
That
’
s fast work, isn
’
t it?
”

He gave the nearest thing he could to a laugh.
“
I told you when I want a thing it happens. And let me tell you, it cost plenty; not that I give a damn about that.
”

“
Swell,
”
I said.
“
We can
’
t do anything tonight, but we
’
ll get together at the office tomorrow morning. With the Gazette we can run Macey ragged.
”

He grunted.
“
I don
’
t know a damn thing about handling a newspaper,
”
he said,
“
but I guess I can learn fast enough.
”

I told him about Reg Phipps.
“
He
’
s young, but he
’
s got guts. Keep him on the job and you won
’
t go wrong,
”
I advised.

“
He can stay,
”
he said.
“
But how about the woman?
”

“
I
’
ll get you someone,
”
I promised.
“
We
’
ll talk about that tomorrow.
”

“
Have you found anything yet?
”
he demanded.

That was something I didn
’
t want to talk about.
“
I
’
m working on it,
”
I said, and hurriedly hung up on him.

I was calling the Gazette office when Marian came back. She carried a bowl containing cracked ice and odds and ends that looked interesting.

I winked at her as Phipps came on the line.
“
It
’
s okay,
”
I told him.
“
Wolf
’
s got the Gazette and you
’
re in. We
’
ll be along tomorrow morning.
”

He didn
’
t seem to believe it, but when I persuaded him I wasn
’
t kidding he sounded excited enough. I told him to take it easy and cut the connection.

“
You shouldn
’
t be phoning,
”
Marian said severely.

I flopped back on the bed.
“
That
’
s my final rally before I croak,
”
I said feebly.

She made an ice bag with the cracked ice and a strip of flannel and put it on my head. It felt swell.

“
Isn
’
t that better?
”
she asked, sitting on the bed beside me.

I took her hand.
“
Terrific. I wouldn
’
t mind having a tap like this every day if I had a nurse as nice as you.
”

She took her hand away and tried to look severe.
“
You can
’
t be as bad as you make out,
”
she said, moving away a foot.
“
You
’
ll be making passes soon.
”

“
Give me a couple of hours and you
’
ll be surprised what I will do,
”
I kidded, then I went on:
“
How
’
s the uplift and pant business?
”

Although her face clouded she forced a smile.
“
I
’
m getting discouraged,
”
she confided.
“
If something doesn
’
t happen soon I
’
ll be on the bread-line. Cranville isn
’
t any good for the stuff I
’
m peddling.
”

I regarded her thoughtfully. She wasn
’
t as good as Betty Grable or Rita Hayworth or Ginger Rogers, but she wasn
’
t bad. I could imagine Reg Phipps going for her in a big way.

“
Can you use a typewriter and do shorthand?
”
I asked.

She looked puzzled, but said she could.

“
There
’
s a job going on the Cranville Gazette: If you want a change from selling, you can have it.
”

“
You mean that?
”
There was eagerness in her voice.

“
Sure, if you want it.
”

“
Would it pay steady money? I
’
m getting tired of wondering when next I
’
m going to eat.
”

I looked sharply at her.
“
As bad as that?
”

She took the ice bag away and changed the ice.
“
As bad as that,
”
she repeated seriously.

“
Well, you
’
re hired. Send your samples back and tell your boss to go bowl a hoop,
”
I said, patting her hand.
“
Report to the Gazette tomorrow and tell Reg Phipps—he
’
s the editor—that you
’
re his new secretary. Tell him I said so.
”

She looked doubtful.
“
You
’
re sure it
’
s all right? Perhaps he won
’
t like me.
”

“
Phipps?
”
I laughed.
“
You ought to see who he
’
s got now. He
’
ll be all over you.
”

“
I can
’
t say how grateful—
”
she began, but I stopped her.

“
The job isn
’
t all that good,
”
I said.
“
Maybe you won
’
t like it. Maybe we
’
ll curl up before we start, but if you want to take the chance, it
’
s yours.
”

“
I
’
ll take the chance,
”
she said.

“
Then that
’
s settled.
”

She glanced at her watch.
“
Now don
’
t think I
’
m ungrateful if I leave you, but I promised to go out with Ted Esslinger and I
’
ve got to change.
”

“
Esslinger?
”
I raised my eyebrows.
“
He
’
s a fast worker, isn
’
t he? He only met you last night.
”

She blushed.
“
Well, you know how it is. I hadn
’
t anything to do and he phoned.
”

“
I was only kidding,
”
I said, not wanting to embarrass her.
“
And he
’
s a nice kid. Hope you have a good time.
”

“
Now don
’
t be doing anything you shouldn
’
t. With a head like that you might have concussion.
”
She moved to the door.
“
Sure there
’
s nothing I can get you before I go?
”

I said,
“
No,
”
and added:
“
If Esslinger arrives before you
’
re dressed, shoo him in here. I
’
ll keep him company until you
’
re ready.
”

She nodded, said she hoped I
’
d be better in the morning, and thanked me again for the job.

After she had gone I lit another cigarette and thought about her. She was a good kid and I was glad to give her a break. From her my thoughts drifted to Audrey Sheridan. Now, she was a surprise. I hadn
’
t expected to find quite such an independent, smart beauty in a dump like Cranville. I wondered where she got her money from. If what I
’
d heard was right her detective agency was a flop, but the appearance of the place and her apartment showed she must have money. I wondered if her old man had left her anything, and decided he must have.

The way she had stood up to Starkey showed she had plenty of guts. That
’
s one thing I liked in a woman. She was a beauty too. I almost regretted I was working in the opposite camp. It might be plenty of fun to work with her. I wondered how Colonel Forsberg would react if I suggested he hire her as an International Investigations operative. He
’
d probably have a stroke.