Case Pending - Dell Shannon (29 page)

When Alison answered the second ring he said,
"Luis. Would you like to hear a story of human foibles and
follies?. . . .Yes, we've got him, it's all over. But for the
routine. I'll be with you in twenty minutes, you'll be
interested to hear all about it."

"Well, yes, but it is rather late-"

"Night's still young,
chica
.
Twenty minutes," he repeated firmly, and hung up on her
reluctant laugh.

Hackett was gone. Mendoza stood on the steps,
lighting a cigarette, and the dead man in the freight yards wandered
through his mind. The next thing, now. Tomorrow. A
couple of rather suggestive little things, there: might yield the
ghost of a line to look into. . . . .When he came out to the street,
somebody in a brash new Buick had sewed him up tight in the parking
space; it would take some maneuvering to get the Ferrari out. He
swore, getting out his keys; no denying at all that a smaller car—
He might just look into it, no harm in looking. Maybe that
Mercedes. . . .

He slid under the wheel and started the
engine. Meanwhile, Alison. He smiled to himself; he expected to
enjoy Alison. . . .