James Chase: No Orchids for Miss Blandish

Slim was lying on his bed in his shirt and trousers. The necklace was dangling between his bony fingers. As Ma entered the room, the necklace disappeared with the same incredible speed with which he could produce his knife.

Quick as he was, Ma saw the necklace although she didn’t say so.

“What are you lying down for?” she demanded, advancing up to the bed. “You tired or something?”

Slim scowled at her. There were times when his mother bored him with her stupid questions.

“Yeah I’m tired. I didn’t want to listen to all that talk downstairs.”

“You should be thankful I can talk,” Ma said grimly. “We’re going to be rich, Slim. That girl’s worth a pile of money to us.”

Slim’s face lit up and his scowl went away.

“Where is she, Ma?”

Ma stared at him. She had never seen such an expression on his face before. She stiffened, thinking, so Doc’s right. The poor fool looks smitten. I wouldn’t have believed it.

“She’s in the front room under lock and key,” she said.

Slim rolled over on his back, staring up at the ceiling.

“She’s pretty, isn’t she, Ma?” he said, simpering. “I’ve never seen any girl like her. Did you see her hair?”

“Pretty?” Ma snarled. “Why should you care? She’s just like any other girl.”

Slim turned his head and stared at her. He looked surprised.

“You think that?” he asked. “Haven’t you eyes in your head? What’s the matter with you? I’ve always thought you were smart. She’s beautiful. If you can’t see it, you must be blind.” He ran his fingers through his greasy long hair. “She’s like something out of a picture book. I want to keep her, Ma. We don’t have to send her back, do we? We’ll get the money and I’ll keep her. I’ve never had a girl. She’s going to be my girl.”

“Yeah?” Ma sneered. “Do you think she’ll want you? Look at your hands and shirt. They’re filthy. Do you imagine a snooty little bitch like her will look at you?”

Slim examined his hands. He seemed suddenly unsure of himself.

“I guess I could wash,” he said as if it was an idea that had never occurred to him before. “I could put on a clean shirt.”

“I haven’t time to waste talking this crap,” Ma said roughly. “I want the necklace.”

Slim eyed her, his head cocked on one side. Then he took the necklace from his pocket and dangled it out of Ma’s reach. There was a sudden look of cunning on his face that Ma didn’t like.

“It’s pretty, isn’t it?” he said. “But you’re not having it. I’m keeping it. I know you — if you had it, you’d sell it. That’s all you think about — money. I’m going to give it back to her. It’s hers.”

Ma controlled her rising temper.

“Hand that necklace to me!” she grated, holding out her hand.

Slim slid off the bed and faced her, his eyes gleaming.

“I’m keeping it.”

This had never happened to Ma before. For a moment she was so surprised, she didn’t know quite what to do, then her temper exploded and she advanced on Slim, swinging her great fists.

“Goddamn it! Give it to me before I hit you!” she shouted, her heavy face mottled and furious.

“Keep back!” Suddenly his knife jumped into his hand. He crouched, glaring at his mother. “Keep back!”

Ma came to an abrupt standstill. Looking at the thin, vicious face and the gleaming yellow eyes, she remembered Doc’s warning. She felt a chill crawl up her spine.

“Put that knife away, Slim,” she said quietly. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Slim eyed her, then suddenly he grinned.

“That scared you, didn’t it, Ma? I saw you were scared. You’re like the rest of them. Even you are scared of me.”

“Don’t talk foolish,” Ma said. “You’re my son. Why should I be scared of you? Now come on, give me the necklace.”

“I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” Slim said, a crafty expression on his face. “You want the necklace: I want the girl. We’ll trade. You fix it she likes me: I give you the diamonds. How’s that?”

“Why, you poor fool...” Ma began but stopped when Slim dropped the necklace into his pocket.

“You’re not having it until the girl’s nice to me,” he said. “You talk to her, Ma. Tell her I won’t hurt her I want her to keep me company. Those punks downstairs don’t like me. You’ve got Doc to talk to. I’ve got no one. I want her.”

While he was talking, Ma was thinking. Even if she had the necklace, she couldn’t get rid of it yet. It would be months before she would dare try to sell it. It wasn’t important that he should keep it for a while. What was important was this show of rebellion and her loss of authority. She eyed the knife in her son’s hand. She again remembered Doc’s warning. It was true. Slim wasn’t normal. He was dangerous. She wasn’t going to risk getting a knife stuck in her. It would be better to do what he wanted. It wouldn’t be for long. When the ransom was paid, the girl would go and Slim would forget about her and settle down. Maybe it might be a good idea for him to have a little fun with the girl. If he fancied this one, why not let him have her? Doc was always talking about frustrations and repressions. Yes, it might be an idea to let Slim have the girl. It might be good for him: give him something else to think about instead of staying in his room.

“Put that knife away, Slim,” she said moving away from him. “I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t amuse yourself with the girl. I’ll see what I can do. Put it away. You should be ashamed to threaten your mother with a knife.”

Slim suddenly realized he had won a victory. He giggled.

“Now you’re talking sense,” he said and put the knife away. “You fix it, Ma, and I’ll give you the necklace, but you’ve got to fix it good.”

“I’ll talk to her,” Ma said and went slowly from the room.

This was the first time Slim had ever got the better of her and she didn’t like it.

Doc’s right, she thought, as she plodded down the stairs. He’s dangerous. He could get worse. The hell of it is, I’m getting old. Soon I won’t be able to handle him at all.

As soon as Eddie got into town, he parked the Buick and then bought a newspaper.

The kidnapping of Miss Blandish and the murder of Jerry MacGowan were spread across the front page. He read the account quickly. There was nothing there new to him. The Chief of Police said he was following an important clue, but he didn’t say what it was. Eddie guessed that was just bluff.

He walked to a cigar store at the corner of the street. He nodded to the fat man behind the counter and passed through a curtained doorway into the poolroom.

The room was thick with smoke and full of men, drinking and playing pool. Eddie looked around and spotted Woppy by himself keeping a bottle of Scotch company.

“Hi,” Eddie said, coming over and sitting down. “What’s cooking?”

Woppy signaled to the barman to bring another glass.

“Plenty,” Woppy said. “Have you seen the papers?”

“Nothing in them,” Eddie said. He nodded to the barman as he set the glass on the table. He poured himself a drink.

“You wait for the evening edition. Remember the punk who collects dirt for Gossip? Heinie? He’s shot his mouth off to the cops.”

“What’s the idea? Since when has he been an informer?”

“The insurance people are offering a reward for the necklace. I guess Heinie wants the dough. He’s told the cops Bailey was interested in the necklace. They’ve turned over the town but they can’t find Bailey so they’re saying he and Riley pulled the snatch. Good for us, huh?”

Eddie grinned.