James Chase - Figure It Out for Yourself

I sipped a little whisky, stared at her, not very surprised, but taking her believe I was.

‘Are you serious?’

Her mouth tightened.

‘Of course I am. You’re being a nuisance. You’re prying into things that don’t concern you. The police have made an arrest. I’m satisfied that this man kidnapped my husband. There is no point in you stirring up more trouble.’

I lit a cigarette, tossed the match into the fireplace, and blew a little cloud of smoke to the ceiling.

‘The man the police have arrested didn’t do the job, Mrs. Dedrick. He happens to be a friend of mine. I shall continue to investigate this business until I have cleared him.’

She went very pale and her eyes lit up. Her hands became fists in her lap.

‘I am willing to pay you to stop being a nuisance,’ she said in a hard, tight voice.

‘The number of times beautiful women with more money than ethics have tried to bribe me to give up a case really astonishes me,’ I said. ‘Sorry. I’m not interested.’

‘You can name your price,’ she said, her voice edged with anger.

‘Yeah, I’m sure, but I’m still not interested. If that’s all you have to say, I’ll turn in. I’m tired.’

‘Fifty thousand dollars,’ she said, watching me.

I grinned at her.

‘We’re bargaining for a man’s life, Mrs. Dedrick. If I don’t go on working on this case, Perelli will go to the gas chamber. Do you seriously mean that’s what you want?’

‘I know nothing about Perelli. I’m not interested in him. If he is tried and found guilty, then he is guilty. I will give you fifty thousand dollars to go away for a month. Will you take it?’

‘I can’t go away for a month, Mrs. Dedrick. I’m busy trying to find out who kidnapped your husband.’

‘Seventy-five thousand!’

‘What are you scared of? What don’t you want me to find out?’

‘Seventy-five thousand!’ she said.

‘What’s happened to Dedrick? Did someone hit him too hard? Have you discovered your father’s at the back of this, and you want to buy his life? Or is it purely selfish motives and you don’t want the great American public to know you were taken for a ride by a reefer-smuggler?’

‘A hundred thousand!’ she said, through white lips.

‘Not a million!’ I said, getting to my feet. ‘So save your breath. I’m going ahead with this job, and I’m going to finish it. Good night!’

She stood up. There was a dangerous stillness about her that made me look quickly to see if she had a sandbag with her, but she hadn’t. In the mood she was in now I wouldn’t put it past her to shoot me.

‘Are you sure?’ she said.

‘I said, good night. You can’t expect always to get your own way. Run along, Mrs. Dedrick. You bore me.’

‘There’s another way of taking care of you,’ she said with a cold, set smile. ‘I’ll give you one more chance. Two hundred thousand.’

‘Get out!’ I said, and crossed the room to throw open the door.

She went quickly to the telephone, dialled, waited a second then screamed in a voice that made me nearly jump out of my skin : ‘Police! Help! Come at once!’

She dropped the telephone and turned to me, the set smile still on her lips.

‘Very smart,’ I said, and sat down. ‘What am I supposed to be doing? Criminal assault?’

She put her hand on the front of her dress and ripped it down. Then she dug her nails into her shoulder and clawed into her white flesh, leaving four angry red marks on her skin. She ran her fingers through her hair. She kicked over a table, pushed the settee into the fireplace, scuffed up the rug. As she walked across the room to disarrange more furniture, I reached for the telephone, dialled, and waited.

‘Hello?’ Paula said.

‘I’m in trouble. Come over here fast. You know what to do, collect Francon and get down to Police Headquarters as fast as you can. In five minutes I’ll be on a charge of criminal assault. Mrs. Dedrick is setting the stage now.’

‘I’ll be with you,’ Paula said and hung up.

I dropped the receiver back on its cradle and lit a cigarette.

‘While you’re about it, I’d let my stockings down if I were you. It always gives a more authentic picture,’ I said gently.

‘You’ll be sorry you didn’t take the money, you stupid fool,’ Serena said. ‘They’ll give you two years for this.’

‘Pity you scratched yourself,’ I said, shaking my head at her. ‘Rather a wasted effort. They won’t find your skin under my nails, and they always look.’

A car drew up outside with a squeal of brakes. Serena gave a wild, piercing scream and went staggering out on to the veranda.

I didn’t move.

Feet pounded up the garden path.

‘All right lady. We’re here,’ a man bawled.

Sergeant MacGraw loomed in the doorway, a snarl on his face and a gun in his hand.

‘One move and you get it!’ he bellowed, glaring at me.

‘Don’t be dramatic,’ I said, tapping ash on to the floor. ‘She’s kidding.’

‘Yeah? She looks like it. Stand up and put your hands up!’

I stood up and put my hands up. He came in cautiously.

‘Well, well, a sex-maniac, huh? I always thought you were a screw.’

A uniform cop came in supporting Serena, who collapsed into a chair. Her scratches were bleeding now, and blood ran over her white brassiere and on to her dress. She looked the part all right.

‘Holy cow!’ MacGraw gasped. ‘It’s Mrs. Dedrick! Here you, put the cuffs on that punk.’

The cop came over and snapped handcuffs on my wrist. He gave me a light punch on the chest.

‘It’s going to be an awful long time before you see another woman, Bud,’ he said in an undertone.

MacGraw was fussing over Serena. She was crying and trembling. He got her a drink and stood over her, his heavy face red and embarrassed, and every so often he kept muttering. ‘Holy cow!’ and scratched his jaw.

‘Give me my wrap,’ she said suddenly. ‘I’m all right now. I came here to talk to him about my husband. Without warning he—he flew at me like an animal.’

‘No animal would fly at you, baby,’ I said gently. You’d be surprised how fussy animals are.’

MacGraw spun round and hit me across the mouth with the back of his hand.

‘Wait till I get you to the station,’ he snarled. I’ve been waiting years just for this moment.’

‘Enjoy yourself,’ I said. ‘It’s not going to last long.’

‘Do you feel like coming down to Headquarters, ma’am?’ MacGraw asked. ‘You needn’t if you don’t feel like it.’

‘Of course. I wish to see Captain Brandon. This man must be taught a lesson.’

‘He will,’ MacGraw said and showed his teeth. ‘Well, if you’re ready, ma’am, we’ll go.’

The cop grabbed me by the arm and shoved me to the door.

‘Bend your nightstick over his skull if he tries anything funny,’ MacGraw said.

The cop and I got in the back of the police car; Serena and MacGraw got in the front.

Paula’s small convertible flashed past us as we turned the bead into Orchid Boulevard.

Mifflin was going off duty as we all tramped into the charge-room. He had his hat and coat on, and was leaning up against the desk, giving the sergeant in charge his final instructions.

When he saw the handcuffs on my wrists, his eyes grew round. He looked from me to MacGraw.

‘What’s buzzing?’ he demanded. ‘What have you got this guy here for?’

MacGraw puffed himself out with righteous indignation.

‘Charge of rape, Lieutenant,’ he said. ‘This rat assaulted Mrs. Dedrick. I got there just in time.’

Mifflin’s face was a study. His eyes grew to the size of doorknobs.