James Chase - I'll Get You for This

“I’ll tell him,” I said, and peered out of the window.

Tim’s boat rode at anchor. No one seemed around.

“Like to go out and see if it’s all clear?” I asked.

She went. After a few minutes, she returned. “It’s all right “I she said.

I thanked her and walked down to the boat. I went hell for leather towards the islands. I suddenly wanted to see Miss Wonderly again. I was surprised how much I wanted to see her.

Three-quarters of the way across, I spotted a rowing boat. The guy who was pulling the oars acted like he was in a hurry. He waved to me, and then went on pulling.

I swung the boat off course and headed towards him.

It was Tim. His face was running with sweat and the look in his eyes turned me cold.

He tried to speak, but he was so breathless he couldn’t: it. He raised his fists and shook them at the sky.

I hauled him on to the boat, grabbed him by the shoulder.

I knew what he was going to say.

He said it. “They’ve got her!”

THERE were a half a dozen Bobby-soxers sitting up on stools at | the drug-store counter when I came in. They didn’t pay any; attention to me. They were too busy telling each other how much they loved Frank Sinatra. I didn’t pay any attention to them. I had too much on my mind.

I shut myself in a telephone booth, called Killeano’s private residence. They told me he was at the City Hall, and gave roe the number. I dropped in another nickel and put through a call to the City Hall.

A girl wanted to know who was calling.

“He’ll tell you if he wants you to know,” I said. “Put me through and step on it.”

There was a delay, then Killeano’s oily voice came over the wire.

“This is Cain,” I said, speaking rapidly. “Turn that Wonderly girl loose right away, or I’ll start something in this town that’ll go down in its historical records. I’m not bluffing. I’ve taken all I’m going to take from you and your small-time outfit. Now I mean business.”

“You do, eh?” Killeano snarled. “Well, so do I. Wonderly’s confessed to the Herrick killing and she’s signed a statement implicating you. How do you like that? We’ve got an open and shut case, and by God, I’m coming after you. I’ve given orders you’re to be brought in dead or alive…”

“Okay, Killeano,” I said. “From now on, it’s gloves off. I’ll get you for this. Make no mistake about it, and no one’ll stop me.”

I slammed down the receiver, joined Tim Duval, who was waiting outside in the Mercury convertible.

“She’s in jail,” I said, getting in beside him and slamming the door. “He says she’s confessed.”

He gave me an uneasy glance. “What are you going to do?” he asked, engaging gear.

“We’ll go back to your place. We’ve got to make plans,” I said, lighting a cigarette and trying to control my trembling hands. I was cold with rage. “I’ll get her out of there. I don’t care how tough it is. I’ll get her out.”

“You’ll never do it,” Tim said. “They’ll guess that’s what you’ll try to do, and they’ll be ready for you.”

“You don’t think I’m going to leave that kid in their hands, do you?” I said, glaring at him. “I’ve got to get her out.”

He nodded. “I can see that,” he said, “but I don’t figure how you’re going to do it.”

I snapped my fingers. “Know a good lawyer?”

“Jed would know.”

“She’s got to be represented. They can’t keep a lawyer out. I’ll call Jed when we get back. Step on it for God’s sake.”

I put a call through to Davis as soon as I reached Tim’s place. Tim and Hetty hung around waiting.

Davis came on the line.

“They’ve got her,” I told him. “They were tipped off by one of the rats who helped provision the boat. There’s a reward for her and he sold her out. They worked on her, and she’s signed a statement. I want a lawyer to represent her. Can you fix it.”

“Sure,” Davis said. “Coppinger will handle it. He hasn’t any time for Killeano. I’ll get after him. Where is she?”

“In the jail. And listen, money’s no object. Tell this guy to get down there right away. Then when you’ve fixed him come over here fast. I want to talk to you.”

“I’ll be along,” he said, and hung up.

I dropped the receiver on its hook and pushed back my chair.

Tim was eyeing me. “Can he do it?”

I nodded. “He’s coming over as soon as he’s fixed the mouthpiece,” I said, and walked to the window.

I didn’t know what the hell was the matter with me. I’d never felt like this before. I was cold; my muscles flicked the way a horse flicks its muscles to get rid of flies. My mouth was dry and I felt sick. I wanted to go down to the jail and start shooting. I didn’t care what happened to me so long as I could kill some of those rats who’d got that kid in their hands.

“Give me a drink,” I said, without looking round.

Tim gave me a whisky.

I faced him. “You better keep out of this,” I said abruptly. “I’m going to start a massacre in this town if I don’t get her out. It’s Killeano or me, and I’m stopping at nothing.”

“Sit down,” Tim said quietly.

“To hell with that!” I said. “I didn’t realize what she meant to me until they grabbed her. I’m going to take the lid off now, and anyone who gets in my way will get hurt.”

“Take it easy,” Tim said, pushing me into a chair. “I know how you feel, but it won’t get you anywhere to jump off the deep end. There’s only one way to tackle this. You’ve got to use your head. If you get wild and jump in with both feet, you’ll be playing into Killeano’s hands.”

I drew a deep breath, tried to grin. “You’re right, Tim,” I said. “I’m mad right now, but as you say, there’s no sense Bi rushing into trouble. Somehow we’ve got to get her out and quick. But it needs planning. I guess I’ll go look that jail over.”

“You’d better wait for Jed,” Tim advised. “He knows the jail. You can’t afford to be picked up.”

“Right again,” I said. “We’ll wait for Jed.”

We had to wait a couple of hours. They were the longest hours I’ve ever lived through, and I wouldn’t like to live through them again.

Davis came around three o’clock. The afternoon sun sizzingly hot and he was sweating. He stood in the doorway and looked at us.

“I fixed Coppinger,” he said. “He’s gone down to see her, and he’ll be over here when he’s through.”

“Sit down,” I said, waving to a chair. “Is it true she’s signed statement?

He nodded. “They’ve given it to the press. It’ll be in the evening papers.” He took out his comb and fiddled with it.

“They’ve had six hours to work on her before we knew they’d got her,” he went on. “That’s plenty of time to make a girl talk…”

Tim nudged him. “Shut up,” he said.

“That’s all right,” I said, but I knew my face had gone white. “I’m not kidding myself what those heels have done to her. Well, they’ll pay for it.” I lit a cigarette while the other two exchanged glances. “Any ideas how we can get her out?” I asked suddenly, looking at Davis.

He gaped at me. “Get her out?” he repeated. “It can’t be done. There just isn’t any way of getting her out. That jail’s like a fort, and Flaggerty has about twenty guards around the outside. I went down there with Coppinger and they wouldn’t let me in. They’re reckoning you’ll try to get her out. They’ve got a couple of searchlights rigged on the roof, and every guard has a Thompson. They’ve even got dogs patrolling. Not a chance.”