James Chase - Tiger by the Tail

“No trouble at all,” O’Brien said mildly. “But you’re not getting anything out of me. I’m surprised you haven’t asked why you’re here.”

Into the deep green eyes came an uneasy expression.

“Well, okay: why am I here?”

“Obviously because the cure hasn’t worked. You are still a mental case, Johnny.”

Johnny’s face went white and his eyes glittered.

“Yeah? You don’t scare me. You know damn well you won’t marry Gilda if you try to push me around. The doctors say I’m all right, and I am all right!”

“Then why did you kill Fay Carson?” O’Brien asked. “Not a very good recommendation for your sanity, is it?”

Johnny looked away.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said uneasily.

“Oh, yes, you do. Last night you went to Fay Carson’s apartment and stabbed her with an ice-pick.”

“You’re crazy! Last night I was with you, and you’re stuck with it, Sean.”

O’Brien shook his head.

“That won’t work. I was at a party last night. Why did you kill her?”

“Who said I did?” Johnny asked.

“Why try and bluff with me?” O’Brien said curtly. “You threatened to kill her before you went into the home, the moment you come out she’s murdered. Do you imagine you can get away with it?”

Johnny stared at him.

“I know I can get away with it!” he said.

“So you admit it, then?” O’Brien said.

“Okay, I admit it,” Johnny returned. “I said I’d finish her and I like to keep a promise. She had enough warning. She went on with her dirty game and there wasn’t any other logical dung to do with her.”

O’Brien hadn’t had any doubt that Johnny had killed Fay, but he hadn’t expected him to be quite so brazen about it.

“And how long do you imagine it’ll be before the police get on to you?”

Johnny laughed.

“Be your age! What’s the use of having a political boss as a future brother-in-law if one can’t knock off a dirty bitch when she needs killing? I’ve made it easy for you. There was a guy with her when I killed her. He can take the rap. It’ll be easy for you to shift the rap on to him. You’ve got the Commissioner in your pocket, haven’t you? He’ll do what you tell him.”

“You’re taking a lot for granted,” O’Brien said quietly. “Suppose I do nothing of the kind?”

“But you will,” Johnny said easily. “You can’t afford to let the cops catch me, Sean. I know just how besotted you are about Gilda. I’m not blaming you: she’s a sexy piece, and any guy in his right senses would want to marry her. But if the police catch me, you won’t dare marry her. I know just how much you’ve been avoiding the limelight ever since you took control of the Administration. You don’t fool me, Sean. You have something to bide, and publicity is just the thing you don’t want.”

O’Brien studied him, his face expressionless. A cold, murderous rage had hold of him, but he didn’t show it.

“I wonder if you did kill her,” he said slowly.

Johnny laughed.

“You needn’t believe me if you don’t want to,” he said indifferently. “It was easy. She had a rotten memory and was always locking herself out. The little fool used to keep a spare key under the mat. I went to her place, found the key and let If in. I hid in the bedroom. She came back with this guy.” His thin face hardened. “I had the ice-pick ready. She was so scared she didn’t even scream. I wish you could have seen her face. She had taken off her clothes and was admiring herself in the mirror. I came up behind her. She saw me in the mirror and turned. I didn’t think a human face could look so frightened. I stabbed her. There was nothing to it. She fell across the bed, looking up at me. The guy in the other room shouted out, asking her how long she was going to be. So I fused the lights and beat it. It was as easy as that, Sean.”

“Did anyone see you leave the apartment?” O’Brien asked.

“Of course not. Do you imagine I’m a fool? I took care no one did see me.”

“Gilda knows you’re in town. Does anyone else?”

Johnny’s eyes shifted.

“No.”

“How did you know where Fay lived?”

Again Johnny’s eyes shifted.

“I knew she often went to the Blue Rose. I took a chance and went down there. I saw her come out and I followed her.”

O’Brien made an impatient gesture.

“Don’t lie! You just said you were waiting for her when she came home. How could you have followed her if you were at the apartment before she arrived?”

Johnny grinned.

“You’re quite a cop, aren’t you, Sean? Well, if you must know, I asked Paradise Louie where she hung out.”

“So he knows you were after her? You stupid fool I Do you think he’ll keep his mouth shut?”

“That’s up to you,” Johnny returned carelessly. “You can handle Louie.

You’d better see him and fix it.”

O’Brien sat staring down at the floor, thinking.

“I wouldn’t have touched her if I hadn’t been sure of your protection,” Johnny went on. He swung his legs off the bunk. “I’m sick of this stinking cabin. Let’s go to your bank and collect ten grand, then I’ll get off to New York.”

O’Brien looked up

“You’re kidding yourself, Johnny,” he said, the edge of his rage showing in his voice He got up, went to the door, opened it and beckoned to Tux, who was waiting outside.

“Come in here.”

Tux moved silently into the cabin, closed the door and set his back to it.

Johnny eyed him warily and moved back.

“Now look here, Sean,” he said, “I’ve taken as much as I’m going to from you. Don’t try any more funny stuff or you’ll be sorry.”

O’Brien ignored him.

“Johnny is to stay here,” he said to Tux, “until I tell you to let him loose. You’re responsible for him. If he tries to get away, I’ll leave it to you to teach him not to try again. He’s in your charge, Tux. If he doesn’t behave, knock his goddamn head off!”

“Okay, boss,” Tux said, and his brutal face brightened a little.

“You can’t treat me that way!” Johnny exclaimed. “If you don’t let me off this boat right now I’ll ruin you!”

“You stupid punk!” O’Brien snarled. “You’re staying here until I say so. Shut your trap or I’ll have it shut for you!”

Johnny jumped across the cabin towards O’Brien, his fists swinging, but before he could come within striking distance, Tux had shuffled forward, blocked his rush and sent him reeling back.

“I’ll make you pay for this!” Johnny snarled, glaring at O’Brien. “I’ll see Gilda doesn’t marry you, you big-head!”

O’Brien glanced at Tux, nodded, and opened the cabin door.

Tux shuffled forward, gave Johnny a light tap to turn him and then drove his fist into Johnny’s face.

Johnny’s head slammed against the wall and he slid down on his hands and knees.

O’Brien watched from the doorway.

“Soften him up a little,” he said. “Don’t do too much damage.”

As he went out into the passage, Tux stepped back and kicked Johnny in the ribs, sending him over on his back.

O’Brien closed the door. He went up on deck to the motor-boat, showing his teeth in a fixed, mirthless grin.

Raphael Sweeting stood on the edge of the kerb, waiting for a break in the traffic before crossing to the far side. He carried his Pekinese under his arm, and the dog watched the traffic with the same impatience as its master.

The rain that had been falling had stopped, and the humid heat made Sweeting sweat. He watched the onrush of traffic as it flowed past him, and thought how pleasant it would be if he had enough money to buy a car.