James Chase: Tiger by the Tail

“Can I get in there?”

Cutler shook his head.

“Not a hope. The whole district’s sewn up tight by now.”

“I’ll be right back,” Tux said grimly, and ran across the hall to the stairs. He whistled for Solly, who came up quickly and silently. “I know where he is,” Tux said. “Now we’ve got to get at him.”

Solly’s great black eyes blinked and he nodded. Together they returned to the desk.

“We’ll go up and take a look,” Tux said to Cutler. “Come on. Show us.”

Cutler shrugged.

“Suit yourself. It won’t get you anywhere. The cops have really got this organized.”

The three entered the elevator which took them slowly and creakingly to the top floor.

“About time you got a new elevator,” Tux said as they all stepped out, “That thing doesn’t feel safe.”

“It isn’t,” Cutler said cheerfully, “but I’d rather the than walk up all those damn stairs twice in a night.”

He turned off the passage light, then opened the door that led on to the outside escape.

“Watch yourself. These cops may be trigger happy.”

Tux went down on hands and knees and crawled out on to the platform. He flattened out and Cutler, also crawling, came and lay by his side.

“That’s the joint; down there,” he said, pointing to a dark building across the alley and to their right.

“Okay,” Tux said. “You take care of the desk. Me and Solly can handle this.”

Cutler retreated and Solly crawled up to take his place.

“That’s it,” Tux said, keeping his voice down. He pointed. “We’ve got to get in there somehow.”

They lay looking down into the dark alley. Every now and then they saw a movement as a cop walked slowly along the alley, turn and retrace his steps, passing the door of the building they were watching.

“Maybe I could get down there and knock that lug on the head,” Solly said hopefully. “Then you could get in.”

“No.” Tux said. “That’s not the way to play it. If we are going to get in, we’ll get in by the roof.”

He studied the lay-out of the district as far as he could see it.

“We’ll have to get to the other side of the alley first,” he said finally. “We’ll have to go down the way we came up, cut around the back and get to Dave’s place. We can use his roof. It’ll take time, but it’ll be safe.”

Solly edged backwards. He was essentially a man of action. Show him what to do and he did it.

Tux followed him, and together they went down the stairs, two at a time.

Johnny opened his eyes, blinked and lifted his head. He looked across the dimly lighted room as Ken got quickly to his feet.

“I guess I threw an ing-bing,” Johnny said, and half-sat up, grimacing. “Hell! My arm hurts. How long have we been here?”

“Twenty minutes,” Ken said, coming over.

“Where’s the girl?”

“She’s downstairs getting some milk.”

Johnny lay back with a little grunt of pain.

“I feel as weak as a rat. What’s happening outside?”

“I don’t know. From the sounds going on, they’re surrounding the place.”

“I don’t think I’m going to get far. Think we’re safe here?”

“I guess not. They may search each house. They must know we’re hidden in one of the buildings.”

“Yes.” Johnny shut his eyes. “Think you can get away on your own?”

“Not yet anyway.”

“Put the lamp out and take a look out of the window.”

Ken turned down the wick, blew out the flickering flame and groped his way across the room to the heavily curtained window.

“Be careful,” Johnny muttered.

Cautiously Ken lifted the edge of the curtain and peered out into the dark night. At first he could see nothing, then he spotted two shadowy figures almost under the window. He hurriedly lowered the curtain and stepped back.

“Two of them are right outside.”

He heard the door open.

“What’s happened to the light?” Rose asked out of the darkness.

“I’ll light it again,” Ken said, struck a match and lit the lamp. “I was looking out of the window. The police are right outside.”

She noticed Johnny was staring at her.

“Well, how do you feel ?” she asked, going over to him.

“Lousy,” Johnny said, and forced a grin. “Thanks for fixing my arm. I guess I must have bled a lot.”

“What do you expect?” she turned to Ken. “If you want to skip, handsome, you can get away over the roof. I’ll look after this guy.”

Ken didn’t hesitate. If he could get clear and telephone Adams and tell him where Johnny was holed up, he would solve a problem that had been nagging at him ever since he and Johnny had left Willow Point.

He looked over at Johnny.

“What do you say?”

“Sure,” Johnny said. “You skip.”

“What about you?”

“There’s something I want you to do for me,” Johnny said. “Come here.”

Ken went over to him.

“I don’t know if you have anywhere to go,” Johnny went on. “Every road will be watched, and you may have to hole up somewhere. Go to my sister. Her place is 45 Maddox Court.

She’ll let you stay with her until the heat cools off. Tell her what’s happened to me. Tell her O’Brien tricked me into writing her a letter so she should think I was going to Paris. Tell her about the barrel. I want her to know the kind of guy she’s marrying. Will you do that for me?”

Ken hesitated.

“You’ll do yourself some good,” Johnny urged. “She’ll give you money. She’ll get you out of town.”

“All right,” Ken said reluctantly. “I’ll get to her if I can.”

“Maybe she can think of some way to get me out of this jam. She’s full of ideas. Don’t let anyone see you. There’s a night clerk in the lobby. You’ll have to get past him without him seeing you.” He pointed to his coat, lying on a chair. “Get me my billfold.”

Ken took the leather billfold from the inside pocket of the coat and handed it to him.

Johnny found an old envelope addressed to himself in the billfold.

“Got a pencil?” he asked.

Ken gave him his pen.

Johnny scribbled on the back of the envelope.

“Give her that. She’ll know you’ve come from me.”

Ken took the envelope and put it in his pocket.

“Good luck,” Johnny said. “I’ll keep the gun. I may need it more than you.”

“So long,” Ken said, anxious to get away. He was uneasy about leaving Johnny. If the police found him before Adams got to him, and if Johnny were killed in a gun battle, he would be stuck with Fay’s murder. But he had to go. He had to get in touch with Adams.

“Come on, handsome, if you’re going,” Rose said impatiently. “They may get around to watching the roof before long.”

Ken followed her into the passage. At the far end was a skylight.

“Go ahead,” she said. “It’s not too bad. Make for the Paramount movie house. You can’t miss it. That’s the way my brother used to go when he was in trouble. There’s an escape on the movie house that’ll bring you down to their parking lot. Get over the wall and you’ll find an alley that’ll take you to Lennox Street. The rest is up to you.”

“Thanks,” Ken said awkwardly, “I owe you something. If I get out of this mess I won’t forget you.”

“I bet you do, handsome. Go on, beat it! I’ll look after your pal.”

“But I won’t forget you,” Ken said obstinately.

“Okay, then you won’t forget me,” she said carelessly. “Go on, beat it.”

“I’m very grateful for your help,” he said, and held out his hand.

She giggled, looking at him.

“You’re a nut, handsome,” she said, moved close, slid her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his. Then she pushed him away. “Get going, Romeo. You’re wasting time.”