James Chase - Miss Callaghan Comes to Grief

He wandered to the door.

“I’ll be down tomorrow at ten. Get all the stuff together,” and he went out, shutting the door softly.

Grantham sat back, feeling slightly sick. So it had happened. Where was Jean? He picked up the phone and hastily dialled Mendetta’s number. The operator told him after a short delay that no one was answering. He hung up.

Lu Eller came in. Ever since Mendetta could afford gunmen, Eller had been looking after them. He was a tall, powerfully built man, with a heavy jaw and ingrowing eyebrows.

“What’s he want?” he said, standing just inside the doorway.

Grantham lit another cigarette. “That’s your new boss,” he said bitterly. “Mendetta’s met with an accident.”

Lu raised his eyebrows. “That’s too bad. You standin’ for Raven?”

Grantham put his elbows on the table. “Let’s face it, Lu,” he said. “Since Raven moved in, what’s happened? Mendetta lost his grip. We know that. They both came from Chi. Mendetta used to carry a gun for Diamond. He thought he was too big for that, so he moved over here. Well, he got on. What Raven did in Chi.

I don’t know, but when he came here he certainly scared Mendetta. He offered to come in as a partner, but Mendetta turned him down. You’ve seen him, haven’t you? Looks like he’s down to rock bottom, till you look at his face. That guy’s going to be big, and Mendetta knew it. When he turned Raven down he signed his death warrant. Raven promised him he’d fix him, and he has. I think Raven can make me more money than any guy in this town. I ain’t interested in anything else but making a lot of dough. Raven’s good enough for me.”

Lu looked at him admiringly. “That’s the swellest bit of lyin’ I’ve ever heard. It nearly convinces me, but not quite. Shall I tell you why you’re saying welcome to Raven? Because you’re yellow. Because Raven’s a killer, and you know it. Because Raven’s got a little mob that is as tough as hell and could smash us up in half an hour. Yeah, that’s why.”

Grantham got to his feet. “What about you?” he said. “You goin’ to tell Raven where he gets off?”

Lu shook his head. “Sure I’m not,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “What’s good enough for you suits me.

I’m yellow too.”

“Instead of yapping like this, suppose you go over to Mendetta’s apartment and find out what’s happened.

I’m worried about Jean.”

Lu shook his head. “Be your age. Suppose the cops walk in when I’m there? Where should I be? You’ll have to wait. The papers’ll have it fast enough.”

Grantham said uneasily, “Do you think he’s killed her too?”

“Why should you worry? She ain’t anybody. If you want to know so badly, go an’ see for yourself.”

Grantham paced up and down the room. “We’ve got to find out, Lu. This is serious. Suppose Jean talked?”

“She won’t talk.”

“She might about Raven. If Raven gets pinched, where should we be?”

Lu considered this. “Maybe you’re right. Say, isn’t O’Hara on that beat?”

“I don’t know. Is he?”

Lu turned to the door. “I’ll go down there and see. If he is I’ll tip him to go up and investigate. What the hell are we payin’ that guy two hundred bucks a month for if he can’t do a little thing like that?”

Grantham looked relieved. “That’s an idea. Get after him right away.” Lu left the room at a run.

June 6th, 1.10 a.m.

SADIE HAD just fallen into a light doze when a sound outside her apartment made her sit up, wide awake again.

She listened, her heart beating wildly, the memory of Raven horribly clear−cut in her mind. She wondered if he had returned. For several minutes she lay listening, then, cautiously, she pulled back the bed−clothes and reached for her wrap.

Silently she went to the front door and looked once through the letter−box. The burly figure of a police officer relieved her of all her fears. He was just going into Mendetta’s apartment. She opened the door and stood waiting.

The police officer came out of the apartment in a few minutes. His start of surprise when he saw Sadie puzzled her.

“Isis anythin’ wrong in there?” she asked.

He looked at her suspiciously. “Who are you?” he snapped.

“I’m Mrs. Perminger. I thought I heard someone cry out a little while back and I thought I heard someone fall.” Sadie looked at him with big eyes.

O’Hara could have killed her. He’d gone up on Lu’s instructions just to look around. He had no intention of reporting Mendetta’s death. He had no reasonable excuse for being up there, and now this dame must come and put her oar in.

He said, “I’ll come in your place for a moment, Miss. Don’t want to be seen in the passage; might scare the folks.”

Sadie coloured. “I don’t think you’d better come in. I’mI’m all alone.”

O’Hara nodded. “That’s all right,” he said; “if you’ll just let me stand in the hall.” He was most anxious that nobody else should see him.

Reluctantly Sadie stepped back and let him in.

“Now then, Miss,” he said, taking out his note−book. “You say you heard someone cry out?”

Sadie nodded. There was something about this cop that she didn’t like. She wished he’d go away.

“What time was that?”

“It was just after twelve.”

“Did you see anythin’?” O’Hara looked at her closely.

Sadie hesitated, then she said, “Yes, there was a man who came out of the apartment. He had some papers and a gun in his hand.”

O’Hara felt the sweat break out under his arms. “Yeah?” he said. “You’re sure of that?”

“Of course I’m sure.”

“Would you know him again?”

“I’d know him anywhere,” Sadie said firmly. “He was middle height, dark, dressed in a shabby black suit.

His face was very thin, with thin lips and horrible cold eyes. I don’t think I’ll ever forget him.”

O’Hara hadn’t much time. He knew that Lu must hear about this. Grantham hadn’t picked him for nothing.

He had his head screwed on all right.

“Well, lady,” he said, “there’s been a little accident over there. I guess we’ll be looking for that guy. Now will you get dressed? I’d like to take you down to the station house.”

“What, now?” Sadie’s eyes opened.

O’Hara nodded. “Sure,” he said. “We’ll get you to look through some of the photos we got down there. You might spot the guy right away.”

Sadie wished Benny was there. She felt suddenly extremely helpless and alone. She didn’t want to go, but she supposed she had to. “Will you wait here? I’ll go and dress.”

O’Hara touched his cap. “I’ll meet you downstairs, lady,” he said. “I don’t want you bothered with newshawks. If they saw me leave with you we’d never shake them.”

He went away, walking very rapidly.

Sadie dressed. She felt vaguely uneasy and wished now that she hadn’t told O’Hara anything. Well, they couldn’t do anything to her at the station house. She’d just tell them the truth and then they’d let her go. As she was about to leave the apartment she suddenly thought of something. She ran back to the sitting−room and scribbled a note to Benny. She put it on his pillow, hoping that if he came in he’d find it at once. Then she picked up her bag and went down to the hall.

In the meantime O’Hara met Lu, who was waiting in the street. “Listen, boss,” the cop said quickly, “we’re in a jam. Both Mendetta and the jane are dead, but there’s a little dame up there who saw Raven leave. She can identify him. I thought you wouldn’t like that. She’s on her way down now. I told her I was taking her to the station.”