James Chase - Miss Callaghan Comes to Grief

Out in the street he paused before getting into his car. On the face of it it looked as if the whole of the business had fallen to pieces. The only thing he had to go on was Fletcher’s testimony, and Fletcher was dead.

He got in the car and engaged the gears.

Who was this Cruise? Had he anything to do with Grantham? Could it be possible that Perminger’s wife had really gone off with him and had made up the note about going to police headquarters? It didn’t seem likely. There was something wrong there. He made up his mind abruptly to take a look at Cruise. If he looked all right, then he’d try some other angle, but if he didn’t, then he’d keep a watch on him.

He drove over to the St. Louis Hotel and parked. He knew the house dick and went straight to his little office.

The house dick was resting his feet and reading the newspaper. He glanced up as Jay came in.

“Hyah, Harris,” Jay said, shaking hands. “How you makin’ out?”

Harris was a little plump guy, who lived in a bowler hat. He shook hands suspiciously. “Well, what is it this time?” he said. “I haven’t been bothered by you for months.”

Jay grinned at him. “I’ve been covering the Tammany Hall trial. Too bad that guy got off.”

Harris grunted. “They’ll get him the next time, you see,” he said. “Now what do you want? I’m busy.”

“All right, all right, keep your shirt on.” Jay grinned at him. “Can you give me a line on a guy named Cruise who hangs out here?”

Harris’s little eyes opened. “Aaah!” he said. “Now, I was wonderin’ when you boys were goin’ to get on to him. What makes you ask?”

Jay shrugged. “Curiosity. I’ve never seen the guy, but I’ve heard about him.”

Harris wasn’t to be drawn. “What have you heard?” he asked, looking cunning.

Jay knew there was only one short cut to getting anything out of Harris. Reluctantly he took out his roll and thumbed off ten bucks. He dangled the notes in front of Harris’s nose. “No questions,” he said.

Harris grinned and grabbed the notes. He tucked them in his vest pocket. “Well,” he said, “I don’t like him.

I don’t like the mob he has up in his suite. I don’t like the dame who lives with him.”

Jay waited patiently.

“For one thing,” Harris went on, “no respectable guy associates with the kind of hoods that go up there.

I’ve had my eye on him ever since he moved in. He’s a mean−lookin’ guy himself. I’ll swear the dame ain’t his wife. She acts sortta strange. She’s scared of him. Three punks see him every day. They drive up in the staff elevator. You ought to see the way one of them dresses. Still, they pay all right and we’ve got nothing against them, but I’m watching ’em.”

This sounded promising to Jay. He said, “Can I get a room on their floor, Harris?”

“Like that, is it?” Harris looked interested. “Yeah, I guess that could be arranged. Shall I fix it?”

Jay nodded. “Another thing. Maybe this guy’s got a record. Suppose you get his prints?”

Harris sneered. “Talk sense. I can’t do a thing like that.”

Jay took out his silver cigarette−case. “Take this up to him. Push it into his hands. Tell him you found it outside his apartment and you think it’s his. Then bring it back and let me have it. I’ll take it to the F.B.I. for a test.”

Harris gaped at him. “Jeeze,” he exclaimed, “that’s smart!”

He took the case from Jay and got up. “I’ll see him right away. You wait here.”

He came back again after some time, his fat face beaming. “That’s a laugh,” he declared. “You’ve lost your case. He took it all right, said it was his, gave me a buck for my trouble and shut the door in my face.”

Jay sat back limply. “Goddam it,” he said with a weak grin, “that shows he’s a crook.”

Harris nodded. “I’ve fixed a room for you,” he said, “you can move up whenever you like.”

Jay got to his feet. “I’m on my way,” he said, and left Harris still grinning.

September 8th, 4.30 p.m.

LU ELLER walked casually down the corridor leading to Raven’s suite. He knew Raven was out. He had seen him leave not five minutes ago. He’d been waiting for him to go for a long time. Even now he’d got to be careful. Someone else beside Sadie might be in the suite.

He listened outside the door for several minutes, but couldn’t hear anything. Then he knocked softly.

Sadie came to the door. When she saw him she started back, trying to close the door, but Lu’d got his foot in the way. “Raven in?” he asked pleasantly, tipping his hat.

She shook her head. “Nogo away. No one’s in.”

That’s what Lu wanted to hear. He smiled. “He said I was to wait. He won’t be long.”

Sadie was terrified of him. “You can’t come in,” she said; “wait downstairs.”

Lu had heard tales about Raven and Sadie. “He said I was to wait here,” he told her firmly. “You don’t want him to get mad with you?”

She dropped her hand from the door and stepped back. Lu looked hastily up and down the corridor and then came in. He shut the door.

Sadie backed away from him, and then almost ran into her bedroom.

Grantham had been very plain. “She’s got to go, Lu,” he had said. “We can’t use her against Raven any more. He’s doin’ well, an’ any time she might spill it. Raven would rumble it at once. No, she’s got to go.”

Lu eased his fingers a little. He’d got to work fast. Raven might change his mind and come back any moment. Lu was a little nervous. She wasn’t small and she might be stronger than he could manage. There was no question of shooting. His hand groped round to his hip pocket and he drew a short heavy−bladed knife from its sheath. He slipped the blade up his cuff, holding the handle hidden in his palm.

He went over to the bedroom door and rapped.

She said with a little catch in her voice, “What do you want?”

Softly he turned the handle and looked in. “Can you fix me a drink, lady?”

“Get out of here!” Sadie was frightened of him.

“Aw, come on, lady, Raven said for you to make me at home.” Lu smiled at her. He edged his way further into the room.

“Get out, or I’ll scream,” Sadie said, retreating to the other side of the room.

“What’s bitin’ you, lady?” Lu asked, moving forward very slowly. “I just want a drink. Ain’t anythin’ in that.”

He was halfway across the room by now. Sadie saw the cold, merciless gleam in his eyes and she screamed. Lu swore softly and jumped forward. The blade gleamed as it swung towards her. She dodged desperately, thudded against the wall and fell.

Lu grunted and stabbed down at her. She rolled away, the knife cutting through her sleeve and making a long scratch on her arm. She screamed again.

Lunging again, Lu nearly had her this time, but with unsuspected speed she again dodged him, and ran past him into the outer room.

Lu was getting into a panic. She’d have all the hotel up in a minute. He went after her. She was just opening the front door to get into the corridor. He didn’t hesitate. His arm flashed up and the knife hissed through the air. Sadie heard the sound and flung herself sideways. The knife buried itself in the fleshy part of her arm. She fell on her knees with a faint cry of pain.

As Lu ran towards her a thunder−bolt struck him. Jay, hearing the uproar, had come to investigate. He saw Sadie lying on the floor and Lu coming at her, his face livid with fury and panic, and Jay launched himself full tilt at him.

The two men went down in a heap. Lu brought his knees up and tossed Jay away. Both of them scrambled to their feet. Lu’s hand flew to his gun, but Jay was already on him again and they went down in a mass of flaying arms and legs. Jay brought over his right and hit Lu hard on his cheek−bone. Lu’s hands got a grip on Jay’s throat and they rolled over and over across the corridor.