James Chase - Strictly For Cash

I went over to the liquor cabinet and poured myself a shot of Scotch.

“What do I do?”

“You take him down to the lion’s pit and you throw him in.”

I drank the Scotch. It was like drinking water.

“And what do you do while I’m doing it?”

Her lips moved into a frozen smile.

“I stay here. What do you think I’m going to do?”

“You’d better come with me. If I ran into anyone...”

“I’m staying here, Johnny. You haven’t been much help up to now. Go ahead and make yourself useful. You killed him, lover. I didn’t.”

The thought of tackling this job alone scared the daylights out of me.

“Now, wait a minute. You’re in this, too. You got his gun. If they’re out there looking for him...” I stopped, the words freezing in my mouth. A sharp rap had sounded on the door.

I looked at her and she looked at me. Very slowly I put down the half-finished Scotch. I was as stiff as a statue.

The rap came again.

“Are you there, Mrs. Wertham? This is Hame.”

His voice sounded sharp and impatient.

I was so scared I couldn’t move or even think. I stood there while she slid off the divan.

“One moment, Captain,” she called, her voice steady and calm, but I could see by her eyes she was nearly as shaken as I was. “Go in there,” she breathed, pointing to the bathroom. “Don’t make a sound.”

I opened the door, slid into darkness and closed the door, holding on to the handle so the catch wouldn’t make a noise.

There was a five-second pause, then Hame said, “Sorry to disturb you, Mrs. Wertham. You’ve heard Reisner’s missing?”

“Come in,” she said. “Hasn’t he turned up yet?”

“No.” His heavy footfalls creaked across the carpet. “Miss Doering is worried about him. She phoned me so I thought I’d call up.”

“But there’s nothing to worry about, surely?” Her voice sounded mildly amused. “I expect he’s over at Bay Street.”

“He hasn’t left the grounds.”

“Do sit down. Won’t you have a drink?”

I stood with my head pressed against the door panels, my heart pounding, and listened.

“I guess not.” His voice was curt. “I’m on duty.”

“Nick’ll be very flattered when he hears you came up here because his secretary was lonely without him,” Della said, and laughed.

“This may be serious. He was with you all the afternoon, I understand?”

“Why, yes. He left at six. He said he was going for a swim.”

“No one saw him on the beach.” There was a pause, then he asked, “Were you two talking business?”

Again there was a pause. I could imagine her looking at him: he wasn’t likely to rattle her.

“Perhaps, after all, Captain, I’d better take you into my confidence,” she said. “Please sit down.”

Once again there was a lengthy pause, and I guessed there was a clash of wills going on. Then a chair creaked, and I knew she had got her way.

“And a drink, Captain. I don’t like drinking alone.”

“Looks like you were managing all right before I showed up,” Hame said. “There’s a glass of Scotch on the cabinet.”

“No wonder you have such a reputation for being a clever police officer,” she said, and laughed.

“I guess I don’t miss much.”

He sounded mollified.

I heard her splash soda into a glass.

Then he said, “Well, here’s how.” He grunted. “That’s pretty good Scotch, What’s this you were saying about taking me into your confidence?”

“Perhaps you have wondered why Ricca and I are here,” she said. “Paul sent us. Nick’s been dipping into the reserve to cover his gambling losses. Ricca had orders from Paul to heave him out. Well, he’s gone.”

I had to hand it to her. She was ready for any emergency. Her voice, now cool and matter-of-fact, was very convincing.

“You don’t say.” Hame sounded startled. “Much missing?”

“We don’t know for certain — something like ten thousand. We haven’t had time for a thorough check. He didn’t deny it. He could have been difficult, but as he handed over the keys and didn’t make trouble, I promised him twelve hours start. I didn’t anticipate that fool of a girl would bring you into it.”

“So that’s if. Well I’ll be double damned.” There was a pause, then Hame said reluctantly, “Want me to do anything about him?”

“No. He knows too much. He might talk.”

“I was thinking of that. Where’s he gone?”

“I have no idea. He must have gone by way of the beach. That’s why the guards didn’t see him.”

“Must have. Funny thing, he hasn’t packed. I checked his room.”

I held my breath while I waited for her to talk herself out of that one.

“He keeps a lot of stuff with Zoe. He knew this wouldn’t last and was ready to skip.”

There was no hesitation in her voice.

“He was no fool,” Hame said, his voice ponderous. “It’ll be odd not to have him around.”

“It won’t make any difference to you. Ricca and I will be taking charge.”

“Did Wertham say it wouldn’t make any difference?”

“He said more than that,” Della said coolly. “He left instructions about you. He said we should do a little more for you.”

“Is that right? What did he mean by that?”

There was a pause, then she said, “We think you’re doing a good job for us, Captain. Paul had already spoken to Nick about you, but Nick said you were getting enough. Paul wanted to show his appreciation, but Nick blocked him off. Well, Nick’s gone now. We thought another two-fifty a week might be useful. Paul said it should be back-dated six months. I’d planned to pay it into your account tomorrow as a little surprise.”

“That’s pretty nice of you,” Hame said, suddenly jovial. “I guess I could use it. I got expenses same as anyone. Sounds as if we’re going to get along together all right. Where’s Ricca?”

Again I held my breath.

“I have an idea he’s enjoying himself at Zoe’s place. I don’t know, but that’s my guess. Come up and see him tomorrow. There’ll be things to talk about.”

“I will, Mrs. Wertham.” The chair creaked as he stood up. “Guess I won’t keep you any longer. Had I better have a word with Miss Doering? They’re still searching for Reisner.”

“Perhaps you’d better. Don’t tell her what’s happened. We don’t want it talked about. You might say you’ve heard he’s in town. We’ll straighten things out tomorrow.”

“I’ll do that. Well, good night. I’m looking forward to working with you two. I’m looking forward to it very much.”

“And so are we, Captain.”

I listened to him tramp across the room.

“I’ll be dropping in on my bank tomorrow afternoon.”

“We’ll be there before that, Captain.” I could imagine the smile she gave him. “Good night.”

The door shut.

We waited: she out there, and I in the darkness with Reisner’s dead body somewhere behind me. We heard a car start up and drive away.

She pushed open the bathroom door.

“Well, I handled him, Johnny.”

“Yes.” I moved out of the darkness.

There was that cold, triumphant gleam in her eyes I had seen before.

“Better get going,” she said. “We’re practically in the clear now. They’ll think he went to say good-bye to the lions and got too close. Get going, Johnny.”

I looked over my shoulder into the dark bathroom. I didn’t want to do it, but I could think of no other way out. The thought of carrying him through the darkness brought me out in goose-pimples.

“My car’s outside,” she said, speaking softly. “Put him in it and follow the carriageway around to the back of the casino. You know where the pit is. It shouldn’t take more than five minutes. Hurry, Johnny.”