Peter Corris - The Reward

Max was having a lot of trouble following what she said. She smoked continuously, lighting one from the butt of the last. She mumbled, dropped her head and the hair fell across her face when she looked up. She didnt need much prompting but it was up to me to keep her talking. She didnt even ask what our business was; she was setting an agenda of her own.

I suppose youre onto us about the pictures and all that? she said.

Among other things, I said. But were mostly concerned to talk to her about something back in her police days.

This time she butted the cigarette she was smoking and paused to wipe ash from the front of her dressing gown, modestly closed now, before lighting another one. Youll go looking for her?

Yes.

Good. Ill give you enough to put her in gaol.

Max was looking pained at being shut out of the conversation, as well as impatient, and I said, Look, Miss Crown. Could you please tell us when this phone call came and exactly what she said and did.

She flicked ash at the saucer serving as an ashtray and scored half a hit. Her fingernails were bitten down on her non-smoking hand. Last night, late, she said. About eleven I suppose. She was in bed and I was doing the books for the quarter. I do all the work around here. I answered the phone. It was for Andrea and I switched it through. Then all hell broke loose.

She dragged on the cigarette while she spoke and Max was stymied. Speaking clearly, I said, A male voice or female, local call or STD?

Shit, I dont know. Some of us dykes go in for deep voices, you know? Like the gays have that lilt? I couldnt say.

Accent?

I cant remember. It didnt register. I dont think I heard any beeps. No, dont think so. Local call.

Max leaned across the table and took the cigarette from her fingers. He placed it on the saucer and cupped his right hand under her chin. Im deaf, Miss Crown, but I can lip-read. However, you mumble. Plus you cover your mouth with your fucking cigarette and your face with your hair. Im going to ask you a couple of questions and youre going to forget about smoking, speak clearly and answer them truthfully. Otherwise, everything we know about this place will be loaded onto you. Understand?

Both gesture and statement were very forceful and threatening and Eve Crown was in a vulnerable condition. Tears sprung into her eyes and she nodded. She reached for the cigarette, remembered, and let it lie smouldering. The smoke drifted up into her face and there was misery and despair in every line and wrinkle. She tried to suck in a deep breath but it caught and became a gasping wheeze. Her voice was a cracked ruin. Yes, she whispered.

Do you know where Andrea got her money from?

She told people she inherited it, but she told me it was pay-off money for something that had happened when she was a cop. This… this was when we were in love and didnt have secrets from each other.

OK, Max said. Over the eight years you lived together, did she ever go anywhere regularly, get letters or phone calls from anywhere frequently? Some important place?

This was as long as Eve Crown could bear to go without filling her lungs with tobacco smoke. She picked up the cigarette, took a deep drag and butted it. She lifted her head and expelled the smoke in a long plume over Maxs head. What did that dickhead American President say? Read my lips? Well, read my fucking lips. She got letters and phone calls from the Gold Coast and she went up there a bit. And you can bet your two rotten, stinking dicks and your four rotten, stinking balls thats where shes gone now!

I wonder, Max said as we left the gallery, if the quit smoking people used a slogan like It takes years off your life and puts years on your face, women would give it up? Shed be good-looking if she hadnt ruined herself by smoking.

Max clearly had women on his mind. I hadnt noticed the potential in Eve Crown, but then I had actual beauty to deal with in Claudia. Itd sound better round the other way, I said. But, no, I reckon people smoke because they want to or have to. Something has to change fundamentally to get them off it.

Suppose youre right. I never took it up. You?

Stopped years ago.

What changed fundamentally?

I forget. Pretty obvious isnt it, Max? Someone tipped Andrea off that we were coming.

Right. Lets talk about that. He headed towards the oval and we found seats that looked out over the greenery. Nice spot this, quiet. It gets tiring coping with all the mishmash of noise. I take it you havent discussed the case with anyone, so the problem has to be at my end. Someone in the works is keeping an eye on me.

I nodded. Id told Claudia about the case in some detail but I certainly hadnt mentioned Andrea Neville, aka Craig. Keeping an eye on us, I said. I got worked over after leaving the Beckett house yesterday.

I told Max about the oddly restrained beating and its aftermath. He raised his eyebrows. I never heard of anything like that before.

Its weird. Suppose someones trying to stop us finding out who killed Ramona. He bumps Barry White but he just warns me and Andrea Craig. It doesnt make sense.

Max plucked up a stalk of grass and started splitting it with his thumbnail. Thank Christ I havent made any noises about Peggy Hawkins or Colin Sligo. It looks as if Ill have to go to other sources to make inquiries about them.

Wed better get up there, I said. Ive got some contacts. Thatll just about run out Barrys retainer. This is going to cost me money.

Any luck at the Connaught?

For a moment I didnt get his meaning, then I did. All the luck in the world, I thought, but it wasnt the time for explanations so I shook my head. Then another thought hit me. Leo Grogan, I said. I wonder if Leos all right.

I found Grogans number in my notebook. We went back to the car and I rang it and asked for him. The woman who answered the phone told me that Mr Grogan was in hospital. Hed had a very bad fall down some steep steps. His skull was fractured and he had internal injuries. She didnt sound as if she was too keen on Leo, and there was something very like satisfaction in her voice when she added, Hes not expected to live.

I relayed this to Max. Im worried about Penny, he said. Ring her, will you?

I rang, got her on the line and handed the phone to Max. Penny, I want you to drop anything you might be working on for me and seal it up tight. Dont do another thing. OK?

This time I was the relayer. She says its not OK, that you shouldnt patronise her and she asks whats up.

Max took the phone. Take some of that leave youre due. Go to your sisters place and stay there until you hear from me.

I regained the phone and listened. She says get stuffed, I said. She says shell work on what she pleases and she knows how to keep it secure. She says shes got a gun and she knows how to use it.

Shit, Max said.

He says shit, I said to Penny.

I heard him, Penny said. Tell him to take care of himself and not to worry about me. Goodbye.

She hung up on us, Max. She says you should take care of yourself and not worry about her. Turning to face him every time I had to speak was giving me a crick in the neck. I probably looked pained.

Max noticed of course and he grinned at me. Its a bastard working with the disabled, isnt it? Theyre so fucking stubborn and it takes just that much more effort. I sometimes get that way with Penny and she gets the same with meIts lots of fun.

It was late in the morning and the interior of the car was hot. My torn ear was throbbing and my battered ribs were aching. I wanted to be between Claudias silk sheets and feel her cool hands on my body. Max was right. I felt irritated by his deafness and guilty about feeling like that. I need a drink and some pain-killers, I said. I suggest we find a pub and make a plan.