Elmore Leonard - Cat Chaser

Nolen said, “Jesus Christ,” and seemed afraid to touch it. “How much is that?”

“Ten thousand,” Moran said.

Nolen’s gaze came up, a solemn expression, mouth partly open. “You did it, didn’t you? Jesus, you really did it.”

“If that isn’t enough…”

Moran reached into the drawer again, brought out another packet of inch-thick hundreds and laid it on top of the first one.

“How’s that?”

“You’re crazy.”

Moran reached to take back the money.

“I’ll go get the piece,” Nolen said.

“I already have,” Moran said. “When I picked up the trash. It’s loaded, isn’t it? Full clip?”

“Yeah but… George, don’t try and be a hero, okay? You wouldn’t have a chance. That man’s a pro, it’s what he does .”

“It gives me a little more confidence,” Moran said, “that’s all. I don’t feel so helpless.”

Nolen was looking at the money again, almost in a daze. He said, “You really did it, huh?” A wistful tone, subdued. “Will you tell me something?”

“Maybe,” Moran said.

“How much you get? Both suitcases.”

“No, I’m not gonna tell you that,” Moran said. “It isn’t any of your business. It isn’t any of mine either, when you get right down to it.”

“Your lady walked out of the house with it, didn’t she?” Nolen said, watery eyes showing the pleasure of it. “Where can I get me one like her? Walked right out past her husband, Jiggs, everybody. Of course with you there to help.”

“I didn’t do much,” Moran said. “But I’m looking after her best interest now. You understand I’m not gonna see anything happen to her.” He watched Nolen touch the packets, finally pick them up and feel them, fingers gracefully playing along the edges, riffling the stiff new bills. “Nolen?”

“What?”

“When’s Jiggs coming?”

“He said around noon. He said he’d set things up then get his eight hours and have a late breakfast. Then he’ll stop by. That’s how he said it, like it’s a business call.”

“What’re you supposed to do?”

“Act dumb. Tell you I don’t know anything, where Jiggs is or what he’s doing,” Nolen said. “But if you look like you’re getting ready to leave I’m supposed to tell you he phoned and wants to see you for a minute, have a quiet talk.”

“What do you do when he comes?”

“Exit. He’s on then.”

“Nolen?”

“What?”

“Where’s de Boya?”

Nolen took a sip of whiskey sour and said without looking at Moran, “He’s dead. So’s Corky.” Nolen’s gaze came up slowly now. “Jiggs made them take their clothes off and get in the shower, both at once. Then he shot them.”

“Because they didn’t have the money?”

“He didn’t even know it till after. He was so sure.”

“Were you there?”

“When he did it? No, I came later.”

“Where’re they now?”

“Still in the shower. Place west of Lauderdale, out in the country.”

“You don’t suppose he’s looking to make a deal,” Moran said, “when he says he wants to talk.”

“No, that’s not Jiggs,” Nolen said. “But he does have to talk to you, find out for sure you have the money and where it is. After that he’ll kill you. That’s why I’m saying leave it, forget the whole thing. You run with the money-it wouldn’t work, I’m telling you.” Nolen was emphatic now. “A woman like Mary de Boya, where’s she gonna hide? The cops, once they find her husband, they’ll be looking for her anyway. You see what I mean? It doesn’t matter where she goes Jiggs’ll be hanging around, threaten her till she pays up. So get it over with now, leave it.” Nolen looked at his watch. “We’ve got less’n an hour.”

Moran said, “You on our side now?”

Nolen said, “George, come on. You know where I am. Nowhere. The idea, score off a guy like de Boya, it sounded great, worth the risk. But I saw him in that shower, man… I got sick and you know what Jiggs did? He patted my back while I threw up on two guns down in the toilet, telling me he’d take care of me. I wanted, today, I wanted to look like I was helping him but tell you to get out and then disappear, go to L.A. and get lost among the weirdos and hope to Christ I never make a name for myself. You said it the other day, George, I’m in a no-win deal.”

Moran said, “What if we call the cops?”

“And what?” Nolen said. “He sees cops he waits. The only way, you’d have to have ’em hiding in the closet when he takes his gun out and then pray they’re quick.”

Moran thought about it, picturing Jiggs standing in the living room. “He sure likes to talk, doesn’t he? Goes on and on.”

“He puts you half-asleep,” Nolen said, “telling you stories. Like a fucking spell he puts over you.”

“No, he never rushes into it,” Moran said, “he gives you time to think.”

“This’s the first time in my life,” Nolen said, “I’m gonna suggest we leave what’s in the blender and get the hell out.”

Moran said, “Stay there,” walked around the counter and said, “Mary?”

She came out of the bedroom, her expression composed, eyes moving to Nolen to see him getting off the stool, surprised. She said, “Can you tell me exactly where Andres is?”

Nolen said, “I thought you were over in Number One. You’ve been right here all the time?”

“I wanted you to feel free to talk, be yourself,” Moran said. “You said the place was west of Lauderdale.”

“Yeah, like a farmhouse. Off Eighty-four.”

Mary nodded, almost to herself. “I think I know where it is. Near the airport.”

Moran said, “Let’s wait a little while before we tell the police.”

“But if you can’t deal with him,” Mary said, showing concern now as she looked at Nolen. “Isn’t that right?”

Nolen shook his head. “I wouldn’t even think about it.”

“I just want to ask him something,” Moran said. “Alone.”

JIGGS STOPPEDat the flamed Trans-Am and stuck his head in the passenger side. Hunched over like that his seersucker coat parted at the vent to show the seat of his pants hanging slack, as though he had no buttocks and all his weight was in front. When he straightened, pushing his glasses up, the Trans-Am came to life, rumbled and moved off. Jiggs came on to the Coconut Palms straightening his blue-striped tie, smoothing the front of his shirt. Entering the office he said to Jerry, “Hey, how you doing? My pal George around?” He looked at one of the inside windows and said, “Yeah, there he is. Nice seeing you again,” and left Jerry adjusting his golf cap, staring after him as he went out to the swimming pool.

Jiggs saw Nolen in a lounge. He saw Mary in an expensive-looking T-shirt and white sailor pants also in a lounge, both of them up by the oceanfront walk in the sun, and a silent alarm went off in his mind. Setup.

He couldn’t believe it; Moran didn’t seem that dumb. Unless the cops were here and had coached him. Make it look natural. Like nothing out of the ordinary is going on. Fucking cops. Like they knew what they were doing. He saw Moran coming across from the front of his house, white T-shirt and old work jeans, barefoot. Maybe-it surprised Jiggs-Nolen was better at this than he gave him credit. Maybe these folks were in for a surprise and he’d tell in about half a second-now-all of them looking this way now and, yeah, they did seem to clutch up and were motionless as he approached them.

Jiggs said, “Beautiful day, huh? You get one of those hard rains it’s always nice the next day. You notice that? Mrs. de Boya, how you doing?… George? Nolen there, he looks a little hung over. You okay, Nolen? Have a beer you’ll feel better. I just had a pot of coffee. I wondered”-looking around-”George, you got a toilet I can use?”