Джеймс Чейз - You're Dead Without Money

‘Vin thought it was the moment to start something, so he said, “If you’re bored with these kids, baby, how about a drink with me?”

‘ “Piss off!” the hippie snarled, his eyes turning vicious.

‘ “Don’t be rude, little punk,” Vin said softly, “or I’ll have to spank you.”

‘Judy giggled and sliding around the hippies she joined Vin, moving slightly behind him.

‘The other hippie threw the contents of his glass towards Vin’s face, but that was old hat stuff to Vin. He moved aside and a girl coming up to the bar got splashed.

‘Vin jabbed a left into the first hippies face and the hippie’s nose exploded into a red mush. When Vin hit, he hit. The other hippie tried to back away, but Vin reached him with a right hook that lifted him off his feet and slammed him flat on the floor.

‘The girl who had got splashed was now screaming like a train whistle and the rest of the people in the bar were shouting. It all happened in seconds. Vin caught Judy by her arm and rushed her to the exit, and out into the hot night. She went willingly enough, stifling her laughter and they bundled into the Jaguar and Vin was driving away before the Club bouncer thought of moving into action.’

Barney paused to reach for another sausage.

‘I won’t waste time going into details, Mr. Campbell. It’s enough to say, Vin drove to a deserted part of the beach and he and Judy got out of the car and as soon as he had closed the car door he saw she had her pants off. He took her and she responded like she was demented. When it was over, she put her pants on and made for the car.

‘Vin tried chatting her up, but she told him to shut his head and take her home. He thought his so-called lovemaking had rocked her so violently she wasn’t in the mood to talk so he went along with her.

‘He was pleased with himself. He imagined telling Elliot all the details of how he had got to first base after meeting Judy for only ten minutes. This achievement restored his confidence in himself. He would be able to prove to Elliot he was a better man than he, but he had an unpleasant surprise when he pulled up outside the gates leading to the Larrimore home.

‘ “Okay, baby,” he said, getting out of the Jaguar. “How’s about tomorrow night? Let’s go and take the town apart.”

‘ “No...” She got out of the car and started for the gates.

‘ “Hey! Wait a minute!”

‘She paused and turned.

‘ “I said no.”

‘ “What’s the idea?” Vin demanded, puzzled, and he reached for her.

‘ “Keep your paws off me,” she snapped. “We don’t meet again... you’re not my thing,” and she started again towards the gates.

‘For a moment Vin stood rooted, not believing what he had heard, then he got a rush of blood to his head and he grabbed her arm and swung her around. He ran into a slap in the face that made his eyes blink and she wrenched free.

‘Then out of the shadows came the two hippies. They had been waiting for the past hour. They had bicycle chains around their right fists and they came at Vin on either side of him.

‘ “Get him, boys!” Judy screamed. “Mark the bastard!”

‘Vin had lived a life of violence. He couldn’t remember how many times he had been in a spot like this and had survived. As Larry, the bigger of the hippies, slashed at his face with the chain, Vin ducked under the flaying steel, caught hold of Judy and flung her at Larry. They both went sprawling. The other hippie caught Vin across the neck with his chain. Weaving, Vin rushed him, grabbed his wrist, twisted him around and drove a crushing punch into the boy’s kidneys. The hippie sank on to his knees, moaning.

‘Larry was up and again his chain whistled towards Vin who just managed to duck under it, then Vin jumped forward and drove the top of his head into Larry’s face. Larry’s teeth gave as he was flung back. He tried to regain his balance, tripped over his own feet and fell. Stepping up to him, Vin kicked him in the side of his head and Larry went limp.

‘Vin touched the side of his neck. Blood was dripping from the cut inflicted by the chain. He looked at the two hippies, satisfied he would have no more trouble from them, then he turned and looked at Judy.

‘ “How about tomorrow night, baby?” he asked quietly. “Suppose I pick you up here around nine?”

‘Judy was staring at him, her eyes wide, then she suddenly laughed.

‘ “Man! That was something! Yes... I’ll be here.”

‘He went to her and pulled her to him. The blood from the cut on his neck dripped on to her bare shoulder.

‘ “Be here, baby,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to bust into your home and drag you out... okay?”

‘ “Yes.”

‘He ran his hand over her body. She stood placid and let him. Then after squeezing her buttocks, he shoved her away, strolled over to his car and drove off.

‘On his return to the bungalow, he got Elliot aside and told him what had happened.

‘ “She’s a little animal, but I’ve got her fixed,” he said. “I know the type. The rougher you treat them, the harder they fall for you.”

‘But Elliot was worried. This seemed to him to be moving too fast.

‘ “Suppose she isn’t there tomorrow night?”

‘Vin grinned.

‘ “She’ll be there. I’ve got what it takes, pally. I know how to handle women.” ’

She was there, standing outside the gates of the house when Vin drew up in the Jaguar at a minute after 21.00.

Vin grinned to himself as he leaned over to open the offside door. She had on a patterned Mexican shirt, hot pants and knee-high boots. Her silky red hair fell in unruly waves to her shoulders and Vin again thought she was the sexiest dish he had seen in years.

‘Hi, Superman!’ she said as she got in and slammed the car door. ‘See? Here I am.’

‘Fine. You look good enough to eat,’ Vin said, ‘and talking about eating... let’s eat.’

With the car radio blaring swing, he drove fast to the Lobster and Crab restaurant at the far end of the waterfront. This was a small, expensive but ‘with it’ restaurant Elliot had told him about.

‘It’s just right for her,’ Elliot said as he had given Vin three hundred dollars for spending money. ‘Take it easy. Don’t rush anything.’

Judy made an impact as she strutted into the restaurant. People stared at her and she enjoyed being stared at. Vin, following behind, realized that Elliot had made the right choice. This was away from the hippie scene and yet ‘in’ enough to appeal to Judy.

The Maître d’hôtel, dressed as a pirate even to a black patch over his eye and skull and cross bones on his Napoleon hat, took them into an alcove to a table set for two away from the rest of the diners.

There was a Negro band playing violent jazz and the trumpeter was in the class of Louis Armstrong. You had to shout to each other to be heard.

Judy sat down and looked around, her eyes sparkling.

‘Hey, Superman! This is my thing!’

‘None of your kids bring you here?’ Vin asked.

Her smokey green eyes hardened.

‘Don’t give me that. They’re not such kids and I get along with them.’

‘You’re welcome,’ Vin turned to the Maître d’hôtel who had come up for their order. ‘Let’s have crab cocktails, steaks and all the trimmings and whisky sours.’ Again Elliot had told him what to order.

‘Yes, sir.’ The Maître d’hôtel went away.

‘Don’t ask me what I want to eat,’ Judy said, glaring at him.

‘Why should I? You’re in the hamburger class, baby. You choose what you want when you’re with the kids. I’ll choose for you when you’re with me.’

‘Man! Don’t you think you’re perfect?’

‘That’s what I am.’ He grinned at her. ‘And you’re not so lousy either.’ He shoved back his chair. ‘Let’s dance.’