Ed McBain - Poison

"You're the only man I've ever really known."

"Marilyn, you're a hooker…"

"Was."

"And a thief…"

"True."

"And a murderer."

"Yes, I killed the son of a bitch who was destroying me."

"Marilyn…"

"And I enjoyed it! The way you enjoyed killing that kid with the .357 Magnum in his fist. Only I had a better reason."

"Marilyn…"

"What are you going to tell me? You're a cop? Okay, you're a cop. So turn me in."

"Do they know you killed him?"

"Who? The Argentine cops? Why would they even give a damn about a dead pimp? But, yes, I'm the only one who split from the stable, yes, and the safe was open, and a lot of bread was gone, so yes, they probably figured I was the perpetrator, is that the word you use?"

"Is there a warrant out for your arrest?"

"I don't know," she said.

Silence.

"So what are you going to do?" she said. "Phone Argentina? Ask them if there's a warrant out on Mary Ann Hollis, a person I don't even know anymore? What, Hal? For Christ's sake, I love you, I want to live with you forever, I love you, Jesus, I love you, what are you going to do ?"

"I don't know," he said.

END