James Chase - This Way for a Shroud

She reached out for a cigarette, lit it and released two thin trails of smoke down her finely shaped nostrils.

She wasn’t alarmed, but she realized she would have to do something if she were going to survive. Already her quick wits and her shrewd razor-sharp mind had created a passible solution. Now Maurer was out of the ways she must make immediate use of her opportunities.

She stood up and walked over to the wall mirror and surveyed herself. She smoothed her hands down her long, sleek flanks as she studied her body with thoughtful narrowed eyes. She thought of Gloria Lyle with her short legs and ridiculous bust. What did Maurer see in her, she wondered. What could he see in her? He was no better than an alley cat himself in search of any new sensation with an animal urge for something fresh, no matter how ugly it was.

Shrugging her shoulders, she began to dress, her mind still occupied. Her position was dangerous. She had thought of taking her jewellery and the clothes he had once showered on her and trying to hide herself somewhere, but she knew there was nowhere safe from his long-reaching arm.

She snapped a garter into place, smoothed her dress over her solid hips and walked out of the shower room and along the passage to the cocktail bar.

Abe Gollowitz sat on a high stool, sipping a martini. His fat buttocks spread over the stool, making the stool look like a grotesque mushroom.

She stood in the doorway, looking at him. In him was her only hope, and she felt a little shiver of disgust run through her. Pot-bellied, oily old men were her only refuge, she thought: the only men who had the power and the money that were essential to her way of life. If only Abe were like that flash, hard-muscled Seigel. She had often wondered what Seigel would be like as a lover. Several times she had been tempted to experiment, but she knew the danger. Once she had made Seigel her lover, her life would be hanging on a thread.

She studied Gollowitz as he sipped his martini, unaware of her presence. She could do anything with him, and she had long known he lived for the day when he would take over Maurer’s position. But would he be strong enough to protect her when the time came?

“Hello, Abe,” she said, coming up to him and smiling her brilliant, sensual smile. “So Jack’s gone.”

He hurriedly slid off the stool, his fat, dark face lighting up.

“Yes, he’s gone,” he said, his eyes undressing her. “How beautiful you look, Dolly. How do you manage it?”

She shrugged and climbed up on a stool next to his.

“Oh, I don’t know. Jack doesn’t notice it any longer, Abe.”

He scowled.

“Jack doesn’t appreciate the best things in life.”

“You know he’s got that Lyle woman on board?” Dolores said, taking the icecold martini the barman gave her.

Gollowitz stiffened.

“I had heard. It’s no business of mine.”

“Abe, is Jack in trouble?”

“No, no, nothing like that. He suddenly decided…”

“Please, Abe, tell me. You’re the only one I have now who I can trust. He is in trouble, isn’t he?”

Gollowitz glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was within earshot.

“He could be. We thought it wiser for him to be out of reach — for the time being.”

“It’s because of June?”

Gollowitz hesitated, then, nodded.

“How will the organization react, Abe? Could this be the end of Jack?”

“This is dangerous talk, Dolly, but since you ask me, I can only tell you I don’t know. He’s not paying much attention to the organization these past months. He has said something about making a clean break.”

This was news to Dolores, but she was careful not to let Gollowitz see her startled surprise.

“I know. He’s said something about that to me. Isn’t it unwise, Abe?”

“I think so.”

This time it was her turn to hesitate, but she knew if she didn’t seize every opportunity it might be too late when Maurer returned.

Lowering her voice, she said, “If anything happened to Jack, you would take over, wouldn’t you?”

Gollowitz eyed her uneasily. He was on perilous ground, but he was also aware that Dolores’s present position was still more perilous.

“It would depend on the organization. They may have someone else in mind.”

She shook her head.

“That’s not likely.” She looked up suddenly, her green eyes an open invitation. “If you did take over, Abe, would you have anything for me?”

She watched him trying to keep calm. She already knew the answer before he said, “If I took over, Dolly, you would have nothing to worry about.”

She gave a pleased little smile.

“I have plenty to worry about now, Abe.”

Gollowitz nodded. He restrained himself from reaching for her hand. He was aware that several people in the bar were watching them.

“Yes, and so have I.”

The bell of the telephone standing on the bar rang sharply. The barman picked up the receiver, listened, said, “Yes, sir,” and replaced the receiver. He turned to Gollowitz. “Mr. Seigel’s asking for you, sir. He’s in your office. It’s urgent.”

Gollowitz scowled. Couldn’t Seigel hold down his job for ten minutes without bothering him? he thought as he got off his stool. He’d have to go. No sense in risking trouble at the beginning of his reign.

“That guy can’t blow his own nose without me helping him,” he said, smiling at Dolores. “Perhaps we might have lunch together in twenty minutes?”

She shook her head.

“Better not, Abe. Too many spies around,” She gave him a warning look. “I’m going home now.” She slid off the stool. “One of these days we’ll have lunch together. I’m looking forward to the time, Abe, when there will be no restrictions between us.” Her look was full of meaning as she smiled a good-bye.

He watched her walk across the bar to the door, his eyes feast-ting on her, watching the slow rolling movement of her hips under the thin material of her frock as she walked, her broad, square shoulders and her long, tapering legs. He felt sick with desire for her.

Seigel was pacing up and down when Gollowitz entered his office. His face was pale and his breath stank of whisky as he approached Gollowitz.

“They’ve got the girl!” he said breathlessly.

Gollowitz stiffened.

“What do you mean? Who’s got the girl?”

“Goddamn it! The police have got her! Those two blasted punks made a mess of it!”

Gollowitz felt a chill run up his fat spine. Failure! The moment his hand was on the helm, the ship floundered. What would the organization think of him? This might kill his chances of ever succeeding Maurer! Cold, vicious rage seized him.

“But Jack told you to wipe her out!” he cried shrilly. “Do you mean to tell me she isn’t wiped out?”

Seigel backed away. He had never seen Gollowitz look like this; he looked now as dangerous and as crazy as Maurer could look when things went wrong.

“They trapped her in a maze in the amusement park. The police must have been tipped. They arrived before they could find the little bitch. Moe was killed.”

“Are you telling me the police have got her after what Maurer told you?” Gollowitz screamed, his fat fists clenched and his face contorted with rage and fear. “Didn’t you hear what McCann said? Goddamn it! What’s the matter with you?”

“I warned Mr. Maurer,” Seigel snarled. “We had no time to case the joint. It blew up. She was surrounded by people. The boys couldn’t get near her. I warned him!”

“Shut up!” Gollowitz cried. “I don’t want to listen to your weak, spineless excuses. Maurer said she was to be hit, and you’ve failed to carry out an order!”

“Gleb and Weiner failed to carry out the order,” Seigel said, his face chalk white.