the ice cold nude

“I don’t know,” I said vaguely. “I was just curious, that’s all. Just for laughs, let’s presume he did kill Louise Lamont because he couldn’t stand her blackmailing tactics any longer, when they indirectly involved him in the tiarra theft? Maybe he didn’t know about Byers’ relationship with Louise—but she could have told Byers about him, right? Then, after she was dead, Byers could have decided to venture into the blackmail business on his own account—threaten to expose Rutter to the cops—” “Police!” Schell grated.

“—police, so Rutter figured the only alternative was to knock off Byers too, and if he made it look like suicide, you’d think that little Willie had murdered Louise, then taken his own life.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Schell said, but his voice was only half-hearted.

“You’re probably right,” I said smoothly. “Not that it would do any harm to pull Rutter in and ask him some questions—it might give him some respect, if nothing else.”

“Respect for what?”

“I hear he’s shooting his mouth off all over town about the bungling incompetence of the police force in general, and a certain lieutenant in particular,” I said mildly. “But I guess you’re above that kind of thing, Lieutenant, and it doesn’t worry you, right?”

“Oh, he is, is he?” Schell snarled. “The big fat slob! Just because he owns a plastics plant, he figures he’s a big-shot? We’ll soon pull him into line!”

“Well, of course,” I murmured, “it’s none of my business, but—”

“You’re damned right it’s none of your business!”

He scowled at me for about ten seconds, then shrugged in frustrated fury. “All right! What?”

“I was just thinking,” I said in a tentative voice. “He’s the kind of guy who uses authority to bulldoze anybody who’s smaller than he is—and that’s the only kind of treatment he’d respect. I mean, like if you played it very tough, very official—that kind of jazz—it would make a bigger impression on him.”

“Yeah,” Schell said, nodding slowly. “For once in your stupid life, you make sense, Boyd. I’ll play it so tough, he’ll figure the Gestapo must have been a bunch of boy scouts!”

“Well”—I kind of slid onto my feet—“if you don’t need me any more, Lieutenant?”

“Who needs you?” he said disgustedly. “You think I have nothing better to do all afternoon than waste my time talking to a homicidal maniac? Get out!”

I got back to the hotel just in time to have a quick shower and change my clothes, then get down to the Luau Bar by five of eight. At eight exactly, Tamara O’Keefe took off her mink jacket and slid into the alcove seat beside me. She wore a magnificent flamingo-colored velvet sheath; it was strapless, and cut low enough in the bodice to reveal the beginning of the entrancing cleavage between her full breasts.

Her full red lips parted in an innocent smile. “I see you approve of the Mother Hubbard,” she said calmly. “But I give you fair warning, Danny Boyd, that if thus one slips only a couple of inches even, I’m in real trouble.” “It makes for a fascinating challenge,” I said wistfully.

The waiter placed a coconut half-shell in front of her, and a martini in front of me. A whole new fantasy in ti-tian danced in front of my eyes for a moment as she bent her head and looked doubtfully at the drink.

“Just what is this?” Her voice was loaded with suspicion.

“It’s a combination, my own invention,” I said proudly. “You take one part ‘Virgin’s Downfall,’ and one part, ‘Missionary’s Delight.’ Then you mix well together and squeeze half a passion fruit into it.”

“It has a name?” Tamara asked in a disbelieving tone. “I’m glad you asked,” I said modestly. “I call it ‘Paradise’! And I did it all for you.”

“I’m flattered,” she said tersely. “You're sure its real name isn’t ‘Mickey Finn’ or something?”

“How could you think such a thing of a simple Manhattan boy like me?” I asked sorrowfully. “And it’s much too early in the evening for a mickey, anyway.”

She tasted the drink, talang one very cautious sip— then took another with a critical look on her face. Finally she took a deep swallow and leaned back against the padded seat with a happy smile on her face.

“It’s good,” she said with a luxuriant sigh. “I needed something to cheer me up tonight.”

“Bad day?”

“I'm beginning to wonder if I'll be out of a job soon —things is tough in the jewelry business.” She made a face. “They have been for some time.”

“That’s too bad,” I said. “I bet Elmo’s relieved now it looks like the insurance company will pay up.”

She gave me a puzzled look. “What do you mean—-now it looks like they’ll pay up?”

“Wasn’t there some trouble about the fine print?” I said patiently. “The insurance company refused the claim but now Elmo’s lawyer’s found an angle to force—” “Oh, that!” she said impatiently. “That was just some bug Mr. Elmo got into his head without any reason. The insurance company queried the claim, but they always do—that’s what the lawyer says, anyway—he was positive they’d pay up but Mr. Elmo just wouldn’t listen to him!”

“Maybe that will make the difference?” I said. Tamara looked doubtful. “I’m not too sure that it will from the state of the books right now—although I must say it doesn’t seem to worry Mr. Elmo any. He’s almost revoltingly cheerful at the moment.”

“Let’s not ruin the evening discussing the revolting Mr. Elmo,” I said firmly. “Let’s talk about more exciting things—like your imminent downfall.”

“It will take a lot more than this phony drink of yours to accomplish that, Danny Boyd,” she said with smug confidence, and drained the coconut empty, just to prove her point.

“The only thing wrong with this nice secluded alcove,” I said, some thirty seconds later, “is it’s so damned secluded even the waiters don’t see it, and if I don’t get any service within the next five seconds I’ll stand on the table and—”

“And what?” Tamara asked curiously.

I was transfixed, my eyes dilated with horror, all powers of thought or movement completely paralyzed. Bearing straight down on us, with a beaming smile of recognition plastered across her face, was Patty Lamont. Too late I realized I should have called her; too late I realized the stupid risk I’d taken in agreeing to meet Tamara in the bar of the same hotel.

I stumbled awkwardly to my feet as Patty reached the table and mumbled incoherently at her for a while.

“A wonderful thing happened, Danny darling,” she said in a bubbling voice. “I called Lieutenant Schell about thirty minutes back and he says the police are sure Estell left town, and it’s quite safe for me to go back to my own apartment. So I came down here just on the chance you might be having a quick one before dinner—and here you are!” Her voice finished on a triumphant note.

“Yeah,” I said hoarsely. “Here I am. Oh, Patty—this is Miss O’Keefe, and Miss O’Keefe, this is—”

“Hi, Patty!” Tamara said brightly.

“How are things with you, Tamara?” Patty slid smoothly into the vacant space on the other side of the table.

“You two know each other?” I gurgled.

“Are you kidding?” Tamara said calmly. “We were in high school together.” Her face sobered and she touched Patty’s hand for a moment. “I was dreadfully sorry about Louise.”

“Thank you, Tam!” Patty blinked hard. “I try not to think of it now, it’s all been so horrible!”

“Of course, honey,” Tamara said warmly, and squeezed her hand firmly.

The waiter finally appeared and I reordered the same, then looked inquiringly at Patty.