Lady, Here's Your Wreath (7 page)

     Kennedy nodded. “Do you think you could do it?” he asked.
     I thought about it, then I said: “Yeah, I guess it would work out all right. The boys want to see you. At the moment they don't think there's a dame in here. Right, what you gotta do is to see them, and while you're holding them with talk I'll get the dame out through the back door.”
     Kennedy sat there thinking. I could see he didn't quite like the idea. I could guess why. “You ain't got to worry about me, Colonel,” I went on. “I don't make capital out of friends of mine.”
     He looked up hastily. “No—I wasn't thinking of that. I... well, I guess, even you can't know who she is... she wouldn't stand for it.”
     I said: “Between you an' me I guess this dame's a little difficult, eh?”
     Kennedy nodded. “She's crazy,” he said. “Damn it, she pulled a gun on me last night.”
     I stared at him. “Then there was some shootin' goin' on?” I said.
     He hesitated. “Yes,” he said at last. “There was a misunderstanding. She's got a quick temper and the gun went off.”
     I couldn't help it. I laughed. It struck me as mighty funny. “Wouldn't she fall for your stuff, Colonel?” I said.
     For a moment I thought he was going to get mad, then he grinned ruefully. “For Pete's sake keep this quiet,” he implored me. “But I guess that's about it.”
     I slid off the table. “Suppose you go an' explain things to her. I reckon we gotta hurry, the boys out there are getting restless.”
     He got to his feet, looking worried. “I hope she'll listen to reason,” he said. He stood there like a schoolboy screwing up his courage to go inside for a belting. Then he walked out of the room.
     I let him go, and when I was sure he had gone upstairs I gumshoed to the foot of the stairs and flapped my ears.
     I heard his voice. He was putting the problem forward in a low voice. I could just catch a word here and there, but nothing more. There was a moment's silence, then a woman spoke. She just said: “Very well, if you think it is safe,” but it was not what she said that made me stiffen. It was the voice. I'd know that voice anywhere. The cold, hard, metallic ring in it.
     Colonel Kennedy's girl friend was the woman who had called me up twice on the telephone. The woman who had sent me five thousand bucks.
     I said, “Well, well,” to myself and walked slowly back to the big room.
     

     
     KENNEDY CAME down again after five minutes or so. He went to the window and looked out, then he turned round to me. “I've talked to her,” he said uneasily. “She wants you to get the car ready and have it drawn up outside. Then she's going to make her getaway by herself.”
     This didn't suit me. I was looking forward to a long drive with this dame. “What happens to the car?”
     A little frown settled on Kennedy's face. “You don't have to worry about that,” he said. “I just want you to do that... nothing more. Will you do it?” There was a touch of the soldier in his voice.
     I said: “Sure... anything you say.'
     He looked relieved. “You go and call these fellows in. Once they're in, you go round to the back and get the car out. Then come back here.”
     I told myself I was at least going to have a peep at this dame. “Okay. Shall I start now?”
     “Just wait a minute.” He went out into the hall. I heard him call up the stairs. “Come down now.”
     It wasn't possible for me to go to the door and watch because he would have seen me, and I certainly was burnt up to stand there and let that dame get away with it.
     I heard someone run down the stairs quickly and walk with clicking heels down the passage. Then Kennedy came back. He nodded to me. “Fetch 'em in,” he said.
     I walked to the front door and flung it open.
     The boys came running. They looked like the Klondyke gold rush.
     “The Colonel will see you now,” I said. “Take your hats off, wipe your feet, an' for Gawd's sake behave like gentlemen.”
     They crowded past me and barged into the big room. I certainly handed it to Kennedy. He stood at the end of the room, looking at them coldly, not a muscle of his face moving. As soon as the last one had piled himself into the room I quietly shut the door.
     I ran down the passage, keeping my eyes open, but I didn't see a sign of her. There were a couple of doors on each side, and she might have been behind either of them, but I couldn't very well look and see.
     At the far end of the corridor was a door leading to the back of the grounds. I opened it and looked out cautiously. There was no one about. I hadn't put it past Ackie to leave one of the boys snooping outside. Maybe they didn't think I'd pull it off, and the surprise put it out of their heads.
     I ran over to the garage and pulled open the doors. There were two cars. I chose the small one. It didn't take me a moment to run it out facing the exit. Then, leaving the motor running, I hurried back to the lodge.
     As I came down the passage, Ackie stepped out of the big room. He was looking suspicious.
     “What the hell are you doin'?” he asked.
     I kept on coming at him. If that guy could read my thoughts he'd have curled up and busted right away.
     “I just had a look outside to see if any of the boys were left out of the prayer meetin',” I said.
     Ackie said, “Oh yeah?” and made to step past me.
     I put out an arm and collared him. “Come on, Mo,” I said. “I wantta hear what the Colonel's sayin'.”
     Ackie stiffened, but he couldn't break my hold.
     He said furiously: “You're double-crossin' me!”
     I grinned down at him and walked him away from the back door towards the big room. “I got you into here to see the Colonel,” I said. “Well, you're goin' to see the Colonel... that's all.”
     I heard a door shut behind me. If Ackie hadn't barged in I'd have seen her. I loved Ackie a lot right then. He tried to turn but I still held him tight. I shifted my grip a little and suddenly put on some pressure. He gave a squawk.
     “You're breakin' my arm,” he howled.
     I said evenly: “I'd like to break your neck.”
     Faintly I heard the door of the car slam and the sudden sound of a car accelerating. Ackie opened his mouth to yell, but I clapped my hand over it.
     “Shut up!” I said sharply. “You start anythin' an' I'll smash you.”
     I waited out in the hall until I, was sure she'd got away, then I released him.
     He stood glaring at me furiously. “What a pal,” he spluttered. “Think you're gettin' that hundred? What a laugh.”
     “Now listen, Mo,” I said quietly, “there is more in this than meets the eye... you're right. But it ain't the sort of news you can print. If I'd let you go ahead just now your rag would be up to its ears in a libel suit. A libel suit with Kennedy on the wrong side would put your crowd out of business. If you're a good boy and keep your trap shut, I'll give you the inside dope... it ain't to be printed, though.”
     Ackie could never stay mad for long. He scowled at me, then his face cleared. “I might have known it,” he grumbled. “Of all the double-crossin' punks, you are the biggest. All right, I'll keep it quiet. Now what's it all about?”
     I lowered my voice. “Seems like the Colonel got too ambitious. You know what he is with dames. Well, this one wasn't playin', an' what's more she outs with an equaliser an' starts poppin'. This dame is one of the upper crust. Even I don't know who she is. I agreed with Kennedy to smuggle her out while you boys were talkin'.”
     Ackie brooded. “No one got hurt?” he asked bitterly.
     I shook my head.
     “Hell! There ain't a story at all. Everyone knows about Kennedy an' his women. That ain't news. Pity she didn't drill him. Boy! That would have been a front-page splash!”
     I looked at him with distaste. “Ain't you a nice guy?” I said. “But now you know. You can see it wasn't worth the fuss.”
     Ackie glanced at his watch. “I guess I'm beatin' it,” he said. “Maybe I was a little hasty about the hundred bucks. I'll see you get it.”
     I grinned. “Suppose we split it?” I said. “Send me fifty an' I'll receipt the hundred.”
     Ackie nodded. He looked quite happy again. “You ain't such a bad punk,” he said. “Maybe you'll play straight one of these days, an' then I'll quite like you.”
     The other boys began to crowd out of the room. They looked at us curiously, but Ackie didn't let on. He took them off to the waiting cars.
     “You wantta come?” he asked over his shoulder.
     I said, “Sure... I ain't got any reason to walk.”
     Kennedy appeared at the doorway. “No,” he said, “You stay. I want to talk to you.”
     I was glad. I liked this guy, and I was getting mighty hungry.
     As soon as the last car had driven off, Kennedy came back from the porch and shut the front door. He grinned at me. “Well, that was a nice bit of work,” he said approvingly. “You sure pulled me out of a jam. It seems that I'm continually getting into your debt.”
     I said hastily, “Forget it, will you? That sort of talk gives me the itch.”
     He laughed. “I haven't seen you for so long, I guess we got plenty to catch up on. You're going to stay with me for a few days. What do you say?”
     I hesitated, but he shook his head. “You're staying, Mason, so make up your mind.”
     I grinned. “It's okay with me,” I said.
     He glanced at the clock. “Suppose we have some lunch and then I can telephone for my man to pick up some of your things and bring them out here. He's got to bring some of mine, so he may as well make himself useful.”
     Lunch was ready by the time we had had a wash and a drink. It was laid out in the suntrap outside: a small verandah, screened by glass, overlooking the river. We sat down to a swell meal.
     “You got a grand spot here,” I said, helping myself to lobster salad.
     Kennedy nodded. “It is very convenient,” he said, with a faint smile. “I don't see people for weeks here. Just the place for relaxation.”
     I looked at him quickly. “I've got another name for it,” I said with a grin.
     He laughed. “You don't look as if you've had much relaxation,” he said. “What have you been doing with your face?”
     That put me in a fix. I wasn't sure how far he might be involved in this business.
     I said carelessly, “Oh, I got into a scrap last night.”
     We finished our meal and sat there in the sun with a nice cigar and some old brandy, and talked. I said casually, after we had been talking some time, “I'm thinkin' of buyin' some stock. Can you advise me?”
     He began to go through a list of names that didn't mean much to me.
     “What about Mackenzie Fabrics?” I shot out.
     He looked startled. “That's funny,” he said, “I've just been getting rid of some of those myself.”
     “What's so funny about it?” I asked, keeping my voice casual.
     He shook his head. “Oh, nothing,” he said shortly, and changed the subject.
     I wondered if the dame who'd just gone had anything to do with this. I didn't like to risk asking him outright who she was. These guys, once they've been through the army, have got ideas about mentioning names of women who they've compromised. He might have turned tough, so I shelved it for the moment.
     After we had settled our lunch, we went out and had a look at the grounds. The more I saw of the place the more I liked it.
     He'd got everything. Even a bathing-pool, cut in the rocks in the thickest part of the wood, and fed by the rushing water of the river.
     We spent the next four days fishing, swimming, and lazing about. He and I hit it off together pretty well. The food was good and there was plenty to drink. I'll say this, it was one of the nicest holidays I've spent. There was nothing that guy didn't know about fishing, and with his help I found I wasn't doing too badly myself. We'd go out after breakfast with rods and long waders, and walk slowly into the shallow, fast-moving river and fish. It was a grand way of spending the day.
     One evening we were sitting on the verandah in the moonlight, finishing a cigar before turning in. The night was still and hot and we were both pleasantly tired. I was thinking that it was time I got back and did some work, when he looked up suddenly. “You know, Mason, a guy like you ought to marry and settle down. You'd make more money that way.”
     Six months ago a crack like that would have made me laugh, but now I pondered before answering him. “Yeah,” I said at last, “I guess there's somethin' in that.”
     He was silent for a little while, then he went on, “When you find the girl, I'm going to give you this place.”
     Didn't I tell you this guy smothered me? I sat up sharply. “You be careful what you're saying,” I said, “I might take you seriously.”
     He smiled a little. “I reckon it would be a bit heavy for you to carry, anyway,” he said. “There's a hell of a lot of upkeep that goes with it. But this I will promise you. When you get married, you can use this place as often as you like. I'm getting out pretty soon. I want to go to China. Maybe I'll be away a number of years. So when you're fixed up, let me know.”
     I said it was mighty white of him and we let the matter drop. All the same, I kept thinking of Mardi, and I kept thinking what a surprise it would be for her to come here for our honeymoon. I kept thinking about it until I got restless. I told myself that I'd been there too long. My eye and nose were back to normal and I was anxious to get away.
     The following morning I broke the news to him. He just grinned. “I believe you've got a girl, after all,” he said.
     I nodded. “You're right. It's just a matter of fixing things up.” Although I spoke like that, I was wondering how long it would take to get Mardi on the dotted line. Maybe I would come unstuck. Anyway, it was worth a try.
     I got back to town the next afternoon. And I rang up the Mackenzie Fabrics right away. “I want to speak to Miss Mardi Jackson,” I said to the operator.
     “Hold on a minute,” she snapped. I heard a faint plopping as she jerked out the plug and connected it somewhere else. Then she came back over the line again. “Miss Jackson no longer works here,” she said, and cut off.
     I put the telephone down very thoughtfully. So Mardi wasn't working any more for the Mackenzie Fabrics. Why? Had she walked out on them, or had they given her the bird? How long had she been gone? I suddenly felt annoyed with myself for staying with Kennedy so long. If I'd 'phoned her on the day Ackie took me out, I might have caught her.
     Now where was I going to find her? I hopefully checked the telephone-book, but she wasn't in that. Maybe she stayed with her people or in a boarding-house. There were about a thousand Jacksons to choose from.
     I suddenly remembered that on the day we had first met, Katz had seen us together. Did that mean anything? Had Katz scrammed back to Spencer and told him that I had contacted her? Was that why she no longer worked there? I remembered Ackie saying that Katz was as dangerous as a rattlesnake, and I began to get a little hot and bothered. Did Mardi know anything? Had they got her out of the way? It was no use sitting around asking myself dumb questions. I'd got to find out.
     I grabbed my hat and left my apartment at a run. A taxi took me to the Hoffman Building quickly. I paid him off and checked the time. It would be one o'clock in ten minutes or so. I went into the nearby drug-store and bought myself a drink. The guy behind the counter looked like he might have some brains. After I had finished the Scotch I ordered another.
     “I'm lookin' for a dame,” I said confidentially to this guy, as he put the glass on the counter.
     “Ain't we all?” he said, putting his elbows on handles of the soda jerker and resting himself.
     I said, “You're right. Maybe you can help me.”
     He looked interested. “Sure,” he said, “Anythin' I can do.”
     “I'm looking for a dame who works at the Mackenzie Fabrics. I've just heard that she's been fired out an' I want to know where she's gone.”
     He looked sort of dreamy. “They've got some swell dames workin' in that joint,” he said wistfully. “They're high steppers. I can't get to the first base with any of 'em.”
     “Do they come in here to eat?” I asked.
     “Sure. The rush starts right now.”
     I took a five-dollar bill from my vest-pocket and pushed it across to him. “Suppose you let me know when one of them comes in. If I could get her talkin' maybe I could learn where this dame's gone to.”
     He grabbed the fin. “I'll do that okay,” he said. “You just sit around.”
     A little after one o'clock the place began to fill up. Almost immediately he jerked his head at me. A tall, blonde doll was just settling herself on a stool, preparing to put on the nose-bag. She'd got a friendly look about her, and I thought I'd get places with her if I handled her in the right way.
     I let her settle down, then I left my place and took the stool next to hers. She was against the wall, so we were more or less isolated from the others.