Beauty And The Bounty

by Robert J. Randisi

  That was when he decided to get out of bed, after all. Even if it made his wound hurt like hell, the pain would remind him of something.

  That he was still alive.

  Chapter Fifteen

  When the knock came at his door, Decker was dressed and on his feet. He actually felt much better being up and around.

  When he answered the door he saw Mona, the braided blonde, standing there with a tray of food.

  “Breakfast.”

  “Thanks, but—”

  She walked past him and said, “Duke told me I wasn’t to let you out of this room until you’d been fed.”

  “All right.”

  “He also asked me to change your bandage.”

  “You don’t mind doing that?”

  She grinned.

  “I’ve changed plenty of bandages, Mr. Decker.”

  “I’ll have to take my shirt off.”

  “That’s no problem, and I have the fresh bandages right here on the tray.”

  “All right,” Decker said, giving in, “let’s get it done so I can eat and gain my release.”

  When Sally Tucker saw the Ballard House hotel, she felt that this would probably be more to her liking than the huge Alhambra, or any of the other hotels in Portsmouth Square.

  She had mixed emotions about seeing Decker again, though. She was embarrassed about getting drunk on a glass of champagne, and yet she was grateful to him for not having taken advantage of her, and for arranging a job at the Ballard House.

  She entered, walked to the desk tentatively, put her suitcase down, waited for the clerk to notice her, and then asked for either Decker or Duke Ballard.

  When Duke saw the girl standing at the desk he knew she was Sally Tucker.

  He knew she was Annie Tucker’s sister, and that she would be as beautiful in a few years as her sister was now.

  Maybe he didn’t need Annie, after all.

  “Miss Tucker?”

  “Yes?” Sally said, turning away from the desk. The man she saw was just an inch or so taller than Annie was.

  “I’m Duke Ballard, Decker’s friend and the owner of this hotel.”

  “Oh, Mr. Ballard. I’m so grateful to you and Mr. Decker—”

  “Is this yours?” he asked, indicating the bag.

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll have a man take it to your room.”

  “But—but you haven’t hired me, yet.”

  “Decker wants me to hire you, Miss Tucker, then you’re hired. It’s just a question of what you’ll be doing, and we can discuss that in my office.”

  “Is Decker all right?”

  “He’s fine,” Duke said. “I’m sure he’ll be down fairly shortly.”

  “What? Why, he was shot last night. He shouldn’t be out of bed.”

  “Yeah, well,” Duke said, taking her arm, “you tell him that when he comes down, huh? Let’s see if he listens to you any better than he listens to me.”

  When Decker came down, moving gingerly so as not to jostle his shoulder, the clerk told him that Duke was in his office with Sally Tucker.

  Decker went to the office, knocked on the door, and entered.

  “Good morning, Sally,” he greeted her.

  She was seated in a chair in front of Duke’s chair, and turned at the sound of his voice.

  “Mr. Decker, you shouldn’t be up.”

  “Where should I be?”

  “In bed,” she said, and then blushed.

  Decker looked at Duke, and from the look on his friend’s face he knew that Duke agreed with him. Sally Tucker did not belong in Portsmouth Square.

  “We, uh, were just talking about my sister. Mr. Ballard—”

  “Duke,” Duke said, interrupting her.

  “Duke was telling me that he knows Annie.”

  “Really?”

  “I’ve tried to hire her away from Van Gelder many times,” Duke said, “but I can’t match his…uh—”

  “Salary?” Decker said.

  “Exactly.”

  “Have you two decided what Sally will be doing?” Decker asked.

  “She says she wouldn’t mind waiting tables in the dining room.”

  “You have an opening?”

  “We can make one. Of course, we have all waiters, so she’ll be the only waitress.”

  “It’ll bring more people in to eat,” Decker said. “I’d much rather be waited on by a lovely woman than one of your homely waiters.”

  “Thanks.”

  “When can I start, Mr. Ball—uh, Duke.”

  “Today, if you like. Have you waited tables before?”

  She hesitated before answering, “Some.”

  “Yeah, well, I’ll have one of the boys show you along until you’re ready.”

  “That would be fine!”

  “I’ll take you over there, then,” Duke said, standing up.

  “Your sister didn’t come with you?” Decker asked.

  “I’m afraid not, but she did say that I could do worse than work for Duke Ballard.”

  And she was right, too, Decker thought.

  “That’s nice of her…I think,” Duke said.

  Chapter Sixteen

  They were crossing the lobby when a man both Decker and Duke recognized came through the front door.

  It was Lieutenant Tennant.

  He didn’t look happy.

  “That was fast,” Decker said.

  “I don’t fool around,” Duke said. “Want me to talk to him?”

  “No, you’ve done enough. Take Sally into the dining room, I’ll take care of the lieutenant.”

  “Fine. Use my office.”

  “Thanks.”

  Decker approached Tennant.

  “I thought you’d be flat on your back,” Tennant said. His tone plainly indicated that he was disappointed that Decker wasn’t.

  “I was, but I decided being on my feet would be healthier. The last thing I want to do is die in bed.”

  “Die? I didn’t think your wound was—”

  “It isn’t. Come on, we can talk in the office.”

  Decker led the policeman to Duke’s office, and then lowered himself into Duke’s chair behind the desk.

  “You look stiff.”

  “A bullet will do that to you.”

  “I’ll take your word for it.”

  “Haven’t you ever been shot?”

  Tenant looked uncomfortable, as if he was ashamed to admit he hadn’t.

  “No, never.”

  “Lucky man.”

  “I assume you’ve been shot at many times, given your occupation.”

  “Shot at, and shot,” Decker said. “You checked me out?”

  “I did. You’re a bounty hunter.”

  “Guilty.”

  “Was there a bounty on that man last night?”

  “Not that I know of, but if there was, I think I’d be entitled to collect, don’t you?” Tennant frowned.

  “Did you identify him?”

  “His name is Louis Jackman.”

  “Jackman,” Decker repeated, “Jackman…of course. I brought in a Michael Jackman four years ago, or so.”

  “His father. He was hanged.”

  “He killed three men and a woman.”

  “I guess that didn’t matter to Louis,” Tennant said. He took out a pad and pencil and began asking questions.

  Had Decker known that Jackman was in town? No.

  Had Decker seen Jackman in the casino? No.

  Was Decker here hunting anyone?

  Decker lied. He said no.

  “All right, I guess it was a coincidence that you were both in the same place together last night.”

  “I guess it was.”

  “That sort of thing must happen all the time to you, eh, Decker?” Tennant said, standing up.

  “Sure, Lieutenant,” Decker said. “All the time. I hope you’ll forgive me if I don’t stand up.”

  “No, I don’t mind,” Tennant said. He started for the door, then turned and faced De
cker again with his hand on the door knob.

  “I’ll tell you what I do mind, though.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Being made to trot down here when you could have come to the office.”

  “Lieutenant, I didn’t mean—”

  “I don’t care who Duke Ballard’s friends are, Decker, don’t ask him to have me come down here again. Understood?”

  “Understood.”

  “Good—and try not to kill anyone else, huh?”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  Tennant left and Decker rested his head against the back of Duke’s leather chair.

  He fell asleep that way.

  When Duke entered the room Decker opened his eyes immediately.

  “That’s it,” Duke said, crossing the room. “You’re going back to bed.”

  “No,” Decker said, but he felt terrible. His mouth felt like the inside of one of his boots; his head throbbed; and his shoulder hurt like hell.

  “Yes,” Duke said. “Can we make it together or do we need help?”

  Decker thought it over and then said, “I think we can make it.”

  “Well, let’s give it a try.”

  Together they managed to get Decker to his room, where Duke deposited him on the bed.

  “I don’t do this for just anybody, you know,” Duke said, pulling his friend’s boots off.

  “I love you, too, dear.”

  “Now lie back and rest, like the doctor said.”

  “How’s Sally doing?”

  “Fine. She’s been here half an hour and she’s already broken half a dozen dishes.”

  “I’ll pay for them.”

  “Nobody asked you to. Are you gonna get some rest now?”

  “I am a little sleepy,” Decker admitted. “Maybe just a quick rest.”

  “Good. I’ll check in on you later.”

  All Decker heard was, “Good, I’ll check in…” and then he was asleep.

  Chapter Seventeen

  When Decker awoke he found Duke standing by the bed.

  “Jesus,” he said, “what time is it?”

  “About eleven.”

  “That late?”

  Duke shook his head.

  “That early,” he said. “It’s eleven a.m., Deck. You slept all night.”

  “All night?” Decker said. “You mean all day and all night, don’t you?”

  “You needed it.”

  “You could have woke me.”

  “I was in here three times and you didn’t move a muscle once.”

  “You came in here three times and I never woke up?” Decker asked in disbelief.

  “That’s right.”

  “Jesus,” he said, rubbing his right hand over his face. “I’m dead three times.”

  “What?”

  “In my business, I’d be dead three times if it wasn’t you, Duke.”

  “But it was me, Deck. Believe me, nobody else could have gotten near your room. You needed the rest.”

  Duke may have been watching out for him while he slept, but that didn’t make him feel any better. There was no excuse for sleeping that soundly, not after two attempts on his life within the past month.

  “I’ve got to get up.”

  “How do you feel?”

  “Fine.”

  Decker swung his legs around and put both feet on the floor. He stood up, waited a moment, and then repeated, “I feel fine.”

  “Yeah, well, a bath, a shave and some fresh clothes, and you may even look fine. Let’s gather up some stuff and I’ll take you downstairs.”

  They put together the items Decker needed, and then left the room. Decker walked most of the way without Duke’s help, but accepted his arm on the stairs.

  Decker bathed and dried himself, then pulled on his pants and called Duke in to bandage his wound. That done, he put on his shirt, his boots and then strapped on his gun.

  “Now what?” Duke asked.

  “Breakfast,” Decker said. “I’m starved.

  “I don’t think I should do this to an injured man,” Duke said in the dining room, “but our waitress is going to be Sally.”

  As if on cue Sally appeared to take their order.

  “Hi, Sally,” Decker said.

  “Hello, Mr. Decker.”

  “Just call me Decker, Sally.”

  “All right, Mr.—I mean, Decker. What can I bring you?”

  Decker ordered a huge breakfast consisting of eggs, steak, bacon, potatoes, biscuits, jam, and coffee.

  “Duke?”

  “Just some eggs, biscuits and coffee, Sally.”

  She gave them a sunny smile and said, “Coming right up.”

  “She fits in better here,” Decker said.

  “Tell that to my kitchen staff. She’s almost singlehandedly wiped us out of plates.”

  “Duke—”

  Duke held up his hand and said, “I’m giving her a chance, Decker, but I’m warning you. By next week she might be a maid. At least she won’t be able to break sheets and towels.”

  Sally managed to bring breakfast over to their table without dropping anything. Over breakfast Decker asked, “Have you heard anything about my girl.”

  “You still thinking about her? Jesus, Deck, give yourself time to recover. You’ve been shot, you know.”

  “I know. Anything?”

  “No, nothing. If she’s in town she’s not working any kind of scam—yet.”

  “If she came here to spend the money, she won’t be,” Decker said.

  “How will you find her, then?”

  “By looking, Duke,” Decker said, “just by looking.”

  “Yeah, well, maybe I should come with you,” Duke said.

  “Why?”

  “Well, if the other night’s any indication, you need someone to watch your back.”

  “I can watch my own back.”

  “Oh sure, you’re doing a real good job of it.”

  There was an awkward moment of silence between them, and then Duke asked, “How often does this happen, Deck?”

  “What?”

  “The friend or a relative of someone you brought in trying to kill you?”

  Decker hesitated, then said, “A lot more recently.”

  “Maybe it’s time to move on to something else.”

  “Like what?”

  “Another line of work.”

  “Name one.”

  “Part owner of a hotel.”

  Decker stared at Duke and saw that his friend was serious.

  “That’s a fine offer, Duke, but—”

  “What offer? Am I offering it to you for nothing? I’m giving you the chance to buy your way in. You know, this place is growing.”

  “I appreciate it, I really do, but there’s nothing else I’m cut out for, Duke. Believe me, I’d be a real terrible hotel owner.”

  “I tried,” Duke said, spreading his arms. “What more can a friend do?”

  “You can help.”

  “How?”

  “Well, I don’t think I want to take you away from here to watch my back, but you might be right about me needing someone. At least, until I’m fully healed.”

  Duke said, “Say no more, I’ve got just the fella in mind.”

  “Oh yeah? When can I meet him?”

  “Later this afternoon. I’ll get word to him and he’ll be over.”

  “Just like that?”

  Duke grinned and said, “He owes me a few favors.”

  “Is he any good?”

  “Good enough.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “You’ll see.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  At the same time, over in Portsmouth Square, Victor Van Gelder was having breakfast in his private suite with the beautiful Annie Tucker.

  “Well, Annie, I understand your sister has left us,” Van Gelder said.

  “That’s right, Victor,” Annie Tucker said.

  She had been to bed with Van Gelder the night before, but had returned to her ow
n room to sleep. Now she sat across from him in his suite, wearing a filmy peignoir. He had sent Big Harry over to her room to “invite” her to breakfast.

  “After one night? Don’t tell me she didn’t like it here.”

  “It just wasn’t right for her, Victor.”

  “It’s right for you, Annie.”

  “Sally and I are different.”

  “She’s a beautiful young girl, Annie. Soon she may be as beautiful as you.”

  “Or more,” Annie said. She wanted Van Gelder to know that there was no jealousy between the sisters. She didn’t know what he was getting at.

  “I was sort of counting on her to…do as good a job as you in the near future.”

  “I’m sorry, Victor, but she’s just not cut out for this kind of work.”

  “I see.” He picked up a muffin and began spreading jam on it. “Tell me, where did she go?”

  “To another hotel.”

  “Here in the Square? Will they have her doing the same thing?”

  “No, she went outside the Square.”

  “Outside,” Van Gelder said, thoughtfully. “Where?”

  “Victor, what does it matter—”

  He brought his fist down on the table so hard that everything shook.

  “Where?” he said, his tone calm.

  “Ballard House.”

  “Duke Ballard’s place?” he said. “You sent her there?”

  “I didn’t send there, Victor, she just…went.”

  “On her own.”

  “The man who was shot here the other night. He’s a friend of Ballard’s. He got her the job.”

  “Ah yes, your sister’s friend. I paid his doctor’s bill.”

  “He wasn’t her friend. She didn’t even know him until that night.”

  “And yet he got her a job?”

  “Yes.”

  “He must have been a very satisfied customer.”

  “It wasn’t like that.”

  He leaned over the table and said, “It is always like that, my dear Annie.”

  “Victor—”

  “I don’t think you should eat any more breakfast, Annie,” Van Gelder said. “I think I noticed a few extra pounds on you last night. Not very becoming.”

  She stared at him, knowing he was baiting her.

  “That’s all right,” she said, putting her napkin on the table. “I’m not very hungry, anyway.”