1945 - Blonde's Requiem

by James Hadley Chase

  A taxi came round the corner near where the crowd was and drove towards us. I stepped off the sidewalk and waved.

  “Palace Hotel,” I said, opening the door. “What’s the excitement, bud?”

  The driver glanced back at the crowd and his lip curled. “A couple of guys got shot,” he said indifferently. “I don’t know what’s come over this burg.”

  I handed Audrey into the cab.

  “The burg’s all right,” I said. “It’s the people in it you want to worry about.”

  “Me?” the driver said, engaging his gears and shooting away from the kerb. “They don’t worry me. I mind my own business.”

  I looked at Audrey and grinned, “I think the guy’s got something there,” I said. “If you’d minded your own business, maybe we wouldn’t be in such a mess.”

  “That’s right,” she said, trying to disguise the shake in her voice, “blame me.”

  * * *

  The bedroom was large and pleasantly furnished. Between the twin beds was a small table on which stood a telephone. Two large armchairs, a dressing table, two wall cupboards and a pile carpet completed the furnishing.

  Audrey lay on one of the beds, a cigarette between her lips and her fingers laced behind her head. I sat in one of the armchairs, a bottle of Scotch on the floor within reach of my hand and a glass half-full of Scotch and Whiterock balanced on the arm of my chair.

  “Don’t you realize you are compromising me?” Audrey said lazily.

  I grunted. “Do you reckon that’d be worse than death?”

  She considered this. “Oh no,” she said, giving me an amused, slightly curious glance; “but are you so sure that it would be death if I had a room to myself?”

  I drank a little Scotch, sighed, and put the glass on the arm of the chair. “It’d be taking a chance. Until I’m sure Starkey’s dead I’m keeping you under my wing.”

  “I still don’t understand what happened,” she said. “Why did you tell that dreadful man Starkey was framing him. Was he?”

  I shook my head. “This case is getting too complicated. There’re too many guys gumming up the works. So I thought a few out of the way would simplify things.” I smiled at her, thinking she looked very beautiful. “So I told Jeff that Starkey was making him the fall-guy. I know that moronic type. You hurt me and I’ll hurt you. It’s the only language they know. So what does he do? He hops down the fire escape, goes around to the front of the building and waits for Starkey to show. That’s why I kept clear when Starkey went to look for a cab. Jeff was waiting out there to give it to him. I didn’t want to run into any stray lead. What I want to find out now is whether Starkey is dead or whether he’s just winged. I hope lie’s dead.”

  Audrey sat up and rested on her elbow. “You mean you sent him to his death? You knew Jeff was waiting for him?”

  I lifted my shoulders. “I didn’t know he was, but I was hoping he was.”

  “How could you?”

  “You see, sweetheart,” I said patiently, “this isn’t a job for a girl. This isn’t a sentimental, gloves-on kind of a set-up. It’s devil take the hindmost and me first and last. Starkey wouldn’t have let you and me get away with the stunt we were pulling. He’d’ve caught up with us when we weren’t thinking and he’d’ve shot us very dead. No, Starkey had to go, and I only hope Jeff made a good job of it.” I finished the whisky and made myself another drink. “Latimer should be ‘phoning soon and then we’ll know for certain.”

  She sank hack on the bed, worried. “I don’t like it,” she said. “It was a horrible idea.”

  “You’d have found it a lot more horrible if Jeff had started some of his persuasive methods. They’re a tough bunch, kid, and we’ve got to treat ‘em the way they’d treat us.”

  She shook her head, but didn’t say anything more.

  “As soon as I hear from Latimer,” I said, a little coldly, “that Starkey’s out of the way, I’ll leave you. Then you can go to bed and catch up with some sleep.”

  “You’re thinking I’m ungrateful,” she said suddenly. “I’m not. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t burst in like that. It was awfully brave of you and I am grateful, only…”

  “Forget it,” I said. “This isn’t a woman’s game. What did you do with Dixon’s photograph?”

  She looked at me and then looked quickly away. “I tried to get it out of the camera, but it jammed. I—I broke the plate.”

  I stared at her. “You broke the plate?” I repeated faintly.

  “Yes—that’s why I was so scared. I—I couldn’t give it to Starkey no matter what he did to me and I knew he wouldn’t believe me if I told him I’d broken it.”

  I eased my tie away from my throat and tapped on the floor with my foot. “I think you and I had better start praying that Starkey is dead: If he isn’t, we’re in a hell of a spot. You know, babe, there are times when I feel like dusting your tail with a hairbrush. If you ever pull another fast one on me, you’ll get it. I’ll take an oath on that.”

  “You needn’t,” she said ruefully. “I’ll never interfere with your business again.’

  “Swell,” I said. “I’m not saying you pulled a dumb trick, but you certainly haven’t been all that smart.”

  She turned on her side so she could look at me. “And you, Mr. Spewack, haven’t done a great deal in spite of all your big talk. You might remember that when next you feel a superman.”

  I nodded in agreement. “But you’re going to see some action before long,” I said grimly. “As soon as I hear from Latimer, I’m going to start. You’ll be surprised just how much I’ll turn up in a few hours.”

  “Don’t boast,” she said. “And I don’t think I’d mind something to eat now. Do you think we’ll have much longer to wait?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’ll order you something. In fact, how you mention it, I could do with something myself. How about some chicken sandwiches and pumpkin pie?”

  “Don’t talk about it—order it,” she said, sitting up eagerly. “I’m absolutely starving.”

  I reached for the telephone and gave the restaurant the order. As I put the telephone down a knock sounded on the door.

  “Who is it?” I said cautiously.

  “Me,” Reg shouted through the door. “Lemme in.”

  I went over to the door and opened it. He looked wild and there was an alarmed, excited gleam in his eye.

  “What’s cooking?” I asked, eyeing him curiously.

  He gave a low, sarcastic laugh. “Cooking?” he repeated. “Brother, you don’t know nothing yet. That was a hell of a smart trick you hung on to me.”

  “What trick?” I asked, frowning. “Here, have a drink. You look like you could use one.”

  He grabbed my glass and swallowed the whisky in a gulp. “Didn’t I tell you it was a dumb act to kidnap that Edna dame?” he demanded, as soon as he got his breath back. “Well, you’ll believe me now. All hell’s apopping.”

  “You set her loose like I said, didn’t you?” I said, staring at him. “What’s wrong now?”

  He ran his fingers through his mop of untidy hair. “Wrong? That’s rich, coming from you. Listen, that dame’s so mad she even scares herself. She’s running around like someone has put a hornet in her pants. I’ve never seen anything Like it. Why, a tiger with an abscess in its ear is something I’d rather walk around with than that dame.”

  I looked over at Audrey blankly and shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, and meant it. “What makes her mad?”

  He turned appealingly to Audrey. “Hear that guy?” he said. “Listen, maybe you don’t know what he did. I’ll tell you. He busts into the house of Cranville’s biggest political boss. He smacks the boss’s girlfriend in the slats, takes her half-naked out of the house and farms her on me. What do I do? I’ll tell you. I’m sucker number one. I fall for the stuff this rat gives me and I take the dame to a hotel, tuck her up in be
d and sit on her face to stop her yelling the place down. Then this guy says ‘Okay, let her go.’ I try to explain, but the dame just makes a noise like a swarm of bees. I reckon she’ll tear me to pieces if I untie her, so I tell the hotelkeeper to undo her after I’ve gone. Then this lug asks what’s wrong.”

  Audrey giggled. “What on earth made you do it?” she asked me.

  “I had to do it. Edna is Starkey’s daughter. That was the only way I could get Starkey to listen to reason. What the hell? Edna Wilson doesn’t scare me.”

  “Famous last words,” Reg said bitterly. “I haven’t finished yet. She’s raised hell with Wolf and he’s raised hell with the cops. Brother, they’re after you for kidnapping. And let me tell you, they’re after me too.”

  “After me?” I exclaimed. “What do you mean?”

  “Wolf s charging you with kidnapping,” Reg said patiently. “Macey’s only too glad to haul you in. They’re looking for you now.”

  Just then the phone rang. I scooped it up. Latimer came on the line “What happened?” I said sharply.

  “Starkey’s dead. Jeff shot him,” he told me. “The cops shot Jeff as he was trying to get away.”

  I drew a deep breath. “That’s fine,” I said. “That’s the best news I’ve had for years.”

  “Glad to hear it,” Latimer returned, “but you ain’t got much to be pleased about. What have you been up to? Macey’s sworn out a warrant for your arrest.”

  “He has?” I suddenly got mad. “Well, we’ll see about that. If these punks think they can push me around . . .” I hung up and turned back to the other two, who were watching me with interest. “Stick around, you two,” I said. “I’m going to see Wolf.”

  “Wait a minute,” Reg said, quickly, “you can’t go out now. The cops are crawling all over looking for you.”

  “I’m seeing Wolf,” I said angrily, “and no flatfoot in Cranville will stop me.”

  I went out of the room, jerking the door shut behind me.

  A police car was pulling away from Wolf s house when I got there. I gave it a few minutes to get well away and then once more I walked across the lawn and stabbed the bell push.

  Although it was just after one o’clock in the morning, the house was a blaze of light and the door opened almost immediately.

  I shouldered the manservant aside and walked into the lobby. “Where’s Wolf?” I said.

  The manservant stared at me with sleepy, bewildered eyes. From his expression I could see I was the last person he expected to call. “I wouldn’t advise you to see Mr. Wolf tonight,” he said, keeping his voice low. “He is very—er— irritable and——”

  “Skip it,” I said shortly. “Where is he?”

  A voice sounded from the head of the stairs—Wolf s voice. “Who is it? Jackson, who are you talking to?”“

  I went to the foot of the stairs so he could see me. “Good evening,” I said, and began walking up the stairs towards him.

  “You get out of my house,” he thundered. “Jackson, call the police. Do you hear? Call the police.”

  I swung around, drawing my gun. I pointed it at the manservant, who went white and almost fell down.

  “Come on,” I said, threatening him with the gun. “Upstairs, you.”

  As soon as he passed me I covered Wolf, who stood gaping in surprised fear and rage.

  “We’ll call on little Edna,” I said, coldly. “Go on, both of you.”

  “You’ll pay for this,” Wolf snarled, but he went into Edna’s room, followed by the manservant and myself.

  Edna was in bed. She sat up with a stifled scream when she saw me.

  “Take it easy, toots,” I said, thinking the bruise on her chin put some character in her face. “Just relax and I won’t hurt you again.”

  I jerked open the bathroom door and shoved the manservant into the bathroom. “Stay there until I call you out,” I said, and closed the door.

  “If you think you can get away with this!” Wolf began, his face a dusty purple.

  I pointed my gun at a chair. “Sit down,” I said. “We three are going to have a little talk.”

  Edna suddenly threw off the bedclothes and jumped out of bed. She was wearing a pair of salmon-pink pyjamas which made her look like an overgrown kid who had raided a lingerie shop.

  “I’m calling the police,” she said, in a voice shrill with fury. “This cheap dick can’t bluff me. If you had any guts you’d throw him out.”

  Wolf s face sagged a little, but he didn’t move. The gun pointing at his stomach seemed real enough to him.

  I let her reach the telephone and then I took two quick steps, caught her wrist, ducked a savage blow she aimed at my face and tossed her across the bed. As she scrambled up I handed her a smack on her tail. It sounded like a paper bag bursting, and with a thin wail of pain, fury and fright, she wriggled hurriedly under the bedclothes again.

  “Anything more from you,” I said quietly, “and I’ll skin you alive.”

  She glared at me with wide, furious eyes, but she didn’t make any move.

  I sat down so I could cover them both and lit a cigarette. “Now we’ll talk,” I said, looking over at Wolf. “It’s time you and I had a showdown.”

  “You’re sacked,” he said, between his teeth. “You’re not working for me anymore. I’ll sue your boss and I’ll sue you. I’ll get you a stretch in jail!”

  I laughed at him. “Okay,” I said, “I’m sacked. That suits me. But I’m telling you something before I go. Starkey’s dead. He was killed half an hour ago. How do you like that?”

  His eyes showed interest, but he didn’t say anything. Edna gave a low cry and her face seemed to fall to pieces. She turned over in bed and began to cry, muffling her sobs in the pillow.

  Wolf looked at her uneasily.

  “She’s his daughter,” I told him. “He planted her on you so he could know all your moves.”

  There was a long silence broken only by Edna’s crying. Wolf looked down at his feet, his face haggard. “You’re lying,” he said at last.

  “Ask her,” I suggested. “You wouldn’t have stood a chance of becoming mayor with her watching every move. Between the two them they could have cooked up a tale that’d have discredited you and maybe run you out of the town. You’ve been playing with dynamite with this little bird.”

  He pointed to the door. “Get out,” he said, his voice shaking with rage.

  “I’m going,” I said, “but you’re phoning Macey and you’re telling him to lay off me. You’re telling him you’re withdrawing the kidnapping charge or I’ll spread the story of your love nest all over Cranville.”

  “I want you out of this town,” he said. “I’ve had enough of you. I’ll withdraw the charge if you’ll get out and stay out.”

  I grinned at him. “You’ll withdraw the charge without any conditions. I’m the guy who holds the whip hand. I’ve got the story set for the front page of the Gazette and you can’t stop it. I’ll stay here until the paper is on the streets. When Cranville hears that Edna is the daughter of a small-time gambler as well as your mistress, you’ll be in a sweet jam.”

  He still hesitated; so I reached for the phone and put a call through to police headquarters. When Beyfield came on the line I gave the phone to Wolf. “Tell him it was all a mistake. Say the kid was hysterical and wanted to frame me. Go on.”

  He had a long mumbling conversation with Beyfield and finally he went all over it again with Macey. He withdrew the charge and from the way he had to argue I guessed Macey was wild. Anyway, he made it stick in the end. He slammed down the receiver and glared at me.

  I stood up. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll leave you to sort out the mess.” I glanced at Edna, who was still out of sight under the bedclothes. “Maybe you’d better send her away. From now on I’m working on my own. I came to Cranville to find three missing girls. Well, I’m finding them. Anyone who gets in my way is going to get hurt. You keep out of this and yo
u may grab yourself the mayorship or you may not. I don’t give a damn who becomes mayor. With Starkey out of the way, the fight’s between you and Esslinger. That’s something you have to thank me for. I fixed Starkey and I’ll fix a lot of other guys in this town if they don’t play. That goes for you too.”

  I got up and walked out of the room before he could say anything. I went downstairs, opened the front door, crossed the lawn and climbed into my car.

  The clock on the dashboard showed that it was one-thirty. I was tired but I wasn’t discouraged. I could now concentrate on finding Marian French’s killer.

  Maybe it wouldn’t be easy. But I was going to find him. Cranville wasn’t a big town. Someone in Cranville was responsible for the killing, and if I got the right kind of lead it shouldn’t be difficult to run him to ground.

  I returned to the Palace Hotel, went upstairs and found Audrey and Reg fast asleep. They were lying on the twin beds, still dressed, and I had to shake them before they knew I was in the room.

  Audrey sat up and groaned faintly. “I’m so tired,” she said. “What happened? Did you see Wolf?”

  “I saw him,” I said grimly. “You turn in now. We’ll meet tomorrow. There’re things I want to talk to you about. Come on, Reg, we’ll get a room here and get ourselves some sleep. We’re out of a job. Wolf s sacked me, and that goes for you too. How would you like to become a detective?”

  Reg looked at me sleepily as he rolled off the bed. “Sure,” he said; “that’s been my life’s ambition. I never did think I’d be editor of the Gazette for long.”

  I grinned at him. “Come on,” I said. “You weren’t cut out to be an editor, but you’ll make a swell detective. Let’s go get a room.”

  He ambled over to the door. “Do you want me to see the desk clerk while you tuck her in?” he asked, eyeing Audrey with his youthful leer.

  “Get a double room,” I said, pushing him into the passage. “We’ll need to watch our expenses.”