Lead With Your Left

by Ed Lacy

  I opened the paper to the story on Wales' death, showed him the two pictures. He touched Wales' photo with his pipe. “That's him. He used to talk to me a good deal, at first. Kept asking like you just did, what this other bootlegger looked like, the one they never did catch on with. Like I say, they was pretty quiet about what they was doing, so I only saw him maybe a few times. Slim young fellow with dark hair and a thin mustache. Always wearing sunglasses, even when it was a dull day. Of course I ain't so sure of this now—it was twenty-six years ago.”

  “Yeah, too long ago,” I said, trying to think. “How often did Wales come out to look at the garage, or watch it?”

  Davis shifted his feet on the pitchfork. “Hard to say. For a time seemed like he Was there every time I turned around. Of course now I had a kind of job, so I couldn't say if he was there during the day or not. After a time, a few years, we didn't talk much, just nod at each other. Sometimes he'd ask if I'd seen anybody around searching the place. I never did. That was right before the war when a kid fell through the rotten floor and got hurt, when they took me on as watchman to keep the brats from—”

  “Wait a minute,” I cut in. “Before the war—you mean Wales was still snooping around here in 1941, almost a dozen years after the killing?”

  “Yep, he was around up till the time they tore it down. Not so often, I'd see him one day and maybe not again for a month or more. He'd step inside and tell me to go out and look at my plants. But sometimes I'd watch him through a busted window—he'd be standing in the center of the garage and stare at the walls for a long time. Only looking. After a while he'd go to one wall or corner, start hunting. Was nothing in there, the police took out all the machinery when they made the arrest. Building was torn down in 1946 but tm account of the shortage of building materials they couldn't start building again till... oh... I'd say it was 1949, when they put up the dye plant. Took me on as watchman again, fine people to work for too.”

  “Wales say anything when they took the old garage down?”

  “No, sir, he'd given up by then.”

  “Can you recall when he gave up?”

  “Just about. It was early in '46, say around April. I remember because I told him about the building coming down and he slipped me a few bucks, says I should go to the movies, take the day off. He said he'd be there all day. I didn't go to no movie, I went home and went to bed. Like I said, he wasn't the kind of man to talk much. Around six in the evening I come back and he says, 'Now they can knock this wreck down. I'm done.' I says to him, “You find what you been looking for?' And he give me a blank look and asks, 'Who says I was looking for anything?' One thing, he wasn't carrying a package or anything when he left.”

  “He could have put a bag in his car while you were in the sack.”

  “Nope, he didn't have his car that day. Remember because it was raining hard and I watched him walking all the way over to Eastland Avenue to catch a trolley. Tell you the truth, youngster, I kind of poked around myself at times, thought maybe it was money these bootleggers might have hidden. But I gave it up after a couple looks. Like I said, wasn't nothing but four rotten walls. Didn't see the paper today, what's this Wales done now?”

  “He was shot to death. Pops, did you ever see the other man, this Owens, poking around here? He was a detective too.”

  “No, just Wales. Don't recall the other face. 'Course at the time of the shooting, whole block was full of detectives. Trampling all over my tomato plants. Why did Wales shoot hisself?”

  “He didn't, he was murdered,” I said, jotting down the dates in my notebook.

  “Murdered? All you read about these days. I say these teenagers should be given a taste of the strap and then—”

  “I want you to do me a favor, don't talk about this. Don't even tell anybody you remember Wales. You see what you've just told me can be nothing, then again it might help us solve Wales' murder.”

  “I won't say a mumbling word. Don't want to get mixed up in nothing. Not me. Say I sure got to read the morning paper now.”

  I wanted to tell him to keep his trap shut even if that beat cop happened to ask what I wanted, but that might make the old boy suspicious of me. I wrote my name and the squad phone on a notebook page, gave it to him. “If you think of anything else, even if it doesn't seem important, but anything you haven't told me—anything— give me a ring. If I'm not there, leave a number where I can reach you. Got a phone?”

  “I only room here, with my grandson, but they got a phone. And you can call me at the dye plant all during the night. I'll think about it, maybe I can recall something. But it was a long time ago.”

  “Anybody eke around here who might remember the killing?”

  He shook his head, almost proudly. “Nope, I'm about the last of the old-timers here. That's because I drink two full glasses of buttermilk every morning before I—”

  “Well, thanks for your time. And not a word, not even to your grandson or son.”

  “My boy was killed in the war. I live with my daughter's boy. Now don't you give it no worry, not a word out of me. And I'll phone you quick if I think of anything. Ain't had nobody to phone in years.”

  On the subway ride back to the apartment I felt swell I had a lot of pieces that would fit into one picture damn soon. And then Landon and Reed and the rest of the squad would know who was a snotnosed kid.

  I thought about getting off and taking a look at Wales' room. But downtown would certainly have covered that, and then the way I was dressed—a sweatshirt.

  I got home before noon and had some eggs and went over my notes, still thinking of seeing Wales' room.

  The gun had never been found in the Brenner killing. Was that what Wales was looking for? But why keep looking for it sixteen years after the shooting? And when he did find it, what? There had been nothing in the arrest record about finding the gun. Did he think the rod might convict Kahn's missing partner, this Bird? Or was Al Wales hunting because he felt Kahn was innocent? But then why keep looking years after Kahn burnt?

  It didn't have to be the gun—buried money wasn't a bad angle. Brenner wouldn't have muscled in unless there was plenty of loot, and that would account for the dough Wales had on him. But Wales was a good cop and would have reported the money if... A good cop who shot down his partner!

  The thing to do was let what I had jell, maybe dig deeper into Sal Kahn's past. I had the feeling my hunch was hot and in time... The phone rang.

  I picked it up, expecting Mary to say she was sorry for being a bitch. “Mr. David Wintino?” It was a woman's voice and vaguely familiar.

  “Talking.”

  “This is Rose Henderson. Hope you don't mind my calling you at home. I looked you up in the book.”

  “I don't mind. What's up?”

  “I waited and then phoned your police station twice for an escort. They tell me they can't spare a man today.”

  “They're very busy.”

  “But this will mean the second day I've lost. That's exactly what they want. If I miss my deadline the article might be postponed for months. You promised I'd have an escort today and now you—”

  “Have any trouble since yesterday?” I asked, in my mind seeing her curled up in the red camp chair, the full curve of her stomach I wanted so much to poke with my little finger. And if I hadn't been bothering with her, I might have seen Wales and saved... No, he was already shot by then.

  “Yes, there was a phone call at 2:20 a.m. No answer when I picked up the receiver. This is driving me to a breakdown. I feel like a prisoner. All I need is a few more days of research and I could wind things up. You told me I'd have—”

  “Listen to me carefully. It's seven after twelve. I'll be in front of your house at one. Where did you plan to go this afternoon?”

  “To the Forty-second Street Library.”

  “Okay. Exactly at one leave your house. Walk over to Broadway and down to the IRT subway. Get off at Times Square and walk toward the library. Keep on the downtown side of the street. I'
ll be following you but don't ever look for me—that would tip them off. Even if you're pushed around, unless it's real trouble, I won't step in. Idea is I want to make whoever is shadowing you. Remember, don't act self-conscious and don't look around for me. If you should see me, act as if you don't know me. Got that?”

  “I think so. One sharp... IRT... downtown side of the street.”

  “Now, after you finish at the library, go back to your place the same way—downtown side of Forty-second Street to the IRT. How long do you need in the library?”

  “At least four hours.”

  “That's too long. You stay an hour, at exactly two you leave, side entrance, and wait at home till I either call or drop in. That may not be for a brace of hours. We all set? One o'clock on the nose.”

  “Yes. And thank you.”

  I took a fast cold shower and started to dress—tropical suit, open dusty-gray sport shirt, and new socks. I put some oil on my hair and gave it a good brushing, then combed it carefully. I should be looking over Wales' room but I'd only be eaten out by the downtown brass. And unless I took a breather from what I'd found out this morning, I'd get stale on the case. And this would take only a few hours.

  I checked my pockets, made sure my hair didn't look oily, and took off. I was planted on her street corner by seven minutes before one. I stopped kidding myself, I should damn well be spending this time working on Wales' background. But I didn't feel too bad about it—I felt swell.

  I wanted to see Rose again.

  Thursday Afternoon

  Exactly at one she came out of her house wearing a neat red suit which wasn't for her—it didn't do much to her chunky figure. She held a large paper folder and a pocketbook under her left arm. I watched the doorways, the parked cars, but couldn't make anybody shadowing her as she slowly walked toward Broadway. I stayed a half a block behind and on the other side of the street. We reached the subway okay-and I still didn't see any tail. Rose looked herself over in a gum machine mirror without glancing at me. There were only three other people besides us on the platform and seven people in the subway car. I didn't bother with the people in the car—a good tail wouldn't be riding in the same car. I kept my eyes on Rose, as if I was a stud on the make looking her over... and she looked fine: the dark hair, the sullen hot mouth, the strong figure. Even if nothing happened, it was a good way of killing a few hours. I wondered if Rose's friends would ask if I was a corrupt goon?

  We walked along Forty-second Street on opposite sides of the street. Alongside Bryant Park they got her. There was a tall wiry guy who fell in behind her—did it fast then slowed down. He was about thirty-five, wearing a new coconut palm hat and one of these corny gray flannel suits, as if sure it made him look the executive type.

  Coming toward her was a lumpy joker built like a fat football player, dressed in an old plain brown suit and no hat on his noggin, baldness giving his thin hair a horseshoe shape.

  He seemed to be reading a letter. They were damn good. The guy back of Rose closed in and lumpy in front of her walked into Rose. He knocked her backward against wiry who neatly hit the folder and pocketbook out from under her arm as he caught her. The papers and the pocketbook landed in the gutter which a sanitation truck had sprinkled a few minutes before.

  Beefy boy was all apologies while wiry pointed to his ankle, rubbed it, and said something to Rose—probably told her to watch where she was walking. Bully boy even picked up her wet papers, “accidentally" stepping on her purse. He handed the stuff to her, fat puss still full of apology.

  I'd read about rough-shadowing but this was the first time I'd ever seen it. A two-hundred-and-fifty pound lump walking into you is a rugged wallop. Rose seemed shaken but not hurt. She continued on to the library while horseshoe head went over toward Broadway. I followed him wishing I'd had Danny with me to tail the wiry joker. But if I'd called Danny on his day off he would have given me a stiff ha-ha.

  Bully boy took his time walking up Broadway, window-shopping in a couple of shlock stores, stopping for an orange drink. He turned into an office building and we both went into the same elevator. The light panel said there were sixteen floors. When he called out, “Ten,” I said, “Eleven.”

  I walked downstairs to the tenth floor and looked around. There were fourteen offices on the floor but fortunately a big rug outfit took up six doors. I narrowed it down to three offices, two of them without names on the doors, and one with DATA, INC. in small black letters.

  I walked into DATA, INC. ready to give them a bull yarn if I was wrong. It was quite an office. I wasn't wrong.

  It was narrow with a desk, phone, typewriter and two file cabinets as you entered. Then it opened into two cubbyhole offices—one was a regular office and the other had a work bench, tools and a stack of electrical gadgets.

  Bully was hanging up the receiver and he stood up as he asked, “What you want, boy?”

  I spread my feet as he stepped toward me, met him with a perfect left hook above his belt buckle. He let out a gasping, hissing scream as he slid to the floor, gave up the orange drink. The wiry character came out of his office on the run, coat off. He led a sucker right:. it was a feint and his left banged the side of my face. I missed a left to his gut because his blow knocked me backward, but I blocked another right and kicked him on the knee. He cursed, limped back till he hit a chair, sat down, rubbing his leg.

  The side of my face was numb and when I took my hand, away it had blood—the smart bastard was wearing a heavy ring. Fatso was still moaning on the floor. I stepped away from his big feet as wiry gave me a hard look, said, “You're in trouble, kid, I'm a detective.”

  “What trouble? I came in and before I can open my yap this lump starts pushing and swinging on me.”

  Wiry reached for his back pocket. It looked too flat for a gun or knife but I told him, “Take it slow or you'll be on the floor too.”

  He got a wallet out, flashed one of these gold private dick badges the state gives you with your license. He stood up, painfully, still rubbing his knee with his long left hand. “I said trouble and I mean it. You'd better come up with a good story and fast. What you doing here?”

  “Maybe working my way through reform school. Put that hunk of gold plate away before you scratch yourself. I have a real one.” I pushed my coat back so he could see my badge on my belt, and part of my shoulder holster.

  Fatty stopped moaning and stared up at me and then over at his chum, whose expression could best be called thoughtful. He said, “My name is Frank Flatts and I'm a licensed and bonded private investigator. I'm asking you to identify yourself.”

  “Detective David Wintino, 201st Squad. That okay, investigator? Tell lardass to get up slowly and behave himself.” “I'd like to see your badge again.”

  “Sure.” I held my coat open and he copied down my number on a phone pad, along with my name, asked, “What precinct was that again?”

  “Two hundred and first. And this act makes me simply shake in my pants.”

  “I'm within my legal rights in asking for identification,” Flatts said. “Is this an arrest?”

  “You certainly are within your legal rights. And deliberately jostling a person might be within your rights too— except it's breaking the Penal Law.”

  Flatts grinned, maybe he was relieved. He said, “So that's it. Come into my office and let's talk about this.”

  “Your office is too small for the three of us to be comfortable. Talk here.”

  Fatty got to his feet and sat down at his desk. Flatts limped over to the workshop, brought out a stool, asked, “Have a seat?”

  “Why not? Let's keep things on a polite level,” I told him, laughing at myself for sounding like one of last night's bridge players. I sat on the stool and Flatts found a chair. I wiped my cheek with a handkerchief. It wasn't much of a cut but still bleeding.

  Flatts said, “Sorry I bruised you, Wintino, but you came busting into my office and—”

  “My story is I was pushed before I had a chance to s
ay a word. Baldy is good at pushing.”

  “This is my associate, Mr. Tasman. I think we should get down to cases, I have a busy afternoon ahead of me.”

  “More women to jostle?” I asked.

  “If you are referring to the young woman, that was an accident. I don't go in for rough stuff.”

  “You don't? What was that, a feel?”

  “Perhaps you don't realize it, few people do, but the modern private investigator is a long way removed from the popular version of the private eye, or even from the old-time investigator, I don't go in for rough stuff, or guard work, and rarely take a criminal case. We are essentially a business service. Our work is in the nature of research, we supply businessmen with information about their competitors. And we use the most advanced scientific methods. Electronics has replaced the gun, the—”