1945 - Blonde's Requiem (37 page)

“
Don
’
t kid me,
”
I said, grinning.
“
You
’
re going into danger, and I don
’
t want anything to happen to you. With that you
’
ll be all right. They can hang you from the roof and you
’
ll just laugh at them.
”

“
I hope they won
’
t do any such thing,
”
Audrey returned.
“
Now, you run off, because I want to change. Take my neck with you.
”

I unstrapped the cast, kissed her and went to my room, where Reg was lying on the bed, smoking.

“
I
’
m getting the jitters,
”
he said, sitting up.
“
Where
’
ve you been and what have you got there?
”

I told him about the cast.

“
Holy mackerel!
”
he exclaimed.
“
That
’
s an idea. But you don
’
t honestly think they
’
ll try to strangle her, do you?
”

I lit a cigarette.
“
If they don
’
t, then I
’
m on the wrong tack,
”
I said.
“
But I
’
m taking no chances.
”

“
You
’
ve got something more up your sleeve,
”
he said, regarding me suspiciously.
“
What else have you been up to?
”

I grinned at him.
“
Plenty of time for that,
”
I said.
“
I promised Beyfield I
’
d have this case sewn up, and with luck I will. But it
’
s too early yet to tell you what
’
s cooking.
”

He scowled.
“
All right, if you want to be mysterious,
”
he said,
“
but think of my nerves . . .
”

“
I
’
ll think of them,
”
I said, and glanced at my watch. It was a quarter to seven. Time was moving slowly. I sat down to wait. While I was waiting I checked through my plans and found them sound. There was nothing more I could do.

At seven o
’
clock Beyfield arrived. He looked animated and he actually grinned at both of us as he entered the room.

“
We
’
re getting somewhere,
”
he said, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“
I
’
ve seen Latimer and we
’
re going to fix Wolf.
”

“
What did it cost you?
”
I asked, knowing Latimer.

He winked.
“
I
’
ve got friends,
”
he said.
“
There
’
s a guy in this town who wants the Cranville Gazette. By this time tomorrow Wolf will be glad to sell out.
”

“
Maybe you
’
ve even found another mayor?
”
I said, watching him closely.

“
Maybe I have,
”
he returned,
“
but it depends on you. If you don
’
t pull this stunt of yours off tonight I
’
ll be in a hell of a jam.
”

“
I
’
ll pull it off,
”
I said.
“
How about a drink?
”

He nodded.
“
I was going to suggest it,
”
he said.
“
What
’
s happening?
”

I phoned down to the desk clerk and ordered drinks before I answered and then I told him that Audrey was meeting Ted Esslinger at Ciro
’
s club and the rest depended on Esslinger.

“
So it is Ted Esslinger?
”
he said, shaking his head.
“
It
’
ll be a shock to his old man. I like Esslinger, but I don
’
t care much for the boy. He
’
s too fond of running around with the girls. At one time we had complaints, did you know that?
”

I shook my head.
“
I heard he was wild, but I didn
’
t know he was vicious,
”
I said.
“
This boy Roger Kirk he goes around with might make a witness for the State.
”

Beyfield grunted.
“
He
’
s as bad. Both of
‘
em have been heading for trouble for some time. In a small town like Cranville it
’
s difficult to hide things up, but they
’
ve been smart up to now. I guess they
’
ve picked the kind of girl who
’
s too scared to talk. One or two of
‘
em did complain, but Esslinger fixed it with Macey.
”

His face showed his disgust.
“
You can fix anything with Macey if you have enough dough.
”

The drinks came and I made three highballs. As we were finishing them Audrey came in. She looked swell in her white linen coat and skirt and her cashmere white and blue sweater.

Beyfield eyed her with open admiration.

“
Well, I like that!
”
she exclaimed.
“
You three guzzling whisky and nothing for me! After all, I
’
m the one who
’
s going to be strangled.
”

“
Don
’
t talk that way,
”
I retorted.
“
And I don
’
t like my wife to drink whisky. I
’
ll buy you a gin at the club.
”

She shook her head sadly.
“
I
’
m beginning to wonder if I
’
m being wise marrying you,
”
she said, pouring a small whisky into my glass and adding soda.
“
Until I
’
m married, I
’
m doing what I like. When I
’
m married I might do what you like—if it
’
s reasonable.
”

“
I bet you look after your wife better than that,
”
I said to Beyfield.

“
My wife?
”
he said with a snort.
“
I haven
’
t seen her for six years and I don
’
t care if I never see her again.
”

“
I
’
m sure Mrs. Beyfield feels exactly the same,
”
Audrey said, smiling at him.

“
So you
’
re both bound to be happy.
”

I looked at my watch,
“
I think we
’
ll go,
”
I said.
“
Take a taxi to the club,
”
I went on to Audrey.

“
We
’
ll be right behind the whole time. If Ted wants to take you some place, go with him. Before you leave the club, don
’
t forget this.
”
I tapped the box containing the plaster cast.

“
I won
’
t,
”
she promised, and turning to the other two, she said:
“
I
’
m sure you won
’
t mind leaving me with my future husband for a moment. He might have other important but confidential things to say to me.
”

Beyfield moved to the door with an embarrassed smirk. Reg followed him.

Five minutes later we joined them in the hotel lobby and Audrey left in a taxi. We called another taxi and followed on behind.

“
That dame
’
s got guts,
”
Beyfield said suddenly as if he couldn
’
t contain himself any longer.
“
You
’
re a lucky guy to get a dame like that.
”

“
Don
’
t I know it,
”
I said soberly, meaning every word.

Ciro
’
s club was the only bright spot in Cranville. When we arrived, just after eight, we were in time to see Audrey walking up the broad stairs to the bar.

“
Reg,
”
I said,
“
I want you to stick around outside. It
’
s just possible, if there
’
s a crowd in there, we
’
ll miss her. You keep the taxi waiting and watch out. Understand?
”

He nodded and we left him.

The bar was crowded and Beyfield and I pushed our way with difficulty to the front. I ordered two large whiskies, and while waiting I glanced over the heads of the crowd.

Audrey was sitting at a table near the door. She was alone.

“
He hasn
’
t turned up yet,
”
I said to Beyfield in a low voice.
“
I wonder if he
’
s got cold feet.
”

The barman served us the whiskies, nodded to Beyfield, whom he knew, and went away to serve other drinks.

We left the bar and sat down at the far end of the room where we could see Audrey without being seen ourselves.

We waited five minutes and then I saw a bellhop go up to Audrey and speak to her.

“
Something
’
s up,
”
I said to Beyfield.
“
You wait here. I
’
ll go over and see her.
”

As I approached, the bellhop went away.

Audrey stood up.
“
He
’
s left a message,
”
she said, her eyes a little scared.

“
He wants me to go to 49 Maddox Avenue, right away. Friends of his are having a party there.
”

“
Now we know,
”
I said.
“
That
’
s how he got the other girls to go to the house in Victoria Drive.
”
I waved to Beyfield, who quickly joined us.

“
Where
’
s Maddox Avenue?
”
I asked.

“
It lies at the back of Victoria Drive,
”
he said, staring at me.
“
Why?
”

“
Ted
’
s left a message for Audrey to join him there. He says friends of his are staging a party. The number of the house is forty-nine.
”

“
Wait here a moment,
”
Beyfield said, and lumbered off to a telephone. He was back within five minutes and his beefy face showed his excitement.

“
It
’
s an empty house,
”
he said.
“
I
’
ve ordered a bunch of boys to be ready to surround it as soon as we go in. It certainly looks like you
’
re on to something.
”

I gave Audrey the box I had been carrying.
“
Get that on, kid, and let
’
s go.
”