Broadway Bounty

Chapter Ten

The door of the second-floor offices said, WALTER BOOKMAN, nothing else. All the other doors had names and occupations on them, but not Bookman’s.

Decker knocked. He heard a chair squeak and footsteps approaching. Then the door opened.

The man in the doorway was big, over six feet, with a bushy black beard and an ill-fitting suit. Decker thought he’d probably have a lot of trouble finding a suit that would close Over his belly. He was chewing, as if Decker had interrupted his breakfast. There was some grease on his beard. He was a rough-looking man until you looked at his eyes. They were blue, and gentle looking. They were probably a disadvantage in his business.

“Yeah, what?” His voice fit his eyes rather than his appearance. Another disadvantage.

“Mr. Bookman?”

“That’s right.”

“I bring greetings from a friend.”

“Oh, yeah? Who?”

“Duke Ballard.”

“Duke,” Bookman said, nodding his head. He chewed the last of the food in his mouth and asked, “Who are you?”

“Decker.”

“Oh, yeah,” Bookman said, looking him up and down. “So you’re Decker. I heard of you.”

“I never heard of you.”

“That’s the first good news I’ve had all week,” Bookman said. “Come on in and shut the door behind you.”

Bookman backed away, and Decker entered, closing the door as instructed.

Bookman went around behind his desk and sat down. On the desk in front of him were a plate of bacon and eggs and another with biscuits and butter. There was also a pot of coffee. The room smelled as if he’d cooked it all himself.

“Want some?” Bookman asked.

“No, thanks.”

“I got a stove in the other room. It’s no trouble.”

“That’s OK,” Decker said. “I had breakfast.”

“Coffee?”

“Sure.”

Bookman took a cup out of a bottom drawer and handed it to Decker. Decker blew some dust out of it before pouring himself a cup of coffee. Then he sat in a straight-backed chair in front of Bookman’s desk.

“What can I do for you, then?” Bookman asked. “You still a man hunter?”

“Yes.”

“Is that why you’re here?”

“Yes.”

“Who are you looking for—oh, you don’t mind if I finish eating while we talk, do you?”

“No, go right ahead,” Decker said. He took the poster out of his pocket and unfolded it. “This is the man I’m looking for, Bookman.”

Bookman wiped his hand on his coat and took the poster. He dropped it on the table next to his plate.

“You know him?” Decker asked.

“I’ve heard of him, yeah.” Bookman picked up a biscuit and buttered it.

“I think he’s in New York.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Turn that over.”

Bookman turned the poster over and read the list of cities.

“In Harrison City, Ready had three men kill a friend of mine named Dover.”

“Another man hunter?”

“Right.”

“They gun him?”

“In the back.”

Bookman made a face.

“Then you’re not after the bounty.”

“Don’t make me sound so noble,” Decker said. “If I get him, I’ll take the money.”

Bookman’s smile was fleeting. Then he said, “OK.”

“I don’t know this town, Bookman. I need help.”

“Where are you staying?”

“A hotel on Twenty-third Street—uh, the St. Martin’s.”

Bookman was nodding to himself, chewing on a piece of biscuit.

“All right, Decker. I’ll see what I can find out.” Decker stood up and said, “Thanks.”

“Don’t forget your paper.”

Decker reached over and picked it up.

“You don’t mind if I check you out with Duke, do you, Decker?”

“Be my guest.”

Decker started for the door and was stopped by Bookman’s voice.

“Hey, Decker.”

“Yeah?”

“Did he try for you yet?”

“Yeah, at my hotel. Two of them.”

“They both dead?”

“Yep.”

“They know who you were?”

“They thought I was Dover.”

“Who’d you talk to from the police?”

“Lieutenant Tally.”

“Tally,” Bookman repeated, but Decker couldn’t read anything in his tone.

“You know him?”

“I’ll get in touch with you at your hotel.”

Decker hesitated a moment, then nodded and went outside, where Rosewood waited by his cab.

“Where to?” he asked when Decker appeared.

“I don’t know…wait, yes I do.”

“Where?”

“Show me some churches.”

“Churches?” Rosewood asked. “What kind of churches?”

Decker grinned and said, “The kind that serve liquor, of course.”