Strip For Violence

I sat back in the cab, full of guilt for letting Anita go to her death. The fact she expected a reward meant she wasn't shaking Franklin down, but going to take him in. And if she hadn't seen too many movies, she wouldn't have tried to take him alone, told me and I would have...

Hell, with what should have happened, the only thing that counted now was that the “Cat” die. My diamond bullet was still only a theory, I had no proof to hang it on. Actually, there wasn't a single shred of hard proof I could bring into court that would hook the “Cat” to the killings of Brody, Shelton, Anita, Louise... hook him fast, without any reasonable doubt. I was absolutely sure, but that wasn't evidence. Franklin could afford the smartest lawyers, was dripping with influence—the worst he'd get would be ten years for acting as a fence, which meant he'd be out in a few years.

That was no good. There was another way of playing it —cat and mouse. Only in this case the “Cat” was going to be the mouse.

7

Paying the cabbie, I walked down a block to the ginmill I'd traced Anita to. The barkeep remembered me, said “Back again, Shorty?”

“My middle name is bad penny. I got a message for your boss—write it down and write it straight.” I laid one of the hundred-buck bills on the counter.

He said, “Big bill for a little guy to be carting around.”

“Tell 'Cat' Franklin I think he's a magician, can change this into a hundred grand. He'll understand after he sees the late papers. Get this straight: there's a dock at 135th Street and the Hudson River. I'll be there at eight-thirty sharp tonight, waiting for the magic act to pay off.”

“You got a sense of humor, or you must be drinking better stuff than we serve here,” the barkeep said, trying to grin. “Only time I ever seen Mr. Franklin was in the papers. I don't...”

“Can that crap for the winter. Don't forget, 135th Street and the Hudson, eight-thirty sharp.” I walked toward the door.

“Joke be on you if I kept this yard and...”

“Some joke—it would simply slay you!” I said, walking out.

I changed cabs at 124th Street, to be on the safe side, and when I got to be boatyard it was nearly five and all the people in the world seemed to be pouring out of the Polo Grounds. I finally pushed my way through the crowd, reached the boat. Bobo was sitting on the deck and one look at his sad face and I knew everything was screwed up. “Hal, the girl... Laurie... she gave me the slip!”

“When?”

“Couple hours ago. Said she was hungry and wanted a hot dog. Didn't see no harm in letting her go—hot-dog stand is right by the parking place and... didn't think she was trying to get away.”

“Oh, Christ!”

“Been trying to get you at the office. Didn't know what to do, thought it best I waited here. Sorry I messed up but...”

There wasn't any point in bawling out Bobo—I had to find Laurie and fast. Now that I'd tipped my hand to Franklin, it was death for either of us if he could find us. Although why Laurie wanted to take a powder...?

I jammed some money into Bobo's mitt, told him, “Take a cab up to her house. Try Mrs. Brody's, the tennis courts, and bring Laurie back, even if you have to slug her to do it The 'Cat's' out of the bag—and I mean 'Cat' Franklin.”

We ran out of the boatyard, into the stream of baseball fans. Getting a cab was as easy as finding uranium. At 155th Street we saw an empty one. Another guy beat us to it; we pushed in as the guy said, “Hey, I saw this first, what's...”

“Emergency, Mac!” Bobo growled. The guy took a fast look at the battered puss, backed out, saying, “If it's an emergency...”

At 145th Street I dropped off and was about to hail another cab, when I decided to call Margrita. For all I know, Franklin already had Laurie.

I called from a drugstore and when Margrita answered, I said, “Marion—this is Hal Darling. Listen, I'm in a big rush —have you seen Franklin in the last couple hours?”

“No. May see him at the club tonight. He usually drops in and...”

“There's a girl missing—a Laurie Shelton. Can't go into details now, but finding her can mean her life or death. Do me a favor, try to see Franklin at once, nosy around, see if he has the girl. If he acts like he has, call me quick.” I gave her the phone number of the boatyard.

“If it's that important, I'll skip supper and...”

“Honey, if things work out, you'll be off the hook for good after tonight. Got that number? Call me as soon as you learn anything. And thanks.”

I got a cab, told the driver to take me across the George Washington Bridge. There was only one place Laurie would have gone—to beat me to the dough.

“Hey, that's New Jersey, mister,” the cabbie said.

“Get going and here's a bonus, if you make it fast.” I tossed one of the hundred-buck bills at him. If he didn't cash it till morning he might be able to keep it.

He eyed the bill and gave his car the gas at the same time. He got me to the fishing shack in less than twenty minutes. I told him to wait.

The fence door was open and Laurie was sitting at the table, staring at the empty metal gadget box. When she saw me, she rushed into my arms, crying, “Hal, Hal, I've lost it.” She started to weep.

“It's okay, everything's okay,” I said, feeling good all over at having her in my arms once more.

“Hal, I... I... lied about the money. I wanted to turn it over to the police before we both got into trouble, or send it in a plain envelope back to the bank... but somebody...”

“I have it.”

She broke away from me, her face turning pink with embarrassment. “You? Then—you knew I was lying all the time?”

“Sure,” I said, pulling her into my arms again, tasting the salt of her tears on my lips.

“How can I ever explain it to you, Hal? I didn't mean to lie, but... I couldn't tell you about...”

“It's all right, Laurie. Forget it.”

“I feel so... so cheap and dirty, so...”

“Honey, don't talk about it.”

“Last night, even then I lied, in your arms I cheated, held back... and all the time you knew...”

I shook her. “Laurie, I've found you again, that's all that matters. You'd been penny-pinching all your life and here was fifteen grand you stumbled upon. Hell, anybody would think twice about giving it up. I sure would.”

“Hal, it was so rotten not to tell you....”

“Nuts. We rushed things so, you didn't have much chance to think it out. Don't be ashamed—everyone has a bit of larceny in them.”

“Hal, you're so good!” she said, kissing me wildly.

I kissed her back, wondering if she really was going to return the dough... and not caring too much one way or the other. Pressing her face into my shirt to dry the tears, I told her, “Laurie, forget the tears. You thought your pop had merely dipped into the till...”

“And he must have done it because I nagged him. I feel so...”

“Honey, he didn't know it either, but this dough is the hottest green in the U.S.A.! In a few hours I'm going to deliver the killer to the cops, get everything squared away. We got work to do, so stop the tears and come on.”

“Hal, if you only knew how miserable and ashamed I feel about this, starting off our life together with a lie... and what a relief it is to have it off my mind now.”

“If it will make you feel better, be miserable—but later. Got a cab waiting outside. Don't talk about it in the cab.”

I told the cabbie to stop at the first decent restaurant we passed, and we left him there and had supper. I was careful not to eat much as I told Laurie about Franklin, how her pop and Brody had robbed the safe deposit box, and how I was going to trap the “Cat”... but I didn't say what I had in mind for Franklin.”

8

AT SIX-THIRTY I called Saltz, was told he'd gone home. I got his home phone and when I heard his harsh voice, I said, “Saltz, this is Darling. Be at the dock at 135th Street and the Hudson River tonight at nine sharp. Don't screw up, be there at...”

“What for, we going on a moonlight cruise, Darling?”

“Cut the corn, you big ox. Be there exactly at nine and I'll bring you Anita's killer. Also the guy who killed those two bank men, Shelton and Brody. And if you go to a house at...” I had to stop and think for a second, before I could remember Louise's exact address—that seemed a year ago, although it was less than forty-eight hours.

When I gave Saltz the address and apartment number, he said, “What's the end of this pipe dream?”

“A package deal—another body. Girl named Louise. Same guy slit her throat yesterday morning and...”

“Darling, you drunk?”

“Be at the dock at nine, with a couple men. Not before or later, or you'll spoil everything. Dumping four unsolved murders in your lap—ought to make you a captain for sure. I...”

“Where you calling from?”

“Be there at nine, big shot,” I said, hanging up. It was one of the most satisfying conversations I ever had. For a moment I considered calling my professor, if he could be there I'd be a holder of the Black Belt, Second Degree. But having him there could also mean a murder rap for me.

9

We took a bus back to New York and I sent a registered letter from the General Post Office at 34th Street to the insurance company in the bag for the Frisco dough, informing them I was about to hand over to the police information that would lead to the conviction of the thieves and possible return of the money, and was hereby claiming the reward. That done, we took a cab to the boatyard. It was about seven, giving me plenty of time to get the boat around to the Hudson and the dock.

It was beginning to get dark, but there were a couple of guys puttering around their boats. You have as many Sunday boatmen as Sunday drivers—jokers who spend all week, maybe all summer, working on their boats, getting in a few hours actual sailing on Sunday or Labor Day.

I asked the fat guy who managed the yard if he'd seen Bobo and he said, “Yeah, think the guy with the punchy face went aboard. Saw him as I was going out for supper.”

Laurie and I jumped on the deck and I called Bobo and be answered from the cabin. As I stepped down into the cabin, I felt the sound of a fist coming through the air and my head seemed to take off from my neck. A black fog came storming down on me and I was swimming in it. I swam for a long time; stopping once to tread water, I saw a light in the distance.

Calling for Laurie, I swam toward the light.

10

Opening my eyes I found myself looking at a match, and in the light of the match I saw “Cat” Franklin's smooth face, Lefty Wilson's hard, beaten features.

I was sitting on my bunk. Vaguely I could make out Laurie on the other bunk, her lips bloody, hands tied, my sock stuck in her mouth as a gag. Opening my mouth to speak caused me terrible pain and all I could do was groan. I knew my jaw was broken—Lefty had clipped me with his Sunday wallop.

The match burned down to hot charcoal and Lefty lit another. Franklin shoved the red hot match in my eye and I watched a million sparks as a new pain sailed through my head. I kicked wildly with both feet and Lefty slapped me on the jaw and the pain was a nightmare. I struggled to climb back to consciousness. It was tough climbing.

When I made it, I saw they had one of my flashlights working. Lefty was sitting beside me. Franklin had the dough from my inside pocket, said, “So you had to spend two of the bills? How stupid can you get—I'd have been glad to cut you in on the gravy, now I have to kill you. And your trim over there. Stupidity never pays off.”

“Cops... are... waiting... you can't.... get away with... it... it,” I said, my voice sounding like a bum phone connection, as though my kisser was stuffed—stuffed with hot irons judging by the pain. The only thing that came through clearly was the thought that Margrita had crossed me.

“Chance that,” Franklin said. “Still only your word to connect me with all this, and what's the word of a cheap dick? And I don't think you even talked to the cops— you're one of these cocky jerks who tries to whip the world alone. You played your hand wrong, so you force me to get rough—with you, the broad, that spick pug of yours....”

“He's for me, boss,” Lefty cut in. “Margrita's for you.”

“Cat” grinned. “You're dumb, Darling, so dumb you're comical. I've had that whore's phone tapped for over a year. I'll take care of her, do things I always wanted to that.... Be quite a kick, for me.”

I don't know why, but merely knowing she hadn't crossed me, gave me a lift, a feeling of hope. My brain began to break through the fog of pain, started to work.

“You... you murdering pimp,” I said, sounding like a drunk as I stumbled over my tongue. “What... you... kill Anita and... Louise... for?”

Franklin laughed, said to Lefty, “Listen to this punk, thinks this is a movie where the bad guy confesses all in the last reel! Told you, I'm a quiet fellow, know when I have to give the other guy a break, a taste of money—even a big-money taste if he has me against the wall hard enough. And you had. I had to hock all my businesses to raise a million bucks. Ever try to raise a million? It's rough, and I had to put everything I had on the line. Then you come sticking your damn nose in. You wouldn't buy, so I had to get tough—real tough, because every cent I have—everything—was at stake. That's over now, you're out of the way. Simple set-up... boat wreck... your bodies found a day or so later. Give the crabs something to eat. They go for the eyes, the nose, and other soft parts, first.”

I kept thinking that Bobo was our only chance. If he'd only come back, start a roughhouse. I could still handle one of them. “Lot... people... around yard.” I seemed to be chewing on the broken bone of my jaw, and every time the sharp bone ends moved it was like hot wires stuck in them.

“Didn't I tell you? You're going to take the boat out of here. Reason why I haven't tied you up yet,” Franklin said.

I tried to grin—and almost fainted.

Franklin said grimly, “Keep on being the movie hero, see what it gets you. That little broad of yours, that Anita, dumb as hell too. Thought life was like the detective books. Surprising, skinny dame taking such a beating.

One part of my plan had worked—I'd gotten the Cat to confess before witnesses—only at the moment it didn't seem too important.

Looking at Laurie's eyes shining in the dim light—probably full of tears—I managed to say, “You ought... to... see... what I... can... take.”

Franklin looked at me sadly. “Won't you ever wise up? Your lumps will come—later. And don't encourage me to think up new ways of killing you... sometimes I like to think of... those things. Right now I need you to get this tub out of here, to a quiet spot on the river where we can wrap chains around you, sink you two, and the ship. And you'll do it, sail the boat out all nice and proper, stand at the wheel like a damn movie hero. Won't he, Lefty?”

Wilson pulled a switch blade out of his pocket, had it out and open, all in one expert motion. He moved over to Laurie's bunk, his hand and the knife disappeared under her skirt. Her eyes got brighter, but that was all.

11

Franklin shrugged. “See how simple things can be? And if you want to play it tough, that can be simple too. Knife would be some lover—think she'd like it? Scream and wiggle with...”

“O-okay,” I stuttered.

“Make your last hours easy on yourself. Makes the...”

We all heard Bobo call out, “My friend back yet?”

Then the yard owner's voice, “Yeah, with a girl. Hey, thought you were on the boat?”

“This morning,” Bobo said. “Girl back, too, that's fine!”

Wilson stood up, no knife in his hand. His head brushed the ceiling. “Boss, get over there. This will be a pleasure.”

Franklin nodded and switched off the light. Then he made his first mistake—he picked me up and stood with his back to the “Blowfish Madonna,” holding me in front of him, his big arms around me like two snakes. He wasn't any fat slob, I could feel the muscles of his gut against my back. He spread his feet far apart, so I couldn't kick back. Lefty pressed himself against the galley, at the foot of the steps. One of the “Cat's” big hands slapped across my face, closing my mouth.

The four of us followed the sound of Bobo's footsteps as he came nearer, jumped on the deck, calling, “Hal?”

Franklin mumbled, “Here.”

The moon was coming up and as Bobo entered the cabin I had a good look at his face—before Lefty's fist shot out, landed with the thud of thunder in his guts. It was a blow like that had made Bobo run out on Lefty.

Bobo doubled up, vomited some coffee he must have just had, fell down the steps. Lefty caught him, backed him against the closet wall, pounded him in the stomach. Lefty must have kicked the flashlight, for it went on and I saw Bobo's face, his mouth struggling for air... the fright in his eyes when he saw it was Lefty.

There was just about room to swing and Lefty was raining short, solid, blows into Bobo's middle, and Bobo wasn't even raising his hands in defense—taking it, blood and puke rushing from his mouth. I saw our last chance going to hell... when suddenly Bobo let out a grunt of rage, crossed a left hook to Lefty's face that shook him.

I gave a silent cheer and went to work. My hands were hanging between my legs and I spread my legs and fell as far forward as Franklin's arms would let me—as though I'd passed out. Then I reached under and back, felt for his groin, jerked with all the power I had.

12

His scream nearly busted my ears—a shrill, sharp roar of pain that was the sweetest music I ever heard! His hands left me and I stepped forward as Franklin sunk to his knees, both hands pressing against his fly.

On the dock I heard people running toward the boat as I picked up the hefty flashlight, stepped in to help Bobo. There wasn't room enough for anything but infighting, slugging each other with short, jolting punches.

Bobo had his head resting on Wilson's shoulder, slugging Lefty's gut, and as I tried to get a clear shot at Wilson's head with the metal flash, Bobo suddenly sent me sprawling with the back of one of his big fists. For a moment I didn't get it... and then I understood: this was his private battle and he didn't want any help.

Keeping the light on them, I got the Luger out of my coat and then untied Laurie, asked her if she was all right, only all I could do was mumble something that didn't sound like anything.

“Hal, stop them—they're killing each other!” Laurie said.

I merely shook my head.

Through the portholes a cloud of frightened, curious faces were watching as Bobo and Wilson pounded each other, grunting like animals. They'd slowed up, but each punch was a vicious blow, with every ounce of strength behind it. As Bobo's fists kept up a steady pounding of his stomach, Wilson shuddered, his hands fell to his sides, and he slowly sank to the floor. A slashing uppercut sent his head bouncing back and he lay against the closet door—out cold—blood streaming from his nose, mouth, and ears. Bobo's face was a bloody, panting, smear as he stared down at Wilson, gasped, “Beat you, you sonofabitch... I beat you... Nine years too late!”

I knew what was running through Bobo's mind, if he'd taken that return match with Wilson and beat him, he would have had all the fame and money the championship brings... instead of hustling for a buck as a guard all these years. At a porthole somebody said, “Better call a cop!” I grabbed Laurie, mumbled, “Tell... them... no!”

“But Hal...?”

I had to claw my jaw open with my fingers to yell, “No!” Motioning for Bobo to tie up Franklin and Lefty, I went up on deck. Maybe it was my face, or the gun in my hand—everybody on the dock scattered. My jaw felt a million painful miles away... but otherwise I felt like singing!

13

Starting the motor, I got the lines off, and with the little crowd of boat-owners peering out from the boathouse at us like we were a crew of loons, I backed the boat out into the East River, headed upstream.

Laurie and Bobo came on deck. She tried to touch my swollen jaw but I backed away. “Hal, where are we going? Why don't we call the police?”

Holding the wheel with one hand, I pointed to my mouth —that I couldn't talk—as I stroked her cheek and winked —trying to tell her everything was okay. I suppose it was lucky I couldn't speak, didn't have to explain the last act of the show I had in mind.

The tide was against us but we got a break—the railroad span at Spuyten was open—one of the round-Manhattan boats was coming through—and the tide was racing down the Hudson. Once I got the boat out in the middle of the river, I gave Laurie the wheel.

I motioned for Bobo to drag Lefty up on the deck. Franklin and I were alone in the cabin. His hands were tied but he wasn't gagged. The knife Lefty had run under Laurie's skirt was still on her bunk and I pretended not to notice it was within reach of Franklin's hands. He still looked a little sickly, watching me as I pulled off my shirt, stripped to the waist. My jaw was so big I couldn't get my T-shirt over my head, had to rip it off. Franklin said, “Darling, you've played this like a fool, but you got one more chance. Let me go, and I'll cut you in for 250 grand—more than the reward—give you all kinds of business and...”

I shook my head.

“Don't be dumb, what you got to lose? I've put in a lot of time and money with this Frisco dough, and the deal is about to pay off. Lot of countries are dollar hungry, willing to pay a bonus for a large bundle of U.S. green. Big people in England, France, Greece—they're anxious to close a deal with me. I'm giving you the chance of a lifetime.”

I slapped my left palm across my right forearm—showing him what he could do with his chance of a lifetime.

“How stupid can you get, Darling? What you worrying about? Afraid you'll get hooked for the murder of that piece whose throat I slit? I can fix that. Get some junkie to take the rap. Why I'll...”

I couldn't take any more of his yapping. Jacking my mouth open with my thumb—the pain making me dizzy—I said, “You'll do this... You'll do that! You... miserable... stinking... punk... who you think you are... God? People don't... don't mean... a damn to you. Kill....”

“People are crap. Human life is one of the cheapest things in the world. Why I...”

“Kill Anita... because she's in your way... stamp out Brody and... and Shelton... hell with their... families. Murder Louise to... to scare... me. Kill... ruin... Hell with a .. a... a person's love... hell with peace.... and decent... living. You think everything in the world... revolves around... a... a... fast buck! You... power-drunk... crazy... just crazy...!”

It was too much talking, I almost blacked out... and I'd need all the strength I had for the next half hour. Besides, why should I bother arguing with Franklin now?

He laughed in my face. “You're comical. Grow up, little man. If people get in my way... Christ, thousands of people die every day. What's the big deal about a life, about living? You're damn right, the fast buck controls everything! How many millionaires go to jail, ever get the hot seat? But poor slobs get the works every minute. I never ran for office but the boys who are elected will run errands for me, shine my shoes if I ask them, do anything I want —because I got the bucks and... money is power. Read the papers—Washington tells the rest of the world do what we say or we cut off the dough. Try to buck me, play it alone, turn me over to the cops... see which one of us goes to the can! You'll never get out of the pen alive, I have guys inside who'll cut your heart out if I...”

I had to fight the desire to shout at him, “You'll never reach the cops or jail!”—give my plan away. Instead I went on deck.

14

It was a little after eight-thirty and we were under the bridge, few minutes from the dock. Calling Bobo over, I found a hunk of paper and a pencil, wrote: “You know how to use a Luger?”

“Yeah. What you stripped for—a cold?”

I gave him the gun, wrote: “Forget what I'm writing, but when we dock and Franklin is off the ship, don't plug him if he makes a run for it. No matter what he does, if you shoot, aim high, miss him. If Lefty gets loose, let him have it but try not to kill him. If the 'Cat' gets loose before we dock, throw a gun on him. But after we dock—let him alone. And remember, forget this. Okay?”

He nodded, his bruised, puffy face puzzled. Tearing the paper up, I threw the pieces in the water. I glanced down in the cabin—the moonlight had been making the knife blade shine like silver... now the bunk was all dark-Franklin had the knife in his lap, was hacking away at the ropes on his hands.

Taking the wheel from Laurie, I headed for the New York shore. Lefty still seemed to be out, and Bobo was standing by the cabin, the Luger in his right hand. It occurred to me we hadn't frisked Franklin—but there wasn't time for that now.

Going past the dock I saw several cars parked at the entrance. Saltz was there ahead of time, but it wouldn't make any difference. Turning the boat around, I slowly came back to the dock, against the current. I was so nervous I banged the hull hard against the dock, damn near knocking us all down. Throwing the clutch out, I grabbed the pier, got a line around a rusty dock stanchion.

I motioned for Bobo to get Franklin out of the cabin, for Laurie to jump on the dock. She said, “Hal, you look so pale, and your face, your poor jaw is...”

I yanked her up on the dock, motioned for her to start walking. The cops had turned on the headlights of a car, lighting up the dock. Some men were walking toward us. I made out a couple of uniform bulls among them. I mumbled “Cops—hurry.”

Laurie ran toward them as Franklin came out of the cabin. He held his hands in front of him, as though still tied... but I knew damn well they weren't. When he stepped on the dock, I nodded at Bobo to stay with Lefty.

Franklin walked ahead of me, the car headlights blinding him for a second. When he saw Saltz and the cops coming toward us, he suddenly whirled around, the rope falling from his hands, the switch blade flashing in the light. Saltz began to sprint toward us.

For a second Franklin stared at me, then started for the side of the dock—he was going to dive into the Hudson, swim for it.

I jumped for his knife hand. It wasn't the right thing to do, but I had other ideas working. “Cat” was even stronger than I suspected, for he shook me like I was a puppy, then clubbed me on the jaw with his free left hand.

The black fog started to settle over me as I fought to keep conscious, all the time working his thumb back. I would have passed out except he was jerking me about so, he shook the black veil from my brain. Time was running out, Saltz was only a few hundred feet away.

I had Franklin's thumb almost out of its socket as he kept punching at me wildly, then the thumb suddenly went loose and he screamed and dropped the knife.

I saw Laurie running to help me—and almost laughed with relief as Saltz grabbed her, pushed her aside. She certainly would have ruined things!

Letting go of Franklin's hand, I grabbed his coat lapels, prayed for a split second he'd put his arms around me. He did—and brought his knee up to my groin as I dug my feet into his stomach—and fell back.

We landed on the dock with a crash, the wooden splinters tearing into my bare back—as I kicked up with both feet. Franklin's big body started to arc over my hand. I slid my hands up to his thick neck and held on with every ounce of strength I had.

His head and neck were still held vertically in my arms... when the rest of his heavy body landed... the weight of his body breaking his neck. There wasn't any sharp sound, but between my hands I felt something in his bull neck give... like a banana breaking... I let go of him, rolled over next to his head. His mouth was open in an agonized gasp and his eyes were half out of his head.

Placing my lips next to his ear, I tried to pry my jaw open as I said—or tried to say—“That's for Anita... and Louise! And... for me. They say curiosity... killed the... cat. Yeah... 'Cat'... it was my curiosity... to see could... snap your... lousy... neck...”

The dock shook under me as Saltz and the cops lumbered up. Turning to look up at him, all I saw was the black sky overhead... black without stars or moon, and it seemed to come down and gently blanket me.

The blackness was lush and soft and felt wonderful. I let it cover me and relaxed, rested. Then I wanted Laurie to share this dark softness with me. I started running through the velvet black, softly calling her name. At times I'd simply lay on the darkness, float along as though it was a lukewarm river.

I floated for great distances, calling for Laurie. Then I started to swim, with strong clean strokes. And the black slowly changed to gray, then to a bright day, and I opened my eyes.

I was in a bed.

Opening my eyes wider, a nurse came into focus, then Laurie's worried face, and even Saltz's ugly puss. We were in a hospital room. Bobo was standing by the window, grinning at me. I tried to smile at Laurie, but could hardly move my lips. My entire face felt numb. I raised my hands and the nurse pushed them back under the covers.

Laurie said, “Oh Hal... Hal!” and began to cry.

I tried to speak. “Where's Franklin?” The words came out pretty good.

“Dead. You broke his neck, you goddamn, strong little shrimp,” Saltz said. “We got there a second...”

“It was self-defense, he went for me with a knife,” I said, talking fast, happy to be able to talk again. “You can't...”

“Relax, you're not charged with anything. I saw him with the knife. But why didn't you tell me this was hooked up with the Frisco job, let me in on it? Playing it alone only...”

“Didn't know till...”

“Stop it, you sent the insurance company a letter two days ago. They been here every hour, waiting to ask...”

“Two

days ago?”

Laurie bent down over me, looking so pretty and smelling all cool and clean. “Darling, this Saturday. You've been out since Thursday night. Your jaw is all wired like an old radio set. Had to pull one of your teeth so they can feed you through a straw. But the doctors say you'll be fine in a few weeks.”

I tried grinning at her but my lips didn't move. Nor could I turn my head—it was in a cast. “Saltz,” I called out, hearing my voice grow weak.

Laurie pulled back and he stuck his hairbrush noggin into view. “Get the killings squared away?” I asked.

“All tied up with a neat ribbon. Miss Shelton gave us an affidavit that Franklin admitted killing Anita Rogers. And Lefty is talking all over himself. And I thought he was tough. Why...”

“Tough. Tough,” I said, feeling angry. “All you hear these days. People worship toughness. Only frightened people are tough, they act tough to forget how scared they are. How about the Frisco deal, did you...?”

“That's in the bag. Franklin acted as a sort of fence and big brain. They've pinched most of the hoods who did the job out on the Coast yesterday, and we're digging through the 'Cat's' bank vaults now for the rest of the dough. Wish you'd told me about that angle—made me look like a sap.”

“You mean a big man like you, a big-league copper can look like a sap?” I asked faintly.

Saltz shook his head, or maybe I was losing focus. “Can't figure you, Darling. But you and the girl and Bobo will get that two hundred grand reward, so I guess you played your cards right You were lucky as hell, but you got the big payoff.”

“The payoff is going to be a lot of sleep and rest, normal, peaceful living. Saltz, only a moron goes for this rough stuff... this slugging and violence. All I want now is to get a good agency going again—me and Bobo. But only guard stuff... the hell with being a bully-boy and crime. Only want a lot of peace... and rest... enjoy... living.”

I felt myself floating off into that gentle darkness again. The light seemed a long ways off and fading.

I heard the nurse say, “No more talking, he's tired.”

Laurie said, “And we'll get a bigger boat... can't raise a family in one room.”

Saltz said, “So it's that way with you and him? Well, with his luck, maybe you'll raise a family of midgets and make a fortune.”

I started to swim back toward the light, get that bastard Saltz, but I heard Laurie bawling him out, saying, “You big, stupid ox, I've a good mind to bang your empty head against the wall—only I don't want to disturb Hal!”

And then Bobo growled something and Saltz said, “Miss Shelton, I swear I didn't mean nothing, merely a corny joke that...”

I thought I heard her laughter as I stopped swimming. And now there was music too; distant, loud, brassy music. Laurie's laughter sounded as soft and inviting as the darkness I was floating on. I sighed. It would be great to have her there when I woke up... all the mornings of my life... and the music... it was growing a little louder, but not too loud.

Then I knew what that was... the merry-go-round had stopped... I was just hearing the old tinny carrousel music.

It sounded lively and peaceful.