The Lock and the Key

Chapter Twelve

Tommy made a U-turn and coasted down Whitley to Hollywood Boulevard, where he turned right. He drove leisurely through West Hollywood and made the curve into Beverly Hills. He saw the arch that marked the beginning of the bridle path that ran along the center of Sunset Boulevard, through Beverly Hills, but there was no car parked on either side of the street. He drove a few blocks to the Beverly Hills Hotel and there made a U-turn and drove slowly back.

The yellow Cadillac was just drawing up to the curb at the end of the bridle path. Tommy parked about a hundred feet behind it, removed the ignition key from his lock and walked up to Betty Targ’s car.

She saw him through the rear vision mirror and had the door open as he came up.

“We’ll use my car,” she said.

Tommy got in. “Where to?”

“How about the valley?”

“Any place is all right with me.”

She started up the motor and shooting out into traffic made a reckless U-turn, driving swiftly into Beverly Hills. “No party tonight,” she said, shooting a swift sideward glance at Tommy.

“I know.”

“What do you mean, you know?”

Tommy hesitated, then exhaled. “Here we go again. I know because I left Earl Faraday with Willis Trent just a little while ago.” She slammed on the brakes and made a quick, half-skidding turn into Coldwater Canyon. She said: “What’s between you and Willis Trent?”

“I know him, that’s all.”

“Oh, is it? Well, do you know what Trent’s business is?”

“He is a bookie.”

“And you’re a customer?”

“No,” Tommy said, then caught himself. “I mean, I’m not much of a horseplayer.”

“Then how come you and he have become so thick all of a sudden?”

“I wouldn’t say we were very thick.”

“There’s something between you, though.” She was silent a moment. “And it has to do with Earl Faraday, too.”

Tommy winced. “Look, could we leave Earl Faraday behind us, for once?”

“You’re the one brought in his name.”

“Yes, dammit, I did.”

“I just want an answer to one question, Tommy, then we can forget it all and have a good time.”

“No,” Tommy said bluntly.

“No, what? About having a good time?”

“No, I won’t answer your question.”

“You don’t even know what it is, so how can you say you won’t answer it?”

“I’ve an idea what the question’s going to be.”

“What is it?”

Tommy shook his head.

Betty was sending the car zooming around the curves near Mulholland Drive. The tires screeched and she waited a moment until she had reached a straight stretch in the road. Then she said:

“You’ve got a stubborn streak in you, Tommy Dancer. And a touch of cruelty that’s going to get you into trouble one of these days.”

“I haven’t run across many gentle souls in my time,” Tommy said.

“No, I don’t imagine you have. How old are you?”

“Twenty-eight.”

“You were in the army, weren’t you?”

“Four years.”

Betty nodded and began braking the car as it began falling down the inner slope of the mountain that led into San Fernando Valley.

“You’re pretty self-sufficient, Tommy, and you’ve had a rough time. You can take care of yourself in a tight corner. At least you think you can, but I wonder if you really know what kind of people you’re associating with.”

“I’ve a pretty good idea.”

“Then answer my question, what’re you and Trent — and Earl Faraday — up to?”

“What makes you think we’re up to anything?”

“Because I happen to know that Earl and Trent have never been exactly bosom friends. And you... you’re not at all like either one of them.” She amended that quickly. “I mean that favorably.”

“Look, Betty,” Tommy said, “you don’t have to soft-soap me. I know the score. You and Faraday broke up and to spite him you throw yourself at the first man who came along, a common laborer.”

Betty was making a sharp turn with the car, but risked a quick glance at him. “You really believe that, don’t you?”

“I’m not complaining,” Tommy said, with a note that belied his statement. “I said I was satisfied with the crumbs.” He laughed softly. “How else could I hope to be with a girl like you?”

She kept her eyes on the road as she manipulated the turns and Tommy risked a glance at her. Her chin was high in the air and Tommy would not have been surprised if electric sparks had flickered from her taut body.

She whipped the car around the last turn and sent it zooming along the level road that ran beside the Harvard School for Boys. Ventura Boulevard was only a short distance ahead and the traffic lights were red.

She exclaimed. “I’ve got it!”

“Yes?”

She was slowing down for the lights ahead, but as they turned green she stepped on the gas and made a quick left turn into Ventura. She waved toward a restaurant on the left side of the boulevard. “Let’s eat there; the food isn’t bad and it’s quiet.”

She drew in to the curb on the right side of the street and parked the car. Tommy got out and, running around to the left, helped her out. She flashed him a smile, took his hand and led the way across the boulevard, dodging a couple of cars en route.

The restaurant was a big flashy one, but there were only a few cars parked at the side, for the hour was still early. Betty and Tommy entered and a headwaiter came up.

“Good evening, Miss Targ,” he greeted Betty, and to Tommy: “Yes sir, this way, please.”

He led them to a booth at the far end of the room, where it was dim. As they seated themselves, Betty said to Tommy: “I’d like a cocktail. A daiquiri.”

“Two,” Tommy said to the waiter.

“Very good, sir, and will you have dinner later?”

“Probably.”

The waiter went off and Betty planted her elbows on the table and looked at Tommy over her cupped hands. “They’re using you, Tommy. Trent, or maybe it was Earl, found out about your knowledge of locks and keys.”

“I’m not going to answer that question,” Tommy persisted stubbornly.

“You don’t have to. Earl’s taken up with Flo Randall. He’s been giving her the rush act, at which he’s very good. Behind Paul deCamp’s back. It’s Paul they’re after. His money... and that’s where you come in. You’re going to open his safe.”

“This is a nice place,” Tommy said, looking about the restaurant. “Do you come here often?”

“You can open safes, Tommy, can’t you?”

“I can open a safe,” Tommy replied, “if I’ve got the combination.”

“Then Flo Randall got it for Earl.”

“That wouldn’t be very healthy for Flo, would it?”

“Not if deCamp knew it. But it’d be less healthy for you.”

“Betty,” said Tommy, “I’m not going to open Paul deCamp’s wall safe. Take my word—”

“How do you know it’s a wall safe?”

“Isn’t it?”

“It is, but how did you know?”

“I just made a guess.”

“You’re lying, Tommy. Or—” she searched his face shrewdly — “or evading.”

Tommy was given a momentary respite when the waiter came up with the drinks. He took up his glass and looked at Betty over the top of it. “To us!”

She barely tasted the drink. “You’re evading, that’s it. It has something to do with Paul deCamp, but it isn’t his safe. You answered that, straight.” She screwed up her face in thought. “You’re an expert on locks and keys, but not safes. You can open any kind of a lock. I saw you do it.”

“All right,” Tommy cried, “all right! I can open locks. I’ve got a gift for it. I’m the best damn lock and key man in the country. But what’re you getting at?”

“You’re planning to rob Paul deCamp. I don’t know how but it’s got something to do with locks. And Willis Trent and Earl Faraday are using you as a tool.”

“Why should you complain about that?” Tommy lashed at her. “Faraday’ll have a roll of money and he can drop Flo Randall and take you up again.”

“Damn you, Tommy Dancer,” Betty shot back at him. “Can’t you get it through that thick skull of yours that I’m through with Earl Faraday?”

“For the moment.”

“For keeps. All right, I’ll admit it, I thought I was in love with him. But even then I had no illusions about him. I knew him for what he was.” She made an impatient gesture and laughed. “Women are fools about their men. The more worthless they are the bigger fools they are about them Earl Faraday was never in love with me. He thought I had money and when he found out I didn’t have any, well — he didn’t want me then. I’m being brutally frank about it.”

Tommy stared at her. “You’ve got a Cadillac car — a mink coat...”

“And a fine house in Beverly Hills,” Betty said, scornfully. “With a nice mortgage on it... My father died a year ago and mother and I discovered that he had cashed m even his annuities — yes, to buy this Cadillac car and mink coat — and a lot of other things... So if you think you’re getting a rich girl, forget it.”

“What do you mean if I think I’m getting a rich girl?”

Betty leaned back against the seat cushion and looked steadily at Tommy. “If we didn’t spend all our time fighting, maybe you’d know by now...”

Tommy’s hand shot across the table and caught hold of both of Betty’s hands. For a moment she averted her eyes then raised them to meet Tommy’s. A smile parted her lips.

“Hello,” she said.