You've Got It Coming

II

By the time Joan arrived in a cream-coloured Cadillac convertible, Harry was feeling a little high. He had had four drinks in a row, and his nerves, under the effect of the alcohol, were much more steady.

Joan parked nearby, opened the car door and, with a show of pale blue underwear and long, slim, nylon-clad legs, die slipped out of the car. She waved to him and came over.

“Come on in,” Harry said, getting to his feet. “This isn't such a smart motel as the other one, but it is more reasonable and I've got to save my money now.”

When they got inside and he had closed the door, she said, “I'm so relieved it's over, Harry. I was really worried. I didn't think she'd let you go as easily as this.”

He put his arms around her.

“I told you: we were washed up. She was only throwing her weight around. As soon as I explained we were getting married, she behaved herself. Anyway, let's get her out of our minds.”

She looked up at him.

“I was so sure she would make trouble. She was in love with you, Harry. Are you quite sure you've seen the last of her?”

Harry had to make an effort to meet her eyes.

“Of course I'm sure. Now forget her. We have a lot to talk about. We can go ahead now. That is if you still want to go ahead.”

“Yes, that's all I've been thinking about since last we met.”

He took her chin between his fingers and bent to kiss her. When he felt the movement of her lips against his, his arms tightened around her.

“I'm crazy about you, kid,” he said.

She pushed him back.

“Yes, darling, but we must talk now. Please. There's so much to arrange.”

“We've got all the evening to talk.”

“No, we haven't. I must get back for dinner.”

“That's just too bad,” he said, smiling at her, “because we're not going to talk now.”

He let go of her, turned the key in the lock, then went to the window and reached for the cord of the blind.

Watching him, she saw him suddenly stiffen then he seemed to turn to stone. His right hand remained in midair, his body rigid.

“What's the matter?” she asked sharply, sensing his tension.

He didn't move nor speak.

She joined him at the window, but, before she could look out, he pushed her back with a roughness that startled her.

“Keep out of sight!”

His voice was low and tight.

“Harry! What is it?”

“There's a cop outside!”

He watched the big man through the curtain. He had no doubt that he was a policeman. He had seen too many plainclothes men in Los Angeles not to be able to recognize the breed.

The cop was tall, broad and bulky, wearing a creased brown suit and a slouch hat pulled low over his right eye. His hard, fleshy face, his thin bps and stony, small eyes turned Harry cold with tear.

The cop was looking thoughtfully at Harry's car. He turned his head and eyed the Cadillac convertible parked nearby. Then he rubbed his jaw, frowning. He walked up the steps of the cabin then paused again to look back at the Cadillac.

“What's the matter, Harry?”

Joan's worried voice penetrated Harry's paralysed mind “He is coming here” he said in a cracked whisper.

“What if he is?” Joan sounded impatient. “Does it matter?”

Her matter-of-fact attitude to the situation helped to steady Harry s jangling nerves. If the police had found Glorie's body he thought, they wouldn't send one lone cop to arrest him They would send at least two, if not more. But what did this guy want?

He turned and waved Joan to the bathroom.

“Get in there and keep out of sight. He mustn't see you. If your father got to hear . . .”

“My goodness, yes!” Joan's eyes widened. “He'd never forgive me.” She gave him a puzzled, worried stare. His white, sweating face frightened her. Then she went quickly into the bathroom and shut the door as a heavy rap sounded on the outer door Harry splashed whisky into his glass, gulped it down, wiped his face with his handkerchief, and crossed the room to the door He hesitated for a long moment, then, with his heart hammering and a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach, he opened the door The detective was looking away from him, his eyes on Joan's car and for perhaps three or four seconds, Harry waited.

Although he must have known Harry was waiting, the detective continued to stare at the car. Then, finally, he turned his head and Harry got the full blast from his hard, piercing eyes.

“You Griffin?” the cop said, pushing his hat to the back of his head and putting one large, hairy hand on the wall of the cabin and leaning his weight against it.

“That's right.”

“I'm Detective-Sergeant Hammerstock. Mrs. Griffin around?”

Harrys heart lurched. Somehow he managed to crush down the fear that rose inside him and to keep his face expressionless.

“Who?”

The word came out in a husky whisper.

“Your wife,” Hammerstock said, his eyes probing more intently.

Harry saw the danger. He mustn't be caught out in a lie, he told himself. They could easily find out that Glorie wasn't his wife.

“You've got your lines crossed,” he said. “I'm not married.”

Hammerstock rubbed his fleshy nose with the ball of his thumb.

“You are Harry Griffin?”

“Yes.”

“You registered at the Florida motel the night before last?”

“Yes. What's this all about anyway?”

“You had a woman with you. You registered as Mr. and Mrs. Griffin right?”

“Yes, but don't tell me that's police business,” Harry said, forcing his stiff lips into a smile.

Hammerstock cocked his head on one side.

“You mean this woman isn't your wife?”

“That's what I mean.”

“Okay,” Hammerstock said, shifting his position. “Let’s start from the beginning again. Is the woman who isn't your wife but who registered at the Florida motel as your wife around?”

“No, she isn't. Why do you want her?”

Hammerstock looked past Harry and, into the room beyond.

He saw Joan's gloves and handbag on the dressing table and he lifted his heavy eyebrows. Harry looked over his shoulder, saw what Hammerstock was looking at, moved forward, forcing Hammerstock to give ground, and pulled the door shut. He leant against it.

“Sure she isn't?”

“Yes, I'm sure.”

Hammerstock appeared to relax a little. He pushed his hat further to the back of his head, took out his handkerchief and wiped his forehead.

“Could we talk inside, out of the sun?” he said.

“If we've got to talk, we talk right here.”

Hammerstock suddenly grinned. It wasn't a pleasant grin, but it had a certain brutal humour about it.

“Looks like I've called at the wrong time,” he said. “Well, never mind. I won't keep you long. Where can I find your girl.” Harry drew in a slow, deep breath. At least, they hadn't found Glorie's body. That was certain. The relief made him fed a little light headed.

“Why the mystery? What do you want her for?”

Hammerstock's grin widened.

“I've got fifty bucks for her. That'll come as a nice surprise to her, won't it?”

“Fifty bucks?” Harry stared at him. “I don't get it.”

“Look, the redhead who tries to run the office at the Florida happens to be my sister. That's my hard luck, but I won't bore you with my troubles,” Hammerstock said. “It so happens she has a bird brain. When a guy whistles after her, she thinks he's doing it because he happens to be musical: that's how dumb she is. Your girlfriend paid the check when you two left and birdbrain overcharged her fifty bucks. She made a two look like a seven, and your girlfriend didn't query it. Birdbrain only found it out after you'd gone, then she worked herself into a state about it. When she gets into a state, she calls me. I get called four or five times a week, and because I have the bad luck to be her brother, I have to straighten her out. Fifty bucks is quite a piece of money so I thought I'd better do something about it. I called three or four of the cheaper motels, thinking maybe you two had moved to some place that doesn't charge for the air you breathe like the Florida does, and I found you here. I've got fifty bucks for your girlfriend.”

“That's pretty nice of you to take all this trouble,” Harry said. “Well, thanks. I’ll take charge of it.”

Hammerstock shook his head.

“I was told to give it to your girlfriend. Birdbrain wants a receipt from her so she can sleep easy tonight.”

“I’ll give you a receipt,” Harry said. “It's my money. I gave her the dough to settle the check so the fifty belongs to me.”

“Fifty bucks is money,” Hammerstock said. “I'd like your girl to confirm the money's yours. Where can I find her?”

“I don't know,” Harry said, trying to keep his voice steady. “We parted. I don't know where she is right now.”

“Is that right?” The small eyes became inquisitive. “Birdbrain tells me you and the young woman went off in a Buick, heading for Highway 27. Didn't you take her someplace before you parted?”

This was dangerous, Harry thought, aware that his heart was pounding and wondering if Hammerstock could hear it. He couldn't risk a lie. Out of sheer cussedness, this cop might check.

“I took her to Collier City,” he said. “She talked about going to New Orleans.”

“Did she?” Hammerstock scratched the side of his jaw. “That's a funny place to leave anyone. You can't get to New Orleans from Collier City.”

“Can't you? Well, that's nothing to do with me,” Harry said curtly. “She wanted to go to Collier City so I took her there.”

“Yeah. You never know with women: they're funny animals. What did you say her name was?”

“Glorie Dane.”

Hammerstock took out a pack of Lucky Strikes. He flicked one out and offered it to Harry who shook his head. Hammerstock put the cigarette between his thin lips, took out a kitchen match and scratched it alight with his thumbnail.

“Seems you and Miss Dane had a quarrel before you left the Florida,” he said. “Birdbrain had a complaint from a cabin near yours. That right?”

“I don't know,” Harry said, forcing himself to meet the probing eyes. “Could be. I guess we slanged each other often enough. That's why we parted.”

“My wife and I slang each other too, but I haven t been able to get rid of her,” Hammerstock said and grinned. “Well, I've got these fifty bucks. Maybe I'd better give them to you. I can't go out to Collier City. I've got work to do.”

“That's up to you,” Harry said. “I gave her the money so the fifty's mine, but I can't prove it.”

“You'll give me a receipt?”

“Oh, sure, I'll give you a receipt.”

Hammerstock took out his notebook, scribbled on a page, eased the page from the book and handed it to Harry with a stub of pencil. Harry signed the paper and handed it back. Hammerstock handed over five ten-dollar bills.

“Thanks for your trouble,” Harry said. “Maybe I should give your sister something. How about twenty bucks?”

Hammerstock shook his head.

“No, she wouldn't accept it. She's very high-minded, considering how dumb she is. You stick to it: you'll probably need it.”

He looked deliberately at the Cadillac convertible. “That your car?”

“No,” Harry said, opening the cabin door and moving back into the room.

“Nice job,” Hammerstock said. He looked at Harry and grinned. “And it seems you're a fast worker. Off with the old and on with the new, huh?”

“So long and thanks,” Harry said woodenly and shut the door in Hammerstock's face.