A swelling murmur swept the courtroom and the bailiff called for silence. Judge Reynolds stood up and passed a weary hand over his eyes. He said: “Perhaps I should not have considered my own life so valuable. I don’t know. At any rate, bailiff, arrest that man hiding under the bench.”
Manny Simms stepped out and viewed the courtroom with a sardonic smile. The toothpick in his mouth was now soft and pulpy. He laid the gun in his hand on the bench. “O. K., Reynolds. You followed orders. I ain’t kicking.”
A free man, Jimmy Legg left the Hall of Justice with Howard Garrett, his attorney, at his side. The lawyer was frowning. “Jimmy, you must have been born with a gold horseshoe in your mouth.”
“The judge knew I was innocent,” declared Legg with a grin.
“I’m your lawyer, Jimmy,” Garrett reminded, “and I know better. And Reynolds knew better too.”
“Yeah,” said Jimmy Legg softly, “and you know better than to stick your beak where it don’t belong. I’m dusting now, Garrett.”
The lawyer grabbed him by the arm. “Hold it, Jimmy. Where are you going?”
“None of your business.”
“What’s got into you? The D. A. might make a stink because Reynolds didn’t hold you. I may have to get in touch with you.”
“You got my address.”
“Don’t take me for a child, Jimmy. You wouldn’t go near your apartment till you were sure the police didn’t want you again.”
“I’ll ring you at your office.”
Howard Garrett shook his head slowly. “I don’t like it.”
Jimmy Legg laughed. It sounded like a glass cutter in action. “What’s the beef?”
“Why,” asked the attorney, “should a judge as scrupulously honest as Reynolds even think of letting you go scot free? Why do you refuse to tell me where you’re holing in? Do you expect more trouble? And why did you come to me in the first place?”
“You know damned well why I come to you, Garrett.”
The lawyer nodded. “Because I happen to own stock in Lansing Investment and you thought I could persuade them to go easy on you.”
“So they went easy and I still don’t get your beef.”
“You’re acting dumb, Jimmy. You know the Lansing people did nothing because I haven’t even had a chance to talk to them. Still you got off — and I don’t like it.”
Jimmy Legg absently rearranged the silk handkerchief in the lawyer’s breast pocket. “Everything’s just ducky, Garrett.”
“But—”
Jimmy Legg said, “Easy does it,” and ambled off. He rounded the corner into Sunset and the instant he was out of his lawyer’s sight his casual saunter became a rapid stride. His quick, purposeful steps faltered only when he looked behind to see if he was being tailed. But he saw no one and soon he gained a corner cut-rate drugstore.
He made for one of the phone booths at the far end, hunted in the directory, then dialed a number. The voice that responded said, “Hamilton Apartments,” with an inflection calculated to let you know that the rents there were plenty high.
“Let’s have Winnie Crawford.” Jimmy Legg’s voice sounded dry, almost frightened, and he had to repeat the name.
Another few moments and a languid contralto said: “Yes?”
“Are you alone, Winnie?”
There was a contralto gasp. “Jimmy! I thought they arrested you.”
“I asked if you were alone.”
“Yes.” A moment’s hesitation and she added: “Yes, darling.”
“That’s good. Now listen, honey,” Legg said rapidly, “I’m coming up to your place. Pull the shades, lock the doors, and don’t let anyone into your apartment till I get there.”
“But I don’t understand,” said Winnie Crawford. “How did you get off? Did you get bail?”
“I’ll tell you later, honey. I’m sitting on top of the world now and if you’re smart there’s a place right next to me for you. Get what I mean?”
“Of course, Jimmy. Only you’ll have to give me a little time. You know I like you a lot but you mustn’t rush—”
“That’s good enough for me, sugar. You’ll find out I like you enough for both of us when I get up there.”
“But, Jimmy, maybe you shouldn’t come up here. They’ll see you at the desk downstairs.”
“Don’t worry, sugar. I’m coming up the back way.”
Winnie Crawford said, “Good-bye, darling.” She also said, “A fat chance you got to play bingo with me, you lousy bum,” but Jimmy never heard that part for she had already cradled the receiver.
Once again Jimmy Legg consulted the directory. This time it was the yellow book and he searched under Private Detectives until he had his number, then dialed. The brittle, somewhat bored voice of a man answered.
“Is this Cellini Smith?” asked Jimmy Legg.
“Yes.”
“Well, this is Jimmy Legg. I want to hire you to—”
“Listen, you underslung gunsel,” interrupted Cellini Smith, “you couldn’t hire me to laugh at you. Where’d you get the nickel to phone me?”
“It’s on the level, Smith,” protested Jimmy Legg. “I want you to do a job for me and I’m willing to give you a retainer.”
“Get back under your damp rock, Legg. You couldn’t retain a square meal, let alone retain me.”
It never occurred to Jimmy Legg to get insulted. He said: “Look, Smith, there’s real dough in this for you if you can help me out. I want you to come around and meet me.”
“In the pig’s eye,” scoffed Cellini. “Whatever mess you’re in, Legg, you probably deserve it.”
“Now don’t go off the deep end, Smith. You know your way around and you got to help me out. I’ll pay in advance. I’ve got sugar on me right now.”
There was a slight pause before Cellini Smith said: “That sounds better, crumb. How come you’re out? I thought you were hooked on that Lansing Investment job.”
“That’s just what I want to see you about, Smithy I want you to meet me at the Hamilton Apartments on Rossmore.”
“Listen, you animated sewer, I’m not stepping out of this office till I find out what kind of a job you want me for — so you’d better tell me right now.”
Jimmy Legg swore. “It’s about that Lansing Investment job, Smith. I was in court this morning. The judge had me with my pants down but still he let me go. I want you to find out why that judge didn’t hold me. Something stinks and I got to know.”
“That sounds kind of interesting,” said Cellini. “O. K. I don’t promise to do anything but I’ll drop around for a look-see.”
“Fine, Smith. The Hamilton Apartments in about forty minutes and make it the back entrance. If I ain’t down there I’ll have someone waiting to bring you up to the right apartment.”
Cellini Smith promised to be there. Jimmy Legg pronged the receiver and left the booth. He went over to the counter and ordered a double-decker sandwich. Still eating the sandwich, he left the store and caught a Wilshire bus. After a while, he reached Rossmore, left the bus, and cut up the block toward a marble-fronted building.
When Jimmy Legg came abreast of the Hamilton Apartments, he paused to light a cigarette till the doorman’s back was turned, then took the narrow alley on the north side. He walked down its length till he reached a fireproof door, pushed it open, and then stopped dead in his tracks.
Jimmy Legg’s eyes bulged at what he saw and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. His face was suddenly shiny with cold sweat. “No, no.” His voice was almost a whisper. “Please don’t.”