Finally, away from the traffic, I pulled up beside a call box and put a call through to the Spanish Bay Hotel. I asked to speak to Miss Sandra Willis.
‘A moment, sir,’ the girl said.
There was clicking, then Sandra came on the line.
‘Who is this, please?’
‘Can you talk?’ I said.
‘Quickly. He’s on the terrace.’
‘Can we meet?’
‘Six o’clock. The Three Crab.’ Then her voice hardened. ‘I am sorry, you have the wrong number,’ and she hung up.
I assumed Walinski had come into the room.
I returned to my car and did some thinking, then I drove to police headquarters.
I found Tom Lepski at his desk, scowling at a flimsy he was holding. Two other detectives were at their desks, hammering out reports.
‘Hi, Tom!’ I said and smiled at him. I pulled up a chair and sat, facing him. ‘Busy?’
He gave me his hard, cop stare.
‘Where were you last night around midnight?’
‘If you must know I was stuffing my gut with a girlfriend.’
‘Who? What’s her name?’
‘Come on, Tom,’ I said. ‘You know you can’t ask a question like that. Why do you want to know where I was?’
He snorted.
‘Just come in.’ He shook the flimsy. ‘Miami police report that they have fished the body of Hank Smedley out of the harbour. He’s been shot through the back of his head.’
I felt a wave of satisfaction run through me: one down, now two to go: Angela and Minsky.
I put on my surprised expression.
‘I wonder who did that?’
‘Anyone but you, huh?’
‘That’s correct,’ I said. ‘Well, that ape is no loss. I looked in for information, Tom. First, have you found anything further about the acid job?’
He looked away from me.
‘A dead-end. I’m sorry, Dirk. You know what we know, then nothing.’
‘Know anything about Sol Harmas?’
‘You mean who captains Joe Walinski’s yacht?’
‘That’s him.’
‘No record. What’s he to you?’
‘Tom, I’m not leaving this acid job alone. Suzy was my future wife. I’m collecting information, and when I have something concrete, I’ll come to you.’
He nodded.
‘Give us some evidence, and we’ll go into action.’
‘Harmas?’
‘Lives in style. Has guards. We have nothing to pin on him.’
‘Next question. What do you know about Hula Minsky?’
Lepski stiffened, staring at me.
‘What’s that bastard to do with you?’
‘I am certain he was the one who used the acid spray. The description fits him, and he let Smedley run his apartment. The two of them fixed Suzy.’
‘Proof?’ Lepski demanded, leaning forward.
‘Not yet, but I’ll get it, then you’ll get it.’
He shook his head.
‘Look, Dirk, you don’t know what you are walking into Minsky is really dangerous. I know how you feel about Suzy. You’re probably right that Minsky did the acid job. That’s his style, but he’s smart. You won’t pin anything on him. Why not forget it? Smedley is dead. So, OK, you are more or less even. Keep out of this for crissake.’
‘You do know that hundreds of citizens in this city are being blackmailed? Maybe you don’t know the take is over a million and a half a month.’
He gaped at me.
‘We know about the blackmail racket. As big as that? How do you know?’
‘I have informers, Tom. They talk to me when they wouldn’t talk to you. Now, listen. On the first of every month, the blackmail victims pay up. The big shots pay their money to Smedley. The small fry go to Walinski’s yacht around three in the morning. Their money is collected there. At that hour, the waterfront is deserted except for the two waterfront cops who are in Mafia pay. Get rid of those two, and replace them with two sharp cops with the authority to question anyone wanting to go aboard Walinski’s yacht. Could pay dividends, Tom.’
‘Smedley’s joint doesn’t now exist. So what?’
‘There’ll be a new drop. I’ll let you know where it is.’
Lepski took his hat off, ran his fingers through his hair, then replaced his hat.
‘I’ll have to talk to the chief.’
‘That’s what I want you to do. Let’s have some action. The first of the month — another seven days.’ I shoved back my chair and stood up.
Lepski stared at me.
‘Leave Minsky alone,’ he said. ‘He’s too big for you, and almost too big for us to handle.’ Lowering his voice, he went on, ‘There are many big shots in this city who would rather pay out than have their dirty lives exposed Remember that!’
‘As if I didn’t know. Tell me, Tom, are your people doing anything to crack this blackmail racket?’
‘A well-organised blackmail racket.’ Lepski said quietly, ‘is the hardest nut to crack. We do know Walinski handles it, but that doesn’t mean a thing. We need three or four victims to complain to us, and then, and only then, can we start some action. Suppose we strike lucky? Suppose we get three or four men to admit they have done something bad, and are being blackmailed? They won’t, of course, but if they did, they would be fished out of the harbour like Smedley before we could get them to court.’
‘So you’re doing nothing?’
‘That’s about it, Dirk. We’re doing nothing.’
‘Change those waterfront guards. You could upset this blackmail thing.’
‘I’ll talk to the chief.’
‘See you, Tom,’ I said, and left him.
I had time to return home. Bill wasn’t there. I guessed he was watching Angela Thorsen, which might be boring but shouldn’t be too strenuous, so I didn’t feel too conscience stricken in doing something I hadn’t done in years, it seemed — put my feet up, shut my eyes, and thought of nothing, except maybe a lot of black sheep jumping over a very high fence. Much refreshed, I took a quick shower, changed, and then drove to the Three Crab Restaurant. I arrived three minutes to 18.00.
I was welcomed by Wally, the maître d’ who flashed his teeth at me.
‘Miss Willis is waiting for you, Mr Wallace,’ he said. ‘You know your way up?’
At this hour the restaurant was alive with waiters, laying tables and generally preparing for the dinner time rush.
I nodded, climbed the stairs, knocked on the door and found Sandra sitting at the table, cigarette between her slim fingers.
‘Hi, Dirk!’ she exclaimed. ‘This has to be a quickie. He’s only out until seven.’
I sat down opposite her.
Again I was more aware of her sexual vibes. She looked stunning in a sky-blue dress, and her green eyes were hard and calculating.
‘I’ve seen Minsky, and I think I know where he holes up,’ I told her.
This produced a big reaction from her. She leaned forward, her green eyes flashing.
‘You’ve seen him? How?’
Briefly, I told her what the janitor had told me, how I had seen Dolly leave with a short, broad-shouldered man, wearing a sporting cap, how I had followed them to an Italian restaurant, and then when Dolly had left, the man I was sure was Minsky had come out with another man.
I told her this man was Sol Harmas. The two had driven along to Seaview Avenue where I had lost them.
‘Yes!’ she exclaimed. ‘That’s where he is! The ranch house! J.W. had the place built at my father’s suggestion. It’s security proof. There’s no way of getting at Minsky so long as he’s there — not a chance!’
‘So, OK. We wait. He’ll come out, then we go into action.’
‘He’s certain to come out on the last day of the month, then we go into action. Yes, that’s when we get at him.’ Her smile was the most evil thing I ever hope to see on a woman’s face.