She flushed. ”I didn’t mean-what’s a hit?“
”A hit,“ I said, ”is like when you’re sent to take care of somebody who’s bothering somebody, and that’s enough stalling around, pint-size. You pried me loose from the fuzz; you got me here. Now tell me what the hell you want and what’s in it for me, or I’ll be on my way.“
She hesitated, still watching me closely. Then she crushed out her cigarette, got to her feet and came forward, taking my lapels between her thumbs and forefingers. She looked up. Her eyes were very blue and bright in her small face. When she spoke, her voice sounded kind of shaky and breathless.
”I want-“ She paused, then went on, ”How much. would you charge to make a hit for me, Jim Petroni?“
TEN
I PAUSED OUTSIDE the door and fingered the bills in my pocket and wondered if I was giving the little girl a great big bargain or overcharging her outrageously. I wasn’t up on current prices; Mac had neglected to tell me what Lash Petroni was supposed to charge for his services. I guess it hadn’t occurred to him that employment might actually be offered me under this name.
I shook my head, squared my snappy, narrow-brimmed dark hat on my head, settled my sharp, narrow-shouldered dark coat, and headed for the car. When I got where I could see it plainly, I stopped. A man was sitting in the front seat, waiting for me.
I stood there for quite a while, feeling hurt and disappointed. I mean, I’d made myself perfectly clear. I’d said, If I bump into one of the boys, I’ll go for him without asking questions.
It was too bad all around. It may have been a silly thing to say, but in the business we don’t send messages like that without intending to back them up, regardless of consequences. Mac should have known I wouldn’t try to bluff him. I reached slowly for Alan’s revolver, for the second time that night. I moved to a corner of the building that would give me a rest for my gun hand. You can generally get by with one shot at that hour of the night, even a loud one from a short-barreled.38 Special. People will stir in their beds, they may even sit up and listen, but if they hear nothing more, it’s a good bet they won’t bother to rise and investigate.
I checked the line of fire carefully. There was nothing to deflect the bullet on my side of the target. Beyond, there was no risk of disabling my car if I got total penetration- not likely with a head shot at that range, anyway-and what happened to other cars down the row wasn’t any worry. I drew back the hammer to full cock, and settled the rectangular blade of the front sight into the square notch of the rear sight. As I did so, the man in the car turned his head impatiently and looked back towards the building, obviously wondering what the hell was keeping me so long.
I let my pent-up breath go out slowly, and eased the pressure on the trigger. I was looking over the sights of a loaded and cocked revolver at the plump, cheerful features of Mr. William Orcutt, of the Annapolis Orcutts, known variously as Billy and Thunderbird.
I was shaking a little as I put the gun away. I walked quickly over there. He opened the car door as I came up.
”Mr. Petroni-“
I grabbed him by the coat and hauled him out. ”What the hell are you doing in my car?“
”I wanted to talk to you, Mr. Petroni.“ He freed himself and smoothed his rumpled coat. ”I wanted to tell you-“
He stopped, obviously embarrassed about something, trying to find the right words. I studied him bleakly. He wasn’t bad-looking, just a little softer and heavier than he should have been-a crew-cut baby-face. Swimming was the only sport he’d be really good at, with that figure, but it wasn’t the figure I was worrying about. I kept seeing his head the way it would have looked with a bullet hole in it.
”What did you want to tell me, punk?“ My harsh voice didn’t sound quite right, even for hard-boiled Petroni.
”I wanted, well, to tell you to stay away from Miss Michaelis.“ He hesitated, but I didn’t say anything, and he went on quickly, ”She’s-well, a little mixed up. She told me, well, never mind. She’s got some weird ideas. But I don’t want you taking advantage of-I mean, she’s a lovely person, but she needs someone to look after her.“
”And you’ve elected yourself to the job?“
He cleared his throat, a little self-consciously. ”Well, yes. After the way she insisted on waiting to speak with you outside the police station, it was obvious she had something crazy in mind. I-“ He stopped and squared his shoulders. ”I don’t intend to let her ruin her life by becoming involved with a racketeer and strong-arm man, Mr. Petroni. She’s just a crazy kid; she doesn’t mean everything she says. I think she likes to pretend. Stay away from her, Petroni.“
”Yeah,“ I said. ”Stay away from her. Sure.“
I hit him. I gave it to him hard and low, without warning, and he went to the ground, hugging himself where it hurt; and somebody was coming at me from behind. I whirled, ready, but it was only Teddy Michaelis in her blue pajamas. She made her way up to us cautiously, still barefooted, and looked down. Orcutt pushed himself to hands and knees, retching painfully.
”What did you do that for?“ Teddy asked me. There was no reproach in her voice, only curiosity.
”I felt like it,“ I said. I didn’t say I’d hit him because I’d come damn close to killing him. She wouldn’t have understood. I wasn’t sure I understood myself.
She giggled. ”He looks awfully silly, doesn’t he? Poor boy. I heard what he said. I think it’s kind of cute, his wanting to protect me, don’t you?“
”Yeah, cute,“ 1 said. ”When he catches his breath, clean him up and send him home. I’ll call you tomorrow. Good night.“
As I drove away, I kept hearing Mac’s voice in my head: 1 have seen it happen before in men whose occupation allows them to kill and get away with it. I’d laughed at the time, but now I had to face the fact that twice in one night I’d almost killed a man, quite casually, without even making sure of his identity first. After a while, Mac had said, their judgment becomes impaired, since human life has ceased to have much value for them.
I’d almost killed two men, and I had killed a woman. At least Jean had died, and I was no longer so sure that my hand hadn’t slipped, a little. Maybe I’d even wanted it to slip, as Mac had said, subconsciously.
I found a hotel, got a room, and sent the bellboy away with a tip. I opened the suitcase he’d placed on the stand at the foot of the bed and grimaced at the gaudy Petroni apparel inside. I found a silver flask and started towards the bathroom for a glass and said to hell with it. Drinking When I felt lousy had never made me feel any better. I screwed the cap back onto the flask and dropped the flask back into the suitcase. The telephone rang. I picked it up.
”Is this Mr. Peterson?“ a female voice asked. ”Is this Mr. Peterson, from Chicago?“
”I’m sorry,“ I said. ”I’m from Chicago, but the name is Peters, ma’am. James A. Peters.“
”Oh, dear,“ the voice said. ”I’m terribly sorry. I do hope I didn’t wake you, or anything.“
”It’s perfectly all right, ma’am,“ I said.
I put the instrument back in its cradle. It was code, of course. There were half a dozen names she might have asked for. Peterson meant I was supposed to hunt up a clear phone and call Washington. I didn’t ask myself how Mac had known where to reach me. After all, I’d told him I had a date with the Michaelis kid, whose temporary residence was known; and I hadn’t made it very hard for anybody who wanted to tail me from there. The only question was, should I call and learn where I stood, or should I be proud and, independent.