‘I can believe that. You didn’t give anything away?’
‘No.’ She drained her glass, set it on the floor and lay back against the cushions. She was easily the most ravishing-looking girl I had ever seen.
‘Well, that’s fine,’ I said. ‘And you’ll take me out there now?’
“Yes. I may have seen all there is to see, but you never know. You’d better change.’ She sat up and lowered her feet to the floor. ‘Did you see Barclay?’
‘I saw him, but there’s nothing there. He has an alibi for the time of the shooting. My only hope now is Anita Cerf.’
‘Well, you may find her tonight. Go and get changed.’
I went and changed. While I was adjusting my tie, Miss Bolus pushed open my bedroom door and leaned against the door frame.
‘Have you a gun?’ she asked.
I looked over my shoulder and stared at her, then shook my head.
‘Do you think I’ll need one?’
“You might. There were some tough boys about that place. I expect they’re still there. It depends if you’re looking for trouble or not. If you are you’ll need a gun.’
‘I never look for trouble; besides I don’t own a gun. What sort of joint is this? I’ve always heard it’s a luxury night club.’
‘So it is, but there’s a lot of heavy gambling going on there, and every member has to vouch for his or her guest. Bannister is hard boiled. He has a couple of muscle men to take care of snoopers. I’m just warning you. You won’t be able to do what you like there.’
‘Well, I can always try,’ I said, and touched the sides of my hair with brushes. I counted my money, slid the small change into my pockets and decided I was ready. ‘Let’s go. Did I tell you you look good enough to eat?’
‘Is that the best you can do?’ she asked, and looked at me from under her eyelashes.
‘Why, no. I wasn’t trying.’ I moved closer. ‘Do you want me to try?’
She lifted her elegant shoulders and drifted out of reach.
‘Save it for a rainy afternoon.’
I watched her wander across the sitting room to the verandah doors. I don’t know when the room had looked more glamorous. I turned off the lights and followed her down the path to the car.
As she settled beside me in the bucket seat, I said, ‘Caesar Mills was out at Barclay’s place this afternoon, having a look round.’
She tilted her chin and I felt her stiffen.
‘I’m not interested in Caesar Mills,’ she said in a cold, flat voice.
‘Maybe not, but I have a feeling you know a lot more about him than you’ve told me. How about opening up?’
She took a cigarette-case from her evening bag, lit a cigarette and kept her tilted chin pointing to the pool of light made by the headlamps of the car.
‘I’m not talking about Mills,’ she said emphatically. ‘I told you — he doesn’t interest me.’
‘I was under the impression you and I had an account to square with him. Isn’t that why you’ve joined up with me?’
‘No, it isn’t. I wouldn’t need your help or anyone else’s to get even with Mills. I can take that little rat any time I want.’
‘Well, okay, if we don’t talk about Mills, let’s talk about you.’ I swung the car on to Orchid Boulevard and trod on the gas. ‘What lies behind the sultry look in your eyes?’
She made an impatient movement, sank further down in the seat and said nothing.
‘Don’t be so hard to get,’ I said, glancing at the shadowy outline of her tilted chin. ‘What’s your story? I’m burning up with curiosity. You appear out of nowhere, cotton on to me as if you’ve known me all your life and mix yourself up in something you say has nothing to do with you. What lies behind it all? Who are you?’
‘That’s easy,’ she said, and gave a hard, short laugh. ‘I’m nobody. The only thing about me that’s glamorous is the way I look. The rest of me comes right out of an ashcan. I was brought up the hard way, and when I say hard I mean hard. My dad did a strong-man act at the pit doors of the Gaiety Theatre in New York. He made about ten dollars a week. When I was old enough to quit school, and I was twelve when I did quit, I took the collection bag along the queue, and that’s a swell place to get your leg pinched or for a guy when he’s giving you a dime to run his paws over you. My mother went off with a bond salesman when I was three. I don’t blame her. It couldn’t be a lot of fun to be married to a sap as dumb as my dad. But he was kind, and I wouldn’t let anyone but me say a word against him. He killed himself trying to earn a living to keep me. The joke was I could have kept him and myself, and would have thought nothing of it only he wouldn’t stand for it. Maybe he thought I picked up the bruises on my legs from a woodpecker. Maybe he didn’t know about the bruises.’
I said, ‘Light me a cigarette. I’m not altogether sure I want to hear any more of this.’
She laughed again.
They never do, but you asked for it and you’ll get it. My dad died when I was fifteen. From then on I got along all right. I’m not saying it wasn’t a hard racket, nor has it been much fun, but I’ve got along.’ She lit the cigarette and pushed t into my mouth. ‘And I’ll tell you something. If you don’t want me to hate you, don’t ever offer me money, because I’ll take it, and do I hate a man who gives me money.’
‘Then why take it?’
‘I’m superstitious that way. If I ever refuse a dime I’d expect to lose a dollar.’
‘Well, I haven’t enough to make it worth your while,’ I said frowning into the night. About a couple of miles at the top of the hill I could see the lights of Fairview. I urged the car forward. ‘If you’re planning to get anything out of me, honey, you’re on the wrong horse.’
‘Don’t act dumb,’ she said acidly. ‘I’m not expecting anything from you. I can always pick up a little money when I need it. I’m a poker player, and can make enough to live on any night at L’Etoile. That’s more than my dad could do, the poor dumb sap. And another thing, don’t ever play cards with me. I can’t help cheating and I’d skin your bankroll.’
‘You’re certainly giving yourself a swell build-up. What’s the idea?’
‘You said you wanted to know what lies behind the sultry look in my eyes. I’m telling you.’
‘You certainly are.’
She glanced at me. The light from the dashboard lit up the lower part of her face. Her lips glistened red in the faint light.
‘I’ll make you a proposition,’ she said suddenly. How about giving me a bed in that lousy little cabin of yours?’
‘What was that again?’
‘I’m suggesting I live with you. The rent I’m now paying for a two-room apartment a pig would sneer at makes my flesh creep.’
‘I have only one bed,’ I pointed out.
‘Well you don’t have to be coy about that. I wouldn’t be,’ she said, and laughed. ‘You mean you don’t want me?’
‘That’s more or less the idea. It’s just that I’m used to being on my own and like it that way; nothing personal in it.’
‘That’s a new one!’ she exclaimed, and for the first time since I had met her she sounded cheerful. ‘My mistake. I’m always trying to save money. It’s a failing of mine. Forget it.’
‘Sure,’ I said. ‘I’ll forget it. I’m beginning to wonder if you are as tough as you sound.’
‘Try me and see,’ she said.
I took her at her word and shoved on the brakes, bringing the car to a standstill by the edge of the grass verge. I twisted around in my seat and looked at her.
‘No time like the present,’ I said. ‘The last dame I passed up has been haunting my dreams. I’ll take good care you don’t.’