Fire In The Blood

Chapter Seven

Pi ERCE WAS RIGHT next to her and in the best position to offer a shoulder to cry on, or at least the middle of his chest, which was as high as she came on him.
None of the rest of us leaped forward to take the job so he patted the back of her head and told her everything was all right and let her soak his sweater for a while.
Not knowing what else to do, I shoved my hands in my pockets and tried to look someplace else. The girl wasn't crying just to cry. The gusting, ugly sounds that came from her were the raw stuff of honest grief. She was in pain and there was nothing anyone could do but let her get through it.
Escott gave them a wide berth as he stepped over to whisper something to Griffin. The big man nodded and left for the back Hi the house, returning with a flat bottle and a shot glass. He poured some amber liquid out and passed it to Pierce.
Though teetotaling himself, he apparently didn't believe in enforcing it onto others.
He put the glass to Kitty's lips and got her to drink. She choked, hiccupped, and settled a little. Her sobs became less frequent and softer, but she still hung on to Pierce. He steered her toward the sofa and they sat down together. When she groped in the pocket of her dress and pulled out a sodden handkerchief, Pierce took it away from her and replaced it with a dry one of his own.
She blew her nose a few times and said she was sorry.
"It's all right, honey," said Marian, echoing her father's calming assurances.
"You've been through the wringer. Nobody minds when a little water has to come out."
Kitty responded with something unintelligible and blew her nose again. Marian relieved Pierce of the shot glass and had Griffin refill it. Kitty finished her second drink more quickly and easily than the first, welcoming its deadening effect.
"Would you gentlemen care for anything?" asked Griffin, lifting the bottle.
Escott declined. He wasn't exactly a cop, but sometimes considered himself to be
"on duty." This was one of those times. As ever, I politely shook my head.
"At least some coffee, Griff," said Pierce. "A nice, big pot and very strong."
"Sinkers, too?"
"Yes, if we have them."
Griffin left the glass and bottle within Pierce's reach on a table and I presently heard him in the kitchen clattering around with things.
Escott sat on the edge of an easy chair opposite the sofa. "I'm very glad you sent for us, Mr. Pierce. What exactly is it that you require?"
"Some help, of course."
"I'll do what I can."
Pierce gave out with a good-natured snort. "I certainly hope so, or I'll want that retainer back."
The corners of Escott's mouth briefly curled and he leaned forward, going to work with a benign expression.
"Good evening, Miss Pierce, Miss Donovan."
Marian shot him a brief, meaningless smile and went to sit on the sofa next to Kitty. Kitty nodded and dropped her reddened eyes.
Pierce said, "I've convinced Kitty that she needs to talk with the police. But first I wanted her to tell you what happened so you can find out who did kill Stan. I'm hoping you'll be able to get her off the hook."
"Your confidence in me is most flattering, but I can make no promises."
"If you tried to at this point, you'd be going out the door right now."
"Fair enough. Miss Donovan, would you please tell us all that you did last night?"
l( was slow in coming. The girl was obviously uncomfortable with everyone looking at her. Pierce nodded encouragement and once in a while Marian patted her friend's hand.
Stan and I had a date," she said in a flat, lifeless voice. "I was waiting for him at the Angel Grill. I was there extra early-"
Why was that?" asked Escott.
"I had some displays to arrange at a department store and finished them sooner than I'd expected. I didn't feel like going home just to go right out again, which was all I would have had time for, so I went straight to the Angel. While I was there one of his friends came over, a guy named Shorty." Has he another name to go with that one?" Shorty was all Stan ever called him."
"Describe him." Well... he's short," she said unhelpfully.
I envied Escott's patience. He tried another tack. "What sort of clothes does he wear?"
She was on firmer ground here. "Cheap and awful. They're good enough for him to get by, but he doesn't clean them. He had egg stains on his coat, and he smokes cigars-he just reeked from them."
By working off of the girl's emotional reaction to the man, he was able to get a fairly complete description. One detail led to the next. He produced a notebook and took it all down, then asked, "What did he want. Miss Donovan?"
"He was trying to tell me that Lead foot Sam was looking for Stan."
"Trying?"
" He didn't just come out and say it, he kind of talked around it, hinting. I put him off and tried to ignore him, but he kept hanging around as though he wanted something, and kept hinting. I finally got the idea that Stan was in trouble and that I'd better let him know so he could avoid it. Stan wasn't due for another thirty minutes and Shorty had scared me. He said that Leadfoot knew where Stan lived and might be waiting for him there. I couldn't just sit around after hearing all that, so I left."
"For the Boswell House?"
"Uh-huh. That's when I ran into the two of you."
He smiled to let her know all was forgiven. "Now, tell me exactly what happened after you left the hotel."
"I went straight home. I thought Stan might go there, too. When I saw his car on the street out front, I knew I'd guessed right, and went inside."
"Was your door locked?"
"Yes. I unlocked it, went inside, and locked it behind me."
"You were still nervous?"
"I was still scared."
He nodded, not blaming her for that. "Did Mr. McAlister have a key to your door?"
She didn't blush and said yes in an even tone.
"Is that the only way one can get into the building?"
"I think so."
"No unlocked back doors?"
"I don't know. You'd have to ask the manager."
"Very well. What did you do after you were inside?"
"I called for him, but he didn't answer. I thought he might be in the bathroom, but he wasn't. I checked all over and then I went into the kitchen. I don't remember much after walking in. I know I saw him, but that's all. I know I saw him, but I don't remember seeing him."
"You were in shock, honey," said Marian, squeezing her hand. "Don't let it worry you. You're better off not remembering."
"But it feels strange."
Escott continued. "What is the next thing that you can recall?"
"Waking up in my room. I heard two men talking down the hall-you two. I was scared. I thought maybe you'd done it. All I wanted was to get out, so I took the fire escape and ran and ran. I just couldn't stand it. I had to run."
"That's where I come in," said Marian. "She drove over here to see me, but I hadn't gotten home yet."
"Then Miss Donovan talked to one of the servants?"
Kitty shook her head, probably more than she needed to, but the drinks were working on her now. "I didn't dare. I took the back road in to the estate and put my car in the guest house garage. Then I came in here and tried to call Marian on the phone."
"How did you get in?"
"I checked under the doormat for a key and got lucky."
"What did you do when you could not reach Miss Pierce on the phone?"
"Nothing. That is, I couldn't do anything. I had to sit in the dark or someone from the main house might look out and see the lights. It was cold. I couldn't build a fire because of the smoke, and I was afraid to change the furnace setting. It's only high enough to keep the water pipes from freezing. But I turned on the electric stove in the kitchen and left its door open and that helped. Then I found some blankets and wrapped up."
Escott looked sympathetic. "So you stayed here until you could reach Miss Pierce?"
"All night."
"It must have been most uncomfortable."
"I don't remember much of that, either. I had a little brandy and it went right to my head. I just fell asleep at the kitchen table."
Considering the emotional strain and the fact that she'd missed dinner, it was no surprise, but I could almost see the sneer on the prosecutor's face if she brought that story to court. Real damsels in distress were few and far between, even if they looked the part as Kitty did.
Griffin returned just then with a tray full of cups, milk, sugar, und the long-awaited coffee. A plate stacked with donuts was on one side of it and on the other was a smaller plate with a neatly made up sandwich. He put it all down on the coffee table and handed the sandwich plate directly to Kitty. She accepted it with some confusion.
"Eat," he ordered in a stern voice. Wide-eyed because he was nothing if not impressive, the girl picked it up and took a bite. A second later she remembered to chew and swallow. Once the process was started, she had no trouble finishing.
The food almost turned it into a social occasion, and Escott had to wait as cups were filled and donuts were passed. I declined offers of both and hung back by the fireplace. My hands felt cold. They shouldn't have, since I was fairly indifferent to anything but the most extreme temperatures now. Maybe it had to do with the question I would have to ask her. It wasn't so much the question, but the method I'd need to use to get my answer.
"Not hungry?" Marian came to stand next to me, a coffee cup in one hand.
"I had dinner just before Griffin came for us."
She looked me over. "I'll bet you're one of those men who eats like a horse and never shows it."
"Maybe I am." I was uneasy with the conversation. She seemed the type to insist I have something and take a refusal as an insult. A subject change was in order. "I understand you and Harry Summers made up."
Her eyes were still fastened on me. Their pure blue color was just as lovely, but harder and colder, like a mountain lake with ice in it. It had probably been a bad move to remind her about last night. "Yes, Harry and I are all lovey-dovey again."
"I'm glad to hear it."
A hostile line appeared in the set of her mouth, then softened. "So's Harry. It was all his idea, after all."
"He said he was crazy about you."
"I know that. He only tells me so a hundred times a day."
"You could do worse."
"Like with you?" She smiled. It wasn't an especially nice one.
"Like with Stan McAlister."
She blinked, as though I'd smacked her on the nose.
"What did you tell him at the club?"
"Tell him? I don't know what you mean."
"Yes, you do. You were seen sitting at the same table and talking. He got up and left, then you did the same. What did you say?"
She blushed. Under her carefully applied face powder, it looked muddy rather than becoming. "Damn Daddy, anyway," she whispered, her teeth exactly on edge.
"Never mind that. What did you say?"
She put down her coffee cup because her hands were shaking. She was plenty mad. "All I did was say that I met you and that I thought Daddy had hired you to follow me."
"Why would that make Stan bolt the place?"
"It didn't. He asked me a lot of questions about the talk you and I had, and then he said that you weren't after me. but after him. That's when he left. I'd wondered why at the time, but now I know he was afraid because of the bracelet he'd stolen. He must have realized the theft had been noticed and that you were there to find him."
"Why would he talk to you, then?"
She looked puzzled. "Why not?"
"Since he stole the bracelet from you, I should think you'd be the last person he'd want to see."
"Not if he was trying to play innocent about it all. Stan only had to lie, you know.
I'm sure he was good at it. He'd be able to stand up to me or even Daddy, but it must have all fallen apart for him the moment he thought someone was actually after him."
"Yeah, I guess it must. Did he say where he was going in such a big hurry?"
"No, but he had to have gone straight to his hotel. Kitty said that you and your partner scared him off."
"With some help from Kitty."
"Don't be so hard on her, she really loved him. She was expecting to marry him."
Oh, good Lord. "With your bracelet as a wedding present?"
She started to blurt out some kind of a retort and caught herself before any sound came out. She looked over at Kitty, a sick expression on her face. "Oh, my God, you can't mean it."
"I gotta look at things the way the cops would."
"But Kitty wouldn't do anything like that."
"Like what? Theft or murder?"
"Either one."
"Maybe you could be a character witness, but you'd better work on your delivery.
Right now, it's not too convincing."
"You-" She bit the word off but I had a good idea about what she'd wanted to say. I'd been called worse. Name calling wouldn't have eased things for her; what she really wanted to do was to knock my block off.
"Who do you think did it?" I asked.
"Leadfoot Sam," she spat. "Whoever he is. Kitty knows a little bit about him. Not much, but enough to be scared."
"And if he didn't?"
"I'm sure I don't know, perhaps some one of Stan's other friends. He must have had others. Why don't you find that man Kitty told you about-Shorty-and ask him?"
"What about you?"
"I wouldn't know where to look."
"I mean did you do it?"
A soft laugh puffed from her. "Don't be ridiculous. Besides, I was with Harry."
"Then both of you were in on it, or maybe you talked him into covering for you.
Or you're covering for him."
"Is that the best you can do? Why would either of us want to kill poor Stan?"
"I learned enough about 'poor Stan' last night to know that a lot of people might have wanted to kill him."
"Then go talk to them; I'm not part of that crowd." She swept back to the sofa to sit next to Kitty again. She glanced once at me with obvious distaste, then turned her attention to the others. Maybe she was hoping I'd just disappear as I had in the parking lot.
The short break had given her drinks time to really circulate into Kitty's system.
She was a lot more relaxed when Escott resumed his questioning.
"Once you were able to get hold of Miss Pierce, what did you say to her?" he asked.
"I told her I was in a jam and to come see me here."
"Presumably without being seen to do it."
The girl nodded. "And then she got here and I told her everything that had happened... what I could remember of it."
"What time did this interview take place?"
"Sometime this morning," answered Marian. "Around ten or so."
"And when did you decide to mention it to your father?"
Pierce glowered at them. "They didn't."
"How did you find out?"
"My study window overlooks this whole area. When I saw Marian tiptoeing around in her own yard I had a feeling something was going on and came down to find out why."
"Which you did," said Marian, smiling as though chagrined at being caught. But her smile was a tight one and didn't reach her eyes. She clearly resented his checking up on her.
"Which I did," repeated Pierce. "And a good thing, too. These two innocents had some crackpot plan to hide Kitty out here until the fuss had died down, and then take off for Mexico. Lord knows what would have happened to them... White slavers or worse."
Marian restrained herself and did not roll her eyes.
"Then you sent for me rather than inform the authorities," Escott concluded.
Pierce was scowling, but not too seriously. "I needed time to hear her side of things and figure out what to do next. I talked with my lawyer, but he's not a specialist in criminal law. Right this minute he's doing what he can to find someone who can help us."
"Once he does and after he's had a chance to talk to Miss Donovan as well, I think you should take her in as quickly as possible to make a statement. It might look better for her."
"It might look better, but would it be better?"
"To be honest, I don't know. Legally, you are required to do as I've suggested.
There is a warrant out on Miss Donovan, and the longer you delay, the worse it can get. You and your daughter could end up facing charges for harboring a fugitive."
Pierce erupted from the sofa. The living room was really too small for him to decently pace off his anger. He vented some of it verbally, his colorful abuse aimed at the law in general and the criminal court system in particular. "I've half a mind to go along with your plan and put you on the next train out of town," he concluded, looking at Kitty.
"Then they would know I was guilty," she murmured. She was almost in tears again from his outburst and was shaking from the effort to keep them in. Marian was stone-faced bored. Perhaps she was well used to her father's tempers.
"Of course you're not guilty." He started to add something, then realized what shape the girl was in and put a lid on it. "I just want to do what's best for you. It's about time someone did."
If Kitty failed to notice what he said and how he said it, Marian did not. She was as stone-faced as ever, but her big eyes narrowed slightly.
"Miss Donovan?" I was adopting Escott's formal manner. It seemed right for the question I had to ask.
She looked up at me, glad for a distraction.
"Just to set the record straight for us, did you kill Stan?"
Pierce started to erupt again, this time his anger directed toward me, but Escott stopped him. Escott knew what I was doing and knew that I had to be careful not to let it be noticed. It wasn't hard, since everyone was looking at Kitty, waiting to hear what she said.
She didn't answer right away. I repeated my question, holding her eyes. When she did answer, it was with a negative. It even came out sounding normal-or as normal as a person could sound, given the circumstances.
I continued to concentrate on her. I wasn't seducing her, she wasn't seducing me.
This was simple influencing to get at the truth. I had to remember that to keep myself steady, to stay in control.
"Do you have any idea who might have done it?"
"Leadfoot Sam," she said without hesitation.
I let up on the light pressure I exerted. The girl was unharmed and nothing else had happened. Memory and conscience still writhed inside like bloated worms, but I could ignore them for now.
"Why do you think that, Miss Donovan?" Escott asked, picking up the slack before anyone knew it was there.
She displayed no awareness of my mental tampering. "Because of what Shorty told me. But I don't know why or how it could have happened at my place."
I had an idea or two, but kept shut about them.
"Have you been here all day?" he continued.
"Yes."
"Alone?"
"Yes, except when Marian was here."
"When was that?"
"This morning... after ten, wasn't it?"
Marian confirmed the time.
He shifted his attention to her. "How long did you stay here, Miss Pierce?"
"An hour or so, maybe a little longer."
"What did you do after you left?"
"I went back to the main house and tried to pretend nothing was wrong."
"Did you visit Miss Donovan at all throughout the day?"
"No, I couldn't do that or it might have looked funny." She broke off as her father nodded agreement, then resumed. "So I called her a few times to check on her, to see if she was all right. I'd let it ring once, then dial again so she'd know it was me."
"And she was there each time?"
"Yes, of course."
"And what times did you call?"
Marian shrugged. "I don't know, after twelve and again at two and three."
"You were at home when you made these calls?"
"No, not for all of them. I went out shopping."
"Shopping?"
"Kitty didn't have any extra clothes or even a toothbrush. I couldn't loan her any of my clothes since they don't fit her, so I went to get her a few things and some groceries."
"When did you do this?"
"At about one. I left after lunch."
"And returned?"
"Around four, I think."
"Is that not a long time to be shopping?"
"You don't know my daughter, Mr. Escott," said Pierce. "A three-hour trip means she's only just started. Why are you so interested in the time?"
Escott held silent a moment. I found myself holding my breath, even though I don't usually breathe. "There's been a shooting," he finally said. "It may quite well be connected to McAlister's death."
A little ripple of surprise went through them and the usual questions came out.
Not all of them were answered. Escott kept shut about who was shot and where she was now. He only said that the person was a friend of McAlister's and left it at that, which left them all highly dissatisfied.
"The police are still investigating. I cannot give out any more information than that."
"But how is it related to Stan's death?" asked Pierce.
"I'm not certain at this point, though considering the facts we have, one may come to a logical conclusion. The more immediate problem for us is that Miss Donovan does not have an alibi for the time of the shooting."
"What time was that?"
"The police think it happened between three-thirty and four, when the victim was discovered."
"Where did it happen?"
"At a city park less than a mile from this very house."
"Oh, good God."
"But I was here," said Kitty.
"Have you proof?" he shot back.
The girl went white around the lips and shrank back into the couch.
"Miss Donovan need not have even used her car; it's but a twenty-minute walk both ways..."
Kitty made a sound halfway between a moan and a whimper.
"Shut up, Escott," Pierce snapped.
Escott ignored him. "Have you an alibi for the time, Mr. Pierce?"
Pierce opened his mouth to say something and left it hanging that way as the implications sank in.
"Does Mr. Griffin have an alibi, or your daughter?"
"Me?" Marian's eyes went wide and she groped for her father's hand. Griffin's brow puckered.
Pierce shut his mouth, shaking his head. "All right, I see what you're getting at, not that I like it very much."
"Neither do I," said Marian. "Why are you talking to us? Shouldn't you be checking on this Leadfoot Sam or Shorty?"
"I expect I shall be doing just that after I've finished with things here. Miss Donovan, do you still have the gun that was in your possession last night?"
Kitty looked blank. "Gun?"
"Remember in the hotel lobby?" I prodded. "Or was that a dime-store toy?"
The memory reluctantly returned. "I guess it's still in my purse."
"Where's your purse?"
"Upstairs, in the first bedroom."
Pierce volunteered to go get it, but Escott said no and sent me. The stairs were just off the parlor and went straight up without any turns. The first door next to the landing stood open and the room beyond looked occupied. The bed had been made up, but the covers were all wrinkled, and feminine clothing lay scattered around. The wastebasket was overflowing with tissue wrap and a stack of empty boxes stood next to the dresser, evidence of Marian's shopping jaunt.
On the dresser was Kitty's purse. Inside the purse was her little automatic. It was the one I remembered from last night and it was a .22.
I filched a handkerchief to pick it up and sniffed the barrel. It hadn't been fired.
She could have cleaned it, but there was no evidence of fresh gun oil. I searched the room and could find no cleaning kit, but something like that could be anywhere in the house or out in the garage with her car. Kitty hadn't killed McAlister, and though I couldn't see her gunning down Doreen, either, my vision might not count for much.
I could be nearsighted.
I came back down to a silent room. None of them seemed too happy when I exhibited the gun in its cloth nest. Escott took a close look without touching it and sniffed the barrel as well, then dismissed it.
"Are there other guns in this house or the main house?"
Pierce nodded. "I've a couple of hunting rifles and a Luger." 'What caliber are the rifles?"
"They're both .30-30s."
"You should be safe enough, then, though I would advise you bring them to the attention of your lawyer when the time comes."
"This person who was shot... is he dead?"
Escott went quite still, studying each in turn. I hoped that he was reading more from them than I. "Yes, I'm sorry to say." 'Damn it. How does this tie in with McAlister?" The bracelet."
"Always that goddamned bracelet," he rumbled. He came to attention as a new thought hit him. "Did he have the bracelet? Was it... ?"
"The bracelet was not on the body." Escott bent his eye on Kitty again. "Miss Donovan, were you aware that McAlister might have stolen Miss Pierce's bracelet?"
"Not until Mr. Pierce told me about it tonight. I feel terrible that I was the one to bring Stan into the house."
"Do you believe he stole it?"
She faltered. "Well, that's what Mr. Pierce said..." She looked at him for support and got it.
"Of course he stole it," he told her. "But there's no need to worry about that. It's over and done with. Whoever killed him probably got the bracelet, and I could care less."
"Do you, indeed?" queried Escott.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I cannot say, but may be able to tell you presently. What's needed now is to tell the police your side of things and make them believe it, something that's best done with experienced legal help."
Pierce took the hint with a heavy sigh. "All right. I'll phone and see if the old shyster's turned up a likely candidate."
He did some dialing, located his lawyer, and broke into a smile at the news he got. Arrangements were made for a meeting. Kitty would have to repeat her story, first to the new lawyer, and then to the police. I hoped that she had the stamina to last through the process. She had a long night ahead.
Escott was asked to come along, but declined. "Your lawyer is your best help there," he said. "Besides, you want the real criminal brought in, and I cannot work on the problem from the police station."
I also suspected he wanted to keep some distance between himself and Lieutenant Blair for the time being. Pierce accepted the point as it was given and didn't press things.
After we got our coats, Pierce excused himself and walked us out to the car.
"You don't really think that little girl did anything?" he asked Escott. Away from the others, his confident front wavered; his own private fears were more noticeable, now.
"No," he replied, "But I do believe she has been used and used wretchedly.
Finding proof of it is quite another thing, though."
"Is that what you're going after?"
"I hope so." Escott got into the driver's side, started the motor and got us moving.
It was at a snail's pace. His driving sometimes reflected his preoccupation with a problem: the busier his mind, the slower he drove.
"Good move back there," I said. "Were you hoping to find out something by making them think Doreen was dead?"
"I was, but not with any reasonable expectations. My primary purpose was to ensure some little safety for Miss Grey by assuring her attacker of her inability to talk."
"If he or she was there to hear it."
"Hmm."
"That bit about the key to the flat... McAlister didn't have one on him, did he?"
"No. His pockets had been turned out. His wallet was gone, and if he had been carrying his own key, it was also gone, no doubt taken by the murderer. Any prosecutor will hold that Miss Donovan must have let him in herself. We've only her say-so that McAlister possessed one."
"Which he probably did, since we know she didn't do it."
"It's a pity we cannot bring Lieutenant Blair into our confidence on that point..."
He caught my look. "Never mind."
"Leaving Kitty out of it means that Stan let in the killer. He cither answered the buzzer or met him outside and they walked in together."
"And in ten minutes or less he is lying dead on the kitchen floor and the killer gone."
"Fast worker," I said.
"Why the kitchen?" he mused.
"It's loaded with weapons."
"So are most rooms in a house. Your conclusion implies a degree of premeditation, and the attack on McAlister looked impulsive to me. It was cold; perhaps they went there to find something with which to warm themselves."
"They get to arguing, McAlister turns his back, gets clubbed with a frying pan, and stabbed for good measure to make sure he's really dead."
"Something that I have noted is that if a woman is murdered, the violence frequently occurs in the bedroom, but when a woman herself murders, she chooses the kitchen as her stage."
"You're thinking of Marian Pierce?"
"As a possibility."
"What's her motive?"
"Unknown at present. Perhaps later you might talk with her and ascertain if one exists."
I didn't like this turn of the conversation at all. I wasn't ready to start explaining to Escott that I had given up hypnotic interviews. I tried for a change of subject.
"You said something about a logical conclusion... Wanna share it?"
One of his eyebrows bounced. "Yes, well, it has to do with Miss Grey and the bracelet. I believe she had it all along."
I winced inside.
"And if she did have it, then perhaps she was shot for it."
He left unspoken the implication that if I'd bothered to ask an obvious question last night, she might never have been shot at all.
"It was not in her possession when she was found. One may presume either a passerby performed a bit of impromptu larceny and escaped, or that the theft was accomplished by the one who shot her."
"And you don't think it was Kyler?"
"I really haven't enough information one way or another concerning his complicity to be able to make any kind of a judgment. He is most certainly involved, but we must determine the degree of his involvement."
"And maybe get Kitty off the hook?"
"We may hope as much. Her information was not utterly devoid of interest." He pulled out a silver cigarette case and juggled with it. The Nash threatened to cut a fresh road over someone's yard. I put out a hand to steady the wheel. He took advantage of the break and quickly drew out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. If we were at home or at the office, it would have been his less portable pipe.
"Like the part about Shorty?" I asked.
"Hmm." He struck a match.
"You think you know him?"
"I believe I know of him, though I've never actually met the fellow."
"Who is he?"
"A dweller on the fringe, I expect."
I briefly wondered if his damned smoking set him off on a tangent or if he only used it as an excuse to do so. Either way, the effect was the same. "Want to explain that?"
"You've met his type before. They never seem to work, but somehow manage to get by. They bounce from one unpaid bill to another and are experts at the art of living off the charity of others."
"The crash made a lot of guys that way."
"People like Shorty have always been that way. Their prime concern in life is usually centered upon their next meal."
"Or their next drink."
"There's that, too, though I believe the addiction to drink is but a symptom, and not the problem itself. I've seen hundreds of them... sad faces, angry faces, lost faces, and faces with nothing left in them at all. One wonders where they've come from and where they will go and what ruined dreams may lie behind their empty eyes."
"That's what I like about you, Charles... you're such cheerful company."
"I'm in a cheerful mood," he said.
"So are we headed for this fringe to look for Shorty or are you planning to tackle Kyler?"
"Oh, we shall interview Shorty first."
"Why? About all he can do is back up Kitty's story."
"And perhaps a bit more-if he is what I think he is."
"Some kind of stoolie?"
"An information salesman," he conceded, always one to put a polish on things.
"I'm hoping he will give us a line on Kyler- or rather sell us one and thus save us a bit of time."
"So what was he doing giving stuff away free to Kitty?"
"I'm not so certain that it was intentional, but perhaps he was hoping his early warning might have generated some income from a grateful McAlister."
"How many stoolies have you met who were that dumb?"
He decided not to answer and focused his attention on the road and his cigarette.
It was still fairly early and the amount of traffic reflected the hour. You'd think they'd all be huddled by their firesides, still gloating over their Christmas presents. If any.
The last eight years had been starvation lean for too many people, and the realities rarely matched up with the cozy ideals in the magazine ads. I stared out the passenger window and watched the neighborhoods change from ritzy to nice, to good, to downright hostile, and back again. Escott finally slowed and parked the Nash in a borderland area of good that was starting to lose out to hostile.
Across the street a series of low buildings crowded close to each other, as if for warmth. On one of them hung a painted sign advertising the Angel Bar and Grill.
One side of the sign was lighted, the other, with its broken bulb, dark.
Borderland.
"Looks like just the sort of place a guy like Stan would bring his girl," I said.
"One way or another, it would be certain to leave an impression."
A trace of rain hung in the air, just enough to dampen the streets and make us cautious of our footing as we crossed over and went inside. The place wasn't that big, but it was crowded and dim. Escott nodded once at me and went over to the bar. I peeled away and made a circuit of the room, looking for anyone who matched Kitty's description of Shorty.
A lot of unfamiliar faces looked back, reminding me of the ones Escott had spoken of earlier. I shook off the image and concentrated on the job.
Someone tugged at my coat from behind. "Hey, Jack."
I turned, mindful of pickpockets, and wondering who could possibly know me here. No pickpocket this time, just Pony Jones with his curiosity up. Pony did enough bookie business to keep himself, but not so much that he drew attention from the big boys. Escott had introduced us some months back when we were doing some other job. Pony always looked drunk, but never forgot a face or a name except as a dodge to trouble, then he became as vague as his appearance suggested.
Sitting next to him was his half-brother, Elmer, sometimes known as Elmtree Elmer since he was tall and about as tough. He had a brain deep inside that big body, but was lazy about using it, and usually content to let Pony do his thinking for him.
"What'ya doin' here?" asked Pony.
I could almost see all the ears swiveling in our direction. There was space at their small table, so I slipped into a chair opposite them. "Hi, Pony, Elmer. How's business?" As I drew breath to speak, I got a strong whiff of stale smoke, beer, and sweat.
"Good 'n' bad."
"Looks like the bad's winning."
Elmer didn't react at all, choosing to play dense tonight. Pony's crab-apple face only crumpled a bit more. "Don't be a wise ass. You still working for that limey bastard?"
"Yeah, he's here with me."
Elmer grimaced. He liked Escott about as much as I liked sunbaths.
"Why are you sitting with your back to the door?" I asked.
" 'Cause my back can stand the draft better than my front. Who ya lookin' for?"
His dark little eyes were avid. He knew I was off my usual track in coming to a place like the Angel.
"You wouldn't know him."
His mouth twisted. "C'mon, Jack, no need to dance around all night. Just say a name an' I'll let you know if I know 'um."
"Uh-huh."
"Flat fee, only a sawbuck."
"Try a buck, Pony." Over his shoulder, I saw Escott had finished talking with the bartender. I caught his eye and shook my head once so he wouldn't interrupt.
"Aw, c'mon, I got family to support."
"Fine, go get a regular job." I made to get up.
"Okay, a buck's fine, but only if I know 'em. Cost you more in find out more."
That always went without saying. "Guy named Shorty."
"My sweet Aunt Tilly, you know how many guys I know named Shorty? F'cryin'
out loud, some jerkballs even call me Shorty."
I gave him my best and broadest grin. Though my canines were neatly retracted, it was more than effective. He tumbled right away.
"Aww, no. Jack..."
"Aww, yes. Pony."
Pony shrugged, flashed a yellow grin of his own, and rubbed his thumb against his fingers. I found a dollar and he made it vanish. He kept his hand out and tried to look like a hurt puppy.
"I said more will cost you more."
"This place is too crowded for talk."
He made a show of resignation. "Okay. We gotta flop close by, but I'd have to show you."
I caught Escott's eye again as I stood up. "Fine with me. Pony. I could use the exercise."
"What? Right now? It's cold out."
"Yeah, it'll probably be like that 'til spring."
Elmer was looking alert and damped it down when Pony shrugged at him. He'd accepted his fate and would go quietly. He stood, all five feet one of him a visible declaration of his least favorite moniker, and made a show of buttoning up his coat.
We walked to the door, Elmer leading. Pony behind him, and me ready for either of them to try anything. Escott was there ahead of us and held it open. Elmer paused to sneer at him and caused a minor bottleneck.
Pony Jones was nothing if not an opportunist. He slithered around Elmer and, true to his nickname, bolted.