按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e less because it had always been that way anyway。 At least the little episode with all the forces of national and international governments had bought me the same thing it had bought them 。。 time。 Everybody would be too busy to be clawing at my back now。 I grinned silently and flagged down a cruising cab。
Finero's Steak House was jammed with the after…theater crowd； a noisy bunch three deep around the bar and a couple dozen others waiting patiently in the lobby for a table。 I waved the maitre d〃 over； told him all I wanted was to see Ballinger and he let the velvet rope down so I could go in。
He was like something out of a late…late movie； sitting there flanked by two full…blown blondes in dresses cut so low they seemed more like stage costumes than evening wear。 His tux was the latest style； but on him it was all eyewash because he was still the dock…type hood and no tailor was ever going to change him。 One of the blondes kept feeling his five o'clock shadow and murmuring about his virility。 The other was doing something else and Ballinger was enjoying the mutual attention。 The others respectfully ignored the play； paying due attention to their own dates。 The original pair were there； but a new one had been added； a punk named Larry Beers who had been a pistolero with the Gomez Swan mob when he was nineteen and graduated into the upper echelon brackets when he had beaten a rap for gunning down two of the Benson Hill bunch。 I didn't know… Ballinger had him on his side until now。 Old Woodring was paying high for his services； whatever they were； that was for sure。
This time Woody put on an act for everybody's benefit。
I got a big smile； an introduction to the girls whose names all sounded alike； the pair named Carl and Sammy； but when he came to Larry Beers I said； 〃We've met；〃 His handshake was very wary。 〃Been a long time Larry。
〃Let's make it longer the next time。〃
〃Why not？〃
Ballinger gave me a big smile that was all snake with the fangs out； his heavy…lidded eyes asking for trouble。 〃Join us； Hammer？〃
〃Not tonight； Woody。 I got better things to do。〃
〃Ah； e on； I'll get you a broad and。。。〃
〃I'm a leg man； myself；〃 I said。
The blonde on his left stuck her tongue out at me。 〃I have those too； you know。〃
〃I hope so。 It's just that I enjoy a certain style and design。〃
She laughed and put both her hands on the table。 Woody seemed annoyed at the sudden attention I was getting and let his smile fade。 〃You want something？〃
I reached in my pocket； took out his wallet and tossed it on the table。 〃Just saving some embarrassment by having you go down and get it。 Seems funny； an old pro like you letting a dip grab his poke。 You do what I asked you？〃
He was too happy to know I was leaving not to answer me。 He stuck the wallet back in his pocket without looking at it and said； 〃Not yet； but soon。〃
〃Real soon； okay？〃
I looked at them all briefly； remembering their faces； nodded and went back to the street。 I could feel Woody Ballinger's eyes boring into my back all the way。
On the way to the East Side I stopped in a gin mill on Sixth Avenue and put in a call to Velda at her apartment。 I let the phone ring a dozen times； but there was no answer。 I tried the office too in case she decided to work late。 Same thing。 The answering service for my apartment number told me there had been no calls for me at all。 I wasn't about to worry about her。 She had a P。I。 ticket and a nasty little 。32 hammerless automatic to go with it and when the chips were down she could take care of herself。 Right now she probably was following orders； purse swinging with the e…on look in Lippy's neighborhood； seeing how the other half lived。
Near…midnight callers on actress tenants mustn't have seemed unusual to the doorman。 He was the same one who had admitted me earlier and when I asked him if he ever slept he chuckled and said； 〃Changed shifts with Barney。 He's courting and the night work was ruining his love life。 You want to see Miss Anders； go right up。 She got in a little while ago and for her it's like the middle of the afternoon。〃 He gave me a knowing look and added； 〃You want I should call her？〃
〃Give her a buzz。 Hammer's the name。
〃Yes； sir。〃 He plugged in the jack； flipped the toggle twice and waited。 Then： 〃Miss Anders； I have a Mr。 Hammer。。。〃
Her voice； ringing with that odd quality that could carry right through a phone； came right over his； but this time with a hurried urgency that seemed to have a catch in it。 〃Yes； please； send him right up。〃
The doorman hung up and made a wry face at me。 〃Funny broad； that。〃
〃How e？〃
〃Any guy she can get； but always picks the wrong ones who give her a hard time。 Like tonight she es home； eyes all red； sniffling and jumpy。 You'd think she'd blow this coop and start over somewheres。〃
〃The mortality rate is pretty high in show business。 Those dames can attract some oddballs。〃
〃Yeah； but no reason to。 They're just people same as anybody else。 They got a face and a body and you'd think they'd make out okay； but this one is always miserable。 It's a wonder she'll even speak to a guy any more。 A big star； plenty of money and always down in the dumps。 Me； I'm plain glad to be what I am。〃
〃I know the feeling；〃 I said。
This tune I didn't have to touch the bell。 The door was cracked and she was waiting for me； a pert thing with crazy ash…blonde hair； belted into a sheer black housecoat that clung so magically to all the curves and hollows that it seemed like she didn't have anything on at all。
But she wasn't quite as pretty as the last time。 Her eyes were too red and feverish looking。 The nervousness was more acute and the smile she gave me was strained to its limit。 She swallowed with a tiny； jerky motion of her head and reached for my sleeve。 〃e in； Mike。 Please e in。 I guess you must think Fm awfully strange to be having guests so late； but it's really nothing for me。 Nothing at all。〃 She tried a laugh on as she shut the door and took my hat。 It had a hollow； flat sound。 〃You'll have to excuse me if I'm not at my best。 It's just that。 。 。 well； I imagine everyone has personal problems and。。。〃
〃Don't let it bother you； honey。〃
Heidi Anders' fingers squeezed hard on my arm and she nibbled gently on her lower lip。 Something like a shudder ran through her； then she tugged and let me feel the warmth of her body beside me as she took me into that nutty love nest of hers。 Maybe it was the maid's day off； but the place wasn't like it had been。 Too many things were out of place； cushions strewn around； a lamp on the floor； ashtrays filled with lipstick…smeared butts。 They weren't party signs or trouble signs 。 。 。 just diffident neglect as if nobody gave a damn about the place。
She pushed me onto the couch； forcing gaiety into her tone。 〃Can I make you a drink； Mike？〃
〃A short one maybe。 I can only stay a minute。〃
〃Oh？〃 I couldn't tell whether it was fright or disappointment in her expression。
〃I only came to bring your pact back。〃 I reached in my pocket； took out the diamond…studded case and her insurance papers and laid them on the coffee table。
For all sh