Dead Reckoning Page #4

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and approves.

My house encourages tourists,

pays large taxes...

Coming out of it was like

after being tapped on the button.

Everything foggy, an anchor

on my head and ringing in my ears.

Rip, this is Coral, Dusty.

What happened?

I don't know. Don't you know?

I just woke up in my garage.

That's a great place to wake up.

Mr. Martinelli is a fine...

Remind me to put him

to sleep sometime.

My head's splitting.

Look in your bag.

See if you've got your money.

Just a minute.

- Murder.

- What'd you say?

I said murder. I just sat up.

- The money's all here, Rip.

- It is?

Then I can't understand

why he slugged us both.

- What's your phone number, Dusty?

- Surf 3181.

I'll call you back.

I've got company.

It was Louis.

His neck was broken.

My brain began to unscramble.

Louis, Johnny's letter.

That was the joker.

Then Martinelli was tied

to Johnny's death.

He'd found out about Johnny's letter,

so he'd silenced Louis too.

And Louis' body was to block me out

of the play with a murder rap.

I had to get rid of Louis

before the cops followed up...

... Martinelli's next play,

an anonymous tip to pay me a call.

Should I kick it in?

It may have been a phoney tip.

I don't know where it came from.

- It's you, the smart guy from Frisco.

- You're better than I thought.

- How'd you locate me?

- Mind if we take a look around?

Mind? Why should I mind?

What's a little sleep?

You mind telling me

what you're looking for?

Maybe that guy you was looking for,

Charlie Wilson.

- What do you know about that corpse?

- Same as you, nothing.

You heard the report

about that car smash.

That's why the rental job

with a police call-band.

You knew that guy

had been taken for a ride.

You guys murder me.

- That's the only radio the shop had.

- I bet.

If you'd stop playing smart,

I might help.

Where'd you get the head,

the Sanctuary Club?

You're a day early for Easter bunnies.

You had a row with Louis Ord.

What'd you threaten him about?

- Why don't you ask him?

- Don't think I won't.

You don't object to

my going back to bed, do you?

I got a habit of sleeping late,

often right up to 6.

How long you known Coral Chandler?

Sometimes I think all my life.

- Nice thing you did, getting her even.

- I always get even, lieutenant.

I'll leave the door unlocked.

You can walk in any time.

Come on, Casey.

If my laundry is picked up,

when can I expect it back? Wednesday?

When does the laundry pick it up?

What time?

Send the boy up at 8. While you're

on the wire, get me Surf 3181.

Yeah, thanks.

Hello, Dusty. Yeah.

Yeah, my company's gone.

I'm alone, I think.

What did the world look like

when you first opened your eyes?

Head like a balloon, huh?

With what? Oh, yeah.

What kind of a taste do you have?

Sour molasses?

Maybe it was DDT. I don't know,

I never drank any before.

How's your stomach feel?

Am I checking up on you? Of course.

I forgot to tell you, I don't trust

anybody, especially women.

Look, I got a job for us.

What time is the top rush hour

for lunch in this hotel?

Park your car in the garage at 1:00

and meet me in the lobby. Got it?

All right, see you then.

How soon can you get me

Operator 19, St. Louis?

That's my girl.

Hi, Al. This is Rip.

Sure, I'm great.

Did you get my phone message

this morning?

Not yet. Not for a while.

I got unfinished business

down here first.

Somebody who used to be your Detroit

competition. Calls himself Martinelli.

Yeah, in spades.

Did you dig me up the name

of a good man down here?

McGee, 25 Palmetto Street.

Okay, pal. You're a pal.

I'll be seeing you. Yeah, when

I got aces back to back. So long.

Lieutenant Kincaid?

Call for Lieutenant Kincaid.

- Calling Lieutenant...

- Okay, boy. Who wants me?

Headquarters, sir. On the phone.

Hello, lieutenant?

Chief wants to talk to you.

Will you hold the wire?

At last. You said 1:00.

Where were you?

The dining room's over there.

Hello? Hello?

- What's wrong? Can't you say a word?

- Sure. Hello.

- Where are we going?

- Anyplace out of town where we can eat.

- Not to speak of why.

- You're an inquisitive gal.

There's a place at Flamingo Beach,

but it's far. I have to be back at 3.

Stand him up.

You're with me until after dark.

- It isn't a man, it's my hairdresser.

- That makes it rugged.

- My hair's a mess after last night.

- Then let it down.

Maybe I'll let mine down too.

I can't understand

why Martinelli spiked our drinks.

- He thinks you're with that gangster?

- He knows I'm not one of the mob...

...just a guy who sat in

on a stud game once in a while.

- Well, then I don't see why...

- Women ask too many questions.

- They should just be beautiful.

- And let the men do the worrying.

Women ought to come capsule-size,

about four inches high.

When a man goes out,

he puts her in his pocket.

That way, he knows where she is.

He gets to his restaurant,

he puts her on the table...

...then swaps a few lies with his pals

without danger of interruption.

When it comes that time in the evening

when he wants her full-sized...

...he just waves his hand

and there she is.

That's the most conceited statement.

But if she starts to interrupt,

he shrinks her back and puts her away.

I understand. What you're saying is,

women are made to be loved.

- Is that what I'm saying?

- It's a confession...

...that a woman may drive you crazy,

but you wouldn't trust her.

And because you couldn't put her

in your pocket, you'd get mixed up.

I don't understand what does it.

What did it for Johnny?

The trouble is, it happened to Johnny

but it didn't happen to me.

- At least not as intensely.

- That's what he was afraid of.

I was going with him because

he was the nicest person I'd ever met.

And I'm lonely. You're right

about women being made for love.

But what happens when

it never comes the way you want it?

Like music that never reaches a pitch?

What do you do, go on singing songs

and drinking Ramos gin fizzes?

Yeah...

...I can see why Johnny loved you.

- And why he couldn't reach you.

- I loved him, Rip.

It's just... There's some people

you feel you can talk to.

They come along,

they sit beside you in your car.

Only, the funny thing is,

it's never happened before.

- That's crazy to say.

- You're the one that's mixed up.

- But I'm not mixed up.

- Get back in my pocket.

Do me a favour, park it for a while.

I'd like to be alone with the lady.

Careful, I'm the marrying type.

When you worked for Martinelli,

did he take stuff home...

...briefcase, papers or did he

leave them locked up in his office?

I don't know, except he kept

my contract in his office. Why?

Last night, Louis the bar man had

a letter for me that Johnny gave him.

- What did it say?

- I don't know. Martinelli got it.

- How do you know?

- When your phone call woke me up...

...Louis was in my room,

lying on the other bed...

...with a broken neck.

- Oh, Rip.

- Yeah.

I'm a guy that likes

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