Dead Reckoning Page #7

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The mark on the bullet

would prove it killed Stuart.

- Strike one. Stay with it.

- I felt safe when I gave him the gun.

I never thought about fingerprints,

that mine were on it.

High, fast and on the inside.

Strike two.

You can't hurt me anymore.

I'm going to call the police.

Then your Johnny will be cleared.

You don't care what happens to me.

Well, neither do I. Not anymore.

There's the telephone.

I'll miss you, Mike.

Larry? May I have

police headquarters, please?

The chief, I guess.

I'd better speak to the chief.

Hello?

This is Mrs...

Yes, who is it?

Hello? Who did you say you were?

I had to make you prove it

the hard way, to ever really know.

A few minutes ago,

I didn't dare do this.

Now I can, Mike. I'm doing it

so that you know I can.

I never thought it could happen.

I've been waiting so long

for things to be like this.

Rip, I lived by the train tracks.

I was a carhop in Texas, a cigarette

girl in a... Guys getting fresh.

And then I sang, and when Stuart

Chandler came along, I thought...

But money wasn't the answer either.

The answer is...

Well, every time I had a chance

to find out...

...somebody's pushed me, pulled

the whole thing out from under me.

Oh, it's a blue, sick world, Rip.

I'm tired of it,

and tired of being tired.

I want to go away. With you.

I don't know if it makes sense,

or if this makes sense.

I love you. Does that make sense?

I said a while ago,

you do awfully good.

I'll always do awfully good,

if you let me.

My bet's on you, kid.

I'm wrong about you this time,

I'm dead.

You're not wrong. I'll be your girl.

I'll be anything you want.

We'll go anyplace you want

and begin to live.

Be the kind of people who live.

I'm going to call the doctor. It isn't

natural, anyone sleeping for 36 hours.

When a woman frets about a man

like you been doing...

...she needs a preacher, not a doctor.

You got it bad.

- Yes, I've got it bad.

- I have a surprise.

- He shaved and had breakfast.

- Why didn't you tell me?

I went in, and he wasn't there.

I had cold fingers up my back

till I looked in the bathroom.

And there he was,

his face all over soap.

I just gave him the biggest

breakfast ever.

So stop worrying.

Get that look out of your eyes.

Have I got that look in my eyes?

- If you have, keep it there.

- Oh, Rip. You're all right.

I never had a better night's sleep.

- Two nights and a day.

- Now that's real Southern hospitality.

I've been packing,

all the time you slept.

For our trip.

That little trip to paradise.

I remember something about that...

- Any stops we have to make on the way?

- Washington, D.C. After that...

Do they have taxicabs

where we're going?

What kind of a question is that?

Maybe we won't have to touch

any of my money.

It's been nothing but trouble,

and taxicabs are your business...

...and I'd like to start out fresh,

with you.

Mike, I may be a sucker for saying

this, but from here on, it's a deal.

Anything you want,

any way you want to go.

The two of us.

Darling, where are you going?

While you're breaking camp,

I've gotta see an old pal.

- Who?

- A guy named McGee.

McGee? Why?

- Mable!

- I'm going, Miss Coral, I'm going!

Take it easy, Mr. Rip.

- Who are you?

- A friend of Murdock's.

Rip, where have you been?

I was afraid you were never coming

back. What on earth kept...?

What are you doing here?

Where's Rip?

He's climbing the back stairs.

I come up the elevator.

He figured the cops was following him.

If they picked him up carrying this...

...he'd get 1 to 10

in the big house.

- What is it?

- A persuader and a couple of coaxers.

Don't touch them! Murdock says they

don't need much to start coaxing.

- What does he want with them?

- I'm sorry. This is where I get off.

Pleased to have met you.

He's got it cosy here, I'll say that.

Real cosy.

- Sure nobody tailed me?

- I had you spotted.

- Thanks.

- Don't mention it, pal.

It perked up my whole day.

- You almost set?

- Rip, at last. That man scared me.

- Where are your bags?

- In the car.

- Good. Where's McGee's junk?

- What are you going to do?

After a call on Martinelli,

we hit the highway...

...to the next stop on the main line.

Let's go away now, drive

to New Orleans and get a train there.

Martinelli won't ever know

what happened to us.

I don't care about anything.

I just want to be with you.

And leave your fingerprints

on that gun?

Do it my way. I'll never

ask you anything again.

Don't push me, darling.

Chucking your fingerprints

will be my last pitch.

Martinelli won't give up that gun.

You might be killed.

- That would be awful, wouldn't it?

- Darling...

My trouble is, I never should

have let you sing that song.

Is there any other reason

I shouldn't see Martinelli again?

Please, Rip, don't start being

suspicious again. I told you.

Yeah. Then I'll need your help.

I'll need you to open the back door

to Martinelli's office.

- Please, Rip.

- How about it?

All right. What can I do?

Well, you can start

by crawling out of my pocket.

Getting full-sized. Big girl.

- Chief said there was a call on this...

- Stretch, copper.

Nobody asked me,

but I'd call this a dumb play.

- Nothing personal.

- The chief just wants to talk to you.

I'm booked for tonight.

Open that closet door.

All right, that's far enough.

The cigar.

Here. Cut off a hunk

of that curtain cord.

Okay, lieutenant, drop them.

Behind your back.

Down on your belly.

- Cradle, or what?

- Cradle will do.

Tie him up, and tight.

Wrists first, then ankles

and a few loops hooking them together.

Not that tight. Even a Homicide man

has blood in his veins.

- That's more than I can say for you.

- I'm really a sweet guy.

Once I get clear of this,

I'll write you about that burned body.

- Then they'll make you a captain.

- Me and your friend Charlie Wilson.

Will that do?

Yeah, okay. Now get Mable.

What do you weigh, lieutenant?

- You got a watch?

- Yes.

All right. Sit down here till 12:30.

Then let him out

and give him his gun back.

No one will do anything to you.

I ain't worried

since my first husband.

Come see us again. Gulf City

won't be the same without you.

Here goes nothing, kid. Geronimo.

- Good evening, Mrs. Chandler.

- Good evening, Joe.

- Can't it wait? He's got a grouch on.

- Think I enjoy coming here?

Okay. It's your funeral.

You can't handle this from Detroit.

I must know if Baretto is in with him.

Didn't he tell you

I didn't wish to be disturbed?

- It's important.

- She said it wouldn't hold.

- What is it?

- Murdock's down at the bar.

- He followed me.

- Why didn't you buzz me?

- I didn't see him, boss.

- Get him. Bring him up here.

I'll go out this way.

I don't want to see him.

You have to jerk the bolt.

It sticks. I found it wiser...

Get them up!

Beat it, Mike. Keep the motor

running and the headlights on.

Geronimo, Rip.

You've got the gun

that killed Chandler. I want it.

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