Peeper Page #5

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and I don't know what Frank will do.

- Are you listening to me?

- Yes.

Will you help me? Please.

- Do what?

- Frighten Frank.

jump out of a dark corner at him?

I mean call him up, talk to him, intimidate him...

however you private eyes work.

just so he realizes

that you're on my side.

I'm not sure I am on your side.

- How much will it cost?

- I'll send you a bill.

- How much a day?

- Twenty-five.

- Twenty-five?

- A fella could get killed.

- All right.

- Plus expenses.

- What sort of expenses?

- Oh, bandages, aspirin, iodine.

- How do you propose to start?

- I'd like to think about it for a day.

- Free of charge.

- Thank you.

You're very welcome.

It was after 4.;00 in the afternoon...

and I had a lot to think about.

Mianne was being blackmailed by Frank

because she was adopted.

So she must be Anglich's daughter.

She must be Anya.

But something didn't fit.

Anglich said he'd already

found Anya.

And Mianne didn't act like

she'd been found by Anglich.

I wondered...

where the hell was Ellen?

And while we're on the subject,

where the hell was Anglich?

Hello?

Leslie Tucker?

- What the hell do you want?

- It's a special delivery for Leslie Tucker.

If you touch me, it's a federal offense.

- That package?

- You Tucker?

That's right. Private cop.

When was this mailed?

- Two days ago. Sign here.

- Two days? Special delivery? Right here in the city?

- We-We've been busy.

- A man passed away because this is late.

I'm... I'm sorry.

- May I come in?

- Why the hell not? Better late than never.

I didn't come here to fight with you.

Things have been rough lately.

I take it you found your own way home

from the theater last night.

I'm a big girl. But I didn't come here

to fight with you, I said.

I'll bet you're willing

to go a few rounds though.

- You outweigh me, Tucker.

- I never hit a lady.

Would you be willing

to help one out?

- What's in the great big package?

- Biscuits.

What can I do for you today?

- Have you got a cigarette?

- No.

Can't we go in your office

and sit down and talk?

Um, it's, uh, messy.

I'm embarrassed.

- You are a private detective, aren't you?

- In a small way ofbusiness.

Is there some reason

I shouldn't employ you?

Is there some reason you should?

Whatever you think I am, whatever

sort of opinion you have of me...

We hardly know each other.

I know. That's what

I'm trying to say.

I'm notorious for striking people

the wrong way. First impressions...

- You're a spoiled brat.

...are usually wrong.

But I'm keeping me distance anyway.

I know. I don't blame you.

But you must see that I've come here

to ask for your help.

I need your help. Please.

- What makes my help so special?

- But you're already involved, aren't you?

- You have information.

- Oh, do I? Don't you be so sure.

I am misunderstood also.

I just look very clever. It's the glasses.

You look... very kind actually.

Really? That could be

the glasses too.

It's my Uncle Frank.

He's trying to blackmail me.

- I don't know what's going on.

- That makes at least two of us.

He says that l...

I have to cooperate with him...

or he'll bring certain facts

out into the open...

drag my mother into a scandal

and... and Mianne and...

And I'd lose everything.

Just a minute. Hold on.

Exactly what is he trying

to make you do?

Loot my mother's estate... advise my mother

to give him power of attorney.

Or he'll prove...

That my father...

That when Harvey Wade Prendergast

married my mother...

Well, that...

she was not exactly the kind

of girl you bring home.

And Uncle Frank says that

before she met your father...

she had illegitimate twins,

that she put 'em in a home...

that your father agreed to raise 'em

and sent Frank down there...

to pick 'em up

and sign the forms.

- How do you know?

- I've been doing me homework.

- Keep going.

- I don't know what to think.

I don't want my mother

involved in anything ugly.

- She's very frail.

- But you don't want to be

left out in the cold either.

Oh, that has nothing to do with it.

Frank is a hateful person.

How do you and Mianne get along?

All right, like sisters.

Except you're not sisters.

Leslie Tucker

Investigations.

Select your detective...

He's up there.

Hello?

Hello?

We'd better continue

this conversation elsewhere.

What's wrong?

What's bothering you, Tucker?

Who, me? What would be bothering me?

I lead a full, fine life.

I get to go out and mingle among

the upper crust, not to mention the lower crust.

Rich old ladies insult me.

Rich young ladies give me the brush-off.

People I hardly know invite me

to their private office parties...

and try to break my bones, while

perfect strangers wander into my office...

and scatter my meager possessions

all over the floor.

I rescue beautiful young ladies

from the jaws of death...

and then they stand me up, and then they

try to hire me, and then they lie to me.

- Tucker.

- Yes?

If you believe only one thing

in all of this, believe I'm not lying to you.

I couldn't.

Nice. That was warm and soft.

Now come on.

- Your package.

- What about it?

It looks important.

You're not leaving it behind?

- Let's take the stairs.

- They'll take the stairs.

- Who will?

- My creditors. We'll take the elevator.

Trust me.

Get in, fast.

Take this. I'll need both hands.

- What's wrong?

- We've annoyed some people.

- We have?

- I don't feel right about this.

We should've taken the stairs.

- I said we should have taken the stairs.

- Did you?

- Yes.

- It's a good idea.

Good afternoon.

Come on.

Afternoon.

Stop. Do you hear anything?

- Are they the same two?

- That's right.

- Do you hear anything?

- No.

So do I.

Ellen?

Ellen?

Stop right there!

Watch out behind you,

Rosie.

- Where's the peeper at?

- Right behind you.

- You're bluffing. What's in the parcel?

- Biscuits.

- Hello.

- I'm gonna kill you, peeper!

- You're off to a pretty bad start, aren't you?

- He's crazy, Tucker.

He's upset. He's had a lot

of bad breaks lately, right?

- Get down on your nose, pal.

- No soap.

Listen, friend, when someone points a gun

at you, you are supposed to do what he says.

Get down on the fioor.

- Let's go.

- Where are they?

- I don't know. Come on.

- Did you kill him?

Are you coming or not?

- This is easily the worst

hiding place I've ever been in.

- At least it's small.

And this is the first place they will look,

because this is the first place that I looked.

They are not half as smart as you are.

Is Uncle Frank trying to kill you?

- Why do you say that?

- He's reckless.

He's not that reckless. Those torpedoes

were imported from Florida.

But why are they after you?

Is it because ofJaster?

It's very complicated. Listen.

What did you tell your uncle when he

brought up his little extortion scheme?

I was probably very stupid, I'm afraid.

I told him to go to hell. I told him

I was glad I wasn't related to him after all.

You seen a guy

and a tootsie around here?

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