The Killers Page #8

I'm not arguing with you.

Yeah, yeah. I got it.

You're makin' a sucker play, Dum-dum.

The cops are outside waitin' for you.

I'll take care of the cops.

So long, mister.

There's a man on the roof!

- Hello, Lieutenant. Glad to see you.

- Hello.

- What gives?

- I think we're on the home stretch.

- Where are we goin'?

- Pittsburgh.

He doesn't know it yet, but I've got a

date with your old friend, Big Jim Colfax.

- Remember? Kitty's ex-boyfriend?

- Yeah. How does he figure?

As the number-one man. He planned

the whole Prentiss Hat job.

- Where'd you get that?

- Dum-dum.

- He showed, did he, at Brentwood?

- Yeah.

- He also got away after a gun battle.

- 'Board!

They found blood on the

roof where he'd been hit.

Every cop in Brentwood is

claiming credit for the shot.

- What were you doing at the time?

- I was up in the Swede's room,

- sleeping it off.

- Big Jim, huh?

He was supposed to have gone legit.

- He has. Big contractor now.

- Mr. Riordan?

- Here I am. That's me.

- James Riordan?

- Telegram, sir.

- Thank you.

"Answering your query,

Halfway House fire...

"July 20, 1940, at 2:53 a.m.

Signed, Kenny, Chief, Hackensack

Fire Department." What's it mean?

Means we're headed

in the right direction.

Oh, by the way, did you

bring along that extra.45?

Yeah. What happened to yours?

- Oh, it got lost or stolen or...

- Or something.

Mmm. Let's get some shut-eye.

- Mr. Colfax?

- Yeah.

Not interested in

insurance, Mr. Riordan.

I'm not a salesman.

I'm investigating the death

of a man named Ole Anderson.

Alias Pete Lunn,

but best known as the Swede.

I don't remember any of those names.

- Work for me?

- You could call it that.

- How long ago?

- 1940.

Oh. Hunting season starts pretty soon.

I never miss the first day.

I learned that Anderson

was a member of a gang...

that once robbed the Prentiss Hat

Factory of about a quarter of a million.

Oh, yeah. I remember

reading about that.

They all got away, didn't they?

The law never caught up with any of them.

Not so far. But most of them

turned out to be unhealthy.

The farmer died from natural causes.

The Swede and Blinky

Franklin were both killed.

Dum-dum went back to Brentwood and

got shot in a fight with the police.

Do you know who else was in the gang?

You were.

Me?

No, brother,

you're on the wrong track.

I'm an honest citizen.

- Seems to have paid off pretty well.

- I've got no complaints.

People around here...

the businessmen and all...

they know I served time,

but they don't hold it against me.

They figure if a guy's trying to level,

he deserves a helping hand.

Nice speech, Colfax. Solid.

Look, Riordan, if you're trying to

pin anything on me, go right ahead.

- I got nothing to hide.

- That's your opinion.

Anyhow, I haven't got one shred

of evidence against you.

Nothin' but hearsay.

Frankly, it's not you

I'm interested in.

I want to find out what's become

of a girl named Kitty Collins.

- You remember Kitty?

- Yeah, I remember Kitty.

Maybe I'm not telling you anything, but

it was Kitty Collins and not the Swede...

- that reaped the golden harvest.

- How do you mean?

When the gang met to divvy

up after the robbery,

the Swede pulled a fast one and

walked off with the whole take.

No wonder he got blasted.

That same night, he and Kitty

were together in Atlantic City.

She walked out on him

a couple of days later.

The money disappeared when she did.

Is that on the level, Riordan?

A chambermaid at the

hotel can identify Kitty...

if I can produce her.

Any idea where she's at?

I thought you might

be able to tell me.

Right now, I wish I knew.

I'll tell you something, Riordan.

If there's one thing in this world I

hate, it's a double-crossing dame.

That guy... What's his name?

The Swede?

Never had a chance, did he?

Any one of the gang that ran on to him

would have been sure to knock him off.

You might say Kitty Collins

signed his death warrant.

Hello? Yeah, speaking.

Yeah. Mmm-hmm.

Yeah, he's here with me right now.

Okay.

A fellow named Jake the Rake.

- Asking about Kitty?

- Yeah.

I sent out word that she had till 10:00

tonight to get in touch with me...

or I'd take what I

know to the police.

So long, Colfax.

Glad to have met you.

Say, Riordan. If ya do run on

to her, let me know, will ya?

After you're through with her,

I'd like to have a word

or two with Kitty myself.

We got some unfinished business.

I wonder if that chambermaid

can really identify Kitty.

After six years? Not a chance.

But Colfax fell for it.

I think Kitty will too.

You know what I think? I think we're

nuts waitin' here for that dame to call.

She'll call.

A deuce'll get you four she won't.

I haven't been on the force

all these years for nothin'.

I know more about women...

Yes? Riordan speaking.

Wherever you say, Miss Collins.

The Green Cat on Salton Street?

No. No, thanks.

I don't like the Green Cat.

Better make it the lobby of the

Adelphi Theater in 20 minutes.

No, I won't be there,

but I'll send a man.

The show's already begun, so there won't

be any crowd. He'll bring you to me.

Look, there'll be no police.

I wanna make a deal.

If you're pinched, that ends that.

Figure it out for yourself.

Good. The man'll be waiting.

Blue suit, bow tie.

Got a match?

Never mind. I only wanted

to see your tie. I'm ready.

We'll take a cab.

Straight ahead.

I'll tell you when to turn.

- Where's Riordan?

- I'm Riordan.

I should have known.

I was hoping you'd call.

How'd you know where to find me?

A voice from the past,

Jake the Rake, called me.

I took the first plane

for Pittsburgh.

Right at the next corner.

Where are we going?

The Green Cat on Salton Street.

Thought you didn't

like the Green Cat.

Only when I'm not expected.

Glass of milk, hot.

I haven't eaten all day.

Steak sandwich, rare,

and a glass of beer.

Very good, sir.

Well, how about it?

- How about what, Mr. Riordan?

- The $254,912.

- You think I have it?

- For your sake, I hope so.

I'm not the law.

My job is to recover money that

the company I work for is out.

If the money's gone, well,

putting you awayfor20years...

would be something to show

for my time and effort.

Can you put me away, Mr. Riordan?

Blinky Franklin made a

deathbed statement under oath.

There's no stronger testimony.

And there's a chambermaid

in an Atlantic City hotel...

that has a memory for faces.

Well?

Oh, there's no use kidding myself.

I'd do anything you wanted.

Give you every penny I

could lay my hands on.

How many pennies is that?

Well, I... I might be able to raise

$65,000, $70,000 at the most.

- Not enough.

- That's all I could possibly get together.

I'm not stalling, Mr. Riordan,

not now. I know when I'm beaten.

I'm fighting for my life.

Not Kitty Collins' life, but mine.

I have a home now and a husband.

I've got a life worth fighting for

and there's nothing in this world...

I wouldn't do to keep

it just the way it is.

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