Part 16 (2/2)
Anna hesitated.
”Well, yes, I did. He telephoned me from Johnny Frisk's place.”
Fenner drew in a long deep breath. Here it was at last! The new lead! Something she hadn't told the police.
”Johnny Frisk? You mean the old rummy who lives out at Lone Tree junction?”
”That's him.” Anna suddenly stiffened. ”How do you know him?”
”I get around,” Fenner said. ”So Riley was out there? And you never told the police that?”
Anna was staring suspiciously at him.
”Just who are you?” she said. ”This is a gag, isn't it? Are you a cop?”
A sound made both of them look towards the door. Someone had unlocked the front door. Quick steps sounded, then the door leading into the sitting room jerked open.
Eddie Schultz came in.
”I forgot my G.o.dd.a.m.n wallet...” he began then he saw Fenner.
”Pardon me, pal,” Fenner said quietly and uncorked a right hook that hit Eddie flush on his jaw. Eddie went down as if he was pole-axed.
Anna turned and rushed into the bedroom, but by the time she had got her gun, Fenner had vanished.
Slowly Eddie sat up, holding his jaw. He stared at Anna. Then he got to his feet.
”What's going on?” he demanded shakily. ”h.e.l.l! That punk's nearly bust my jaw! What was a G.o.dd.a.m.n newspaperman doing in here?”
Anna stared at him in horror.
”A newspaperman?” she screamed.
Her expression sent a chill up Eddie's spine. He had a terrible premonition that his future was about to explode in his face.
6.
Ma Grisson was just finis.h.i.+ng an early lunch from a well-loaded tray on her desk when the telephone rang.
Doc Williams who was keeping her company, drinking, but not eating, picked up the receiver.
”It's Eddie.” Eddie Schultz's voice sounded strained. ”Ma there?”
Doc offered the receiver to Ma.
”Eddie.”
She took the receiver, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
”What is it?”
”Trouble, Ma. Remember Dave Fenner who worked on the Tribune? He's been here while I was out. He kidded Anna he could put her on Broadway if she could give him a line on the Blandish s.n.a.t.c.h. She told him the last time she had spoken to Riley was at Johnny's place. He's gone off like a bat out of h.e.l.l.”
”What?” Ma bellowed, her raddled face turning purple. ”I know that sonofab.i.t.c.h! He'll hammer the truth out of Johnny! I always said we should have knocked that old drunk off!”
”That's why I phoned, Ma.” Eddie sounded badly shaken. ”Listen, Ma, we can't blame Anna. She didn't know what we know.”
”Come down here!” Ma snarled.
”The punk's nearly bust my jaw,” Eddie said. ”I'm feeling like h.e.l.l. I thought you'd better get Flynn...”
”Don't tell me what to do!” Ma snarled and slammed down the receiver.
Doc's face had gone grey. He looked helplessly at Ma.
”Don't sit there like a d.a.m.ned old dummy!” Ma bawled at him. ”Get Flynn, Woppy and Slim! Hurry!”
Doc hurried out.
Within a few minutes Flynn and Woppy came in. They both looked startled. Doc came in a moment later with Slim who was scratching his head and yawning.
”Listen,” Ma said, ”we could be in trouble. That chippy of Eddie's told a newspaperman about Johnny. This guy has probably gone out to talk to Johnny. If he gets tough with the old drunk, Johnny will talk. You three go out there fast. Wipe Johnny out. We should have done it before now. If the newspaperman's there when you arrive, knock him off too. Bury them both. Get going!”
”It's a four hour drive,” Flynn grumbled. ”You sure...”
”You heard what I said!” Ma roared, jumping up and smas.h.i.+ng her big fists on the desk. ”And drive like h.e.l.l! You've got to get there before Fenner does!”
Slim said, ”I'm not going. To h.e.l.l with it! I've got something better to do.”
Ma came around the desk. She looked so mad even Slim drew back.
”You're going! You're getting too G.o.dd.a.m.n soft! If you don't shut that old drunk's mouth, you'll lose your plaything. You hear me? Now get the h.e.l.l out of here!”
Muttering, Slim followed Flynn and Woppy out of the room.
”As bad as that, Ma?” Doc said feebly. He wished he hadn't had that extra drink. He was feeling dizzy.
”Women! Women! Women!” Ma snarled, pounding on the desk. ”Always the same! Barker... Karpis... Dillinger... they all went the same way... because of women! Everything I've planned could be shot... just because a G.o.dd.a.m.n chippy opens her G.o.dd.a.m.n mouth!”
As Woppy and Slim made for the exit, Flynn who had made a date with Maisey for the evening, paused by her as she was arranging her cloakroom counter.
”We got business, babe,” he said. ”The date's off. I'll be lucky if I get back by nine.”
He ran on down and joined Woppy and Slim as they bundled into the Dodge.
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