Part 18 (1/2)
”Johnny came to see me last night. He wanted to know where he could find Fay. I told him. I wouldn't have if I had known he was going to kill her. I thought maybe I'd see you first before I told the cops.”
Gilda sat motionless, her face white, her eyes glittering. ”He didn't kill her!”
”The cops will think so,” Louie said, and smiled. ”They want to crack this one fast. They'll love Johnny for the job.”
She stared at him for a long moment. ”How much?” she said, clenching her fists. Louie looked surprised.
”You're quick, baby,” he said admiringly. ”Some wrens would have ...”
”How much?”
”Well, I thought we might go back to your apartment tonight. There could be other nights. I have an idea we could have plenty of fun together.”
”So you don't want money?” she said, and he was surprised to see she had suddenly relaxed.
”I have money,” he said airily. ”I haven't got you. If it doesn't work out the way I think it will, then we'll make it money, baby, but we'll try the other way first.”
She reached for a cigarette, lit it and tossed the match into the ashtray.
”I'd like to think about this, Louie.”
”It's going to be tonight, baby, so think fast.”
She stared down at her hands.
”And you won't say anything about Johnny?”
”Not a thing, baby. Play with me and I'll play with you.”
”I'd like a little time. You don't expect me to ...”
”You have until you leave the club, baby. No longer. It's up to you.”
She suddenly shrugged.
”All right. It can't kill me, can it? It's a deal.”
Louie beamed. Any other man would have been instantly suspicious, but Louie had an enormous opinion of his charms. He believed all women found him irresistible, and he accepted Gilda's apparent surrender as his due.
”You're being smart, baby,” he said, got up and went over to her. ”This could be the beginning of a long and beautiful friends.h.i.+p.” He caught hold of her, pulled her upright and made an attempt to kiss her.
Gilda shoved him off with strength that startled him.
”You'll spoil my make-up!” she said sharply. ”Keep away from me!”
”Take it easy, baby,” he said, grinning at her. ”None of those tricks tonight.”
She gave him a long, steady stare.
”Meet me at the stage door in an hour,” she said, crossed the room and opened the door. ”I have to change.”
”That's okay. I've grown up,” Louie said. ”I'll stick around and watch.”
”You'll get out!” she said curtly. ”You don't own me, Louie, and I don't have men in my room when I change.”
”I don't own you - yet, baby,” he said, ”but I will.”
He drifted through the doorway, turned and leered at her.
”If you're as good as you look, you're good,” he said.
She shut the door in his face.
For some moments she stood motionless, breathing with difficulty, then she opened the door again and made sure he had gone.
She shut the door, turned the key and went quickly over to the telephone.
She knew Sean O'Brien was at his club. After a minute or so he came on the line.
”Sean, I'm in trouble,” she said.
”Okay, kid,” he said. ”That's why you have me. What can I do?”
She drew in a deep breath of relief. It was so comforting to have someone as powerful as him behind her. She felt no matter what the emergency might be he would take it in his stride. His confidence in himself to cope with any situation scared her sometimes.
”Louis Manchini has just left. Johnny got Fay's address from him last night. Manchini is trying to blackmail me. I'm supposed to take him back to my apartment tonight or he'll tell the police about Johnny.”
”What are you worrying about, honey?” O'Brien asked, his voice deceptively mild. ”You're not in trouble; Manchini is. I'll take care of it. Just forget about him. You won't be bothered by him anymore. Is he in the club?”
”He'll be at the stage door in an hour's time.”
”Fine. Just relax. I'll be along as soon as you've finished your act. We'll leave by the front entrance. Just forget Manchini.”
Because of his deadly calmness she was suddenly frightened.
”You won't have him hurt, Sean? He's dangerous. If he told the police ...”
”That's okay,” O'Brien said smoothly. ”I know how to shut his mouth. Forget about him, kid. I'll be along,” and he hung up.
At twenty-five minutes to eleven, Louie left the Casino and sauntered around to the stage door.
He was in a jubilant, excitable mood. By tomorrow morning he would have something to tell his pals, he thought, as he stood under the light immediately above the stage door.
Louie always boasted of his conquests, and for the first time in his life he felt he would really have something to boast about.