Part 4 (1/2)
DeKok feigned pure amazement when Little Lowee, a bit reluctantly, entered the detective room.
”What's the matter, Lowee?” he asked. ”If I feel like a cognac, you don't have to deliver. I'll be happy to come and get it.”
Little Lowee sank down on a chair next to DeKok's desk and worried nervously with his fingers of which the nails had been bitten to the quick.
”Please, no jokes, Mr. DeKok,” he said anxiously. ”I don't have a lotta time. I can't stay away too long. You see, somebody is watching the bar and you never know, they steal you blind before you know it.”
DeKok moved his eyebrows in that inimitable manner.
”So, why are you here?”
Lowee's adam's apple bobbed up and down.
”I've been worrying about it all afternoon. It nags, you know what I mean? I'm just that worried about it, Mr. DeKok.”
”About what?”
Lowee rubbed the back of his hand along his dry lips.
”Lookit, Mr. DeKok, you asked me this morning iffen I had seen anything of Cunning Pete, lately.”
”Yes?”
”Well, eh, I said no, because I thought you were lookin' for 'im, you know.”
”So, what?”
Little Lowee pulled a sad face.
”I lied, you understand. But it was a good lie, I mean, I thought I was doing the right thing. I seen him a lot, you see. He usta come a lot, lately.”
”Go on.”
”Yes.” The small barkeeper remained silent and stared into the distance. ”You see,” he continued, ”I wouldn't have told you, normally ... but Pete is dead now.” He lowered his narrow chin toward his chest and rubbed his eyes. There was no doubt that the tiny barkeeper was genuinely moved. ”Pete,” he continued finally, with a sob in his voice, ”Pete usta tell stories, you know.” He made a helpless gesture. ”Mostly people just asked to be lied to, you know. But in his heart, deep down, Pete was a honest guy. Really.” He blinked his eyes, as if to remove a tear. ”I swear to you, Mr. DeKok, Pete was as honest as the day is long.”
DeKok looked mockingly at the barkeeper.
”What do you want from me, Lowee? Should I cry, now?”
Lowee sprang up and banged his fist on the desk with surprising strength.
”It's a d.a.m.n rotten trick they pulled on that boy, you know that?” His voice was loud and his face was distorted by fury. ”Yessir, a d.a.m.n rotten trick,” he repeated.
DeKok bit his lower lip.
”Yes, to stick somebody from behind with a dagger, yes, Lowee, I agree, that's a d.a.m.n rotten trick.”
Little Lowee nodded sadly.
”And all for a coupla bucks.”
DeKok did not react immediately.
”A ... eh, a few bucks?” he asked finally.
Lowee ground his teeth.
”Yes, no more than a few filthy bucks. They wanted to cut him out, I bet. Didn't want to share the loot.”
”Share?”
”Yep, they wanted to cut him out. It's obvi..., eh, obvi ... eh, it's as clear as anything. You see, Pete knew all about the hold-up.”
DeKok kept his face expressionless. He succeeded with considerable difficulty.
”You're telling me,” he said slowly, ”that Pete knew about the hold-up?”
Lowee nodded vehemently.
”He tole me hisself.”
”How did he know?”
”From the guys.” Lowee made an impatient gesture.
”What guys?”
”Geez, DeKok, the guys that were to do the job, of course.”
”And they are?”
”Iffen I knew that, DeKok ... iffen I knew that ... I woulda told you. Really. If only outa revenge for Pete.” He looked at the inspector, his head c.o.c.ked to one side. ”You believes me, don't you?”
DeKok nodded slowly.
”Yes, Lowee, I believe that,” he replied formally.
For a long time they sat silently opposite each other. Each occupied by his own thoughts. Above their heads the defective ballast in one of the light fixtures hummed annoyingly. A drunk in the street tried to sing a melancholy song about dying and crying and trains.
Slowly Lowee rose from his chair.
”I can't stay any longer,” he said somberly. ”I gotta get back.”
DeKok nodded pensively.
”Before you go, Lowee, one more question. Was Pete planning to partic.i.p.ate in the hold-up?”
Lowee shook his head.