Part 33 (1/2)
Still, it was keeping Sam busy.
Cora walked down the street. Everyone was looking at the police station. No one was looking at her.
Cora crouched behind a parked car, fumbled in her purse again. Pulled out the string of firecrackers. She puffed on the cigarette until it glowed, then held the end to the fuse.
It sputtered, then began sizzling and sending off sparks. That was good. Cora was afraid it was too old. But apparently not. She set the firecrackers on the ground, stood up, walked quickly back to the other side of the crowd, and pushed her way to the front.
Rick Reed was clearly taxing his brain to the limit formulating questions to which Sam Brogan could answer ”Yup” or ”Un-huh.”
”Did you see the body?” Rick ventured.
The first firecracker went off, then the rest in rapid succession.
People gasped.
Everyone turned, including Sam Brogan and Rick Reed.
Cora went up the steps of the police station and slipped inside.
CHAPTER.
43.
Melvin was sitting on the narrow cot in the holding cell. His attorney was standing by the bars, trying to reason with him.
Cora sized up the scene, said, ”Screw, shyster.”
Lennie Fleckstein stared at her. ”What?”
”I need to talk to your client. Take a hike.”
”Like h.e.l.l.”
”Melvin, tell your mouthpiece to beat it.”
Melvin grinned. ”You're dating yourself with your gun moll lingo.”
”Yeah, yeah. When the first gun was fired, I pulled the trigger. You, wait outside. If a cop comes in, try to head him off, and start talking loud.”
”I don't work for you.”
”Tell him to get lost, will you? We haven't got much time.”
”Beat it, Lennie.”
”She's the opposing party,” the lawyer protested.
”Not in the murder, she's not. Stop thinking lawsuit. We get me out of jail, then we crush her like a bug.”
”That's the spirit,” Cora said. ”Now, get out of here before I throw you out.”
Lennie grumbled and stalked out the door.
Melvin was grinning from ear to ear. ”Christ, that's how I remember you. What a h.e.l.lcat!”
”Oh, isn't that what every girl loves to hear.”
”Come on. It was a perfect matchup. You always gave as good as you got.”
”You cheated on the honeymoon.”
”You cheated before it.”
”I did not.”
”You were so drunk you don't remember.”
”I remember perfectly. You sneaking out with the floozy.”
”I never snuck out. You may have pa.s.sed out.”
”You're not endearing yourself, Melvin.”
”Oh, no? What are you doing here?”
”Trying to get you out of jail. Before that stupid ambulance chaser gets you convicted.”
Melvin shook his head. ”Couldn't happen.”
”That's what you think. You saw the victim last night. Cops know it. They're looking to prove it. Bet you a nickel you weren't careful about fingerprints.”
”What the h.e.l.l are you talking about?”
”Don't play dumb. You were unhappy with Lilly Clemson's testimony. Thought she could do better. Tried to threaten and/or seduce it out of her.”
”Who told you that?”
”Lilly Clemson. Indirectly. Your charm didn't work on her. She called her boyfriend. Told him what you tried to do. She was very upset.”
”She called her boyfriend?”
”Yeah.”
”After I left?”
”Yeah.”