Part 5 (1/2)
”Well, I couldn't say hoas All I know is someone telephoned and when I said he'd been stabbed--Val, I ht have been surprised”
”Could it have been Johnny Perry?”
”No, sir, I'ht to know his voice if anybody does, as long as I've been hearing it”
”He's your stepson? Or is it your Godson?”
”Well, he ain't rightly neither, but we thought of him as a son because when he caia He did a stretch on the chain gang”
”For what?”
”He killed ahis mother--his stepfather At least she was his coood and Johnny was always a good boy They gave him a year on the road”
”When was that?”
”It enty-six years ago when he got out While he was inside hisNorth So we just brought hi with us He was just twenty years old”
”That ot hi tables?”
”No, sir, helping in the kitchen He couldn't wait tables on account of that scar”
”How'd he get that?”
”On the chain gang He and another con got to fighting with pickaxes over a card game Johnny was always hotheaded, and that con had accused hi him out of a nickel And Johnny was always as honest as the day is long”
”When did he open his ga club here?”
”The Tia Juana club? He opened that about ten years ago Big Joe staked hiame he used to run before that”
”Is that when he married Dulcy--Mrs Perry--when he opened the Tia Juana club?”
”Oh no-no-no, he just o--January second last year, the day after New Year's day Before then he was married to Ala with her?” The sergeant gave her a confidential look
Her back stiffened ”TheirJoe were the witnesses They were ht fiery red
Grave Digger said softly, ”Couples do get eant Brody felt himself on bumpy water and took another tack
”Does Johnny keep much cash on hand?”
”I don't know, sir”
”In the bank then, or in property? Do you knohat property he owns?”
”No, sir Maybe Big Joe knew, but he never toldabout that was so important you had to lock yourself in the bathrooly toward Grave Digger
He said ”We're not after Johnny, Aunt Ma club or incoovern to find out who killed Val”
”Lord, it's a mystery who'd want to hurt Val He didn't have an eneeant let that pass ”Then it wasn't Val you and Dulcy were talking about?”
”No, sir I'd just asked her about a run-in Johnny and chink had at dickie Wells's last Saturday night”
”About what? Money? Ga debts?”
”No, sir Johnny's crazy jealous of Dulcy--he's going to kill soines he's God's gift to wo at Dulcy Folks say he don'tby it, but--”
”What folks?”
”Well, Val and Ala what any et her And Johnny's so jealous and hot-headed I' to be blood trouble”
”What part did Val play in that?”
”Val He was always just a peacemaker 'Course, he was on Johnny's side He spentto keep Johnny out of trouble But he didn't have nothing against chink, either”
”Then Johnny's enemies are his enemies, too?”
”No, sir, I wouldn't say that Va! wasn't the kind of person who had ene fine”
”Who's Val's woe He just plays the field I think his latest was Doll Baby But he wasn't intending to get corralled by no gal”
”Tell e about the body?”
”Well--” She knitted her brows ”Not as I recollect I didn't get to see him close up, of course I just saw hie”
The sergeant stared at her
”Wouldn't you call a knife sticking in his heart strange?”