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was greeted with the welcome sight of rows and rows of bookshelves. Like
a fish returning to water, I slipped between their ranks and found a
vantage point where I could watch the avenue and the stairs.
I owed the taxi driver a medal for losing the Ford long enough for me to
get to cover. Far below, its green roof cruised up and down the avenue
for half an hour before they gave up and moved on. No dangerous-looking
types came inside and I relaxed and retreated deep into the shelves.
First I'd get rid of the list, then I'd get out of town until things
cooled off; maybe even go home for a while and rest. I could write up a
detailed account and send copies to the local D.A., the Feds, the
papers, anybody I could think of who might be wondering who bumped off
Benny O'Hara. It might not do any good, but it was as much as I was
willing to risk at the moment. Seeing a man getting shot to pieces under
your nose will take the starch out of anyone's backbone, and I never
thought of myself as particularly brave. The last few hours had been so
frightening I was ready to quit the papers altogether and go back to
helping Dad at the store.
At the moment, though, I was getting hungry and felt that the promised
hamburger was long overdue. The mind deals with the shocks, but the body
goes on prosaically dealing with the basics of living.
Standing on my toes, I placed the two sheets of paper on the top of one
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of the shelves in the back. The aisle was clear, no one had seen»me. I
made a note of which section I was in, and left, knowing they were safe
as they'd ever be.
I found a back stairway and used it to make my cautious way into the
street again.
The coast looked clear, no green Fords, no hard men, but I kept pace
with the thickest parts of the crowds for many long blocks before
relaxing enough to find a cafe. A small, busy place called the Blue
Diamond smelled good so I went in and managed to get a table at the
back. I ordered steak with everything instead of a burger, and while I
ate I made notes on a napkin about what happened in my personal
shorthand. I stalled over the meal, drinking coffee and having an extra
dessert so as not to put off the waitress. When it was dark I left her a
good tip and ventured into the streets.
Taxis cost, but walking back to the hotel was too much for my feet.
Besides, I had no idea where it was, just the name of the street it was
on. I gave it to the driver and hoped he'd take a straight route. It
didn't take long, he knew his business and dropped me at the right
corner as far as I could tell, although it seemed different in the dark.
I was still nerved up and tired, a bad combination.
I kept my eyes open, but wasn't too worried. The men who chased me
couldn't know where I was staying since Benny had been so careful. Poor
Benny.
And then it was poor me.
Two of them appeared out of nowhere. They must have been watching the
whole street knowing I might come back. I was practically lifted from my
feet and trotted forward. The green car came up, a door was pulled open,
and I was hustled inside. The whole operation didn't take more than five
or six seconds and I was being driven off to parts unknown.
The three of us staged an impromptu wrestling match in the backseat as I
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did my best to get out and they did their best to prevent it. Once I
managed to get my hand on the door lever, but a fist hit the side of my
head and another one gouged my kidneys.
"Hey, settle down back there!" the driver growled.
A few more hits and I was in no condition to continue the argument. They
shoved me on the floor and kept me there facedown, their heavy feet
resting with some force on my back and legs. I was dizzy from the
punches and scared, and the swaying motion of the car in those
claustrophobic conditions wasn't helping.
"I'm going to be sick," I said to the floor.
"What'd he say?"
A little louder, I repeated myself.
There was some laughter from the front seat, but the guys in back didn't
think it was so funny. The one nearest my head took off my hat, turned
it upside down, and shoved it under my nose.
"You get any puke on me and I'll pop your eyes out," he warned.
I gulped back my gorge and tried to get air in my lungs. It was a long,
tough ride, but I managed to keep my dinner down. We pulled over once
and the driver got out for a few minutes, leaving the engine running.
The car rocked as he squeezed back behind the wheel.
"Frank says we bring him to the boat, then you guys take a hike until he
wants you again. Georgie, you take the car back to the house for me."
"When do we get paid?"
"Tonight at the boat, the usual."
"Come on, Fred, we been after this guy all day."
"Then argue with Frank, I don't pay the bills."
Someone tied a rag over my eyes and I was hauled from the backseat with
my arms fixed behind me. Two men had to hold me up since I couldn't
balance. I smelled and heard the water lapping all around and had
immediate visions of Lake Michigan and cement shoes. I tried tearing
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loose, collected a breath-stealing gut punch, and was dragged down some
steps. The next few minutes were confusing as I was tripped into
something that felt alive under my feet. I lost balance again and
without my arms couldn't stop the fall. My left elbow hit something hard
and so did my knees. I tried to twist to get upright, lost it all again,
and my head snapped back and the hard thing caught me behind the ear.
Despite the blindfold, lights flashed in my eyes before the dark closed
everything down.
It felt like I'd been asleep for weeks and was only now coming out of
it. Some men were talking and I was annoyed that they were holding their
discussion in my private bedroom. I wanted to tell them to get the hell
out, but my mouth wasn't cooperating yet. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]