Strictly For Cash Part 8

It took us twenty minutes by the dashboard clock to negotiate the twisting hill road, to drive through the town and reach the casino.

The fifteen-foot high gates were guarded by two men in black uniforms, not unlike those Hitler's storm-troopers used to wear. They saluted, their faces expressionless as we drove through the gateway.

The mile-long, palm-lined drive was floodlit with green lamps that created the extraordinary illusion of driving under water.

aI had these lamps fixed a couple of months ago,a Reisner said. aThere's scarcely a square foot of the place now that isn't lighted. Funny how the mugs go for lights. Business has been pretty good since I put this lot in.a His voice was soft and remote, as if he were talking to himself. He didn't seem to expect Della or me to make any comments, and when Della began to say how well it all looked, he interrupted her as if her remarks were of no interest to him to point out a big bed of giant dahlias that were floodlit by daylight lamps.

aEvery flower has its special lighting,a he said. aPaul was crabbing about the cost, but it's worth it. We get mugs from miles around coming to gawp at the flowers: then, of course, they visit the bar and the restaurants and spend their dough.a The drive suddenly opened on to a vast stretch of lawn, and facing us was the brilliantly lit casino. It was the most impressive and ornate building I have ever seen, like something out of the Arabian Nights: a huge, white building of Moorish architecture, its six domed towers and bulbous minarets piercing the night sky.

Amber, white, green and red lights, controlled by automatic time switches, played alternately on the front of the building.

aYou have nothing like this in Los Angeles, have you, Ricca?a Reisner said. aWe spent ten grand lighting this joint.a He continued to drive along the broad carriageway, past the casino and on through the pleasure gardens, past the floodlit swimming-pool where a number of men and women were still swimming or lounging in hammocks in spite of the late hour through another double gate, also guarded by two stiff-necked men in uniform, past a pitch-and-putt course to a colony of beach cabins built in a semicircle a hundred yards or so from the ocean, each screened from the other by palms and tropical flowering shrubs.

He pulled up outside one of the cabins.

aHere we are. Everything's ready for you, Mrs. Wertham,a he said, twisting around in the driver's seat to look at Della. aYour usual cabin. Where do you want me to put Ricca?a aHe can have the cabin next to mine: the one Paul has,a she said, and got out of the car.

aWant me to get the doc down to look at him?a Reisner asked, not moving from behind the wheel.

aI'm okay,a I said, joining Della. aNothing that a good sleep won't put right.a aSuit yourself,a he returned, making no attempt to conceal his indifference.

aDon't wait, Nick,a Della said. aWe'll have a talk in the morning. Thanks for picking us up.a Reisner smiled. His eyes went from Della to me, and back to Della again.

aWell, so long. Call up at the office around noon. We'll have a drink and a get-together.a The big car moved off. Della and I stood watching its bright twin rear lights until they had disappeared, then she drew in a deep breath.

aWell, that's Reisner,a she said. aWhat do you think of him?a aTricky.a aYes. Well, come in. I could do with a drink.a She led me into the cabin and switched on the lights. The place consisted of one large room that served as a sitting-room by day and a bedroom by night, a bathroom and a kitchenette. No expense had been spared to make it luxurious and comfortable. It was unbelievably lavish with its press-b.u.t.ton gadgets that operated the windows, the curtains and let down the wall-bed and opened the built-in cupboards. Everything in the place seemed to be worked by pressing b.u.t.tons.

aLike it?a she asked, flopping on the bed. aPaul had a flair for this kind of thing. There are thirty other cabins on the estate, each with its own special dcor, but I like this one best. Get me a drink, Johnny. You'll find whisky in that cabinet over there.a aI'll say I like it,a I said as I mixed a whisky and soda. aAnd the casino! He must have spent millions on it.a aHe did.a She leaned back on her elbows and looked fixedly at me. The white silk blouse pulled hard across her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and her thick, dark hair fell away from her face and neck, showing the white column of her throat. aAll this could be mine if it wasn't for Reisner.a aWould you know what to do with it if you had it?a I said, not paying much attention to what I was saying. The sight of her like that had got me going again.

She took the whisky.

aWouldn't you, Johnny?a aI don't know.a I went over to a panel in the wall on which were a number of ivory b.u.t.tons. I pressed one of them marked curtains, and watched the dark-green plastic curtains swing smoothly across the big double windows. aCan you imagine Reisner parting with half a million? I can't.a aHe will if we handle him right.a She looked down and noticed the rip in her skirt. From where I was standing I could see, through the tear, the white line of her flesh above the top of her stocking. aI must look a wreck,a she went on, got to her feet and stared at herself in the mirror that concealed the door to the bathroom.

I came up behind her and we stared at our reflections in the mirror.

Apart from her dishevelled hair, the little cut on the side of her nose, and her ripped skirt, she still looked good a" too good for my present mood.

Our eyes met in the mirror. She looked fixedly at me, her dark, glittering eyes suddenly tense.

aBetter go to your cabin now, Johnny.a aNo.a My hands were shaking, and I was suddenly short of breath.

aIt'll happen sooner or later if we're going to work together,a she said, abut I don't want it to happen now. Please go, Johnny. Not now. It's not safe.a My hands closed over her shoulders. I felt a s.h.i.+ver run through her. I turned her, pulling her against me.

aYou've had your say ever since we met,a I said. aYou've dictated the terms and I've jumped through the hoop. It's going to be different now. I'm having the say and you're jumping through the hoop.a Her arms came up and slid around my neck. aI like you when you talk like that, Johnny.a

chapter nineteen.

I had finished a regal breakfast served by a Sphinx-faced Filipino, and had wandered out on to the verandah to smoke a cigarette in the suns.h.i.+ne when I saw Della coming from her cabin towards me.

The sight of her in a sky-blue, off-the-shoulder linen dress, a big picture hat and a pair of sun-gla.s.ses the size of doughnuts started my heart thumping. I ran down the steps to meet her.

aHi, Johnny,a she said, smiling up at me.

aYou look good enough to eat.a aYou don't look so bad yourself.a Her blue eyes approved the white slacks and the sweat-s.h.i.+rt the Filipino had laid out for me-. aAnd they fit, too.a aThey sure do. Where did they come from?a aI fixed it. I've been busy fixing all kinds of things this morning. We'll go down to the tailor's shop some time and get you properly fitted out. You have to dress the part here.a aI can't believe this is happening to me. I expect to wake up and find myself in a truck heading for Miami.a She laughed.

aIt's happening all right. Come and look at the place before we talk to Nick.a We spent an hour wandering around the vast estate. There wasn't a trick Wertham had missed. There were acres of pleasure gardens, an aquarium and sunken lily ponds. Not far from the casino was an arcade of shops where you could buy anything from a diamond necklace to an aspirin tablet. An artificial waterway surrounding the estate, screened by oak trees, hung with spanish moss, offered a fine hiding-place for you and your girl if you wanted to go for a tour in an electrically driven canoe. There was even a zoo at the back of the casino where peac.o.c.ks, flamingoes and ibis strutted on the vast stretches of lawn.

aCome and look at the lion pit,a Della said. aThis is Reisner's pet idea. He's crazy about lions. You'd be surprised how many people come here just to gape at them.a We stood side by side, our arms touching, and looked down into the deep pit, guarded by steel railings where six full-grown lions sprawled lazily in the suns.h.i.+ne.

aI can gape at them, too,a I said. aThere's something about a lion . . .a aReisner feeds them himself. He gives up all his spare time to them.a She turned away. aWell, we'd better get on. There's still a lot to see.a Farther along the broad carriageway we pa.s.sed an open-air restaurant with its gla.s.s dance-floor. A fat, middle-aged Italian in a faultlessly cut morning-coat and a white gardenia in his b.u.t.tonhole hurried towards us.

aJohnny, this is Louis who looks after our three restaurants,a Della said as he bent to kiss her hand. aHow are you, Louis? I want you to meet Johnny Ricca.a The Italian gave me a quick, appraising stare, bowed and shook hands.

aI have heard about you, Mr. Ricca,a he said. aIs all well in Los Angeles?a aCertainly is,a I said, abut we've got nothing to touch this.a He looked gratified.

aAnd Mr. Wertham? He is well?a he asked, turning to Della. aHe's fine. On his way to Paris, the lucky man.a aParis?a Louis lifted his shoulders. aWell, they have nothing as good as this in Paris either. You will be lunching in the restaurant?a aI guess so.a aI will have something very special for you and Mr. Ricca.a aFine,a I said.

aSee you later, Louis,a Della said, and moved on.

aYou mean we eat in that place for all our meals?a I asked as soon as we were out of hearing.

aOr the other two restaurants. Why not? They're all Paul's, and until they find out he's dead, they're mine, too.a aYeah,a I said, feeling as if I'd suddenly walked into a brick wall. aI hadn't thought of that.a She gave me a sharp glance and lifted her shoulders. We walked towards the casino in silence. There were a few men and women on the wide verandah. They seemed to be catching up with the sleep they had missed the previous night. Some of the women were good enough to go into an Art magazine. I found myself gaping until Della said tartly, aMust you act like a half-wit?a I grinned.

aSorry, but this place gets me.a Then I noticed a convertible Buick, drawn up outside the main entrance of the casino.

aSome car,a I said.

It was a glittering black job, with scarlet leather upholstery, disc wheels and built-in head and fog lamps.

aLike it?a she said. aIt's Paul's. He always used it when he stayed here. It's yours, now, Johnny.a aMine?a My voice croaked.

aWhy, yes.a She smiled, but her eyes were as hard as stone. aYours, until they find out he's dead. I don't suppose they'll let you keep it then.a I felt suddenly creepy. That was the second time she had cracked that one in ten minutes. I didn't like it.

aWhat's the idea, Della?a aNo idea.a She walked over to the car, opened the offside door and got in.

I leaned on the door, looking down at her.

aAre you trying to tell me something?a aGet in, Johnny. They're watching you.a I looked up. A few of the rich sofa-pets were hanging over the verandah rail staring at us. I got in under the steering-wheel.

aWe'll go and look at the town,a she said. aDrive to the gates and I'll tell you from there.a I switched on, trod on the starter and drove the car down the broad carriageway.

aYou still haven't answered my question.a She turned her head: her face was expressionless, and the dark-green sun-gla.s.ses masked her eyes.

aI'm not trying to tell you anything. All this is yours and mine until they find out he's dead. That's a fact, isn't it, Johnny?a aYeah, I guess that's right, but there's still the half million. You make it sound as if that was nothing. It'll buy something, won't it?a aDo you think it could buy the casino and all that goes with it?a aI guess not, but it could buy this car and a lot of other things.a aHave you thought how long a quarter of a million would last you, Johnny?a aI'd invest it. It'd pay off a respectable income. What are you getting at?a aYou wouldn't have a lot left to invest by the time you had bought a car, a house and a wardrobe. I know I wouldn't.a aWhat's on your mind?a I asked, sure now she was preparing the ground for something. aI thought all you wanted was the half million.a aTurn right at the gates and then follow the main road,a she said, and leaned forward to wave to the guards who were opening the gates. aNothing's on my mind a" yet. I'm wondering how we'll feel in a year or so, knowing Reisner's the boss of Lincoln Beach, and you and I have only a lump sum that'll melt like snow in the sun, and not a chance of making any more.a aNow, wait a minute,a I said. aWe're talking about half a million. That's not going to melt all that fast. You're exaggerating, and besides, we haven't even got that yet.a aThat's right, Johnny.a I couldn't figure out what she was getting at, but I didn't like her tone nor the hard look in her eyes.

aWe're going to Bay Street,a she said, opening her bag for a cigarette. aEver heard of Bay Street?a aNo. What's special about it?a aPaul built every brick of it. They call it the Kasbah of Florida. I don't know what the take is, but I do know Paul collects fifteen per cent, and it's free of tax.a aThis husband of yours must have been quite a guy.a aHe was. None of the others have the magic touch Paul had.a Eventually we arrived at Bay Street: a misnomer to call it a street. Actually it was no better than an alley, about a hundred yards long and scarcely wide enough to take two cars a" but what an alley!

I had thought the honky-tonk district of Pittsburgh was an eye-opener, but it had nothing on Bay Street. Packed shoulder to shoulder, amid blatant signs that left nothing to the imagination, were burlesque bars, saloons, palaces of peel, gambling-dens, brothels, a couple of dubious looking hotels, restaurants and gin dives.

aPull over to the parking-lot,a Della said. aWe'll walk.a aYou mean Wertham owns this as well as the casino?a I asked, as I drove into the lot and cut the engine.

aHe leases it to a syndicate with a controlling interest. He knew sooner or later the millionaires, their wives and girlfriends would get tired of the luxury of the casino. So he created Bay Street where they could work off their repressions, and he could still make money out of them. Handled properly, vice pays dividends, and nowhere is it better handled than here.a We walked across the street to a large building plastered with neon lights and crude, life-size pictures of half-dressed show-girls.

aLiberty Inn,a Della said. aIt's run by Zoe Elsner. She's big people in Bay Street. You'd better come in and meet her. And, Johnny, remember you're big people, too. Ricca is well known by reputation here.a We went in and met Zoe Elsner: a gigantic, middle-aged, chemical blonde who must have weighed over two hundred pounds. She made a great fuss of Della and treated me with a deference that embarra.s.sed me, insisting on serving champagne while we talked. The speciality of Liberty Inn, she told me with a leer, were muscle dancers and strippers.

aThey're handpicked, Mr. Ricca. We change them every month, and they come from the four corners of the earth. You want to come in around midnight when we're really kicking the can around. It's something to see.a From the Liberty Inn we went across to the Pump Room, a plush and gold gambling saloon, where I was introduced to Jerry Itta, a hawk-faced man in s.h.i.+rt sleeves who ran the joint. He told me the poker game in session at the moment had been on for three days.

aWe get ten per cent of the final hand,a he said, chewing on his dead cigar. aAnd by the look of it, it'll be worth five grand.a Both Zoe Elsner and Itta seemed scared of Della, and they enquired after Wertham with bated breath. It was the same story wherever we went. Our visits were brief, our reception royal, and Wertham's power always obvious.

aTime we got back,a Della said after we had met a dozen or so characters and looked over most of the sin-dives. aWe have a date with Nick.a aThere must be a fortune tied up in that alley,a I said as I got into the car. aDon't the cops interfere with this set-up?a aThey would if they weren't taken care of,a Della returned, and laughed. aCaptain of Police Hame collects five hundred a week from Reisner. You'll meet him before long. He's all right so long as he gets his money, but if it stopped, he'd slam us shut overnight.a aHow do you reckon this set-up will make out now Wertham's dead?a I asked, steering the Buick through the stream of traffic.

aI don't think Nick can handle it. Zoe and Itta have ideas, and would like to break away from us if they dared. That's why I wanted them to meet you.a aWhat's that got to do with it?a She gave me a queer little smile.

aIt may have plenty to do with it, Johnny.a

chapter twenty.

Reisner was sitting behind a big, flat-topped desk, a cigarette drooping from his thin lips. To his right, lounging in an armchair, was a short, thickset man whose iron-grey hair was clipped short, and his square, brutal face burned red by the sun. He jumped to his feet when he saw Della, a wide grin lighting up his face.

aWhy, Mrs. Wertham, this is a surprise and a pleasure,a he said, taking her hand. aIt must be almost a year since we last met. How are you? Still looking as beautiful as ever, I see.a Della gave him a bright, provocative smile, and allowed him to hold her hand a little longer than necessary.

aIt's nice to see you again. I'd like you to meet Johnny Ricca who's in charge of the Los Angeles casino.a Turning to me, she went on, aThis is Captain of Police Jim Hame. He's a very good friend of ours.a Hame lost his smile as he shook hands with me. He tried to crack my knuckles, but my grip was a little stronger than his.

aGlad to know you, Ricca,a he said curtly. It seemed he only kept his charm for the ladies. aI've been hearing about you.a I said I had been hearing about him, too. Reisner got to his feet and began to mix c.o.c.ktails.

aJim has bad news for you, Mrs. Wertham,a he said as he gave Della a dry martini. aTell her, Jim.a Hame settled himself in his armchair again. He took a highball from Reisner with a grunt of thanks.

aWe've found your car,a he said.

aYou have?a Della's expression was a nice blend of surprise and admiration. aWhy, that's quick work, Captain.a aIt was easy,a Hame said, and his cold, blue eyes brooded over her face. aA report came in last night, and when Nick phoned this morning it clinched it.a aClinched a" what?a aThere was a smash on the road out of Pelotta last night. Both drivers were killed. One of them was driving your car. It's completely burned out.a Her look of startled consternation was just right.

aBurned out? Paul will be furious!a aYeah, that was a swell car,a Hame said, stroking his heavy jowl. aHow come you give this fella a ride?a While Della was going through the story again, Reisner came over to me.

aWhat'll you drink? Scotch?a Without thinking I said, aI don't touch the stuff. I'll have a beer.a The black eyes surveyed me.

aI thought you lived on Scotch.a Then I remembered Ricca was a whisky-soak and my heart skipped a beat.

aI'm on the wagon now. I've taken up beer.a I don't know if he spotted my s.h.i.+fty look, but his face was expressionless as he opened a can of beer.

Hame was saying, aDangerous to give a stranger a ride, Mrs. Wertham. You should know that.a aI had Johnny with me. It never crossed my mind.a I thought it was time I showed a little interest in the proceedings.

aWho was the guy, anyway?a Both Reisner and Hame looked at me.

aThere wasn't much left of him by the time we got him out of the car,a Hame said, abut he's been identified. His name is Johnny Farrar: a third-rate fighter who was. .h.i.tchhiking his way to Miami. He stopped off at Pelotta and got himself a fight at the stadium. After the fight he disappeared. He must have taken a liking to the Bentley.a aYou certainly have collected a lot of information fast,a I said. aNice work.a aNothing to it, once you know how and have got the organization,a Hame said, lifting his ma.s.sive shoulders. aFarrar had a silver medallion in his pocket. A woman who runs a caf in Pelotta gave it to him. She identified it, and a guy named Brant, who gave Farrar a suit of clothes, identified what was left of the suit.a aWell, I don't give a d.a.m.n who he was,a Della said. aIt's the car I'm worrying about. Paul will be furious. He had the body specially built.a aJust one of those things,a Reisner said. aI've contacted the insurance people. They've agreed to settle.a aThank you, Nick.a aJust to keep the record straight,a Hame said, looking at me, acan you give me a description of Farrar? I have one from Brant and this woman. I'd like to see if it checks with your man.a I hadn't thought of that angle. Did they suspect I was Farrar? For a moment I was fl.u.s.tered.

Della cut in smoothly before I could think what to say.

aFunnily enough he wasn't unlike Johnny to look at: same build, fair and tall. He wore a white linen suit, a green and brown tie and a cream silk s.h.i.+rt.a aThat's the fella,a Hame said. aWell, what do you know? Nick and I were a little foxed. The description of Farrar seemed oddly like Ricca. We couldn't figure it out.a aHe was very like Johnny,a Della said, completely unruffled. aBut Johnny wouldn't have it. I pointed it out at the time, but I guess he thinks he's a lot better looking than he really is.a That got a laugh from Hame, but Reisner continued to stare thoughtfully at me.

Hame rose to his feet.

aWell, I guess that takes care of that,a he said. aI'll be running along. We won't need either of you at the inquest. Our yam to the coroner will be that Farrar stole your car from the parking-lot, and you didn't catch sight of him. Okay?a aThat's very sweet of you,a Della said.

aGlad to save you any bother, Mrs. Wertham.a Again she let him hold her hand longer than necessary. aLook me up when you're pa.s.sing headquarters. Always glad to have a beautiful woman in the office.a He nodded to me. aSo long, Ricca.a When he had gone, I said, aNice obliging cop.a aSo he should be,a Reisner said curtly. aWe pay him enough.a He moved to his desk and sat down. aWell, now we've got that straightened out, let's get down to business.a aYes,a Della said, aPaul wanted Johnny and me to check the books, Nick.a Reisner favoured her with a cold stare.

aYou? First time you've had anything to do with the business, isn't it?a There was a short pause while they looked at each other, then Della laughed.

aI have to make a start sometime. As Paul couldn't come himself, he asked me to represent him.a Reisner picked up a paper-knife and began to dig holes with it in his blotter. There was a vague little smile hovering around his thin lips.

aSo you're his representative? That's interesting. Have you got it in writing?a Della's eyes snapped.

aWriting? Are you trying to be funny, Nick?a aNo.a Reisner leaned back in his chair. aPaul told me Ricca was to check the books. Okay, he can check them, but Paul didn't say anything about you taking a look, and you don't until I have Paul's authority.a aPaul told me she and I were to work together,a I said, feeling it was time I took a hand in this. aHe said she was to see everything.a Reisner dug more holes in the blotter.

aI'm not interested in what Paul said to you. He didn't say it to me.a aNow, look . . .a I began heatedly, but Della cut in.

aKeep out of this, Johnny. I can handle it.a She stood up. aPaul thinks you've been dipping into the reserve,a she went on to Reisner. aWe're here to check it. A stall like this won't get you anywhere. If you don't want to get the heave, you'll give me the keys.a Reisner threw back his head and laughed. He seemed genuinely amused.

aWho's going to give me the heave?a he asked. aThat's funny. When Paul walks in here and tells me to get out, I'll get out, and not before. If you and Ricca imagine you can push me around, you've got another think coming. You're both off your home ground, and you'll find out just how far off you are if you crowd me much more.a aDon't be a fool, Nick,a Della said, her face white. aThat's not the way to talk to me, and you know it!a Reisner lifted his eyebrows mockingly.

aBut it's you who're putting on the pressure. I'm merely obeying orders. Ricca can look at the books whenever he likes. If Paul wants you to stick your pretty nose into the business a" and I doubt very much if he does a" I want a written order from him. Sorry, Mrs. Wertham, but that's final!a I thought she was going to hit him, but she didn't. She moved away from his desk, her fist clenched, her eyes dark explosions.

aWe'll see about that,a she said, then turning to me, went on, aCome on, Johnny, we'll have lunch.a She went out of the room without another look at Reisner. I got slowly to my feet.

Reisner put down the paper-knife and reached for a cigarette. aWomen are funny animals,a he said as he lit up, aand she's no exception. Well, any time you want to get down to business, you'll find me right here.a aYou're playing this wrong,a I said. aI heard Paul tell her to check the books.a aToo bad I didn't,a Reisner said, and smiled. aToo d.a.m.ned bad.a He slipped his hand into his pocket and took out a gold cigarette-case. aBy the way, Ricca, you left this lying around in your cabin. Your servant brought it to me.a He laid the case on the desk and poked at it with a long finger while his eyes searched my face.

I stared at the case, then my heart turned over. It was Wertham's case: the case I had found in his suit and had been fool enough to keep instead of throwing away.

aWhy, thanks,a I said, and my voice was husky. aCareless of me.

I reached forward to pick it up, but his hand covered it. aIs it yours?a aWhat do you mean?a aI was under the impression it belongs to Paul. It has his initials on it.a aWhat of it?a aI'm curious to know why you have it. Did he give it to you?a We stared at each other. I don't suppose I looked any more guilty than any sneak-thief caught in the act.

aHe lent it to me. I liked the design. I was going to have it copied.a Even to me it sounded terrible.

Reisner's eyes bored into my face.

aYou were? I see. You'd better take more care of it.a He lifted his hand and sat back. aNot like Paul to lend his things. He's always been funny about that.a aNot with me.a I picked up the case, feeling a trickle of sweat run down the back of my ear. aWell, I guess I'll get along.a aOh, Ricca . . .a I turned at the door, wondering what was coming.