I considered it and said:
“Too crude. It wouldn’t fool him. Besides, I’d just as leave have Pete and Lew both against the chief at this stage.”
She pouted and said:
“You think you know everything. You’re just hard to get along with. Take me out tonight? I’ve got a new outfit that’ll knock them cockeyed.”
“Yeah.”
“Come up for me around eight.”
She patted my cheek with a warm hand, said, “Ta-ta,” and went out as the telephone bell began jingling.
“My chinch and Dick’s are together at your client’s joint,” Mickey Linehan reported over the wire. “Mine’s been generally busier than a hustler with two bunks, though I don’t know what the score is yet. Anything new?”
I said there wasn’t and went into conference with myself across the bed, trying to guess what would come of Noonan’s attack on Cedar Hill Inn and Whisper’s on the First National Bank. I would have given something for ability to hear what was being said up at old Elihu’s house by him, Pete the Finn, and Lew Yard. But I hadn’t that ability, and I was never much good at guessing, so after half an hour I stopped tormenting my brain and took a nap.
It was nearly seven o’clock when I came out of the nap. I washed, dressed, loaded my pockets with a gun and a pint flask of Scotch, and went up to Dinah’s.
XVII. Reno
She took me into her living room, backed away from me, revolved, and asked me how I liked the new dress. I said I liked it. She explained that the color was rose beige and that the dinguses on the side were something or other, winding up:
“And you really think I look good in it?”
“You always look good,” I said. “Lew Yard and Pete the Finn went calling on old Elihu this afternoon.”
She made a face at me and said:
“You don’t give a damn about my dress. What did they do there?”
“A pow-wow, I suppose.”
She looked at me through her lashes and asked:
“Don’t you really know where Max is?”
Then I did. There was no use admitting I hadn’t known all along. I said:
“At Willsson’s, probably, but I haven’t been interested enough to make sure.”
“That’s goofy of you. He’s got reasons for not liking you and me. Take mama’s advice and nail him quick, if you like living and like having mama live too.”
I laughed and said:
“You don’t know the worst of it. Max didn’t kill Noonan’s brother. Tim didn’t say Max. He tried to say MacSwain, and died before he could finish.”
She grabbed my shoulders and tried to shake my hundred and ninety pounds. She was almost strong enough to do it.
“God damn you!” Her breath was hot in my face. Her face was white as her teeth. Rouge stood out sharply like red labels pasted on her mouth and cheeks. “If you’ve framed him and made me frame him, you’ve got to kill him–now.”
I don’t like being manhandled, even by young women who look like something out of mythology when they’re steamed up. I took her hands off my shoulders, and said:
“Stop bellyaching. You’re still alive.”
“Yes, still. But I know Max better than you do. I know how much chance anybody that frames him has got of staying alive long. It would be bad enough if we had got him right, but–”
“Don’t make so much fuss over it. I’ve framed my millions and nothing’s happened to me. Get your hat and coat and we’ll feed. You’ll feel better then.”
“You’re crazy if you think I’m going out. Not with that–”
“Stop it, sister. If he’s that dangerous he’s just as likely to get you here as anywhere. So what difference does it make?”
“It makes a– You know what you’re going to do? You’re going to stay here until Max is put out of the way. It’s your fault and you’ve got to look out for me. I haven’t even got Dan. He’s in the hospital.”
“I can’t,” I said. “I’ve got work to do. You’re all burnt up over nothing. Max has probably forgotten all about you by now. Get your hat and coat. I’m starving.”