The Big Kill mh-5 Page 3

  When she took the kid over I patted his fanny while he tried to dig out one of my eyes with his thumb. "For a client," I said, "you're knocking the hell out of my bank roll." I looked at the nurse, but she had already started brushing his hair back and adjusting his coveralls. "Take good care of him, will you?"

  "Don't you worry a bit now. As a matter of fact, I'm glad to have something to do with my time." The kid yelled and reached his hand inside my coat and when I pulled away he yelled again, this time with tears. "Do you have something he wants?" she asked me.

  "Er... no. We were... er, playing a game with my coat before. Guess he remembered." I said so-long and got out. She'd eat me out if she knew the kid wanted the rod for a toy.

  Pat was at ease in his office with his feet up on the desk, comparing blown-up photos of prints in the light that filtered in the windows. When I came in he tossed them aside and waved me into a chair.

  "It didn't take us long to get a line on what happened last night."

  I sat back with a fresh cigarette in my fingers and waited. Pat slid a report sheet out of a stack and held it in front of him.

  "The guy's name was William Decker," he said. "He was an ex-con who had been released four years ago after serving a term for breaking and entering. Before his arrest he had worked for a safe and lock company in a responsible position, then, probably because of his trade, was introduced to the wrong company. He quit his job and seemed to be pretty well off at the same time a wave of safe robberies were sweeping a section of the city. None of those crimes were pinned on him, but he was suspected of it. He was caught breaking into a place and convicted."

  "Who was the bad company?" I cut in.

  "Local boys. A bunch of petty gangsters, most of whom are now up the river. Anyway, after his release, he settled down and got married. His wife died less than a year after the baby was born. By the way, the kid's name is William too.

  "Now... we might still be up in the air about this if something hadn't happened last night that turned the light on the whole thing. We put Decker's prints through at the same time another investigation was being made. A little before twelve o'clock last night we had a call to investigate a prowler seen on a fire escape of one of the better apartment buildings on Riverside Drive. The squad car that answered the call found no trace of the prowler, but when they investigated the fire escape they came across a broken window and heard a moan from inside.

  "When they entered they found a woman sprawled on the floor in a pretty battered condition. Her wall safe was open and the contents gone. There was one print on the dial that the boys were able to lift and it was that of William Decker. When we pulled the card we had the answers."

  "Great." My voice made a funny flat sound in the room.

  Pat's head came up, his face expressionless. "Sometimes you can't do what you want to do, Mike. You were all steamed up to go looking for a killer and now you're getting sore because it's all so cut and dried."

  "Okay, okay, finish reading. I want to hear it."

  He went back to the report. "Like I said, his wife died and in all likelihood he started going bad again. He and two others planned a safe robbery with Decker opening the can while the others were lookouts and drove. It's our theory that Decker tried to get away with the entire haul without splitting and his partners overtook and killed him."

  "Nice theory. How'd you reach it?"

  "Because it was a safe job where Decker would have to handle the thing alone... because he went home long enough after the job to pick up his kid... and because you yourself saw the man you shot frisking him for the loot before you barged in on the scene."

  "Now spell it backwards."

  "What?"

  "Christ, can't you see your own loopholes? They're big enough."

  He saw them. He stuck his tongue in the corner of his cheek and squinted at the paper. "Yeah, the only catch is the loot. It wasn't."

  "You hit it," I agreed. "And something else... if he was making a break for it he would have taken the dough along. This guy Decker knew he was damn well going to die. He walked right out into it like you'd snap your fingers."

  Pat nodded. "I thought of that too, Mike. I think I can answer it. All Decker got in that haul was three hundred seventeen dollars and a string of cultured pearls worth about twenty bucks. I think that when he realized that was all there was to be had, he knew the others wouldn't believe him and took a powder. Tried to at least."

  "Then where's the dough?"

  Pat tapped his fingernails against his teeth. "I think we'll find it in the same place we'll find the pearls... if anybody's honest enough to turn it in... and that's on top of a garbage pail somewhere."

  "Aw, nuts. Even three hundred's dough these days. He wouldn't chuck it."

  "Anger and disgust can make a person do a lot of things."

  "Then why did he let himself get knocked off?"

  Pat waited a moment then said, "I think because he realized that they might try to take out their revenge on the child."

  I flipped the butt into the wastebasket. "You sure got it wrapped up nice and tight. Who was the other guy?"

  "His name was Arnold Basil. He used to work for Fallon and had a record of three stretches and fourteen arrests without convictions. We weren't able to get much of a line on him so far. We do know that after Fallon died he went to Los Angeles and while he was there got drunk and was picked up for disorderly conduct. Two of our stoolies reported having seen him around town the last month, but hadn't heard about him being mixed up in anything."

  "Did they mention him sticking close to Lou Grindle?"

  Pat scowled. "Where'd you get that?"

  "Never mind. What about it?"

  "They mentioned it."

  "What're you doing about it?"

  "Checking."

  "That's nice."

  He threw the pencil across the desk. "Don't get so damn sarcastic, Mike." He caught the stare I held on him and started tapping his teeth again. "As much as I'd like to pin something on that cheap crook, I doubt if it can be done. Lou doesn't play for peanuts and you know it. He has his protection racket and he manages to stay out of trouble."

  "You could fix that," I said. "Breed 'im some trouble he can't get out of."

  "Yeah, try it."

  I stood up and slapped on my hat. "I think maybe I will just for the hell of it."

  Pat's hands were flat on the desk.. "Damn it, Mike, lay off. You're in a huff because the whole thing works out and you're not satisfied because you can't go gunning for somebody. One of these days you're going to dig up more trouble than you can handle!"

  "Pat, I don't like orphan-makers. There's still the driver of that car and don't forget it."

  "I haven't. He'll be in the line-up before the week is out."

  "He'll be dead first. Mind if I look at this?" I picked up the report sheet and scanned it. When I finished remembering a couple of addresses I tossed it back.

  He was looking at me carefully now, his eyes guarded. "Mike, did you leave something out of what you've told me?"

  "Nope, not a thing."

  "Then spill it."

  I turned around and looked at him. I had to put my hand in my pocket to keep it still. "It just stinks, that's all. The guy was crying. You'd have to see him to know what he looked like and you didn't see him. Grown men don't cry like that. It stinks."

  "Your're a crazy bastard," Pat said.

  "So I've been told. Does the D.A. want to see me?"

  "No, you were lucky it broke so fast."

  "See you around then, Pat. I'll keep in touch with you."

  "Do that," he said. I think he was laughing at me inside. I wasn't laughing though. There wasn't a damn thing to laugh about when you saw a guy cry, kiss his kid, then go out and make him an orphan.

  Like I said, the whole thing stunk.

  To high heaven.

  It took me a little while to get over to the East Side. I cruised up the block where the murder happened, reached the corner an
d swung down to the street where Decker had lived. It was one of those shabby blocks a few years away from condemnation. The sidewalks were littered with ancient baby buggies, a horde of kids playing in the garbage on the sidewalks and people on the stoops who didn't give a damn what the kids did so long as they could yap and slop beer.

  The number I had picked from Pat's report was 164, a four-story brownstone that seemed to tilt out toward the street. I parked the car and climbed out, picking my way through the swarm of kids, then went up the steps in to the vestibule. There wasn't any door, so I didn't have to ring any bells. One mailbox had SUPT scratched into the metal case under the 1-C. I walked down the dark channel of the hallway until I counted off three doors and knocked.

  A guy loomed out of the darkness. He was a big guy, all right, about two inches over me with a chest like a barrel. There might have been a lot of fat under his hairy skin, but there was a lot of muscle there too.

  "Watta ya want?" The way he said it you could tell he was used to scaring people right off.

  I said, "Information, friend. What ya bet you give it to me?"

  I watched his hands. They looked like they wanted to grab me. I stood balancing myself on my toes lightly so he'd get the idea that whatever he had I had enough to get away from him. Just like that he laughed. "You're a cocky little punk."

  "You're the first guy who ever called me little, friend."

  He laughed again. "Come on inside and have some coffee and keep your language where it belongs. I got all kinds of visitors today."

  There was another long hallway with some light at the end that turned out be a kitchen. The big guy stood in the doorway nodding me in and I saw the priest at the table nibbling at a hard roll. The big guy said, "Father, this is... uh, what's the name?"

  "Mike Hammer. Hello, Father."

  The priest held out a big hand and we shook. Then the super tapped his chest with a forefinger. "Forgot myself, I did. John Vileck's the name. Sit down and have a bite and let's hear what you got on your mind." He took another cup and saucer off the shelf and filled it up. "Sugar'n milk's on the table."

  When I was sugared and stirred I put my cards on the table. "I'm a private investigator. Right now I'm trying to get a line on a guy who lived here until last night."

  Both the priest and the super exchanged glances quickly. "You mean William Decker?" the priest asked.

  "That's right."

  "May I ask who is retaining you?"

  "Nobody, Father. I'm just sore, that's all. I was there when Decker was knocked off and I didn't like it. I'm on my own time and my own capital." I tried the coffee. It was strong as acid and hot as hell.

  Vileck stared at his cup, swirling it around to cool it off. "Decker was an all-right guy. Had a nice wife, too. The cops was here last night and then morning again."

  "Today?"

  He looked up at me, his teeth tight together. "Yeah, I called 'em in about an hour before you come along. Couple cops in a patrol car. Me and the Father here went upstairs to look around and somebody'd already done a little looking on their own. The place's a wreck. Turned everything upside down."

  The priest put his cup down and leaned back in his chair. "Perhaps you can make something of it, Mr. Hammer."

  "Maybe I can. If the police have the right idea, whoever searched Decker's place was looking for a pile of dough that he was supposed to have clipped during a robbery last night. The reason he was bumped was because he never got that dough to start with and knew his pals wouldn't believe him. He tried to get out but they nailed him anyway. Apparently they thought that when he came back to get his kid he stashed the money figuring to pick it up later."

  Vileck said, "The bastards!" then looked across the table. "Sorry, Father."

  The priest smiled gently. "Mr. Hammer... do you know anything at all about William Decker?"

  "I know he had a record. Did you?"

  "Yes, he told me about that some time ago. You see, what puzzles me is the fact that William was such a straight-forward fellow. He was doing his best to live a perfect life. It wasn't easy for him, but he seemed to be making a good job of it."

  Vileck nodded agreement. "That's right, too. Me and the Father here was the only ones around here that knew he had a record. When he first moved here he made no bones about it, then he started having trouble keeping a job because guys don't like for ex-cons to be working for them. Tell you somethin'... Decker was as honest as they come. None of this wrong stuff for him, see? Wouldn't even cheat at cards and right on time with his rent and his bills. Never no trouble at all. What do you make of it?"

  "Don't you know?"

  There was genuine bewilderment in his eyes. "For the love of me, I sure don't see nothing. He was okay all the way. Always doing things fer his kid since his wife died of cancer."

  "Then he had it tough, eh?"'

  "Yeah, real tough. Doctors come high and he couldn't afford much. She was supposed to have an operation and he finally got her lined up for it, but by that time it was too late and she died a few days after they cut her apart. Decker was in bad shape for a while."

  "He drink much?" I asked.

  "Nope. Never had a drop all that time. He didn't want to do nothin' that might hurt his kid. He sure was crazy about that boy. That's why he was strictly on the up and up."

  The priest had been listening, nodding occasionally. When Vileck finished he said, "Mr. Hammer, a week ago William came to church to see me and asked me if I would keep his insurance policies. They are all made out to the child, of course, and he wanted to be sure that if ever anything happened to him the child would be well provided for."

  That one stopped me for a second. I said, "Tell me, was he jumpy at the time? I mean, now that you look back, did he seem to have anything on his mind at all?"

  "Yes, now that I look back I'd say that he was upset about something. At the time I believed it was due to his wife having died. However, his story was plausible enough. Being that he had to work, he wanted his important papers in safe hands. I never believed that he was intending to... to..."

  Vileck balled his hands up and knocked his knuckles together. "Nuts. I don't believe he done it because he was going to rob a joint. The guy was straight as they come."

  "Some things happen to make a guy go wrong," I said. "Did he need dough at all?

  "Sure he needed dough. He'd get in maybe two, three days a week on the docks... pier 51 it was, but that was just enough to cover his eats. He lived pretty close, but he got by."

  "Any friends?"

  The super shrugged. "Sometimes a guy from the docks would come up awhile. He played chess with the blind newsie down the block every Monday night. Both of 'em picked it up in the big house. Nope, can't say that he had any other friends 'cept me. I liked the guy pretty much."

  "No reason why he needed money... nothing like that?"

  "Hell, not now. Before the wife died, sure. Not now though."

  I nodded, finished my coffee and turned to the priest. "Father, did Decker make any tentative plans concerning the boy at all?"

  "Yes, he did. It was his intention that the boy be brought up by one of our church organizations. We discussed it and he went so far as to make a will. The insurance money will take care of the lad until he finishes school, and what else Decker had was to be held in trust for his boy. This whole affair is very distressing. If only he had come to me with his problem! Always before he came to the church for advice, but this time when he needed to most he failed. Really, I..."

  "Father, I have the boy. He's being well cared for at present and whenever you're ready I'll be glad to turn him over to you. That kid is the reason I'm in this and when I get the guy that made him an orphan they can get another grave ready in potter's field. This whole town needs its nose wiped bad. I'm sick of having to live with some of the scum that breeds here and in my own little way I'm going to do something about it."

  "Please... my son! I..."

  "Don't preach to me now, Father. Maybe when i
t's over, but not now."

  "But surely you can't be serious."

  Vileck studied my face a second, then said, "He is, Father. If I can help ya out, pal... lemme know, will ya?"

  "I'll let you know," I said. "When you make arrangements for the boy, Father, look me up in the phone book. By the way, who was the friend of Decker's... the one on the docks?"

  "Umm... think his name was Booker. No, Hooker, that's it. Hooker. Mel Hooker."

  I pushed the cup back and shoved away from the table. "That's all then. Any chance of taking a look around the apartment?"

  "Sure, go on up. Top floor, first door off the landing. And it won't do no good to ask them old biddies nothin'. They was all doing the weekly wash when whoever took the place apart was there. Once a week they get hot water and their noses were all in the sinks."

  "Thanks," I said. "For the coffee too."

  "Don't mention it."

  "So long, Father. You'll buzz me later?"

  He nodded unhappily. "Yes, I will. Please... no violence."

  I grinned at him so he'd feel better and walked down the tunnel to the hall.

  Vileck hadn't been wrong about somebody taking the place apart. They had started at one end of the three tiny rooms and wound up at the other leaving a trail of wreckage behind them that could have been sifted through a window screen. It was one hell of a mess. The bag of garbage beside the door that had been waiting to get thrown out had been scattered with a kick and when I saw it I felt like laughing because whatever they were looking for they didn't get. There was no stopping place in the search to indicate that the great It had been located.

  For a while I prowled through the ruin of poverty, picking up a kid's toy here and there, a woman's bauble, a few work-worn things that had belonged to Decker. I even did a little probing in a few spots myself, but there wasn't a damn thing of any value around. I finished my butt and flipped it into the sink, then closed the door and got out of there.

  I had a nasty taste in my mouth because so far it looked like Pat was right all along the line. Decker had gotten himself loused up with a couple of boys and pulled a job that didn't pay off. The chances were that they had cased the joint so well they wouldn't have believed him when he gave them the story of the nearly empty safe.