The Erection Set

“I have an idea, but it’s not part of your assignment. You two stay with Lee and Sharon.”

The Chopper grunted and wiped the rain off his face with a finger. “Nobody’s after them.”

“I know. They want me.”

“Maybe we ought to lay a cover around you then.”

“Forget it. Let them spot you two and they’ll play it cute. I’d sooner have a direct frontal attack when it comes.”

“Crazy, man,” The Chopper said. “You ought to know better. They know you too. Who the hell’s gonna move in frontwise?”

“I think they will.”

“Your funeral.”

“Maybe theirs.”

“At least we’re paid in advance,” Hobis told me. “Trouble is, I enjoy earning my pay. By the way, that your bust the other night? Like with the Guido bunch?”

I nodded.

“Neat.” He gave me an approving look and grinned.

“Couldn’t do much better myself.” “Thanks. Now stay close to my buddies. The storm’s just beginning to build up.”

“Okay. If we make any of these characters we’ll buzz you.”

“Do that.”

I waited until they were gone, then went back into the rain and the wind that was teasing the earth into a muddy slop before it mustered its forces for the full-scale barrage that was waiting just behind the low scudding clouds. It was early afternoon and seemed like late dusk. At least everybody was miserable together.

Except Dick Lagen who sat in the back of an air-conditioned Cadillac and didn’t seem a bit surprised when I slid beside him. “You’re a hard man to locate, Dog.”

“Not really.”

“I’ve been here almost”—he checked his watch—“two hours.”

“Waiting for me?”

“I knew you’d be curious.”

He held out his pack of cigarettes. I took one and held it to the gold lighter he offered. I cranked the window down an inch and let the smoke drift out with the cold air. “You were wrong, buddy. I’m only interested in your methods. Something I can do for you?”

“In a few moments. I’m waiting for your ... friend.”

“My friends are few and far between.”

“This one’s rather special. As a matter of fact, here she comes now.”

In the oversize slicker Sharon looked like some forlorn waif. She threw the hood back and droplets of water glistened on her hair. She laughed, tugged the door open and jumped in beside Dick before she saw me, then her face went through a small contortion of expressions before she smiled again.

“Hello, Dog.”

“Hi, doll.” I grinned at her and flipped the cigarette out the window. “I like you better in a miniskirt.”

She shrugged out of the slicker, tugging the folders of papers from the folds, tossed them on the seat beside her and sat back with her dress halfway up her thighs. “Better?”

“Much.”

Then she stared at the two of us a moment, frowned and brushed the rain away from the strands of hair that stuck to her face. “Am I interrupting a conference? When you sent for me ...”

Dick Lagen patted her leg paternally and chuckled. “No conference. I expected to speak to both of you separately, but since you’re both here ...”

“What’s on your mind, Dick?” I asked him.

“No need to be so abrupt, old boy. After all, I’m simply a reporter doing a job in the public interest, and if you’ve been following the papers, all this activity certainly is in the public interest. We have a reactivated Barrin Industries, a motion picture being made on the premises, a new spirit coming alive in a town supposedly dead, and for those close to the scene, a specter of doom hovering over the new enterprise in the form of Mr. Cross McMillan. The splash, when it comes, will certainly be newsworthy.”

“Only in the local papers, Dick.”

“Ah, but we have you, Dog. The great unknown. That is, until now.”

Sharon twisted in her seat, her face gone tight. “What does he mean, Dog?”

I shrugged.

Lagen said, “Shall I tell her, Mr. Kelly?”

“Why not? Just make sure you can document the answers.” I turned and looked at him and whatever he saw on my face tightened him up like a bowstring. His tongue licked across lips suddenly gone dry, but he had pushed it thus far and he had to go the rest of the way. His eyes flicked toward the burly chauffeur standing under the umbrella fifty feet away talking to one of the local cops and the reassurance came back into his face with subtle relief.

“You may even be vain enough to document them yourself, Dog.”

“I’ve been known to do that,” I said.

“Dog...”

“At ease, baby, let the man talk.”

“Thank you,” Lagen said. I caught the tone. He thought he had the heavy bat and was up against a weak pitcher. He was rolling the bones with the odds all on his side and savoring the moment for all it was worth. “I mentioned before I was making inquiries about you, Mr. Kelly.”

“Don’t be so damn formal, Dick. Keep it Dog.”

“Very well.” He paused and handed me another cigarette. “Perhaps you wouldn’t like the young lady to hear all this.”

“If it’s public information, why not?”

“Sharon?”

The worry was plain in her eyes, but I shrugged. “Go ahead,” I said.

“May I refer to my notes?”

“By all means.”