The Erection Set

We reached the canopy that strung out over the sidewalk in front of her building and stopped.

“They were in that white car that followed us all the way home, weren’t they?”

“How did you know that?”

“Because I was watching you. I saw them in the rearview mirror.”

“They were from another time, kitten. Forget it.”

“What did you do to them?”

“Jogged their memories a little so they’d either be more careful the next time or never do it again at all.’

“Which one will it be?” she asked me.

“I don’t think they’ll try to renew our old acquaintance, sugar.”

“Can you tell me why it happened?”

I lit a cigarette and stared down the street, “No ”

“I see.”

“Want to see me again?” I asked her,

There was something solemn in her face. Her eyes went to mine, looking deeply into each one Finally she said,

“Yes.”

I tilted her chin up and kissed her gently. “You’re going to be sorry.”

She nodded. “Yes, I know.”

“And don’t care?”

“No.”

Lee had left a note on the dresser that my suits had arrived from Weller-Fabray and were hanging in the closet. There had been a call from Al DeVecchio and I was to call back at my own convenience. A secretary from Dick Lagen’s office had called, but had left no message. He ended the note with an invitation to join him for supper at a new place called Oliver’s Lodge if I had the time.

Not that my old buddy wanted my company that much. He was chewing his nails to know what the gig was with Sharon. I tossed the note back on the dresser top and thought about Sharon again. Crazy broad. Professional virgin. I wondered what the action would be at the final second if I had taken up her offer of deflowering her. You might think you could avoid a knee in the balls, but them damn dames could bite too and even a small bite in the neck or shoulder could pretty well discourage the hardest ardor. Crazy, but nice. Like having a lion cub. Soft, cuddly and fun, but watch it when they grow up.

I walked to the closet and took a look at my new threads. I had forgotten to tell them to take in the extra fullness that usually covered the outline of a rod, now I was glad I hadn’t. Times and conditions weren’t getting any better. If anything, they were worse and promising to get even more tangled.

The note from Betterton and Strauss in London was coded on W-F stationery, a seemingly innocuous letter thanking me for my patronage and suggesting certain other additions to my wardrobe. What it really meant was that Garfield and Greco the Spaniard had gone headfirst into the last trap I had set for them and were completely out of the action now. Simon Corner who operated out of a book-shop in London’s Soho district was trying to take advantage of my absence, but was moving cautiously until he knew which way the wind was blowing.

Things were working out nicely, I thought. When nobody knew anything they suspected everything. In those circles, no news was bad news. It represented superefficiency. Right now they’d be counting noses every day to see who was missing or who was sweating too hard. Waiting for the ax to fall was the hardest part of the game.

I climbed out of my clothes, showered and shaved, put on my new outfit and dialed Al’s number. When he answered I said, “Hi, paisan.”

“You’ve been getting around, soldier. That damn number of yours never answers.”

“You know how it is.”

“How are American broads shaping up?”

“Not bad. They have a few raunchy ideas, but this women’s lib bit doesn’t seem to affect most of them. What’s up?”

“A few pieces of information. You’re still my client.”

“Shoot.”

“You familiar with Farnsworth Aviation?” Al asked me.

“Didn’t they just relocate somewhere out in the desert? There was something in the paper about that.”

“Correct. They were major pollutants in the Los Angeles area and the ecology groups came down on their necks. Trouble is, their product is essential to the government and they made some kind of a deal.”

“Pity the poor Indians.”

“No redskins where they are. Anyway, they have a little gadget they want to subcontract to Barrin Industries. It seems that they have the only facilities to handle the job immediately.”

“Nice. Where did you pick up this tidbit?”

“Casual conversation with an old friend who works for Farnsworth. There’s a catch to it though.”

“Oh?”

“Barrin will have to do some revamping. It’s going to cost more than they can afford if my information is correct.”

“How much more?”

“Roughly, two million. So don’t be surprised to see something go on the block.”

“What have they got outside the physical properties of the corporation?”

“A few patents, pal. It seems like some of the old technicians were ahead of their time. If it weren’t for a couple of cagy codgers who had lifetime contracts with your grandfather, they would still be in the vaults. Anyway, they’ll be losing one hell of a potential if they let them go.”

“Those cousins of mine are bird-in-the-hand types,” I said. “They’ll sell.”

“Yeah. Do you know they sold Mondo Beach?”

“Sure. I bought it.”

There was silence for a few seconds, then: “How much?”

“Two fifty G’s.”