The Mike Hammer Collection - Mickey Spillane [86]
“Thanks a bunch,” I said.
“Sure,” Pat said to Art, “he’s always been in the special-privilege class, but now it’s over my head. You got the pull, Rickerby. I don’t get all the picture, but I’ve been around long enough to figure a few things out. Just clue me on this one.”
“Pat . . .” I started.
“Not you, Mike. Him.” He smiled with that gentle deceptive-ness. “And make it good. We have two dead men here and I’m not writing that off for anybody. No more I’m not.”
Art nodded and glanced at his watch. “The girl Velda,” he said, “she was the crux. She has information this country depends upon. A team of assassins was assigned to kill her and nobody could get to that team we called ‘The Dragon’ but him because nobody could be as terrible as they were. It turned out that he was even worse. If that is a good word. For that information this country would pay any price and part of the cost was to rehabilitate this man in a sense and give him back his privilege and his gun.
“The Dragon team is gone now. There is only the girl Velda. There is still that price to pay and he can call the tune. You have no choice but to back him up. Is that clear?”
“No, but it’s coming through,” Pat said. “I know most of the story but I find it hard to believe.”
I said, “Pat . . .”
“What?”
“Let’s leave it, kid. We were both right. So she’s still mine. If you want her then take her away, but you have to fight me for her and you haven’t got a chance in the world of winning.”
“Not as long as you’re alive,” he told me.
“Sure, Pat.”
“And the law of averages is on my side.”
“Why sure.”
I didn’t think he could do it, but he did. He grinned and stuck out his hand and instinctively I took it. “Okay, boy. It’s like before now. We start fresh. Do I get the story or does he?”
“First him, buddy,” I said, nodding toward Art, “then you. It’s bigger than local and I’m not just a private cop anymore.”
“They told me about your ticket. Smart.”
“You know me. Never travel small.”
“That’s right. Somebody’s got to be the hero.”
“Nuts. If I’m on a dead play, then I want odds that will pay off.”
“They did.”
“Damn right they did. I stuck it up and broke it off. Everybody wanted me dead and instead it turned all the way around. So I got the payoff. A big ticket and the rod back and nobody puts the bull on me until I flub it royally . . . and this, friend, I’m not about to do again.”
“No?”
“Watch.”
“My pleasure, big buddy.” He grinned. Again. “Mind if I leave and you talk it out with Mister Government here?”
“No. But be at your office soon. She’ll be there and so will I.”
“Soon?”
“An hour.”
“I’ll be waiting, hero.”
When he left Art Rickerby said, “She has to talk right away. Where is she?”
“I told you . . . in an hour . . . at Pat’s office.”
“There were dead men here.”
“So . . .”
“Don’t piddle with me, Mike.”
“Don’t piddle with me, Art.”
“Who were they?”
“I damn well don’t know, but this you’ll do and damn well do it right.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“No? I’ll shove it up your tail if I want to, Art, and don’t you forget it. You do this one my way. This is something else from your personal angle and leave it alone. Let those dead men be. As far as anybody is concerned they’re part of The Dragon group and the last part at that. There ain’t no more, the end, finis. They came for Velda and I was here to lay on the gravy like I did the rest and you go along with it. What’s here is not part of your business at all, but for the moment you can cover me. Do it.”
“Mike . . .”
“Just do it and shut up.”
“Mike . . .”
I said softly, “I gave you The Dragon, didn’t I?”
“Yes.”
“I was dead. You exhumed me. You made me do things that were goddamned near impossible and when I didn’t die doing them you were surprised. So be surprised now. Do like I tell you.”
“Or . . .?’
“Or Velda won’t come in.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive,