The Mike Hammer Collection - Mickey Spillane [92]
This time I was pretty direct. “She says you’re trying to kill her.”
His reaction was one of amazement. “What?” Very slowly he came to the edge of his seat. “What’s that?”
“A car tried to run her down, she was deliberately followed, and somebody took a shot at her.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am about the last time. I was there when it happened.” I didn’t bother giving him any of the details.
“But . . . why haven’t I heard . . .?”
“Because it involved another matter too. In time you’ll hear about it. Not now. Just let’s say it happened.”
For the first time his courtroom composure left him. He waved his hands like a lost person and shook his head.
I said, “Mr. Torrence, do you have any enemies?”
“Enemies?”
“That’s right.”
“I . . . don’t think so.” He reflected a moment and went on. “Political enemies, perhaps. There are two parties and . . .”
“Would they want to kill you?” I interrupted.
“No . . . certainly not. Disagree, but that’s all.”
“What about women?” I asked bluntly.
He paid no attention to my tone. “Mr. Hammer . . . I haven’t kept company with a woman since Sally died. This is a pretty well-known fact.”
I looked toward the door meaningfully. “You keep pretty company.”
“Geraldine King was assigned to me by our state chairman. She has been with me through three political campaigns. Between times she works with others in the party running for office.”
“No offense,” I said. “But how about other possibles? Could you have made any special enemies during your political career?”
“Again, none that I know of who would want to kill me.”
“You were a D.A. once.”
“That was twenty-some years ago.”
“So go back that far.”
Torrence shrugged impatiently. “There were a dozen threats, some made right in the courtroom. Two attempts that were unsuccessful.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing,” he said. “Police routine stopped the action. Both persons were apprehended and sent back to prison. Since then both have died, one of T.B., the other of an ulcer.”
“You kept track of them?”
“No, the police did. They thought it best to inform me. I wasn’t particularly worried.”
“Particularly?”
“Not for myself. For Sue and anyone else, yes. Personally, my recourse is to the law and the police. But remember this, Mr. Hammer, it isn’t unusual for a District Attorney to be a target. There was a man named Dewey the mobs could have used dead, but to kill him would have meant that such pressure would be brought on organized crime that when Dutch Schultz wanted to kill him the Mob killed Dutch instead. This is a precarious business and I realize it. At the same time, I won’t alter my own philosophies by conforming to standards of the scared.”
“How often have you been scared?”
“Often. And you?”
“Too often, buddy.” I grinned at him and he smiled back slowly, his eyes showing me he knew what I meant.
“Now about Sue.”
“I’ll speak to her.”
“You’ll bring her home?”
“That’s up to Sue. I’ll see what she says. Supposing she won’t come?”
Torrence was silent a moment, thinking. “That’s up to her then. She’s a . . . child who isn’t a child. Do you know what I mean?”
“Uh-huh.”
He nodded. “She’s well provided for financially and frankly, I don’t see what else I can do for her. I’m at a point where I need advice.”
“From whom?”
His eyes twinkled at me. “Perhaps from you, Mr. Hammer.” “Could be.”
“May I ask your status first?”
“I hold a very peculiar legal authorization. At the moment it allows me to do damn near anything I want to. Within reason, of course.”
“For how long?”
“You’re quick, friend.” He nodded and I said, “Until somebody cuts me out of it or I make a mistake.”
“Oh?”
“And the day of mistakes is over.”
“Then advise me. I need advice from someone who doesn’t make mistakes anymore.” There was no sarcasm in his tone at all.
“I’ll keep her with me until she wants out.”
A full ten seconds passed before he thought it over, then he nodded, went to the other side of his desk and pulled out a checkbook.