The Postman Always Rings Twice - James M. Cain [35]
"What the hell? You think I'm going with you to catch them goddam things?"
"Frank, I brought quite a lot of money with me. Let's let Goebel keep those bughouse cats for their board, sell your car for whatever we can get, and hunt cats."
"You're on."
"You mean you will?"
"When do we start?"
"There's a freight boat out of here tomorrow and it puts in at Balboa. We'll wire Goebel from there. And we can leave your car with the hotel here. They'll sell it and send us whatever they get. That's one thing about a Mexican. He's slow, but he's honest."
"O.K."
"Gee I'm glad."
"Me too. I'm so sick of hot dogs and beer and apple pie with cheese on the side I could heave it all in the river."
"You'll love it, Frank. We'll get a place up in the mountains, where it's cool, and then, after I get my act ready, we can go all over the world with it. Go as we please, do as we please, and have plenty of money to spend. Have you got a little bit of gypsy in you?"
"Gypsy? I had rings in my ears when I was born."
I didn't sleep so good that night. When it was beginning to get light, I opened my eyes, wide awake. It came to me, then, that Nicaragua wouldn't be quite far enough.
CHAPTER 14
When she got off the train she had on a black dress, that made her look tall, and a black hat, and black shoes and stockings, and didn't act like herself while the guy was loading the trunk in the car. We started out, and neither one of us had much to say for a few miles.
"Why didn't you let me know she died?"
"I didn't want to bother you with it. Anyhow, I had a lot to do."
"I feel plenty bad now, Cora."
"Why?"
"I took a trip while you were away. I went up to Frisco."
"Why do you feel bad about that?"
"I don't know. You back there in Iowa, your mother dying and all, and me up in Frisco having a good time."
"I don't know why you should feel bad. I'm glad you went. If I'd have thought about it, I'd have told you to before I left."
"We lost some business. I closed down."
"It's all right. We'll get it back."
"I felt kind of restless, after you left."
"Well my goodness, I don't mind."
"I guess you had a bad time of it, hey?"
"It wasn't very pleasant. But anyhow, it's over."
"I'll shoot a drink in you when we get home. I got some nice stuff out there I brought back to you."
"I don't want any."
"It'll pick you up."
"I'm not drinking any more."
"No?"
"I'll tell you about it. It's a long story."
"You sound like plenty happened out there."
"No, nothing happened. Only the funeral. But I've got a lot to tell you. I think we're going to have a better time of it from now on."
"Well for God's sake. What is it?"
"Not now. Did you see your family?"
"What for?"
"Well anyway, did you have a good time?"
"Fair. Good as I could have alone."
"I bet it was a swell time. But I'm glad you said it."
When we got out there, a car was parked in front, and a guy was sitting in it. He got a silly kind of grin on his face and climbed out. It was Kennedy, the guy in Katz's office.
"You remember me?"
"Sure I remember you. Come on in."
We took him inside, and she gave me a pull into the kitchen.
"This is bad, Frank."
"What do you mean, bad?"
"I don't know, but I can feel it."
"Better let me talk to him."
I went back with him, and she brought us some beer, and left us, and pretty soon I got down to cases.
"You still with Katz?"
"No, I left him. We had a little argument and I walked out."
"What are you doing now?"
"Not a thing. Fact of the matter, that's what I came out to see you about. I was out a couple of times before, but there was nobody home. This time, though, I heard you were back, so I stuck around."
"Anything I can do, just say the word."
"I was wondering if you could let me have a little money."
"Anything you want. Of course, I don't keep much around, but if fifty or sixty dollars will help, I'll be glad to let you have it."
"I was hoping you could make it more."
He still had this grin on his face, and I figured it was time to quit the feinting and jabbing, and find out what he meant.
"Come on, Kennedy. What is it?"
"I