1965 - The Way the Cookie Crumbles Read Free

anyone had joined her, but he said she was still on her own. I reckoned she wanted privacy so I didn’t go near her.’
    ‘You’re damned right she wanted privacy. Then what happened?’
    ‘We close around two-thirty. When most of the people had gone and the curtain still remained drawn, I went along to collect. I rapped on the stall, but got no answer. I looked in and there she was.’
    ‘You didn’t go near for three and a half hours?’
    ‘That’s right. I was busy. I work in the stillroom. We had a heavy night. There was plenty to clear up.’
    Browning suddenly grunted and turning to Terrell, said, ‘I’m going home. Louis will lock up. This is a hell of a thing for me. Could ruin my business. Get your men out of here as quickly as you can, Frank. I want Louis to get some sleep.’
    ‘We won’t be long now, Harry,’ Terrell said, shook hands and then watched Browning walk down the stairs and out of sight. He went down the bar to where Dr. Lowis was now examining the dead woman.
    Edris said, ‘When you asked just now if she seemed all right, I didn’t tell you the truth. I’d like to answer that question again.’
    Hess glared at him.
    ‘Look, your mother might have thought you were cute, but I don’t. You mean you were lying?’
    ‘I didn’t want to lose my job.’ Edris took out his handkerchief and wiped his sweating face. ‘I like this job. The boss was listening. If I had told the truth and he had heard me, he would have booted me out.’
    ‘What makes you think he won’t boot you out if you tell the truth now?’
    ‘If you don’t tell him, he won’t know, will he?’
    Hess eyed the dwarf thoughtfully, then shrugged.
    ‘Okay. So she didn’t seem all right?’
    ‘No. As soon as I saw her, I knew she was in trouble. She was white and shaking. I knew when she got that way, she’s likely to make a scene. Scream, get hysterical. So when I saw she was ready to flip her lid, I got her into the banquette and got her a drink. I pulled the curtain. I didn’t want her to make a scene. The boss doesn’t like scenes.’
    Hess and Jacoby looked at each other, then Hess said, ‘You mean you know this woman?’
    Edris glanced over his shoulder to where Louis was standing talking to Bert Hamilton, then lowering his voice, he said, ‘Yes, I know her. She lives in the apartment opposite mine.’
    ‘Why the hell didn’t you say so before?’ Hess snarled.
    ‘You didn’t ask me, and besides, I told you, Mr. Browning was listening. If he finds out I knew her and I put her in the banquette, he’ll boot me out.’
    ‘What do you know about her?’
    ‘She’s a junkie and a whore. I’ve known her off and on for eight years.’
    Hess leaned forward.
    ‘You mean she’s your girl, Ticky?’
    Edris looked at him for a moment, his eyes sad, then he said, ‘You think any girl would be my girl?’
    ‘You steered some of the rich playboys her way and she gave you a rake off? That’s it, isn’t it, Ticky?’
    ‘She happened to live in the apartment opposite mine,’ Edris said with quiet dignity. ‘From time to time, she used to talk to me. I guess she looked on me the way you and the rest of them do: like a freak. Just because she talked to me doesn’t make me a pimp, does it?’
    They stared at each other. Hess was the first to look away.
    ‘What did she talk about?’
    ‘Lots of things. Her husband, her daughter, her life, her lovers.’
    ‘She married?’
    ‘That’s right.’
    Louis came over.
    ‘You Mr. Hess?’
    ‘What of it?’ Hess snapped. ‘I’m busy.’
    ‘You’re wanted on the telephone,’ Louis said, his aristocratic nose tilting.
    Hess got to his feet.
    ‘Stick around, pint size,’ he said to Edris. ‘I’m not through with you yet.’
    He went to the bar and picked up the receiver.
    ‘Yeah?’
    ‘This is Joe,’ Beigler said. ‘We’ve got a murder in our laps. The Chief with you?’
    ‘Yeah?’
    ‘Tell him I’ve found this guy she mentions in her note. He’s got