Build My Gallows High Read Free

the sentences trail off into nothingness.
    ‘Yes,’ Red said. ‘There was.’
    ‘A pushover.’ Guy took a card, discarded a queen. ’For you, that is. Take maybe two weeks.’
    Red picked up the queen, discarded a ten.
    ‘One,’ Red said and put down his hand.
    ‘Got me for twenty-five.’
    ‘I was dealing.’
    ‘A pushover,’ Guy repeated. ‘Trip to New York. All expenses and five grand. You can’t kiss that off.’
    ‘Can’t I?’ Red fiddled with the cards, waiting. He didn’t like the setup, didn’t like it at all. Guy Parker didn’t play unless the deck was stacked. But he couldn’t know. He would have moved in a long time ago.
    ‘Two weeks—maybe three,’ Guy said.
    ‘Maybe I’m out of practice.’
    ‘I’ll take that chance.’
    ‘There are good boys in the East, Guy.’
    ‘Not good enough. Anyway, I can’t trust someone I don’t know.’
    ‘I don’t get it,’ Red said in a flat voice.’Why come to me? I’ve been out of business ten years. Sure, I was good once. But I’m out of touch with things. In that racket, you need contacts.’
    Guy pursed his thin lips.’It’s this way, Red. You’ve been out of the picture a long time. That’s good. I want someone nobody knows.’ He nodded thoughtfully. ‘Someone with a clean slate.’
    ‘There are plenty of honest agencies.’
    ‘Don’t give me that,’ Guy said.
    ‘Who’s the boy you want a line on?’
    ‘His name won’t mean anything to you.’
    ‘Try me.’
    ‘Lloyd Eels,’ Guy said.
    Red shook his head.
    ‘He’s an attorney,’ Guy went on. ‘He’s been sniping at a friend of mine. I want to stop him.’
    ‘And your friend?’
    ‘Never mind him.’
    ‘I don’t go into things blind.’
    ‘What do you care?’
    ‘I’m living the kind of life I like. I’m too old to want excitement any more.’
    Red stood up. ‘Got someone to take me home?’
    ‘Sure. If you want to go.’
    ‘I want to.’
    ‘Stick around,’ Guy said. ’Get some sleep and think it over.’
    ‘No, thanks.’
    ‘All right then.’ Guy sighed and put his finger on a button. A voice came out of the little speaker on his desk.
    ’Yes, boss?’ the voice inquired.
    ‘Send the dame on in,’ Guy spoke into the instrument. ‘I want her to meet a friend of mine before he leaves.’ He gave Red a thin smile.
    Red stood there looking at him, his face expressionless. Faintly the sound of motors starting came to them. The customers had had enough and were going home. The door behind him opened. Red turned. Mumsie McGonigle came through the door.
    Mumsie McGonigle and Red Bailey stood looking at each other, not smiling, not saying anything. The same serene wisp of a woman.
    ‘I needn’t introduce you,’ Guy said.
    ‘Not us,’ Red said.
    ‘Mumsie’s working for me now.’ Guy was standing at his desk, leaning on his knuckles. Red wondered where he bought his suits. The gray flannel he wore looked very British.
    ‘That’s fine,’ Red said.
    ‘You’re working for me too.’ Guy sounded like a cop for the first time. Sure of himself. Very sure of himself. ‘I’m being fair about it. Not asking for a cut. Not asking for anything but a little of your time, Red.’
    Mumsie spoke. She had a low, sweet voice.’I didn’t sell you out, Red.’
    ‘No?’
    ‘No. Damned if I know how he got onto it.’
    ‘Christ,’ Guy said. ‘I was chief of police, wasn’t I?’
    Mumsie’s lying. Red thought. No other answer. He knew and she knew and that was all. Nobody else mixed up in it. No loose ends. He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t surprised. He asked: ‘What did he get on you to make you talk, Mumsie?’
    Guy answered for her. ‘This and that.’
    ‘I didn’t—’ Mumsie started to say. Red’s eyes stopped her. She shrugged, moved to the leather couch against the wall and sat down. Her legs were still good.
    ‘I’m not sore. Just curious.’
    ‘He knows the works.’ Mumsie lit a cigarette.
    Guy nodded, moved to a cabinet in the corner and got