Kiss and Kill Read Free Page A

blow failed to land. Barney caught the wrist and turned Ed Tollman in a half circle, so that he was now facing in the direction of his spring. Ed struggled, mouthing unintelligible words that summed up, or seemed to sum up, the totality of his anxiety and frustration of almost a week. But Barney easily held on to the arm twisted behind the man’s back; and it was while he was holding on that he noticed a cut, like a shaving cut, under Tollman’s ear. Some of the blood had welled up in spite of a styptic pencil and had dried in the shape and color of a German cockroach. It was while he was studying the irrelevant cut and allowing Ed Tollman to spend his rage in the futile struggle that Barney thought, A real cool cat would include this in his pose, the rage, the attack.…
    â€œGo ahead and get it out of your system, Tollman,” he said in the man’s ear. “You may as well, because I’m not letting go till you do.”
    And suddenly Tollman’s struggles stopped, and his body seemed to collapse. “Let me go now, Mr. Burgess.”
    Barney let him go. Ed rubbed the back of his neck. From beneath lowered brows he shot the detective a curious look. “You’ve been playing with me.”
    Barney shrugged. “Make a man mad, the mask comes off. I wanted to see what you were like.” He poured another drink and offered it. “You shouldn’t lead with your right. Have a drink.” Ed shook his head. “Go ahead, Tollman, you need it. You’re not thinking straight. Tell me: What do you conceive the problem to be?”
    â€œThe problem? It’s to find Liz. She’s lost.”
    â€œWrong. She knows exactly where she is. It’s your problem, Tollman; you’re the one who’s looking. And feeling oh so sorry for yourself. Here, drink it.”
    Ed took the glass and tossed the drink down. He looked vaguely around, and Barney took the glass from him.
    â€œWill you take the job, Mr. Burgess?”
    â€œI’ll do this, Ed. I’ll find out what’s happened to her. My fee will depend on how long it takes. But I’m not working for you, I’m working for myself. Clear?”
    â€œNo,” said Ed Tollman.
    â€œI mean I’ll take it to the end. If that means you wind up whiffing cyanide, I’ll mail you a bon-voyage card. And from this minute on I call the shots.”
    Ed swallowed. “All right, Mr. Burgess.” He sat down suddenly on the hassock.
    â€œNow some questions. Did Liz drink?”
    â€œSocially. Very little.”
    â€œShe wouldn’t go on a binge?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œOkay. You and the police have almost ruled out the possibility of accident by keeping a check on the hospitals and morgue. How about kidnaping?”
    Ed licked his lips. “I thought of that. But right outside my door?”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œThe dog. When people make quick moves toward Liz, Bogus lets out a screech that breaks windows.”
    â€œNot with a hand over his mouth. Two men working together could have silenced both of them.”
    â€œBut why? I haven’t the kind of money—”
    â€œMaybe somebody wanted her clammed up. Was she due to testify in court in some criminal action?”
    â€œNo.”
    Barney went to his phone and dialed a number. “Clyde? Barney. Do me a favor, will you? Check the book on the night of April 13, neighborhood of 3200 West Pine. Look for holdups, muggings, murders, rapes, burglaries, stuff like that. I’ll hold on.” Barney looked at Ed. “Where do you work?”
    â€œCarter Electric. I design appliances.”
    â€œAnd your wife?”
    â€œWaterhouse, Carter and Prince. It’s an ad agency.”
    â€œChildren?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œHow does Liz occupy her free time? Any hobbies?”
    â€œShe enters contests. You know, ‘I like Flow-Pop because,’ in twenty-five words or less. Wins pretty often. Her last prize