1944 - Just the Way It Is by James Hadley Chase Read Free Book Online

just saying no when the door opened silently and a little guy in a black suit slid into the room. Duke caught a glimpse of a blunt-nose automatic in his hand. It happened so quickly that Bellman didn’t seem to understand what it was all about until it was over.
    The little guy began to fire as Duke tossed the contents of his glass in his face. The whisky hit the little guy and got in his eyes.
    Two bullets ploughed up the smooth top of Bellman’s desk and brought down plaster from the opposite wall. Then the door slammed again and the little guy was gone.
    Duke put his gun back into his holster regretfully. ‘Seemed in a hurry, didn’t he?’ he said, casually, refilling his glass. ‘Was he a friend of yours?’
    Bellman looked as if he were going to faint. He sat limply in his chair, his face white and shiny with sweat. ‘No . . . I’ve never seen him before,’ he said, in a low voice.
    ‘Seemed almost as if he wanted to knock you off,’ Duke said, enjoying Bellman’s shakes. ‘Did you get the same impression?’
    Kells came in quickly and shut the door. He seemed surprised to see Bellman alive.
    Duke said, ‘Did you see him?’
    Kells shook his head. ‘Who was it?’
    Bellman was greedily drinking a big whisky. ‘Some crazy guy,’ he stammered. ‘Maybe someone losing on the wheels.’
    Duke was watching Kells closely and saw him sneer. ‘I got his car number,’ Kells said and scribbled down the number on the blotter. Duke glanced at it. As he thought, it was the same number as the car that had followed him.
    ‘That’s Spade’s car,’ he said. ‘It followed me half way here before I shook it. I had the number checked.’
    Bellman looked over at Kells. He’d gone a little green. ‘Spade?’ he repeated stupidly. ‘But Spade wouldn’t do a thing like that.’
    Kells moved restlessly. ‘Well, what do you want me to do?’ he said.
    ‘Find out how he got up here,’ Bellman snarled, his colour coming back a trifle. ‘What the hell do you think I’m paying a bunch of toughs for if they’re asleep all the time?’
    Kells said, ‘Okay,’ and went to the door. ‘You stickin’?’ he asked Duke as he was leaving.
    ‘I don’t think it’s safe,’ Duke said, and laughed.
    Kells went away.
    Bellman poured more whisky into his glass. ‘You saved my life,’ he said, soberly. ‘That was the smartest thing I’ve ever seen. You didn’t let him rattle you, did you?’
    ‘Why should he rattle me? You were the guy he was after.’ Duke finished his whisky and stood up. ‘Well, I’ll come to your funeral,’ he said, lightly. ‘The proposition doesn’t interest me. I like a more peaceful life.’
    Bellman said, ‘Wait, you don’t know what you’re turning down.’
    Duke smiled at him. ‘I do,’ he said. ‘I don’t beat up trouble. If I’ve got to fight, I’ll fight for myself, not for anyone else. I don’t like you, Bellman, and I wouldn’t try very hard. It’d be a bad bargain.’ He went to the door. ‘So long,’ he said, and went
    out.
    He met Kells in the hall. ‘Let me know when he’s killed,’ he said. ‘I’d like him to have a wreath of buttercups.’
    Kells grinned. ‘So you’re not interested?’ He said it as if he had expected it.
    Duke shook his head. ‘He wouldn’t talk,’ he said. ‘I like to know where I am.’
    ‘So do I.’
    They exchanged glances.
    ‘It’s Spade, of course - but why?’ Duke asked.
    Kells shook his head. ‘He’s after Bellman. Maybe he doesn’t like him or something.’
    Duke nodded. ‘I hadn’t thought of that. Yeah, maybe he doesn’t like him,’ and he went out into the dark, stifling street.
     

SIX
     
    S chultz was putting on his hat when the telephone rang. He frowned, looked at the time, then pulled the telephone towards him. ‘Who is it?’ he asked, then his face showed interest. He sat down. ‘When? Tonight, eh? Is he dead?’ He frowned and squirmed his bulk further into his car. ‘Who shot him?’ he barked,