Small g by Patricia Highsmith Read Free Book Online

away.
    “Just this. A small thing,” Rickie said, presenting a flat, gold-paper-wrapped package. “Something Petey once owned. N-not exactly valuable,” he added with a smile.
    Her mouth opened a little with surprise. “Thank you, Rickie. . . . I think I’ll open it at home, if you don’t mind.”
    Rickie laughed. “Of course I don’t mind! And where is home?”
    “I have a room at Frau Hagnauer’s place. It’s a big—”
    “Really? You sleep there?” Rickie had recognized the name.
    “Yes,” said Luisa, looking straight at him. “It’s much cheaper, of course, than an apartment—which I couldn’t afford anyway.” She gave a laugh.
    “I’ve heard she’s so strict when it comes to working hours.” Here Rickie laughed. “Doesn’t she try to tell you when to be home at night, not to mention when to get up?”
    “Oh yes. Home by ten—unless it’s a special film I’m going to with friends. Then up—” The corners of her mouth rose on the word, and she looked at the floor. “Well, before seven, I’ll say that, but then I sometimes have to go and buy the rolls and the sweet stuff for morning break for the girls, and make the coffee for Frau Hagnauer and me. We sign on for three years, you know. But the others don’t sleep there.”
    To Rickie it sounded like a voluntary prison sentence, or a three-year voyage on a whaler, in the old days. “A big apartment,” he mused.
    “Yes. If I counted the rooms—at least five. And the main workroom with all the sewing machines and the tables, that’s made from two rooms with the wall knocked out. Fluorescent lighting—”
    Rickie could imagine. He knew the old apartment house without a lift, and even with fluorescent lighting, the picture of four diligent girls bent over machines or needles, doing buttonholes, cutting material, while Renate cracked the whip in her high-pitched monotone—Rickie had heard it—all this made him shiver. Better sloppy Mathilde, a bit tiddly by noon, at least she was human. “The girls—” Rickie couldn’t go on. “Luisa, one more thing. You know that tall fellow, always in an old hat—at Jakob’s. Willi—”
    Her eyes showed recognition. “Willi, sure.”
    “I’m wondering how he knew about a party last Friday night given by a friend of mine in town. Did Renate say anything to you about it?”
    “No. Why?”
    “No reason. Just that Renate sometimes talks to Willi. And Renate’s very observant.”
    “True. She picks up everything—about everybody. I don’t know how she does it.” Luisa looked desperate to fly off. “You know—I’d better leave this. She’ll ask me where I got it. I do have a date with her.”
    “Really,” said Rickie, not at all surprised. He took the gold-wrapped package back into his hands. “But you will pick it up some time? I can’t deliver it to your house!” Rickie grinned; his eyes grew moist with mirth at the idea.
    “Oh, she wouldn’t have it in the house!” said Luisa, smiling. “’Bye, Rickie!” At his studio door she looked back. “I won’t be able to say hello or nod to you, you know—in Jakob’s.”
    “I know.” He watched the girl race up his stone steps, glimpsed her running sneakers as she dashed off to his right.
    Rickie realized that he wanted to see her again. She was somehow a link to Petey. Why hadn’t he tried to make a date with her in regard to her picking up the scarf? Well, his two numbers and addresses were in the telephone book, and he felt sure Luisa would telephone or turn up soon unannounced. That was nice to expect.
    He went out with Lulu. Today he would make a quick ritual of breakfast, and not keep Mathilde waiting on the doorstep. One of these days soon, he’d give her the key.
    Today Tobi, nicknamed Baconhead, was on duty instead of Andreas. Tobi was tall and blond, just over twenty, and as acquainted with Rickie’s menu as was Andreas.
    “Good morning, Rickie and Lulu!” said Tobi with a slight bow. “The usual,