The Rip-Off by Jim Thompson Read Free Book Online

thoughts that brought a flush to my face.
    "Come on." She wiggled her fingers. "Show me around, hmm? I've heard so much about this place I'm dying to see it."
    "I'm afraid it's not much to see any more," I said. "But if you're really interested in ruins…"
    I showed her through the house, or much of it. She murmured appreciatively over the decaying evidence of past grandeur, and regretfully at the ravages of time.
    We finished our tour of the house, and Manny again became businesslike. "We'll have a lot of conferring to do to get this project operating, Britt. Do you want an office, or will you work here?"
    "Here, if it's agreeable to you," I said. "I have a great deal of research material here, and I'm used to the place. Of course, if it's inconvenient for you…"
    "Oh, we'll work it out," she promised. "Now, if you'll drive me back to town…"
    The car she had driven out in was mine, she explained, pointing to the gleaming new vehicle which stood in the driveway. Obviously, I would need a car, and PXA owed me one. And she did hope I wouldn't be stuffy about it.
    I said I never got stuffy over girls or single cars. Only fleets of them, and not always then. Manny laughed, and gave me a playful punch on the arm.
    "Silly! Now, come on, will you? We have a lot to do today."
    We did have a lot to do, as it turned out. At least we did a lot-far more than I anticipated. But that's getting ahead of the story. To take events in their proper order:
    I drove into town, Manny sitting carelessly close to me. I deposited the check in my bank, drew some cash and returned to the car- my car. It was lunchtime by then, so we lunched and talked. I talked mostly, since I have a knack for talk, if little else, and Manny seemed to enjoy listening to me.
    We came out of the restaurant into mid-afternoon, and, talking, I drove around until sunset. By which time, needless to say, it was time for a drink. We had it, rather we had them, and eventually we had dinner. When twilight fell, we were far out on the outskirts of town; parked by the lake which formed the bulwark of the city's water system.
    Manny's legs were tucked up in the seat. Her head rested on my shoulder, and my arm was around her. It was really a very nice way to be.
    "Britt…" she murmured, breaking the drowsy, comfortable silence. "I've enjoyed myself so much, today. I think it's been the very best day in my life."
    "You're a thief, Manuela Aloe," I said. "You've stolen the very speech I was going to make."
    "Tell me something, Britt. How does anyone as nice as you are, as attractive and intelligent and bubbling over with charm-how does he, why does he…?"
    "Wind up as I have?" I said. "Because I never found a seller's market for those things until I met you."
    It was a pretty blunt thing to say. She sat up with a start, glaring at me coldly. But I smiled at her determinedly, and said I meant no offense.
    "But let's face it, Manny. The Rainstar name isn't worth much any more, and my talent never was. So the good looks and the charm etceteras is what I've sold, isn't it?"
    "No, it isn't!" she snapped; and then, hesitating, biting her lip. "Well, not entirely. You wouldn't have got the job if you hadn't been like you are, but neither would you have got it if you hadn't been qualified."
    "So it was half one, half the other," I said. "And what's wrong with fifty-fifty?"
    "Nothing. And don't you act like there is either!"
    "Not even a little bit?"
    "No!"
    "All right, I won't," I said. "Providing you smile real pretty for me, and then lie down with your head in my lap."
    She did so, although the smile was just a trifle weak. I bent down and kissed her gently, and was kissed in return. I put a hand on her breast, gave it a gentle squeeze. She shivered delicately, eyes clouding.
    "I'm not an easy lay, Britt. I don't sleep around."
    "What am I to do with you, Manny?" I said. "You are now twice a thief."
    "I guess I've been waiting for you. It had to be someone like you, and there wasn't