At half-past ten, Rico left his office and walked across the restaurant to the bar. There were not more than twenty couples dining in the restaurant, but that didn’t worry him. It was seldom the club got busy until after eleven o’clock.
Rico bowed when he thought he recognised a face, but he didn’t stop to chat as he usual y did. He noticed some of the diners were looking curiously at his bruised face, and he felt a little self-conscious.
Besides, he didn’t feel up to his usual suave, gossipy round of the tables. He was still horribly shaken by Baird’s telephone cal . Baird must have been crazy to have used the telephone: the kind of slip that put a man in the gas-chamber!
With an uneasy grimace at the thought, Rico entered the bar. There were only a dozen or so people at the tables around the dimly lit room. Rico ordered a double whisky. He approved of the barman’s good manners. He had taken a quick look at Rico’s bruised face, and then had kept his eyes studiously away from it.
As Rico sipped the whisky he once more glanced at the people in the room. He noted with satisfaction that all but two of them were in evening dress. When the Frou-Frou Club had first opened, a year ago, you wouldn’t have found anyone there in evening dress: even Rico hadn’t worn it. Only the rougher element of the town patronised the club, but as soon as he could afford to take a risk, he raised his prices and gradually squeezed them out. Now, by careful advertising and recommendations he had attracted what he liked to call ‘the carriage trade’, and evening dress was the rule instead of the exception.
Among his numerous clients were wealthy business men who knew they could pick up a girl at the club without being involved in any awkward complications, a half a dozen or so not-so-well-known actors and actresses, several con men, crooks and prostitutes, and a small army of tough-looking characters who didn’t advertise what they did for a living, but who brought their women to the club regularly and had money to burn.
Rico glanced at the two men not in evening dress. One of them was sitting up at the bar; the other was alone at a corner table, reading a newspaper.
The one at the bar Rico knew by sight. He was tall, slightly built, fair and distinctly handsome. There were dark smudges under his blue eyes that gave him a worn, dissolute look. He was fine drawn as if he didn’t get enough to eat, and his mouth drooped unhappily.
Looking at him, Rico thought sourly that women would be mad about him. He was just the shiftless, pathetic type women would insist on helping. He was not only shiftless, but completely untrustworthy, Rico decided.
He had seen him in the club off and on now for more than a month. His name was Adam Gillis: not what you could call a good customer, but more often than not he brought some girl with him who bought champagne.
Rico wondered how he managed to get hold of these girls: they were all very young, rich and stupid.
He had seen them pass money to Gillis, when they thought the waiter wasn’t looking, to pay for the champagne they invariably ordered.
At the moment Gillis wasn’t drinking. He sat on the stool, staring bleakly at himself in the mirror, his charm switched off, and his years of shabby living plainly written on his face. He looked as if he needed a drink badly, and Rico assumed he was waiting for someone — probably another stupid girl — to buy him one.
With a shrug of contempt, Rico turned his attention to the man reading the newspaper. He hadn’t seen him before, and Rico was a little puzzled by him. He wasn’t the nightclub type. He was tall and lanky and deeply tanned. His eyes were bright and healthy looking. His crew haircut made Rico think of the tennis player, Budge Patty. This fella, Rico thought, had the same out-of-door look: probably a salesman passing through town on the look-out for some fun.
He finished his whisky and went into the entrance lobby to check the register, which was carefully kept by Schmidt, the doorman.
‘Who’s the guy with the crew haircut?’ he asked, as Schmidt drew himself up and saluted. ‘I haven’t seen him in here before.’
‘Name of Dal as,’ Schmidt told him. He was a giant of a man, with a red, cheerful face and enormous moustaches. ‘Had an introduction from Mr Rhineheart so I let him in.’
Rico nodded.
‘That’s okay. Thought I’d check on him. First time he’s been here, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, sir. He’s a nice guy, but I don’t reckon he’s got much money.’
‘The nice guys never have,’ Rico said, shrugging. ‘Okay, Schmidt. Let me know when Mr Kile arrives. I want to see him tonight.’
He wandered back to the bar and paused to look in. Dallas was talking to a red-head in a green evening dress: one of Rico’s hostesses: a girl named Zoe Norton. Rico nodded his approval when he saw the half bottle of champagne on the table. Zoe wouldn’t rest until she had had the other half: she was a keen saleswoman.
Adam Gillis watched Rico in the mirror. He wondered how he had bruised his face so badly. He wished he knew more about Rico: that Rico was coming up in the world was beyond doubt, but how far would he get? What were his nerves like? Had he the guts for a big job?
When Rico went away, Gillis looked at his wrist-watch and frowned. What could be keeping Eve?
She said she’d be here with Kile at ten o’clock. It was get ing on for eleven now. He wondered if he should phone her, but decided it wouldn’t be safe. Kile might answer. No point in making Kile suspicious at this stage of the game.
How he wanted a drink! He looked longingly at the row of bottles along the chromium shelves behind the bar. He hadn’t two dol ars to rub together! Looking thoughtfully at the barman he wondered if he could get credit. Reluctantly he decided not to try. He didn’t want to attract any at ention to himself. The barman was certain to consult Rico.
He felt in his hip pocket for his cigarette-case, opened it and found it empty. Oh, damn Eve! Why couldn’t she come? Angrily he replaced the case in his pocket and began to drum on the counter with his finger-tips.
The barman came over to him and offered him a cigarette from a crumpled pack.
‘I get caught myself like that some nights,’ he said amiably. ‘Makes me want to walk across the ceiling. Help yourself.’
Gillis stiffened with mortification and rage. A damned lackey offering him a cigarette! The blasted cheek of the man!
‘I don’t smoke a barman’s cigaret es,’ he said venomously, ‘Kindly mind your own business and let me mind mine!’
The barman flushed. He looked as if he wanted to hit Gillis, but he swallowed his anger with an effort and put the pack back in his pocket.
‘If that’s the way you feel about it,’ he said, ‘I’m sorry I spoke.’
He walked to the other end of the bar and began to polish glasses, his flush deepening as he appreciated more fully the snub he had received.
Gillis got off the stool and walked out into the lobby.
‘Mr Kile hasn’t been in yet, has he?’ he asked Schmidt casual y. ‘I’ve been in the bar and I might have missed him.’
‘He hasn’t been in yet, sir,’ Schmidt said cool y. He had had a lot of experience of the men and women who came to the club, and he prided himself on spotting the wrong one. He hadn’t any use for Gillis; a sponger if ever there was one.
Gillis went into the gentlemen’s retiring room. He washed his hands under the disapproving eyes of the Negro attendant who knew from experience he wasn’t going to be tipped, poured lavender water on a towel and touched his temples with it. While he was combing his blond hair, the door pushed open and Dallas wandered in.
He stood near Gillis and began to wash his hands. Their eyes met in the mirror and Dallas grinned.
‘That red-head I’m with is trying to take me to the cleaners,’ he said breezily. ‘I guess you wouldn’t know if I am wasting my time and money?’
Gillis switched on his charm. It was remarkable how his face changed when he smiled. He looked almost boyish; certainly not twenty-five, and the worn-out look of dissipation seemed to melt away.
‘You’re on to a good thing,’ he said. ‘Zoe rates a little high, but she doesn’t shirk her responsibilities.
If she asks you home, you go. Of her kind, she’s unique.’
Dallas, who had seen the by-play at the bar, took out his cigarette-case and offered it.
‘As good as that, is she? I’m obliged to you. This is my first visit here, and I didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot. I’m in town for a couple of weeks on business, and this seemed the place to come to.’
Gillis lit the cigarette and inhaled gratefully.
‘It is,’ he said. ‘If you want a little fun and an accommodating girl you couldn’t do better.’
They stood talking for a few minutes about the club, then Dallas said, ‘Wel , maybe I’l be seeing you again. My name’s Ed Dal as.’
‘Mine’s Adam Gil is. Sure, I’l look out for you, but don’t let me keep you away from Zoe. You have a treat in store. She certainly knows how to please a guy when she feels that way,’ Gil is said. ‘I’m here three or four times a week. Maybe we can have a drink together some time.’
‘Glad to,’ Dal as said, sure now this blond man was Eve Gil is’s brother. The likeness was remarkable. He had the same blue eyes, the same shaped face.
‘Before you go, I wonder if I could possibly ask a favour of you,’ Gil is said, smiling. ‘If you hadn’t been a member of the club I wouldn’t dream of mentioning this, but I’ve stupidly forgot en my wal et, and until my friends arrive I’m stuck for money. I suppose you couldn’t lend me ten dol ars for an hour or so?’
‘Why, sure,’ Dal as said, concealing his surprise. ‘I’d be glad to.’ He took out his wal et, extracted two fives and handed them to Gillis. ‘I’m in no hurry. Let me have it the next time we meet.’
Gillis slipped the bills into his pocket.
‘I can’t thank you enough. As soon as my friends arrive I’l pay you back. Thanks a lot. It’s real y very kind of you.’
‘Forget it,’ Dal as said, moving towards the door. ‘I’ve forgotten my wallet myself before now. It’s no joke to be stuck for money.’
They walked back to the bar.
‘Don’t let me take you away from Zoe,’ Gil is said as they entered the bar. ‘I’l buy myself a drink and wait for my friends.’
Dallas spotted Eve Gillis standing with Kile at the bar. She was wearing a sea-green backless evening gown, cut so low in front that he could see the deep furrow between her breasts.
He nudged Gillis.
‘Some girl,’ he said under his breath. ‘Some dress she’s nearly got on.’
Gillis looked at Eve, who glanced at him and then looked away. Neither of them gave any sign of recognition.
‘The club is noted for its beautiful women,’ Gil is said indifferently. ‘But you should remember, in the dark, one woman is very much the same as another.’ He gave Dal as’s arm a friendly pat and walked over to the bar, where he climbed up on a stool within a few feet of Eve and Kile.
Dallas returned to where Zoe was waiting for him, and sat down.
‘Sorry to have been so long,’ he said, smiling at Zoe, ‘but I got caught up with the blond profile. He has quite a way with him, hasn’t he?’
Zoe’s pert little face hardened.
‘That cheap chisel er?’ she said scornful y. ‘Al he’s got are his looks, and they won’t last him much longer from the way they’re wearing. Did he try to bite your ear?’
‘He did more than that; he succeeded to the tune of ten dol ars. At the moment he’s buying a double whisky with the proceeds. How do you like that?’
Zoe stared at him.
‘Wel , you don’t look a sucker,’ she said. ‘For heaven’s sake, why did you give it to him?’
‘Oh, I felt sorry for the guy. He was in a bad way for a drink, and I hadn’t the heart to refuse him,’
Dallas said, shrugging. ‘Besides, he said some nice things about you.’
‘Did he?’ Zoe said scornfully. ‘He once gypped me out of fifty bucks: the little rat!’
Dallas was eyeing Eve as she stood at the bar.
‘That’s a nice shape that girl’s wearing, or maybe you wouldn’t have noticed.’
Zoe looked Eve over critically.
‘She’s good,’ she said grudgingly. ‘At least she doesn’t have to wear falsies. In case you don’t know, she’s his sister, and it’s my bet they’re two of a kind. She was in the Fol ies for some time until she decided she could get along just as well in a bed.’
‘His sister?’ Dal as said, pretending to be surprised. ‘They don’t act that way.’
‘Maybe she doesn’t want to introduce him to Kile,’ Zoe said indifferently. ‘She’s Kile’s mistress, and she’s welcome to him. How about another bot le of champagne? I’ve a thirst that’d slay a camel.’
‘Sure,’ Dallas said, wondering what Purvis was going to say when he put in his expense sheet at the end of the week. ‘Everything I have is yours, honey.’
Zoe gave him a suspicious glance.
‘That sounds as if you haven’t so much,’ she said, signalling to the barman. ‘How about buying me a dinner, if you’re going to be al that generous?’
‘Just a figure of speech,’ Dal as said hastily. ‘Maybe I’l buy you dinner tomorrow night, but I’l run to a sandwich if you’re that hungry.’
Zoe sighed.
‘I’ll settle for a sandwich.’ She looked at him and smiled. ‘Are you working up to come home with me tonight?’
Dallas wrestled with the temptation, decided reluctantly not to spend any more of Purvis’s money, and shook his head.
‘That’s something I’l look forward to at a later date. I’l need to break into my kid sister’s money-box before I can go home with you.’
Zoe giggled.
‘You know, I like you,’ she said, and pressed her knee against his. ‘You leave your kid sister’s money-box alone. You won’t need it.’
Dallas was only half listening. He had seen Rico come into the bar.
Rico crossed over to where Kile and Eve were standing and said something to Kile in a low voice.
Kile’s face was flushed as if he had been drinking heavily. He turned to speak to Eve, who nodded.
Then he went out of the bar with Rico, leaving Eve alone.
Dallas saw Gillis raise his eyebrows at Eve and jerk his head to the door.
‘I’ve got to run away,’ Dal as said quickly. He took out a twenty-dollar bill and dropped it in Zoe’s lap. ‘Just remembered a pressing appointment. See you tomorrow night. Okay?’
‘You leaving me flat?’ Zoe asked, startled.
‘Got to,’ Dal as said, get ing to his feet. ‘Business. I’l dream of you tonight, sugar. So long for now.’
He walked quickly out of the bar as Eve finished her drink. He went into the gentlemen’s retiring room.
A moment or so later Eve came into the lobby. She collected her wrap and went out into the street.
Dallas reappeared and sauntered after her. He saw her get into the LaSalle parked in the big parking lot at the side of the club. He concealed himself behind another car and waited.
Five minutes dragged by. He saw Eve light a cigarette. The flame of her lighter lit up her face for a brief moment. Dallas decided she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
‘And where does that get you, Dallas?’ he said to himself. ‘She’s way out of your class. If you’re going to get those sort of ideas, you’d better stick to Zoe.’
Then he spotted Gillis coming into the parking lot. He saw him look to right and left, then walk quickly over to the LaSalle, open the door and get in beside Eve.
Moving silently, Dallas left his hiding-place and crept towards the LaSalle.