June 6th, 12.30 a.m.
GRANTHAM SAT behind his neat desk, writing. A cigarette burnt lazily in an ash−tray at his elbow, and the room was silent but for the faint scratch of his pen.
He heard his door open, and he glanced up irritably. Raven stood looking at him. Behind Raven, Grantham could see Lu Eller, white−faced and uncertain.
Grantham laid down his pen very slowly. The colour went out of his face and a muscle in his jaw began to jump.
Raven said, “Tell this monkey to go away.”
Grantham knew that Mendetta was dead. Raven would never have come if Mendetta wasn’t dead. He told Eller with his eyes to go away. He didn’t trust his voice.
Lu Eller lifted his shoulders. He seemed relieved that Grantham didn’t want him. Raven came in and shut the door. He put a slip of paper on Grantham’s desk silently.
Without touching it, Grantham read it. It was in Mendetta’s handwriting.
“Is he dead?” Grantham said. His voice was very low.
Raven sat down and looked round the office. “He had a little accident,” he said. “Things’ll be very different now.”
“What are you going to do?” Grantham studied the shabby figure sitting before him.
Raven settled back in his chair. “Plenty,” he said. “This town was too small for Mendetta and me. One of us had to go. Now I’m takin’ it over.”
Grantham licked his dry lips. “Mendetta had plenty of protection,” he said. “You won’t get far without that.”
Raven inclined his head. “I’ve thought of that,” he said softly. “That’s where you come in. You’re going to be my front, Grantham. I’ve got it all worked out. I’ll tell you what to do an’ you’ll do it. You’ve done the same thing for Mendetta, so you can do it for me. The difference is that I’m goin’ to make more money than Mendetta ever did, an’ you’re goin’ to do a lot more work.”
Grantham didn’t say anything.
“Don’t think you can get out of it. I haven’t the time to play around with guys. If you don’t like it you’ll run into an accident too. Get it?”
“I’ll do it,” Grantham said quickly. “I’ve been waiting for you to take over. I knew Mendetta wouldn’t last.”
Raven inclined his head. “Yeah? You’re a smart boy. Okay, tomorrow you an’ me’ll have a little talk. I want all the dope. I want the names of all the girls who worked for Mendetta. Listen, that guy didn’t know how to organize vice. Well, I do. Ever been to Reno, Grantham? No? Well, I have. They make a lot of dough in that town. They understand vice. Well, I’ve got some ideas. We’ll get together.” He stood up. “Just so that you don’t feel worried about all this, there’s a ten per cent cut coming to you on everything if you play ball. If you don’t, you’ll get a bullet. Think about it.”
He wandered to the door.
“I’ll be down tomorrow at ten. Get all the stuff together,” and he went out, shutting the door softly.
Grantham sat back, feeling slightly sick. So it had happened. Where was Jean? He picked up the phone and hastily dialled Mendetta’s number. The operator told him after a short delay that no one was answering. He hung up.
Lu Eller came in. Ever since Mendetta could afford gunmen, Eller had been looking after them. He was a tall, powerfully built man, with a heavy jaw and ingrowing eyebrows.
“What’s he want?” he said, standing just inside the doorway.
Grantham lit another cigarette. “That’s your new boss,” he said bitterly. “Mendetta’s met with an accident.”
Lu raised his eyebrows. “That’s too bad. You standin’ for Raven?”
Grantham put his elbows on the table. “Let’s face it, Lu,” he said. “Since Raven moved in, what’s happened? Mendetta lost his grip. We know that. They both came from Chi. Mendetta used to carry a gun for Diamond. He thought he was too big for that, so he moved over here. Well, he got on. What Raven did in Chi.
I don’t know, but when he came here he certainly scared Mendetta. He offered to come in as a partner, but Mendetta turned him down. You’ve seen him, haven’t you? Looks like he’s down to rock bottom, till you look at his face. That guy’s going to be big, and Mendetta knew it. When he turned Raven down he signed his death warrant. Raven promised him he’d fix him, and he has. I think Raven can make me more money than any guy in this town. I ain’t interested in anything else but making a lot of dough. Raven’s good enough for me.”
Lu looked at him admiringly. “That’s the swellest bit of lyin’ I’ve ever heard. It nearly convinces me, but not quite. Shall I tell you why you’re saying welcome to Raven? Because you’re yellow. Because Raven’s a killer, and you know it. Because Raven’s got a little mob that is as tough as hell and could smash us up in half an hour. Yeah, that’s why.”
Grantham got to his feet. “What about you?” he said. “You goin’ to tell Raven where he gets off?”
Lu shook his head. “Sure I’m not,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “What’s good enough for you suits me.
I’m yellow too.”
“Instead of yapping like this, suppose you go over to Mendetta’s apartment and find out what’s happened.
I’m worried about Jean.”
Lu shook his head. “Be your age. Suppose the cops walk in when I’m there? Where should I be? You’ll have to wait. The papers’ll have it fast enough.”
Grantham said uneasily, “Do you think he’s killed her too?”
“Why should you worry? She ain’t anybody. If you want to know so badly, go an’ see for yourself.”
Grantham paced up and down the room. “We’ve got to find out, Lu. This is serious. Suppose Jean talked?”
“She won’t talk.”
“She might about Raven. If Raven gets pinched, where should we be?”
Lu considered this. “Maybe you’re right. Say, isn’t O’Hara on that beat?”
“I don’t know. Is he?”
Lu turned to the door. “I’ll go down there and see. If he is I’ll tip him to go up and investigate. What the hell are we payin’ that guy two hundred bucks a month for if he can’t do a little thing like that?”
Grantham looked relieved. “That’s an idea. Get after him right away.” Lu left the room at a run.