Not My Thing

In a sour, vicious mood, Lepski drove to the Casino and parked. The Casino was a certain spot where action might happen. He felt in the mood to scare the crap out of the con-men and the card-sharpers who always frequented the Casino at this time. He hadn’t long to wait. He spotted Johnny Four Aces, a sleek Italian, whose reputation as a sharper was notorious. Lepski pounced on him and so frightened him, he returned to his car and drove away. Lepski found more successful pounces, scaring away more hopeful sharpers.

Then he saw Lucky Lucan come down the steps of the Casino.

Lepski gave a snort that made the birds in the palm trees flutter up in panic into the night sky. He strode up to Lucan, who was unlocking the door of his rented car.

‘What the hell do you think you’re doing in this city?’ Lepski barked in his cop voice.

Lucan’s heart missed a beat. He turned and regarded Lepski. He knew him to be a tough, dangerous cop. This wasn’t the time to tangle with him.

‘Hello, there, Mr Lepski. Good to see you again,’ he said, forcing a smile. ‘You’re looking well.’

‘Don’t feed me that crap!’ Lepski snarled. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Me? Getting a little sun, relaxing, a short vacation.’

‘Creeps like you are not wanted here,’ Lepski said. ‘Take a vacation some place else!’

Lucan pulled himself together. He was sure, during the next three weeks, when he would be working with Kling, he would meet again this bastard cop.

‘Is that official, Mr Lepski? You want me to take it up with the Mayor? Now listen, Mr Lepski, until you get a complaint about me, don^’t lean on me. I don’t appreciate it!’

He got in his car, started the engine and drove away.

Lepski watched him go, clenching and unclenching his fists, making a low growling noise that would have done credit on the sound track of a horror movie.

At 05.50, Lepski arrived back home. He took from his car gift-wrapped perfume and a big box of candy, plus twelve long-stemmed roses. He was still horrified at what this junk had cost him. He unlocked the front door, listened, then tiptoed into the living-room. He found a vase and put the roses in it, then put the candy and the perfume on the table where Carroll would see them the moment she came down stairs. He surveyed the scene. It looked pretty good. Well, maybe, he consoled himself, it was money well spent.

‘Is that you, Tom, dear?’

Carroll’s voice.

Lepski stiffened, then hurried into the lobby. There was Carroll, wearing a see-through night-dress, standing at the top of the stairs.

‘Poor Tom, you must be tired,’ she said. ‘Come on up. Let’s go to bed. We have lots and lots of time. Never mind coffee. Come on up!’

Lepski eyed Carroll, thinking she was really the most glamorous girl he knew. In a bewildered daze, he climbed the stairs, and Carroll put her arms around him and gave him a hug.

‘Do you forgive me?’ she asked. ‘I was sorry I got mad yesterday. I’m really sorry.’

‘I – I thought… ’ Lepski mumbled.

He was led into the bedroom.

‘Take a shower, pet.’ Carroll slid into bed. ‘Hurry.’

Lepski threw off his clothes.

‘I should apologize,’ he said, ‘I… ’

She burst out laughing.

‘Okay, so I was mad. I went to my club and told the girls. They just split their sides. ‘The Burnt Offering’. They loved it. They said it was the wittiest thing they had ever heard, and they are right. You are very clever, Tom. Who else but you would have thought of that?’

‘Yeah.’

Still walking in a daze, Lepski went into the bathroom and took a shower. As he stood under the flow of water, he thought of the money he had spent and the gifts downstairs.

But he forgot about that when he got into bed and Carroll wrapped him in her arms.

***

Ernie Kling lay full length on the comfortable settee in the well furnished living-room of his Star Motel’s cabin,

Seated near him in a lounging-chair was Lucky Lucan. At the far end of the room, sitting on a hard-backed chair, was Ng Vee, his expressionless eyes continually watching Lucan.

Kling and Lucan had gone through the chat about the trip from Washington, and how Kling had found Paradise City. He said it looked like his scene.

‘Yes,’ Lucan said. ‘You’ll love it. Well, Ernie, money first, huh?’ He picked up the briefcase that Jamison had given him. ‘I’ve got you four thousand dollars in cash to cover your immediate expenses.’ He had removed a thousand dollars from the briefcase for himself. ‘Okay?’

‘If it’s for immediate expenses, I’m not squealing.’

‘That’s what it’s for.’ Lucan handed the briefcase to Kling.

Kling said, ‘Hey kid, stash this away somewhere safe.’

‘Yes, sir,’ Ng said and, taking the briefcase, he left the room.

‘Who the hell’s that chink?’ Lucas asked, lowering his voice.

‘Don’t get your lines crossed, Lucky. He’s Vietnamese, and he’s my partner.’

Lucan frowned.

‘I didn’t know you used a partner.’

‘I do now, and let me tell you something. He is fifty times the man you are or ever will be. Remember that. Never tangle with him. He’s deadly.’

Lucan moved uneasily.

‘Okay.’

‘Right. Now what’s the caper about?’