The Soft Centre

Angel hid her face in the fur of the bear. She giggled. ‘Oh, yes. He was a pansy. I know all about them because my friend, Doris, told me. She knows all about them because her brother is one of them. I could tell that was what he was by his walk.’

‘Angel!’ Mrs. Prescott exclaimed, horrified. ‘You really…‘?‘Please!’ Terrell said sharply. ‘This is important,’ to Angel: ‘Just how did he walk?’

The child got to her feet and began to mince around the room. Her imitation of the walk of a homosexual was so convincing that even Beigler had to grin.

She stopped and looked at Terrell.?‘Like that.’?‘I want you to wait here for a little while,’ Terrell said. ‘Then I hope you will help me some more.’

‘Now I have my bear, I’ll help you as much as I can,’ Angel said gravely. She went over to the bear and hugged it, looking at Terrell, her eyes adoring.

Pleased, Terrell smiled and got up. He nodded to Beigler and the two men went out into the sunshine.

‘Well, you name them, Joe,’ Terrell said.?‘Jacko Smith and Moe Lincoln,’ Beigler said without hesitation. ‘Can’t be anyone else.’ ‘Hardy’s bodyguard. Looks as if some of the pieces are falling into place. But we have to be sure. The next move is to show Jacko to the child and see if she can recognize him.’

What do we do?’ Beigler rubbed his jaw. ‘Bring him in … have a line-up and let the kid finger him?’

Terrell shook his head. He looked at his watch. The time was twenty minutes past five. ‘We’ll drive her to the Coral bar. Jacko usually shows there around half-past six. We’ll park within sight, and she can spot him when he goes into the bar. If she recognises him, we’ll bring him in and have a line-up.’

They went back to the cabin.?‘I want your daughter to come along with us,’ Terrell said to Mrs. Prescott. ‘It is essential that she identifies this man. You’ll come too, of course.’

‘Oh no, she won’t,’ Angel said firmly. ‘If she comes, then I won’t help you. Just me and Teddy.’

‘Now, Baby-girl, Mrs. Prescott said helplessly, ‘you mustn’t be naughty. You can’t go alone with these gentlemen.’

‘Then I’m not going at all,’ Angel said in a decided voice and putting her arms around her bear, she dragged it off the settee and began to move to the door.

‘She’ll be all right with me,’ Terrell said. ‘I’ll bring her right back, Mrs. Prescott. This is important police business.’

Mrs. Prescott started to say something when Angel said, ‘I’ll see you later, Mummy,’ and walked briskly from the cabin to where the police cars were parked.

‘If she was my daughter, I’d…’ Beigler began, his face red with indignation.

Mrs. Prescott drew herself up.?‘I’m glad she isn’t!’ she said. ‘I don’t care for anyone criticising my child and I’ll thank you not to pass such remarks!’

Beigler looked helplessly at Terrell, closed his notebook and followed his Chief out and across to where Angel waited for them impatiently.

*****

Moe Lincoln lay back in the barber’s chair, feeling the keen edge of the razor pass over his black cheek. His eyes were closed, his vicious face in repose as he relaxed to the soft hands of Toey Marsh who had been trying for months to persuade Moe to leave Jacko and come to live with him.

Toey was half Chinese, half Pole: a fat little man, nudging fifty with henna dyed hair, almond shaped eyes and a round fat face. He was considered one of the best barbers in the district and Moe always had an evening shave from him before going out to set the town alight with Jacko.

‘What’s the time, baby?’ Moe asked, keeping his eyes shut.?‘Nearly half-past six,’ Toey told him after consulting his watch. ‘What are you doing tonight? Would you like to come back to my place. I’m throwing a party. Chinese food, and there’s a boy…’

‘I’ve got a date with Jacko,’ Moe said who liked to torture Toey. ‘Why should I want to go to your crummy joint?’

Toey sighed. He applied a hot towel to Moe’s face and leaving him for a moment, he wandered to the shop window to look out on to the street.

‘That’s funny,’ he said. ‘What are they doing, I wonder?’

‘Who, dopey?’ Moe asked, pressing the hot towel to his face and breathing in the menthol fumes coming from the towel.

‘The cops… out there in a car with a little girl,’ Toey said, coming over to change the towel.

Moe stiffened. He snatched off the towel, slid out of the chair and went to the window. He stared at the police car. It was in a parking bay fifty yards or so from the entrance to the Coral bar.

“What’s the matter?’ Toey asked.?‘Shut your flap!’ Moe snarled. ‘Gimme a towel.’ Without taking his eyes off the police car, he reached out his lean black hand and snatched the towel Toey gave him. He hurriedly wiped his face and the back of his neck and then threw the towel from him.

He watched: then he saw Jacko Smith come waddling down the street.