The Soft Centre

Jacko always parked his pink and blue Cadillac at the far end of the street. He believed the short walk from the parking lot to the Coral bar helped to keep down his weight. He came along, a handkerchief in his fat hand, wearing the light blue shirt, and black baggy trousers he had worn the previous night. From time to time, he dabbed at his white unhealthy looking face with the handkerchief.

Terrell said sharply, ‘Angel, look down the road.’

Angel, who had been playing with her bear, looked up and saw Jacko as he came towards them.

‘That’s him!’ she whispered excitedly and pointed her small finger towards Jacko who had paused for a brief moment outside the Coral bar.

‘Are you sure?’ Terrell asked.?‘Yes! That’s him!’

Moe, watching, saw her point at Jacko and his black face creased into a vicious snarl. He realised at once that this child was identifying Jacko to the cops and this could only mean one thing! This child had seen them enter Henekey’s cabin!

Toey standing behind him, and watching what was going on said, ‘What is it, honey? She fingering Jacko?’

Moe turned savagely on him.?‘Shut it! Wipe it out of your mind! You want to stay alive, Toey?’

As the sight of the murderous gleam in the vicious black eyes, Toey quailed.

‘I never saw a thing!’ he stammered. ‘Honest, I never…’?‘Shut it!’ Moe snarled.

He watched Beigler start the car engine and then drive away towards headquarters.

Moe paused only long enough to glare at Toey. ‘Remember… if you’ve seen anything, Toey, I’ll slit you,’ he said, and then moving fast, he ran across the street into the Coral bar.

Jacko was about to order a shot of whisky and a beer chaser when Moe came in.

Moe said, ‘Let’s get out of here, Jacko, and fast!’

The expression in Moe’s gleaming eyes was enough for Jacko. He waddled after Moe, moving his enormous legs as fast as he could and panting.

The barman watched them go, grimaced, and then returned to his task of washing glasses. *****

It wasn’t until eight-ten o’clock that Terrell drove into his garage. He was feeling hot and tired. Having driven Angel Prescott back to the Park Motel, he was now looking forward to a shower and a good dinner.

His wife opened the front door as he came up the drive. They kissed, then Terrell asked the age old question husbands always ask, ‘What’s for dinner?’

‘Chicken,’ Caroline said. ‘It’ll be ready in half-an-hour, but you have to call Henry first.’ Terrell walked into the lounge and began to shed his jacket and tie.?‘Henry?’ He looked at Caroline in surprise. ‘What’s he want?’?‘He said it was important. You call him while I get you a drink.’

Terrell hesitated, then seeing the stern expression in his wife’s eyes, he grinned and went over to the telephone. He dialled Henry Thresby’s home number, and while he waited for the connection, he reached out a grateful hand for the whisky and soda, clinking with ice, that Caroline offered him.

Thresby came on the line.?‘Frank? I’m sorry to disturb you, but I have something that’s bothering me. I thought I would get your advice and hear what you have to say.’

At the sound of Thresby’s anxious tone, Terrell became alert. ‘Go ahead, Henry. What is it?’

Briefly, Thresby told him about the telephone call he had had from Val Burnett.?‘I could be sticking my neck out, but to me, it sounds as if Mrs. Burnett could he in trouble,’

Thresby concluded. ‘Now look, Frank, we have to be mighty careful about this. If it means nothing, Travers could descend on me, and I could lose my job.’

‘I think you have every reason to be worried,’ Terrell said. ‘I’m glad you called me. Now look, Henry, you leave this to me. Just forget it, will you? The less you know about it, the better. I’ll take care of it.’

‘For goodness sake, be careful!’?‘You know me,’ Terrell said quietly. ‘I’ll handle it. Did you keep a copy of the numbers of the bills?’

‘Yes, of course.’?‘Let me have the list. Send it here. That way it won’t get into the wrong hands. Okay, Henry, relax. I’ll fix it,’ and he hung up.

Seeing the furrow between his brows, Caroline knew better than to ask questions. She went into the kitchen to serve up the meal.

Terrell called headquarters. When Beigler came on the line, Terrell asked, ‘Got Jacko Smith yet?’

‘Not yet. I have men shaking down the clubs. They should pick him up any time now.’ ‘Have you someone staked out outside Smith’s apartment?’ Terrell knew he was wasting his breath as Beigler was as efficient as himself but he had to ask.

‘Walker and Lucas are covering the joint.’?‘I want that fat slob fast.’?‘We’ll have him before midnight. He’s playing cards in some hole. It’s just a matter of finding where he’s playing.’

‘Joe - there’s something else,’ Terrell said. ‘Tell Jacobs to come out here. He’s on duty, isn’t he?’

‘Why, sure.’?‘Tell him to hustle over. If he comes fast enough, he can have a chicken dinner with me.’ Beigler snorted.

‘If there’s one way to get Max to move fast, it’s the offer of a free meal.’