Tiger By The Tail

"I've always been pretty easy with you, Sam," Adams went on. "There have been times when I could have made things hot for you. There was that time the dame made an exhibition of herself. Most clubs would have been shut down after a scene like that. Then there was that shooting back in December. I guess you have had a little service from me. This might be a good time to show your appreciation."

"Anything I can do, Lieutenant, I'll do," Darcy said quietly.

Adams flicked ash on to the floor.

"I want to crack this one fast. I don't think Donovan will get very far." His cold blue eyes met Sam's. "He might get a break; stumble on something, but I doubt it. He needn't have any help from you."

"He hasn't got it up to now," Darcy said.

"Lindsay Burt could be the new political boss in a few months, certainly in a year," Adams went on. "This present set-up is on the skids. You, and to some extent me, have to look ahead. Bun could shut you down, Sam, once he got into office. This dive isn't as sweet-smelling as it could be. But if you were helpful, he might feel he owed you something. He might leave you alone."

"I understand, Lieutenant."

"Right." Adams stubbed out his cigarette, lit another and dropped the match into the ash bowl. "Did you see this Carson girl last night?"

"Yes."

"Who was she with?"

"A tall, dark, good-looking guy in a grey suit."

Adams nodded.

"That's the guy. Ever seen him before?"

"No."

"Did she say who he was?"

"No."

"Was he a friend or a client?"

"I don't know. They seemed to be getting along fine together. I've never known her to bring a client here before."

"So he could have been a friend?"

"I don't know, Lieutenant. She didn't introduce him to me, and I think she would have if he was a friend. I just don't know."

"Did he look like a guy who'd stab a girl with an ice-pick?"

Darcy shook his head.

"He certainly didn't. I liked the look of him."

"Maybe," Adams said, grimacing, "but it points to him. He was seen leaving her apartment about the time she died. But why should he kill her? What was she like, Sam? Would she try to blackmail a guy?"

"No." Darcy was emphatic. "She wasn't that kind of a girl at all, Lieutenant. Maybe she did go off the rails, but not to that extent. Blackmail is out."

Adams lifted his shoulders.

"Then why did he kill her? Think he was a nut?"

"He didn't look one. You can usually tell them. I was surprised to see him with Fay. He didn't look the type to be with her."

Adams brooded for a long moment.

"You've known Fay for some time, haven't you?"

"I've known her for about four years."

"Got any ideas who killed her if this guy didn't?"

Darcy shifted in his chair. He reached for his whisky, drank a little of it and sat back, nursing the glass in his enormous black hand.

"I wouldn't say this to anyone, Lieutenant, but since you've asked me, I have an idea," he said slowly. "It could be a wrong one."

"Never mind how wrong it is," Adams said. "What is it?"

"About a year ago, Fay and Johnny Dorman were always around together. He found out she was on the racket, and he beat her up. I caught him at it and stopped him. He might have killed her if I hadn't come along. He was in a pretty bad state. I had all I could do to handle him. I got his sister to come over. Fay was badly damaged. He had beaten her with a poker.

Johnny's sister got him into a home. He was there for about a year. He came out yesterday, cured. A guy I know saw him at the Paradise Club last night. He overheard Johnny asking Louie where he could find Fay. I thought maybe he was going to start trouble. I called her apartment, but couldn't get an answer." He looked hard at Adams. "It's my bet Johnny found her."

Adams sat motionless, staring down at his hands.

Johnny Dorman! He remembered him well: a fair, slim, good-looking boy who used to haunt the pool rooms on 66m Street.

"Did you tell Donovan this?"

Darcy shook his head.

"He didn't ask me for ideas."

Adams rubbed his jaw.

"Dorman: why, yes, that makes sense. Okay, I'll have him picked up. No harm in finding out where he was at the time of her death."

"You may not know it, Lieutenant," Darcy said quietly, "but Dorman's sister is going to marry Sean O'Brien."

Adams stubbed out his cigarette. His face remained expressionless.

"I didn't know." He stood up. "That could make the set-up tricky. Thanks for the information. Keep this close to your chest. I don't want anyone to know."

"No one will," Darcy said. "The guy who told me and Louie are the only two who know besides you and me, and I can take care of them."

Adams began to move slowly about the room.

"This is going to be damned tricky," he said. "If O'Brien finds out I want to talk to Johnny I could get blocked off. You don't know where Johnny is, do you?"

Darcy shook his head.

"Any ideas?"

"He might be holed up with his sister. She thought a lot of him in the old days."

Adams grimaced.

"That makes it worse. Yeah, he could be with her. Can you check for me, Sam? I'll have to keep out of sight on this. Will you see if you can find him for me?"

Darcy hesitated.