Tiger By The Tail

"I get away with most things," O'Brien returned. "I hear the doctors have given you a clean bill of health."

"So what? They would have given it to me before only they wanted to make as much out of me as they could," Johnny said with a sneer. "They're all alike. All they think about is what they can get out of me."

"I was under the impression your sister was paying the bills," O'Brien said quietly. "Nice of you to show so much interest."

Johnny laughed.

"That cat won't jump," he added. "Gilda's got all the money she wants at the moment; I haven't. If she had to go into a nuthouse, I'd take care of her. Besides, she's going to marry you, isn't she? She'll have millions. It's not too much to expect her to pay my doctor's bills, is it?"

O'Brien had to make an effort to control his temper.

"You're a nasty little rat, aren't you, Johnny?" he said. "I'm damned glad you're not my brother."

"But I'm going to be your brother-in-law," Johnny jeered. "That is if Gilda will take you after what you've done to me. You must have been crazy to pull a stunt like this, but maybe I-won't say anything about it. It'll cost you ten grand for me to keep my mouth shut. I don't suppose you'll find any trouble in raising ten grand, will you?"

"No trouble at all," O'Brien said mildly. "But you're not getting anything out of me. I'm surprised you haven't asked why you're here."

Into the deep green eyes came an uneasy expression.

"Well, okay: why am I here?"

"Obviously because the cure hasn't worked. You are still a mental case, Johnny."

Johnny's face went white and his eyes glittered.

"Yeah? You don't scare me. You know damn well you won't marry Gilda if you try to push me around. The doctors say I'm all right, and I am all right!"

"Then why did you kill Fay Carson?" O'Brien asked. "Not a very good recommendation for your sanity, is it?"

Johnny looked away.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said uneasily.

"Oh, yes, you do. Last night you went to Fay Carson's apartment and stabbed her with an ice-pick."

"You're crazy! Last night I was with you, and you're stuck with it, Sean."

O'Brien shook his head.

"That won't work. I was at a party last night. Why did you kill her?"

"Who said I did?" Johnny asked.

"Why try and bluff with me?" O'Brien said curtly. "You threatened to kill her before you went into the home, the moment you come out she's murdered. Do you imagine you can get away with it?"

Johnny stared at him.

"I know I can get away with it!" he said.

"So you admit it, then?" O'Brien said.

"Okay, I admit it," Johnny returned. "I said I'd finish her and I like to keep a promise. She had enough warning. She went on with her dirty game and there wasn't any other logical dung to do with her."

O'Brien hadn't had any doubt that Johnny had killed Fay, but he hadn't expected him to be quite so brazen about it.

"And how long do you imagine it'll be before the police get on to you?"

Johnny laughed.

"Be your age! What's the use of having a political boss as a future brother-in-law if one can't knock off a dirty bitch when she needs killing? I've made it easy for you. There was a guy with her when I killed her. He can take the rap. It'll be easy for you to shift the rap on to him. You've got the Commissioner in your pocket, haven't you? He'll do what you tell him."

"You're taking a lot for granted," O'Brien said quietly. "Suppose I do nothing of the kind?"

"But you will," Johnny said easily. "You can't afford to let the cops catch me, Sean. I know just how besotted you are about Gilda. I'm not blaming you: she's a sexy piece, and any guy in his right senses would want to marry her. But if the police catch me, you won't dare marry her. I know just how much you've been avoiding the limelight ever since you took control of the Administration. You don't fool me, Sean. You have something to bide, and publicity is just the thing you don't want."

O'Brien studied him, his face expressionless. A cold, murderous rage had hold of him, but he didn't show it.

"I wonder if you did kill her," he said slowly.

Johnny laughed.

"You needn't believe me if you don't want to," he said indifferently. "It was easy. She had a rotten memory and was always locking herself out. The little fool used to keep a spare key under the mat. I went to her place, found the key and let If in. I hid in the bedroom. She came back with this guy." His thin face hardened. "I had the ice-pick ready. She was so scared she didn't even scream. I wish you could have seen her face. She had taken off her clothes and was admiring herself in the mirror. I came up behind her. She saw me in the mirror and turned. I didn't think a human face could look so frightened. I stabbed her. There was nothing to it. She fell across the bed, looking up at me. The guy in the other room shouted out, asking her how long she was going to be. So I fused the lights and beat it. It was as easy as that, Sean."

"Did anyone see you leave the apartment?" O'Brien asked.

"Of course not. Do you imagine I'm a fool? I took care no one did see me."