Tiger By The Tail

"Manchini won't worry you again. I've had a scare thrown into him, and he scares fast."

She slipped into a simple white evening dress that made her look, to O'Brien's eyes, much more seductive dian when she was wearing her nightclub finery.

"I don't know what I should do without you," she said, going to the dressing-table and sitting down.

He laughed.

"That's what I'm here for." He took a cigar from his case, sat down and slowly removed the band. "So Manchini saw Johnny last night?"

"That's what he said, but I don't believe him". He was trying to scare me into taking him back to my apartment."

"Then you don't think he gave Johnny Fay's address?"

She hesitated, then turned to face him.

"I know he didn't. Darling, forgive me, I didn't tell you the truth about Johnny. I did see him last night. He was at my apartment when I returned from the Casino. He's scared of you, Sean. He dunks you made me put him in the home. He made me promise not to tell you I had seen him. I've told him over and over again you had nothing to do with putting him in the home, but he doesn't believe me. He stayed the night with me. That's why I know he couldn't have killed Fay."

O'Brien nodded, and wondered why she continued to lie to him.

"You should have told me that before, kid. Never mind. Is he still at your place?"

"No. He's gone. I'm worried, Sean. He left no note. He's just vanished. You don't think the police have arrested him?"

O'Brien shook his head.

"Of course not. I should have heard. Relax, kid. He's probably decided to get out of town. Didn't you say he was going to New York?"

"He did say he might go, but he hadn't any money. That's what worries me. He can't have gone to New York . . ."

"How do you know he hasn't borrowed money from someone? He always was an opportunist. Don't worry about him. He can take care of himself. Come and have supper with me."

"Not tonight, Sean. I want to go home. He may have returned."

O'Brien lifted his shoulders good-humouredly.

"Okay. Do you want me to come back with you?"

"I'd rather go back alone."

"Anything you say, kid."

He got out of the chair and handed her her wrap.

"I'll see if I can find out anything. If I get news of him I'll call you."

"You're terribly good to me, Sean."

She raised her face and he kissed her.

"It's my job to be good to you."

When she had driven away in a taxi, O'Brien walked slowly over to the parking lot, got into his Cadillac and stared emptily into the darkness.

Johnny was a nuisance, he decided. He always would be a nuisance. Even if he were lucky enough to get out of this mess, there would be other messes. Sooner or later he would get into the kind of trouble O'Brien couldn't handle. It was a bleak outlook to be saddled with a brother-in-law like Johnny. Now he had Johnny where he wanted him, he would be a mug not to settle him once and for all.

He brooded for several minutes, playing with the idea of being rid of Johnny for good. The more he thought about it, the more of a temptation the idea became.

In the past, O'Brien had never hesitated to get rid of troublemakers, but he had got out of the habit of wiping out his enemies. He should have let Tux knock off Paradise Louie instead of beating him up. The quiet, secluded life he had been living for the past three years had made him soft, he thought, grimacing. With a set-up like this before him he couldn't afford to be soft. He knew Lindsay Burt would try and make capital out of Fay's murder. Someone in his camp would be certain to remember Johnny had threatened Fay, and knowing Johnny was Gilda's brother and Gilda was going to marry O'Brien, pressure would be brought to bear on the Commissioner to find Johnny.

Besides, O'Brien had no illusions about Johnny. As soon as he became his brother-in-law, he would be after money. The safest way would be to make sure Johnny didn't become a bigger nuisance that he was now.

O'Brien lit his cigar, started the car engine and drove over to the Country Club.

On the first of every month there was a dance at the club, and everyone who was anyone went. O'Brien guessed Commissioner Howard and Police

Captain Motley would be there. He wanted the latest news of the murder before finally deciding what he was to do with Johnny.

He could see the crowd of dancers through the big windows as he drove around the circular drive. The dance would go on until the small hours: there would be a lot of drinking and necking, and probably some horseplay by the young members.

O'Brien wasn't interested in this kind of shindig, but he usually put in an appearance. All the party members went, and it was an opportunity to have a private word without the press wondering what was being said.

He drove into the parking lot, that was packed solid with cars. He got out and glanced up at the dark, swollen clouds. It would rain before long, he thought, as he made his way along the narrow gangway between the cars.