Murder for Two (23 page)

The steps moved through the entryway and faded out. Manahan was still wheezing. A door opened and the blonde in the faded blue wrapper came out. She sorted out the mail, said something under her breath, and went back to her room empty-handed.

Manahan shifted his shoulders. Logan peered out a fraction of an inch and drew back. “Nothing yet,” he whispered. “You don't think they could have spotted us at the corner, do you?”

“They're not getting the envelope anyway,” Manahan whispered back, and then he was quiet as a new sound came from above.

Footsteps. Someone was coming down the stairs, hurrying, the sound of it echoing loudly in the hall. Casey stood on tiptoe again, leaning as far out as he dared, and that way he saw John Perry move up to the table and reach for a thick, legal-sized envelope.

Logan moved out as Perry turned away and Perry saw the three of them then and stiffened as though he had been struck.

“Just a minute,” Logan said.

“Oh,” Perry said hollowly. “You. Wh-what do you want?”

“Let's have a look at that envelope.”

Perry glanced down at it and thrust it quickly inside his coat.

“It's mine. It's addressed to me.”

“We know,” Logan said. “That's why I want to see it. Got any idea what's in it?”

“Why—no.”

“I'll tell you.” And Logan went on to explain about Morris Loeb and Byrkman. “If we're right about this, what's in that envelope has been keeping Byrkman alive. There may be enough to clear you and give the real dope on the swindle Lawson put over on you. There sure as hell will be enough to give us the motive we want for Byrkman's murder. Come on, bring it out and let's—”

“No,” John Perry said.

Logan stepped up and took his arm. “What do you mean, no?”

“It's mine.”

John Perry's thin face was tallow-white. He wet his lips and swallowed and could not find anything else to say. Casey just stared at him, at first incredulous at the reaction and now aware of a growing tension deep inside.

What the hell was this? The guy was scared stiff. The envelope was the biggest break of his life, wasn't it? Yet here he was, practically on the verge of collapse, arguing, looking as if he wanted to bolt like a petty thief.

“So what?” Logan said. “We know it's yours.” His brows drew down and irritation rode his words. “Or maybe you want to ride down to headquarters with us.”

“You haven't any right to—”

“Who's talking about that. If we can't persuade you here we'll have to take you somewhere—”

“Wait a minute,” Casey said, and just then Perry jerked his arm free. Before Logan could grab again he had started up the stairs in full flight.

Logan cursed softly and sprang after him and Casey caught his arm and pulled him back. Logan pulled away savagely. “Damn you,” he said. “What the hell do you think you're doing?”

“There's something wrong,” Casey said. He didn't know what it was or what to say, but the tension was spreading along his back and his pulse was quickening. “Let me talk to him and see—”

“Nuts to that.” And Logan was going up the stairs with Manahan and Casey following.

They went down the hall and Logan tried the door. When he found it locked, he knocked.

“Open up.”

“No,” John Perry said. “You have no right to come in here. The envelope is mine. It was addressed to me.”

“Listen.” Logan was furious now and his frustration made his voice mean and hard. “I can think up some reasons to take you along. Either you unlock that door or we get another key from the landlady and unlock it for you.” There was a silent pause. “Do you hear?”

“If you do,” John Perry said, “you'll never get this envelope. If you're not gone in three minutes I'll burn it.” His voice rose. “Do you understand? I'll burn it.”

“Wait a minute, John,” Casey said. “Don't be a fool,” he said quietly to Logan. “Come here.”

He took the lieutenant's arm again, tugged at it. Logan fought him a moment but something in the big photographer's face made him change his mind and he moved a few feet down the hall.

“The guy is scared stiff.”

“Who cares?” Logan said.

“And he'll burn that thing too and then where'll you be?”

Logan looked at him and Casey hesitated. He didn't know what he was groping for but there was something so wrong about this whole incident that it scared him. If they were right about the envelope, then everything John Perry had lived for would be his. Yet, with all this in the palm of his hand, he refused to take the step that would make it a reality. When he said he would burn that envelope rather than give it to Logan, Casey believed him. And he remembered the telephone call before the mailman came and suddenly he began to understand what must have happened.

“Break in on him,” he said bluntly, “and you'll be in a spot and you know it. You've got no warrant and no legal right to that envelope.”

“I don't give a good—”

“Sure you do. Listen. You're always talking about me and my luck and the breaks I get. All right. Do something for me. Beat it. You and Manahan were spotted coming here, that's sure. The phone call you heard was for Perry. You know why nobody showed up for that envelope, don't you?”

Logan peered at him, his anger fading and sanity returning.

“Humor me, will you?” Casey said. “It's only five minutes or so from here to your office. You and Manahan get out, let yourselves be seen.”

“What about you?”

“I stay. I'm not a cop.”

“No,” Logan said.

“You think he won't burn that envelope if you break in? What the hell, my way is the
only
way. I'll get in that room, and I'll stick with that kid. The second I can, I'll phone you. You can put a radio car a block away. What the hell have you got to lose? You haven't got the envelope now and you haven't got those two gunmen. You won't get them staying here and you know it.”

Logan shook his head. “Suppose those two hoods come back?”

“Suppose they do,” Casey argued.

“Maybe you think you'll beat them to death with that camera.”

“I'm staying with the kid. That's all I'm promising. What the hell, do you think I like this? Do you think I'd stick my neck out if there was any other way? You think I'm trying to pull a fast one—”

“It's maybe the best way,” Manahan said.

Logan looked at him; he looked at Casey. Suddenly something happened to his face and he was no longer peering.

“God help you if you muff it.” Like that he gave in, his voice grim, even, and resigned. “Manny and I are going for a warrant. We're leaving you to keep Perry company.”

“That makes sense,” Casey said. “That way you'll still be a lieutenant.”

“But if you let him out of your sight or if he destroys that envelope on account of you—”

“Shove off,” Casey said. “I heard you the first time.”

Even then Logan retired reluctantly and Casey could understand that. He knew his way was best and so did Logan, but Casey could think of no other detective who would have had the good sense to accept the risk. Because they were cops, most would have bulled through a situation like this and have ruined the thing they wanted most; that Logan was willing to leave was simply because, thinking reasonably, he trusted Casey and knew that whatever the final job, Casey could probably handle it as well as he himself could.

Casey watched them down the stairs. He went back to Perry's room and knocked.

“It's Casey,” he said. “They've gone. Open up, will you?”

“You've got to go too.”

“Un-unh. Why do you think I talked Logan into going? I know you're in a jam, and I've been in your corner right from the start, haven't I? And Karen Harding's corner too. You don't think I'd do anything to put either of you in a spot, do you?”

He got no answer to this, so he said, “I know you had a phone call just before the mailman came. And I can guess who it was from. They gave you your orders and they're going to call back, aren't they?”

“You'd better go,” Perry said. “I—I can't take a chance.”

“I'm staying,” Casey said. “I promised the lieutenant. I'll wait in the hall. You can't get out any other way, and you're going to have to deliver that envelope some place—or else someone is coming for it. I can wait here just as well if you're going to be stubborn about it.”

When Casey talked like that he influenced people. What he said was both reasonable and matter-of-fact and it left its impression on John Perry.

“Will you promise not to try and take the envelope?”

“I promise.”

Perry made a muted sound that sounded almost like a groan, as though he no longer had the resistance with which to fight. The key clicked and Casey went in.

One look at Perry told him what the other had been through. His pale face was moist and behind the tortoise-shell glasses the misery in his eyes was plain.

“They've got Karen,” he said.

Casey sat down. He had kept that thought submerged because he had been afraid to consider it, and now that he was sure, a vacuum grew where his stomach had been, and something cold was reaching for his nerve-ends.

“Yeah,” he said. “It was the only way to get to you in case they slipped up with the mailman. They had this place staked out. They must have seen Logan and Manahan.”

“They told me if I opened the envelope or if the police got hold of it—”

“They could be bluffing.”

“Do you think I'd take a chance?”

“No,” Casey said, and knew that he could take no chances either. Not with that girl. Not after he had really involved her in this mess in the beginning. He looked at Perry, seeing him now in a new light as he realized what this sacrifice would mean.

“That envelope will probably clear you. It might even get you back your half interest—”

“Do you think I care about that? I'd already written off that formula. I hoped there might be some way I could get a pardon, but what good is a pardon if Karen—”

The shrill peal of the telephone bell cut him short. Casey jumped up and Perry leaped for the door. Casey caught him.

“Easy now.”

“Let go.”

“Easy,” Casey said again. “Don't muff it. They probably know I'm here. If they do, let me talk to them.”

Perry wrenched free and opened the door. He silenced the second ring of the telephone and Casey held his breath and listened.

“Yes,” Perry said. “Yes.… No, I haven't opened it. I know he's here but the police have gone. Casey got rid of them.”

Casey grabbed the receiver and shunted Perry out of the way. “Hello,” he said, “this is Casey. Speak your piece.”

“You get five minutes to clear out of there,” a low voice said.

“Okay. But I stay with Perry.”

“You'll get the hell away from him or it'll be too bad for that girl.”

“Perry has the envelope,” Casey said. “It hasn't been opened and he's ready to do whatever you say about it. Only I go with him.”

“No dice,” the voice said, and behind him Casey heard John Perry say, “Good God, Casey! No! Here, let me talk to him.”

Casey held him off with one hand and shook his head. “You've got the girl. We have the envelope. All we want is to be sure she's all right and that you let her go when we deliver the envelope.”

“On that, you take my word.”

“Not today or any other day. Perry and I'll deliver that envelope wherever you say. The police aren't in on it. What more do you want? Don't tell me you're scared of me. You've got guns, haven't you? Or am I too tough for you?”

“I'm tired of gabbing,” the voice said. “The kid comes alone or else—”

Casey had done a lot of thinking in a very short time. He knew he was losing out and he suddenly decided that attack was better than defense. It was a chance, but not much of one, considering the circumstances.

“You heard me,” he said, “and you've got two minutes to make up your mind. Call me back by then or we'll call your lousy bluff.”

He slammed down the receiver and turned just as John Perry swung at him. He caught the other's fist in his palm, clamped it there, and spun him so he could hold Perry from behind.

“Take it easy,” he snapped. “I know what I'm doing.”

“Damn you,” Perry sobbed. “Oh, damn you. You promised—”

“It's all right, I tell you. They won't bother the girl if they don't have to. They want that envelope just as bad as we want her. Suppose they don't turn her loose? What could you do alone?”

He let go and Perry slumped back against the wall, panting from his struggle, his breathing a strangled sound in his throat. Casey swallowed and found he had to try twice. Suddenly the gloomy hall was hot and close and the sweat broke out all over him. Suppose he had been wrong? But—no, he couldn't be! And he couldn't let Perry go alone. What he himself could do against the others he wasn't sure. Possibly nothing, but at least he—

He had the receiver off the hook before the telephone stopped ringing.

“Okay, tough guy,” the voice said, “but don't think I won't remember this. Here's what you do.” He named a corner and Casey repeated it. “It's just three blocks from you and you've got four minutes to walk it. Walk fast and don't stop to call the cops and you can probably make it.”

“We're on our way,” Casey said, and hung up.

John Perry didn't even stop for a hat or coat. He slammed his door and was right at Casey's heels going down the stairs.

Chapter Twenty-One

M
AYHEM
U
NMODIFIED

C
ASEY EXPLAINED
what the man had said as they came out on the sidewalk. He was walking fast, the plate-case banging on his hip, and Perry had to run a couple of steps every once in a while to keep up.