(1941) Miss Callaghan Comes To Grief Read online

  “Too bad,” Lefty said, and smiled mirthlessly.

  Spade struck a match and for a moment his big face was hidden behind blue smoke. “I want to know why,”

  he said.

  “You know a lot. Why don't you find out?”

  “If you're goin' to take that angle, I will,” Spade snapped, his face darkening. “Listen, Lefty, this isn't the way to take it. I'm willin' to work with you boys, but I can't let you ruin my trade. What the hell is all this about? Can't you see you ain't doin' yourselves any good clearin' the streets like this?”

  “Raven thinks it's a grand idea.”

  “Well, I don't. I'm tellin' you it's gotta stop.” Spade thumped his fist on the desk. “I thought you'd come along to talk business.”

  Lefty shook his head. “Nope, we can't help you, buddy. The girls stay off the streets.”

  Spade nodded. “Okay,” he said. “Then you can't blame me if it gets tough for you boys. I ain't givin' way on it. I can't afford to. I'll give you till next week. If the girls ain't workin' then I'll have to start somethin'.”

  Lefty took a blunt−nose automatic from his pocket. “You'll just be a big smell in the ground, buddy,” he said evenly. “Raven sends this with his love.”

  The automatic cracked once. Spade half rose from his chair. A big blot of blood suddenly appeared between his eyes. He spread out his hands and then fell forward over the desk.

  Lefty ran over to the window, threw it up and climbed into the dark alley. He ran very quickly to the car parked at the end of the alley. Maltz swung the door open for him and Little Joe started the car rolling. Long before Spade had been found the car was out of sight.

  Maltz said, “Did you get him?”

  “Sure. He went out like a light. Raven was right. He knew too much,” Lefty said.

  Little Joe said uneasily, “There'll be a hell of a row about this.”

  “Aw, shut up!” Lefty snarled. “It's time we got tough in this burg. I've been fed up just hangin' around chasin' dames off the street.”

  “Where the hell's it goin' to get us?” Little Joe said, heading towards the St. Louis Hotel. “Ain't we got enough dough?”

  Maltz said very softly, “Turnin' yellow, Joe?”

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  Little Joe said hastily, “No. I was just wonderin'.”

  “Well, don't wonder, then.”

  They drove the rest of the way in silence.

  Raven was waiting for them. His thin, wolfish face was hard and set as they came in. “Well?” he said.

  Lefty nodded. “It's okay,” he said. “Nobody saw me.”

  Raven took a turn up and down the room. “We're goin' to get goin' now,” he said. “Grantham's been in.

  He's yellin' about bad business. I want you and Maltz to come with me. We're goin' to look Mendetta's houses over.”

  Lefty nodded. “I've got the list of dames in each house,” he said. “Shall I bring it along?”

  “Of course.” Raven went to the door. “Let's go.”

  In the car Lefty said, “Carrie's house is the best one.”

  Raven nodded. “We'll go there.”

  When they ran up the steps the negro Joe thought they were the cops. He rang the alarm bell. Carrie appeared on the scene, her eyes snapping with fury. When she saw Lefty she ran towards him. “What the hell's this?” she said angrily. “Do you want to ruin my business?”

  Lefty pushed her on one side. “Keep your chest in place,” he said. “The big shot's come to look the joint over.”

  Carrie turned quickly. She had never seen Raven, although she had heard a lot about him. She said, “You can't come in here. I've got my customers to think of. The girls are busy.”

  Raven looked her up and down. “Clear all your customers out,” he said shortly; “I want to look the girls over. Come on, jump to it.”

  Carrie said, “Like hell I will. You come in the morning.”

  Raven looked at Maltz, who swung his fist, hitting Carrie very hard on the side of her jaw. She went down in a heap on the floor.

  “You heard me the first time, nigger,” Raven said.

  Carrie got slowly to her feet. A livid mark showed on her yellow skin. She turned and went away slowly.

  Raven said, “The girls I select will be taken to Franky's place. The other girls can pack up and get out. Do you understand that?”

  Maltz nodded. He went to the front door and signalled.

  A large van drew up to the kerb and four men got out. They stood waiting.

  It was early. There were only three clients in the house. They came downstairs, looking scared.

  Raven opened the door for them. “It's all right,” he said with his crooked grin. “Just checkin' up. You boys can get off home.”

  They looked at him furtively and left quickly. Carrie stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting.

  Raven nodded at her. “Bring all your girls down here fast,” he said.

  Carrie went upstairs again. A few minutes later she came down, followed by seven lightly clad girls.

  Raven went into the reception−room. “Come in here,” he said.

  The girls all looked at Carrie, who was nearly speechless with rage. “Go on in. Didn't you hear him?” she snarled.

  The girls went into the room and stood staring at Raven. Lulu fluffed up her hair. “Take me, darlin',” she said. “I'll show you some tricks.”

  The other girls giggled.

  Raven said, “Shut up!” Then he turned to Maltz. “Are they all here?”

  Maltz took out his list and checked the numbers. “One ain't,” he said briefly.

  Raven looked over at Carrie. “I said all of them.”

  Carrie hesitated a moment, then went upstairs again. After a few minutes Sadie followed her down.

  Raven's eyes lit up a little when he saw her. This one was good, he told himself. When he looked at her he saw her go suddenly very white and her step falter. Carrie took her arm and shoved her forward. She muttered something that Raven didn't hear. He made a mental note to look into this. Sadie stood beside the other girls, her dark eyes big with fear, gazing steadily at Raven. It made him a little uncomfortable.

  He looked away from her. “I've got somethin' to say to you girls,” he said abruptly. “I'm Raven. I run this 66

  Miss Callaghan Comes To Grief

  racket. There's goin' to be some changes. Get into a line, you girls. Snap to it!”

  A little buzz filled the room as the girls stared at him. Maltz stepped forward. “Quiet,” he said loudly. “Get into a line. Go on, damn you, get into a line!”

  They slowly formed into a line and stood giggling and nudging each other.

  Raven lit a cigarette. “Take your things off. All of 'em. Your stockings as well.”

  “I ain't takin' orders from a bum like that. What's the game, Carrie?” Lulu shrilled.

  Raven made a little sign to Maltz. Maltz stepped forward and dragged Lulu out of the line. He slapped her twice across her face with his open palm, before she could dodge, and then he shoved her back into the line again.

  She was so dazed by the heavy blows she could only rock on her heels, blinking away the tears that had started to her eyes.

  Raven said, “The next dame who cracks wise will get a boot. Get undressed.”

  Muttering angrily, the girls took off their things. Raven stood by watching them. “Now stand still and let me look at you.”

  Sadie was the only one who didn't undress. Maltz took a step towards her, but Raven stopped him. He looked the girls over as if he were inspecting cattle. Then he grunted: “They're all right. Take the lot.”

  Little Joe, who was standing by the doorway with a large embarrassed grin on his face, clapped his hands.

  “Break it up, girls,” he said. “Get dressed quick. We're goin' for a ride.”

  Raven beckoned to Maltz. “What's that dame's name?” he asked, pointing to Sadie.

  Maltz consulted his list and
then told him.

  Raven nodded. “Take her to the St. Louis. I want to talk to her. Lock her up. See she doesn't start anythin', an' keep your hands off her.”

  Maltz looked hurt. “Gee!” he said. “I could use a honey like that.”

  “If you touch her, I'll fix you,” Raven snarled. “Get on with it.” He turned to Carrie. “Get all these girls upstairs. Get 'em dressed to go out. Tell 'em to bring stuff for a night and you come yourself. Hurry.”

  Carrie opened her mouth to say something, but thought better of it. She shepherded the girls out of the room.

  Upstairs, she turned on Sadie. “You're not to tell that guy you know him,” she said. “Do you understand?

  When the time's right, then you can fix him... not before.”

  Sadie didn't say anything.

  Carrie went on: “If you blow the gaff I'll come after you. I'll find you okay. Then I'll do things to you until you wish you were dead. I mean that.”

  Sadie flinched away from her and continued to dress. The other girls were puzzled and angry. All their questions were met with a stony stare from Carrie. All she would say was, “He's the bossask him.”

  Downstairs, Raven jerked his head to Lefty. “Come on, we've got a lotta houses to look at before we sleep.

  These guys will look after the girls. Watch that pippin, Maltz.”

  Maltz nodded. “You bet,” he said sourly. “I'll watch her.”

  Raven and Lefty went out and drove away.

  Little Joe came up to Maltz. “This racket's gettin' interestin', ain't it?” he said. “That's the best bit of striptease I've seen for a long time.”

  Maltz ignored him.

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  4

  August 18th, 2.10 a.m.

  RAVEN walked into the lobby of the St. Louis Hotel, followed by Little Joe and Lefty. He went immediately to the elevator which took him up to his suite.

  Little Joe leant against the wall of the cage, his eyes half closed and a look of tired satisfaction softening the lines of his face. “I ain't seen so many floosies all at one time in my life,” he said. “Gee! Some of them were hot numbers.”

  Lefty shrugged. “So much meat to me,” he said. “I've got no use for it when it's tossed at me like that.”

  “Shut up, you two!” Raven said savagely. He had had a trying evening, but the first step of his scheme was successfully launched.

  They went into the suite. Maltz was sitting in a large chair, dozing. He started up as they came in.

  Raven looked at him hard. “She all right?”

  Maltz rubbed his eyes. “Yeah,” he said; “she's sleepin' in there.”

  Raven nodded and sat down. He tossed his hat on to the table. “Get me a drink, one of you,” he said, lighting a cigarette.

  Little Joe went over to the wall cupboard and began to fix drinks.

  Raven stretched. “Right now,” he said, “there ain't a girl hustling in this town.” He said it with great satisfaction. “Over at Franky's we've got a hundred and forty picked hustlers. The rest of the stuff is finished.

  Tomorrow we're calling a meeting of bookers. I'm goin' to explain what they've got to do. In another week we'll reopen the houses. Then we'll make money.”

  Maltz took a whisky from Little Joe. “What are the bookers supposed to do?”

  “They're goin' to work for a change,” Raven said grimly. “We've got twenty houses. Each house can take thirty hustlers. We've got a hundred and forty already. They got to get me four hundred and sixty new girls.

  They've got to get them fast. I've been working this out. We can get girls from Kansas City, Jefferson City, Denver, Springfields, and Cleveland. Once I get these houses started we'll organize houses in these towns as well. In every case we're goin' to secure a monopoly. Hustlers are not to work on the streets. We can't check on their earnings if they do. This'll take time. It's goin' to be big. The bookers will have to organize themselves and have a clearing−post. This can be at Sedalia. I don't care how they get the stuff. That's their look−out. The girls will only stay at one house for a week, then they'll be moved on to another house. Grantham's got to do some work. I'm takin' him out of the 22nd. Any guy can run that joint. Grantham's got brains, but he's lazy.

  You three guys have got to get busy too. Give me two months and you'll all be makin' more dough than you'll know what to do with.”

  Little Joe's face fell. Actually he was already getting more money than he knew how to spend.

  Raven finished his drink and stood up. “Tomorrow you guys beat up the bookers and take them along to Franky's. We'll have a general meeting and then I'll explain to the girls what's comin' to them. Get some of the boys. I want the tough ones. Tell 'em to bring clubs. We might have a little trouble with some of those dames.”

  The three nodded and left him.

  Raven wandered up and down the room, thinking. He knew he would have to play his game very carefully.

  It was worth the risks. If he slipped up on the Mann Act he was sunk.

  He tossed his cigarette away and went into the bathroom to wash his hands. He didn't feel like sleep. His brain was too active. Quietly he crossed the room and opened the door of the spare bedroom. His hand reached out and groped for the light switch.

  Sadie said out of the darkness, “Who is it?” Her voice sounded husky with fear.

  Raven turned on the light.

  She sat up, holding the sheet close to her chin. Her eyes looked very dark and big and her face was the colour of chalk.

  Raven came and leant over the bedrail. “I want to talk to you,” he said quietly.

  There was a long pause, then he went on, “How long have you been hustlin'?”

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  She didn't say anything.

  He came round and sat on the bed. “If you don't answer my questions I'll hurt you,” he said. “How long?”

  She looked at the thin face, the cold, merciless eyes and the paper−thin lips. She said, “I was forced into this two months ago.”

  “Why?”

  “I don't know.”

  “Why didn't Carrie want me to see you?”

  “I don't know.”

  Raven said, “Get out of bed and take that thing off.”

  Sadie shook her head wildly. “No...” she said, clinging to the sheet. “Leave me alone.”

  “Do it,” Raven said.

  “No. You're not touchin' me. I'll screamI'll scream....”

  Raven hit her on the side of her jaw very hard. Her head snapped back and she went limp, falling against the top of the bed with a little thud.

  He got off the bed, went into the other room and found some cord. He came back again, stripped off the sheet, turned her over on her face and tied her hands behind her. He turned her again and gagged her with her stockings that hung over the bedrail. Then he fastened her ankles securely to each of the bedposts. By the time he had finished she had recovered from the blow. Her eyes pleaded, but he didn't look at her.

  He went out and came back after a few minutes with a small bottle containing some colourless fluid. He sat down beside her on the bed. “After tonight you'll do anything that I tell you without hesitation. I ain't got time to persuade you. I like a dame to obey. You'll obey after this.”

  He took the cork out of the bottle and, bending over her shrinking body, poured the fluid on to her nightdress, low down.

  She jerked as the cold fluid ran down her body. A strong smell of turpentine filled the room. Raven got up and replaced the cork. “It'll take a couple of weeks to get over this,” he said with a little grin. “But I can wait.

  I shan't have to do it again.”

  She lay very still, a puzzled look in her eyes. She couldn't understand why he had done this. She felt nothing, only the cold wetness on her skin. She could understand pain, she could understand beating, but this defeated her.

  He made sure that her bonds were tight, testing th
e knots carefully. He adjusted the gag and then he straightened.

  The puzzled look in her eyes suddenly gave way to fear. The fluid began to penetrate. She twisted this way and that as the horrible burning sensation began to grow.

  Raven nodded. “I'll see you in the morning,” he said, turning out the light, and went away, leaving her writhing in the heavy darkness.

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  5

  September 7th, 2.20 p.m.

  WHEN Special Prosecutor Dewey said, “Don't you remember any testimony about Hines and the poultry racket there by him?” Jay Ellinger dropped his pencil and sat back with a gasp.

  Hines's defender, Stryker, was already on his feet, shouting, “I demand a mistrial. Your Honour! Your Honour! I demand a mistrial!”

  Ellinger whispered to the Tribune reporter, “It's over. They've been waitin' for a loophole like this.”

  The Tribune reporter shook his head. “Naw,” he said, “they'll go on. This goddamn' trial will last for years.”

  But Ellinger knew in his bones that Dewey had made just that one little slip that would give the Judge the chance of getting Hines freed. Although the trial dragged on over the week−end, by Monday everyone knew that Dewey's tremendous work of bringing Hines to trial had to be started all over again.

  Ellinger got his copy off and then immediately caught a train back to East St. Louis. He was determined to resign before he could be sent on some other job that would keep him from the work he had been impatiently waiting to tackle.

  Since he had been away he hadn't heard one word from Benny. He had been so busy attending the Hines trial that he had not been able to check up with the home town news. Now, as he stepped out of the train, he could hardly contain his patience to get started.

  He took a taxi to the Banner offices and went immediately to see Henry.

  He burst into the office. Henry gaped at him. “What the hell are you doin' here?” he snapped. “I want”

  “Save it,” Jay said quickly; “I'm through. I quit. I resign.... Get it?”

  Henry relaxed in his chair. “Wait a minute,” he said. “You gone crazy?”

  Jay sat down. “No,” he said, “I'm just through. I thought I'd get that in before you gave me another little job out of town. Poison ain't keeping me muzzled any more, Henry. I'm working on my own for a while.”