1944 - Just the Way It Is Read online

  ‘Please don’t, Peter,’ she said, in a desperate sort of way. ‘I couldn’t bear to quarrel with you. You don’t understand. You don’t know how unsure I am.’

  He still felt a flicker of anger and he took her hands away. ‘I can’t go on like this,’ he said, stubbornly. ‘I’ve been waiting and waiting and I never seem to get anywhere. You either love me or you don’t. If you don’t, then perhaps we’d better not meet anymore.’

  ‘Of course, I love you,’ Clare said. ‘I think you’re a kind, lovely person and please don’t talk about not meeting anymore.’

  ‘Then if you love me, why can’t we be married?’ he persisted, frowning at her.

  ‘Don’t look like that, Peter. In another minute we’ll be strangers.’ She slid into his arms and held him tightly. ‘Oh, Peter, I do love you, but don’t rush me. I’m so unsound. I don’t know where I am going and I don’t ever want to hurt you. Don’t you see? It’s because I don’t ever want to hurt you that I hesitate.’

  They held each other for a long time. Distant houses were now black silhouettes as the lights were turned out and the people went to bed.

  He said at last, ‘All right, Clare, we won’t talk about it for a while. I’m not going to worry you. I wish we could go away together. I wish we could take this old car and a couple of suitcases and go south for a month. It’d do you good.’

  She twisted in the seat, so that her shoulder and head were against him. ‘Perhaps one day,’ she said. ‘It would be fun, wouldn’t it?’ There was a pause, and then she said, ‘Tell me about Harry Duke. How long have you known him?’

  The thought entered his head that Harry Duke meant something to her. He remembered how quiet she had been when they first met. He remembered her embarrassment when he had teased her about the telephone number. He remembered her disappointment when she saw that Harry had gone away. And remembering all these little points and knowing the strength of Harry Duke, his heart sank suddenly.

  When he came to think of it, he could see Clare with Harry. They’d look right. They were both determined, both good at their jobs, both ambitious.

  He said, ‘You liked Harry, didn’t you?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ she said guardedly. ‘I hardly spoke to him.’

  ‘Are you glad you met him?’

  ‘Well, he is a little unusual, isn’t he? But, I suppose he knows lots of girls.’

  Peter took out his cigarette case and lit a cigarette miserably. ‘He doesn’t have a regular,’ he said, trying to be casual. ‘Girls fall for him all right. Sometimes he takes them up, sometimes he doesn’t. But if he does, he drops them again after a while. I’m sorry for the girl who falls for Harry.’

  There was a long silence, then Clare patted his hand, ‘You think I might be one of those girls, don’t you, Peter?’

  ‘Why, of course not,’ Peter said, feeling blood mounting to his face. ‘What on earth do you mean?’

  She laughed quietly. ‘Oh, I know you better than you know yourself,’ she returned. ‘But, you don’t have to worry. Harry Duke wouldn’t do for me and I wouldn’t do for Harry Duke. You see, Peter, I’ve lived too long among men like that. Newspapermen, gamblers and businessmen. I’m so sick of their hardness. I’m so tired of their eternal quest for money, their willingness to sacrifice everything to get what they want. One time, I could have fallen for Harry Duke, but not now. I’m like Fairview. All I want is to be left alone to stagnate in the little happiness that’s left to me.’

  Peter pulled her closer to him. ‘But you don’t know Harry,’ he said. ‘He’s not like that. He’d be swell to you as he’s been swell to me. Oh, I know he’s tough and hard and wild, but not when he’s fond of someone. He’s not like that then.’

  ‘Are you afraid he’d take me away?’ Clare looked up at him and smiled, but her eyes were worried.

  ‘I don’t know, but I’ll find out,’ Peter said. ‘I’ll know if he’s interested in you or not.’

  She gave a little shiver. ‘Let’s go home now, Peter. Will you forgive me for spoiling your evening?’

  ‘You haven’t.’ He started the engine. ‘You’ve made me happy. Haven’t you told me that you love me?’

  ‘You do believe me, don’t you?’

  ‘Of course I do. I’m beginning to think you’re a bit of a problem for all that.’

  ‘Do you mind?’

  ‘No, I suppose not. Life would be very dull if I could get everything I wanted. But I want you, darling, when you feel less low, I’m going to begin a siege. Now I know how you feel about me, I’m going to pester you until you do marry me.’

  When they reached Clare’s little bungalow, Peter switched off the engine and looked down at her. ‘Well, here we are. What shall I do - walk home or bring the car over tomorrow night?’

  ‘You’d better come in, Peter.’ There was something in her voice that suddenly stirred his blood.

  ‘It’s late,’ he said. ‘I’ve got a full day tomorrow. I’ll get back, I think.’

  ‘I mean you needn’t go back tonight,’ she said, in a small voice.

  He put his hand on hers. ‘You don’t really mean that, do you?’ he said, feeling his heart beating unevenly.

  ‘Of course,’ she slid her arms round him, ‘I can’t give you much, Peter, and you’ve been so patient.’

  Just for a brief second, it had sounded so marvellous, then when she said about being patient it all dissolved into ashes.

  He shook his head. ‘No, Clare,’ he said, ‘go in and get yourself some sleep. You’re a darling and I love you, but I’m waiting.’

  She slid quickly out of the car. ‘Good night, Peter,’ she said. ‘I didn’t want to make things difficult. You’re right, of course. I think you’re always right, my dear.’

  She ran up. the little path and disappeared into the shadow of the house. He heard her open the door and then close it sharply behind her.

  EIGHT

  Without taking his eyes off Schultz, Harry Duke slid into the room. He put his hand behind him and pushed down the window and adjusted the blind.

  Schultz seemed paralysed. He knelt there, his knee still pinning Lorelli flat on the floor, and slack rope still in his thick fingers. Only his eyes were alive and they regarded Duke murderously.

  Duke had opened his coat so that Schultz could see the leather gun holster that was strapped under his arm. He was careful not to take his eyes off Schultz. He knew that the fat man could move very quickly when he wanted to.

  ‘I hope I ain’t in the way,’ he said, leaning against the wall. ‘Anyone but me would think you were going to kill that girl.’

  Schultz still knelt there blinking at him without saying anything.

  Duke said softly, ‘Get away from her, will you?’

  Schultz suddenly expelled a little hiss of breath through his teeth and let the rope slip out of his fingers. He stood up slowly and passed his hand over his fat, sweating face. ‘Hello, Harry,’ he said, in a strangled voice. ‘You quite startled me.’

  ‘Sorry about that,’ Duke returned, still watching him closely. ‘The next time I’ll give you a ring and let you know I’m coming.’

  Schultz waddled unsteadily across the room and refilled his glass. He drank the whisky greedily, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then sank down slowly in his armchair. He sat looking at Duke, his hands shaking and his saucer-like eyes blinking.

  Duke moved farther into the room. ‘Look, Paul,’ he said. ‘Don’t do anything dumb. I mean, don’t try and pull a gun or start anything. I’ve had more practice than you and it wouldn’t mean a great deal if I killed you.’

  Schultz’s face grimaced into a lopsided grin. ‘I ain’t tired of life yet,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t start anything.’

  ‘Just thought I’d tell you,’ Duke said. ‘You were being dumb just now,’ and he looked down at Lorelli. ‘You were being very dumb. What did she do to annoy you?’

  The fat man shifted his eyes and said nothing.

  Lorelli gave a l
ittle sigh and moved uneasily.

  ‘Maybe I’d better take that necktie off before she wakes up,’ Duke said, kneeling down beside her. ‘It’d be a shock for her if she found she had so nearly handed in her pail.’

  ‘I wasn’t going to kill her,’ Schultz said, hastily, ‘I just wanted to scare her.’

  ‘You’re a thorough sort of guy, Paul. Nice ideas you’ve got locked up in that skull of yours.’ Duke gently levered the noose loose from Lorelli’s neck and then slipped it over her head. He worked with his left hand only. His right hand rested on his knee.

  He tossed the rope across the room and then turned Lorelli gently over on her back. As he was doing this, Schultz’s hand suddenly jerked behind him. His heavy automatic was halfway from his hip pocket when he found himself staring down the barrel of a .38 which Duke produced from nowhere.

  ‘More practice, Paul,’ Harry Duke said, evenly. ‘Take your hand from behind you very slowly and drop that gun.’

  Schultz snarled at him, but the automatic fell on the floor with a little thud.

  ‘Kick it over here,’ Duke went on, ‘I’ve a good mind to smack you for that, Paul. What’s the matter with you? Gone crazy or are you just tired of life?’

  He picked up Schultz’s automatic as it slid over to him and put it in his pocket.

  Schultz suddenly relaxed in his chair with a little shrug. ‘It’s a pity you interfered Harry,’ he said. ‘You’re going to upset a lot of people and in the end you’ll be sorry. You’ve only won the first round. There’s a lot of rounds left.’

  Duke was looking down at Lorelli curiously. ‘Now, where have I seen her before?’ he asked. ‘Quite a looker, ain’t she? Well, I’m glad I came along when I did. You shouldn’t waste women like this, Paul. There are other guys who could do with ‘em, you know.’

  Lorelli gave a little whimper, opened her eyes and put her hand to the back of her neck with a grimace of pain. Then she saw Harry Duke and she sat up on her elbow, her smoky, black eyes opened wide.

  ‘Take it easy,’ Duke said. ‘We’re all friends together and there’s nothing to be scared about.’

  Lorelli looked from him to Schultz and her eyes snapped furiously. She got unsteadily to her feet, holding her bruised forehead. Then she began calling Schultz names. The range of her language shocked Duke.

  He said, ‘Don’t get your suspenders in a knot, sister. Paul only meant to scare you. He told me so.’

  ‘If I had a gun, I’d make a hole in the fat swab,’ Lorelli screamed. ‘He threw a glass at me. He never gave me a chance.’ She ran over to Schultz and stood over him. ‘You’ll pay for this. You’ll be sorry you started something with me, you this and that and so and so.’

  Harry Duke looked pained. ‘I hope you didn’t teach her those names, Paul,’ he said. ‘She’s embarrassing me.’

  Schultz suddenly moved and smacked Lorelli’s face with the flat of his hand. She reeled back, screaming in a high-pitched wail.

  The door burst open and Joe rushed in. He came to a full stop when he saw Duke and threw up his hands. His face went the colour of old ivory.

  ‘It’s all right, Joe,’ Duke said, amiably. ‘Don’t stand on ceremony. This can be any one’s fight by the look of it.’

  Joe lowered his hands slowly and then looked across at Schultz who sat in a heap like a malevolent toad.

  Lorelli picked up the poker from the fireplace and suddenly rushed at Schultz. There was a look of vicious fury on her face. As she swept past Duke, he kicked her legs from under her and she went over with a thud that shook the room.

  Duke nodded to the poker and Joe hastily picked it up. Lorelli sat up, sobbing with rage.

  ‘We’d better break this party up,’ Duke said. ‘Otherwise someone’s going to get hurt.’ He grabbed at Lorelli as she scrambled to her feet and frustrated another attack on Schultz. He held her tightly against his side, with his arm round her, holding her wrist. ‘Now, you’ve got to behave,’ he said, ‘or I’ll leave you and then you might get into an awful lot of trouble.’

  She struggled for a moment, then began to calm down.

  Still holding her, Duke looked at Schultz. ‘Well, Paul,’ he said, ‘I guess I’ll drift. You won’t miss this little girl, will you? For your own safety I think I’d better take her along with me.’

  A look of alarm sprang into Schultz’s eyes. ‘Wait,’ he said, sitting forward in his chair. ‘She doesn’t want to leave me.’

  ‘Doesn’t she?’ Duke was amused. He looked down at Lorelli. ‘What do you say about that?’

  Before she could answer, Schultz went on quickly, ‘Let me talk to her alone, Harry. She’s only a child. She doesn’t understand.’

  ‘They certainly rear tough children in this district,’ Duke said. ‘And I don’t think you’d better see her alone, Paul. You might start trying on neckties again.’

  Lorelli said, ‘I’m through with you, you fat heel. I hope the next time I see you, you’ll be filling a hole in the ground.’

  ‘Well, there can’t be any mistake about that, Paul,’ Duke said. ‘Will you come along with me, or do you want to go someplace on your own?’ he went on to Lorelli.

  She glanced up at him, chewing her full underlip, her eyes still bright with anger. ‘I’ll come with you,’ she said, without hesitation.

  ‘You certainly know how to make up your mind,’ Duke returned, releasing her. ‘Sorry, Paul, but I always do what I’m told when I’m told by a telling looking tootz.’

  Schultz gripped the arms of his chair. ‘Don’t be a fool, Lorelli,’ he said. ‘You’re only heading for trouble. You stay here. I’ll see you right. You know what I mean.’

  Lorelli sneered at him. ‘Go bowl a hoop,’ she said, then to Duke, ‘Well, what are we waiting for?’

  Duke moved towards the door, circling so that he could watch Schultz and Joe all the time.

  Schultz seemed suddenly to lose control of himself. He leaned forward in his chair, his eyes snapping fire, and his great face turning mauve with fury. ‘You talk and you’ll be sorry,’ he shouted at Lorelli. ‘Do you hear? That’s all he wants you for . . . to make you talk. I know Duke. He picks up women and drops them when he’s through with them. You silly little fool! You’re throwing away any chance you’ve got of making money by going with him.’

  ‘Watch your blood pressure, Paul,’ Duke advised. ‘There’s no need for us to fall out. I’m just taking the girl some place where you can’t worry her. I’ll see you in the morning and we’ll talk it over. So long, Paul.’

  Schultz took no notice of him. He shook a quivering finger at Lorelli. ‘If you open your trap, I’ll find you. I don’t care where you hide, I’ll find you and I’ll fix you and you’ll be sorry.’

  Lorelli laughed in his face. ‘You can’t scare me,’ she said. ‘Look at my protection,’ and linking her arm in Duke’s, she went out of the room.

  The moment they were outside in the street, Duke broke into a run. ‘Come on, baby,’ he said, ‘I don’t want Paul to help me on my way with a shotgun.’

  ‘Fancy being scared of him,’ Lorelli said, contemptuously, running with difficulty because of her tight dress. ‘Hey, wait a moment, will you?’

  Duke put his hand under her arm and forced her on. There came a faint phut behind them and a bullet whined past their heads, flattening against a lamp post.

  Lorelli gave a little squeal, jerked up her skirts and leapt forward like a deer. She outpaced Duke, who began to laugh.

  ‘Who’s scared now?’ he panted. He increased his length, caught up with her and grabbed her arm. ‘Over this way.’

  Another phut sounded and this time the bullet zipped between their heads. Lorelli caught her breath in a sob and covered the next ten yards in two jumps.

  ‘I didn’t think Paul could shoot so well,’ Duke said, bundling Lorelli head first into his car. He scrambled in beside her, started the engine and accelerated violently. An angry wasp sang past the windscreen as the car gathered speed. In another second, t
he houses on each side of the street changed into a blurred ribbon as the needle of the speedometer flicked to sixty miles an hour.

  ‘That’s done me a power of good,’ Duke said, leaning back, with his hands resting lightly on the wheel. ‘My liver wanted a little jolt and, by golly, it got it.’

  Lorelli was examining her stockings under the light from the dashboard. She muttered angrily when she saw that she had driven her knees through both of them.

  ‘I bet this is the first shooting Bentonville’s ever had,’ Duke said, keeping the car travelling at a high speed. ‘I don’t think Paul likes us anymore.’

  Lorelli snorted. She sat still for a few minutes and then she said, ‘So you’re Harry Duke?’

  ‘Mrs. Duke’s one and only son. And while we’re on the subject where have I seen you before?’

  ‘Oh, I get around,’ Lorelli said, airily. ‘My name is Lorelli. Just Lorelli. Not Lorelli Montgomery or Lorelli Spewack. Just Lorelli.’

  ‘I see,’ he said, gravely. ‘Any particular reason, or isn’t it my business?’

  ‘There are plenty of reasons,’ Lorelli returned. ‘One of them is that I didn’t have any parents.’

  ‘That’s interesting,’ Duke said, swinging the car on to the main road. ‘You came out of an egg, I suppose?’

  ‘Something like that,’ Lorelli admitted. ‘I can’t remember the

  exact details, but it was on those lines.’

  ‘How would you like a nice cup of coffee and a chicken sandwich?’

  ‘What, now?’

  ‘This very second,’ Duke returned, crowding on brakes and stopping the car outside an all-night drug store.

  ‘I’d like that very much,’ Lorelli returned, climbing out of the car. ‘Do you mind if I have a ryvita instead of a sandwich? I’ve got to watch my figure.’

  ‘I should have thought that wasn’t necessary. You could get lots of guys to watch it for you.’

  They went into the drug store which was deserted except for a sleepy assistant who was dozing at the end of the counter. He looked up with a start and then smiled. ‘You’re late, Mr. Duke,’ he said, chattily, then he glanced at Lorelli and admiration