The Ace of Spades by Dell Shannon

Author:Dell Shannon [Shannon, Dell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-07-22T20:26:15+00:00

TWELVE

The druggist sidled out of the back room and gazed mournfully at the wreckage, and Mendoza, who'd followed Hackett to the door, said in an urgent undertone, "Arrest me, Art— take me out all official-looking, nobody here must know who I am."

"Games, yet," said Hackett, grabbed him by one arm, and shoved him out. Mendoza sat in the ambulance while the interns bandaged him temporarily, refusing to go along to the General for stitches in his hand immediately; he'd have it seen to sometime today. He was publicly pushed into the back of Hackett's car.

"Tell the precinct sergeant somebody'll be down to give him details on this. Don't be a fool, I'm not much damaged, I'll see a doctor after lunch, and lunch I've earned." He looked at Rhodes, peering at him from the front seat still wearing a faintly astonished expression, and added, "And we've things to talk over. Let's be on our way, Arturo. Though how the hell I can go into a— oh, well, they know me at Federico's, and it's a hot day."

The head waiter, however, looked very surprised to see him with no jacket, no necktie, collar unbuttoned; and still more surprised when Mendoza demanded a drink before lunch. "I'm going to wash, I'm filthy— don't sit down, Art, go and call Pat Callaghan and brief him on this. Those four, I think, are more his business than mine, and he'll want to see them. He's the one sent me down there in the first place."

"That I want to hear about. I thought Callaghan was a friend of yours."

"He didn't know I'm getting senile," said Mendoza, "to walk into a thing like that— like a fool I had my mind on something else. And probably nothing to show for it but the wear and tear— And get me an aspirin somewhere, that sap connected once and I've got a headache."

"What were you doing down there without a gun, Lieutenant?" asked Rhodes. "I mean, I'd think— "

"Oh, his tailor won't let him pack a gun," explained Hackett. "It spoils that nice shoulder-line, you know."

"That little joke I'm tired of. ¡Zape! Go and call Pat!"

"I'm going, I'm going."

"You mean you never— why, that's asking for trouble, Lieutenant," said Rhodes earnestly. "Why, anyway?"

"Oh, I don't like loud bangs, they make me nervous," said Mendoza irritably, and vanished to seek soap and water.

Hackett joined Rhodes at a table before Mendoza reappeared. Rhodes, who was a big fair farmery-looking young man, still wore a bewildered expression. "I never heard that one," he said to Hackett.

"About his not packing a gun. I mean, Landers— "

"You know Landers'?"

"Yes, sure, and he— you know, talks about Lieutenant Mendoza sometimes, but he never mentioned that. Why doesn't he, anyway?"

"I'll tell you," said Hackett, and broke off to demand coffee and offer Rhodes a cigarette, "he's got this crazy idea, police exist to prevent violence and we ought to set an example. He says sure, out on patrol, anywhere you're apt to be in danger unarmed, 0.

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