The Case of the Bouncing Betty by Michael Avallone

Author:Michael Avallone [Avallone, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Crime
Publisher: Story Merchant Books
Published: 2012-09-08T05:00:00+00:00

“So that’s it, Caesar. You were left holding the sack on a bum deal that never got started. Artel could have been working a con game on you. Getting his hands on all the money he could before pulling out of town. But that doesn’t seem right. If he was going to risk his neck operating on a big fish like you, I think he would have gone for more than two gees. No. It doesn’t wash. There’s tattle-tale gray all over the yarn. He must have been telling the truth.”

Bim Caesar growled. “Yeah? Then who put him on ice? Somebody dumped him for a good reason. Maybe this bunch that was holding the stuff for him–”

I tried to think out loud. “Either that or he was working a triple-cross. You and the third party. I don’t get it.”

Bim Caesar eyed me closely. He took the cigar out of his mouth and the thickness of his lips was even more grotesque in their natural position.

“I don’t like you, wise guy. But you’re smart. I appreciate a smart man. You could do me a big favor.”

I finished my coffee. I felt fifty percent better about life now that I had some warm food in me. I fished out my cigarettes, lit one.

“I’m still listening.”

He hunched across the table so far that the smell of the cabbage-size carnation filled my nostrils. His voice fell to a raspy whisper.

“I’m still interested in making a million dollars. If you find this third party or get any news at all, get in touch with me. I’ll give you twenty-five percent of the take.”

“I can’t make any promises–”

“Thirty percent then. I’ll be fair. I’m no watchacall hog. I can be a big man when it comes to sharing the cream.”

“Bim,” I sighed. “I don’t want your money. And I don’t want anything to do with being the middleman between a dope peddler and his customers. Ever seen some of the cases at Bellevue? There are some things that are worse than murder to a guy like me. Dope is one of them. Whether it’s heroin or marijuana or cocaine, no thanks. I’m not interested.”

“Don’t get ideas, Noon.” His tone rose worriedly. “I got no connection at all yet. The cops can’t touch me.”

I stared him down.

“I’m not going to tell anybody anything, Mr. Caesar. I was asking just for myself. I have to get Artel’s corpse off my hands as far as the cops are concerned. That’s it. If you haven’t anything to do with that, you’re in the clear. Never mind how I feel about dope peddling. You haven’t started it yet. When you do, then you can worry about my big nose. I’m just a private citizen, Bim, but that’s when my public spirit comes out of hiding. Humanity is a duty, you know.”

“You kiddin’ me?” His tiny eyes were incredulous. “Don’t be so simple. You’re a grown man. You’re talkin’ like a school kid, waving a flag. Don’t kid me.”

I got to my feet.

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