The Crossroads by John D. MacDonald

Author:John D. MacDonald [MacDonald, John D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780745186566
Publisher: Black Dagger Crime
Published: 1959-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

At a little after one o’clock on Wednesday afternoon Glenn Lawrenz walked through sunshine to Nick’s Daily Dozen. He felt as if he stood too tall and frail in an unkindly world. He squinted against the sun and had the taste of bile in his throat.

He opened the door and went into Nick’s. Two very young soldiers were drinking beer and watching a housewife quiz on television. Glenn went to the far end of the bar and sat moodily on a bar stool.

Nick ambled down and said, “When morning comes all the little flowers awaken and turn their faces to the sun.”

“I can’t take too much of that, friend.”

“I endured you last night. Bear with me today. Can I formulate a concoction to soothe your misery?”

“It would have to be on the cuff.”

Nick raised his shaggy eyebrows. “Indeed?”

“Who was that bim, Nick? Where can I find her?”

“Never saw her before until last night. She came in alone. On the prowl. People who still had their eyesight gave her the brush.”

“But not me.”

“Possibly she reminded you of your dear old mother. Why do you want to find her? Is it true love?”

“Nick, she cleaned me. I think I took her to the room and passed out. Money, clothes, suitcase, watch, lighter, every damn thing she could carry.” He would not tell Nick about his chest, still raw with scrubbing. Never tell anyone about his chest.

“That type pig,” Nick said thoughtfully, “is usually devoid of scruples.”

“Maybe I should call the cops.”

Nick went and gave the soldiers new beers and came back. “And sign a complaint? Avoid all dealing with those gentlemen.”

“But she got me for nearly three hundred bucks cash and maybe five hundred in clothes, Nick.”

“Dear boy, suppose you enlist the forces of law and order. Suppose, by some miracle, they apprehend the pig. You testify. Her lawyer points out you were stoned. His client, after helping you to your domicile, a kindly act in itself, took off, and obviously vandals entered and cleaned you. You are dreaming.”

“I would like to find her myself. I’d get her off somewhere and work her over until she had a face that would make a dog sick.”

“With all proper apologies, old buddy, she has that type face to start with. Accept your losses. Be a man. Chin up, shoulders back.”

“How about a loan of five, Nick?”

“I’ll spring for a pickup, only because you have touched my heart with your story of woe. But cash, no. It’s against my religion. I’m a devout miser.”

Nick mixed a remedy, a highly spiced Bloody Mary mixed up with one raw egg. New customers arrived. Nick went to talk to them. Glenn sat alone, sipping his drink. They never let you play it safe and small. They had to be after you all the time, giving you the roust. And quite suddenly, without any process of logic, any awareness of consecutive thought, he knew a decision had been made. It made his hands sweat. It made his losses minor.

He

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