The Tycoon and the Tigress (A Hard Boiled Thriller) by William R. Cox

Author:William R. Cox
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: hollywood, pulp fiction, crime novel, piccadilly publishing, orson wells, citizen kane, hard boiled fiction
Publisher: Piccadilly

Chapter Fifteen

HE WAS FUZZY from the drinks he had taken and uneasy with memories of the happenstances of the night, so that when Anne Meredith called him, he numbly accepted her explanation that she was forced to fly up to the Island with Foster Kane in the afternoon and would be unable to keep their dinner date. Only after lunch did he come out of the fog of hangover and problems of engineering long enough to feel a pang of doubt.

Was she still in love with Kane? Why did it matter so much, a girl he scarcely knew?

Why didn’t he worry about Mona Hayes, that warm and predictable creature, so vulnerable despite her drive, her worldliness?

He managed to get through the day without too many blunders, he hoped, and went home and undressed and flung himself into the swimming pool. Mrs. Mac came out and sat in a low chair, a Martini in her hand, and watched him. When he felt thoroughly relaxed, he put on a robe against the slight breeze and sat beside her.

She asked, “What’s cookin’? Your friend, Lahaffy, was on the wire just before you got home. Thought you might be early, or something.”

“Funny he didn’t call the office.”

“Doll, you’re such a baby. The trades had it this morning that he sold Majestic a story for Arnold. He ain’t calling Kane Refinery, he’s calling Majestic.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Look, doll, he puts through the switchboard for you. Every broad in the plant knows he sells the script. They get on the Erie, they begin yakking around, Lahaffy’s got a connection at the plant, it’s bad publicity, see?”

“You mean they’d say the story wasn’t sold on its merits?”

“You’re catchin’ on, doll.” She fished beneath her, handed him a wrinkled copy of Variety.

He read the story. It was brief enough. It mentioned Bones, Arnold, Kane. It did not mention Mona Hayes.

He asked hesitatingly, “If they had a star set in the leading part, wouldn’t it be in this item?”

“If she’s big enough, they make it the lead, doll,” said Mrs. Mac cheerfully. “If she’s nobody, they build her awhile. Then they break it as a special deal.”

“What if it’s … Mona Hayes?” He hoped he could trust Mrs. Mac. He was beginning to have grave doubts about everyone.

Mrs. Mac squinted at him. “Yeah ... huh?” She got up and waddled into the house. Over her shoulder she said, “Wait here. I can’t let anybody know my connection on Variety.”

He waited, trying to imagine what wheels were working within wheels. Maybe Mona wasn’t any longer big enough in the business to rate a spread announcement concurrent with the release of the story. Or maybe—maybe the contracts were not yet signed despite Byron’s presence. In that case ... Madge Kane ...

He shook himself. Why was he bothering? He should not let himself be caught in the machinery of this crazy business. He tried to organize his thinking, to turn it toward the project of the tennis courts and the program he must outline for submission to Kane.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.