The big gold dream by Chester Himes

Author:Chester Himes [Himes, Chester]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: det_police
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

14

"What time is it?" the bus driver asked the roving checker at the bus stop at 111th Street.

The checker consulted his watch. "Seventeen minutes and thirteen seconds past seven o'clock," he said.

The driver synchronized his watch and put the bus in gear.

Sugar had been standing with the people waiting for the bus, but he hadn't got on board. He had been watching to see Dummy leave the building up the street. He had seen him come out, place the keys back on the sidewalk and walk off, but a moment later a woman jostled him, and, when he got the street in focus again, Dummy had vanished. However, he was satisfied that Dummy had gone about his business.

He hastened back toward the house, but a woman tenant on her way to work had beaten him to the keys. She was ringing the super's bell when he arrived.

Dummy watched him from the doorway up the street where he had ducked. He grinned to himself. He figured that Sugar had doubled back to search the flat again; perhaps Sugar had found a likely hiding place and had saved it for a private search. But Dummy was satisfied that the money wasn't there.

He waited until Sugar re-entered the building. Then he kept on his way, this time without hesitating or looking back.

Sugar made as if to pass the woman, then stopped and looked inquiringly at the keys.

"You want to return the super's keys?" he asked.

"I found them in the street," she said defensively.

"He must have dropped them," Sugar said. "I'm just going downstairs. I'll take them to him."

The woman looked at him suspiciously, but she was late and didn't have time to argue. She handed him the ring grudgingly, saying, "I hope I'm doing right; I hope you ain't no burglar." He was about to protest, but she salved her conscience by adding, "Anyway, I have rung his bell."

Without replying, Sugar hastened through the basement doorway and descended the stairs. He hadn't seen the janitor return, but it was a risky business.

He found the janitor's wife standing in the open door to their quarters, looking up and down the corridor. She was what he had expected, a loose, ripe, high-yellow woman with cowlike eyes and a petulant expression. Smooth fat arms and mountains of cream-colored flesh showed above the decollete blue rayon nightgown, and black hair hung in long greasy curls about her shoulders.

When she saw it was a man she became coy, more from habit than desire, and asked in a simpering voice, "Did you ring my bell?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said politely, letting his gaze rove approvingly over her padded figure. "I found these keys on the sidewalk out front."

Her expression changed instantly to one of suspicion. "Where's he at?"

"The last I saw of him he was chasing some young girl," Sugar said.

The next instant her face darkened with an evil look. "I'll fix him," she threatened. "Around here chippy-chasing at this hour of the morning."

"Can I come in?" Sugar asked. "I want to ask you some questions.

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