Violence in Velvet by Michael Avallone

Author:Michael Avallone [Avallone, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: detective noir
Publisher: Story Merchant Books
Published: 2012-06-14T05:00:00+00:00

“Not necessarily. I go for Tucker too. I could go very large. But like you said, I’ve been around. So I know what the score is. I know she’s not my cup of tea. She’d want to change me around, pick out my ties, tell me what books to read. A guy like me could never be happy under those conditions.” I looked at him evenly. “A guy like you couldn’t either. That’s why you’re so miserable now. And jumping like a puppy when she snaps her fingers.”

His big face flushed. “I’ve got that coming, I guess. But the torch is burning out my insides. Look, you’ve said it right. I was punching your nose for her sake. Okay. But what’s all this about anyway? Paula being brutally murdered like that. And tonight, Guy—”

“I don’t know, Author. But you’ve just met a Critic.”

His grin was puzzled but amused. “I don’t get you.”

“I saw that bullet hole in Guy Prentice’s leg. It was practically a fleabite even if he did lose considerable blood. I’d say it was done with nothing bigger than a .22 or a .25.”

“You’re still way ahead of me, Noon.”

I toyed with my drink. “I wouldn’t count on killing anybody with popguns of that calibre. Especially if I was sitting in the audience or firing from the wings or the balcony across a wide stage. You know, Guy Prentice getting shot like that sort of takes the curse off him as far as the cops are concerned. Now wouldn’t Guy be one clever murderer to have a crony pop him with a dinky .22 just to throw the cops off?”

“Or a .25.” I saw all of his teeth in a wide grin. “You really do a little detecting, don’t you?”

“I have to if I want to stay alive. Tell me something about Paula Prentice.”

He shrugged. “Not much to tell. Guy married her on the rebound after the death of Marion Prentice, Lu’s mother. What do you think of the kid? Smart as hell. Paula wasn’t too much. Just a pretty, healthy animal that Guy thought he needed. Then Helen came along and—well, everybody fell in love with her. Including me. You know, she can be plenty regular. When she climbs down off her high horse.”

“I don’t doubt it,” I agreed, wanting to help him feel better. “How did Paula take the idea of losing Guy?”

“She didn’t. They had some stormy sessions, I can tell you. Lucille began to suffer for it. Guy didn’t have time for her any more, what with the bad marriage and Helen and all. Finally, Paula started looking around. And then Stanley Breen came into the picture.”

I looked at him. “You mentioned him in the dressing room. I thought then you had more to say but you didn’t.”

He shrugged. “I’m the only one that knows. Paula and Breen have been holding hands almost since Guy and she went pfft. But this is just between us, Noon. Maybe you can work on him.”

“Some understudy, Mr. Breen.

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