Caper by Lawrence Sanders

Author:Lawrence Sanders [Sanders, Lawrence]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery
ISBN: 9780425104774
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 1987-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

DONOHUE AND THE HOLY Ghost dragged Smiley’s body across the floor by the ankles, stuffed it into a closet, closed the door. The passage left a wide, bloody smear that rapidly soaked into Dick’s carpet. I saw him staring at that stained path with widened eyes and wondered how long it would be before he came apart.

Donohue poured us all shots of warm vodka. We slumped back onto chairs and sofa. What bemused me was that not one of us, not once, glanced at that mountain of jewelry piled higgledy-piggledy on Dick’s desk. It didn’t seem so much to us now. Just stones.

“Listen,” Jack Donohue said, head tilted back, staring at the ceiling. “I don’t have to tell you we’re in a bind. The cops are looking for us. By this time the Feds are in on it, figuring we’re going across the state line. But the worst is the Corporation. They’ll be combing the city. And when they’re on your ass, believe me they make the cops look like Boy Scouts. I mean they’re everywhere. I figure it’ll take them about a day or two to come up with the Hotel Harding, Fangio’s, the whole shmear.”

“How will they do that?” I asked curiously.

Donohue shrugged. “That watchman will find Clement in the 47th Street garage. The cops will check out his contacts, which will lead them to me. And what the cops know, the Corporation will know. They’ll put out the word. They’ll pay off or promise favors. The desk clerk at the Harding will talk. And Blanche. The bartender and waitress at Fangio’s. Everyone will talk. There’s no way the six of us can travel together. Ghost, what do you want to do?”

The Holy Ghost, feet and fingers tapping uncontrollably, turned to Angela. They had a brief conversation in Spanish, rapid, harsh, the words spit out at machine-gun speed. Much gesturing, many expressions: fear, anger, dismay. Finally:

“We’ll split,” the Holy Ghost said to Donohue. “Fade into Spanish Harlem. We’ll make it there.”

“Sure you will,” Jack said, flashing one of his brilliant grins. I hadn’t seen that grin for a long time. I don’t know why, but it made me feel better. “You and Angela just go to ground. You got a good chance, a real good chance.” He gestured toward the desk. “Take whatever you want from that stack of shit. Forget about percentages. Just take. But if you’re smart, you’ll stick to the small stuff. Rings, unset stones, maybe a bracelet or two. Things you can sell or hock without anyone asking questions. Help yourself.”

We watched Angela and the Holy Ghost paw over the heap of sparkling jewelry. They followed Donohue’s advice and selected only single stones, rings, earrings, gold chains, cufflinks. Angela filled her purse; the Ghost jammed his pockets.

“Well,” the Holy Ghost said awkwardly, “it was a good one, Jack. Just like you said.”

“You bet,” Donohue said, winking at him. “A nice Christmas for you—right?”

“You better believe it,” the Holy Ghost said. “Presents for everyone. We’ll be careful with this stuff, Jack.

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