Kill-Off, The by Thompson Jim

Author:Thompson, Jim [Thompson, Jim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Crime, Fiction, Noir, Novel
ISBN: 9780316195966
Publisher: Mulholland Books / Little, Brown and Company
Published: 1957-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Kossy came to see me the first Sunday of the season. I had called him, indicating that there was something I wanted to talk to him about when he had the time—strictly at his own convenience. And he raced right over. He didn’t hurry on my account, of course. Catch one of those people doing anything for you unless there’s a dollar in it. Probably he thought Ralph would be here, and he could load up on a lot of free eggs and fruit and vegetables.

Oh, well. I suppose I am exaggerating a little. Kossy really doesn’t seem to care about money; he’ll treat you just about the same way, whether he’s getting a fat fee or nothing. And I suppose my call may have sounded rather urgent. But—

But why should he care about money? I wouldn’t either if I had all he’s got. Why should he blame me, a poor, helpless sick old woman for sounding a little excited?

He was very mean and insulting. Not that he usually isn’t. As soon as I was convinced that there was nothing to worry about, I ordered him out of the house. I should have done it long before, because I’d heard some pretty unpleasant stories about that man. How he’d cheated and swindled people right out of their eyeteeth. I can’t say just who I heard them from, but they’re all over town. And where there’s so much smoke, there must be some fire.

At any rate, he not only insulted me, but he gave me some very bad advice. Because I most certainly did have something to worry about! He convinced me temporarily—and against my will—that I hadn’t. But I knew better. The season was only two days old, and I’d already seen it in Ralph—seen it in the way he talked and acted and looked. And that was only the beginning.

He came home late that night, very late, I should say, since he is always out working as long as he can find work to do. I sleep a lot during the day, however, so I was awake.

He fixed a snack for me; he was too tired to eat, himself, he said. He was going to go straight to bed—in fact, he got a little stubborn about it. But I cried a little and pointed out how lonesome it was for me all day by myself, so we talked a while.

I studied him, listening to what he said, noticing what he didn’t. I began to worry again. I began to get frightened.

I hardly slept a wink all night. I hardly slept a wink any night, because Ralph didn’t change back to what he had been—he kept going farther and farther the other way.

I was practically out of my mind by the end of the week. I was going to call Kossy, but I didn’t have to. He came to see me. As of course, I should have known he would. Catch him letting go of a good thing! He’s probably building up his bill, so that he can attach this property.

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