Popular Detective May 1949 by Chris

Author:Chris
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Pulp
Publisher: Popular Detective
Published: 2024-01-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4

Date with a Redhead

The Paradise Club was on the outskirts of town. It was owned by Conge Enterprises and they said it had cost a half million to build it. It was white, with severe modern lines, and the lobby was walled in glass brick. We went in through doors which were solid blocks of chromium. The headwaiter looked at the smartly groomed Vallie in her tight fitting black evening gown and bowed.

“Right up front for Miss Foster,” he said to the captain of waiters.

We moved through the lush surroundings and sat down near the dance floor. The waiter hurried over with a wine list and we ordered.

“You were a little late,” said Vallie. “I was worried, because I didn’t see you come out of Conge’s office. I know there’s another door, but—”

“But what?”

“Nothing,” she said. “Never mind. We're here to have fun.”

We had a few, and I looked around. The place was half empty.

“We're early,” I said. “Hardly anybody here yet.”

She took a long sip at her drink. She was starting to feel them.

“Some of them are in the gambling rooms upstairs,” she said. “There are all kinds of rooms here for all kinds of things.”

“Nice town,” I said. “I’ll bet your boss comes here often.”

“You're cute,” she said. “Really cute. But don’t be afraid. I’m not his type. He likes them sophisticated. His current flame is a slinky brunette who sings here. He sees this Marcia Drago all the time now, but he’ll soon tire of her like he does of everybody else.”

“He’ll probably be here soon,” I said.

“Now don’t be afraid, Mike. He probably won't even notice you. Besides, he goes right up to the gambling rooms with Mr. Sevard.”

“Sevard comes here?”

“Sure. Every Wednesday night. He comes here to gamble. That’s a scream. He’s really betting against his own money.”

“I don’t get it.”

“He put the money up for this place,” she said, looking at me with half-closed eyes. “Now the boss is so strong he’s getting control of the whole town.”

“Sevard doesn’t like that,” I said.

“’Course not, darling. Sevard brought Conge in to watch Wheeler when Wheeler was mayor last term. And now that they lost the election and Wheeler is back as Sevard’s business manager, there’s nobody to watch Conge. Sevard and Conge are like a bulldog and a tiger that have one another by the tail. Neither of them dares let go. But they just have to get along. I suppose they’ve got enough on each other to hang themselves. It’s a scream, isn’t it?”

“Yes, very funny,” I said. “What time does Conge get here?”

“I told you not to worry, Mike. You won’t have a bit of fun worrying like that. I know his exact routine. He leaves his house at eight forty-five, picks Marcia up at her apartment, and gets here at nine-thirty. He’s always on time.”

“He must live near Marcia,” I said.

“No, he lives in Carlton, a small town five miles from Jefferton. He has a big estate there at Sixty-three North Carlton Drive.

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.