She looked at her twitching body in the mirror. She pushed her hips forward and watched her hand move down her belly and cup herself between her legs. Then she inserted her finger and went wild.
She imagined that Terry was with her and in place of her finger was his tongue. Then she began to talk out loud.
"No more tongue, Terry," she said aloud to herself. "No more tongue. Now ... Give me the real thing now!"
She didn't realize it, but she was shouting at the top of her voice.
"In the front ... now the back ... more tongue ... more tongue ... I'm coming, coming, coming, coomminnnnnggggg!"
She dropped to the floor on her back and twisted and jerked violently against her finger until the final ecstacy passed and she lay there exhausted.
CHAPTER ONE
She had done it. She had made a mad dash for freedom and she got away from Little Ricco. Now all she had to do was to stay out of his clutches.
This job she was about to embark on was her best bet.
* * * * * * * *
The big car stopped in front of the rooming house. A slender man in a trim business suit got out. He walked to the front door, rang the bell. He was sandy haired, clean cut and stood looking. Anyone guessing his age would have said thirty-three and it would have been a close guess.
The landlady opened the door.
"Pardon me, but I-'m looking for Amanda Clark," he said politely.
"Oh then, you must be Terry Corren from Oakville," she responded. "Miss Clark said she was expecting you. I'll call her."
"If you please."
She went to the stairway and called, "Miss Clark! Miss Clark!"
"Yes? What is it, Mrs. Crane?"
"Mr. Corren is here."
"Tell him I'll be right down."
The landlady invited Corren in but before he could sit down Amanda Clark walked down the stairs. She was carrying two leather suitcases. Terry Corren regarded the girl with an intake of breath. With a hundred and ten pound figure she had strawberry blond hair. His eyes went to her knockers and weren't disappointed. Nature had given the girl husband-catching charms everywhere. But her boobs, straining at her tight blouse, appeared to be two special gifts.
"Amanda Clark?"
"Yes. Are you Terry Corren?"
"In person. And let me say that picture didn't do you justice." He picked up her bags. The landlady opened the door. The girl went out with Corren following. Corren helped her into the front seat, put the bags in the back, got behind the wheel. He offered her a cigarette and she took it. He lit it for her, lit his own.
When the car was headed eastward he asked, "Your home in Chesterton?"
"It was but now it's Oakville ... I hope."
"A smart reply," he said, chuckling.
"Mr. Corren, what will my job be?"
"We'll see, we'll see." He shrugged expressively. "What would you like to do?"
"Why ... I'd like to manage the store," she said, smiling.
"Another smart reply." He grinned in appreciation. "Please tell me something about the Corren department store."
"Oh, it's just another small town department store. Oakville has 50,000 population. Has three department stores, ours, the Willard store and a chain store, the Pilot. Ours is the biggest ... in space I mean. We have three stories and a basement. My father ... he's sixty-eight ... is manager but he's just a figurehead. I let him make the decisions, that is until he makes the wrong one. I let him write the checks. In fact I let him do it all ... if he can. He has a bum ticker and I ... I'm the only heir ... must not cross him. We used to have all the department store business in Oakville but now the two new stores have hurt us."
What he failed to tell her was, he himself and his pleasure-loving, high-flying wife, were the real reasons the Corren store was going to the dogs fast. Terry was a playboy deluxe. He spent money like it grew on trees. His affairs had cost Terry Corren Senior plenty. Mostly for lawyers. Two young girls ... facing pregnancy ... had been given checks for ten thousand each to let Terry stay out of jail. His father still had the same dream. He still had the hope Terry would settle down, get hold of himself and make something out of his life. Also the store. When Terry had wired from Chicago that he was married, Corren Senior had been sure it was what Terry needed. But instead of ending his career of dissipation it had simply brought a play-girl into the family.
Terry's name was on the office door he occupied. It said he was manager. Terry held lots of conferences in his office. But most of them were with pretty young girls.
"Are you married, Mr. Corren?' "Married?" He threw back his head and laughed. "If you call having a girl marry me for my money, refusing to be a wife to me, spending my money faster than I can make it, and screwing other men right under my nose ... then I'm married." The girl had no reply.
"I'm a miserable man, Miss Clark. I have no wife except in name. I hoped Zelda ... my wife ... would see the folly of her ways and cease her butterfly existence. I hoped she'd stop it all and devote herself to being my wife. She is beautiful and charming. But instead of doing as I hoped she got worse." He sighed dismally and said no more.
Another thing he hadn't told the girl was that his father had inserted the want ad in the Chesterton papers seeking a woman to replace one who was leaving. Terry had seen Amanda's reply to the ad on his father's desk, opened it. Amanda had enclosed a full length picture of herself. Seeking a new conquest to relieve his boredom, Terry had wired her he would come to Chesterton next day to pick her up.
"Let's not talk about myself, Miss Clark. I know something that is much more interesting ... yourself. Tell me something about yourself."
"Why, there's really nothing to tell about myself. I'm just an ordinary girl. I'm twenty-two and...."
"Married?"
"Of course not." She laughed. "I've been through high school. Had a little business experience. I can take dictation, can type and know a bit about bookkeeping. So...."
'Why, that's excellent. I've been really needing a secretary."
His powerful car had left Chesterton and was devouring the miles at an eighty-mile clip. Already Amanda was succumbing to Terry's charm. He was polite, accommodating and possessed a magnetic charming personality. He wore a friendly smile on his face.
Amanda had already settled his inevitable question of where she was from. By indicating that Chesterton was her home she had parried it neatly. She wasn't from Chesterton. She was from a small town in Arizona. But she didn't intend for that to be known. Also she didn't intend for Little Ricco to know where she was.
"What kind of town is Oakville?" We think it's the best town in Wisconsin. But of course some other Wisconsin towns would argue that point. Oak County is a farming county and Oakville is fast becoming an industrial city. We have several plants and our Chamber of Commerce ... I'm a former chairman ... is working to acquire more. We have a dandy country club ... do you play tennis, Miss Clark?"
"Goodness, no." She laughed merrily at the idea. "Well, we have dances arid cocktail parties. Lots of get-together affairs where wives and sweethearts can join in. Do you play canasta?"
"Oh yes. But I'm no expert."
"Zelda will be glad to hear that. She heads the canasta club and I mean she really heads it. In fact she's the queen and the other members are her subjects. But why shouldn't they be? She wines and dines them like she was the Queen of India. Why once she chartered two planes and took the entire club to Chicago to see a show. She had a plane trip planned to Viet Nam but the government knocked that in the head."
They chatted lightly as the miles flew by.
When they hit the Oak County line Terry waved his hand airily. "Just look, Miss Clark. The grass is now greener, the trees higher and the birds chirp louder. The sun shines brighter and the moon weeps when it has to pass on over Oak County. The only suicides we've ever had in Oak County were persons who were being forced to leave the county. Even the dirt has a sweet taste in Oak County."
"My, my, Mr. Corren, I can't see why they let you quit as Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce," Amanda said laughing.
"You see, Miss Clark ... you started laughing the minute you crossed the Oak County line."
And so it went. But she wondered why he never mentioned business. Few managers could go along without talking shop. But he seemed to think the store was unimportant. Not worth talking about.
The car went over the brow of a long hill. Nestled together in a pretty valley, green and fragrant ... the time was early June ... she saw a collection of buildings. As they came close she noticed rows of cabins behind several of the buildings. Neon signs enveloped the taverns like coiled serpents.
He pulled off the highway, stopped beside a big two-story tavern. Although the neons were dark she was able to spell out Bunny Den.
"I rarely ever stop here, Miss Clark, but the Bunny Den can make a great cocktail. Come on. We'll step inside and toss one down."
He led her into the Bunny Den, not telling her they were in Vice Town. This was five miles west of Oakville, a collection of honky tonks, taverns, cabins, dance halls and gambling rooms. Liquor, women and gambling were the stocks for sale.
The Bunny Den was the largest and most pretentious in Vice Town. It had a large dance floor with raised platform at the back for mlusicians. There was a long, polished bar. Stools with cushions and back rests. Booths lined the wall opposite the bar. There were juke boxes, slot machines and dice and poker rooms at the rear. Behind was a long row of modern cabins with plumbing and private baths where couples went to knock off a piece.
Terry led her to a booth. The waiter came to the booth.
"Two martinis, Carl," Terry said. Carl looked uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Corren, but I can't serve them here. The Marshal has put the heat on. The church people got on him and we got to lay low for a few days. Can't even serve them in your car. If you two had a cabin I can serve all the drinks you like."
Terry's smile evaporated, he said angrily, "Certainly I won't take her to a cabin."
"Sure, sure, Mr. Corren. I apologize. But you got me wrong. I meant you could rent a cabin, leave the door wide open and drink your martinis. That way we can serve you drinks without putting the Marshal on the prod."
"Well ... I don't know," Terry said doubtfully, rubbing chin with hand. "It's okay with me but I doubt if Miss Clark would...."
"It's quite all right, Mr. Corren. As the waiter says, there can be no harm with the cabin door open."
Terry smiled his pleasure. "You're a real sport, Miss Clark. Not a prude. I'm glad you see it that way. Carl, fix us two of the best drinks you ever put together. Come on, Miss Clark."
"Any special cabin sir?"
"No, no. Any cabin will do."
The waiter led them back to cabin five, unlocked it and left the door open. Terry pulled two chairs up near the open door and he and the girl sat down.
Carl came back with drinks on a platter. He handed one to the girl, one to Corren. He asked Corren if that was all.
"I'll ring if we need you, Carl."
The waiter left and Terry got out cigarettes, gave Amanda one and they lit up. Terry sampled his drink, looked at his watch. "I suggest, Miss Clark, that we put these down fast. I don't like to expose you to any gosspi whatever. So let's drink fast and get out of here."
Terry had been warned not to put over one ounce of the stuff in the girl's drink. He knew the drink bore but the one ounce. He was wondering just how potent it would be. "Drink yours, Miss Clark, and we'll be on our way."
CHAPTER TWO
Amanda wondered what was coming over her. When Terry had stepped over to her, taken her into his arms and kissed her, she'd not only responded to the kiss but had strained her body against him fiercely. Strange thrills and hot spasmodic tingles swept over her. When their lips went together again her warm, darting tongue went between his teeth. She moaned low in her throat. For the first time in her life she wanted to get laid desperately.
"I think we better shut the door," Terry said softly.
Releasing her he shut the door and bolted it.
She was looking at him with eyes stirred with passion. He was the Prince Charming she'd dreamed of. Handsome, compellingly masculine and charming. He took her in his arms again and her arms went about him. "Oh, oh, Mr. Corren," she moaned lowly. His hot lips crushed on her mouth, shutting off further words.
Gently he undid her blouse. As his hand uncupped one breast, stroked the luscious globe, she trembled, hardly able to control her hot passion. His thumb stroked the nipple and it responded rigidly.
Gasping, trembling with passion, she strained her thighs against his loins. Terry was fierce with lust for this woman. Never in his life had he seen a girl get so hot and homey. He began to wonder if one ounce had been too hot a load. He had meant to undress the girl, get her in bed. Now he began to doubt whether his own manhood would permit him to delay that long.
The girl was actually trying to rape him.
Putting his left arm under her knees and his right arm about her back, he lifted her, carried her to the bed. He placed her on the bed on her back. She wouldn't turn him loose. But with moans of hot desire she pulled his head down to her swelling breasts, his face between them. Her loins pressed fiercely against him.
Forcing himself upward he kicked off his pants.
Her clutching arms grabbed him. She pulled him down on her but he twisted to one side. His hand went up under her dress. "Wait ... wait, please," he grunted as she was pulling his head down to her breasts again. "Let's take your dress off. Please, wait a moment."
"Mr. Corren, Mr. Corren screw me, bang me, lay me!" She moaned deep in her throat.
Terry gave a mighty tug, ripped the undie apart like paper.
He was wondering if ever again he'd run across a girl who wanted to screw so badly. Terry knew that women were slower sexually than men. He knew most women liked the gentle, considerate love play. Loved for men to play over their bodies like fingers over the keys of a piano. Women wanted love not lust. But this girl had almost raped him before he could get his pants down.
Then he was in her.
She uttered little animal cries of delight. Their twisting, sweating bodies went into the undulating motions of love.
She was overwhelmed with hot, excitable raptures of an ecstasy she'd never dreamed of. All other worldly thoughts and cares vanished. This wonderful man was dealing out pleasure no other girl had ever experienced. He was letting her sample a bit of joy only paradise had to offer.
As Terry relaxed in a strange calm of peace and contentment, she continued to pump him, she held tightly with arms and legs as if she feared to lose this creature who had raised her from frustrations of every day life to a seventh or eighth heaven. Not minding at all, he lay where he was. He wasn't such a big man ... He weighed one hundred eighty ... so knew he wasn't crushing her. Amanda finally got off the nut too, but her desire wasn't over yet.
Terry finally relieved her of his weight, lay on his side. She moved into his embrace and they lay entwined together. He offered no words. Presently the relaxation, the softness of his companion and appeasement of his lust made him drowsy. He napped.
The girl awakened him. Again she was straining fiercely to him. Her soft and delectable legs next to his face. Terry put his lips on the mark between her legs. Her hot tongue went over his manhood. His hand went exploring. Again she felt that passion surging up strongly within her soft flesh. She moaned lowly in her throat.
Their love match this time wasn't as fierce as the first but it was so delightful.
Amanda came much faster this time.
Finally he released himself from her legs. He arose and dressed. When he turned he was startled to see tears in her eyes.
He went to her quickly.
"It wasn't your fault. It was all mine. You simply overcame me. After all I'm a man."
She bowed her head down and sobbed quietly.
"Come, Miss Clark, we must be on our way before we are seen here. You must not worry about this. I shall forget it and I advise you to do the same."
"Forget it?" she said sobbingly. "How can I ever forget such a fantastic jazzing?"
He put his arm about her to comfort her. The next moment she was in his arms again. He held her close, stroking her silky hair, letting her tears drop on his shoulder. He wondered if he hadn't better let her regain some self control before he took her away. She wasn't quite herself as yet.
"I think I had better go back to Chesterton. Will you drive me back?"
"Come now, Miss Clark. Get hold of yourself. If you did go back to Chesterton you couldn't run away from what happened. You have a good job waiting for you. Why cheat your future? No one will ever k we screwed each other. I am sorry as can be. I beg of you, don't go back. Give me a chance to make it all up to you. Please."
S-he finally agreed to stay.
It was past noon. Deciding she now had control of her emotions, Terry helped her into his car and drove toward Oakville.
When they entered the city limits he said, "This is Hiram Street. It runs east to west. The western end
... into which we are entering ... used to be the main part of town. You can see the depot over there. But the eastern end through which the new highway runs built up fast. My father was quick to sense the transition. He bought the choice site on Pitcairn Blvd. and built the present Corren store. Pitcairn is the main business street. Both the Pilot and the Willard department stores are in Pitcairn. This old part of town is now run down. Cheap diners, booze joints, and pool rooms."
He turned into pitcairn Street.
"Now you can see the difference, Miss Clark. I'm hungry. Are you?"
"Yes, Mr. Corren, I am."
"Then we'll have lunch."
He parked and led her into the Deluxe Cafe.
The Deluxe was a long, narrow eating place with counter and booths. As he led her back toward a vacant booth at the back, four men seated in a front booth stopped eating to eye the girl.
"Wonder where Terry got that new piece of ass," one man said, chuckling. "She's a new one on me. Never saw her before."
A pudgy man with unshaven face said, "Hell, she ain't half as hot looking as Terry's wife. If Terry wants to put all his time on this broad I'd shore like to take his place with that wife of his."
"You guys are barking up the wrong tree," snorted the fourth man. "Ain't you never seen that new little piece that works at Corren's? No? Well, I'll tell you something. When she walks up the street shaking them titties at you and trying to keep that purty ass from splitting her tight dress ..Wow, a man has almost got to shut his eyes to keep from grabbing her and raping her right on the street. Name's De John I think."
Terry was glad to see that the girl hadn't lost her appetite. Like a man, he was already thinking of the next time. She'd been a wild one in the cabin. A bouncing, twisting wild lay that he meant to sample again.
To escape the traffic he drove into a side street and came into the Corren parking lot from the rear.
When he led her into the big store the personnel tried to be tactful and not stare. That is until she'd passed. Then she got the once-over by the females and the twice-over by the males.
Corren Senior was in conference in his office so Terry led her into his own office.
Terry pushed out a chair and Amanda sat down.
He busied himself with the mad on his desk.
Amanda heard the office door open, turned her head to see a lanky man with thinning gray hair, rather large nose and expressive brown eyes. He was dressed meticulously in an expensive suit. Terry introduced her to his father.
"Dad, you were away at the time and I read her letter asking for the job, took it on myself to drive to Chesterton and bring her back. I hope you didn't mind."
"On the contrary I want to congratulate you on your good taste and foresight. It would have been a dire calamity had the Corren store lost such a charming and ... I am sure ... valuable addition."
"Thank you, Mr. Corren," Amanda said, smiling gratefully. "I shall try my best to five up to your expectations of me."
"Miss Clark, have you ever had any experience in merchandising?"
"Why ... some. I did work as an assistant to a buyer and helped some with the advertising."
"Good. You see, the position I had in mind for you was to replace Miss Crimp as assistant to Mr. Jonas."
She looked quite blank and Terry chuckled.
"Reuben Jonas is the store's buyer and advertising manager," he said. "Mss Crimp was his assistant. She left to get married. I didn't know Dad had that job in view for you. I'm disappointed. I had you tagged for my secretary."
"Mr. Jonas is out this afternoon," Terry Corren said. "Let me see now. Have you found a place to live, Miss Clark?"
"No sir, not yet."
"The Dorian House would be suitable," Terry said. "It's not far from the store and I doubt if there is a more respectable rooming house in Oakville. It's run by Stella Dorian, a widow. Shall I call her for you?"
"Yes, please do."
"Terry, suppose you take Miss Clark to her new home," Terry Corren Sr. said. "We open at nine in the morning, Miss Clark."
Amanda liked the looks of the big, two-story, white house. She found it was furnished comfortably. Stella Dorian, a dumpy woman in her fifties, gave her an upstairs back room. Terry carried her bags up. He noted there was a back stairway and that her room was next to the stairway. He wondered if there was any reason why he couldn't ... some time soon ... slip up that back stairway some night and get in bed with her. He filed a mental note in his mind to procure a key for that door.
When Terry had gone Amanda undressed in her room, put on her robe and went into the bathroom for a shower.
Back in her room she threw aside the robe, stood and studied her white, soft figure, turning and twisting to see it from all angles. She looked just the same as ever. But she knew she wasn't. No longer was she a virgin. She caught herself wondering if any other girl had ever ran away from her husband on her wedding night and, a few days later, given herself to another man she'd never seen before. Even yet she couldn't understand what had come over her.
But whatever it was it sure had been over powering. When he first entered her she felt a flash of pain, but after that it was all pleasure.
She brought her breasts up and cupped them in her hands. What was there about women's breasts that made men so crazy about them? She wondered.
She placed a finger over her nipple and began to roll it around. It sprang to life immediately.
She dropped the robe off of her shoulders and began to rub her hand over her belly ... down her thighs ... around to her buttocks and back to her belly again. At the same time she continued rubbing and tweaking her nipples with her other hand.
She was hot and ready. Her mind was lost in the well of ecstatic memories of her first real sexual experience with Terry.
She looked at her twitching body in the mirror. She pushed her hips forward and watched her hand move down her belly and cup herself between her legs. Then she inserted her finger and went wild.
She imagined that Terry was with her and in place of her finger was his tongue. Then she began to talk out loud.
"No more tongue, Terry," she said aloud to herself. "No more tongue. Now ... give me the real thing now!"
She didn't realize it, but she was shouting at the top of her voice.
"In the front, ... now the back ... more tongue ... more tongue ... I'm coming, coming, coming, coming, cooommmiiiiinnnnngggg!"
She dropped to the floor on her back and twisted and jerked violently against her finger until the final ecstasy passed and she lay there exhausted.
She rolled her head over and looked at herself in the mirror. She smiled at herself.
That was great, she thought to herself. She remembered all the times in the past when she had worked herself off with her own finger and it had never been as good as it had been just now. She knew the reason why, though. In the past she had never had the real thing. Since Terry had screwed her she had something to work up to.
A knock on her door. She jumped to her feet, grabbed her robe, put it on. "Come in."
The landlady came in and said, "I just wanted to see if everything was all right, Miss Clark."
"Wont' you sit down."
Stella Dorian was a woman who liked to talk. She'd just heard ... by telephone ... that Terry Corren had brought the new girl from Chesterton. "Terry Corren is such a nice boy," she said pleasantly. "He's so polite and considerate. But ... how he does spend money. You'd think he had a plantation full of money-growing trees." She stopped to laugh. "He's nearly broke his father. Why, Terry lost one hundred thousand dollars in some sort of Oklahoma oil well venture. I don't know just how it was. Then some swindlers fleeced him out of fifty-five thousand dollars in a real estate fraud. He's such an easy touch. I hear he went to Chesterton after you, Miss Clark?"
"Yes he did." Amanda wondered how she had heard so quickly.
"There were four children in the Corren family," she carried on. "Two sons and two daughters. Terry's older brother was killed in Korea. He was two older sisters still living. Both married with families. One lives in New Jersey and the other in Oregon. Terry's mother died several years ago." She shook her head and sighed. "Terry tears down what his father builds up. Salesmen like to catch Terry in the store when his father is out. They can sell Terry just about anything." Amanda made no reply.
The landlady talked on. She threw out hints time and again for Amanda to tell about herself. But Amanda didn't take the bait.
"When Terry married Zelda his father thought it would make a man of him," the landlady went on. "But he might as well have expected broken glass to turn to diamonds. If you ask me I think Zelda spends more money than Terry. She's so pretty too. But just like Terry all she thinks of is a good time. Those cocktail parties she holds. And bridge gatherings. But you'll like Zelda Corren. Everybody does."
The landlady finally talked herself out and left.
Amanda went to a movie that evening. She went to bed early, and went through the whole routine with her finger again. When she finished, she couldn't help but think that no matter how good it was, it was better with a man.
CHAPTER THREE
She was up bright and early the next morning. She was in the shower washing and fingering herself and wondering how long it would be before she had the real thing again.
She toweled herself dry, dressed and made her way to the store.
Reuben Jonas looked up from his desk. He saw Corren Senior and a girl who was something to look at.
"Reuben, this is your new assistant, Amanda Clark," Corren said. When they were officially introduced he left the office. Amanda liked what she saw.
"Know anything about advertising, Miss Clark? Wait ... you needn't answer. It'd be too much to expect."
"But I do, Mr. Jonas. I had a little experience. I'm willing to work and learn."
"That, Miss Clark, is worth a year's experience." He got out cigarettes, passed her one. She wondered how old he was. About 25, she decided. He stood there studying a layout a few moments. "Miss Clark, will you please go see Mrs. Jiles at the better dress department and check these prices for me." He gave her a paper with a list of prices."
"Certainly, Mr. Jonas."
Mrs. Tobi Jiles was one of the oldest employees. She checked the prices. As Amanda was making her way back to the office she saw a pretty red head looking at her with a peculiar expression on her face. The girl was one of the prettiest redheads Amanda had ever seen. She looked to be about twenty one, her flaunting breasts strained at the tight confines. She had a doll-like face, round and flawless complexion. She wore her hair in cascading beauty shop waves.
"Who is the pretty little redhead in the lingerie department?" she asked Jonas.
"Oh, that must be Judy Dejohn. When you say she's pretty you didn't open your mouth wide enough."
When noon came he was still busy and told her to knock off for lunch. "I'll work on a few minutes."
Amanda left the office for her lunch. She was in a restaurant before she noticed she'd forgotten her bag.
She was at the door of the advertising office when she heard a woman's voice inside say, "Reuben, darling, you may pick me up at eight tonight at the old barn behind our place, Terry is going to the Kiwan's Club. But we'll have to be back before eleven."
"Okay, Zelda ... "Amanda heard the sounds of a passionate kiss.
She had her hand raised to rap on the door when she heard the woman's voice, "Who's the new girl, darling? Terry said he hired her to be your assistant."
"A Miss Clark from Chesterton."
"Is she pretty?"
"As a matter-of-fact she is."
"I'm becoming jealous already. Describe her."
"Oh, she's a gorgeous strawberry blond, a lot prettier than my last helper."
Amanda rapped on the door and Jonas said, "Come in."
Amanda entered, saw a slim, modishly dressed girl. She had the figure of a model. Her eyes were beautiful. She looked at Amanda, smiled a friendly smile that Amanda instantly liked.
"Miss Clark, I want you to meet Mrs. Terry Corren," Jonas said briskly.
"I forgot my bag," Amanda said after the introduction. "Stupid of me." She picked it up, turned to go.
"Miss Clark, you must take dinner with me," Zelda Corren said, smiling at Amanda. "What about tomorrow? I'll take you to lunch? Okay?"
"Why yes, Mrs. Corren...."
"Call me Zelda. You make me feel like an old woman."
"Very well, Zelda." Amanda couldn't remember meeting a girl she'd been attracted to as quickly. "My first name is Amanda."
"I'll pick you up here at noon tomorrow."
As Amanda was leaving the store the redhead from the lingerie department fell in step with her. "Do you mind if I go with you? I'm Judy Dejohn."
"Certainly not. I'm Amanda Clark. Where is a good place to lunch?"
"In the next block. Good food and good cooking."
They had to wait a minute or two for a booth. When they'd given their orders Judy surprised Amanda by saying, "What do you think of Terry?"
As Amanda was hesitant the girl added, "He went to Chesterton and drove you back, didn't he?"
"Yes, he did."
"Did he make any passes at you?"
Amanda looked so surprised that Judy laughed.
"What do you mean?" Amanda asked innocently.
"Dearie, he's got a stiff rod for every good-looking girl he sees. Of course, he had never seen you before. You must have sent in your picture. Did you?"
"Yes," Amanda admitted.
Judy abruptly changed the subject.
"You ran into something when you came back after your bag, didn't you?"
Amanda wondered if this girl ever missed anything. How did she know Amanda had forgotten her bag? Perhaps she was merely a close observer. Maybe she'd seen Amanda come back in without her bag, go back out with it.
"You needn't play innocent," Judy said, smiling. T saw Zelda Corren go back to Reuben Jonas' office. I've seen other things too. I saw her and Reuben come out a cabin one morning. I happen to know that Terry was away from home that night. But who can blame Zelda. She must know Terry is stepping out on her. Maybe she got fed up with it and decided to give him some of his own medicine. But Reuben should be ashamed of himself. After all, Terry gave him the job.
Amanda couldn't quite figure Judy Dejohn out. Why had she chosen to tell all this to a girl she hadn't even known until a few minutes ago? Was she a female agitator who liked to cause trouble? Whatever it was Amanda had no intention of contributing to it. She decided she'd listen, and say nothing. She decided to make a shot of her own.
"How did you happen to see Mr. Jonas and Mrs. Corren coming out of a cabin?" she asked innocently, tampering her dart with a smile to blunt its point.
Judy looked startled, also a bit sheepish.
"You're clever," she said, forcing a smile of her own. "But since I'm not on the witness stand I refuse to answer for fear of embarrassing myself and contributing to the delinquency of an adult."
But Amanda wasn't through. "You said Mr. Corren was away from home that night but you didn't say where he was. Was he out of town?"
Judy laughed, put her hand over and patted Amanda's hand. "I cannot answer until I check with my lawyer."
Back at the .store Amanda found Reuben Jonas had not returned from his lunch. She looked over files, studying past ads of the store as well as rival ads. As far as she could see ... All three stores were advertising extensively. She was still looking back over the files when Reuben came in.
"I'm glad to see you studying those files, Mss Clark. Look, have you noticed anything unusual about ads of the three department stores?"
"Yes. I noticed that the Willard store nearly always has the lowest prices in their ads." She gave Jonas an odd look. "Do you suppose the paper leaks prices to them?"
"No," Jonas said, shaking his head. "No newspaper would do that. They have too strict ethics. They'd fire any employee caught doing it."
"Then who's doing it?"
"I don't know. I've tried to find out but no dice."
Amanda said nothing. Jonas studied her a few moments, said, "Miss Clark, I don't know whether you know it or not but this store is headed for the rocks. If it wasn't for Terry Corren Senior and the excellent standing he has with backers it would already be sunk. Terry Corren is the main reason. He hasn't any more business sense than a rabbit. Did you know that the Willard Store has been trying to buy us out?"
"No I didn't. Who runs the Willard store?"
"Jason Willard. He's the type man who shakes hands with you and stabs you in the back. He's unscrupulous, and as phony as a three dollar bill. But he's smooth talking and can persuade a stranger that he's the most honest man in the world."
"Why does he want the Corren store?"
He lit a cigarette, went to work on a layout he had practically finished. When he finished it he asked Amanda to take it to the newspaper office. She looked at the prices, was thoughtful a few moments.
"Anything wrong with it?" asked Jonas.
"Do you leave your layouts on your desk when you go out?" she asked.
"No. I take it to Mr. Corren's office to be checked. Why?"
"Oh, I thought maybe someone might be sneaking into your office and copying prices for Willard." Jonas grinned, gave her a patronizing look. "Look, Mr. Jonas, how...."
"How long are you going to keep on calling Mister Jonas."
"Well you're my boss."
"All right. Since I'm your boss I'm giving you a command. Start calling me Reuben ... except when others are around. Then you may call me Mister Jonas just for the sake of propriety."
She knew she was becoming fond of Reuben. His little mannerism of widening his eyes when she came into his sight, entranced her. The softness she could see in his eyes when he talked to her. His eager attention to every word she'd utter. She liked everything about him. She liked his looks. She liked the way he dressed.
"Hey, hey, what're you day-dreaming about? Somebody you left at home?"
"Heavens no! I was just filing a mental note to thank a kind fate who took me by the hand and led me to such a nice boss."
For a moment she thought he was going to kiss her. he wanted to. She read all the signs. But just at that moment his office door opened. Judy Dejohn opened it, looked at them. "Oh, excuse me. Didn't mean to interrupt."
"You're not interrupting, Judy. What's on your mind?"
"Oh, I had something to tell you but it'll keep. See you later."
She went out and Amanda asked, "How long has she been employed here?"
"Oh, several months. Don't know exactly. "Where is she from?"
"Damned if I know."
As she was leaving the store with the layout, she ran into Terry Corren. He bowed politely, said in that engaging manner he had, "I keep hearing good things about you, Miss Clark. I think you're going to be valuable here."
She thanked him, carried the layout to the newspaper office.
It started raining about quitting time and was still raining when Amanda went to bed. Like most other people Amanda found getting up in the morning one of the hardest things she had to do.
By the time she reported for work the rain was over and the bright hot sun again held away. It seemed that the cool morning had spurred shoppers into coming to town. Anyway the store was crowded. It was particularly pleasing to Terry Corren. The store needed some big days badly.
Noon arrived and so did Zelda Corren.
"Come along, Amanda. Well go to the hotel dining room."
"Won't it be expensive?"
"Who cares? You're my guest. Are you ready?"
"Yes."
They found a table in a far corner. A small orchestra played for the guests. Zelda made her order the most expensive dinner.
When they were busy with their food and the orchestra was taking a rest, Zelda surprised her by saying, "I want you to go with Terry and I for a week-end outing in the country. We have a cabin in the wilds on the shores of a lake. Terry had sand hauled in to make beaches. You'll love it"
Amanda wondered why they wanted her along. Was Terry behind the idea? Was he planning to ... She would never get over the shame. She wondered what Zelda would say if she knew.
"I ... why, I appreciate the invitation but...."
Zelda laughed said, "I know what you're thinking. Why three people? You haven't heard it all Reuben Jonas will be along. Today is Friday. We'll leave tomorrow afternoon. Better pack up some old clothes."
"I'm sorry but I must decline. I hate to be a party pooper but...."
"Get off the high horse. If we didn't want you I wouldn't have asked you, Amanda. I refuse to let you off. I insist that you go along. If you don't ... well, I'll ask Judy Dejohn in your place."
"Since you insist, I'll go."
"That's better. We'll take plenty of food. The cabin has a stove. No electricity but we have kerosine lamps and water is piped into the cabin by gravity."
"What about the sleeping arrangements?"
Zelda smiled and said, "Two bedrooms. Since you and Reuben can't sleep together, you and I will sleep together and let Terry and Reuben have the other room."
"Well take a transister radio," Zelda went on. "So we won't be completely cut off from the outside world. Maybe well find some dance music on it. Terry doesn't care about canasta and neither does Reuben."
Amanda wondered how she knew so much about Reuben.
But the thing that really bothered her most was the hot, burning feeling that suddenly rushed to the spot between her legs.
CHAPTER FOUR
Amanda stayed awake half the night giving herself the works with her finger. She was trying to satisfy the constant yearning for a man between her legs, that plagued her since Terry had popped her cherry.
But it was to no avail. She was still hot and bothered as Terry's big station wagon, loaded with food, drinks and other things, pulled up before the cabin. There was no road only a fair weather trail. In wet weather the wagon could never have made it. Amanda's eyes opened, she almost held her breath as she gazed at the majestic scenery. The cabin had been built of logs. She saw a chimney built of natural stone at one end.
"Oh, it's beautiful," she said enthusiastically. "Simply gorgeous. But where's the lake?"
"Behind the trees," Terry told her.
"I'm hungry already," Reuben said grinning.
"Just like a man," Zelda said. "All he thinks about is eating."
"Eating what? Terry asked, his eyes on Amanda. All worked to unload the car.
Terry and Reuben got axes went to work cutting fire wood. When the fire was hot the two girls went about cooking supper. Terry mixed four drinks. Amanda only drank to be sociable. She caught Terry's gaze on her knockers, felt her cheeks burning and a flame scorching between her legs.
By the time supper was over it was almost dark. They had another round of drinks, the tried the radio. It came in fairly good but not good enough to enjoy. Terry suggested they take a swim in the lake.
"Oh," gasped Amanda, as Reuben glanced at her. "You mean nude?"
"Remember it'll be dark," Terry said grinning.
Zelda laughed. "It's getting darker. If we don't hurry we won't be able to find the lake. Come on. Grab a towel or two. And a blanket We may want to sleep on the sand."
As Reuben led her toward the lake, Amanda was beginning to wonder about this outing. Why had she had Reuben been invited? True, Zelda had apparently taken a liking to her. But what about Reuben? If Zelda had it planned to pair herself off with Reuben, what about Terry? Did he have plans to pair himself off with Amanda? She found herself wishing she hadn't let Zelda prod her into coming. She wondered if Zelda had meant it when she threatened to invite Judy Dejohn.
At the lake Terry lit a cigarette.
There came a minutes silence as all four began undressing. "I hired a new girl this morning," Terry said. "I forgot to tell you folks."
"I'll bet she's pretty," Zelda said. "What's her name?"
"Rita something or other. Pretty but not as pretty as you and Amanda."
Amanda was glad it was dark and the moon was riding behind a cloudy sky. She stripped and folded her clothing on the blanket she'd brought. A hand groped for her hand. She wondered if it was Reuben or Terry. She didn't know. Without a word he led her down to the water's edge. She put her foot in to test the water.
"Ooh! It's cold," she gasped, jerking her foot out.
The man laughed and she knew it was Terry.
"You won't mind when you get used to it, Amanda Can you swim?"
"Oh yes, I'm a good swimmer."
"Come on." She followed him to lead her into the water. Holding her breath she plunged in. They swam across the lake and back. She heard no signs of Zelda and Reuben. Terry led her to shallow water. "Not cold now, is it?" he asked.
"No."
"Let's swim across and back. No racing. Just take our time."
They made the swim again, side by side. Amanda kept wondering about Zelda and Reuben. Where were they? Where had they gone? They weren't in the lake. She would have heard them. Reuben picked up his pants, took a flask from the pocket.
"I mixed us a couple of drinks, Amanda. It'll stimulate us." She could barely distinguish him in the darkness. He smacked his lips. "It's good. Here ... take a sip."
She let some gurgle down her throat.
"I'd like to smoke," he said. "Look, why can't we sit back-to-back and smoke a cigarette? That way neither of us will see anything we're not supposed to see."
"Okay," Amanda said, laughing.
They sat back-to-back and smoked their cigarettes. The drink was warming Amanda up to a reckless mood. She felt as if her skin was glowing. Her blood seemed to be leaping through her veins with a spasmodic fire.
She wondered if the drink had been spiked with a strong liquor. She felt in the mood to really get laid.
Terry turned, caught her in his arms and the next moment was kissing her. She tensed. But because of the emotional fire sweeping through her veins she didn't shove him away. She wasn't alight with passion as she'd been in the cabin but she was a naked girl in the arms of a naked man. As his hand went to her swelling breast and encircled the luscious globe she held her breath and strained her body to his. His thumb softly and gently rubbed the nipple and the man grinned as he felt the nipple's rigidity.
For a few brief moments Amanda came to her senses.
"No. You mustn't. Please let me go," she said, but there was no compelling tone to her voice and the struggle she made to get loose was feeble. "Don't do that...." For his hand had slipped downward. On down below her soft rounded stomach.
He tore his lips from her soft, warm mouth. She felt his hot mouth on her breast.
She gasped and tensed. As he pressed her down on the sand she ceased struggling. Wild, craving emotions were ahold of her body. She remembered the exciting jazzing in the cabin.
She uttered a little moaning sigh as she felt him against her soft flesh.
Her veins seemed about to burst with the hot spasmodic flames of love shooting through them. No longer was she in the old commonplace world. Now she was being wafted gently and lovingly through a roseate heaven of pink clouds. She could hear the soft tinkling of temple bells. A sensation of supreme joy and happiness overwhelmed her.
She moaned low in her throat. Her arms went about him, she pulled him to her fiercely. Uttering little animal cries of delight she clasped her arms about his body. He was in her and it was much better than her finger.
Later they lay there motionless on the warm sand, hearing nothing except the fast breathing of two supremely happy humans and the still fast beating of two hearts.
He rolled off, lay in the sand beside her. "How about another cigarette?"
"Sounds good. You mean back-to-back?"
Terry chuckled.
"Okay."
He lit a cigarette, put it in her mouth. He lit one for himself. They smoked silently a few long moments.
"I wonder where' Zelda and Reuben are?" she asked idly.
"No telling. Off in the darkness somewhere."
She was amazed at the utter indifference he displayed. His wife was off in the darkness with another man and both were naked. Yet the husband seemed utterly indifferent. Amanda wondered why. Did he no longer love Zelda? Were they legally married and spiritually separated? Were their financial interests compatible but their bodily interests sated and bored? Both were still young. They seemed to respect each other. In public anyway.
All of a sudden the moon broke through the clouds. Terry laughed as she frantically pulled on her clothes. By the time she was clothed the moon was again hidden behind thicker clouds.
"You see," Terry said, laughing. "All the moon wanted was a glimpse of your lovely body. How white you are in the moonlight."
"Hi, there! What're you two doing?" It was Reuben's voice.
"Waiting for you and Zelda," shouted Terry. "Where are you anyway?"
"Up here nearer the cabin. Come on up."
Terry fumbled in the darkness for his clothing. He put on his pants and shirts. Remembering that the sand didn't extend to the cabin, he put his shoes on. Using the flashlight he had in his pants he led Amanda toward the voice.
"Terry? Put out that light," screamed Zelda frantically. "We don't have our clothes on. Turn it off." Terry obliged, chuckling.
He led Amanda past them in the darkness. "We're going in the house. You two dress and come in. The damned bugs are beginning on me. We'll try and stir up something in the house."
Now that the drink was wearing off, Amanda was trying to figure out what had caused her action. She had reached a fulfillment of emotional ecstasy that made her still tingle with excitement. She was not remorseful about it. Nor shamed. Maybe she would be later but not yet. The sweet memory of the happy event was too fresh. What had come over her anyway? Was she just realizing what joys life had in store for her?
Reaching the cottage they went in.
Reuben and Zelda soon followed. They had a round of drinks, turned the radio on. Unable to find any dance music they cut it off. Zelda after a doubtful glance at Terry, suggested canasta. Terry countered with a suggestion they play strip poker. The two girls voted it down.
"I've invented a new game anyway," Terry said slyly, winking at Reuben.
"Yes? What is it?" Zelda asked suspiciously.
"It's the braile game," Terry said solemnly.
"How does it work?" asked Amanda.
"First we draw numbers, one to four. Then each of us blindfolds ourself tightly and securely. Then we strip."
"Oh no," objected Zelda. "It was bad enough in the total darkness. You mean we put out the lights before we strip."
"No, no. The blindfolds take care of that. It's called the braile game because only the touch system is used. The person holding number one feels a girl ... names her. If he is right he wins as his reward his right to remove his blindfold. If number one is a lady she feels a man. If she names him she wins the right to remove her blindfold. Then it starts all over."
"Yes, but what if the person misses his guess?" asked Zelda, giggling.
"Number two takes over. Shall we play it?"
There was silence with all looking at each other.
They drew numbers and Reuben drew number one. This seemed to please Zelda though she said nothing. There was laughing and snickering as they put on the blindfolds. Rustling of cloth as all stripped. Finally, with blindfolds on tightly and all nude, Reuben groped his way for a girl.
Amanda felt his hand on her arm. She held her breath tensely as his hand went to her thigh, slid on upward to her stomach. He felt her back and her buttocks. He seemed to taking his time as if he were puzzled.
His softly groping hand went to her breasts and now she was sure he could tell the difference there. She tensed excitedly as his warm and soft hand caressed her luscious breasts. He felt her nose, mouth and finally her hair. He left that to feel all over her body again and Amanda knew he was doing it to enjoy it. Finally his finger went between her legs and inside her. That was play dirt. Amanda having only been laid twice was tighter than Zelda.
"It's Amanda," he said, chuckling.
She felt her cheeks burning, heard Terry and Zelda laugh. "You get just thirty seconds to keep your blindfold off, Reuben," Terry said.
When it was over, the game started all over again. Zelda had drawn number two. As luck had it she got hold of Terry. Amanda didn't know where she felt but it didn't take her long to name her husband.
They played the game until they tired of it. Terry proposed another nude swim but this time the girls voted against it.
As they sat chatting and drinking Amanda was a little puzzled about Zelda. She was friendly enough with her husband but there was missing the little mannerisms, glances and loving words a wife in love has for her husband. But when Zelda spoke to Reuben, looked at him or listened to him it was a different story. A stranger who had just dropped in would have surely picked Reuben and Zelda as husband and wife, Amanda decided.
Terry had met Zelda in Chicago, been bowled over by her and married her the same night, Amanda had been told. The two had never seen each other before. Zelda had a boy friend in Chicago who was a struggling young private eye. The man was Reuben Jonas. Zelda had prevailed on Terry to hire Reuben as his store advertising director. Now Amanda was wondering about it. Had Zelda been in love with Reuben? Had she turned him down for Terry's money? Had her conscience hurt her so that she had made Terry give her former flame the store job?
"Wake up, Amanda," Zelda said, laughing. "What was the dream about?"
"I was just telling myself what nice company I picked," Amanda said, smiling brightly. "And wondering why you perfectly wonderful people picked a nobody like me to come with you."
"Correction, please," Terry said quickly. "It's the other way around."
Amanda smiled. Terry was a likable fellow. He was jolly, cheerful and full of humor. But he didn't have a bit of business sense, Judy Dejohn had told her. According to her, what he needed was a private mint to keep him in spending money. Judging from several hints Judy had thrown out, Terry had spent a good deal on her. Amanda wondered what kind of liason there was between the two. Judy had thrown out probes several times trying to find out whether Terry had made any passes at Amanda.
"Amanda, are you going to Chesterton on Independence Day to see your folks?" asked Zelda casually.
"I don't think so," Amanda said, hoping that would end it. She'd been dreading such a question. So far no one had asked her questions. Everyone had merely assumed that Chesterton was her home. She wondered what Zelda would say if she knew Amanda had fled from her husband on her wedding night. "You see I haven't been away from home long."
"Zelda is homesick for Chicago," Terry said, grinning. "She's hoping the World Series will be played there this fall so I can take her with me."
Zelda looked at her watch which said it was ten o'clock. "Look, I know Terry planned this safari with the idea of staying here tonight and driving back home in the morning. But that means we'd have to get up in the morning. I want to cast my vote for packing up and going home tonight. That way my servants will prepare breakfast for me and I can get my beauty sleep."
"You don't need that," Reuben said gallantly.
"Reuben, you can tell the most beautiful fibs, Zelda said. "How do you vote, Amanda?"
"My vote is just like yours."
"To break the tie I'll vote with the girls," Reuben said.
"Since I'm outvoted we'll go back to civilization tonight," Terry said.
CHAPTER FIVE
Monday was a busy morning for Amanda. She and Reuben worked hard to beat the newspaper deadline. As it was Reuben had to make a mad dash out of the office to make sure it got there in time.
Amanda sat in the office alone relaxing, when the office door opened. She looked up, saw a slender, dark-haired girl with large dark eyes. Her high-riding breasts, confined tightly in a tight blouse, reached out to delectable points.
"Excuse me, but I'm Rita Castero," the girl said. "I came to ask you to take lunch with me."
"Thank you," Amanda returned. "I'm sorry but I have already accepted an invitation to lunch with Mr. Jonas."
"That's too bad. I thought ... since you and I have a common interest we ought to discuss ... that you might go with me."
"Common interest?" Amanda wondered what was behind all this. Was she the girl Terry Corren had hired? He'd said her first name was Rita-Amanda's curiosity was high. "What common interest do we have?"
"Little Ricco," the girl said.
Amanda's intake of breath was sudden. She stared at the girl incredulously. Most of the color had left her cheeks. Little Ricco? Who was this girl who walked into her privacy with the claim she knew Ricco. A name Amanda dreaded to hear. And well she had a reason to dread it. She had married Little Ricco and fled from him on her wedding night.
"What do you want?" demanded Amanda uneasily. "I want to talk to you."
"Where did you ever know Ricco?"
"Ricco? Does it matter where I knew him? I hardly think so. The thing that matters is whether you want me to tell him where you are."
Amanda stared at her a few long seconds. "I'm going with," she said. "I'll type a note to Reuben and tell him I had to leave on urgent business."
"You used the right word there. Urgent is absolutely correct."
Amanda went with the girl to a place several blocks away.
Seated as far back in the rear as they could get, the new girl smiled at Amanda after they'd given their orders. "Relax relax," she said. "You're not going to be hung. Take it easy. Don't look at me that way ... as if you'd like to cut my throat."
"Who are you? I never saw you before. How did you know me? And just what do you know about me anyway?"
"Slow down. I'll take your questions one at a time. I am Rita Castero just like I told you. Don't be too sure you never saw me before. I saw you once ... in Vegas. That's how I knew you. What do I know about you?" The girl paused to take a spoonful of soup. "I know you fled from him on your wedding night. I know that Ricco is so hot for you he'd almost give his right leg to find out where you are. Anything else?"
"S es. Do you know why I married him?"
"I heard talk. They said your old man was hard up for cash. They said Ricco loaned him dough. Now ... being quite sure you didn't marry Ricco for love ... I can put two and two together and come up with the right answer."
Amanda bit her lips, tried to keep angry words from her lips.
"What has all this to do with you?" she demanded. "What business is it of yours? What if I did run away from Ricco on my wedding night!"
Rita smiled mirthlessly, put her attention on her food. Finally she looked up. "Dearie do you have a cigarette? I'm fresh out."
Rita lit it, took a puff or two, set it down.
"What's my game, eh? Let's just put it this way. I was hunting a job. I found one at Corren's Department store. I happened to see you and I recognized you. Since each of us knows Little Ricco, I just tried to be friendly and ask you to lunch. Doesn't it all sound perfectly natural?"
"It does not!" Amanda snapped. "You're lying! You haven't spit your vermon yet. Only your sly sneaking approach. You must take me for a fool to try and feed me the crap that you just happened to run into me here. It was done deliberately. For all I know Ricco may have sent you ... Come clean, what's behind all this. What do you want?"
Rita smiled, picked up her cigarette and took a long draw. "What do I want? Dearie, I'm broke ... flat busted. I need a hundred clams to tide me over a few days. I could get a thousand from Ricco by merely telling him where you are. So you see I'm letting you off light. When can you give me the hundred?"
Amanda's eyes stirred with anger. Rita looked at her watch. "In exactly two minutes the ante goes up to two hundred," she said coldly."
"I don't have a hundred dollars."
"I expected that. But you can get it. I'll give you until lunch time tomorrow. We'll lunch together again. But I warn you ... you better have the hundred for me."
As she walked back to the store with Rita, neither offering conversation, she wondered about it. If Rita could get a thousand dollars from Ricco ... Amanda knew she could ... why was she passing that up to take a hundred dollars. An ugly frightening thought told Ramanda that maybe the girl meant to bleed her for all she got then take the thousand from Ricco.
By the time she reached the office Amanda had made up her mind. She'd resign and leave Oakville that very night. There were other towns and there were other jobs. Reuben came in a few minutes later, looked at her tight, uneasy expression.
"Anything wrong, Amanda?"
"I'm resigning, Reuben. I'm going to leave Oakville tonight."
"What? Leave Oakville? Come on, Amanda. Tell me about it. What happened?"
She shook her head stubbornly. "Nothing. I'm just getting out, that's all."
He stood there a few long seconds studying her. Striding over to her he pulled her up from her chair. "I don't want you to leave, Amanda. You hear me? I don't want you to leave. I want you to stay."
She looked deep into his eyes and knew why. "Why don't you want me to leave, Reuben?"
"Because ... because I ... damnit, because I love you."
She pretended to be amazed but she wasn't. She'd known it was coming. She had read the signs. No man can hide it. A girl can but not a man. "Why Reuben? I had no idea you felt that way," she lied. "I thought you and Zelda...."
He crushed her to him, his lips fierce on her warm red mouth. For a moment she tensed, her arms hung limply. Then, as the contact sent messages of hot delight between her legs, she pressed against his hungry lips and her arms went about him. They held the embrace until they heard the door knob turning. They broke loose swiftly.
Terry Corren came in.
"I'm glad you came in, Terry," Reuben said. "Maybe you can help me to persuade Amanda not to resign and leave us."
"Resign?" echoed Terry. "No, you can't do that, Amanda. Aren't we paying you enough? Tell me, what's the matter? Something I can do?"
"I-I need a hundred dollars very badly, Mr. Corren. It's urgent."
"Well, I'll be damned. A little thing like that." He pulled out his wallet and extracted ten tens. "A loan if you wish. All I ask is that you promise to stay with us."
Amanda wondered whether she ought to make the promise. But when she thought about Ricco and the smug-smiling new girl ... she was hesitant. She was tempted to give the money back and reiterate her decision to leave. Reuben must have figured out what she was thinking. He told her he would protect her from whatever was bothering her.
"All right, Mr. Corren," she promised. "I'll stay."
"Good," Terry exclaimed. He grinned and went on, "Zelda says she couldn't reach you as your phone was busy. She told me to tell you she expects you at her canasta session at two."
"But I'm not a member," Amanda protested.
"Oh yes you are. Zelda said the club had voted unanimously to take you in. You're excused from work this afternoon."
She rushed to her room to change. She hadn't played much canasta lately, but liked to play. She made it a point to arrive a bit late, found most of the members present. Zelda introduced her and she was warmly welcomed.
Some of the members came only to gossip. Several asked Amanda questions about her work, her past history and how she liked Oakville.
And so it went. Amanda found ... to her surprise-that not too many of the members were good players. She more than held her own and she enjoyed it.
When she got back to her room it was after five.
She got a telephone call from Reuben. "Amanda, how'd you like to go slumming tonight?"
"Slumming?"
"That's what townspeople say when they talk about going to Vice Town."
"Don't worry. It sounds good. Wait till you see me."
Reuben parked his car before her rooming house at eight and got out to ring the door bell. "Hello, Reuben."
His eyes widened, his mouth opened. "Well, I'll be damned, Amanda? I didn't know you." He laughed gleefully.
"Come on," he said, taking her arm. "We'll knock their eyes out."
They found the Bunny Den well patronized. The juke box was blaring and the booths were occupied. The owner, a sullen-faced man with wicked looking eyes, cleared a booth for them. Reuben ordered two beers. They danced, drank more beer, smoked and chatted until Eleven.
Two drunks got into a fight over a girl. Knocked down the smaller fellow whipped out a pistol and shot at his assailant. The bullet hit the wall about two inches from Amanda's head. Her face paled and she begged Reuben to take her home.
On the way to town she said, "You didn't tell me they also had pistol fights in the place."
"No," Reuben said, chuckling. "That was something not on the agenda. I'm sorry, Amanda."
When she left his car she said lightly, "What will Zelda say if she hears you dated me tonight?"
For a brief moment she detected an odd look on his face. He smiled and, pulling her to him, kissed her. "What would she say if she saw this?"
Next day Amanda went to lunch early. In less than five minutes Rita Castero came in and joined her in the booth.
"Dearie, I hope you have the loot for me," Rita said smugly.
"I have it." Amanda gave her the hundred dollars. She was fighting to control her rage. It made her mad to play blackmail. But she didn't want Ricco to find her. "I hope you'll keep your promise."
"Oh, I will. Don't worry about that."
"Do you live in Vegas?"
Rita smiled contemptuously. "Try a new bait, dearie. I'm living in Oakville now."
"Did you go with Ricco?"
The dark eyes of Rita mirrored anger. Her red lips set in a derisive twist. She delayed her answer until she lit a cigarette. "Still fishing, huh? Let's skip your question. I want to ask you one. How soon can you get me five hundred bucks?"
Amanda clenched her fists, stared at Rita with anger. "Five hundred dollars? You're crazy. I won't give it to you."
"Okay, dearie. Okay. Just giving you a chance. I can get twice that from Ricco. So take it or leave it, dearie."
"What I can't understand," Amanda said wrathfully, "is why you're willing to keep mum for less money from me than you can get from Ricco."
"I have ms reasons. And it's a break for you. If I tell Ricco he'll come after you and...."
"I wouldn't go back with him."
Rita smiled. "You know Ricco. You know how murderous he is. I'd rather trust a rat any time. If he comes after you and you refuse to go back to him ... you're his wife you know ... it's ms opinion that there'd be a funeral."
Amanda bit her lips in anger, Rita went on, "If you're smart you'll take the break I'm giving you. You're lucky that I have ms reasons for not tipping Ricco off."
"I can't get five hundred."
"I'm not asking for it today. I'll give you a whole week. You got the hundred mighty easy. I hear that Terry has been laying you so...."
"Where'd you hear that?" snapped Amanda wrathfully.
Rita laughed teasingly, puffed at her cigarette. "Never mind where I heard it. I did. Now ... for the last time. Do I get the five hundred?"
"Where could I get five hundred dollars?" Amanda stalled.
Rita set her lips grimly, a cold, merciless look took hold of her eyes. "That's your problem. I'll give you one week from today. A girl as pretty as you, who can bring her knockers up like you can and who teases men with a saucy ass like yours ... can get a man so hot for her he'll let her have five hundred."
Rita laughed sneeringly. "Dearie, if girls didn't do all those things where would they get husbands? Men ain't looking for spiritual marriages. All this crap about being suited for each other. It makes me sick. Do you think for a minute a man would marry a cold fish ... even if she was the most beautiful one in the world. No sir, no man would have her. She would be a woman who'd never got laid and never would get laid. But you wouldn't know about that, would you?"
"Walt," snapped Rita as Amanda turned to stalk off angrily. "Are you going to have the five hundred for me?"
"Tell me where to get it.?"
"Sit down," Rita said grimly. Amanda stared at her with cold fury but sat down. "I'll tell you, dearie. Try to borrow it. If you can't do that get it out of that office safe at Corren's."
For a long moment Amanda was going to strike Rita. With a visible effort she maintained her control. "You cheap, contemptible little whore!" she spat out angrily. "I'd die before I'd steal to pay you any blackmail. I'll get the five hundred for you. If you promise this will be the last time you blackmail me."
"Okay, dearie. Don's burst all over the place. One week from today. No more. No excuses and no stalls. Promptly at twelve noon in one week ... or I call Ricco."
"I'll have it here," Amanda promised, struggling to keep her voice level.
She walked out without finishing her lunch. Rita had reminded her that she knew Ricco. Yes, she knew him. He had killed a man but had put up a self-defense plea and gotten away with it. His first wife had died under suspicious circumstances but he'd cremated her so fast the law was left stranded. Yes, she knew Ricco. She was more afraid of him than she was a snake. Sure she had tricked him into loaning her father money to save himself. But she had kept her word to marry him. She'd never had any intention of doing so.
Amanda was so shaken by the argument with Rita, that for the first time in days she wasn't hot for a man.
CHAPTER SIX
Amanda found herself, for the second time eavesdropping on someone else's conversation. She couldn't help It. The office door was ajar. She pushed it open quietly, frooze as she heard voices in Terry's office which adjoined her office.
"Yeah? Yeah? I bet you had a virus," she heard Terry saying.
"I did, Terry, honestly I did. It's the first time I ever broke a date with you. I knew you wouldn't believe me but it tortured me so I had to go to the doctor. You can call him if you like. He'll bear me out."
Amanda knew that voice. It belong to Judy De-John.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. But you know I'm gone about you. I think you like me, too."
"I do, Terry. But you're a married man."
"So was the Sheik of Araby. You've been a little distant lately. What is it you want from me?"
There was a short silence and Amanda heard the sounds of kissing.
"You're sweet, Terry. I want to be your private secretary, work in your office ... at a nice raise in salary."
"The hell you do? Well, I guess it can be arranged. But I don't know how it'll look. Look honey, do you reckon anyone suspects us? Last week when we left that cabin ... I thought I-saw a man looking at us. Has anyone ever made a crack to you about us?"
"No ... and they better not."
Terry laughed.
"But, but, Terry, I've heard a crack or two about you and that new girl, Amanda Clark. She went with you and Zelda on a weekend in the mountains, didn't she?"
"Sure she did. But she was Reuben Jonas' date, not mine."
"When do I move into your office, Terry?"
He was silent a few moments and Amanda wondered if he was thinking up a good brush off or whether he was lighting a cigarette.
"After you go to Chesterton with me Saturday night, Terry said.
"What's doing in Chesterton?" Judy asked innocently.
"Quit acting," Terry said, chuckling. "You know damned good and well what will be doing. The same as before."
"What about Zelda?"
"I'll be going on business. To talk to a banker. We'll have to stay over to play golf with him on Sunday. Zelda will swallow it."
"What time will be leave?"
"About noon. Be ready. I'll pick you up at the same place."
Amanda heard more kissing. Heard Terry's office door open, knew Judy was leaving. She flattened herself against the wall so that if the door was opened it would hide her. But apparently he had no reason to open it. She heard him leave the office too. She heaved a sigh of relief.
Despite the fact she'd heard Terry fished for every good-looking girl he came across and was faithful to none, Amanda was a little hurt to learn Judy had her hooks in him. She made up her mind that never again would she let him get in between her legs. Even if she couldn't help but remember the tingling thrills....
She wondered about Judy Dejohn. A stunning girl with a figure that's make a miser open his pocketbook, flaunting breasts that attracted eyes like a fat woman attracts corset salesmen. No one seemed to know where she hailed from. Amanda had seen clerks in the store look at Judy hungrily. But no one seemed to know of any man she had dated. It was all very odd to Amanda. Now she knew Judy was dating Terry. But why?-Was she playing a game? Was she digging gold out of Terry?
At quitting time Amanda walked to the front entrance with Terry Corren Senior. Terry was awaiting his father and asked him if he'd like a ride home.
"No, Son. I'll walk as usual. Don't like to miss ms exercise."
Next morning when Amanda arrived at the store she was barely in the office when Terry Corren came in. He told Reuben and Amanda he wanted a big three-day sale just before the holiday.
"I want to raise thrity-five thousand dollars in that sale," he said. "The store needs it. Prices will be cut to the bone and it must be kept a top secret. To do so I'm going to confer with each department manager alone. Well use an eight-page section in the paper. Well use radio and direct mad. No drawings, no give-aways. The low prices will be our bait. You two can start on the layouts. I'll begin to feed you items and prices at once."
He left the office and Reuben shook his head in wonder.
"Guess the talk is true, Amanda. It says the store needs a hundred thousand dollars to keep going. Rumors say the bank won't loan Terry another penny until he pays some of his notes. I reckon that's what he wants with thirty-five grand. We'll have to work day and night to get ready. Can you take it?"
"Yes, Reuben. I can take it. And more if it'll help the store."
"It'll not only help it ... it will probably save it."
"Reuben, this store is doing a big business. Why is it on such shaky ground?"
Reuben lit a cigarette before speaking. "Terry Corren is in bad health. He was in a sanitarium for nearly two years. That was two years ago. During that time Terry almost had the store in bankruptcy. Only the fact that old Terry left the sanitarium ... before he was able to ... kept the store from going on the rocks. Even then it took a lot of persuasion to talk the bank into loaning him money he desperately needed."
Amanda was thoughtful a few moments.
"Mr. Corren said prices must be kept a top secret," she said. "You say out prices have always leaked to Willard in some way. If we don't know who the spy is how are we going to keep it a top secret?"
"I don't know," Reuben said, shaking his head doubtfully. "Got any ideas?"
"Y-es," she said to his surprise. She went to the door, opened it, looked about. She even looked into the next office which was vacant. She sat down at the typewriter, did some typing, gave the paper to Reuben to read.
"Someone may be listening."
"Well, I'll be damned," exclaimed Reuben when he'd read the note. "That's real clever. Amanda, you're nearly as smart as you are beautiful. I'll talk to Old Terry. I'm sure he'll agree to it. None must know about it except us three."
Terry Corren not only agreed, he was highly pleased with Amanda's idea.
For the next three days and nights, Amanda, Reuben, Old Terry and department heads worked furiously to prepare for the sale. For three nights Amanda got two hours sleep per night; one night Old Terry didn't go to bed at all. The hard work and loss of sleep proved to be too much for him. He was home in bed and under a doctor's care when the sale was put on.
As he always did, Jason Willard threw a sale too. But this time he was the goat. Instead of his prices being lower than Corren's they were much higher. Oakville had to chuckle. Amanda's idea had taken Willard in easily. Her idea had been simple. The prices put on the layouts had been phony. The layouts had been left lying around conspicuously easy to reach. Later, when the printers had the type set for all the layouts and proofs ready, the genuine prices had been substituted.
Terry took over for his sick father and did well. But he failed to make the bank in time on Friday, didn't deposit the cash rolling in from the sale. On Saturday he forgot that the bank closed at noon, missed again. So it was that the big office safe contained about fifty thousand dollars when they closed the store S-aturday.
Amanda got a phone call from Zelda.
"Hello, Amanda. Terry's gone to Chesterton on business and won't be back until tomorrow. I want you to come stay with me tonight. I-I'll come after you. How soon can you be ready?"
Amanda was hesitant. Knowing what she did she was reluctant to accept. But Zelda insisted. "Okay. I'll be ready inside an hour," Amanda agreed.
She was nearly ready when she was buzzed with an idea. She called Zelda, asked her what her plans were for the evening.
"Well, to tell the truth I had none," Zelda said, sighing.
"Well, I have. A good one we can have fun with." Zelda said, laughing, "What's cooking?"
"Well go to Vice Town."
"What? On Saturday night? Why, Terry would never even take me out there on Saturday night. He says it's dangerous. Are you kidding?"
"Certainly not. We might even let a couple of sober, good looking guss buy us drinks. Come over and get me."
They parked their car at Vice Town to enter the Bun-ney Den.
They walked inside, found the place crowded.
They got a booth when two girls got up and left. They ordered beer. "I don't like it," Zelda confessed, giggling. "But when in Rome...."
"I don't like it either. But we'll act as if we do."
They stayed for some time but nothing happened. Two men did try to date them but ... they brushed them off. Zelda finally looked at her watch, said, "I must be getting back home. Mr. Corren is sick and I don't like to stay away too long."
"All right. This place is getting boresome anyway."
On the way back Amanda wondered what she was going to do about the five hundred dollars. The week was over half gone already and she hadn't even made a move. It began to prey on her mind. She decided that about the only thing she could do was pack up and leave. She didn't know where to get five hundred and she didn't mean to be around when Ricco showed up.
At the Corren home Zelda went to see about Terry Corren. She told Amanda he was about the same. They had coffee then looked at TV an hour. Amanda knew that Zelda was very fond of her. She wondered whether she could borrow five hundred dollars from her. She decided she wouldn't ask her. She couldn't tell her why she wanted it and Zelda would think she was taking advantage of her friendship.
Zelda walked over to the bar and poured herself a drink from one of Terry's many flasks. She looked at Amanda and raised her glass.
Amanda nodded and Zelda poured a drink for her from the same flask. Zelda walked the drinks over to Amanda and handed one to her. They touched glasses and each of them placed a glass to her lips. Zelda walked over to her chair and sat down. They both continued to watch the TV set.
Suddenly they both began to get restless in their seats. Zelda couldn't stand it any more. She got to her feet and began to tear her clothes off.
Amanda looked at her and saw the lust in her eyes. Amanda felt the same way, but she was frightened.
Zelda was completely naked now and she walked slowly toward Amanda.
"Stand up," Zelda said passionately.
Amanda rose to her feet slowly.
"I don't know what is happening," said Zelda, "But I'm so horny that I have to do something about it There's no man around so it has to be you."
With that she began to rip off Amanda's clothes. Amanda was so passionate that she helped rip off her own clothes.
The two girls attacked one another viciously. Zelda was licking and biting Amanda's breasts. Amanda was tweeking and squeezing Zelda's breasts and buttocks. They dropped to the floor and their heads were lost between flailing, lashing thighs.
Hours later, when they were both sated, Zelda and Amanda had dragged themselves to their respective rooms and dropped down on their beds completely exhausted.
Zelda was practically asleep when she suddenly jumped wide awake.
She sat up in bed and said out loud, "The Son of a Bitch spikes his flasks with Spanish Fly!" Then she dropped to the pillow fast asleep.
Reuben Jonas had gone off of a business trip.
Amanda and Zelda slept until noon on Sunday. They were having a late dinner together about two when Terry walked in.
"Hi, Amanda," he called cheerfully. "Roll me out a plate too. I'm hungry."
Amanda noticed he didn't kiss Zelda.
"Darling, did you finish your business?" asked Zelda.
"Yeah," Terry said, giving her an odd look. "Yeah, I finished It."
Amanda liked both Zelda and Terry ... but she didn't believe they loved each other. Why had they married? Amanda had heard both had been drunk when they married. But she didn't believe it. Drunk people didn't think about getting married. Terry had probably been infatuated with Zelda. She had married him to ... well, Amanda wasn't sure but she believed Reuben Jonas figured in it some way.
The next day was the holiday and Terry planned to drive Amanda and Zelda out to his cabin. But Terry Corren had a relapse and the doctor advised them to stay close to home. They did so, walking about the place, playing cards and killing time. By late evening the doctor called again, told them Terry Corren was better.
Amanda's alarm clock missed next morning ... she'd returned to her own room at her rooming house ... and she was late getting to the store.
She found an air of excitement in the store. Back at the offices she saw Chief of Police, Pat Casey, a tall, straight man with kindly, warm eyes and a weak chin. He was talking to a shorter man with piercing black eyes. The man was City Detective Dick Clark.
Reuben was back and Amanda asked him what had happened.
"Terry opened the safe and found the fifty thousand dollars gone," Reuben told her. "The safe wasn't damaged or even scratched. So it looks like an inside job. The police think it was robbed by someone who knew the combination. I'm glad that you and I don't know it."
Amanda looked shocked and he added, "Terry has asked that the news be kept from his father. He has a bad heart and Terry's afraid the news might cause a heart attack."
The officers spent the morning questioning personnel of the store but found out absolutely nothing. Terry appeared to be more concerned with keeping the news from his father than anything else. He called all the servants, warned each to say nothing. When Clark questioned Amanda, she was tempted to voice her suspicions of Judy Dejon. But on second thought she didn't. After all she had no proof. To point a finger at Judy would simply warn her. Amanda was determined to keep an eye on Judy. Maybe even tail her if she got the chance.
"You know what I think, Amanda," Reuben said to her in his office. "I think Jason Willard had a hand in that robbery."
"Why would he risk it? Why would he take a chance on going to prison and losing all he's built up?" Amanda couldn't believe a man like Willard would do it.
"You don't know the man. He'd do anything to gain his ends. In this case he'd be killing several birds with one robbery. He'd get the thirty grand. He'd embarrass the Corren store and he might even get the chance to buy it, using some of our own money."
"You may be right but I can't believe a sensible man would do it."
Amanda wondered about Judy's tryst with Terry. Had she gotten the safe combination from him? Maybe slipped him a doped drink and got it from his wallet? Then robbed the safe? Or gave the combination to Willard? She didn't know but she knew she wouldn't trust Judy.
Next day she had a real worry.
The week was up and she had no five big ones to give Rita Castero. As the lunch hour -edged nearer and nearer Amanda had one wild thought after another. Discarding them all, she finally decided she'd face her blackmailer and tell her she hadn't been able to get the money. She'd ask Rita for more time. If Rita wouldn't do that Amanda would leave town that night she met Rita at the cafe.
"I don't have the five hundred dollars for you," Amanda said when they had given their orders. She was struggling to control her anger. "I haven't been able to get it. I must have more time."
To her surprise Rita smiled sweetly.
"That's all right Amanda. Quite all right. I'm not surprised. I was afraid you'd have trouble but...." She lit a cigarette, the smile fled from her lips and it was succeeded by a hard, grim look. "But are you sure you do not have it? There was a fifty thousand dollar robbery."
"Are you insinuating that I took it?" Amanda snapped angrily.
"No, no dearie. Of course not. The fact that you didn't pay me five hundred would seem to prove you didn't. I was just fishing."
Amanda was too angry to reply.
"I'll give you two more weeks on the five hundred," Rita said coolly. "On one condition. That you bring me a hundred here tomorrow at lunch. Okay?"
"Oh, no. I'm not greedy. Bring me a hundred tomorrow, bring me four hundred within two weeks. Do that and nobody's going to know you are Mrs. Little Ricco."
Amanda clenched her fists together, glared angrily at the smugly smiling Rita. "I'll have the hundred for you tomorrow."
Leaving her lunch unfinished, she left the restaurant, cursing the day she ever met Little Ricco and all the resulting problems that grew from that meeting.
CHAPTER SEVEN
That night when Amanda was in her own bed getting her kicks on her finger, she had two people to remember. She remembered when she bedded with Terry and she was a virgin with men. She remembered terry's wife Zelda and how she was no longer a virgin with women.
The next day Amanda met Rita and gave her a hundred dollars. She had borrowed it from Terry. He hadn't asked a single question. As she was on her way back to the store she passed the newsstand. Giving it a careless glance she saw Judy Dejohn standing with a magazine in her hands. What was unusual was the fact that Amanda saw Jason Willard standing close to Judy. He was also looking at a magazine.
Amanda froze in her tracks. Watching, she saw Willard and Judy talking lowly to each other. I-t was too good a chance to miss. Amanda slipped behind the two, apparently looking at a newspaper.
She heard Willard saying, "Okay. Meet me tonight. I'll be in cabin Ten."
"Okay. But be careful."
"Any news about the robbery yet?"
"Not that I know of."
"Remember. Tonight."
"I'll be there."
Amanda slipped away. She made up her mind she was going to be in an adjoining cabin ... and spy on the two. She wondered if there were doors between adjoining cabins. She knew they were not separate units but were all built in one long unit with walls between the rooms. By the time she reached the store she was determined to go there at once and rent cabin Nine or Eleven. She didn't dare wait until night. Both might be rented.
Cabin Nine was taken but Eleven was vacant. She rented it and was given the key. She saw there were no doors except the front doors, but by this time she had decided she wanted to see into cabin Ten as well as listen. What she needed, she decided, was a drill. A drill at least one inch In size.
She went back to her taxi and went back to town.
She bought a drill from a nearby hardware store and had it wrapped.
Amanda spent the rest of the afternoon wondering about Judy and Willard. Was it a business meeting or was it a love tryst? She didn't know but she meant to find out. Jason Willard was a good looking man. He was muscular and had small eyes that seemed to bore into one. His lips were thin and he had a smooth, cherubic face. He could really turn on the charm when he wanted to.
That evening Amanda packed some things in a small bag. She called a taxi. Carrying the wrapped drill and the bag, she was carried out to Vice Town. She went at once to cabin Eleven. Figuring the proper angle for her peep hole she bored it through the wall, then plugged it with a cork. She still had time to kill.
She heard the door of Ten being unlocked. She listened carefully and, judging from the sounds, knew it was Willard. It was fifteen minutes later before she heard the door open again.
"You're late," she heard Willard say.
"Sorry, Jason. I couldn't find a taxi. Had to wait."
Amanda tip-toed silently to her peep hole and pulled the cork out. She saw Judy in Willard's arms, their lips together. So it was a love tryst? She saw Willard's hand slide down the girl's back to her buttocks. Judy didn't seem to mind.
"Judy, you're the prettiest kid I ever saw. How did you get to be so damned good looking?" Willard asked softly.
"Oh, I kept my figure slim by dodging wolves and married men," she said, giggling. "Or were you referring to my eyes?"
"I can't see your eyes in bed."
Her full, swelling breasts pushed out invitingly and Willard accepted the invitation. He began unbuttoning the dress. Judy snuggled close.
"How do you get this damned dress unfastened?" Willard asked impatiently.
"Wait. Don't rip it. I'll take it off."
She removed the dress and slip. Amanda saw Willard's eyes widen. Judy wore a bikini bra and very brief panties.
She started to get in bed but Willard said softly, "Take 'em off, Judy."
Judy stripped while watching the man. She had the figure of a model. Her breasts were larger than Amanda's, clung together more tightly.
Judy slipped under the sheet, putting it up to her neck.
Willard began undressing. He wore no underclothing.
She decided a man was ugly when naked. Willard had white skin everywhere. He looked as if he needed a lot of sunshine. Stepping out of his pants, he turned and went to the bed.
Then he was in bed with her. Amanda saw him pull the girl to him. Saw their lips together.
"Please turn out the light," Judy said.
"No Judy. You're too damned pretty to be hidden by darkness. Nobody's going to see us. Nobody but me is going to see you."
With a quick movement he threw the sheet aside. She gave a little squeal, turned her back to him. Laughing he grabbed her, pulled her soft body tightly against his own. One hand cupped the luscious globe of a breast, his thumb softly stroking the nipple. And then, as he felt her body straining back against him, he turned her about.
"Oh, Jason," murmured the girl, putting her arms tightly about him.
Judy uttered a little moaning gasp in her throat.
Amanda couldn't see too clearly but she heard the girl's gasps and sighs of delight. Heard gasps of pleasure from the man. And then the girl and man were both strangely silent. She glued her ear to the hole, and planted her finger between her legs and jazzed herself.
After a long, restful silence she heard Willard say, "Judy are you sure you know nothing about that robbery?"
"Certainly. But I believe Terry Corren got the mooey."
"What makes you think that?"
"Oh ... well, who else could it be? He spends a lot of money and I hear he's heavily in debt Besides, I saw him go into the store on the holiday."
Amanda knew that could be true. She remembered that Terry had gone to town. She didn't know whether Judy had the right dope or not but she knew Terry was capable of doing it.
"I reckon Terry might have done it," she heard Willard say. "But what if he did? It's no crime to take one's own money. In a way I'm sorry if he did. I knew he needed money desperately but hoped he'd borrow it from me."
"Why?"
Judy heard him chuckle. "Use your pretty head. The more dough I could loan him the better the chance I'd have of acquiring the store. Get me a cigarette out of my pocket." There was a slight pause. Amanda peeped, saw him light a cigarette. "Look Judy. They sure pulled a fast one on us in switching those sale prices. How'd you let them get away with it?"
"They tricked us. Must have used phony prices then ... after we'd copied them ... switched the genuine prices."
"They had a landslide business those three dass. Sure hurt my business. You think they are on to you?"
"No, I don't think so. They're suspicious. Otherwise they wouldn't have pulled that slick trick. But if they thought for a minute that you had planted me there to spy on them ... I'd have been fired long ago."
Amanda heard sounds as if someone was getting up from the bed. S-he saw Willard had his pants on and was mixing drinks at the table. After this it seemed that they were only interested in the drinks and senseless chatter. Amanda finally decided she had heard about all she was going to. She got her things and slipped from her cabin.
Next morning at the store she found the safe robbery still the topic of conversations.
Around ten the chief of police and Detective Dick Clark arrived to do some more work on the robbery. They had just started asking more questions when Terry Corren Senior walked into the store. He stopped and stared at the officers, asked Terry what was wrong. Terry caught at a disadvantage replied lamely that the officers just happened to drop in.
Clark heard, looked at Old Terry. "Mr. Corren, did you not know your office safe has been robbed of fifty thousand dollars?"
To the amazement of the detective Terry Corren burst out in loud laughter. Terry looked aghast. Reuben and Amanda ... standing nearby ... exchanged significant looks. She wondered if Old Terry had lost his mind.
"So that's it?" said Old Terry, chuckling. "I had no idea the missing money would cause all this furor."
"What do you mean by that?" asked the police chief.
"Why I have the money safely at home. You see, I got to worrying one night about that amount of money being in the store safe. I got up after midnight, went to the store, and took the money home with me. Had you informed me of the suspected robbery I could have saved all of you a lot of worry."
For a few long moments there was a amazed silence from the little group listening. Then someone laughed. That relieved the tension.
"I'm sorry to have caused this," Old Terry said. "But, like I said, had I been informed about the store's affairs."
Terry and his father left to pick up the money.
Dick Clark and the chief of police left the store chuckling. Both were greatly relieved. When the news got around the town had a good chuckle, too.
Amanda told Reuben she had learned Judy Dejohn was Willard's spy.
"What do you think is the best thing to do about her, Reuben?"
He regarded her thoughtfully through cigarette smoke. "The first impulse is to have her fired on the spot. But on second thought I doubt whether that would be the best thing to do."
"Why not?"
"Look at it this way. If Judy is fired Willard would probably bribe someone else to be his spy. Someone we wouldn't know about. But if we let Judy stay on, pretend we know nothing about her, we can watch her so closely she can't hurt us. Not only that but we might even feed false information and false prices to her and help ourselves."
"Reuben, you ought to start a detective agency."
"Maybe I will," Reuben said, laughing.
Reuben smiled and busied himself with a layout. Pres-endy he said, "We were all fooled by Old Terry. Nobody thought he was well enough to get up in the night and come and get the money from the safe."
"He seems well enough now."
"If it wasn't for Old Terry, I'm sure Jason Willard would be able to buy the store from Terry."
"Wouldn't that take a lot of money?"
"Yes and no. Yes, because he'd have to give Terry a big wad of dough. No because he could simply assume the notes the store owes. I doubt whether this weeks receipts will satisfy the bank. Not long anyway."
"I certainly hope so. I think Mr. Corren is a fine man. I've grown to think of myself as a part of this store. I'd hate to see it change hands."
Reuben stepped over to her. Before she guessed what was on his mind he had her in his arms. He pressed his seeking lips on her red mouth. Hot spasms of joy coursed through her. No man's kisses had ever aroused her wild emotions like his.
They'd made one mistake. They forgot to bolt the door.
It opened and Rita Castero stepped in. A malicious smile came to her lips as she looked at the embrace.
"Excuse me, I didn't know this was Lovers' Lane," she said sarcastically.
Reuben pushed Amanda free, whirled about. "What can I do for you, Miss Castero?"
"Nothing much. Mrs. Tyro wanted to look at the ad for her department, if you have it ready."
"I haven't quite finished it. Tell her I'll send it to her when I get it finished."
Rita left and Reuben gazed after her darkly.
"I wonder where in the hell she came from," he said. "She repels me some way. Reminds me of a reptile. I've caught her looking at me like a suspected criminal. I don't trust her. Do you know anything about her?"
"What would I know about her?" Amanda said lightly, wondering what Reuben would say if he knew she was paying Rita blackmail money. "I never saw her untd she came to work here."
"Well...." Reuben paused to crush out his cigarette. "Well, I've got a hunch she's got a past."
"Past?" Amanda giggled in amusement. "What girl doesn't have?"
She wondered how Reuben would act if he knew about Little Ricco and her sex experiences with Terry and Zelda.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Amanda was going out of her mind. She was like a cat ... always in heat ... wherever she was ... and if she was sure no one was watching ... she would have her finger between her thighs. She was getting herself off between ten and fifteen times a day.
And now she would have to go to that canasta party at Zelda's this evening.
It was time to cart the refreshments in and as the six couples enjoying Zelda Corren's canasta party waited there went up gay laughter and chatter. Jody Ringo had a hearty laugh that could be heard a block away. He liked to tell jokes but usually told one everybody had heard. He had just finished telling one with whiskers and his listeners ... out of politeness ... laughed. All except Nora Jones who appreciated original jokes only.
When the laughter had died down the food was ferried in.
Amanda and Reuben had been one couple invited to the canasta bore, as Reuben called it. Reuben didn't like canasta and Zelda knew it. Amanda wondered why she had invited him. When the food was served the guests dispersed to different spots to eat and chat, Amanda excused herself and went upstairs.
She saw Reuben slip into the bedroom down the hallway.
Surprised ... and perplexed ... she wondered about it. Why was he slipping into an upstairs bedroom? Was it Zelda? She knew one way to find out. She hurried downstairs and asked for Zelda. No one knew where she was.
Fired with jealousy Amanda hurried back upstairs, slipped into the room adjoining the bedroom she had seen Reuben enter.
There was a clothes closet connecting the two rooms with a door on each side. Opening the door on her side Amanda slipped into the closet. She found the other door ajar and she very slowly and carefully pushed a wider crack in it.
She peeped through the crack.
Zelda lay on the bed on her back. Her dress was raised up above her stomach. Amanda heard gasps of joy from Zelda. Reuben was laying with his head between Zelda's raised and spread thighs.
"Oh, my darling husband," moaned Zelda joyfully.
Consumed with a jealour rage, Amanda had an irresistible urge to leap on through the door. She slipped back through the closet and left the room silently.
She wondered why Zelda had called him her darling husband. Of course he wasn't her husband. She was married to Terry. But why had she used such a term? Was she merely voicing her wishes that he was her husband?
Later when the canasta playing was over and the guests were leaving, she had another impulse to slip off from Reuben and go home alone. Before she could make up her mind Reuben stepped up, led her from the house.
Seated beside him in his car she had nothing to say. Reuben kept talking but kept shooting her puzzled looks. He finally asked her if anything was wrong.
"Nothing," she replied.
"Come, come, Amanda. You're not acting like yourself at all. Have I done something to offend you? If so, I'm sorry."
She wondered what he'd say if she told him what she'd seen on the bed. Of course she wouldn't tell him. But she couldn't help picturing the look of his face if she did. She had to smile. Reuben misunderstood her smile.
"There, that's better, Amanda. Did you enjoy the party?"
"Yes ... most of it."
He dropped her off at her boarding house and she let him kiss her goodnight. She could taste Zelda on his lips.
Next morning she and Reuben were busy on some discourt purchases. S-o busy that Reuben didn't knock off at the regular lunch time. Instead he stayed to finish. He was that way. He didn't like to stop work on something he was about to finish.
Amanda went alone to have lunch.
As usual the place was crowded but a booth was cleared for her. She was surprised when the waiter brought two lunches to her booth.
"Who is the second lunch for?" she asked suriously.
"For your companion, Miss," the waiter said politely.
"But I have no companion."
He smiled at her as he would mischieveous child. "Miss, all I know is he ordered hi lunch to be placed at your booth." The waiter left and Amanda looked after him in bewilderment.
A man walked up behind her and said, "Amanda, how are you?"
She looked up into the leering face of Little Ricco.
His dark hair was neatly combed, he wore an expensively tailored suit Amanda wondered if he wore the shoulder holster and pistol he usually carried. Instead of a dark scowl on his face he wore a friendly smile. His manner was polite. In fact his entire demeanor was so different that Amanda was astounded.
"Do you mind if I sit down?"
Too surprised to reply she merely nodded. He sat down opposite her and smiled. He was stocky, swarthy, black-haried and with piercing black eyes. Eyes that could be soft and friendly one moment, cruel, hard and merciless the next.
"What are you doing in Oakville?" Amanda managed to ask.
"There's only one reason I would be here ... you," he said politely.
"How did you find out where I was?"
"It wasn't easy. But I have a lot of connections."
"Rita Castero, for instance?"
He grinned, lifted up his coffee cup, took a swallow. "So you know Rita. I offered her a thousand dollars if she'd find you for me. She finally found you. Why couldn't you have told me where you were and won the thousand for yourself?"
"What are you going to do?" she asked uneasily.
"Do? Why, nothing. What can I do? I'm just going to try and win my wife back. I love her very much and I'll do anything to get her back."
Back in his territory where he dealt in slot machines, gambling, liquor, whores, and even burglaries. He'd been suspected in a couple of murders but there'd been no proof. He had fallen hard for Amanda.
"You might be interested in knowing Rita blackmailed me for two hundred dollars," Amanda said coldly. "She tried to hit me for four hundred more."
"The double crossing little bitch! She did that. I'll give it back to you."
He pulled out his wallet, counted out some twenties, gave them to her.
"You gave me three hundred," Amanda said.
The extra hundred is for the annoyance. You earned it."
She tried to give it back but he refused to take it. How long are you going to be in Oakville?" she asked him.
"Who knows? How long will it take me to win you back? By gentleness, kindness and polite consideration. I do have a chance, don't I?"
She knew he didn't but she didn't dare tell him. She knew him too well. All this soft, gentlemanly veneer of meekness and kindly toleration was only a mask to hide his real self. He'd use it as long as it suited him. When he realized he was making a fool of himself he would cast aside the mask and show himself as the snarling venomous hoodlum he was. A gangster who had no qualms about doing anything. No, she wasn't going to tell him it was hopeless. She might be signing her own death warrant. She'd string him along, put on an act. Watch her chance to escape him for once and all.
"What do you expect me to do?" she asked anxiously. He was entirely out of character. She'd heard of another girl who'd tried to step out on him. The girl had landed in jail charged with a theft. She'd heard of other rough methods he'd used to keep his women in line. "I mean do you expect me to come back to you?"
"Not unless you do it of your own free will," he said to her surprise. "I'm crazy as hell about you but I don't want you as a slave. I want you because you want me."
She didn't believe he'd try any of his usual tactics since he was in another state and without his mob to do his will. Why mystified her was the fact he apparently believed he could win her back. Win her back? He'd never had her. But being a smug egotist, he believed he could easily turn on a little charm, politeness and gentleness ... win her back quickly.
She'd stall him along, play for time ... and if she saw signs of rough tactics ... flee as before.
"Ricco, no one here knows I'm married. Are you going to change that?"
For a brief moment she saw anger in his eyes. A fleeting annoyance that was quickly succeeded by a forced grin. "Does that mean you've got a new boy friend?" She was silent and he said tersely, "I'm here to try and win you back, Amanda. But legally you're my wife. There's only one thing I won't stand for. Another man. Do you understand?"
"I heard you."
"I'm staying at the Hotel. Room five-five. Any time you need me give me a ring."
"You haven't asked me where I live."
"Baby, I already know. I know where your room is. I even know which side of the bed you sleep on. I know where you work and what you do. I know who your friends are. I know that Terry Corren went to Chesterton after you. I know you and his wife are chums. I know you went out with him and his wife to their cabin. Your boss, Reuben Jonas was along." He punched out his cigarette, leaned closer and she saw his eyes burning with jealousy. "Did anything happen there between you and Jonas?"
"What do you mean?" she asked. Certainly there was nothing between me and Mr. Jonas. I declined their invitation but Zelda ... Terry Corren's wife ... insisted that I go along. Amanda was greatly relieved. Had he asked her ... well, had he put Terry's name in his question instead of Reubens she would have been forced to he. But he hadn't. He had no suspicion at all that Terry had been her lover. If he did find it out she knew he would kill Terry.
"Okay, okay. Skip it. I believe you. One thing, you never did lie to me. You promised you'd marry me but you never did say you loved me." He grimaced sourly. "And you never did say you'd live with me. I thought you would. My mistake. But...." He almost spat it out like venom. "But, you be damned sure you keep clear of men. If I find you screwing one...."
"If I do, the guy'll sure make a pretty corpse."
He left a generous tip, paid their tabs and said goodbye at the door. No mention of a date. No gesture or word to show he was her husband. She turned and said, "Thank you Ricco. You've been nice."
She walked back to the store as if in a trance. When Reuben asked her a question she didn't answer. He looked at her in wonder. She was acting like a mechanical woman.
"Amanda? What's wrong with you? Are you sick?"
"Oh no." She tried to snap out of it, but her smile was mechanical.
"You've acted so strange since you came back. As if you'd taken lunch with a ghost. What happened?"
"Nothing, nothing at all."
"What time shall I pick you up tonight?"
"Reuben ... Reuben. I'm terribly sorry but I can't go tonight."
"What? You can't go? Why can't you?"
"Don't ask me, Reuben. I just can't go."
He stared at her a few long seconds trying to figure her out. Why had she been looking forward to their evening then all of a sudden told him it was all off?-
'Amanda, darling, tell me. Is it another man?"
She had to smile at that. She slipped up close, looked into his eyes and said earnestly, "No, Reuben, there is no other man."
No other man she loved, that is, but there was her husband, Little Ricco whom she had never been to bed with and then there was Terry the man she was screwing.
CHAPTER NINE
Oh, Reuben, Reuben, Amanda thought as she lay in bed. You're the man I'm really hot for. You're the man I want between my legs. I want you to do for me what I saw you do to Zelda. Will the day ever come when I can have you?
She cried herself to sleep.
* * *
Often something happens to change one's life. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for worse. Sometimes it is a little thing and sometimes it is a big thing. In Amanda's case it was the coming of Little Ricco. He sent her roses. He had a taxi call for her each morning. A jewelry store and two other stores informed her she had unlimited credit. Car salesmen began calling on her. When she told them she wasn't in the market for a new cary they smiled and said all she had to do was pick one out. But she didn't. Knowing Ricco was behind it she kept putting them off.
She knew she was hurting Ruebon. But she didn't dare go out with him. It might be signing his death warrant. Rueben saw her with Ricco a couple of times, asked her who he was. She told him Ricco was just an old friend who wanted to be more. Rueben was puzzled. He didn't believe Amanda was in love with the stranger. She didn't act that way. Rebuffed several times by Amanda he made up his mind he'd use different tactics.
He followed her to lunch next day and sat down beside her.
"Damn it, Amanda, I want to know what's the matter with you. Why do you avoid me?"
"Rueben, you mustn't stay here. Please go."
"Why?" he demanded.
"Because ... well, it's dangerous, that's why."
"Dangerous?" He stared at her incredulously. "What do you mean?"
"Please go, Rueben." She looked toward the front nervously. Ricco might show up any moment. If he did there would be trouble. "Please go, Rueben, I'll meet you somewhere tonight."
"Where?"
"Behind my boarding house. There's an alley. At one end of the alley is an old barn. I'll be in the barn at eight Now ... please go."
"Okay, Amanda. Remember? Eight o'clock."
He rose and left her.
Ricco didn't show up. Amanda wondered if he had been watching. She was sure he had Rita Castero spying on her. Rita had walked into the advertising office several times without knocking. Amanda had been sick with fear less Rita tell Ricco about the kissing between her and Rueben. That night she lay sleepless worrying about it. She made up her mind she was going to do something about it.
Next morning at the coffee break she told Rita she wanted to talk to her.
"Okay," Rita said, "shoot."
"Let's take a booth so we won't be overheard."
Amanda told her she didn't want her to tell Ricco about Rueben.
"Well, what do you know about that," exclaimed Rita in gleeful tones. "Did you bring me a hundred dollars? Money talks."
"You'll tell him if you don't get the hundred?"
"Dearie, I could easily get five hundred for such a hot piece of news."
"Then why haven't you told him?" Amanda asked angrily.
"Because I didn't want to see a murder committed."
"But if you tell him now won't there still be a murder?"
"Very likely. Only this time it wUl be you who causes it. Not me. You can prevent it with a measly little hundred bucks."
Her eyes flashing with rage, Amanda opened her bag, took out five twenties and gave them to Rita. "You greedy little tramp," she hissed at Rita. "One of these days I hope you get what you deserve."
"That's a nice way to talk after I do you a friendly turn. I could have gotten five hundred. Instead I take your hundred. I haven't told anyone yet that Ricco is your husband. Another crack like that to me and I'll spread the news that you and Ricco are married. And I'm not going to charge you a cent for a good piece of advice I'm going to give you. Don't let Ricco find out about you and Rueben Jonas. If he does ... you know Ricco. Your golden boy Jonas will be having people file by him and saying, 'Doesn't he look natural.' "
Amanda was in the dark about Rita. She couldn't figure her out. Was she working for Ricco? Or was she blackmailing him as she was Amanda? Amanda was sure about only one thing: she wouldn't trust Rita.
"What puzzles me, Rita ... why do you keep it secret that Ricco and I are married?"
Rita smiled smugly. "Dearie, I have my reasons. Good reasons."
When Amanda had finished her meal she went to her room and tidied up. She selected a jersey dress in a violet color.
She smiled proudly as he looked at herself in the mirror. It would be dark but there would be a moon. If this didn't knock down Rueben's defense ... well, she'd try another.
Rueben was awaiting her at the end of the alley.
A light fell on her and he whistled softly. "Amanda, you're the prettiest thing I've ever seen."
Amanda laughed and Rueben said, "I'm glad you're all dolled up. We're going to Zelda and Terry's house. She asked me to bring you for supper. Only she called it dinner."
She was glad they were going to Zelda's house. She didn't want to be on the town where Ricco might see them.
She managed to put on an act of enjoying her meal, did eat some.
Zelda mixed cocktails.
"Come, come, let's drink," Amanda said flippantly. She passed around the potato chips. "I'll mix more cocktails."
It was past midnight. Terry had tried to get Amanda upstairs to a bedroom but he had three strikes against him. Amanda's unwillingness, the presence of Zelda and Rueben. His overtures had been so open and bold Amanda wondered if Zelda would still be friendly. But when Zelda bade her goodnight she was friendly as ever.
Reuben drove into an isolated dirt road and parked.
When he pulled her into his arms Amanda couldn't help remembering what she'd seen Reuben and Zelda doing on the bed. Her jealousy made her pull back a little. But when Reuben's hot lips crushed down on hers and tingles of pleasure shot over her, she forgot all her resentments. Her tongue darted between his teeth. His hand slid to her breasts and Amanda held her breath tensely. Her nipples stood up rigidly under his softly stroking fingers. His hand left her bosom, went down to her knees. Amanda gasped in delight as he stroked her leg, then moved upward to her thigh. She was wild with passionate excitement.
Suddenly a car burst into view, pursued by a second car. A pistol shot shocked them into awareness they were in danger. It so frightened Amanda that she begged Reuben to take her home. The two cars passed and went out of sight.
"I wonder who those two fools were?"
"You mean us two fools," Amanda said. "Take me home before they continue shooting through here again."
She and Reuben were busy next day preparing for a one-day sale. They used the same plan on prices they had on the big sale. But the following morning they were chagringed to see that Willard's prices on a similar sale were lower than Corren's.
"How do you suppose they did it?" asked Amanda angrily.
"I have no idea. But I'll bet they're laughing up their sleeves. Only Judy Dejohn has no sleeves. I'll give you two to one she's responsible."
"She's clever and she's dangerous," Amanda said. "If we could bribe her to double-cross Willard and be on our side."
"It's been done before."
"If she should catch Willard in a cabin with another girl," Amanda mused slowly. "That would do it."
"With another girl? echoed Reuben. "What do you mean by that? You mean Judy and Willard are closer than spy and employer?"
"Well, I've heard talk that they are," Amanda said. "I've seen him talking to her, and by the way they look at each other I'd say they were."
"Who would this other girl in a cabin with him be?"
"Why, Reuben? You mean you don't know where to find a girl like that?" Amanda said teasingly. "I thought one might be found in Vice Town."
"Oh, sure. No doubt of that. But what kind of bait would you use to get Willard in a cabin?"
"The same kind of bait nearly any man falls for...."
"Okay," Reuben said, laughing. "I'll find the girl. You fix up the bait."
"That's easy," Amanda said. "Find a very pretty girl. We'll have her write Jason Willard a note telling him she has something important to tell him. We'll get him in a cabin and use an anonymous call to tell Judy about her lover boy with another girl. She'll drive out and see for herself. She's the type that will, I'm sure."
"You should be in the C.I.A.," Reuben said, chuckling. "Did you know I used to work for a private eye in Chicago?"
"No. Did you really?"
"Sure did. That's how I happened to meet Zelda. The wife of a man Zelda was going out with hired my boss to tail them. He put me on their trail. I ... oh hell, I fell for Zelda and quit my job. She got me a job with another company."
Amanda wondered if that had been all between them. Judging from the intimate scene she'd seen on the bed she didn't think so. She believed Zelda was still in love with Reuben but was he in love with Zelda? That was one thing she didn't know. Maybe he owed her too much for past favors to deny her his presence. Anyway he'd told Amanda he loved her.
However, the store catered to a throng of customers all day long. At the end of the day when Reuben was putting on his hat to leave he told Amanda he would go out to Vice Town that evening and pick out a girl for the job. He asked Amanda if she'd like to go with him.
"I'm too tired, Reuben. Besides I'd cramp your style with the girl. You'll do better alone. But don't bet too enthusiastic and lay the girl yourself."
"I do believe you're jealous," Reuben said, grinning. "See you tomorrow."
Amanda went to bed early that night. It seemed that she had barely closed her eyes when her alarm clock aroused her.
Reuben was late reaching the store but he had good news.
"I have the very girl," he told Amanda at the coffee break. "Her name's Jessica Straight. She's a statuesque well-stacked broad ... She's intelligent, in fact she told me she went to college. She seemed to know just what I wanted of her. The only point we couldn't agree on was the price. She wanted more than I offered. However we compromised. She's to mail the letter this morning. Her cabin is six. She's to give me a ring if she hears from Willard."
The call from Jessica came that afternoon just before closing time. She told Reuben that Willard had called her, made a date to see her at ten that evening at her cabin.
"Whew, that was quick service," Amanda said. "She must have sent the letter special delivery."
"She did."
"Good. Now what?"
Reuben smoked his cigarette reflectively. "I'm sure Willard will keep the date. He's a noted girl chaser. What I'm not sure of is Judy Dejoh. I don't mean she may not grab the bait. I think she will, if she's in when we call her. But what if she's out? That would queer all our plans."
CHAPTER TEN
"How are you going to do that?" Reuben wanted to know.
Amanda took a lot of time lighting a cigarette and blowing out smoke thoughtfully. "Suppose I call Judy now ... before she has time to get home ... tell the landlady it's very important. I'll tell her I have to be gone for several hours but will call back at ten."
"You think that'll work?"
"I do. I think Judy will be right there awaiting the call ... provided she's told it was a man calling."
Reuben nodded. "I get it. You want me to call her."
"That's the general idea. I also believe it will be better for you to call her at ten. Tell her Willard has your girl in cabin six. Tell her you want her to stop him."
"Okay. Shall I call now, Miss F.B.I.?"
"Yes, do please," Amanda said, laughing.
He made the call. When he hung up he chuckled. "The landlady asked me who was calling but I gave her no hint."
Amanda was eager to be on the scene at ten that night.
T-he plan called for her to get in a phone booth a few minutes before ten, so it wouldn't be tied up when Reuben was ready to make his call to Judy Dejohn.
She used a taxi after slipping out the back way into the darkness behind her boarding house.
At fifteen minutes before ten she took over the nearest phone booth. From it she could see the door of cabin six.
She saw Jason Willard rap on the door exactly ten minutes after ten. When she saw Reuben walking slowly toward the booth she left it vacant.
From another vantage point she watched Reuben make his call. When he left the booth he was grinning, so she knew he'd found Judy in.
Thirty minutes later a car pulled up. Amanda saw Judy Dejohn, face grim and lips tight, get out and walk back toward the cabins. The cabins each had three windows. Amanda wondered how Judy would satisfy herself. By peeping in a window? Or by rapping on the door? She watched Judy with great interest. Jessica Straight had been instructed to leave one shade up far enough so Judy could peep inside.
Amanda watched Judy reach the cabin, glance at the front window. Saw her go to the window. She watched Judy straighten up, turn and walk with an angry stride back to her car. Amanda could see the girl was furious. But not enough to lose her head. She got back in her car and drove back toward town.
Amanda taxied back to town and slipped to her boarding house. She wore a satisfied smile as she dropped off to sleep.
Next morning at the office she and Reuben discussed the next move. Both agreed it would be best to strike while the hot fury was still rampant in Judy. They decided Amanda should go out to lunch with Judy and lay her cards on the table.
As Judy was leaving Amanda fell in step with her. "Mind if I tag along with you?"
"Be glad to have you."
They went to the cafe. Amanda casually told Judy that Reuben and herself were on to her. They knew she was Willard's paid spy.
Judy's face lost its color as she stared at Amanda.
"Judy, we want to get you on our side."
"What do you mean?"
"Just this. You keep on posing as Willard's sps. In reality you'll be working for us. That way we can feed him false information."
"Yes." Judy nodded slowly. "I get it." Her eyes stirred with anger. "Yes, I get it and it suits me fine. I've been wanting to get loose from that chisler. This gives me my chance to get back at him. Okay."
Reuben was highly pleased when Amanda reported back to him after lunch. So pleased that he asked Amanda to go out with him that evening. Amanda wondered whether they could get by with it. She now felt sure Ricco knew every move she made. She was more afraid of Ricco than ever. He hadn't bothered her for a few days and she'd wondered why. She was to learn later that he'd used the time to bring in several of his hirelings. The absence of any move from him gave her a false feeling of security. She decided she would accept Reuben's invitation.
"Okay," she told him. "But only on condition that we be extra cautious. You have your car in that woods in back of my boarding house at eight. I'll slip out unseen and meet you there."
Reuben was awaiting her at eight in the patch of woods.
He drove with lights out from the woods, turned on his parking lights and went by way of alleys and unused roads to the isolated Lover's Lane. This was a dirt road with little or no traffic. It was frequently used by petting couples or others after a more intimate tryst. Reuben parked and took Amanda in his arms.
"Reuben, I'm afraid out here," she finally said, pulling loose. "It's so lonely."
Reuben laughed and got out cigarettes. "There's no need for worry, Amanda. I have a loaded pistol in the glove compartment. That will protect us."
"Well, I certainly hope so."
They chatted as they smoked. Reuben took her in his arms again and her warm, torrid lips went responsively against his. His hand went inside her blouse. Amanda had an excited intake of breath as his fingers softly stroked the luscious globe. Her arms went about him. He was quickly arousing her to the wildest of emotions when they were interrupted.
Two dark figures with eyes masked suddenly appeared. T-he bright beam of a flashlight outlined them. They each had a raised pistol.
"Come on you! Get out of the car!" The taller man spoke to Reuben. "Come on, get out!"
Reuben hesitated but only for a few seconds. He had no alternative. There was Amanda to consider. He opened the car door and got out.
"Who are you? What do you mean by this?" he said harshly.
The shorter man hit Reuben on the head with his pistol barrel. Amanda gave a scream of terror. "Stop it! Stop it! If it's me you want take me and let him alone!"
But her screams and pleadings fell on deaf ears. The two men, both larger than Reuben, slugged him unmercifully. Dazed by the blow on his head and with blood running down his neck from the wound, Reuben finally went down from the pounding fists, lay unconscious on the ground. Amanda was sobbing in the car.
"Now listen, you," the taller man snarled to her. "If you're found with this guy again, well kill him. This is just a warning to him. Next time he'll be the leading man at his own funeral."
The two men slipped away in the darkness.
Leaving the car door open to provide some light, Amanda went to the prostrate Reuben and did what she could for him. Finally he opened his eyes, blinked bewilderedly, focused his gaze on Amanda.
"Are they gone?" he said through bloody lips.
"Yes, Reuben. They beat you terribly. Are you able to drive? I must get you to a doctor."
"I think so." He pushed himself up weakly as Amanda helped. "You got any idea who they were?"
"No, Reuben, I'm as much in the dark as you are."
She helped him behind the wheel, still mopping blood from his head, neck and face. "Anyway they didn't break any bones," he muttered.
"It is my fault, Reuben. I knew this would happen. That's why I refused to go out with you. They warned me not to be seen with you again, said they would kill you next time."
"So that's it. Amanda, you must know who's behind this."
"Reuben, please don't ask me. I could only make a guess and I might be wrong. Now ... can you drive?"
"S es, I can make it. Look, Amanda, what kind of story shall we tell?"
"The truth. You were attacked by two assailants and beaten unconscious. We'll utter more truth when we say we have no idea who they were."
"I think it would be better for me to say I was alone when attacked. Why bring you into it?"
"You mean ... you don't want Zelda to know we were out together?"
Reuben grinned painfully through swollen lips. "I believe you're jealous, Amanda. No, that's not exactly what I meant. I just don't see why we should have your name in it. What good would it do?"
"You might need me for a witness ... later. If you say you were alone you'd have a hard time manufacturing a witness later."
Reuben had to agree she was right. "Okay. I think you're right."
He drove to the clinic where a doctor attended to his wounds. The blow on his head had been a glancing one. Otherwise it might have fractured his skull. Leaving the clinic, Reuben drove Amanda to her boarding house. He had elaborated some on the story. He'd told the doctor ... who had asked no questions ... that he had fought off two would be rapers but had come off second best. An approaching car had scared the two assailants off, he'd asserted.
Amanda had a hard time finding sleep that night. She was sure Ricco had ordered the attack on Reuben. He'd told her that if he ever caught her with a man he would kill the man. Reuben hadn't been in bed with her, he'd been in a car with her. So Ricco had had him beaten up. She couldn't prove it, but she was sure of it. She knew it wouldn't do any good to confront him with the accusation. He would dodge the issue.
She wondered who the thugs were. Where had Ricco been for several days? It very probably meant he had imported his mob. She'd heard people say that if Ricco stayed anywhere two days he would start a racket of some kind. Amanda wondered what lucrative racket he had chosen for Oakville. She made up her mind she was going to find out if she could. She wanted desperately to be completely free from him but she didn't know hoe to do it. She had decided the best thing to do was to use her feminine wiles. Respond to his kindness. Show him she appreciated his polite and gentle considerations. Let him think he was winning her. Then watch her chance. When she got it she'd take It so fast he wouldn't know what hit him.
She finally found sleep and slept late next morning.
When she reached the store she knew by the curious looks that Reuben had told his story. However no one ... except Terry Corren Senior ... asked her about the experience. He seemed genuinely concerned for her.
Because of his bandages Reuben had lunch sent to his office. Amanda went to the DeLuxe C-afe. She found a booth open, sat down and gave her order. The waitress brought two lunches. Amanda wasn't surprised this time when Ricco, smiling smugly bowed politely, asked her if he might sit down.
"I haven't seen you for several days," she told him.
"Yes, that's right. I had to be out of town on business for several days."
"When did you get back?"
"This morning. How's everything been with you?"
"Oh, about the same."
"Did you miss me?" He grinned amusedly at her startled look.
"One always misses someone they're used to seeing every day."
He shook his head, grinned and went to work on his steak. "That answer is vague."
"What have you been doing?" Amanda asked.
"Buying and selling," Ricco answered.
"There may be a department store for sale unless the Corren's can get some financing," Amanda said sadly.
"Hell, why don't they sell it to Willard. He's worth over a million they tell me. I mean in cash. The birds sas his department stores are worth that much too."
He studied her a few moments, went on, "I hear that nothing less than a hundred grand will give them a breathing spell. They need more than that to really get on their feet."
"Terry Corren does want to sell. But his father and wife don't They have a pride in the store. So do I. I've grown to consider myself a part of it. I wish so much they could straighten things out. If I had money I'd loan it to them."
"What would you do to see it straightened out?"
"Do? What do you mean?"
"I might get them the dough ... if you'd come back to me and be ms wife."
Amanda looked startled. That was the one thing she wouldn't do. But she knew it wouldn't do to let him know that. Once he knew she could never be softened up enough to return to him he'd throw off his sheep's clothing and become a raging wolf. She was deathly afraid of him. She knew he would kill her if she scorned him. She must play the game skillfully and deceptively. Otherwise she would end up as a pretty corpse.
She forced a smile. "You flatter me, Ricco. I can't believe you think that much of me."
"Baby, I'd give a million bucks any time to have you back. I ain't seen no dish stacked up like you in all ms life. What do you say? Come back to me and I'll loan the dough to Corren."
"Well...." Amanda was trying desperately to ward off the offer without offending him. "Look, Ricco, let me think about it. I think it's swell of you and I like you for it. But do you have that much money?"
Little Ricco snickered scornfully. "Baby, I got connections. I got enough on a banker back home to get it from him."
"You have? What do you have on him, Ricco?" Amanda made herself appear very interested. Anything to get him off the other subject. "Tell me, Ricco. What do you have on him? I promise I'll keep it confidential."
He grinned smugly. "Okay, but never tell it I got pictures of him down on a boy. He'd rather loan me a hundred grand any time than to see them works of art distributed in Beardstown. And what wouldn't he give to keep his wife and children from seeing 'em."
"How do you get such pictures? I've read about such rackets but I could never see how they get such pictures."
"It's easy. Just set up a frame. Have some guy hid with a camera. The rest is easy. That ain't all I got on him. I got a tape recording of him and the guy using obscene language."
Amanda had a hard time repressing her disgust.
"Baby, if you'd join my gang ... you and me could make a million bucks. I don't mean I'd want you to strip. I'd kill any man who dared to do that to you. But you would be the world's best at setting the trap for the men."
Amanda looked at her watch. "I must be getting back to work."
"Think over what I said about the loan."
"I will," Amanda promised as she rose.
He walked with her to the cashier, paid the tabs, bade her so long at the door. As Amanda glanced back before leaving the restaurant she saw a couple of clerks from the store. There would be gossip started about her and Ricco but she couldn't do anything about it.
Zelda Corren called Amanda. Zelda was having a party that evening. Would Amanda come? She would send Reuben for her. Amanda told her she'd come but she would get a taxi and come alone.
Amanda went and found Terry slightly drunk. He got up, said to Amanda, "Come on, let's go to the kitchen and mix some drinks."
Not caring to be rude, Amanda went with him.
But instead of going to the kitchen, Terry opened a door and led Amanda inside. It was a small bedroom. Before she could protest he swept her into his arms, kissed her lustfully. "Please don't, Mr. Corren. Well be missed. You mustn't."
"Amanda, I want you. Come on, don't be that way."
He was pushing her down on the bed when a rock crashed through a window, rattling the Venetian blinds. Terry ran to the window and looked out but saw nothing in the darkness. Amanda leaped up from the bed and left the room hastily.
The guests were chatting and enjoying the food. Amanda looked about but saw no sight of Reuben. She wondered if he had seen Terry's plan, went outside and tossed a rock through the window to thwart it. Who else could it have been? Anyway she felt deeply gratified. Watching, she saw Reuben saunter in from the front porch. Now she was certain he had been her benefactor.
"Where have you been?" she asked him.
"Oh, outside taking a smoke."
"Of course," she said, smiling. "I might have known. Just look at all the no smoking signs on the walls. But so many others are smoking I guess you're the only one here who can read. Thanks, Reuben."
Although Amanda was hot and horny and would have enjoyed a good jazzing, she was glad that Reuben had interrupted them.
There was a time and place for everything and although she had the time, this was not the place.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
It was obvious that Terry still had a hot rod for Amanda. Next morning he apologized. So earnest, so polite, so charming was his manner that Amanda was put on the defensive. He had that kind of line.
That afternoon when she left work to go home there was a rain falling. As she stood under the canopy looking for a taxi, one darted in and the cabbie motioned to her. Thinking that perhaps Ricco had sent the taxi ... as he often did ... she climbed in without any question.
But when the cabbie wheeled out of town and showed no intention of carrying her home, Amanda asked him where he was going.
"It's okay, Miss Clark. The fare is paid."
She repeated her question but the cabbie smiled and told her someone wanted to talk to her. The cabbie pulled off the highway two miles out. Amanda saw Terry's car parked off the road.
She was about to order the cabbie to take her back to town when Terry stepped up, bowed politely and said he wanted to talk to her about the store. He turned on his persuasive charm. Amanda got out and Terry helped her into his car.
"Amanda, I have something urgent to talk to you about. I was afraid to pick you up myself," he said gravely after they'd both lit a cigarette.
"Yes, Mr. Corren?"
"It's about the store. Dad is worrying himself to death about it. Rumors that Corren's is going on the rocks have hurt us. The heavy notes we owe the factors are past due. I-am in favor of selling out to Willard but Zelda and Dad will not agree. They want to keep on fighting and save the store."
Amanda wondered why he was telling her all this. She knew of no way she could help. "Amanda, I want you to go home with me and talk to Zelda. She is very fond of you and would listen to you. If I can get her on my side I think the two of us might be able to persuade Dad. What do you say?"
Amanda didn't want to go. She put up all the excuses she could think of but Terry beat them all down. He turned on his persuasive charm and such was its magnetic warmth that he won her over.
"Ifl can help you ... I'll go."
Greatly pleased, Terry thanked her, got out a flask from the glove compartment, offered her a drink. Amanda politely refused. Terry took a drink, replaced the flask.
"I was afraid you'd not drink with me so I brought you a soda," he said, reaching behind the front seat and picking up a tall bottle, paper cup and opener. He opened the bottle, poured the drink In the paper cup. "Here you are, Amanda."
Amanda smiled and drank as Terry talked more about the store and its problem. As he talked on his words seemed to be drifting farther away. She tried to fight off her drowsiness. He had slipped knockout drops into the soda. Unable to fight off her growing drowsiness she fell asleep.
When Amanda opened her eyes she way laying naked on a bed. She was in a cabin. She saw Terry putting on his clothes. At first she was too dazed to realize what had happened. As she realized she was entirely nude she hastily pulled the sheet over her naked form.
"What does this mean?" she demanded angrlly. "Why am I on this bed undressed?"
Terry turned and grinned at her. "Now, now, Amanda, take it easy. You're in a cabin in Vice Town. No one saw you come in here. I had the cabin rented in advance."
Her cheeks burned in shame as she realized how he'd tricked her. "Did you ... did you screw me?"
"Yes, Amanda, I did. Please forgive me. You're so beautiful I had to do something to get into you again. Knowing you would never come with me willingly I had to use the drug. Please don't be mad at me."
"You drug me and bring me to a cabin, strip me and boff me and then expect me not to be angry. What do you think I am anyway? A sex machine? I didn't believe all the stories I heard about you ... at first. But now I do."
Terry kept his back turned while she dressed. He kept up a soothing, charming patter of talk designed to do away with her wrath. Amanda was mad but she didn't know what she could do about it. If she brought charges and publicized it she would be signing his death warrant. She decided the only thing she could do was to see that it never happened again. S-he told herself it never would.
She finished her dressing without a word.
She was afraid Ricco would see them together, or be tipped off that they had been there together.
"Did anyone see you carry me in here?"
"No, Amanda. I was very careful that no one did."
"I want you to drive me to the rear of my house the same way. I'll lie down in the back seat. Please back the car up as close to the back door of the cabin as you can get it. I'll slip out the back door and into the car."
He drove her to an isolated spot back of her house and after begging her to forgive him, let her out. By this time it was quite dark.
. Next morning she plunged into her work and tried to dismiss the whole thing from her mind but more than once Reuben looked at her burning cheeks curiously. Reuben hadn't been there this time to toss a rock through the window.
She went to lunch along and walked out of her way to eat. She didn't feel like talking to Ricco. Also she didn't want Reuben to follow her and sit beside her. She wasn't bothered and as far as she could see she wasn't recognized.
When she left the store to go home after work she decided to walk.
She had walked about four blocks and was passing a parking lot when she stopped abruptly. She saw Rita being helped into a car by a man who had his back turned. He looked familiar. When he turned she recognized Ricco. Amanda could think of but one reason. She told herself if she could catch him screwing another blond she would have grounds for divorce. She could think of nothing she wanted more.
Turning she saw a taxi. She got in, pointed to Ricco's car. "Follow that car but don't let him know he's being followed."
"Lady, that'll be a cinch."
Ricco drove toward Vice Town and Amanda was elated. She was very anxious to find something that would give her grounds for divorce. This looked like the break she was waiting for.
But her elation turned to disappointment. Instead of continuing on to Vice Town the front car turned in at the LeAge D'or Inn. The LeAge D'or was modern in every respect. It was a two-story building with two private dining rooms upstairs. It was several miles from town. She ordered the cabbie to park a bouple of hundred feet down the highway so they wouldn't be seen.
"Follow them inside and see where they're seated," she told the cabbie. "Look the place over and come back and tell me whether there's any chance of me slipping up close and listen to them talk."
"Okay, lady."
He returned in about ten minutes.
"Lady, they took the dining room upstairs."
"They did? Look, isn't there some way I could slip into that dining room, hide and listen to them?"
"Well, I don't know about that." He pulled at an ear, gazed thoughtfully at the building. "There's a back stairway leads up to it. The trouble is they're already in the room."
Amanda got out a cigarette and lit it. How could she get into the dining room and hide? She knew she'd have to use a trick of some kind to get Ricco and Rita out of the room a few minutes. The cabbie stood there waiting patiently. He didn't mind at all. This curvy girl was good to look at. Also he was getting paid for it.
"Look," Amanda said, opening her purse and taking out a ten'dollar bill. "I think I've got it. But I'll need your help. There's ten dollars in it for you. All you have to do is go to a phone and call for the man that's up in the dining room ... you'll go rap on the door and tell the girl that her boy friend had to leave in a hurry and sent you to take her back to town. That ought to doit. Okay?"
"Lady, I'd like to do them two little things every hour for you ... for ten bucks."
He went to an outside phone booth and Amanda slipped to the back stairway. He joined her in about five minutes and he was grinning.
"Lady, it worked like peaches and cream. The waiter said he'd call him to the phone. Now what?"
"We must slip to the back door and watch for him to leave. When he does ... you rap on the door and tell the girl what I told you."
"Okay."
They moved cautiously to the top of the stairway and peeped through the glass. They saw the waiter come up and give Ricco the message. R-icco turned, said something to Rita and followed the waiter downstairs. Amanda let one minute tick off.
"Now," she told the cabbie. "Do your stuff. We can't wait any longer."
The cabbie went to the door and rapped. Rita opened the door. "Lady, your boy friend had to leave in a hurry," he told her. "He sent me up to take you back to town."
Rita stared at him a few long moments and Amanda became uneasy less she refuse to take the bait. But she did. "Okay, I'll get my things."
When she was halfway down the front stairs Amanda slipped into the dining room, cast her eye about for a suitable hiding place. In one corner stood a big antique screen. Jerking one corner out she got behind it, jerked the corner back in place. It was an ideal hiding spot.
Soon she heard footsteps on the stairs, heard the door open. "I'd like to get my hands on the jokester who pulled this one," she heard Ricco snarl. "You say you didn't know the guy who told you that he?"
"No, never saw him before."
Still growling and cursing Ricco sat down and poured Rita and himself a drink. Amanda found a place she could peep through. She was greatly relieved that they hadn't tumbled to the real purpose of the trickery.
"Look," Ricco said. "Are you sure you bribed that maid in...." He stopped, pulled out a little notebook, flipped the pages over to a name. "In Lester Davies' house?"
"You mean the broker?"
"Yeah. Broker and lousy with dough."
"Yes, I did. It took a C note."
"What the hell's a C note? We'll get thousands from him. When did you set the thing for?"
"Wednesday night. Servants are off Wednesday afternoon but the maid will stay ... for a hundred bucks ... and watch for me as me and ... what's his name that's going to do the planting?"
"Guido. He can do it expertly and fast. Davies and that young wife of his will be sitting ducks for us. Look, are you damned sure both of 'em sleep naked?"
"Yes, I am. The maid told me she knew positively they did."
"Good work, Kiddo. Good work." He referred to his notebook. "Humph. It says the wife goes to bed first, about eleven. He soon follows. Guido and Primo will pull it off. When we tape enough talk and sounds we'll pull the picture trick."
"The same way they do the others?"
"Yeah. They'll get one of him and her naked in the bed. Guido and Primo will slip into the room. As Primo gets set Guido will pull the sheet off them. Primo wdl get the picture."
"What if the broker should have a gun?"
"Kiddo, he'll be so damned startled and confused he won't even think about a gun. They always are."
As Amanda listened she was shocked and amazed. She learned that Ricco had brought in hirelings. He was operating a dirty picture racket. That and a tape recorder hidden under beds. Rita did the casing of homes to select the proper victims. She learned that already one prominent man had paid off to the tune of ten thousand dollars. It sickened Amanda. She was determined more than ever to get loose from slimy Ricco.
She was startled to hear the name of Jason Willard mentioned as a possible future victim of the racket.
"Kiddo, are you keeping close tab on Amanda?"
"Yes, I am."
"Seen anything out of line?"
"No."
Amanda breathed a big sigh of relief. She'd held her breath anxiously. She'd been afraid Rita would tell him about Terry drugging her and taking her to a cabin for that orgy. Her cheeks burned as she thought of it. She kept blaming herself for it. But when she'd ask herself how she could have prevented it ... she had no answer. Anyway Terry had used extreme caution and that had kept Rita from finding out.
"Look, I want you to start cuddling up to Terry Corren," Ricco said. "Terry? It fits him all right. Let him get hold of the U.S. Treasury and he'd break it in a year."
"Why do you want me to ... to flirt with him?"
"To line him up for a squeeze play. Won't need to use his own wife. He is a pushover for pretty dolls. We'll bring in one to use for bait."
"Okay. But would he have the money?"
Ricco laughed scornfully. "You bet. When he's got the hots for a pretty doll he'll let the creditors ride and use the dough for getting what he wants. He may not have it but he'll get it."
Amanda heard more talk. B-ut there was no passes made by Ricco. It seemed that it was strictly a business talk. Amanda was disappointed. She'd hoped they'd get in bed together. She remained hidden for several minutes after they left. She slipped out, went down the back stairway.
The cabbie was still waiting.
"Lady, did you find out what you wanted?" he asked as he drove her to town.
"No," Amanda said in a disappointed tone. She knew Ricco might find out about it and pump the cabbie. She didn't want to hand him an information that could be beaten out of him. "I expected them to do some fancy screwing but they acted like brother and sister."
"Can't understand that. That doll looked good to me."
Amanda got out in town and walked home. She could have had a car to drive. Ricco wanted to buy one for her. But she wanted no expensive gift that would put her under obligation to him. The only thing she wanted from Ricco was her freedom. And she was determined to have it
CHAPTER TWELVE
The next morning Amanda was in a quandary. She was still trying to decide whether she should inform Lester Davies the broker that he was on the spot as a blackmail victim. She had asked herself the question, would he believe my story? Another question he would be sure to ask was, how did you find out about it. To prove her story she would very probably have to bring in the cabbie to back it up. If she did that would be marking the cabbie for death.
When she reached the store she was still fuddled.
She went out to lunch alone to a cheap little diner, sat alone and tried to make a decision. By the time she got back to the store she had made it. She would not tell the broker. She didn't think he would believe her story. The police? She doubted if they would believe her either. However she left herself a loophole. She'd think about it another day. The main thing that stopped her from talking was the cabbie. .She was sure Ricco would kill him. So she had decided it would be better for the broker to pay blackmail than for the cabbie to die.
The afternoon went along with the same routines. Nothing unusual to break the monotony. That is until quitting time arrived.
As Amanda left the store Terry caught up with her.
"Amanda, I must talk to you. I need your help badly."
"All right. Where shall we talk?"
"In my car in the parking lot."
She looked at him suspiciously. "Is this another trick?"
"Not this time. I'm in trouble and you can help me. I'll leave the door open so you can jump out if you wish."
"Very well."
Seated in the front seat of his car she waited. He fiddled about lighting a cigarette, looking quite embarrassed.
"It embarrasses me, Amanda, to have to tell you this. But knowing you as I do I decided you could be of more help to me than anyone I know."
"Tell me."
"Okay, here goes. There's a girl in a cabin at Vice Town who is knocked up." He stopped, flushed and refused to meet her gaze. "I did it, Amanda. She ... well, to make a long story short, she's threatening to get a lawyer and bring suit. I offered to pay all her medical expenses and give her a thousand dollars cash. But she won't do it. If she brings suit the scandal will nearly kill my father."
"What is it you want me to do?"
"I want you to go out there with me, go to the cabin and talk to her. She's in cabin number two. You can talk to her as one girl to another. Try to make her see she might cause my father's death if she brings the suit. Will you, Amanda?"
Amanda didn't see how she could refuse his plea. He seemed to be worried and troubled about it Even if she didn't want to do it for him there was Corren Senior to consider.
"Very well. I'll do what I can for you."
"Thank you, Amanda, thank you. You're a girl with a heart of gold."
He shut the car door and drove from the parking lot. He kept up an uneasy chatter about the girl all the way. She was very pretty, he said and he had been so taken with her he'd lost his head. Arriving in Vice Town, he parked behind the Bunny Den.
"I'll go in with you, then leave you two to talk."
"Are you sure the girl is pregnant?"
He looked startled. "Why ... of course."
Amanda smiled scornfully. "How do you know she's not pulling your leg? Has she been to a doctor? If so what did the doctor say?"
Terry stared at her, a new hope kindling his eyes. "Say ... I hadn't even thought of those things. It takes a woman to think of them. Look, Amanda. Can you look at her and tell whether she's pregnant or not?"
"Of course not," Amanda said, smiling. "But I can toss some questions at her that will tell me a lot. If I find out she hasn't been to a doctor I'll really smell a rat. If she says she has I'll want his name."
"Good, good. I'm so glad I thought of you. I knew you would think of something to help. I still think she's telling the truth. Come in, I'll take you to her. Otherwise she would be too suspicious to talk to you."
He led her to cabin two, rapped on the door. Rapped again. "I suppose she's asleep," he said, turning the knob.
Amanda preceded him into the cabin. He shut the door. "I'll turn on a light, Amanda."
All Amanda saw was an empty bed. The shades were drawn tightly. These was no girl in the cabin. Too late she realized she had again fallen for his glib talk. The cabin didn't look as if a girl had been living in it. Amanda turned on him in cold fury.
"You've lied to me! Why did you do it? Open that door at once!"
Instead of complying he grabbed her and, despite her struggles, pulled her into his arms and crushed his lips down on hers. She'd vowed that he'd never again screw her. She fought to get loose, biting, scratching and kicking. But to no avail, he bore her to the bed, pushed her down on it on her back.
"No, no, don't do this to me," she begged. "You've shamed me enough. Aren't you satisfied yet? Think of your wife. She and I are close friends. What would she think if she knew about this? Please, please let me up."
"I'm nuts about you, Amanda," he said hoarsely. "I can't get you out of my thoughts. I try to but I can't. When I get back to the store mornings and see you it's worse than ever. I hate to use a trick like this but I have to get into you again. Even the thought of yu makes me wild. Don't take it so hard. Don't fight me. No one will ever know."
She kept struggling but he began pulling her dress up. She thought about screaming but didn't. It would mean a scandal. A scandal would hurt the store. She did something she had not used on him before. She began to cry.
"How can you," she sobbed brokenly. "How can you?" Her-tears threw him off schedule. He paused. "Don't take it so hard. Don't cry."
But she turned on more tears, sobbing as if her heart was broken.
He looked at her a few long seconds, said, "Come on. Let's have a drink. It will calm you down. What do you say?"
"All right," she said quickly, gratified to sidetrack him even if it was only for a few minutes.
She hastily put her dress back in place. Taking a flask from his coat pocket and two paper cups he poured two drinks, back to her. Hunting her handkerchief, she had her eyes off him a few seconds. He turned with a drink in each hand, held out the one in his right hand to her.
"Oh no, oh no," she said quickly. "You're not going to pull that one on me again."
"Okay, if you think it's doped I'll drink it myself," Terry said, grinning. He gave her the drink in his left hand. Amanda held it hesitantly but, when he turned up the other ... the one he'd offered her ... and drank it, she drank. "Now ... you see. I've put it down and it isn't doped. Sit down, Amanda. Relax and take it easy. Well just talk."
Hoping she had punctured his conscience, she sat beside him on the bed. He made no further move to molest her. He turned the talk to the store. She liked that subject and they chatted for a while ... until Amanda began feeling so drowsy she had to fight to hold her eyes open.
But this was not any natural drowsiness. Anticipating that she would be suspicious of the drink he offered her, he'd put the drops in the drink in his left hand, offered her the one in his right hand. She had fallen for it Unable to fight off her drowsiness she lay back on the bed in the grasp of the narcotic....
When she opened her eyes she was lying on another bed in another cabin. A little man with thinning hair was seated beside the bed. Standing back of him were two other men. One wore a badge. Amanda blinked, looked at them in wonder.
"What ... where am I? What does this mean?" she asked weakly.
"I'm Doctor Gower," the little man said gently. "This is Marshal Dalton and Deputy Kilion. We...." He paused as the door opened and two more men came in. One was Chief of Police Pat Casey. The other was Dick Clark, detective. The doctor spoke to them, turned again to Amanda. "We want you to tell us what happened in that cabin, Miss Clark."
"But why? Why are all these officers in here? What is the meaning of all this?" Amanda demanded uneasily.
The doctor exchanged looks with the officer.
"Look, Miss Clark," the marshal said kindly. "It's important that you tell us all you know. We know you were drugged. Who gave it to you. Was it the man who was found in the cabin with you?"
"But why?" asked Amanda fearfully. "Why? Please tell me why?"
The marshal, a medium-sized man with round staring brown eyes, big nose and puffy, florid face, leaned over her.
"Tell us, Miss Clark. Did Terry Corren give you the drugged drink?"
As the five men stared at her intensely, Amanda said, "Yes, I suppose he did. Anyway after I took the drink he gave me I got so drowsy I couldn't stay awake. Yes, I might as well tell you something you already know."
"Look, Miss Clark. This next question is most important. Was there anyone else with you and Mr. Corren in the cabin? Did anyone else come with you two? Did any other person come to the cabin after you and Mr. Corren were in it?"
Amanda stared at him in puzzled wonder. Why all these questions?
"No to all your questions. Mrs. Corren and I came by ourselves. No one else was in the cabin and no one else came to the cabin. Now ... will you please tell me, what this is all about?"
"Miss Clark, are you sure about that? You did not see Mr. Reuben Jonas come into the cabin?"
"Reuben?" gasped Amanda as the color drained from her face. do not understand. Of course I didn't see him. What has he to do with it?"
"You did not hear the shot?"
"Shot? What do you mean ... shot? Of course I heard no shot." She sat upright, fright in her eyes, fear in her whole demeanor. "For goodness sake tell me what this is all about."
The marshal looked at the officers, shrugged. "Terry Corren was shot. We found...."
"No, no!" shrieked Amanda, eyes full of horror. "No, it can't be. Who would want to kill him?" She covered her face with her hands and sobbed pitifully. The officers watched her silently. Gave her time to get a grip on her emotions. Presently she got out her handkerchief, dried the tears from her eyes, dabbed at her face, faced them bravely. "I just can't believe it. Who could have done this terrible thing?"
The marshal said to Deputy Kilion, "Maybe you better go and help round up any possible witnesses." The deputy nodded and went out.
"Miss Clark, did anyone else know about you and Mr. Corren coming here together?" asked Clark.
"No ... not that I know of."
"Not even Reuben Jonas?"
"Certainly not." She stared at Clark a bit defiantly. She asked the marshal, "Why do you keep bringing Mr. Jonas's name in this awful thing?"
The marshal sighed dismally. "Okay. Because the shot that killed Corren was fired from Reuben Jonas's pistol. The pistol was found lying on the floor of the cabin. Beside the unconscious body of Jonas."
"Oh, my gosh! It just can't be," moaned Amanda distressfully. "Was ... tell me, was Mr. Jonas shot too?"
"No," the marshal said grimly. "He'd been conked on the head with a piece of pipe. The pipe was lying on the floor between the two bodies. And you. Two unconscious bodies and one dead body." He shook his head, gave a shrug, stared at the ceiling. "Now, Miss Clark, are you sure you heard nothing, saw nothing and knew nothing about Mr. Jonas coming to the cabin?"
"Certainly not. I only went to the cabin because of a story Mr. Corren told me about a girl being in trouble there. He begged me to go and talk to her and try to persuade her to not sue him. But there was no girl in the cabin. He gave me a drink. I know now it was drugged. That's all I remember."
"What time did you two get to the cabin?" asked the police chief.
"Why ... I really do not know. We came straight here from town. It must have been close to six o'clock."
"It's forty minutes after seven now," Casey said after glancing at his watch. "Did Corren display any nervousness or show any signs whatever that he expected to be followed?"
"No."
The marshal shrugged dismally, lit a cigarette and smoked thoughtfully. He stopped his pacing, confronted Amanda. "Well, Mss Clark, we know you had nothing to do with the shooting. The doctor's examination cleared you. We know you were drugged. The doctor said you could not have seen or heard a thing that happened. "
"Thank you, marshal. What about Mr. Jonas? Was he hurt badly?"
"We sent him to the hospital. The doctor said he wasn't badly injured."
She stood up and the marshal asked, "Do you have a way home?"
"No, but I can get a taxi."
At the door she turned. "Marshal, what hospital is Mr. Jonas in?"
"The County."
"Will I be permitted to talk to him if I go?"
"I'm afraid not, Miss Clark. He's under guard."
"Under guard. Why?"
"Suspicion of murder."
She drew in her breath sharply, stared at the officer incredulously. Reuben held for murder? He had not reason to kill Terry Corren. A sickening fear gripped her heart as she recalled Ricco's threat. Had Ricco been tipped off? Had he killed Terry and framed Reuben? She didn't know the answer but she knew he was capable of it.
"Marshal, that's silly. Why would Reuben Jonas kill his employer?"
"Jealousy," the marshall said sharply. "Jealousy over you."
"Jealousy over me. What do you mean?"
"Don't you know, Mss Clark?" asked the marshal.
"Know what? You're speaking in riddles. I've told you the reason I came here with Mr. Corren was because of a story he told about a girl he wanted me to talk to and persuade her not to sue him. I told you it was a trick. T-here was no girl here."
Deputy Kilion came back in the cabin.
"Nobody has a clue, marshal," he said disgustedly. "Several in the Bunny Den noticed Jonas's car pulling up and stopping. But nobody saw where he went after he got out. Found several who said they heard a shot but they thought it was on television. Can't find a single soul who seen the murder." He let his lecherous eyes roam up and down Amanda's trim figure. "Betcha she seen it. Betcha she set up Corren for the killer. It's as plain as the nose on your face, Marshal. Jonas's her crotch jabber. He come out here with his pistol and killed Corren."
"You fool," grated Amanda. "If you figure out everything as wrong as you have this killing you need a muzzle and a baby rattle to play with."
Kilion flushed. "The one thing I can't figure out," he said angrily, "is how come she wasn't in there naked. Only way I can figure it is she laid Corren on the bed naked and then put her clothes back on. She..!"
Amanda hauled off and slapped him as hard as she could.
"Shutup," ordered the marshal as the deputy stepped back and put his hand to his face. "You had no right to say that."
Amanda left the cabin. Stopped as she saw the crowd assembled outside. She shuddered as she passed the cabin Terry had been killed in. The crowd gazed after her stonily as she haded a taxi, got in and was carried to town.
Amanda couldn't help wondering whether Terry had been murdered before, during or after he had screwed her.
If he had been shot during; that meant she had been getting humped by a dead man.
Amanda shivered and slunk down in her seat.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Everyone was in mourning and the store would be closed until after the funeral. Amanda kept in seclusion. However when she went to offer her condolences to Zelda she found that Zelda held no animosity for her. Instead she found she was needed. Neither mentioned the distasteful subject of Amanda being found naked with Terry. Terry Corren Senior had been so overcome with shock he was still in bed under the care of a doctor.
After the funeral the Corren store opened the following morning with its manager absent and the assistant manager dead. With an extension telephone by his bedside Terry Corren ordered Ozzie Harren to take command until he was able to return to the store. Harren was a trusted employe, had been with the store many years.
There was a larger Monday shopping crowd than usual. Fears that the unfortunate tragedy might hurt trade were dissipated. Amanda went to see Reuben at the jaiL found him quite cheerful. To her surprise the marshal turned over his office to them to talk in.
"Reuben, I've been so worried about you. I was jaever so astonished in my life when they told me you had been knocked unconscious in the cabin. Who struck you?"
"Amanda, if I knew that I could get out of here in a hurry," he said, grinning ruefully. "I was hit from behind and went out like a light.'"
She asked the question the officers had asked him and he gave her the same answer he'd given them.
"Reuben ... I ... I've been wondering what brought you to the cabin. I've been unable to think of anything reasonable."
He shrugged, grimaced wryly. "It was a trick, but I fell for it. Someone ... a man ... called me and told me you and Terry were in the cabin behind the Bunny Den. Whoever it was did a good job of acting. His voice was excited and sounded as if I had only a few minutes to come to the rescue."
"Rescue? I don't understand."
"You will. The man said you and Terry were being set up for dirty pictures for blackmail purposes. He said you two were to be drugged, stripped and photographed naked together. He told me he was a waiter, said Terry helped him once and he wanted to return the favor. I asked him his name and he said Terry would know who'd called."
Reuben sighed dismally , tenderly felt of the bandaged wound on his head, went on, "I was so intensely anxious to get there and rescue you and Terry that I didn't stop to think that it might be a trick. I jumped in my car and headed for the Bunny Den like a hawk leaving a burning forest."
"So that's the way he worked it," Amanda said so slowly to herself that Reuben didn't catch it.
"What's that, Amanda?"
"Nothing. Just mumbling to myself. Look, Reuben, tell me what happened when you got to the cabin."
He shook his head sadly. "Like I said I go there as fast as I could drive it. I parked my car and went straight to the cabin. Without rapping or calling out ... or anything ... I pushed the door open and took a step or two through. I ... well, you and Terry were bouncing away. Just at that moment a shot close to my ear startled me. I started to turn but something hit me on the head and I saw dazzling lights, stars, meteors, shooting stars and half of the aurora. That's all I remember until that sharp-faced little doctor was bringing me back to my senses. They had carried me into another cabin for him to attend to me."
"When you heard the shot did you see Terry fall?"
"No," he said, shaking his head. "The clout on my head came so fast after the shot I didn't see anything."
Amanda made no reply. Reuben studied her quizzically. As if he thought she knew a lot more than she was telling.
"Will you be able to get out of jail, Reuben?"
"I think so. Zelda has already put a couple of legal eagles to work on it. They'll...."
"Oh! Has Zelda been here to see you?"
"Yes, of course. He looked at her keenly. "Oh, I get it. You are wondering why the wife of a man I'm accused of killing would come to the jail to see me."
"Well ... apparently she doesn't believe you killed Terry."
"That's right. She doesn't. And neither does Terry Corren. He insisted that she come see me, hire lawyers and get me out on bad as fast as possible. He needs me at the store, he said. I started to say a moment ago that the lawyers will see the district attorney and then the judge. The marshal told me he was sure I would be granted bad."
"I certainly hope so. I know you didn't kill Terry. It was a trap, I'm sure. Do you have any idea who was behind it?"
He looked at her steadily a few moments, shook his head. "No. I thought maybe you had idea about it."
"I? I don't know who framed you, Reuben. If I did I would have told the police."
They talked about the store a while. Amanda had been taught a lot by Reuben. He gave her instructions on what to do and how to do it. Amanda was about to leave when she thought of something.
"Reuben, your gun? It was found on the cabin floor and had been fired one time. How...?"
"I know, I know. I carried it in my car. Whoever killed Terry and framed me for it must have stolen my pistol and used it. Just as soon as I get out I'm going to work on it. I think I told you that I used to be a private eye. I learned a lot."
Amanda went back to the store and put in a hard day. Unable to get it all done she had to come back and work at night. It was midnight when she crawled into bed.
She wondered what she should do. Should she tell the officers about Ricco's threat? What good would it do? She knew he would have his tracks so covered up they would find nothing on him. On the other hand he would be warned. She decided she would keep what she knew to herself. She wondered where Ricco had found out about herself and Terry. One name leaped to her mind ... Rita. Yes, that was it. Rita had watched her and tipped off Ricco. He had set the trap fro Reuben, killed Terry and framed Reuben for the murder. She had not the slightest proof of it but she was sure of it. She was late to work the next morning. She wanted to see Reuben again but there was too much work.
Just before lunch time the office door opened and in came Reuben.
"Reuben? I can't believe it. Oh, I'm so glad. How did you do it?"
"I didn't," he said jocularly, grinning at her. "The two lawyers did it. Zelda and Terry Corren put up my bail. But I'm to be the store manager. Until Terry Corren returns anyway. I'll let Ozzie Harren attend to the store and I'll help you. There's a store-wide sale coming up and we're going to work like the devil to get ready for it. Then too I have some outside work to do."
He studied his fingernails thoughtfully a few moments. "Amanda, you seemed surprised I was bailed out. Well, I was surprised too. I could hardly believe it when I learned it was the Correns who put up the heavy bail. Think of it. Bailed out by the father and wife of the man I'm accused of murdering.
"Still it wasn't too surprising when you consider some facts. While the officers didn't tell me so, I'm sure they didn't believe I killed Terry. I could tell by their actions. They put no pressure on me to sign a confession. They made tests of my hands. The tests were negative. They know I couldn't have shot and killed Terry, hit myself on the back of my head, knocked myself unconscious, then tossed the piece of pipe over toward the bed. Remember I was still unconscious when officers arrived. They had the doctor's word that I was really unconscious was wasn't faking."
"They must have told Zelda and Mr. Corren they thought you were innocent," Amanda said. "Otherwise they wouldn't have hired lawyers and bailed you out."
"Right you are. But I do know Zelda and Terry Corren thought I was innocent. What I can't understand is, why didn't the murdered kill me too?"
Amanda was sure she knew why. Ricco ... she was sure he had been the killer ... wanted to pin the murder on Reuben to take the heat off himself.
The store personnel showed no surprise at Reuben being back on the job. Amanda and Reuben were treated as warmly as ever. Just before lunch time Amanda had a phone call.
It was Detective Dick Clark. He asked her to come to his office.
"Okay, Mr. Clark. I'll get a quick lunch and be right over."
When she was seated in front of his desk he asked, "Mss Clark, I take it you have nothing to add to your previous statement to us?"
"No, Mr. Clark, nothing. It was just as I said. I was drugged and knew nothing until I opened my eyes and saw the doctor bending over me."
"Miss Clark, what do you know about Little Ricco?"
Amanda was startled but she wasn't too surprised. After all they had probably been keeping their eyes and ears open. People had seen her with Ricco. Maybe a tip about him had come from Ricco's home town. Maybe their attention had been focused on him for other reasons.
"He's just another man who's been trying to date me. So far I haven't gone out with him. He sends me flowers and gifts. Keeps trying to make me change my mind." Amanda smiled brightly. "Why do you ask me about him?"
Clark ignored the question.
"Was he jealous enough to have killed Corren and made a attempt to pin it on Jonas?"
"I don't know."
"Did you ever mention to him the fact that Jonas kept his pistol in his car?"
"No."
"But you knew Jonas did keep his pistol there?"
"He told me he did. But I never saw it in his car."
"So you have been out in Jonas's car?" Clark asked quietly.
"Yes, a few times."
"Did Ricco know about it? Did he ever mention it to you?"
"No, he never mentioned it. I can't say whether he knew about it or not."
By the way Clark pumped other questions at her Amanda knew he knew a lot more about her than she'd thought they did. She wondered if they'd found out about that first tryst with Terry. She decided they knew all about Terry and had found out somethings about her.
"Just one more thing, Miss Clark," Clark said earnestly as he rose. "I must warn you to be very careful. You were the central figure in a murder. The motive I would say. While we are sure you saw nothing or heard nothing ... the killer might not be so sure."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, Miss Clark, just this. If the killer should decide you had seen him he might want to put your testimony where it could never be used against him ... in your grave."
"I hadn't thought of that."
"Don't forget it. Be careful and don't talk about the case. I don't want to see anything happen to you."
As she was walking back toward the store a man stepped from the door of a restaurant.
"Hi, Amanda. Come on, have a cup of coffee with me."
It was Little Ricco and Amanda knew the meeting was no accident. She knew he must have seen her come from Clark's office.
"Well...." She glanced at her watch. "Okay, Ricco but we must hurry. I'm due at the store right now."
They went inside and he led her to a booth.
"Clark been questioning you?" he asked casually over hi coffee.
"Yes, Ricco. He asked me a lot of questions about Mr. Corren. Whether Mr. Corren had ever expressed any fear of being killed and so on. He kept asking me if I was absolutely sure that I hadn't seen the killer. I told him I hadn't seen a thing or heard a thing. I was drugged by a trick and was unconscious through it all."
"Amanda, you got any idea who did kill Corren?"
"No, Ricco. Not the slightest. Anyway it's the cops' job to find the killer, not mine. Of course, I'm sorry Mr. Corren was killed but I had every reason to hate him. Had he not been killed I would have quit my job and left." She was trying to put over to Ricco the idea that she wasn't very sorry Terry had been killed. She'd decided her best defense was to try to make him think her show of sorrow over Terry's death was only an act. "Yes, I had every reason to hate him. I would have hated him had he lived. I don't say I'm glad he got killed but I do say he had it coming to him."
Did she see a glitter of approving satisfaction in Ricco 's eyes? He reached over and patted her hand. "I better not keep you any longer, Amanda. I, too, am sorry the guy got killed. But it's just like you said ... he had it coming to him."
She was about to rise when he said, "I told you I would loan the Corren store some loot ... if you'd come back to me and be my wife. What have you decided?"
"Give me a little more time to think about it, Ricco."
"Okay, Baby. Okay."
He walked to the door with her. "Things are going good with me, Baby. Making plenty of scratch and I'd like to spend a pile of it on you. All you got to do is say the word."
As she walked into the store she saw Rita eyeing her curiously. She wondered if Rita had tipped Ricco about her call on Clark. She knew Rita had promised to keep a close tab on her.
The afternoon was about half gone when Judy Dejohn suggested that Amanda go out with her for a cup of coffee.
Seated in a booth Judy told her Jason Willard knew all about the Corren sale but hadn't ordered her to get the prices for him.
"Do you think he's on to you?" asked Amanda.
"Oh no. I'm sure he isn't."
"How do you account for it then?"
"I think he has something bigger up his sleeve."
"What?"
Judy lowered her voice. "I happen to know he's been doing a lot of talking with Little Ricco."
"What did they talk about?" asked Amanda, trying to talk casually.
"That I don't know. They changed the subject when I walked up. But I did hear the figure ten thousand used."
"Ten thousand?" gasped Amanda. "Are you sure?"
"Certainly. I have good ears."
Amanda wondered if Ricco had already made Willard a victim of his racket. And his tape recording dirt. She'd heard Ricco and Rita put his name up as a prospective victim. She decided that must be it. Well, what did she care? Willard was unscrupulous and dishonest himself. He had it coming to him. She wondered what girl Ricco had used to bait the trap with.
"Look, Judy, is there any chance of your finding out what they're up to?"
"I doubt it but I can try. I can't come right out and ask him, you know."
"Did Jason Willard seem to be mad? How did he act?"
Judy stirred her coffee thoughtfully.
"Well, he wasn't laughing. He frowned at mention of the amount, didn't seem at all pleased. Before he could say anything I walked up their table." She paused to shudder. "That Ricco is a cold one. I got the idea he was measuring me for a coffin or a stab in the back."
"He was just sizing you up," Amanda said, smiling.
"Well, all he needs is a couple of horns and a pitchfork. They say he's already taken over the rackets in Oakville."
"No, that's not ture. He couldn't get away with it. He knows better than to try that." She was sure Ricco had fingered Willard as a blackmail victim and had already pulled the trap. "Since you mention it, have you heard where Ricco's female interest lies?"
Judy gave her a keen look. "Do you really want me to answer that one?"
"Certainly. Otherwise I wouldn't have asked it."
"Okay. I've heard your name mentioned."
"What silly nonsense. I'll admit he had tried to date me several times but I keep stalling. He sends me flowers and other gifts. He even wanted to buy me a new car. He likes me, no doubt of that. But ... like you said ... I, too, get the idea he's measuring me for a coffin. I've never been out with him. But I agree with you. I think he's dangerous. So I string him along, treat him nice and am careful to not antagonize him. Diplomacy, that's the word for it."
"There's another few words for what you're doing," Judy said gravely. "The words are, don't push your luck too far. If you do you may find you're riding in a hearse."
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
A special sale was being run at the store and old Terry Corren's tired face brightened considerably when the stream of patrons poured in. Extra clerks had been hired. Reuben had feared there might have been too many. But, as he watched the stream of customers pouring in, he lost that fear.
Sure enough the Willard store had launched a rival sale. His prices in some cases were lower than Corren's, in some cases higher. Judy Dejohn had supplied him with the first sale prices, at Reuben's behest. Willard had very obviously cut his prices under them, figuring to beat the Corren prices.
So massed were the customers that Amanda and Reuben had to pitch in. Most of the clerks worked right on through the lunch hour, or ate hasty sandwiches.
Amanda was so dead tired at closing time she accepted an offer by Zelda to drive her to her boarding house.
"Amanda, I would ask you over to dinner with me but it looks as if you're too tired to do anything but go to bed. I'd like to have you if you feel like making it."
"Oh, I'd like to, Zelda. But I'm too tired to do anything but go to bed. I'll take a rain check on it."
"Okay. When the sale is over I want you to come spend a few days with me."
"It's a deal."
Neither had ever mentioned the tragedy to the other. She was certain that Zelda knew all about her husband's weakness for pretty women. Neither wanted to embarrass the other by referring to it. Amanda appreciated this tact by Zelda and she was sure Zelda had the same appreciation.
"Zelda, will Mr. Corren resume the active management of the store?"
"Yes, I think he will. I haven't heard anything to the contrary. The loss of Terry was a terrible shock to him. He needs a hard job like the store management to distract his mind. However, he thinks a lot of Reuben and has every confidence in him. I think he'll leave most of the work to Reuben. But he'll continue to make the decisions, I'm sure."
Amanda went to bed early that night, too tired to do anything else.
The second day of the sale was a repetition of the first day. However, by lunch time the crowd had thinned out, giving the clerks a chance to dash out for lunch. Judy Dejohn waited for Amanda at the front, went with her.
As they ate their lunch Amanda waited for Judy to tell her what she apparently had to tell. But Judy kept a little smile on her lips, making light talk about this and that. Finally Amanda asked her what she had to tell.
"I really shouldn't tell this," Judy said. "But I'm sure you won't repeat it. It took several cocktails to get it out of Jason Willard. Ricco hit him with some kind of dirty picture racket ... I don't know just what the thing was ... and settled with Jason for five thousand instead of the ten thousand he demanded. I gathered that they planted a pretty girl in front of Jason for bait. She evidently lured Jason into a cabin or room where they had the stage set. Then, I suppose, they got him and the girl naked together in a photo. Jason would never have talked about it if he hadn't been high." Judy stopped and giggled. "I sure would like to see one of those pictures, wouldn't you?"
"No, I don't think so," Amanda returned. "Why should I?"
"You mean you're not interested in seeing a naked man?"
"Certainly not. Most of them look bad enough with their clothes on."
"Well, I've seen Jason nude anyway." Judy gasped, clapped her hand to her mouth, looked aghast at Amanda. "What am I saying? I didn't mean to say that. I was only kidding."
"I'll bet you were."
Amanda walked slowly back to the store. So Ricco had used his extortion racket to clip Willard for five thousand. Even in the short time he's been in Oakville, Ricco had become notorious. In a way Amanda was to blame. She was the magnet which had drawn him to Oakville. She had been trying to figure out how to get out of her entanglement with him but the only thing she knew of was for him to be pinned with Terry's murder. Reuben was anxious for the sale to end so he could begin working on it. Dick Clark had asked her a most significant question when he's asked her if Ricco could have been jealous enough to have killed Terry and to frame Reuben. She wondered just how much the law did know. She hoped it was enough to arrest Ricco and throw him in jail. By the time he got out she'd be hidden so far away he'd never find her again. She would even change her name.
She and Reuben worked on a special sale for the paper that afternoon. "You can't start a sale and expect it to keep rolling of its own momentum," Reuben said. "You've got to keep giving them even more sensational inducements, more free things and keep them talking about it. Once you let a sale lose its momentum you're through."
"Yes, I'm learning that."
The last day of the sale found a swarm of enthusiastic persons in front even before the store doors opened. Even the sidewalk was blocked by the crowd. Terry Corren was delighted. It looked as if the last sale day was going to break all records. And it did. When closing time finally arrived Amanda was dead tired.
Next morning Terry Corren called Reuben and Ozzie Harren into his office for a conference.
Reuben was smiling when he came back. Amanda asked him what it was all about
"I've never seen Terry Corren so please," he told her. "We broke all records for a three-day sale. Mr. Corren gives me most of the credit He said it was my new promotion ideas that put it over."
"Well, that's true," Amanda said.
"Oh, I don't know about that You helped. So did all the rest. Anyway I'm paid to think. It's a good thing I am. Otherwise I wouldn't.
"What else did Mr. Corren have to say?"
"Here's the best news of all. The factors have agreed to carry the store notes indefinitely." Reuben shook his head sadly. "The whole trouble was their fear of Terry's reckless spending. Now with him gone thye're willing to go along with Terry Corren. He's always been conservative, and has a tine business head. He said the store will be in much better shape from now on with the pressure taken off. He wants me to continue as manager."
"I'm glad. Reuben, do you think I'm showing enough aptitude to eventually become the advertising manager?"
"Y-es, Amanda I do. I've never seen anyone who took hold so readily and who learned any faster."
"Thank you. I'll try harder than ever."
He paused to light a cigarette. "Amanda, there's something I...." He broke on, tiptoed to the closed office door, looked straight upward. He motioned her to be quiet and to come to the door. She tiptoed to the door and he silently pointed upward to the ceding.
Looking up, Amanda was surprised to see a small, ingeniously arranged mirror affixed to the ceiling such a way that anyone standing outside the office door would be seen in it. She recognized Rita Castero standing silently in front of the door.
Both tiptoed back to their former places and Reuben said loudly, "Amanda, there's something I want to show you. It ... I'll be damned if I didn't leave my glasses in Terry Corren's office. I'll go get them."
He walked slowly to the door and opened it. Rita was gone. Reuben went on Into Terry Corren's office, took his glasses from his pocket, came back out holding them.
He left the office door open this time and said lowly to Amanda, "Look Amanda, I must have a secret talk with you. There are some pertinent questions to ask. I need your help if I am to find the real murderer of Terry Corren. Can you slip from your room tonight ... after midnight ... and meet me back of your house?"
"Why after midnight?"
"I think you're Being watched closely. But I doubt whether anyone will keep watch after they put you to bed." He grinned at her blank look. "I mean after they see your light go off in your room. Thinking you've gone to bed for the night, they'll leave you for the night"
"Oh, I see."
"I suggest you go to bed with your clothes on, keep awake and meet me in the alley at one o'clock. I'll park my car there with the lights off."
"All right. I'll be there. And I'll do as you say."
At lunch Amanda wasn't surprised when Little Ricco walked in and sat down at her booth. He smelled like a french whore.
"Hi, Baby. How's tricks? Mind if I sit down?"
"Of course not."
He sat down, motioned to a waitress, gave his order.
He pulled a small oblong package from his pocket, put it over before Amanda. "Baby, there's your valentine present."
"Valentine's D-ay is six months off."
"That so? I'll have to get me a new crystal ball."
Despite her antipathy for him Amanda had to smile. She'd thought he was to dull for such a quip.
"Thank you, Ricco. However, I won't accept the gift."
"Okay, okay. I'll put it in storage."
The waitress brought his lunch and he concentrated on it a few moments. "Look, Baby. Why don't you and me take a powder out of this slummy town and take a world cruise? Say the word and I'll buy an oceangoing yacht and well take off. On top of that I'll deposit twenty thousand bucks to your personal account. Where're you going to get a better deal than that?"
"N-of any place, Ricco." She was not only surprised but affected by his earnestness. He wasn't talking idly. She knew she had only to say the word. But she had no love for him. Instead she almost hated him. He was revolting to her. But her inner caution warned she must not let him know. "It's simply grand of you. So generous and considerate. Will you give me a few days to think about it?"
"You betcha." He patted her hand gently. "I'll wait. Don't let me down."
"I'll think seriously about it, Ricco."
As she walked back toward the store she wondered what made him so in love with her. She knew he could have other pretty girls. Girls who would be tickled to lay for him, spend his money and accept all the gifts he'd shower on them. Why had he picked her out over them ad?-She wished sh knew the answer. She knew something else. If she ever gave him to understand it was absolutely hopeless ... she would end up a corpse.
As she entered the store she saw Rita eyeing her curiously. She wondered if the slender girl was a former flame of Ricco. Or a former mistress. Or maybe just an unscrupulous, greedy whore who was helping him with his dirt for money. She was beginning to dislike Rita intensely. Rita came out from behind the counter and accosted her.
"Well, Amanda, did you and Ricco have a nice time at lunch?"
"You don't miss anything do you?" Amanda replied, forcing a smile.
"It doesn't pay to miss where you're concerned," Rita said enigmatically.
As she walked on back to the advertising office Amanda wondered what Rita would say if she knew Ricco had offered her a bank account of twenty thousand and a world cruise on an ocean-going yacht. She had not the slightest idea of accepting the offer but she knew she must keep Ricco thinking she would. Otherwise the grave diggers would have another job.
Terry Corren never mentioned Terry's fatal tryst with her. Amanda was sure he knew all the details and therefore couldn't blame her.
Amanda worked on several routine layouts that afternoon. She wondered what Reuben wanted to ask her. Some things about the murder? That must be it. Would he bring up the name of Ricco? He probably would, she decided. It seemed that just about everybody knew there was a liaison between them.
Reuben left the routine layouts to her. He came in later, looked at them, told her she'd done a good job.
"I talked to Terry Corren, told him you were perfectly capable of taking over the job of advertising manager," he said. "He agrees with me. So it looks like that headache is going to be passed on to you."
"I'm delighted. I don't consider it a headache."
"You will when you've been at it long enough."
"When are you going to begin your...."
He reached over and clapped his hand over her mouth. Tiptoeing to the closed office door, he looked upward. "False alarm," he said, laughing. "I thought I heard a slight noise outside. Now, what was it you asked me?"
"When are you going to begin...."
"Not so loud. The walls may have ears."
Amanda walked over close to him, asked in a near whisper, "When are you going to begin your slouthing?"
He pulled her closer, kissed her.
"My, is that the way a private eye begins his work?" Amanda asked, smiling.
"He does if he has a lovely helper like you. Seriously, I'm going to start on it after I talk to you tonight. Are you sure you have it in your mind okay?"
"Certainly. In the alley back of my boarding house at one o'clock."
"That's it. Don't be late."
"Mster, I wouldn't think of it"
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Amanda was in bed with her clothes on rubbing herself between her thighs. She didn't want to do a complete job on herself as she didn't know what Reuben had in mind for tonight. She rose a few minutes before one but didn't turn the light back on. Using every caution to make no noise she slipped through the door and down the back stairway. The night was a black one. The sky was cloudy and there was no moon. She slipped into the alley, almost bumped into a car before seeing the faint blur it made.
"Is that you, Reuben?" she called out lowly.
"Yes. Get in the front seat. Can you see?"
"Enough to make it I think." He opened the door and she climbed in beside him. "How long have you been here, Reuben?"
"Several minutes. Have any trouble waking up?"
"I didn't go to sleep. Ugh, but it's dark out here."
He snuggled her to him and for a long moment their lips clung together. He wanted to go after more but the flesh would have to wait. He had things to talk about. Another kiss and he broke up the embrace.
"Reuben, what was it you wanted to ask me?"
"Well, to start off with, what is there between you and this fellow Ricco?"
Amanda sat there like a stone for several long moments. Should she tell him the truth? He loved her, or at least he'd told her he did. In that case didn't he have the right to know? She wondered.
"What do you think, Reuben? You're a former private dick."
"I think there's something between you two that is more than a mere acquaintanceship. Just what I don't know. Maybe he has something on you. Maybe you have something on him. Maybe one of you knows something about the other's past. I'm sure you're scared of him. Now tell me, how close did I come?"
"Not too close. Ricco is my husband."
She heard his intake of breath, could almost feel him stiffen at the news. She heard him sigh, could almost see him shrug.
"So that's it. Husband? Well, that never occurred to me."
"Would you like to hear the entire story?"
"Yes, very much."
She told him the story. "So that's why Little Ricco is in Oakville. I tried to keep him from finding out where I was. Bur Rita Castero tipped him off, I'm sure. I was nearly bowled over when he not only showed up in Oakville but was so gentlemanly, polite and considerate that I couldn't figure it out. He hasn't asked me to go out with him, hasn't claimed the rights of a husband. He even told me he wanted me but only wanted me if I wanted him. Yes indeed I'm afraid of him. So I've been very careful not to antagonize him. I think he'd kill me if I openly displayed my scorn of him. I'm being kind to him. It's the best way I know to stay alive."
"Amanda, did he murder Terry?"
"I don't know, Reuben. Not for sure. I think he did but I don't have any proof whatever. He's smart and slippery. Back home he was suspected of a killing or two but was never indicted for it. I do know one thing. He was capable of doing it. He told me he would kill any man he caught jazzing me."
"He was in the act of undressing you, Amanda. I had only one glimpse. After that one glimpse, all the stars in the sky hit me. At least I saw all of them. Yes, Terry slipped you a mickey. Weren't you suspicious of it?"
"Certainly. H-e mixed two drinks, offered me the one in his right hand. I told him I thought it had a sex drug in it. He laughed, gave me the one in his left hand. He outwitted me. He expected me to do what I did."
"Well, Ricco ... if he was the murderer ... sure staged a clumsy frame on me. The officers knew after one look that I couldn't have shot and kdled Terry."
"Criminals aren't clever. They just think they are. When I said he was smart and slippery I meant smart in a criminal way. Slippery because he uses criminal caution and can produce false witnesses to perjure themselves for him. Or have his hirelings kill any witnesses who might send him to prison."
"Look Amanda. I believe he made a mistake out there. I think someone may have seen him, forcing him to act hastily and differently than the way he planned it. Now here's what I thought we might do tomorrow. Slip out to the Bunny Den and spend the day trying to find a witness ... or witnesses ... who might have seen the killer."
"Won't we be recognized? Wouldn't Ricco be tipped off?"
"Yes ... if we didn't disguise ourselves. But we will. I think you better fix yourself up like a real whore."
"Reuben?"
"If anyone asks you who you are be ready with a phony name. You might say you had a fight with another girl and didn't want to go back until she cooled off."
"Sounds O.K."
"I'll wear a disguise I used when I worked for the private eye in Chicago.
When I come in I'll introduce myself as a securities salesman. I'll tell the owner I'll give him fifty percent of my commission if hell give me permission to call on his boarders with the object of selling them securities. Plan he'll fall for it. Your part will be to stay in the Bunny Den and keep your eyes open. Watch the phones especially. When I contact all the cabins I'll come in the club, give you the eye and ask you to have a drink with me. Once we get acquainted we'll stick around, ask questions and see what we can turn up. One thing I'd like to know. Did Rita Castero tip Ricco that you and Terry had gone away together?"
"I'm sure she did. But I couldn't prove it."
"We'll tackle that later. Once we can find a witness who saw the killer we'll be on our way. I can't believe the murderer could have gone out there, walked to cabin two, shot and killed Terry, knocked me cold, walked off and not be seen. It doesn't sound reasonable."
"Surely no one saw the actual killing. If they had wouldn't they have told the cops?"
"Might have been too scared. Or maybe someone saw it and just didn't want to get mixed up in it. People are funny that way. They shrug and say, "What the hell, it's none of my business. Let the fuzz attend to it. They get paid for it."
Amanda was silent. S-he wondered what the liaison was between Zelda and Reuben. That episode on the bed? When she'd called him "husband," what did it mean? Surely she wouldn't have two husbands. Amanda had to know.
"Reuben? You and Zelda? I told you I had a husband. Do you have a wife?"
He was silent some little time. She knew he was staring at her in the darkness. Had she touched a hidden, weak spot? She wondered.
"No, Amanda. But I came mightly close. Zelda was a gay, good time girl. I met her while working for the private eye. As I told you, the wife of a man Zelda was going out with, hired my boss. He put me on the job to tail them. I fell for Zelda, quit my job. Asked her to marry me. She accepted my proposal. Got me a job at another place. Before we could marry, Terry popped into town, saw Zelda one night in a night club. I had some night work to do. He went right after her ... you know how he was ... and the next thing I knew they were married."
"But ... wasn't it kind of sudden?"
"Too sudden. She said Terry drugged her. Slipped something in her drink that dulled her memory. Anyway he hauled her off somewhere and married her. She told me she didn't know she was married until after it was over. She made him give me the store job. I didn't want to take it but she made me promise I would. So I did. She kept saying she would divorce Terry and marry me. But ... well, I found out I really didn't love her. Zelda loves herself more than anyone else. She's an opportunist."
"Are you sure you do not love her?"
"Positively."
"But...." Amanda bit her lip, stopped. She couldn't ask him what she wanted to. A girl can't ask a fellow she loves why he was down on another man's wife. She wondered if all men were like that. Maybe Reuben was just being a man. "What I started to say was, you asked her to marry you. She married Terry instead. Was that what killed your love for her?"
"N-o, Amanda. I've come to know her too well. I've found out that she isn't really capable of loving a man all the way. I mean to where she'd sacrifice comforts and luxuries of life. To the point where she'd live in a hovel with him and starve for him if necessary. She said Terry drugged her, made her marry him. I believed that at first. Now I doubt it. I think she married him for security and comfort. I think she figured she could have me too. But she can't ... not any more."
His last statement told Amanda a lot. Was it his way of saying he had been Zelda's lover after her marriage? Was it his way of telling Amanda that was all over? She believed it was. She decided she'd drop the subject forever.
"Amanda, we must make some plans. We can't go out there together. Tell you what. You start walking out that way in the morning about nine and I'll come along and pick you up."
"Certainly." Amanda giggled. "Looks like it's going to be fun."
"Don't kid yourself. It'll be dangerous."
"Why will it?"
"Look, Amanda." He slid closer and talked earnestly. "I've got to impress on you that it's really dangerous. Both of us think Ricco killed Terry and tried to frame me. He apparently thinks he's in the clear. He probably has no idea anyone suspects him. Don't you know that if he knew you had seen him shoot Terry, you'd already be dead? I'm not kidding. Just let him think you and I are trying to gather evidence to pin the murder on him ... there'll be a double funeral. So for Pete's sake don't get the idea our work is to be a lark. We must not be recognized. We've got to play our parts as if our lives depended on it. And our lives may depend on it. Unless you understand the danger you'll be running into I can't let you go through with it."
"I understand, Reuben. You're exactly right. I see now why you went to all the trouble you did to arrange this meeting. If Ricco had wind of it he'd probably have killed us already."
"Right you are. Now, let's go get our sleep."
She went into his arms. Her warm, red lips clung greedily to his seeking ones. She strained her body against him. Reuben was slipping a hand into her blouse when she gasped, pushed him away.
"Good night, Reuben."
She opened the car door softly, got out and felt her way back up the alley. She reached the back stairway, went up . the stairs noiselessly, went to her room and undressed as fast as she could. She knew she would have to finish up with her finger again.
She knew the boarding house always slept late on Sunday morning. Even the landlady didn't get up until after eight, having no early risers on Sunday. So Amanda set her clock for seven.
The clock did its duty next morning at seven. She got up slowly enough.
Moving slowly and leisurely since she had plenty of time she bathed, got out her jeans and things. With one eye on her watch and one on the mirror she dressed carefully. When she was dressed she worked on her face. If her face wasn't a walking advertisement for a whore she didn't know what else it was.
She slipped out the back way.
She took a short cut to reach the highway leading to Vice Town. She knew Reuben wouldn't let her walk far. She reached the city limits, set out on the highway. She had gone less than a half mile, when a car pulled up beside her.
"Want a ride, Baby?"
If she hadn't recognized Reuben's voice she might not have recognized him.
"I don't know you," Amanda said coldly, walking on and tossing her nose in the air.
He let her walk a little way then pulled up beside her again. "Get in, Amanda. That was a good act but don't lay it on too heavy."
She got in beside him and he drove toward the Bunny Den.
"What a getup you have, Reuben. If it hadn't been for your voice I wouldn't have known you."
"Yeah? Well, I knew you a mile off."
"Because you knew I would be wearing this getup and knew I would be walking on the highway."
"That's right. Are you hungry?"
"Ami?"
"There's a food stand just ahead. Let's see if they're open."
It was open. Not only open but all its tables were full but one. They had an enjoyable breakfast, got back in the car and went on to the Bunny Den. Reuben parked at the rear and they went inside.
The place, to their surprise, had several customers. Looking important and grinning smugly, Reuben led Amanda back to a booth.
He said to Amanda, "Baby, what'll you have to wet your insides?"
"Give me beer."
"T-wo beers," Reuben ordered.
They sipped their beer, ordered again. Reuben asked the waiter where the proprietor was. The waiter told him he was still asleep. Reuben asked him what time the owner got up. The waiter said noon sometimes, sometimes earlier.
"Look," Reuben said to him. "I'm a securities salesman. I want to go around to the cabins, try to sell some. Any rule against it out here?"
"Naw. Why the hell would they be? Hop to it."
The waiter left their table and Reuben said, "Do you want to wait in here?"
"No, I don't." A rough-looking man apparently well soaked with liquor had been making passes at Amanda. She was afraid. "I'll go with you. Will I be in the way?"
"No, I don't think so. Come on."
It was well after ten and Reuben figured some of the people would be up. By the time he got through talking to them maybe the others would be up. Anyway he couldn't sit around all day.
The occupants were asleep in the first two cabins but they found two women cooking breakfast in the third cabin. They looked suspiciously at the callers.
"May we come in a minute?" Reuben asked politely. "We wish to ask you a few question."
"What about?" asked the middle-aged woman with stringy hair. "You the law?"
"Let's just say we're investigators," Reuben said as he and Amanda sat down. "We wondered if you two heard or saw anything the evening Terry Corren was shot and killed in the cabin near you."
The two women exchanged quick looks.
"We heard the shot but we both thought it came from a television set," the woman said.
He and Amanda tried two more cabins but got only blank answers. The occupants of one cabin had not been home when the killing occurred. The other said they had heard nothing or seen nothing.
By the time they had covered all the cabins whose occupants were awake, nothing had been turned up. They were retracing their steps to the Bunny Den when Amanda pointed to a tall girl sweeping out the front door of a cabin.
"Come on, we'll try her," Reuben said.
They walked up to the girl and Reuben said, "May we come in and ask you a few questions?"
"About that killing?" the girl asked. "How many more of you cops is going to ask me about it? I told them all I know and that is nothing."
"Did you hear the shot?" Reuben asked.
"Sure I heard it. Being next door how could I help hearing it?"
"What did you do? Didn't you hurry to your door to see what it was?"
"I sure did."
"What did you see? Did you see the man who fired the shot?"
"Sure I saw him. He still had the smoking gun in his hand."
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Was this the break they were looking for? Was this the witness they so desperately needed?
Reuben and Amanda exchanged looks.
"I see. What did the man look like? Was he running from the scene?"
"Mister he was really taking off. He ran between the cabins and all I saw of him was his back. And the gun he had in his right hand. I saw a man's body inside the door of the cabin."
"Look, did anyone else run from their cabin after the shot?"
"No, I don't think so. I ran for the Bunny Den to call help. I met a man walking out this way and I yelled that a man had been shot and killed in cabin two. He run into the club to call the cops."
"Do you know who the man is?"
"No, I didn't know him. He was a fleshy sort of man in shirt sleeves and dark pants. He wore one of them little felt hats. I was too scared to pay much attention to him."
"Getting back to the killer. What size man was he and how was he dressed?"
"He was a tall man and he was wearing a summer suit. A light gray or tan maybe. He had on a cap, one of those kind of caps I've seen golf players wearing. Had plenty of hair and I tell you he was running like hell."
"Thank you," Reuben said. "Did you tell the other officers what you've told me?"
"Yes, I did."
"What did they say?"
"Nothing much. Said they'd want to question me again."
Seated back in the Bunny Den with drinks before them, Reuben and Amanda looked at each other.
"What do you think of her story, Reuben?"
"I think she's a liar. In the first place we know the killer didn't carry the gun away with him. He tossed it on the cabin floor. How could she have seen my body lying on the floor while she was standing in her own doorway? I was lying completely inside the cabin. If she'd said she saw my body as she ran past the open door it would have been believable. We have reason to believe the killer wasn't a tall man. The only sound part of her story is the part about the killer running between the cabins to get out of sight."
"But why is she lying about it? What has she to gain?"
Reuben grinned, shook his head dumbly.
"Beats me. Just one of those screwball type of women who gets a big kick out of making cops think she knows something. Puts her in the limelight and makes her feel important. If she knew she was putting her life in danger by claiming she saw the killer, she'd leave and hide out. Haven't you read of murder cases where some idiot confesses to the murder when actually he had nothing to do with it at all?"
"Yes," admitted Amanda. "I have read of such things."
"Sometimes a criminal in stir ... prison ... far away from the scene of a highly publicized crime will confess to it just to get a free ride across the country and a vacation out of prison. I don't think that girl knows a thing about it. Might not have even heard the shot. But, knowing her cabin was next to "the murder cabin, she saw her chance to keep in the limelight a few days. After all the cops can't prove she's lying."
"What are we going to do now?"
"Stick around and keep talking. I can't help but think someone saw the killer. But like I said, they may keep their lips buttoned. Deny knowing a thing about it, not wanting part of it and feeling like-the cops get paid for hunting down murderers, so let them do it."
"It begins to look as if you are right."
After an hour had passed Reuben suggested they go back and try several cabins they'd missed before. It was noon and he figured the occupants should be up.
Amanda went along and they found nothing. One or two said they hadn't heard the shot, knew nothing about the murder until the law came roaring in. One man said he looked out his window at the time the murder occurred and saw a girl in shorts running down between the two cabins. But, since the man smelled like a wino, Reuben put no stock in his story. And so it went. The last cabin they wanted to contact was two doors from the murder cabin, but they got no answer. Reuben asked who occupied this cabin, was told a girl named Tiny. He and Amanda went in and asked the waiter about Tiny.
"She's been gone two or three days. Don't know where she went."
"When did she leave?" Reuben asked. "Before the murder or after the murder?"
"Couldn't say. Go and ask her girl friend. Name's Rhoda...." He paused, picked up a ledger, flipped a few pages. "Here it is. Her name's Rhoda Keane. Sme cabin. S-he can tell you."
Amanda remembered the girl. S-he'd told them she had heard nothing, seen nothing.
They went to her cabin, rapped. Rhoda opened the door, looked at them curiously. "Whatta you want now?"
"Can you tell us where Tiny is? The waiter, said she'd been gone several days, but he didn't know shether she left before the murder or after. He said you could tell us."
"She left the day before."
"Are you sure about it."
"Sure I am. She borrowed loot from me and I put the date down in my little book. Sid she'd be back in a week."
"Well, I reckon that takes care of the cabins," Reuben said mournfully as they walked into the Bunny Den.
"Seems odd that every person in a cabin saw nothing, heard nothing and knows nothing."
"Some are lying. I'd be willing to bet that one ... maybe two or three ... saw the killer. Either as he walked to the cabin or saw him leaving it. They just want no part of a murder investigation. Or they might be afraid they'd be killed if they talked. Can't blame them too much." They sat down at a booth and Reuben gave Amanda a cigarette and they lit up. "It looks like well have to use some other method."
"What?"
"Don't know yet. We might get a break. There's always the chance that some person who did see the killer will tip off the police anonymously. Maybe a phone call or a letter. Maybe some other way. But we can't sit around and wait on a long chance like that. May have to resort to trickery. Lots of murder cases have been solved that way."
"You mean trick Ricco into talking?"
"Something like that. We might set up a fake eyewitness, print a story in the paper that he ... or she told the police she saw the killer and recognized him. If Ricco should take the bait he'd want to make a silent witness out of her as quick as possible. But he'd run right into a police trap. That's one possible way. There are others."
They stayed on at the Bunny Den all afternoon, watching, talking to people. But they learned nothing.
They ate at a highway diner, remained at Vice Town until about eleven.
Feeling it was now safe to drive Amanda back to her boarding house, Reuben drove there by way of dirt roads and little used streets. After a long, lingering goodnight kiss, Amanda climbed from his car and slipped up the back stairway to her room. ,She was in bed and fingered herself till she fell asleep.
Something woke her up in the night. Something clamped tightly over her mouth to keep her from screaming. She opened frightened eyes, tried to scream but was unable to do so. She could barely discern a man ... anyway it looked like a man ... standing over her.
"It's me, Ricco." a voice hissed lowly and ominously. There was a quality of deadliness in his voice that scared the wits out of her. "Keep quiet and don't try to move or struggle. If you do...." She felt the sharp point of cold steel against her neck. You better shut up if you want this shiv removed from your neck. Do just what I tell you to do. If you don't ... much as I'd hate to do it ... I'll slit your throat."
"Ricco, what's the meaning of this?"
"Because you and your boy friend are trying to pin the murder of Corren on me. I know what you two talked about last night in his car. I know what you've been doing all day out at Vice Town. No more questions, Baby. I'm waiting. Give me your word you'll keep quiet and will go quietly with me. If you don't I'll kill you right here."
She felt herself going into a cold sweat. She'd never been as close to death before. She swallowed hard, ran her tongue over her dry lips, told herself she must give in.
"Yes, yes, Ricco. I promise."
"That's smart. You never lied to me yet. Now, listen carefully. Get up and dress. Pack your bags as fast as you can. Pull the shades tight. I'll sit here with this pistol. Get going, Baby."
He flicked the light on, locked the door and removed the key. Amanda turned her back to him as she dressed. She was hoping desperately that something would happen to thwart him. He lolled against the door, watching her with veiled eyes.
"Okay," he said when she was dressed. "Pack your bags and make it snappy. No stalling and no tricks. Get going."
"Where are we going, Ricco?"
"You'll find out. No more talk now."
Still deathly afraid of him she packed her bags as fast as she could. He watched her so closely she had no chance to leave a message. When she was ready to go he had another order.
"Get your pen and paper, Baby. Write a note to leave on your table. I'll tell you what to write."
There was no way out of it. When she was ready he dictated the note. She wrote it and signed it.
He read it out loud for her, "Dear Mrs. Dorian. I am leaving with my husband. I was married to him before I came to Oakville but we had a quarrel and I ran away. But he came for me in the night. Please tell Terry Corren at the store. When I get settled I'll write you. Love, Amanda Clark."
Placing it on the table and watching her closely, he unlocked the door, took her bags and ordered her to be quiet as they went out the back. She was too scared to do otherwise. They went down the back stairway and he helped her into his car parked in the alley. They pulled out of the alley with lights off.
Amanda was tight with terror. Knowing that Ricco would kill her, she was careful to do nothing that would incense him. She wondered where he was taking her. When he was two blocks away he switched on the lights. Since they were using alleys, isolated streets and dirt roads Amanda could not tell which direction he had taken. She was surprised that a man who'd been in Oakville such a short time would know such a devious route.
When he was out of the city he upped his speed.
Amanda saw the needle hovering on ninety. She still had no idea where they were going. They began hitting curves and he had to slow down. After a while he left the highway, took a dirt road. Feeling the cooler air Amanda knew they were nearing the mountains. But why was he taking her to the mountains?
When the car slowed again and pulled off the dirt road to a route where she heard limbs scraping against the car she began to understand. There had been just such an approach to Terry's mountain cabin. There was no road to Terry's place, only a fair trail. But she couldn't be sure. Maybe he was taking her to a place even more remote than the Corren cabin.
When the big car slowed to a stop Amanda tried to peer through the darkness to see where they were. She recognized the Corren cabin. Her heart sank. There might not be anyone coming to the cottage for months.
"Okay, Baby," he said tersely. "We're home. You've been here before. Remember? With Terry and his wife. Come on, get out and let's unload the car so I can get it out of sight. You carry the bags and I'll carry the guns and ammunition."
She heard metallic clicks as he got weapons out of the trunk. Preceding him to the front door of the cabin, she set down her bags. The door was unlocked. She knew he had cased it beforehand.
Using a flashlight he made her light the gas lamps. For the first time since he'd taken her from her room they looked at each other. Amanda's face was wan and strained. Ricco's face was grim and deadly. She looked at the weapons he had brought in. There was a sawed-off double-barrel shotgun, two pistols, and a rifle. It was very obvious that he didn't intend to welcome any visitors.
She looked at her watch. It was a little after four.
"Time we went to bed. We can sleep late as there's nothing for us to get up for. Come on."
He Ted her into one bedroom. Putting a pistol under his pillow he began undressing. Amanda's heart was gripped with dread. Was he going to claim his husbandly rights? As she stood there in fright he ordered her gruffly to undress and get in bed. Afraid she undressed with her back to him.
When she was down to her briefs she opened a bag, got out her night gown.
"Don't put that damned thing on," he ordered. "It'll be in the way. You won't need your panties either. Come on, get in bed. We're husband and wife, and I'm going to screw the ass off of you."
He turned his back and she threw everything off and got in bed, pulling the sheet up to her chin. She was in for it and there was no way out. She wouldn't even dare to fight him off. There was that pistol under his pdlow. She would simply grit her teeth and bear it. She wouldn't be the first girl who'd been raped. Raped by her own husband. She tried to smile at the irony of it but her lips refused to cooperate.
Naked he went to the lamp. For a few brief moments he was away from his pistol. She could have grabbed it and shot him. The trouble was she wouldn't have known how to fire it. She had never fired a gun in her life.
He put the light out and got in bed. Amanda lay there as tight and tensed as she could possibly be. She wanted to leap out of bed and run. But she didn't want a bullet in her back and she knew she would get one. Gritting her teeth and clenching her fingers tightly she waited for the ordeal and torture.
"Baby, I've waited a long time for this," he mumbled hoarsely as he reached for her and pulled her to him.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
He wasn't bashful about telling her what to do. "Get down there and do a little preliminary work on me," he said. "I don't expect to do anything for you. I expect you to do everything I want"
He pushed her head down over his manhood and she had no other choice except submit to his wishes.
He guided her head up and down, told her when to go fast and when to move slow.
Then when he had enought of that he told her to stop and lay on her back.
Amanda lay passively, tried to not show her repugnance and hatred for him as he crushed his lips down on her wet mouth. One hand went to her breasts. He gave her several fierce kisses, slipped his hand down to her thighs. She held her breath but not in anticipated delight. She was a girl possessed with dread. A girl who could not avoid it and a girl who dared not fight against it.
He was urgently impatient and fiercely intent on his own appeasement. She felt tears of shame and mortification running down her cheeks. She made no outcry, and the rape was consummated.
There were no words between them. When it was over he rolled off her and, with his arm about her, he went to sleep. There was no sleep for Amanda. She lay there quietly enough. Had it not been for his arm she might have tried to slip from bed. She knew she couldn't get away with it with the arm about her. She wondered what Reuben would think. He knew she was married to Ricco. He had committed no crime in getting his own wife. But Reuben knew she hated and feared Ricco.
She finally did fall asleep. It was after ten when she woke up. Seeing Ricco was still asleep she shook him. The waking startled him and he sat up, his hand streaking to the pistol under his pillow. But he quickly got hold of his senses, grinned and yawned sleepily.
"Baby, I'm hungry and I reckon you are too. There's plenty of food in this dump. I came up here and looked it over. How about going in the kitchen and rustling up breakfast."
She dressed and went into the kitchen.
As she was completing the two breakfasts he came in. He offered her a cigarette and she accepted. Anyone looking in would have been sure it was a happy domestic scene. To all outward appearances they were man and wife and quite happy.
"How long are we going to stay here, Ricco?"
"Not too long, Until I finish a job I got to do."
"What kind of job?"
"Look, didn't I tell you to ask no questions? Don't ask me things I can't tell you."
She was silent. He sat down, leaned his chair back against the wall, watched her at work.
"Baby, I think you saw the killer in that cabin. I've thought so all along. You did See him, didn't you?"
"No, Ricco. I did not."
"Come on, don't give me that. I know better. I know damned well you must have seen him."
"I was asleep. I had been drugged."
"Like hell you was. You mighta had a few drinks. Maybe you was high but you musta knowed what you was doing. You had to see who it was. And the killer you saw was Reuben Jonas. Wasn't it?"
She now understood the drift of his talk. He wanted her to lie and say she'd seen Reuben murder Terry. She also knew she could never do it. She would simply tell the truth. The truth was, she had seen nothing.
"No, Ricco, I didn't see Jonas or anyone else. I was given a sleep potion and was fast asleep. I do not know who the killer is."
"You're lying. You and Jonas both think it was me. You two are trying to pin it on me. But the truth is you did see the killer and you recognized him. You saw Jonas shoot and kill Corren. And you're going to tell the law you saw Jonas kill him."
"But I didn't How can I tell the cops that when I didn't see him?"
"Baby, you can and you're going to."
Amanda stared at his face in horror. She saw no mercy in his coldly glinting eyes. No longer was there the soft, fond light of love in them. He had the killer eyes of a jungle beast about to attack its prey. Amanda knew fear as she'd never known it before. She wondered how he was going to make her lie. Surely he couldn't believe she would go to them and incriminate Reuben. If he did he was sadly mistaken.
Reading the question in her eyes, he said, "You're going to write a note of confession to the marshal. You're going to tell him you did see the killer of Terry Corren. You'll write that the killer was Reuben Jonas. Y-ou're going to state that you were afraid to name the killer because Jonas threatened to kill you if you did. Okay, Baby. Get paper and pen and start writing."
As she looked at him with apprehensive, frightened eyes he went on, "Say that you went away with your husband, Ricco. That you're afraid to stay in Oakville for fear Reuben Jonas will kill you. Now, quit stalling and get to writing it."
He studied her keenly. "What the hell. You're not taking it like I thought you would. Why the sudden change? Is this another trick of yours?"
"What else can I do, Ricco? I'm not doing it because I want to. I have enough sense to see something I have to do. That's all. But tell me this. How are you going to get the note to the marshal? And where are we going then?"
"We'll mail it."
"No tricks now. You try anything and you'll get a bullet through that pretty belly button of yours."
"All right. I won't. Where're we going when the note is mailed?"
"You'll find out."
She opened the desk drawer looking for paper to write on. He walked into the bedroom after cigarettes. Amanda's sharp mind had been working at full speed ever since he'd mentioned the note. An idea had buzzed in her brain. Now was the only time she'd have. She must do it while he was in the bedroom.
She tore off a piece of paper. She wrote on it, "I am being held prisoner in Terry Corren's mountain cabin. Amanda Clark."
She hid the small piece of paper under a magazine on the desk. When Ricco came back with cigarettes she was engaged in writing the note. He stood watching her until she'd finished.
"Here it is Ricco." She gave him the finished note. "How shall I address it?"
"To the Marshal of Oak Town."
He had his eyes on the note. She retrieved the small piece of paper from under the magazine. Putting it in her mouth she moistened the side with the writing, wetting it thoroughly. She knew it must be good and wet to stick to the back inside of the envelope. She stuck it inside the envelope. She addressed the envelope hurriedly.
"It's okay, Baby," Ricco said, nodding his head in approval. "You got the envelope addressed?"
"Yes, here it is." She gave him the addressed envelope.
This was the moment it all depended on. If he folded the note, put it in the envelope and sealed it ... her plan might work. If he looked in the envelope first he might see the tell-tale message. She had to keep his attention from the envelope all she could.
"Ricco, why can't we go to France? I've always wanted to see France. Remember what you said about a yacht? And the money you'd give me? I've been thinking about how nice it would be."
He folded the note, put it in the envelope, sealed it and put the envelope in his pocket.
"Come on, Baby. We're going to town to mail this. Hide that hair in a scarf or something. Put on that pair of jeans I seen you pack. And them dark glasses. Paint up your face like it was yesterday at Vice Town."
"You mean you saw me yesterday?"
"You're damned right I did. Hurry up. Shake a leg. Get them things on."
As they were about to leave the cottage to get in the car, he stopped.
"Look, Baby. I'm going to take you with me because I don't dare to leave you here. Don't try to escape. I'll keep one hand on a gat, and I'll shoot you if you try to escape or warn anyone."
"I promise I won't try to escape. Is that enough?"
"It is, Baby, it is. Come on."
Making their way slowly through the fair weather trail, Amanda felt exultant. But she was careful to not look happy. Instead she kept a look of gloom and tenseness on her face. She kept silent, didn't smile and once ... as an act ... dabbed at supposedly tearful eyes with her handkerchief.
"What're you sniffing about?" he growled.
"I'm sorry for poor Mr. Jonas. He was good to me. He taught me so much. I hate to do this to him."
"Forget him. Time to think about you and me."
"Ricco, when will we leave?"
"Tomorrow I guess. Maybe sooner. Don't know for sure. Plenty of time. Nobody's going to look for us at Corren's cabin. Hell, nobody even thinks I know where it is. Might shack up here a few days." He grinned lecherously at her. "Especially since I've got such a pretty piece of tad. No hurry."
Amanda wondered why he was taking such a chance in going to town to mail the letter. He could have mailed it on the rural route somewhere. S-he figured it was his supreme egotism and smug confidence in himself. She knew also that he was sure no one in Oak County knew he was married to Amanda Clark. So why would he be taking any risk in going to Oakville to mad a letter? That was his way of thinking, she was sure. What he didn't know was that Reuben knew they were married. Reuben knew she hated Ricco and was deathly afraid of him.
The car nosed from the trail into the dirt road and began to make better time. The road was dry and dusty. No one would recognize her in the garb she wore, Amanda was sure.
They reached the highway and Ricco increased his speed to ninety. Nearing the city he slowed down. He was taking no chance on being stopped by a cop. Reaching the city limits he turned into a side street.
Driving a roundabout way Ricco came up behind the post office and parked on a side street. He sat there looking all about carefully before speaking.
"Okay, come on, Baby."
"You want me to go into the post office with you?"
"Sure, sure I do. Nobody is going to know you in that rig. Come on."
He made her walk beside him to the front of the post office. Amanda knew there wasn't a chance in a thousand of Reuben being at the post office. They walked into the lobby. Ricco mailed the letter, motioned for her to come along.
She walked beside him to the car. She wondered if he'd stop anywhere for gas. It didn't appear that he was going to do so. But, when they were about five miles from the city he pulled into a small service station and filled the tank.
There was still plenty of daylight left by the time they got back to the cabin. Amanda was afraid Ricco might decide to pack their things and pull out at once. But he apparently had no intention of doing so. When they climbed from the car he looked toward the river. Only glimpses of it could be seen through the screen of trees.
"Baby, how would you like to take a swim?"
Amanda decided it was a good idea.
"All right, Ricco. I like to swim. I'll go put on my suit." S-he was glad to find something to use up the time with. She didn't think he would pack up and leave in the night. She was determined to try and keep him at the cottage until the Marshal got the letter. "But we'll have to hurry or it'll be too dark."
She went in and leisurely undressed and put on her suit. Ricco had donned trunks and was all set. They walked down to the pool and plunged in. The water was cold, hit their skin like icy needles. Ricco was a good swimmer. He made no overtures to her during the swim and Amanda enjoyed it. By the time they finished and walked toward the cottage the daylight was ebbing.
She dressed, went into the kitchen to cook supper. Ricco, in shirt sleeves and wearing a shoulder holster, came in and watched her work. Stuck in that holster was a pistol. Amanda didn't have to ask if the gun was loaded. She knew it was.
Amanda used up a lot of time getting the meal ready. She was dreading the night. She had heard that, according to law, a man could not rape his own wife. But she knew better. Not legally maybe, but morally yes. When she considered the ordeal with him in bed she could hardly resist the impulse to run from the house and run into the woods and hide. But she knew how hopeless such a move would be.
"You know, Baby, that marshal might have that letter by now," Ricco said as he glanced at his watch. "I never could understand why they let Jonas out on bond anyway. They knew he was guilty as hell. Somebody must have put up a lot of money."
Amanda made no reply.
"I wonder who in the hell put up the dough to bail him out," he went on. "I heard two lawyers got to work and got the judge to let him have bail. But, Baby, lawyers don't work for nothing. Look, did Jonas ever tell you who put up the dough?"
"No," Amanda lied. If she told him Terry's father and wife had hired lawyers and put up the bail Ricco might figure it out. "I did hear him say it was a mighty stiff bond but he didn't say how he got the bond."
"Well, I reckon he must of had friends nobody knew nothing about. I wonder if the Marshal will slam him back in jail when he gets your eyewitness evidence."
"The Marshal might go to the district attorney," Amanda pointed out. "In that case Jonas might have to go to jail."
"Yeah, yeah," said Ricco, chuckling. "I'll bet that's what'll happen. It's a damned shame you and me will be too far away to read about it."
"How far away will we be?"
"Baby, didn't you say you wanted to go to France?"
"Yes I did. Are we really going there?"
"You're damned right we will. Or anywhere you want to go. I'm rolling in dough these days. Worked a Little racket that paid off like a mint."
Amanda was sure he referred to the dirty picture racket. She knew victims preferred to pay off and forget it.
"Soup's served, Ricco. Let's eat. Im hungry."
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
All during the meal Amanda kept her ears attuned to any possible sounds of an approaching car. But she heard none. Ricco was more at ease. He no longer talked harshly to her. His words were more gentle and softer. But it didn't fool Amanda. She knew he would kill her if she made the wrong move. She was careful to display no signs of triumph or lightness that might cause him to think she had something up her sleeve. She didn't smile and didn't laugh, no matter what he said. She was playing the part of a wife who knew she was hopelessly in the power of her husband and knew better than to fight back.
"Ricco, I've wondered about that girl, Rita Castero. I know she's the one who tipped you off to where I was. Is she the one who tipped you off about Jonas and I talking in his parked car? And about being at Vice Town?"
"Sure, sure," he said, grinning. "She was watching you so close she even knew when you put your fingers between your legs."
"How long have you known her?"
He eyed her curiously a few moments as if trying to decide whether she was pumping him. Apparently he decided she was only curious.
"Aw, she used to be an old lay of mine. I ditched her when she tried to shake me down, claiming she was pregnant. I took her to a doctor and he said she wasn't. But I liked her spunk and hired her to do some of that kind of work for me. She's been mighty good at it. Mighty good."
The meal was over and Amanda suggested they play cards. She wanted to put off bedtime as long as possible. Ricco agreed. They played until about midnight. He had taken several drinks and kept asking Amanda if she wanted one. She refused several times but, knowining they must soon go to bed, accepted one when the card playing was over. She hoped he would drink enough to keep his thoughts off screwing.
But her hopes were in vain.
She was forced to watch him undress before her. She turned her back as she undressed. Nude, she ducked swiftly under the sheet. She wanted to wear her night gown but knew he'd make her remove it.
He put the light out.
She had her hands clenched and her teeth gritted together when he pulled her to him. She was pliant and passive, trying not to display the repugnance and hatred she felt. He was more gentle this time, did a lot of dallying to try and arouse her. He used his lips and tongue on her breasts. Sucking the nipples to taut peaks. He put his hand between her thighs and inserted his finger. Then he placed his head between her thighs and really gave her a working over.
Under other circumstances with any other man, Amanda knew that this kind of treatment would have taken her over the peak several times. But with Little Ricco she only got the chills. How can you arouse a girl who has no love for you? She submitted to the act but did not enjoy it. When it was over she wept softly, hoping this would be the last.
Amanda was the first to awaken next morning. Looking at her watch she saw it was a little past eight o'clock. Ricco was still asleep. She slipped out of bed noiselessly lest she awaken him. When the cops came she wanted to see them first so she could get out of the house. She was sure there would be shooting.
She went into the kitchen, put the coffee on. She was cooking bacon when she heard Ricco's voice.
"Baby, that bacon smells good. When we get our breakfast well pack and pull out of here."
She turned, saw him standing in the doorway.
"All right, Ricco. We need a good breakfast. I'm hungry and I guess you are too."
"Am I? Baby, I could eat the legs off a elephant."
While he was finishing dressing, Amanda completed the breakfast. He drank one cup of coffee, she poured him another. He reached in his pocket for cigarettes.
"Damned if I didn't leave them in the bedroom."
"I'll get them for you, Ricco."
Amanda walked into the back bedroom. She found the cigarettes. Looking out the window she was startled to see a man slip stealthily from the woods and run in quick strides to the back of the house. Her heart beat faster. The Marshal had received her hidden note and his men were here. She darted to the window. The deputy saw her. She motioned that Ricco was in the kitchen. He motioned for her to get out of the house.
"What's keeping you so long?" yelled Ricco.
"Coming, Ricco," she yelled back.
She tiptoed to the back door, opened it and ran from the house. A man came around the corner of the house. She recognized Reuben. "Hurry," he said lowly. "Get behind a tree." Grabbing her arm he ran with her into the wood. "They have the cabin surrounded. Come on out with your hands up!" There was a brief silence. "You don't have a chance, Ricco. Come out with your hands up!"
"What do you want me for? You got nothing on me," Ricco yelled angrily. "I was here with my own wife. That's no crime, is it?"
"We want you for murder. Rita Castero talked. Come on out."
"Go to hell!" shouted Ricco insanely.
Amanda heard two shots from the front of the house, several shots from the cops. A little pause and there came some more shots.
"Amanda, that hidden note trick was a gem," Reuben whispered. "I knew what had happened but it never occurred to me that he'd brought you here. I thought he had fled the country with you. We would never have thought about this place. The Marshal didn't get the note until early this morning."
"Did Rita Castero really talk?"
"Yes. But while they had strong circumstantial evidence on him they had no real proof."
"Do you think he will surrender?"
"No." Reuben shook his head. "He wouldn't have started shooting if he meant to surrender."
They heard several more shots. Two deputies were in the fringe of the woods watching the back of the house. Reuben also was armed. Another shot came from the front of the house. Ricco's car was parked to the right of the house behind some underbrush. There came a lull in the shooting.
"Reuben, how ... why did Rita Castero talk?"
"Jealousy. She's still in love with Ricco. She thought he'd left this part of the country with you. She was bitter with jealousy."
"But she knew Ricco married me?"
"Yes. But she knew you didn't love him. She didn't think he'd ever get a hold on you again. When she learned he'd taken you with him, she told everything she knew about him."
Amanda was silent.
"Where was he going to take you, Amanda?"
"We talked about France. He said he'd make a pile of money in Oakville with a racket. I pretended I liked the idea. I wanted to keep him off guard." Although she remembered the ordeals she'd been forced to undergo with Ricco, she wished he would surrender. She didn't want to see him killed like a dog. "Reuben, why doesn't he surrender? He must know he has no chance."
"He may have something up his sleeve."
They heard the Marshal's loud yells, "All right, Ricco. Come on out with your hands up. This is your last chance. I'll give you exactly two minutes. At the end of two minutes we're coming in." Ricco made no reply.
Amanda watched the moments tick away on her watch. "Surely he'll come out now, Reuben."
"I don't know about that. If they rush him there may be a killing or two. How many guns did he bring with him?"
"He had four or five."
There came an almost eerie silence from inside the cottage and out. One minute passed. Amanda almost held her breath as she watched the seconds racing ... toward the end of another minute. She wished she was far away. Reuben was peering at the back door of the cottage.
Fifteen seconds to go. Ten seconds to go. "All right, Ricco," the Marshal yelled. "Let's go!"
Two deputies broke from the woods toward the back door. At that precise moment Ricco burst from the back door, a pistol in each hand. He fired and one deputy staggered, tried to raise his pistol, failed. He went down coughing blood and death. As he raced toward his hidden car, Ricco fired at the other deputy but missed him. The deputy fired at the racing man, missed.
"He's going to get away," Amanda gasped. "He's at the car."
"He can't make it," Reuben said grimly. "He's a fool. There's only one way he can drive that car out. Even if he reached it."
They heard several shots from the right of the cottage. Ricco staggered, went to one knee. He tried to get back up, couldn't make it. He was spitting blood and coughing horribly. He collapsed to the ground and lay still.
Amanda flung herself into Reuben's arms and let her tears flow. She was due a good cry. He saw the Marshal run up to the fallen hoodlum and put his ear close to Ricco's mouth.
Amanda got hold of herself in time to see a blanket placed over Ricco's features.
"Come on, Amanda." Reuben said kindly. "You must go in and pack your bags. You're a widow now. Ricco is dead. Pack as quickly as you can. I want to go talk to the Marshal. Then I'll come in after you." He led her to the back door and she went inside.
Amanda packed her bags. Once she looked out the window at Ricco's body and shuddered. Why did such things have to happen? What kind of evil fate had guided Ricco to this ignominous end?
She had the bags packed and a cigarette lit when Reuben came in.
Nothing was said as he stowed her bags in his car. Two deputies stood between two bodies awaiting the ambulance.
Reuben turned his car, guided it into the trail.
"Ricco killed the deputy," he said. "He wasn't quite dead when the Marshal reached him and asked him if he had killed Terry. He confessed to it. He uttered one more word and died."
"What word, Reuben?"
He gave her a fleeting look, said, "The word was Amanda."
They reached the dirt road and picked up a little speed. As they rolled along Reuben said, "Amanda, you know that I love you. After a wait ... a respectable wait ... we're going to get married."
Amanda made no reply.
"Did you hear me, Amanda?"
"Yes, Reuben."
"Yes what?"
"Yes to that and anything else you want," she said, putting her face to his and kissing him.
He pulled the car off the road and stopped. They both got out of the car and walked into the woods. They stopped under a huge oak and undressed. Amanda lay down and Reuben climbed on top of her....
