..."I've been divorced some time now," she was saying, "and I'm new in town. It's lonesome without a man around, Jim."
His arm was around her, pulling her willing, eager body to him. She tilted her lush lips up invitingly to be kissed. Her eyes looked hopefully into his as his craving lips found hers in a kiss. Their tongues locked tightly together, igniting the smoldering desire in their hearts.
"How come you picked me, honey?" he asked as their lips parted.
"Aren't you glad I did?"
"Yeah, but how come?"
"I told you. I heard about your activities with women and I knew you were for me. You won't broadcast it around, and that's the way I want it. I know you keep your mouth shut and I know you want what I want,-so let's get together."
She stood up in front of him, and with an alluring smile playing on her lips, slowly removed her blouse, dropping it on the floor. Then came the skirt. And while he watched, as if under a spell, she removed the black lace bra and dropped it to the floor.
Her firm round breasts stuck out daringly as she stood there in her tight green panties and nylons. Hardly anything at all was left to Jim's imagination. Her smile broadened at the effects her disrobing was having on the sergeant.
"Let's go into the bedroom, honey, and get together," she invited softly, her voice warm and enchantingly sultry ...
Chapter One
Sergeant Jim Thorn had just arrived at the police station, and was about to enter the rear door when he heard his rank called.
"Hey, Sarge!"
Jim turned, recognizing the voice.
"Come here," Hal Dempsey called.
Jim saw his partner half way down the dark alley gesturing for him to come quickly. He hurried to meet him. As he approached, he could see the reason for Hal's all-fired hurry. Parked out of sight in the dark alley was a late model green Oldsmobile, which he readily recognized. He knew who would be in it. And he was right. Walking up to the driver's side he saw them. His pulse beat fast. It was Janet Harper and Flora Riley.
"Hi, honey," Janet said reaching out of the car window to grasp one of his hands.
"Hi, baby," Jim replied, reaching through the window with his free hand. He tilted her blonde head back and kissed her long and hard on her full, lush lips.
"God," he said, breaking for air, "I haven't seen you in a week. Where in the hell have you been keeping yourself?"
"Well, I haven't been doing without," she laughed. "No, Jim, all kidding aside, my mother-in-law took sick. So my husband and I had to go to Fairview for a few days."
"Well, that being the case," he chided, "I won't bawl you out too much-although the idea had occurred to me to spank your ass."
"Now I'm going to hold you to that remark," she said, smiling as she wiggled a finger at him.
"I won't back out either," he said, squeezing her hand.
"You can count on that!" Hal called out from the other side of the car. "He's an ass patter from way back."
"If you don't shut up, you're going to be way back," Jim shot back at his partner.
Both girls laughed uproariously. Hal was on the other side of the olds, kissing like mad with Flora, and playing with her breasts that pointed invitingly beneath her tight-fitting pink blouse.
Flora and Janet both had the kind of breasts that all red-blooded men dream about at nights, the kind you would like to bury your head between and just plain wallow around in, forgetting about police work and everything else. Janet was a blonde girl of average height, with big blue eyes, and a shapely figure that would make a preacher come alive. Flora was part French, with jet black hair and blue eyes. The luscious curves of her body were in the right places, and she knew how to use them to the right effect.
"Sugar-baby," Jim said, squeezing one of Janet's firm breasts, "we're going to have to get into the station and check in."
"Will you meet us at the usual place?" she asked hopefully.
"Try to keep us away," Jim said grinning. "Yeah, the usual spot, out in that pasture south of Thirty-Second Street."
"How soon?" she asked. "In about thirty minutes?"
"Yeah, unless we get a call to go on. If we do, wait on us," Jim said.
"Yeah, and for Christ-sake, wait on us," Hal put in.
Flora laughed and said. "You horny devil. Don't your wife ever give you any?"
"Very seldom ever," Hal answered sourly. Jim and Janet joined Flora in laughing.
"Let's go, Hal," Jim said, grinning at his partner. "We had better report in."
He turned, waved at Janet, and started walking toward the alley door of the police station. Hal hesitated long enough to kiss Flora, then hurried after his sergeant.
Jim entered the station with Hal on his heels. He noticed that the rest of the midnight shift had already arrived. The men were crowded around the booking desk exchanging raw jokes and talking about that most important subject around a police station-WOMEN. Jim and Hal exchanged greetings with the others. Jim checked his wrist-watch with the station clock. It was 10:45 PM, time for the cars off the evening shift to come in for relief.
The dispatcher's voice blared out over the receiving set on the desk sergeant's desk: "Attention all cars. Signal 10:19 for relief."
All four cars answered, one after the other, with the familiar 10:04 (which means okay). The dispatcher replied with a 10:04, gave the correct time, and signed off the air with the station's call letters.
Jim sighed. That was the new dispatcher that the Chief had hired. All he had been able to find out about her was that her name was Norma Jane Dickerson; she was divorced; she was real cute; and she had something in her britches he wanted to get before the rest of the whore-mongers on the force had a chance to get to it.
There were eight men to a shift on the patrol division, unless it was one of the fellows' night off, in which case one or two of the officers would have to ride 'lone ranger'. Otherwise they rode two men to a car, which gave an officer greater safety. Jim, as well as the rest, liked the lone ranger nights. It was easier to find one woman wanting to play than it was two.
Tonight was Saturday and all the crew was here tonight. Jim was hoping to hell it wouldn't be busy tonight. He had other fish to fry, and didn't want to have to worry about enforcing the law too.
The sound of tires screeching to a halt carried to the officers waiting in the station. The prowl cars were pulling into the alley outside. The evening shift boys were eager to get off and go home. This was easy to understand. Eight hours of wearing a tin badge was enough for any one. The rear door opened and they started filing into the station, exchanging greetings back and forth with the officers of the midnight shift. Jim was in a hurry to get rolling. So when the evening lieutenant greeted him, he answered with: "Anything going on, Al?"
"No," answered Lieutenant Alvin Sloane. "It's quiet out this evening. Did you ever see the time when anything went on in this goddamn town?"
Jim laughed at the Lieutenant's sour reply. "No, never did," he grunted. "Any new dispatches?"
"Hell no! Goddamit!" the Lieutenant answered hotly. "Don't you ever get down here early enough to find out anything? If you would stop chasing pussy for awhile you might accidentally make a good police sergeant some day."
Jim grinned in reply, but remained silent. Alvin Sloan was a big towering blond-headed, ex-Arkansas farm boy with fifteen years of police experience. Jim knew better than to argue with him when he was in a sour mood. He yelled at his men to follow, then walked outside. To hell with the Lieutenant anyway, he thought, who in the hell gave a good goddamn about being a damn Cop. He sure as hell didn't. As far as he was concerned, it was just another lousy job with a piss-poor salary. Anyone could do better picking crap with the damn chickens. Jim turned to face the men who had gathered around him.
"We'll ride the same as usual," he said. "Any objections? If so, they're overruled."
He grinned broadly when no one protested. He turned, walked hurriedly toward car 105, and climbed in behind the steering wheel. A flick of the ignition switch, and the motor turned over instantly. Releasing the emergency brake, he waited until Hal got in, then drove down through the dark alley and out on to Third Street, going toward Main Street. He had to stop at Main to wait for the light to change in his favor. When it did, he turned south on Main and cast a glance in Hal's direction.
"Don't you think we should check in to the dispatcher?" He said, reminding his partner.
"Yeah, I guess so, all the others have," Hal said listlessly, his mind on the girls waiting in the pasture.
Taking the mike off the dash, he pressed down the button and held it to his mouth: "Car 105 is 10:08 (in service) from the station going south on Main. Officers 37 and 6 patrolling the wild beat (all over town)." He released the button to await the dispatcher's reply.
"10:04 car 105," came the clear feminine voice of the dispatcher.
"Well, so much for that," Hal grunted, hanging the mike back on the dash. The dispatcher gave the station call letters, cleared the air, and the radio was silent once again.
Car 105 lost no time getting to Thirty-Second and Main. The sergeant commanding the jet-black ford interceptor had managed to catch the light just right at Fourth and Main, and by judging his speed had made all the lights without having to stop. Turning on Thirty-Second he headed east, pushing the speedometer up to seventy.
Both officers were thinking of their rendezvous with love when a late model black ford whipped around the police car at a high rate of speed. It's rear wheels skidded onto the soft shoulders of the street sending a spray of gravel across the hood and windshield of the prowl car. It skidded back onto the pavement again and disappeared down the street taking the center line all the way.
"Goddamn!" Hal exclaimed. "Look at that bastard go!"
"Yeah. It's a California tag, did you get the numbers?"
"Hell no! I couldn't even make out the car, it was going so fast. No need to call in, 'cause he'll be out of state by the time we could get another car to block him."
"Yeah, but there'll be a next time."
"He'll be damn lucky if he don't kill his foolself driving like that."
"Let's hope to Christ he does," Jim said. "Just as long as he doesn't take some innocent person with him."
"Hell, that kind never gets hurt."
"He will if I ever get a chance to stop him."
"If it wasn't for the girls waiting on us," Hal said, "we could probably have caught him."
"Yeah," Jim grinned, "but I'd rather have the girls. Let that speed demon kill his fool self and we'll go work the accident. I'd like that much better."
"Well, we'll see him around here again shortly."
Jim turned off Thirty-Second taking a pig trail that ran south through a dense thicket of about fifty yards before it leveled out into a clearing that was being used for pasture. They saw the Oldsmobile sitting stationary in the center of the field. He turned off the headlights of the prowl car, drove up behind the olds-mobile and came to a stop. His heart started beating a little faster when he saw the moonlight sifting through Janet's blonde hair.
Jim and Hal had been meeting the two girls out in this same pasture for the last three months. But each time seemed a little more exciting than the last.
Chapter Two
Jim took off his uniform cap exposing his black flattop haircut, and laid it on the seat beside him.
"Well, what're you waiting on?" Jim shot at Hal.
"Nothing," Hal replied.
"Well, then get out," Jim said. "Hell, I don't want to make love to you."
"You needn't worry about that," Hal returned along with a nasty glare, and stepped out of the prowl car.
While Hal was walking up to Janet's car, Jim began unbuckling his sam-browne belt, dropping it and his S/W .38 caliber police special in the seat beside his cap. He breathed a sigh. What a relief to get that damn gun off. Janet came hurrying to the patrol car and got in the back seat. Jim got out and crawled in beside her. She removed her lace panties, exposing long trim shapely legs, and threw them up in the front seat.
"I may as well save you the trouble and make it easier for both of us," she said, laughing at the surprised look on his face.
He pulled her to him roughly pressing his lips hard against hers. The warm feel of her breasts swelling against his chest excited the desire that was in him. She wriggled in his arms, quivering with delight when he dropped one hand to let it explore under her skirt.
"Honey please, I'm on fire the way it is. Let's do it," she whispered excitedly, her breath coming in short passionate gasps.
"How come you're so hot to trot tonight?" Jim breathed in her ear. "Usually I have to beg you for it on bent knees."
"One reason is I love you," Janet panted. "And I haven't seen you for a week. Love me good honey."
Their lips met again while their bodies quivered with the burning desire that was so strong in them. Jim felt a thrilling sensation engulf his body when Janet ran her tongue into his mouth. He worked his exploring hand more feverishly under her skirt and felt her tremble with excitement. Her tongue gave him a wonderful feeling as he touched it with his own, biting it gently with his teeth. Janet was moaning in anticipation for release from her pent-up emotions and lustful craving. He laid her gently back on the seat and pulled her skirt up high around her slim waist.
Janet pulled her lips free from his and looked admiringly up into his eyes. Just being there in his arms was a sensation out of this world. His steel-gray eyes with their always present bedroom glare gave her a thrill that was indescribable.
"Honey, let me take my clothes off. Please?" she whispered. "If I go home with my clothes wrinkled up, my husband will kill me."
Jim relaxed his grip and raised up. "That's an idea," he said. "I'd better take off my pants too. Our last time out here I got a little messed up and had a hell of a time trying to explain it to my wife."
"Did she get wise?" Janet asked.
"Just about, but I got around it finally," Jim said.
"That'll learn you, dern you," she said teasingly.
While Janet started undressing he reached over the back of the front seat, got the radio mike and stretched the cord over the back of the seat so that the mike would be within easy reach in case of a call. This way he could answer the radio without any hesitation, and the station wouldn't get wise. He didn't have to worry too much about the other officers, as they played the women too. But he had to be careful about the dizzy chief of police. The chief had a receiving set in his home, and sometimes he listened in on the midnight shift to see if he could dig up any dirt on the boys. Jim was in complete charge of the midnight shift and no matter what happened, he was held responsible for it by the chief of police and the Mayor.
Jim took off his royal-blue serge police pants and Ike jacket. Folding them neatly and laying them on the front seat, he turned his eyes back on Janet. She lay on the seat completely nude except for her garter belt, nylons and high heels. Her shapely legs were wide apart and she was waiting, watching him and wanting him very much.
He looked at her with his mouth watering. At times like this he got so hungry he could hardly talk. She looked like a delicious something to eat. She was grinning at him, a teasing gleam in her eye.
"You'd sure look funny if you got a call now," she said breaking out in laughter. "Just your shirt and under shorts on."
He grinned his reply, removed his black tie and threw it in the front seat with his uniform then rolled up the sleeves of his light blue shirt a couple of turns.
"Will you hurry up. I'm on fire," Janet said between snickers of musical laughter.
"All right, I'm coming," Jim grunted.
"Let's wait until you get on before you do," Janet said teasingly and laughed.
"Wise, aren't you?" Jim said, "I'm going to do it to you so good and hard tonight that it will take some of that tease out of you."
"You love me just the same, even if I do tease," she said, her eyes gleaming with fun.
"Honey, I'm nuts about you," he said, putting his lips to hers and pressing his body hard against the tight muscles of her stomach and thighs. He was in ...
Janet twisted and moved her body in rhythm to his. Her round firm breasts pressed against his chest demanding. Wildly, feverishly, he moved his lips down to engage a nipple. Running the tip of his tongue around the nipple, he started working it like a small boy sucking juice out of a luscious orange. Janet cried in joy.
"Oh Jim, I love you. I love you," she groaned. "Give it to me good. Oh! Oh! Push harder, harder. OOOh! That's it-oooooooh!"
"Is there enough of me to reach your happy spot?" He asked.
"Oooooooh! Yes honey, more than enough," she groaned happily. "Honey, you got just what I want and need."
Minutes passed as they rolled and twisted violently on the back seat. Then he felt the thrill coming from deep within, a thrilling, satisfying sensation followed by a sharp pain that felt wonderful instead of hurting. His mind became engulfed in clouds for a moment then his spent body went limp against Janet as she squeezed him to her tightly. He could feel her fingernails digging into his back and the nape of his neck.
"Ooooooooooh!" she groaned slowly and luxuriously as she got her deep-felt satisfaction.
Minutes sped by-twenty, thirty, an hour. Both sweat-caked bodies were limp, drained of their pent-up desires. Passion steamed the prowl car interior. Forbidden love, a moment of passion and a police car idle for an hour.
Jim stirred, rose and stepped from the car, leaning against it for support. The cool spring breezes played across the cow pasture caressing his tired aching body. The smell in the air was delightful. He was as weak as a kitten, pussy having bested him again. It was this way every time he and Janet got together. God! What a woman. She knew what it was for and how to use it.
Janet and Flora were two lonely deprived housewives who didn't seem to get satisfied at home. Both their husbands worked the graveyard shift at the local cookie plant, so the two girls had to seek refuge for their pent-up cravings in a cop.
Jim reached into the car, got his clothes and started getting dressed. Janet stirred on the back seat, sat up and looked around her. Then she saw Jim dressing outside the car. She smiled at him when he turned and looked at her.
"Enjoying nature?" she asked.
"Nature be damned," he said. "God I'm weak. What is that thing of yours anyway? Atomic energy?"
"Better than your wife?" she asked laughing.
"Oh hell yes! And then some," he said.
"I bet you say that to all the girls," she kidded.
"Well, I don't think it would sound too good if I said it to Hal," he answered.
Jim finished dressing and lit a cigarette, tossing the pack in the car for Janet to have one. Walking over to the Olds, he could see two heads so close together they looked like only one. He turned as Janet came to his side and handed his pack of cigarettes back. Sticking the cigarettes in his shirt pocket, he took Janet by the back of the head, pulled her to him and kissed her long and hard. She struggled in his arms for freedom to breathe, then went limp. Finally he released her.
"God, I wish my husband could kiss like you," she said, breathing in the fresh spring air in short gasps.
"To hell with him," Jim said squeezing her breasts playfully. "You come to me to get your kisses and meat rationing."
"I will," she sang softly, removing his hand from her breasts and pressing her body to his. "Kiss me Jim honey." He did.
"When can I see you again?" he asked when their lips parted.
"I don't know darling," she answered. "That's why I just had to see you tonight, because they're due to change my husband's schedule. I don't know yet if they'll leave him on nights, or change his nights off, or what they'll do. I'll just have to wait and let you know."
"Well, we'll get together some way," he assured her, and kissed her waiting lips softly.
"I hope so darling," she whispered looking up into his eyes.
"Honey, it's that time again," Jim reminded her. "Pea-brain and I are going to have to get this car back into service."
"Yes I know, darn it, everything's against us," she said.
"We'll be together again in a night or two," he soothed her. Taking her in his arms again, he kissed her long and tenderly.
"Let's go, bird-brain," he said toward the Olds.
"Get him out of there," he said to Janet.
"Surely, honey," she whispered, kissing him quickly. "Until we meet again."
Jim watched her walk around the car. At least he slowed that swing in her behind down a bit tonight, he thought. Flipping his cigarette to the ground he walked back to the prowl car.
When Hal got into the car, he started the motor, letting it idle so the girls could leave first. Janet drove forward, made a complete circle in the field, and drove back past them with their lights off, going back out the way they had come in. Both girls waved as they passed the police car. Jim waited a matter of minutes until he was sure they had reached Thirty-Second Street, then he pulled out. Back on the pavement he headed for Main Street, the same direction the girls had taken.
Hal hadn't uttered a word since he had got back in the prowl car. Usually after an experience like this he was running off his mouth at top speed. Jim caught the traffic light right on Thirty-Second and Main and turned north to cruise down Main slowly.
"I could use a cup of Java. How about you?" he asked.
"I could use a cup of something," Hal replied as if in a daze.
"Okay, I'll go to Gene's Grill. All right with you?"
"I don't give a rat's ass where you go."
He looked questioningly at his partner. This was a fine spirit to be in after a hot date like tonight.
"What the hell's eating you?" Jim asked. "Tell ole' dad. Hell, you know I'm your buddy, goddamn you."
"Oh, goddamn it all," he faltered, "you'll only laugh."
"Try me and see."
"I thought Janet had told you already. You know her big mouth? Well, between the station and the pasture Flora came sick and started her period. She was just lucky she had a tampax with her, I guess. Of all the rotten luck. All I could do was kiss and play around with her."
Jim started snickering.
"Go on and laugh, you goddamn ornery bastard," Hal flared. "Damn your soul to hell. I knew you'd laugh!"
"You didn't do any good out there, huh?" Jim asked trying hard to control his laughter.
"Oh, she tried it with her hand. But I can't get my rocks that way."
That did it. The patrol sergeant broke into uncontrollable, uproarious laughter. And on he laughed, enjoying himself immensely, tears rolling out of his eyes. He hadn't heard anything this good in a long time. He knew Hal was cussing him under his breath, but he couldn't help it.
At Nineteenth and Main he wheeled the prowl car onto the large graveled lot in front of Gene's Grill. Managing to check his laughter, he picked up the mike.
"105 to headquarters," he drawled into it.
"Go ahead 105," replied the dispatcher.
"Is there any one out of service?" he asked.
"No, they're all three 10:08," returned the dispatcher.
"105 will be 10:10 at Gene's Grill a while," he checked out.
(10:10 is out of car but can be reached by telephone)
"10:04 car 105," and she gave the time, signing off with the station call letters.
Getting out of the prowl car, Jim and Hal walked into the all-night cafe and truck-stop, their .38 caliber revolvers banging against their legs in black swiveled holsters with every step they took. Both officers were of average height, slim, trim and both looked distinguished in their tailor-fitted blue uniforms.
Taking a seat in a back booth they waited. Presently the waitress brought two steaming cups of coffee to set before them. It was Clara, the ugly waitress, tall rangy and hatchet-faced with large protruding buck teeth. Neither of the two cared much for her except for the fact that she liked policemen and would do anything to help one of them. She was extra friendly and over-talkative.
"You boys keeping busy tonight?" she asked, smiling down her hawk nose and horn-rims.
"Yeah, we've been real busy," Jim lied. Never tell the tax-paying public that you have time to kill. He had found this out long ago.
Clara turned and went to wait on a rough looking truck driver that entered and had taken a stool at the counter.
"You might try that out for size," he said nodding his head in the direction of Clara.
"You go to hell," Hal shot back.
"Why, now, that might be the best you've ever had," Jim teased.
"Then you be the first to try it out," Hal answered. "I still say it might be good," Jim said over his cup of coffee.
"I'd rather use old lady thumb and her four daughters," Hal grunted.
Laughing under his breath, Jim lit up a Camel.
"You know," Hal said, "Flora and Janet are two real nice kids if you learn to take what they say with a grain of salt."
"Yeah, they like to be treated like virgins," Jim said chuckling. "Janet always has a tale of woe. Her husband is beating her. He burns up her clothes. He keeps her tied to the bed post. Makes her walk barefooted in the snow. So she is madly in love with me. Yeah, I've heard them all. She wants to recapture the thrill of a teen-ager. But she doesn't want to admit that she is just looking for a good time like me and you do."
"Yeah, I know how it goes," Hal put in. "Flora has really told me some corkers. Real whoppers. Why she won't admit what she is and what she is looking for is beyond me."
"That will never be," Jim said. "They want to be told a line, even if they know damn well that it is a line of hogwash."
"Wonder if the rest of the ass-kissers on this shift know what we're doing out here at nights?" Hal asked.
"Frankly I don't give a damn," Jim said. "The whole damn force is doing it. I don't give a damn. It's the same any where you go. This town or any other, large or small."
"Yeah, I guess you're right there," Hal said.
"Damn right I'm right," Jim said. "Look at the chief. He's been shackin' with the city clerk and also the Mayor's office girl for ages."
"Yeah, and if he would catch one of us getting some on the side he would fire us in a minute," Hal said. "I knew about him and the city clerk, but I hadn't heard this one about the Mayor's office girl."
"Well it's true," Jim said. "She's the Mayor's private meat. And he knows of the rumors about the chief, but doesn't do anything about it. I'm sure that the chief has a hold over the Mayor's head somehow. Maybe someday I'll find out what it is."
"That chief of ours is quite an egg," Hal mused.
"Yeah, ain't he," Jim said. "The big fat underminded, unprincipled son-of-a-bitch. He's taking a pay-off from every crook in town; yet he wants his patrolmen to be saints."
Clara yelled across the room: "Sergeant, telephone."
Jim jumped up, darted behind the counter and hurried into the kitchen to take the call. In a few seconds he came running back.
"Let's go, we got a kick-in," he shouted at his partner.
Hal jumped up instantly and followed him to the prowl car. In a few minutes car 105 was going back out south Main doing ninety-five miles an hour, the red lights flashing. At Thirty-Second they turned east on two wheels. Nearing Melrose Street at Thirty-Second, Jim turned off all the lights on 105 and drove as silently as possible onto the large parking lot of Sam's Pick and Pay Food Market. The burglar alarm system was going full blast, putting out a scream that could be heard for blocks. The station had informed Jim on the phone that the other cars were en-route. He took the mike.
"Dispatcher, 10:03 to all cars (clear air for inter-car)," he said.
"Go ahead 105," returned the dispatcher.
"105 to all cars, I want your 10:20 (locations)."
"We're on the east side of the market now," came car 104.
"See any activity over there?"
"No, not yet," replied car 104.
"To all units. They're on the roof if they're anywhere, so watch that roof. If you see them, shoot to kill. We don't want them alive," he shouted into the mike.
"Car 103 is at thirty-first and Melrose," came car 103.
"Good, take the corner of the lot opposite us."
Hal was starting to get a little nervous, but Jim was calm and the muscles in his face were drawn tight. He was watching the roof but could see no signs of life. If the burglars were up there with rifles there would be hell to pay. He spoke into the mike.
"Dispatcher, are the detectives en-route?"
"10:04 car 105, and the chief is coming too."
Hell yes, he thought, that fat son-of-a-bitch would have to get out of bed and come down. He would have to get his fat face in the paper so the citizens of the town would think he was on the job.
"Car 106 is on the east side now with 104," called car 106.
"10:04, 106," Jim acknowledged.
Good, he thought, all the cars were there now, two on each side of the market. The alarm was still blaring loudly. Hal was out of the car and crouched by the right front fender of the car, his .38 covering the roof of the building. Nothing moved. The officers had the roof and store entrance lit up like a Christmas tree with the spotlights of the prowl cars. Jim was working the radio giving orders, watching the roof and using the door of the car to partly shield his body.
"Car 101 to 105," came a familiar voice.
"Go ahead." It was the chief calling.
"I'm on thirty-first and Kentucky. I'll be there in a minute. Don't go in the building until I get there and the detectives come."
"Okay chief, we'll wait, we wouldn't want you to miss out on anything," Jim said without thinking.
The chief didn't answer. God forbid them doing anything without the chief, he thought, they would definitely have to let his fat belly get in it.
"Car 102 to car 105," called the detective car.
Well, they had to get out of bed, Jim mused to himself, what a hell of a note.
"Go ahead 102," he answered.
"Sergeant, we're on the east side now. Leave your partner there with the sawed-off shot-gun and come around here with us. We're going to enter the building the same way they did and see if they're still in it. Be careful coming around."
"10:04."
Jim handed Hal the shot-gun, told him what the detectives had said, and took off running like a rabbit, gun in hand watching the roof for a possible sniper. If there was any one on the roof he was like a sitting duck. The one thing in his favor was that the lights from the spotlights would be in their faces, making accurate shooting difficult. But one thing in their favor would be that they would have high-powered rifles against which a revolver was as worthless as a slingshot. Sweat was pouring off his face when he reached the east side of the market safe. No shot had been fired. He greeted the two thug-looking detectives, ignoring the patrolmen. There was the ruddy red face of the chief in the crowd with a snub-nosed .38 in his chubby hand. The rear delivery door was standing partly ajar. The lock had been pried off.
"This is the way they gained entrance," Detective Bill Erwin said to the chief of police.
"Let's go in," grunted Detective Dick Simmons who was at Erwin's side.
"Let's go," returned Erwin.
Car 107 arrived and merchant policeman Jack Schell rushed to join the crowd of officers. 107 was strictly a merchant police unit, but it worked hand in hand with the regular police.
Tall slim Bill Erwin entered the open door first and stepped into the dark interior. He held his flashlight to the extreme left side of his body to draw any possible gun fire away from him, and in his right fist he clutched a .357 Magnum with a three and a half inch barrel.
Dick Simmons followed with his flashlight in one hand and a mean-looking .45 caliber colt automatic in the other. He was a short heavy ugly looking individual with horn-rim glasses.
Jim followed Simmons with the chief directly behind him breathing down his neck. Big, burly, ugly Jack Schell came last, carrying his giant gun-a .357 Magnum with a six inch barrel. The patrolmen in cars 104 and 106 had been instructed to cover the building from the outside.
Even with the aid of flashlights the interior of the market was as dark and eerie looking as a graveyard. The officers cast their lights everywhere searching for a light switch. Finally Jack Schell found one, which turned out to be the main switch. The building flooded with brilliant lights.
The officers worked as a team and searched the building thoroughly. The burglars had evidently been scared off by the alarm, as no trace of them could be found. There was ample evidence that they had been there and left. The alarm was rigged to all the doors and windows, but the burglars had cut the alarm wires, putting it out of commission when they made entry into the building. It was evident they knew a great deal about the lay-out of the building which ruled out beginners and put professional markings to the job.
The safe in the store office had been cut into. But the job hadn't been successful. The outside door to the safe had been cut open by a cutting torch. And while working on the interior safe wall the burglars had set off a booster alarm. This had undoubtedly scared them off. ,
The detectives found evidence that they had had a lookout stationed on the roof to watch for the police. There was an imprint of a rifle butt in the thick dust and grit on the roof. Two footprints also were found.
S. P. Ferry, the store manager arrived and took count. Nothing in the store was missing and the money in the safe, which totaled $3,348.58, was also untouched. A reporter from the Morning Globe and Times Enterprise showed up with his camera and Chief of Police Ed Jefferson was making a big blow of it.
"From the evidence I have on hand," Jefferson was saying, "I would say that the burglars had been in the store about an hour before they tripped the alarm on the safe."
That would mean, Jim thought, that the burglars were in the store at the exact time that he and Hal were out in the pasture about three or four blocks from there with the girls. The reporter was writing down the account of the break-in and the chief was giving it to him blow-by-blow.
"I would say from my experiences that this job was done by a bunch of professionals," Jefferson told the reporter.
"Do you have any idea who they might be?" the reporter asked.
"No, but we'll find out," the chief bragged.
"I'd like to get a few pictures," the reporter suggested.
"Sure, I'll show you to the safe," the chief said eagerly.
He turned to Jim. "Sergeant, we can finish up here. You get these prowl cars back in service and tell your boys to watch everything and everybody. We can't let this happen again."
"Okay," Jim grunted sourly. The bragging chief made him sick. It wouldn't surprise him a damn bit if the chief wasn't in cahoots with the burglars. He was a friend of every other crook in town.
Going outside he explained the break-in to the other patrolmen, told them what the chief had said and sent them on their way to return to their beats. Watching the two patrol cars drive off, he began wondering where one-eyed Schell was at when the break-in was taking place. He was paid by the merchants to check these buildings once an hour. Bet he was shacking up with that Greek gal on the other side of town, he thought.
Walking around the building to his own prowl car, he found Hal still crouched behind the front fender of the car, shot-gun in one hand and revolver in the other. Quickly he ran over the events of the last few moments with the amazed Hal. Getting back in the car, he drove up to where car 103 was and briefed them. Then he started back for Main Street and the bright lights.
Chapter Three
Car 105 cruised down Main slowly. It was a few minutes before the hour of one o'clock in the morning and traffic had died down to nothing. The streets were desolate and the town was quiet with a serene calmness. Hal broke into Jim's thoughts.
"Do you think there might be any connection between this attempted safe job and that speed demon we saw earlier?"
"Could be, but I doubt it. At the time we saw that Ford the burglars should have been in the act of breaking into the rear of the store.
"They find anything?"
"Two footprints and the print of a rifle butt on the roof."
"Whereabouts on the roof?"
"On the side you were watching."
Hal turned pale. "We're damn lucky we were out with the girls. If we had drove in on that lot sooner, it would have been the end of two damn good police officers."
"Now you're getting smart."
"You think our wonderful Dick Tracy and Sherlock Holmes will figure out who done it?"
"No. I don't think they could catch a common cold, much less professional safe knockers."
"Say! lookee there!" Hal pointed. "There by the lamp-post, see?"
"Where? Yeah, I see her. Yeah, she has done flat ass had it, hasn't she?"
"Pull over to the curb."
Jim wheeled the car to the curb, and Hal stepped hastily out onto the curb beside the intoxicated woman.
She was a pleasantly plump lady of approximately thirty years of age, and was dressed well above average in expensive evening attire. She had both arms around the lamp post supporting herself from the verge of an almost inevitable collapse.
"Come on sugar, let's go," Hal said putting his arms around her and pulling her free from the lamp post.
"Le've me 'lone (hic)." she mumbled incoherently.
"Come on now, everything's going to be all right," he said, supporting her against him. Jim watched the episode from behind the steering wheel of the prowl car.
Opening the rear car door, Hal struggled to get the woman in the back seat. She was almost limp in his arms, and seemed well past the stage of knowing what was going on around her.
"You could get off your butt and help me," Hal cracked.
"You're doing fine. You can have the honors this time."
"Thanks for nothing."
Hal loaded her limp, barely conscious body into the back seat and crawled in after her, closing the door behind him. Her long black purse fell off the seat spilling its contents on the floor. Her yellow evening dress had crawled up to the middle of her thighs. Liking what he saw, Hal pushed it the rest of the way up exposing the nice plump flesh above her nylons and her white lace panties.
"Lookee here, Jim," he said, "this gal has fair looking legs and she isn't bad looking at all."
"Yeah, let's get out of here," Jim said, glancing in the back seat. He put the car in gear and drove to the corner, turning off Main Street.
"Look through that stuff that fell on the floor and see if you can find out who she is," Jim instructed.
Hal fumbled through the purse contents until he found her identification. The rest of the junk he put back in the purse.
"I never seen so much crap in all my born days."
"Then you haven't known many women," Jim cracked. "Find anything?"
"Yeah, this gives her name as Mrs. Edna Thornton. Lives at 4309 Hobb street. Hell!" he exclaimed, "that's on Nob Hill."
"Yeah, she's one of the rich dames," Jim said, "I recognize her name. Her husband is a bridge-building contractor. Travels a lot."
"Don't (hic) lea'e me (hic). Screw me, baby (hic). Gimme s'm peter. Rag t'me 'azz," she mumbled faintly, her head lying against the back of the seat.
"Where you been, honey? Out on a party?" Hal asked.
The woman groaned and her body slumped against Hal.
"She's blacked out on her feet," Hal said. "It's a damn good thing we came along when we did. She might have passed out on the sidewalk. Did you hear her asking to get screwed? You going to take her to the station?"
"I don't see no point in it. The chief would just turn her loose and eat our ass out for bringing her in. We'll take her home."
"She don't know what's going on. How about cruising some dark residential streets for a few minutes and letting me get some of this nookie. I didn't get any out in the pasture. She won't ever know about it. Besides, she asked for it."
"Okay, go ahead. But make it fast," Jim said after thinking on the matter. "Don't forget that the chief is still out at the market snooping around with the dicks and reporter."
Hal didn't answer but went to work with what he had in mind.
Jim drove up and down several streets making sure to pick the dark ones and kept his fingers crossed hoping they didn't get a call. If they did it would really upset their apple-cart. He only had to kill a few minutes but a lot could happen in a few minutes as he had found out through experience. He drove toward the Nob Hill section, wanting to be as close as possible so they could dump the lady immediately as soon as Hal got through with her. The sound of heavy breathing and struggling in the rear seat indicated that his partner was enjoying himself immensely, obtaining the satisfaction he had been deprived of earlier in the night.
The woman was making sounds of definite enjoyment. They were drunken sounds, for sure. But they were the drunken sounds of a woman who was enjoying sex. She was not completely oblivious of what was happening to her.
"Well, I'm finished," Hal panted catching his breath. "It's not bad at all. You want me to drive while you get some?"
"Do it s'm more (hic). More ..."
"No. I think we better take her home while we still have luck with us."
"More (hic)," the woman said squirming. "Gimme s'more ..."
Hal was having trouble getting the panties back on the woman. He solved the problem by uttering an oath and throwing them out the window.
The prowl car pulled up in front of the address that was found in the woman's purse and turned into the long circular driveway leading to the beautiful moss-covered stucco residence, stopping at the side of the long spacious patio.
Together the two officers assisted the woman across the patio and to the front door. Jim tried the door bell twice while his partner held the woman upright by holding her under her armpits. They received no answer to the door bell, much to their relief.
"Goddamn, I'm glad her husband ain't here," Jim exclaimed his relief, searching wildly in her purse for a house key.
"Hurry up, she's getting heavy," Hal panted.
"Here we go," Jim answered producing a ring of keys.
He tried two in the brass lock that refused to work then grunted his satisfaction when the third one opened it. Dropping the keys back into the purse he helped Hal carry his burden into the dark living room.
"Damn it's dark in here," Hal barked.
"Yeah, but we don't dare turn on a light," Jim answered.
"We're lucky it's a moonlight night," Hal said.
"Yeah; there's a divan over there by those french doors so let's drop her over there and get out of here pronto," Jim said.
The two officers carried the woman across the room and laid her out on the davenport. Jim tossed her purse on the coffee table. The woman groaned and curled up on the davenport.
"Boy, this place is swank from hell to howdy," he said.
"You ain't just a-kidding."
"Did you ever see so much jewelry on one woman in all your life put together?"
"No, never did. It's a wonder she hasn't got knocked in the head long ago. Let's get out of here."
The two officers hurriedly left the house, closing the huge oak door behind them, and returned to their car. Jim put the car in reverse and backed out into the street, then drove rapidly out of the high class Nob Hill section and headed back toward the heart of town. He wiped the beads of sweat off his brow.
"Goddamn such an experience," he said. "I wouldn't have cared so much if the damn chief hadn't been out on this kick-in."
"Well don't worry," Hal said. "When she wakes up she won't remember a thing. She didn't even know we were the law when we picked her up. As for her panties-" he grinned; "she'll always wonder who."
Jim laughed nervously and said: "That's for goddamned sure!"
"Wonder where her husband was?" asked Hal. "They must have went to a party at a club or something, and she got drunk and wandered off."
"Either that or he's out of town, and she decided to have a ball and cut out on him for a little strange."
"She may not realize it in the morning, but she got it," Jim chuckled.
"You better believe it," Hal boasted. "Do you want to smell my finger?"
"No, not hardly," Jim grinned.
Hal cuckled: "Wouldn't it be funny if lil ole Edna gets pregnant out of this."
Jim's grin broadened, but he didn't answer.
* * *
Jim glanced sleepily at the large round dial of his expensive yellow-gold wrist watch and saw that it was pushing four o'clock in the morning. Three more hours of this rat race he thought. He looked at his partner, who had laid his head back against the back of the seat to catch some shut-eye. The pussy had really gonked him.
Jim yawned sleepily. He was getting so sick of looking at these deserted streets at nights that he was about to go crazy. He had threatened to quit a hundred times, but each time the thought of the uniform-happy girls of free virtues made him stay. There also were the drunk women that could be made easy. All you had to do was slip their panties off and have a ball. No Judge or Court in the world would believe a drunk if one of them decided to holler. Especially not against a policeman.
Disturbance calls were also good places to run into love-starved women. That was usually what family disturbance calls amounted to-a drunk husband not being able to satisfy his drunk wife.
The radio blared out, sounding like a gun in the quiet of the early morning hours: "Car 105."
Hal came awake instantly as Jim reached for the mike.
"Go ahead."
"Go to 4812 South Peria. A family disturbance."
"10:04," Jim answered, hanging the mike back on the dash.
"Some guy in the south end trying to get a little from his old lady," Hal grunted.
The sergeant didn't answer but drove south on Main. At forty-eighth street they turned west toward Peria which was the third street over from Main. Turning on Peria they pulled up in front of 4812 and stopped.
The lights were on but they could hear no noise from the street. Jim reached for the mike on the dash and spoke into it.
"105 is 10:97,"(arrived at the scene)
"10:04 car 105," came the reply.
He replaced the mike and both officers walked to the front door. Jim pressed the buzzer twice, and a lady in her early forties opened the door. She was unusually good-looking for her age and had a good figure from what they could make of it outlined against the red bath robe she had wrapped tightly around her. She had been crying. Her eyes were red, and she was dabbing at them with a frilly handkerchief.
"Please come in, officers," she said, trying to control her emotions.
Both officers stepped in, noticing the round firm breasts that threatened daringly to crawl over the opening at the neck of the robe. They could see she had very little, or nothing at all, on under the robe.
"What's the trouble ma'am?" Jim asked.
"It's my husband. He came home drunk from a private party and ... oh, do something, Officers, please," she pleaded. "He's trying to force me to do something crazy and dirty. Oh, it's horrible!"
Just then her husband came staggering into the living room clad only in a pair of striped under shorts. He was a huge bald headed giant of a man with a massive hairy chest and muscular ape-like hairy arms. He appeared several years older than his wife. His breath reeked with the smell of alcohol.
"Now look here, cop, I'm William F. Kellogg," he said slurringly. "I'm a big goddamn (hic) man in this (hic) town. Now by god, you listen here (hic), I came home and all I wanted was a (hic) little romance, (hic) I might (hic) just as well (hic) have jacked off."
"Bill, please," his wife exclaimed greatly embarrassed.
"Do you wish to sign a complaint on him, Mrs. Kellogg?" Jim asked calmly.
"Yes, if necessary," she said. "But can't you just make him leave the house until he sobers up? I don't wish to go to court with it. He's really a fine man. This is the first time I've seen him acting like this." She wiped some tears from her eyes.
"Honey, now don't send (hic) me to jail. Goddamn, all I wanted (hic) was a (hic) little bit of (hic) your meat."
"William, please! Think of your daughter," she exclaimed, her face turning beet red and her eyes filling with tears.
The two officers glanced at a pretty girl of about seventeen, who was sitting across the room, her face lividly white with fright.
Kellogg reached out swiftly and grabbed his startled wife, pulling her to him. His move caught the officers completely unawares. Holding her in front of him with her back against his stomach, he reached his huge hands around her and tore the robe open.
Mrs. Kellogg had on only a pink pair of nylon panties and a white strapless bra. She was terrified and was screaming hysterically between sobs. The officers saw curves under the robe that were hard to believe possible for a woman of her age to have preserved so well.
Kellogg snapped the bra in two with his hand, threw it across the room and started caressing the two well-rounded lush looking breasts, one in each hand. Then he ran his hand down her quivering stomach muscles and into her panties.
Mrs. Kellogg screamed, crying for him to stop while her daughter ran to her aid, beating her small fists on her father's back, begging him to stop molesting her mother.
"Honey, I'm going to (hic) get in your (hic) britches. You're going to (hic) give it to me (hic) whether you like it or (hic) not," Kellogg growled with drunk-crazed passion. "I'm going to (hic) cut your (hic) meat down on the (hic) floor right now." He growled like a wild animal and started tearing at the panties.
"All right, Kellogg, goddamn you. Freeze!" Jim shouted.
Kellogg stopped and glared violently at Jim. He shoved his wife roughly from him and she fell to her knees on the floor, her panties down around her ankles.
"Look cop (hic) don't fool with (hic) me."
"Then keep your clammy mitts off your wife."
"She's (hic) my wife cop, and I'm a (hic) big goddamn man in this damn (hic) town. I'll have your (hic) job."
"You may have my job tomorrow but I'll have your ass tonight."
"I got a good (hic) notion to tie you up in (hic) knots, you wise (hic) bastard."
"Let's get started, you over-sized pile of blubber."
Kellogg stood rigid sizing up the determined sergeant before him. He glanced at the other officer then back at the sergeant and his mouth formed a mean drunken sneer. Mrs. Kellogg had wrapped the robe tightly around her, and had taken her daughter to the far side of the room. There the frightened mother and daughter watched the scene in the middle of the living room.
Jim stood his ground against the big man, his left hand on his heavy leaded leather sap in his rear pocket and the fingers of his right hand near the butt of his revolver. He knew his partner would back his play to the limit.
"I'm a police officer, Kellogg," Jim drawled coolly. "Now you can leave here for the night like your wife suggested, and get a room in a hotel; or you can get rough and make your play now. Now what will it be? If you want a fight, let's get started."
Seconds dragged by with the two men glaring at each other. Finally Kellogg broke the eerie silence.
"I'm sorry, cop," he said calmly. "There'll be (hic) no play. If you'll give me a ride, I'll go to a hotel."
"Okay, get your clothes on, we'll wait," Jim said.
Kellogg disappeared into the bedroom. Relief showed on the faces of Mrs. Kellogg and her daughter. Both women had obviously been through an awful strain.
Kellogg came staggering back into the living room clad in a bright colored sport shirt and brown dress suit.
"You boys (hic) ready?" he asked.
"Yeah, let's go," Jim answered.
Hal led Kellogg out the door and Jim started to follow. Mrs. Kellogg came across the room and stopped him at the door.
"Thank you, thank you so very much," she said, and touched his arm. He smiled at her then followed his partner to the car.
Minutes later the two officers had Kellogg deposited in a room at the Coral Hotel, and had returned to cruising the streets.
"Who is this Kellogg fellow?" Hal asked.
"He is part owner of the K & G Freight lines. He thinks he's a wheel."
"Well, you showed him tonight what dogs does to wheels."
"What did you think about his wife? Nice huh?" Jim asked.
"God! That looked good. That daughter of his looked like good bed stuff, too."
"I would like to get another look at that wife of his. A slow one. I'd just like to play with that awhile and see if it's real."
"It's hard to believe that her body could be that smooth at her age," Hal remarked.
"Yeah, but you seen it for yourself tonight."
"No wonder the old man flipped his lid."
"I think I'll take another run out there," Jim decided. "I need some information for my report."
"Report hell! You just want to make a play for that. Ole' buddy, that could prove out to be bad business."
Jim laughed his partner's remark off. His mind was made up. He turned the prowl car south, and within a matter of minutes he pulled to a stop in front of the Kellogg home. The lights were still on.
"Want to come in?" he asked.
"No. I'm staying out here," Hal replied.
"Suit yourself," Jim said, getting out of the car.
He walked to the front door and rang the buzzer. Shortly Mrs. Kellogg opened the door. She was still wearing the robe.
"Yes, Sergeant? Any trouble?" she asked alarmed.
"No, nothing like that," Jim said. "I just have to make a report and I need some information."
Noticing that her curves were outlined against the robe invitingly, he had a sudden urge to tear the robe off her.
"Come in," she invited. "But keep your voice down. My daughter has finally gone to sleep."
Jim stepped inside and followed her as she led the way across the living room.
"Let's sit here on the divan," she suggested.
Jim sat down beside her making a point to sit close enough so his leg would rub against hers. Her leg felt soft to the touch and she didn't bother to move, which gave added encouragement to him.
"This won't get in the papers will it?" she asked.
"No. This report is just routine."
"Now I definitely don't want it in the papers about what took place here tonight."
"You don't need to worry, Mrs. Kellogg. This report is something we have to turn in on every call we get, no matter how minor. It's for the chief of police and the station's files."
"Did you get Bill to a hotel?"
"Yeah, we took him to the Coral and he's in room 216."
"Good. I hated to see this thing happen, but I didn't know what else to do."
"Well you did the right thing, Mrs. Kellogg."
"I sure hope so."
Jim took out his small pocket size notebook and his ball point pen. He rubbed her leg a little with his knee and she still didn't offer any resistance.
"What is your first name?"
"Jane. Jane Kellogg."
"How long you been married?"
"Nineteen years."
"You and your husband ever have any sex problems before?"
"No. Tonight was the first. I don't know what came over him."
"Where does your husband work?"
"He partly owns the K & G freight lines."
"Do you love your husband?"
"Yes, but what has that to do with your report?"
"Just routine. Would you step out on him?"
"Why, for heaven's sake no! Now, Sergeant, I don't care to answer any questions like that. You were nice to help me and I wish to cooperate with the police. But this is out of the question."
"No offense, Mrs. Kellogg, I just thought that maybe your husband wasn't quite getting the job done here and you might want to try out another man on the side without him knowing it."
He dropped one hand in her lap and shoved it under her robe getting a good feel of what he wanted. Then with his other arm, he pulled her to him roughly and pressed his lips hard against hers. She fought hard, struggling with all her might, finally tearing herself free from his grasp. She jumped off the divan and ran to the front door. Pointing at it, she screamed wildly: "Get out of here! Get out! Get out!"
Jim stood up feeling lost and dumbfounded. He would have gambled that he could have made Mrs. Kellogg. He never would have dreamed he would have run up against this negative reaction.
"Get out, you bum! You sex fiend you!" she shouted.
"Look, I'm sorry Mrs. Kellogg, I ..."
"Get out! Out! Out! Out!"
Glumly Jim left the house and hurried back to the car, hearing Mrs. Kellogg slam the door shut hard behind him.
Hal looked at him with puzzlement in his eyes when he jumped in behind the wheel, threw the car in gear and drove in haste toward town.
Jim knew his partner was wondering what in hell was going on, but he didn't have time to worry about him now. He had to think up a good plausible lie to tell the chief today. Because Mrs. Kellogg would turn him in just as sure as God made little green apples.
"Let's go get some coffee, lover boy," Hal broke into his thoughts.
"Okay," Jim grunted.
* * *
Minutes later they were seated in a booth in Gene's Grill with a steaming cup of coffee before each of them. Gene himself was working today and had waited on them. Over the hot Java Jim told his partner briefly what had happened between him and Mrs. Kellogg.
"See, I told you so," Hal said.
"I knew damn well you'd say that."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know yet but I'll have to come up with something."
"You damn sure better. The chief will have you on the carpet sure."
"Yeah, don't you think I know it?"
"Maybe she won't turn you in."
"Not a chance. She's just the kind that will."
They finished their coffee, lit up a cigarette and returned to the prowl car. They only had to drive around a few minutes until they heard what they had been waiting all night to hear.
"Attention all local cars. Signal 10:19 (return to station) for relief."
They heard the other cars acknowledge the call. Then Hal picked up the mike and mumbled "10:04" into it, and hung it back on the dash.
"God, I'm glad this night is over," Hal mumbled.
"Brother, you and me both," Jim shot back.
They were close to the station when they got their relief call; so it was just a matter of seconds before Jim turned the black Ford into the alley behind the station and put on the brake. Turning off the ignition switch he climbed wearily out of 105 and headed for the station followed by Hal.
They were the first car in and Jim intended to be the first man to leave. Another goddamn night over, thank the Lord. And what a night it was. There were no reports to collect from the other cars as there had only been two calls all night, and his car had got them. He had made the reports on them: the kick-in at the market, and the disturbance call at the Kellogg home. That's the way it goes. Every night. Damn.
Chapter Four
Jim awoke to the violent shaking his pretty young wife was giving him. Flinging his arms wildly, he rolled over and opened his bloodshot eyes.
"Come on now, let's get up, sleepy-head," Alice taunted.
"Goddamn, is it time to go to work already?" he asked sleepily.
"No," Alice laughed. "The chief called and wants to see you at four this afternoon. It's three o'clock now."
Jim groaned, realizing that what he had anticipated was coming true.
"Come on now, let's get up," Alice said. "I have some coffee fixed."
Jim rolled out of the covers clad only in his undershirt and shorts. Alice had been after him for years to buy pajamas. But it was like talking to a post.
"Wonder what the chief wants?" Alice asked with a note of anxiety. "Did you lose your temper again last night and hit someone?"
"No. Hell, I don't know what he wants," he lied.
Alice followed him into the kitchen and sat with him while he drank his coffee.
"Do you want me to fry you some ham and eggs?" she asked.
"No, I'll wait until I get back from talking to the chief."
"Did you have a rough night?"
"Nope."
"I heard on television that burglars broke into Sam's Pick and Pay last night. Do you consider that nothing?"
"Yeah."
He didn't hear a thing that his wife said. His mind was miles away, running several plausible lies around trying to decide which one would sound the best to the doe-bellied chief of police.
"Did you have any trouble last night?" Alice asked again, trying to draw him out.
"No! Now look, honey, everything's just jim-dandy," he said, trying to assure her and also himself. "Now don't worry. It's probably nothing. You know how the chief is."
"Yes, maybe you're right," she smiled, the anxiety leaving her pretty face. "He possibly wants to talk to you about something of little or no importance at all."
Alice had a cute little rosebud mouth and blue eyes like deep shimmering pools. Her eyes were set off by long sweeping black eyelashes that added a hint of bedroom charm. Her lush red hair hung to her shoulders. The comely curves of her body filled the tight red slim jims and cotton knit sport sweater.
Jim finished his coffee and without another word to Alice, went to the bathroom to shave and shower. Minutes later he came out with a towel around his middle and went into the bedroom to dress into his street clothes.
Alice followed him like a well-trained dog. She was true-blue to her man and if anyone would ask her, she would tell them readily that he was the one that hung the moon.
Jim slipped into a solid black sport shirt and a pair of charcoal colored pants.
"I'm not going to wear a coat," he said.
"I don't think you'll need one. It's fairly warm out today."
"Well, then I guess I'm ready. Here goes nothing."
"Did you get into trouble last night, Jim?" she asked.
"No, hell no, perish the thought," he said, faking a laugh.
He reached out for her, taking her into his arms gently and kissing her soft lips long. He stroked her hair and pressed her lips harder feeling her tight stomach muscles quiver against him. Then he released her and walked toward the back door.
"Good luck, honey," Alice called after him.
* * *
Dobbsville was a town of forty thousand souls, most of them lost. Sergeant Jim Thorn and his family lived on the outskirts where rent was reasonably cheap. The suburb was called Pilots Point and was on what would be the sixty hundred block of South Main if the city limits of Dobbsville ran out that far. The Thorns had two children, a boy eight years old and a girl six years old.
The off-duty officer sped down Main Street in his Nash station wagon, doing ninety in a forty mile zone. Luckily he found a parking space in front of the red brick police station. Entering the station he took the stairs to the second floor and walked down the hall to the office of the Chief of Police. Rapping the closed door lightly, he waited for a reply.
"Come in," came a gruff voice.
He turned the knob and stepped inside the office, closing the door behind him.
Chief Ed Jefferson was sitting behind a long metal desk fumbling through a stack of papers and letters before him. Ed Jefferson was a short stocky man with a fat belly that protruded over his belt. He was in his late forties and half bald. He looked at Jim with a poker face.
"You want to see me, Chief?" Jim asked innocently.
"No, I just called you in because I like to look at that ugly face of yours," the chief said sarcastically. I like to have to come to the station on Sunday."
"Have a chair," the chief barked roughly.
Jim pulled up a straight-back chair and fell in it. The chief's face was a deeper red than usual. Jim could expect the worse.
"What happened out at 4812 South Peria last night?"
Jim felt like he had been hit in the face with a wet glove. Taking considerable time and pains, he told the story to the chief just the way it happened. When he came to the part about the advances his mind started working fast and he lied as only he knew how.
"Evidently Mrs. Kellogg was drunk or lonely for a man because she openly asked me to take her in the bedroom and have an affair with her. I don't know what came over her. I told her I couldn't do a thing like that and left. I figured she would make up a lie to tell you because I didn't do what she wanted."
"You right sure that's the way it was?" the chief asked, squinting his eyes.
"Chief!" Jim exclaimed. "You don't think that I, a police officer for the city of Dobbsville, would indulge in such a thing as fooling with another man's wife?-and on duty to boot?"
"Why no, I don't know what made me ask such a question like that for," the chief drawled sarcastically. "You lying bastard! Now look here, Thorn, I got a much different report from Mrs. Jane Kellogg. She isn't going to tell her husband, who by the way is an important man in this town, and she isn't going to the newspaper. So that being the case, I'm going to let you off this time. But I don't want it happening again. Do you hear me, Thorn?"
"Yes sir."
"If she had gone to the paper I would have to fire you, 'cause I can't stand having the paper on my back. But thank God she didn't. That is what saved your ass from losing your job. Naturally I don't believe that crap of yours. I know you too well. The whole damn force knows of you and your ways with the women."
"Well, I'm sorry, it won't happen again, chief."
"You goddamn well right it won't!" he exploded. "If it does, you're done. You are a good officer and you've been here a long time. But I won't put up with no foolishness and I won't let you drag the whole department into the newspaper. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, now that we understand each other let's just don't have an incident like this happen again." Jim nodded agreement.
"Something else, I want these streets patrolled at nights. I want your men instructed to check every window and every door of every place of business in town. I don't want any more kick-ins like we experienced last night."
"Yes sir."
"That's the trouble with the midnight shift. Too much chasing split-tails and not enough police work."
Again Jim nodded.
"We've had more kick-ins, house burglaries, rapes, robberies and hi-jackin's than any other town around here for a radius of a hundred and fifty miles. Most of them happen on the midnight shift."
"Yeah, I know," Jim admitted. "But we're doing our best, Chief."
"Then you and your crew are going to have to work harder."
"Yes sir."
"We're goddamn lucky those knob knockers didn't get in that safe last night. If they had, the paper would be blasting us from here to hell and back."
"Any lead on them yet?"
"Not a goddamn thing. They were out-of-state pros. That much we are sure of. Simmons and Erwin made a plaster of those two footprints and the print of that rifle butt, but we'll need some good suspects before those will be of any use."
Chief Jefferson began sorting through the papers on his desk, seemingly ignoring his police sergeant.
Jim coughed loudly and looked at his watch, hoping the chief would take the hint and continue the conversation or let him go.
"That will be all, Thorn. Just remember our conversation."
"Yes sir," Jim said, getting up to leave. He was relieved that he had got off the hook so easy.
"One moment, Sergeant," Chief Jefferson called as Jim reached for the door knob.
"Yeah?"
"I want you to handle the same part with the summer picnic this year that you handled last year. You did a fine job last year and I'm sure you can do it again this year. Will you take the job?"
"Yeah, sure thing. I got a big kick out of it last year."
"Good. Tomorrow or the next day I want you to go out and see my wife. She's going to handle the other end of it this year instead of me. I'm going to be too busy for one thing. And for another, my wife wants to do it. She gets a big kick out of planning picnics and that sort of thing."
"Okay, tell her to expect me tomorrow afternoon some time."
"Good deal. I'll tell her to expect you."
"Well, I had better be getting home so I can get some rest before I have to come back down to this rat-er I mean er to work tonight."
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
Jim left the office and hurried down the stairs and out to his car. In twenty minutes he was back at Pilots Point, had his station wagon parked in the garage, and was walking up the rock walk to the back door of his house. Alice was waiting for him at the door.
"Hi honey," he said, stepping into the kitchen and taking her into his arms.
"What happened?" she asked, a worried look on her face.
"Nothing," he replied, kissing her inviting lips softly. "He just wanted me to help his wife work out plans for the summer picnic this year, like I did last year. We were getting all worried for nothing. See, I told you not to worry about old dad."
"Well, I do just the same," she smiled, greatly relieved. "That's 'cause I love you so."
He pressed his lips to hers, holding her long, their kiss lingering. When he released her, she was smiling, her eyes glistening once more.
"Where's the kids?" he asked.
"They were at a Sunday School picnic when I woke you up this afternoon. They came home shortly after you left, and mother came by a few minutes ago and took them over to her house for the evening."
"Oh. Will they be home before I go to work tonight?"
"Of course they will, silly. You'll get to see them."
"Good. Now how about fixing me those ham and eggs?"
"Okay, just for you."
Alice busied herself and Jim went into the living room, turned the television set on, and sat down in his easy chair to watch his favorite program. Man, this was the life. But there just wasn't enough of it. Maybe someday he would make a million and live like a king. Dreams of a Cop. With his salary, one had to dream ...
Night had arrived like a bad taste in the mouth. Jim had just driven away from the police station in faithful car 105. Judging by a lot of experience, tonight would be slow. Tonight was Hal's regular night off. Jim was damn glad to be by his lonesome. He liked to pull lone ranger.
He smiled to himself as his thoughts started roaming. Maybe his partner's night off would be a good one and his old lady would give him some. After all, Hal's old lady was a cute little devil. That was One little gal that knew how to make love. That he could verify.
His thoughts drifted back a couple of months to the time when he had gone to his partner's house to talk him into going fishing. Hal had been gone that day on a trip to Perryburg, a town about twenty miles from Dobbsville. Jean, his partner's wife, had told him that Hal went to see his uncle on business and would be gone most of that day. Jim remembered how nice and inviting she had looked in the thin light blue negligee, with absolutely nothing on under it except her. She had invited him in for coffee and did everything but stick it in his face and ask him to do it to her.
Finally she got so hot that she pulled off the negligee and stood stark nude before him, teasing him with a body that should have been put on a magazine cover. He wasn't one to do dirt to a buddy. But he also wasn't one to pass up something that good, especially when it was thrown in his lap free for the taking. He remembered how she had rubbed her two large firm breasts against his face and asked him to bite on them. He had buried his nose in the middle of them like a lion that was starving to death. Jean had the kind of breasts that stood straight out on their own without the help of a bra.
He had sat there in Hal's kitchen until the bulge in his pants would stand it no longer. Then he had picked Jean up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom, where he had done it to her. He had indulged in the delight of his partner's own private stock for half a day. He remembered Jean telling him how lonely she got at times, and how Hal failed to show her enough attention at times. She had told him when he left that she would get in touch with him some way when she wanted to see him again, and for him to keep still about the affair around Hal. Jim had given his word, which didn't amount to anything to Jean. So far as he knew, his partner had never got wise.
He smiled thinking about Hal. If he only knew that he had made his wife, made her like it and cry for more. The smile broadened into a grin. He had never heard from Jean since that day. He would have to find an excuse to go over and tap that delightful spot again.
He stopped his prowl car in front of the K & 0 cafe. Picking up the mike, he checked out of service. As soon as the dispatcher acknowledged his call, he went in.
It had been a week since he had been in the K & O. He liked this cafe much better than Gene's Grill, as it was more high class and in his opinion a better place to eat. He selected a booth and waved at Molly Drew, the pretty brunette manager who was standing at her usual place behind the cash register. She waved back and smiled.
Sally, the pretty seventeen year old blonde waitress, brought his coffee and set it before him with a smile.
"Where's Hal tonight?" Sally asked.
"Don't you know? Tonight is his night off."
"Oh yes, that's right. I forgot."
His partner had been wanting to get in her pants for some time. But so far she had been stalling him. Jim watched her swing her luscious hips as she walked across the room to another booth. He wished his eyes were an x-ray machine.
He lit a Camel and sipped at his cup of coffee. Glancing up, he saw Molly coming across to him with a can of beer in her hand.
She smiled and sat down in the booth with him. "I'm going to take a break from that damn cash register. You don't mind if I sit with you and drink my beer do you?"
"No. Of course not. You can sit with me until hell freezes."
"Busy tonight?"
"No. It's always slow as hell on Sunday night."
"So's our business. We've just had a handful of customers. Are you riding alone tonight?"
"Yeah, I'm the lone ranger. Tonto is off tonight."
"I'll be glad when two o'clock gets here."
"You're lucky. I have to wait until seven."
Molly was the night manager of the K & O cafe. Her sister Mary, who had married a rich Indian, owned the cafe and operated it during the day. Molly closed the K & 0 at two o'clock in the morning; and Sally, or sometimes Mary, opened it again at six o'clock in the morning. Usually Mary didn't come to work until eight, letting Sally handle the early morning trade by herself.
"My husband is out in Utah this week on a construction job."
"He's a long way from his mama then?"
"Yeah, another lonely bed for me tonight."
"No reason for that. A pretty girl like you shouldn't have to sleep alone."
Molly didn't answer but stared past him and sipped her beer slowly.
"I sure hope business doesn't pick up any. That cash register is getting tiresome. That's why I drink beer so much while I'm working. It soothes my nerves."
"What time do you get out of here after you close the doors?" Jim asked.
"It's usually ten to twenty minutes before I get the register checked out."
"How about me picking you up then and giving you a lift home?"
"I have my car. Do you know where I live?"
"Yes."
"Come by about two-thirty. Park in the alley so no one will see your car."
"I'll be there."
He sipped his coffee with a feeling that a dream had come true. The idea of getting a date with Molly had been in his mind for some time. But he had been afraid to come right out and ask her.
Molly wasn't like the average women he had known. She had the same respectable air about her every time he saw her, and never gave the slightest indication of anything less than respectability.
He ground out the cigarette butt in the ash-tray and lit another, first offering one to Molly, who shook her head negative.
A customer walked to the register to pay his tab so Molly got up and went to take his money, taking her beer with her. Jim mentally undressed her with his eyes as she walked across the room.
Finishing his coffee, he got up and walked toward the door. Molly caught his eye as he passed her.
"Remember now," she said softly.
"How can I forget? Thanks for the Java."
She smiled her answer as he opened the door and left the cafe to return to car 105. His mind was in the clouds with the thought of two-thirty.
* * *
The minutes had dragged by so slow that it seemed to the excited police sergeant that time was standing still. It was shortly before midnight when he had left the K & O cafe and it was now just ten short minutes away from his rendezvous with Molly. The thrill of being alone with Molly was on the same level-in the mind of the police sergeant-as having a date with Venus, the Goddess of Beauty and Love.
The anticipation of making it with Molly had about driven him beyond the realms of sanity. The two hours had seemed to him like an eternal wait. During the time he had been acquainted with her he had had a constant, craving curiosity to fathom her seemingly superior aloofness.
The town was quiet and serene now. Not a soul seemed to be stirring. Jim had managed to endure the long boredom of the dragging time by keeping his mind active and engrossed in systematic police patrol. Since his departure from the cafe, he had cruised every alley in the business district and checked the security of every business establishment in town.
Now the time had come and he was driving in the direction of Molly's house. Excitement was causing his blood to run fast, pounding like twin trip-hammers in his temples.
Molly's garage apartment was located in the south end of town. No light was visible from the street. He drove into the alley and parked alongside the structure. Molly's car was parked directly in front of his prowl car. His heart beat fast as he reached for the radio mike to check out of service.
"105 to headquarters."
"Go ahead car 105."
"I'll be 10:07 (out of service) a while."
"10:04 car 105-2:30AM ... (call letters)."
Turning off the motor, he pocketed the ignition key and stepped hastily out of the car. Walking around to the opposite side of the garage, he climbed the stairs to the long veranda and crossed to the door of the apartment. He pushed on the door bell, noticing a dim light coming through the slits in the drawn venetian-blind. Hoping her husband sure enough was in Utah, he waited. The door opened and Molly stood silhouetted in an alluring black negligee.
"Come in," she sang with a tone like the purr of a kitten.
She unlatched the screen door and Jim stepped into the luxuriously furnished living room. The lights were dim, and some soft enchanting music was coming from the record-player in the far corner of the room. This lent a romantic allure.
"Let me take your cap and jacket," she purred. "You're going to stay a while, aren't you?"
"I am unless you run me off," he said, his eyes gleaming like a college boy on his first sure date.
"There's no danger in that," she barely whispered taking his cap and jacket from his unsteady hands.
"I may as well take your pea-shooter too," she hummed softly.
"What pea-shooter?" he asked, his thoughts elsewhere.
"Oh, come now, your revolver," she drawled. "You won't need it with me."
"Oh! The gun! Yeah, I forgot I even had one on," he uttered.
She laughed softly as Jim busied himself unbuckling the heavy sam-browne. He held the gear out for her to take.
Walking across the room, swinging her hips purposely, she put his belongings in the closet. She walked back towards him slowly, sensuously, smiling faintly with a daring gleam in her eyes. The bottom of her negligee flared out invitingly as she walked. Dim light penetrated the thin negligee, and he could see that there was nothing on beneath it. She looked bewitching to the fascinated sergeant as she grasped both his hands and pressed her alluring body to him, purposely rubbing her firm soft breasts against his chest. Looking up into his lust-loaded eyes, she whispered sultrily:
"Care for a drink?"
"One would go real good."
"What's that big bulge I feel?"
"Er, that's a er corn-cob in my pocket, "Jim grinned.
She pulled away from him laughing musically, her sparkling brown eyes smiling at him daringly, and slinked sexily toward the kitchen.
"Find yourself a seat in there and be comfortable," she called to him from the kitchen.
Jerking his black tie off, he sat down on the sofa in center of the living room and unbuttoned his collar. He was starting to get warm for some reason. In all of his wild dreaming he had never run up against a dream as wonderful as this.
She came back into the room carrying a metal tray on which were two filled glasses, a pint of vodka, four seven-ups and a bowl of ice cubes. Her long slim shapely legs darted bewitchingly out of the sweeping negligee. Jim stared, marveling at how her legs tapered proportionately down to the high heel, gold-colored shoes.
Molly noticed him looking and laughed her soft musical laugh.
"Do you like what you see so far?"
"Oh hell yes! Let the show continue."
"It will, but this is intermission, so let's have a drink. I brought enough to last us awhile."
She put the tray on the coffee table in front of him, then sat down beside him, her hip and thigh rubbing his shoulder purposely.
Pure fire ran through his veins as she gave him a glass.
"What's in it?" he asked.
"Scotch and soda with vodka. I didn't have quite enough scotch for two glasses, so I brought the vodka for re-fills."
He lifted the glass to his lips and took half of it with the first swallow, enjoying the way it burned going down. Laying his hand on her thigh, he squeezed gently. She liked it and wriggled her leg a little. It was all solid flesh and felt good to his touch.
He started rubbing her leg from the hip to the knee as she sipped her drink and grinned her delight.
They finished their drinks and poured two more using the vodka and seven-up. Half the pint was gone now.
He put his arm around her and started playing with her ear. She cuddled up to him like a satisfied kitten.
"You'll never realize how long I've waited and longed for this moment with you," Jim whispered.
"Me too," she purred.
"No kidding?"
"Jim, I have to be careful," she said. "I have the reputation of my sister, her cafe, and my own to think about. Besides, I'm a married woman, and I can't afford to have anything to get out."
"I can understand that. I'm in about the same boat."
"I think a lot of my husband, but there just isn't enough of him at times to satisfy me. He can't seem to get deep enough. Besides I just like to let my hair down once in awhile and have a few kicks."
"I'm known as a deep sea fisher."
"I'll bet you're just that too, "she laughed and winked.
"Your husband gone much?"
"He's gone most of the time. First one construction job and then the other. You don't know how lonesome it gets here without a man around."
"Yeah, I guess it would."
They finished their drinks and Molly refilled their glasses with the rest of the vodka and the remaining seven-ups.
Jim dropped his hand to her breasts, caressing them gently. She wore no bra beneath the negligee. Her breasts felt firm but soft in his hand. He squeezed them as they bulged invitingly in the black nylon and playfully pinched the nipples through the sheer material.
Molly squealed with joy and wriggled in his arms. She was beginning to breathe heavy. She finished her drink in one gulp. Jim followed suit. Then he pulled her to him, pressing his burning lips hard against hers. Her body quivered in his arms as her breasts pressed against his chest.
Her lips were aching for a kiss and a strong desire was flaming in her heart. She ran her tongue deep into his mouth and encircled his several times. Her hand dropped to the bulge in his pants, caressing it until he was wild with burning. Her fingers tore at the buttons on his shirt, unbuttoning it all the way down, then went under his undershirt and played with the hairs on his chest.
Their lips parted for much needed air. He let her remove his shirt and undershirt. When he was nude from waist up, they kissed again. She caressed his shoulders while their kiss got deeper. Finally their lips parted.
"Honey, let's go in the bedroom," her voice just a bare whisper. She was trembling with pent-up emotions. She looked up at him with half closed, starry eyes.
The record player had stopped playing and had automatically cut off, but it had gone unnoticed. Music seemed to linger in the room without it. She led him toward the bedroom, her arm around his waist and her head buried against his shoulder. The enchanting perfume in her hair drifted up to his nose, exciting him more.
They stopped beside the bed as their lips met again, holding long and tight. She dug her fingernails into his shoulders. Then, with one arm tightly around his neck, she dropped the other to his belt buckle and unfastened it. She unzipped the fly, letting his pants fall to the floor. He stepped out of them, their kiss still holding strong. She massaged him with her free hand, causing him to moan with wild aching desire.
As their lips parted she panted excitedly: "Oh darling, get me naked. Hurry. Get me naked and give me some of this."
Taking the black nylon negligee at the shoulders, he wildly jerked it off, leaving her completely nude. Now nothing was left to the imagination. It was just as he had always thought. She had the most luscious body he had ever seen.
He stared at her shapely curves, then unbuttoned his shorts, letting them fall to the floor. He heard her gasp in amazement. She melted in his arms, rubbing her charms against him excitedly.
"Oh darling, do it to me quick. You can go deep sea fishing."
Their lips met and her tongue ran deep into his mouth. He laid her over onto the bed and pressed her to the mattress, entering her expertly. Their bodies merged as their craving desires ignited, locking them closer together in the embrace of their stolen love. They rolled in passionate lust on the bed. First one luscious breast and then the other found its way to his hungry lips.
Molly arched herself up to him violently, wild now as she climaxed. She jerked convulsively in orgasm. Tears rolled down her cheeks and filled her eyes from the enjoyment she was feeling. Never slackening, her motions became more savage. Jim felt himself going with her. He crushed her to him, stilling his movements now while she rolled her hips beneath him, helping him finish in a way he liked ...
He moved his lips down her shapely body, kissing her comely charms, biting gently into her tight stomach muscles and going down lower. He was in the mood for something now. And he was going to do it. He was going to do something he had always wanted to do, but had never before had the courage to go through with.
His tongue darted in and out and around, massaging tenderly. His lips were working feverishly. Molly was wild with excitement, moaning with the joy she was feeling. Never had she experienced anything so wonderfully like it before. Jim shifted his body so she would be within reach if she wanted him like he was having her. She put her burning craving lips to him, much to his delight. She massaged with her lips, encircling with her tongue gently but feverishly.
To Molly it proved to be the sensational delight she had always been told it would be, and she was doing it now, something she had never done before, not even with her husband. The feeling was wonderful to Jim's lust nurtured body. Again his blood began boiling, pounding excitedly in his veins.
Soon the extra curricula was over and they were back like they had started, their bodies in motion more violently than ever on the bed. Their lips pressed together, their tongues exploring ...
The fleeing minutes ran into hours as their minds became clouded. With their bodies locked tightly together, sleep drifted in, and the world around them was forgotten as they laid in peaceful slumber. The smell of their passion lingered in the room.
Dawn broke through the dark skies. The early morning light streamed through the Venetian blinds of Molly's apartment, glistening off the two naked bodies embraced on the bed.
Jim stirred and opened his eyes. Then after a few seconds he realized where he was. Dazed, he glanced at his wrist watch, swearing softly when he saw six-thirty glaring back at him. Fifteen more minutes and the station would call the cars in for relief. He knew the station would be alarmed because he never checked back into service. The other cars were probably looking for him thinking he had got in trouble of some sort.
His head was aching from the strong hangover, and it felt three sizes too large. He glanced at the nude form of Molly lying almost under him and noticed the peaceful contented look on her sleeping face. Instantly he jumped to his feet and dressed into his shorts and police pants. He marveled at how beautifully bewitching Molly looked lying there nude, sleeping contentedly. He decided to let her sleep. He reached down and pulled the sheet up over her alluring form then went into the living room for the rest of his clothes.
Hastily he dressed and left the apartment, quietly returning to his prowl car. Letting the motor idle, he waited for the radio to warm up. Then he reached for the mike.
"Car 105 is 10:08." (in service)
"10:04 car 105. Where in the world have you been? Are you all right?"
"10:04. I fell asleep in the police car. Just now woke up. Anything going on?"
"Negative 105. It's been quiet all night. All the cars have been looking for you. We thought you ran into foul play."
"Negative. Just sleep. You can tell them you found me."
"10:04 car 105."
"It's just a few minutes until relief, so I'm coming in now. I'll be 10:07 (out of service) at the PD."
"10:04 car 105, six-forty AM ... Call letters."
The shadowy police station loomed ahead like a bad taste in the mouth. He drove into the alley and parked 105 at the rear door. He got out and stretched luxuriously. Another night was over, but it had been a pleasant one.
Chapter Five
Alice shook him roughly, but he only rolled over and continued snoring. Again she shook him, more violently this time, and finally he stirred opening his bloodshot eyes.
"Goddamn, give it to me baby," he mumbled, not fully awake yet.
"Come on. Get up. What's the matter with you?" Alice asked, shaking him again.
"Okay," he drawled coming fully awake.
"You have an appointment with Mrs. Jefferson," Alice reminded him. "Or have you forgotten?
"No, I ain't forgot," he grunted.
He glanced at his wrist watch and saw it was three o'clock in the afternoon. Crawling out of bed, he noticed the steaming cup of coffee Alice had placed on the night stand for him. He reached for it and gulped it down quickly. He was relieved to find he had no headache.
Alice hurried him around, getting him shaved, showered and dressed in his street clothes. She managed to get him to eat some ham and eggs, and got him going on his way.
At four o'clock sharp he was at the Jefferson residence ringing the door chimes. Mrs. Jefferson opened the door and stood there beaming at him.
"Oh! Sergeant Thorn! Please come in. I've been expecting you."
She directed him to a comfortable looking sofa where he sat down. Mrs. Jefferson sat down next to him. She sat uncomfortably close. He started feeling uneasy. Jim had seen the chief's wife on several occasions previously, but had never had the opportunity to converse with her.
She was an attractive, graceful woman with a very dignified air about her person. She appeared to be in her mid-forties. He marveled at how such an attractive woman could live and be happy around such a man as the chief of police.
"I'm so glad Ed let me be in charge of the picnic plans this year," she began. "It isn't often I get to be active in police activities. I'm just so happy. It's so exquisite!" she squealed. "And I got such a charming and very handsome young sergeant to help me. I couldn't have done better if I had ordered you out of a catalog."
He grinned lamely in reply. She laughed and pressed her leg warmly against his leg, seemingly on purpose. The leg didn't feel fat or flabby as might be expected of a woman of her age. To his amazement it felt alluringly soft and tight.
She was dressed in an elegant hostess-type gown of red nylon and black taffeta trimmings. She wore red satin house slippers. Her large robust breasts swelled daringly in the tight gown. Her jet-black hair was done in an Italian wind-swept coiffeur, lending a youthful aspect to her dignified, graceful charm. Her natural preserved beauty completed the captivating picture she seemed bent on presenting.
"Would you care for something to drink?" she asked.
"No thanks, I believe not."
"My! You're a handsome young man."
"Thank you," Jim responded, squirming uneasily.
"I bet all the young ladies in town run after you?"
"No. Not hardly," he said. "You see, I'm married and I don't go in for anything of an intimate nature with women," he lied.
"Oh, come now!" she laughed. "You're handsome enough to lure all the girls." She looked at him closely. "How do you feel about older women?"
"They're all right," Jim admitted. "But now understand, I'm not a lady's man regardless what you think."
"Un-huh," she teased. "You handsome little bug you. I can see right now that you and I are going to get along fine. You seem like such a nice man. I can readily see why Ed made you a sergeant. It is so hard to find a decent man with any morals anymore."
"Thank you."
"You've been in the department quite a while, haven't you?"
"Yeah, quite a spell," he confirmed. "What about this picnic business? Have you decided anything?"
"You know," she said. "I really haven't decided yet. But we can do that later. We have lots of time. Ed won't be home until late tonight. He's attending a monthly meeting of the Four-State Peace Officers Association over at Kirkboro. I'm lonesome for conversation, - so let's talk."
"Okay," Jim swallowed. "Let's talk." Her eyes were starry with an almost glassy film over them. She appeared to be in something of a pleasant stupor.
"Do you ever have a craving," she asked, her eyes gleaming, "sometimes a hidden desire to just let your hair down and go wild?"
"Yeah, sometimes," he answered hesitantly.
"That's just the way I feel now," she stated. "I just want to let my hair down and whoop out loud. Have you ever stepped out on your wife?"
"No. Have you ever stepped out on the chief?"
"Yes," she admitted-secrets in her voice, "but don't tell nobody. I did when I was younger, and I'm just dying to step out on the crazy old son-of-a-bitch again, if I can find some young handsome dashing man like you to do it with."
Her answer struck Jim like a bolt of lightning. He sat there dazed. He had hardly expected an answer of this sort.
Inwardly he wanted to tear the hostess gown from her alluring body and do it to her then and there, but an insidious feeling told him that all wasn't well. He couldn't understand such queer actions from such a dignified woman. So he wondered if the chief was using his charming wife to lure him into a trap. He felt like a man in a trap about to be sprung. He racked his brain for the right answers.
"What would the chief think if he knew we weren't discussing the picnic plans?" he asked.
"To hell with that obese ignorant egotistic bastard," she flared, grabbing him around the neck, pulling him to her feverishly.
She pressed her warm full lips to his while he struggled uselessly, not making too much effort to break loose. He felt her full breasts rising and falling excitedly. It was hard for him to resist the wild urge to squeeze them. At length she released her lips from his and whispered softly, looking dreamily into his eyes: "Relax honey, don't be so cold. It's time to love."
"Please, Mrs. Jefferson." Jim said. "I think you're being a little bit irrational about this."
"You're just afraid," she guessed; "but I don't really blame you. There's no need to be worried. We're all alone, just you and me. Ed won't be home and I gave my maid the day off. So relax now, and kiss me madly."
He knew he had to think up something that would sound plausible. His task now was to avoid a possible trap without insulting her femininity. She was intoxicated. This he knew from having kissed her. She had been drinking slow gin, which leaves no distinct smell or odor to the breath. The only way to ascertain the extent of intoxication is through speech or actions.
"I don't think the chief would approve," he said.
"To hell with the chief," she said hotly. "That's all I've heard ever since he was elected to office. Chief this and chief that. I say shit on the chief. I want to live a little. Kiss me."
"That's his place isn't it?" Jim insisted.
"Hell," she said, "you don't know the half of it. He's too busy for me anymore. He doesn't even know I exist. And he couldn't satisfy my troubles with that little thing of his anyway. It's no larger than my little finger. I haven't had any real passionate he-man love in ages and I want some. Please love me." Tears were filling her eyes now.
It was an open invitation dumped in his lap and he wanted to take her up on it. But opposition stood in his way. She was intoxicated-true, but to what extent he didn't know. Slow gin acts differently on different people. There was danger she wouldn't remain oblivious about it and would blow the lid off when she sobered up.
"I'd sure like to, Mrs. Jefferson," he spoke with feeling. "But if the chief found out, hell would pop and I'd get fired. I have a wife and two kids to feed. Besides, you've been drinking and you won't feel this way tomorrow."
"So you think I'm drunk, is that it? Just like a cop, you think everyone you see is drunk. Look, you just love me real good and let me worry about the chief. I'll promise you that you won't lose your job on account of little old me."
His mind was reeling with the craving that was in him. He knew this would be as good as it looked. She was middle-aged, and had been deprived for so long that she would throw all she had into it thinking it might be her last. From the political stand-point it was also good, because if he made her like it there would be no more worry about losing his job.
His body ached with the craving desire but he knew he couldn't do it to her today, not after last night with Molly. She had sapped all the steam and vigor out of him; and he was still as weak as a kitten.
"I think we should discuss the picnic," he tried to change the subject.
"Must I draw you a map," she said standing up in front of him. "How's this for a picnic?"
With feverish hands she rapidly unbuttoned the front of her gown, and with sweeping gestures threw it from her body. She stood before him clad only in black lace panties and a black daring peek-a-boo bra. Even though she was on the plump side, her lush comely curves were proportioned in just the right way to give her an alluring cheesecake look. She smiled at him bewitchingly, a sultry look forming in her eyes.
"Want to see more?" she asked, breathing heavily.
"Yes, but I think I've seen too much already," he said, getting to his feet and starting to edge away. He stared lustfully at her well preserved graceful form.
She unfastened the bra strap and let it fall to the floor. Her large firm breasts lopped out. To Jim they looked like two large grapefruit hanging on a tree, ready to be picked and squeezed.
"Will you do it to me now?" she asked.
"I still don't think we should," he said, hating himself because he couldn't.
"God, aren't you a man at all? I want to have intercourse. I've got to have it! Now will you do it to me or not?"
"Yes, I want to, but let me tell you the truth," Jim said. "My wife has wore me to a frazzle from too much already. Besides, she's expecting me home at a certain time. I couldn't give you any satisfaction in my condition today no way, and I wouldn't want my wife to get wise. So let's call it quits for today and I'll come over tomorrow refreshed. Then we'll plan the picnic, and afterwards I'll give it to you real good. Is that a deal?"
"Will you promise?"
"Yeah, I promise."
"Okay, it's a deal," she said. "I'll let you go until tomorrow. But then I want some real loving. Ed hasn't done it to me in so long, I'll bet I've grown another cherry."
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow and about the same time. I've got to go now 'cause I got other fish to fry." He said, and hurried toward the door.
"See you tomorrow my darling Prince Charming," she called after him, still standing in front of the sofa in nothing but her black lace panties.
"Okay," he answered as he hurried out the door.
Jim practically ran to his station wagon. He wanted her badly, but he wanted her sober when he did it. He was sure she was just deprived of love and the liquor had enticed her hidden cravings. But he wanted to be sure. He felt like a jerk for running away from an open invitation. But he was still leery of a trap. Climbing into his station wagon he drove away from the Jefferson residence anxious to get back to his home in Pilot's Point where he could think this thing out away from the chief's wife.
* * *
It was dark, but the sky was clear and the multitude of stars were glistening brightly. The Thorn residence was quiet and peaceful now. But earlier it had been quite blithesome for Jim. Tonight was his night off, and he had played three hours with his two kids. They always looked forward to their daddy's night off when he could devote considerable time to playing with them. Alice had had a hard time, as usual getting them to go to bed. Jim had read them a bedtime story, which had done the trick, with both of them falling off to deep slumbers.
Jim and his pretty red-headed wife sat watching the late feature on television, while he sipped slowly on his third can of beer. He had explained the situation at the Jefferson house to Alice by telling her that Mrs. Jefferson was still undecided as to what to do; so he would have to go back tomorrow to see if she was going to decide to do it the same as last year's picnic or change it to some degree.
The explanation had satisfied Alice, and she didn't question him any further. That is what he liked about his Alice. He could tell her the moon was blue and lemons were apples, and she would give him no opposition whatsoever.
The feature came to a close with the good guys catching the bad guys. He finished the last of his beer while Alice turned off the set.
"You don't want to watch the late news, do you?" she asked.
"No. All I want to do is go to bed."
"Okay, let's go."
She started walking toward the bedroom, swinging her hips enticingly as he lagged along behind. Slowly he undressed down to his under shorts and climbed into the comfortable looking bed. The mattress felt good to his aching bones as he lay there and watched Alice strip down to just her red nylon panties with black enchanting lace, the way she always slept.
The soft glow of the bedroom walls enhanced by the soft dim light from the lamp on the night stand constructed a background of charming fascination behind Alice, blending an enchantment into her shapely curves. Watching lustfully from the bed he could see that her body was as luscious as Molly's, if not more so. He was wanting some of his pretty wife tonight, but the steam to do it had been exhausted.
She crawled into bed beside him, her well rounded, firm, full breasts shaking delightedly with each movement of her body. She turned off the lamp on her side of the bed and cuddled up to him. He kissed her waiting lips softly, caressing her lovely breasts in his hands. Then he rolled over on his side.
"Well lover, is that all you can muster?" she taunted.
"That's about it. I'm dead tonight," he mumbled barely coherent.
"You haven't been taking your homework elsewhere, have you?" she questioned his back.
"Hell! Don't be silly. I'm just wore to a frazzle."
She cuddled up to his bare back and he felt her warm breasts pressing invitingly against him. But it was no use. His aching body fell off the dark ridge into a deep and peaceful slumber.
* * *
Alice let him sleep until noon, when she woke him up in time for lunch. He shaved, showered and dressed feeling refreshed and robust in spirits. Coming into the kitchen, he sat down to the chicken dinner Alice had prepared, and ate like a glutton.
"How's the Romeo this morning?" she teased.
"Where d'you get that Romeo stuff?"
"'cause I wanted you to love me last night, and you couldn't cut the muster."
"How does that make me a Romeo?"
"I'm only teasing you. But for you, it is something rare when you can't make love."
"I was just tired. I've worked hard the last few days."
"A cop work! Come now."
"Well, it's the fact. Honest Injun."
"You must have a secret love hidden away somewhere."
"Now what made you say an absurd thing like that. You know goddamn well that I only have eyes for you. I wouldn't do anything to another woman if she would strip in front of me and ask me outright."
"I was only teasing, forgive me?" she asked, kissing his ear.
"I reckon," Jim mumbled. "Just don't shock me like that."
Finishing the wonderful meal, he lit a cigarette and went into the living room to watch television. Alice busied herself with the dishes.
Chapter Six
Glancing at his watch he saw it was three o'clock. He had been giving the enthralling episode at the chief's home considerable thought, and had come to the conclusion that it was genuine, not a trap but a trick. Thinking back over his affairs with women in the past, he was sure that all Mrs. Jefferson wanted was something she hadn't been getting. The memory of her warm lips and the vision of her stripping down to her black lace panties, openly inviting him to make her, still enraptured his desirous thoughts.
He knew she was a scheming woman; but she wouldn't stoop so low as to try to trap him. The chief yes, but not his charming wife. He began thinking of his power in police politics should he get in with the chief's wife. His job security would be solid, and at the same time he could have a steady shack with the chief's wife. What a set up! Wow!
He was all aglow, bubbling over with enthusiasm, as he kissed Alice good-bye and hurried to his station wagon. He was trying to appear as nonchalant as possible so as not to arouse Alice's suspicion.
He had told Mrs. Jefferson four o'clock. But now he wanted to get there earlier so he could have more time to tap her before the chief came home. He hummed a catchy tune that had been running around in his head for some time as he drove across town free of any worries. He knew too much about the ways of women, and he was seldom ever fooled by their ways.
After much thinking over the circumstances of yesterday, he knew very well that all the chief's wife wanted was just some good old-fashion loving from a man that could give it to her and make her like it. He was just such a man as she needed, and she didn't have to look in the catalog for him.
He pulled to a stop in front of the Jefferson home and stepped boldly from his station wagon. His blood ran hot in his veins as he walked up the walk. This would be an experience for him. He had never before had the opportunity to do it to a woman of her age, at least not when she was sober and willing. Grinning broadly at the joke it would be on the chief, he walked audaciously upon the porch and rang the door chimes.
The door opened and Mrs. Jefferson stood silhouetted there, in an alluring royal blue knit dress, both wrists loaded with sparkling Rhinestone jewelry. Her black high heel shoes and skin-colored nylons added more gracefulness to her already present appearance of spicy irresistible charms.
High heels always had sexed him up. Gracefully shaped legs clad in nylons always sent a wild urge surging through his body. To Jim they spelled one thing - a hurried trip to the bedroom with a beautiful doll.
"Come in, Sergeant. You're early," she said.
"Yeah I sure am, but I thought it would be better that way."
"Well, maybe you're right. I have it all figured out so we won't have to tarry long. All I need is your agreement."
"You've got it."
"You haven't even heard what it is yet."
"Well, you've got my agreement anyway. Anything a lovely lady like you figures out is okay with me."
"Well thank you. It's real sweet of you to say that."
"I'm just speaking the truth."
"You flatter me. Follow me into the kitchen," she said leading the way.
"You have a lovely home here."
"Thank you. We like it."
The kitchen was an ultra-modern L-shaped affair with many electrical appliances. The breakfast nook was situated at the extreme end of the L.
She offered him a chair at the dinette table and he sat down, still marveling lustfully at her shapely physique, his eyes lazily following the graceful lines of her shapely legs.
"Well, as you know already, "she said, "the picnic is three months off. When do you expect to start selling the benefit tickets to raise the money?"
"In about a month. No use doing it sooner. I'll shop around among the boys and find me some volunteers."
"Okay. As soon as the money is raised, you let me, know and bring the money over here. How long should it take to cover the town completely?"
"Depends on how many volunteers I get. A week I would say roughly. That's how long it took last year."
"Good. I've already made arrangements around town for beer and soft drinks. Sam's Pick and Pay is going to furnish the meat for the sandwiches; and I've made arrangements for potato-chips, Fritos, bread and such stuff like that."
"Say, you've been a busy little bee haven't you?"
"Yes I have. I'm quite proud of myself. I did all of it this morning. All you must do is sell tickets like mad."
"Do you want me to inquire among the men to see if I can line up three of their wives to serve as picnic hostesses like I did last year?"
"Yes, I almost forgot. You do that and when you find them, have them to call me. I intend to serve as a hostess myself this year."
"You'll be the prettiest one in the crowd."
"You're going to get me conceited with your flattery. Would you care for something to drink?"
"Sure. That sounds good."
"Coffee or coke?"
He looked puzzled then grinned broadly. "How about a coke with some of that slow-gin of yours in it?"
Crimson flooded her face. "I didn't think police officers were suppose to drink in public."
"I'm off duty and you're not the public."
"But I'm the chief's wife."
"Well, I don't hold that against you. I admit it's a bad taste in the mouth; but like you say, crap on the chief."
"Well okay, but please don't tell him," she pleaded, the crimson darkening her face. "I drink a little to soothe my nerves. But he isn't very fond of it. I'll give you some out of his private jug, but mum's the word."
"Okay, I don't intend to say nothing."
She stepped to a near-by cabinet and produced an almost full bottle of slow gin. She set it on the table in front of him then went to the refrigerator and came back with two cold cokes.
"Do you want a glass?" she asked.
"No. I'll take it straight like I do my women, and chase it with the coke."
Going to the cabinet again, she got herself a large glass then came back and mixed herself a drink.
"Let's go into the living room," she suggested. "It's much more comfortable."
He followed her into the spacious living room and sat down beside her on the sofa, edging close to her until their knees were rubbing.
"You're an odd individual at times," she remarked. "Then other times you're just as charming as can be."
"You should try me in the bedroom honey. I'm really a a killer there."
His burning desire was boiling and his wild imagination was surging with thoughts of her without the black lace panties.
"I'll bet you're a killer anywhere," she said. "You're a natural comedian."
Tipping the bottle to his mouth again, he took several swallows then chased it with the coke, finishing the bottle.
"We have the picnic planned," he said. "Now how about our little party?"
Dropping his hand in her lap, he squeezed her leg gently. It felt soft and inviting as he pulled the ribbon knit wildly to the middle of her thigh, at the same time saying: "Let's have that party right now."
He rubbed her tight shapely leg excitedly and saw the white flesh above her nylons peek-i-boo enticingly at him. Then she jumped to her feet.
"That will be enough, Sergeant!" she said in an insulted voice with a dignified air about it. "I think you better leave! And there's no need for you to worry about the picnic. You won't be on the force after tomorrow. "
He sat there stunned looking up at her. In her face was hurt pride, anger and disgust.
"Just what on earth is wrong with you?" he asked feebly.
"I think I'm the one who should ask that, don't you?"
"What's eating you? I can't understand this at all."
"Why! I never saw so much gall in all my life! I never saw so many bestialities in a man before, and to think such an uncouth character wears a badge. Oooh!" she exclaimed shocked, holding her hand to her brow like she expected to faint.
"You said yesterday that we would have a party. Don't you remember at all?" he asked, his hands trembling with phobia.
"I never in all my life! Of all the uncouth, uncultured people-you take the prize. Get out of my home at once! The chief will hear of this!"
"Please, Mrs. Jefferson. You don't understand. You've got me all wrong. Just let me explain. For Christ's sake, please."
"Of all things! So you're a black-face liar too? My husband will bust you out of the force for sure! I never knew such an immoral man as you could exist in this day and age."
"Please, Mrs. Jefferson. Please hear me out. I didn't mean a thing. It was all just a friendly gesture."
"Oh sure," she mocked. "No, you didn't mean a thing. A lady would be safer with a man from pre-historic times than-than with a ravishing maniac like you. You fiend! Get out of my home at once!"
She was across the room now standing opposite the door, gesturing wildly for him to leave. Her body was trembling violently, her face pale from shock.
Jim's face was livid in color from this sudden turn of events. And to top it all he felt nauseated from the liquor that was churning in his stomach. This just couldn't be happening, he was thinking. He was so sure he had had the right answers. A trap had been set all right, but not by the chief. He had set it himself. And his own wild desires had sprung it. Right now he felt like kicking himself in the ass. He felt very much like he had been shot at and missed. His whirling mind struggled for an answer to it all.
Somehow her gracefully plump, shapely body didn't look so excitingly alluring to him now. She looked like a female demon condemning him to hell.
"Please, Mrs. Jefferson," he begged, falling to his knees like a man in deep prayer. "Please hear me out. Please let me explain this thing. I'm as innocent as a new-born baby. I don't know how to do anything wrong. This is just a misunderstanding. I can explain it to you if you'll just give me a chance. Please."
She stood with legs apart like a soldier at parade rest. Hands on her hips, she glared darkly at the man in the center of her living room floor. There he was- down on his knees, his hands clasped tightly together in front of him, his face drained of blood, his lips quivering with emotion.
"Please, Mrs. Jefferson," he moaned on without giving her a chance to say no. "Look at it sensibly, Mrs. Jefferson, like the intelligent charming lady you are. You surely can't think that I, a police officer for the city of Dobbsville, would stoop so low as to wanting any er, a-I mean er well-er-to doing what you're thinking? You don't think that do you? It's just a misunderstanding. I can explain."
"Then explain it if you can!" she barked at him.
"Do you remember me coming over here yesterday?" he was feebly feeling for an acceptable explanation to the twisted affair.
"Yes, and I told you I didn't have the picnic plans decided and for you to come back today."
"Yes. Is that all you remember?"
"What are you doing? Playing games? Of course I remember. What else is there to remember? You just came over and left. What about it?"
"You don't remember drinking slow gin most of the day and being in a tipsy state?"
Her face turned pale. Then crimson spread over her face. She took on a serene pose.
"You may get up, sergeant, and have a chair," she said quietly, as if in a state of puzzlement.
"Thanks, Mrs. Jefferson."
"Was I-er-did I appear very tipsy?"
"Oh brother!" he exclaimed then caught himself, "Don't you remember?"
"I remember the events. You came over and I told you I didn't have the picnic plans figured out and you left. Yes, I remember all of that. But I didn't know I appeared tipsy. I never get drunk; I don't think a lady should get in that condition. Did I really appear tipsy?"
"Mrs. Jefferson, using an old expression; you looked like you had had it."
"Oh! No!" she exclaimed.
Jim was calming down now. He felt like he was gaining ground. He was beginning to feel like his old self. But he was still puzzled at the queer twist of fate. She was either lying like a lawyer or she was oblivious to the incidents yesterday. He was inclined to believe the latter.
"That is what caused our misunderstanding," he explained, "I believed in you yesterday when you told me we would have a little sociable drinking party today when I came over. That is the party I was referring to when you got mad. I just can't understand how you ever managed to get any other idea."
"Did I really say that!"
"Yes, you sure did, and I believed in it too strongly I guess."
"What about the other thing?"
"What other thing?"
"You know. On the sofa? With your hand?"
"Oh, that," he laughed. "Yes, that."
"I must confess, I guess," he lied; "you see, I believed in your story so strongly that I came over here half drunk to start with. I thought I would be one jump ahead on drinking when the party started. I only intended it for a gesture of friendship. I guess I was so tipsy I wasn't watching what I was doing and just accidentally pulled up your dress too much. I'm sorry, Mrs. Jefferson, but it was only a friendly drunken gesture of friendship. And you just took it the wrong way. I'm sorry."
"I think I owe you an apology, Sergeant," she said. "I can't blame you for trusting me and having faith in my word. I feel like a fool. I don't think my actions of today or yesterday were very lady-like. Will you kindly forgive me?"
"That's all right," Jim said grandly. "You had a right to feel the way you did."
"No," she insisted, "I was wrong for not giving you a chance to explain. It wasn't very dignified at all. Will you accept my apology?"
"Look now, I was in the wrong, too. I'll tell you what. Let's just forget the whole incident and play like it never really happened."
"Okay, that sounds good," she said laughing, "and we'll just consider this a joke between friends."
"Good deal," he said, his grin full of relief with the feeling that he had just pulled himself out of another bad spot. "You are truly a remarkably charming lady. It's a deep pleasure to have your friendship."
"And you Eire a wonderful upstanding young man. Forgive, me for calling you those vile, despicable names."
"And you forgive me for getting tipsy and doing what I did, even if it was an accident."
"Now how could I reprimand you for getting tipsy?" They both laughed uproariously.
"Well," Jim ventured, "I must be going. I have to work tonight you know. It's been a pleasure talking to you."
"You are truly a Prince Charming. Thanks for being so gallant. Now don't let me down on the picnic."
"I won't," he promised and headed for the door.
"Remember now," she said, following him to the door. "Mum is the word. I can't afford to let Ed know I was tipsy. He doesn't even want me to drink. So what he don't know can't hurt him."
"You don't have to worry about me saying a thing. 'Mum' will be my password from now on. Good-bye and thanks."
"Good-bye," she waved. "Be sure and let me hear from you."
Chapter Seven
It was eleven-thirty at night. Car 105 was carrying its regular two graveyard officers. Sergeant Jim Thorn and his shotgun buddy Hal Dempsey were into another eight hour shift. Tonight was Jack Schell's night off, so they would have to watch the buildings pretty close.
Jack Schell was a tremendous aid to the regular officers and he was well liked by all of them. His aid to other officers in time of need was considered such an asset by the city officials that although he was only a merchant policeman, paid by the merchants of the town to patrol and check the security of their buildings at night, the Mayor had given him a regular police officer's commission. This was to protect him from any possible liable, and to render him free to assist regular officers. He also carried a deputy sheriff's commission like the regular officers.
Everyone on the force respected the big burly genial, one-eyed bastard's opinions on police procedure, despite the fact that he had served five years in the penitentiary some years back on a bogus check charge.
He drove his own car, which was equipped with a two-way police radio, letters of 107. It was considered an important car by the police department.
The sergeant and his partner would have to do his work tonight and theirs too, but they didn't mind as Schell was a good guy. He always kept his mouth shut to the top brass about the night boys. Even if he caught one of the boys in blue screwing a pretty doll in the back seat of a prowl car, he wouldn't squeal.
Jim was calm now, feeling like his old self. The excitement from the almost disastrous incident at the Chief's residence had diminished. Up till now, he and his partner had always compared notes and discussed their women affairs. But he decided not to tell his partner about the incident at the Jefferson residence. It was too damn embarrassing. Instead he told Hal about the delightful affair with Molly, leaving out the juicy part. If he told that he knew damn well his partner would laugh and rib him about it from now on.
He wondered at times if the laughing fool would laugh at his own hanging. Would he find it amusing if he knew that his sergeant had laid his wife once while he was out visiting his uncle? Jim grinned. The radio was as dead as the town seemed to be getting. The night was already starting to get boring. Midnight came and went as the early morning hours crept in. Time for coffee, Jim figured.
Minutes later they were seated in a comfortable booth in the K & O cafe with two steaming cups of coffee before them.
Molly was at her usual place behind the cash register and she was as pretty as ever. She smiled at the boys as they entered, throwing a casual wink in Jim's direction. This was her way to remind him of the intimate relations between them. She had her usual aloofness. He had remained poker-faced at her winking. That was the way Molly would want it.
"This coffee hits the spot," Hal said.
"I'd like" to hit some spot right now," Jim answered.
"Yeah," Hal said. "Me too."
"You made any headway with Sally yet?" Jim asked.
"No. You saw how far I got just now. She brings the coffee and says 'hello', and that's it."
As if in answer to their thoughts Sally returned to their booth, a radiant smile lighting her youthful but mature face.
"I got good news to tell you," she said, her eyes beaming.
"We're all ears," Hal replied.
"Tomorrow I go on day shift permanently. I'm just so happy. This split shift has been killing me. I never have a chance to go anywhere, and I never get any sleep. Mary is finally hiring a new girl and she's going to put her on nights and do away with the split shift."
"Say! That is good news," Hal answered.
"I want you two to come by in the morning and I'll treat you to breakfast. I'm so happy I want to celebrate."
"We'll be the first ones here," Jim spoke up, "I never pass up a free meal."
"Good. I'll look for you then. I've got to run I have a booth to clean up."
"You think that would be good?" Jim asked as they watched Sally walk across the room swinging her hips enticingly.
"Maybe with luck I can answer that question some day," Hal answered.
"Hell, Hal, you'd like anything with a gash in its pants."
"Speak for yourself too, old asshole buddy. At least I haven't shacked with the cafe-management and got so wrapped up in it that I slept all night while the whole force was out looking for me."
"Not so loud, you bastard," Jim warned. "That damn voice of yours carries. I don't want Molly to hear. You ain't supposed to know about it."
"Talk about her, and here she comes," Hal whispered.
Jim's eyes followed his partner's gaze. Molly was approaching their booth.
"Hi, boys," she flipped.
They acknowledged her cheerful greeting.
"Did Sally tell you about her getting transferred?" she asked Hal.
"Yeah. That's great, isn't it?"
"I sure think so. I've been suggesting it to Mary for ages. I finally got the idea across. We needed to hire another girl anyway, and I felt sorry for poor Sally. Working four hours this late at night, then coming back on early in the morning for five hours, is rough."
"Yeah, I guess it would be."
"How have you been?" she asked turning to Jim with a slight daredevil look in her eyes that he understood.
"I've been all right here lately," he returned with the same look.
"Won't you sit down?" Hal asked her, noticing the eagerness on his partner's face.
"No, I can't. I've got to get back to the register," she said, looking at the sergeant then back at Hal. "You've got some sergeant here," she said with an alluring smile, turning to go back to the register.
"You're lucky," Hal said. "She's sure a beautiful doll."
"Yeah, and it's pure stuff too. Pure with a capital 'P'."
Finishing their coffee they lit up cigarettes and got up to leave. Hal went on outside to the prowl car to check back into service while his sergeant hung back to talk to Molly, taking her to one side out of ear-shot.
"I'm sorry I had to leave so fast the other morning but I only had ten minutes or so to get to the station."
"Did you get in trouble?" Molly asked.
"No. Just about, but I got around it."
"I'm glad. I sure enjoyed myself-and you?"
"Honey, I'll camp on your doorstep from now on."
"Well, just be sure my husband is out of town when you do."
"When can I see you again?"
"When you ride alone again let me know."
"God, that's almost a week off."
She grinned at his boyish eagerness and squeezed his arm gently.
"Then that's when it will have to be. I don't want the whole police force knowing about us. After all, Jim, I'm not like these girls of free virtues. I'm not on the make. You're the only man I've been intimate with besides my husband."
"Did I make you like it?"
"Oooh! yes. It was the best ever."
"Well, I got to run. I'll be in touch."
"You do that. I'll be waiting."
"So long, sweet stuff."
"Good-bye."
Sergeant Thorn joined his partner in the prowl car and soon they were patrolling the dark deserted streets, Hal driving. Shaking doors and windows and checking the security of the business places in town was about the only minor police work the charming boys in blue cared to do. They had no desire to be energetic for a police department that was so corrupt in their opinions.
It seemed the poor man paid through the nose and the rich man, or rich gangster, could get away with murder wholesale. If you gave the rich ones a ticket, the chief would tear it up and forget it. So why write tickets?
If you arrested a poor man who couldn't fight it in the despicable courts, the district-attorney would throw the book at him. He would obtain another conviction to add to his list, and thus make himself look promising to the uninformed public for re-election. If you arrested a gangster or local big-shot the chief would turn him loose and chew the officer's ass out for bringing him in.
The two officers had found, in the course of their police experience, that justice just didn't exist like everyone thought it did. It was just like meat bought at the grocery store-you bought fairness and justice by the pound. The more money one had the more justice he got. That was the way it was.
They had seen men go to the penitentiary and county jail for long terms, because they didn't have the money to hire a lawyer to pull a fix or grease the Judge's palm. The worst part was, the cases could have been beaten legally. But instead, the unfortunates were railroaded, thereby furthering another's evil gain. It wasn't this way just in Dobbsville. It existed all over the country in various parts. It was a well-known but un-proven fact among the patrolmen that the Chief, Mayor, D.A., Judge, and the whole damnable bunch, was getting a pay-off, taking the age-old shakedown.
But work didn't exist in Dobbsville, and a job was a job; so the officers resigned themselves to it. But they damn sure didn't have to break their backs butting their heads against a stone wall. They went by the old proverb, 'If you can't lick them, join them'.
It wasn't until Jim became a cop that he began to realize how stupid John Public was, and how the wool was pulled over his eyes every day of the year. If old John only knew what his tax money bought ... The hours dragged by slowly as car 105 cruised the town several times, checking it thoroughly. The night was slow. No one had got a call.
The town was cut up into three beats with a car in each one. The purpose of the 'wild' car 105 was to patrol all three beats for extra security but to remain, on the whole, around the heart of the town. This strategy put 105 in a position to go at once to the assistance of another car, thus giving greater protection to an officer's safety.
"Say!" Hal exclaimed as they cruised slowly down the street in front of the K & O cafe. He glanced at his watch. "Sally's in there and she's half an hour early!"
Instantly he made a U-turn in the deserted street and pulled to a stop in front of the cafe. He got out.
"She hasn't unlocked the door for business yet," Hal observed; "so I'm going to go in and try to get a little. Drive around a while and give me some time. Then come back and we'll eat that free breakfast."
"Okay," Jim said, sliding under the wheel.
He waited until Sally answered his partner's knocking, then he drove off. Circling the entire town he drove to within a few blocks of the cafe, parked his police cruiser and waited. Checking his watch finally, he saw that it was time for the cafe to be opened. He drove around to the front of the cafe.
Hal was looking like the cat that got the canary when Jim came and sat down in the booth with him. He waved at Sally standing in the kitchen door, noticing her rumpled white uniform and slightly mussed blonde hair.
"Do any good?" he asked his partner.
"Now has a mule got an ass?" Hal answered. "And it was so easy! All this time she stalls me like it's gold lined, then this morning she just ups and gives it without any fuss at all."
"Good boy," Jim bragged. "I trained you right. Was it good?"
"You act like I ate it."
"Did you?"
"Go to hell. Yeah it was good. Real nice and tight. She must have been ready and waiting when I came in. I just kissed her. Then I took her in on the meat block and sat her butt on it. We did it that way. It wasn't too comfortable, but it's the best the K & 0 offers."
Jim smiled broadly, snickering in his fist. "Goddamn if I'm ever going to eat any hamburgers in this place again."
Just then a truck driver at the counter placed an order for a hamburger, and the two officers broke into muffled laughter while Sally seeing Hal's smile turned beet red and rushed into the kitchen. Shortly she came and set two ham-and-egg breakfasts before them and two steaming cups of coffee.
"This is the best breakfast the cafe offers," she said, her face still red. "I hope you like it. Like I said, it's free."
"With your compliments, huh?" Jim grinned.
"Yes, with my compliments."
"You know, it would be nice if all these cafes would give us free breakfasts like they do our coffee," Hal remarked.
"You don't want much do you?" Sally grinned.
"No. Not too much."
"Well, you'd better enjoy this meal then, because you're in for a disappointment, big daddy." She returned to the counter swinging it.
Breakfast over, they no sooner got back to their prowl car than the 10:19 came for morning relief. Jim took the wheel and drove rapidly toward the police station. A wonderful idea had come to him while he was eating breakfast. Maybe the new dispatcher, Norma Jane Dickerson, hadn't left yet and he could introduce himself to her.
At the station he threw his report at the amazed desk sergeant. Glancing around he didn't see her in the hall. He decided maybe she was still upstairs in the radio room shooting the breeze with her morning relief.
His partner hadn't followed him into the station as usual. He had gone straight to his car to go home and go to bed.
"She's still up there. Don't go ape-shit," the desk sergeant said, reading his mind.
Jim stared his amazement but turned and took the stairs two at a time. Bursting into the radio room he saw the dream doll sitting there on a stool, creating a picture that would arouse the blood and entice the desires of any man in his right mind. He knew no one on the force had made her, and he was like everyone else with any ambition. He wanted to be the first to christen her.
Her long slim legs were shapely. She was wearing hose with red high heel shoes. This plus the thigh-revealing pose she was in had a greater effect on him than an atomic bomb would have had.
She was beautiful. Her lush lips, those twinkling blue bedroom eyes, and her shoulder length chestnut hair was big magic to Jim as his eyes took a quickie picture.
She was wearing a light green blouse over her swelling, hard pressing, ample breasts. The green tweed, skin tight skirt she wore enhanced the enticing allurement of her svelte hips.
The day dispatcher was a heavy woman in her forties with a double chin. Jim had known her for some time.
"Why hi, Jim, I haven't seen you in weeks," she spoke.
"Hi, Betty. No, I don't get up to the radio room much. How are you, Betty?"
"Fine. We were just talking about you when you walked in."
"Good I hope?"
"Real good," she assured him. "Jim, this is Miss Norma Jane Dickerson. She is the new dispatcher for your shift. You've been listening to her the last few nights. Norma, this is Sergeant Jim Thorn."
"Glad to know you," he said in a state of ecstasy.
"I'm pleased to know you, Sergeant," Norma drawled. "I've heard a lot about you."
"I'll bet you have," he answered, and glared at Betty.
Both women joined in uproarious laughter at the embarrassment showing on his face.
"It was good what I heard. Really it was," Norma said.
"I sure hope so. I'm in enough hot water the way it is around this place."
They continued laughing at him. He was starting to feel like his face was dirty or something.
"I'm on my way home," he announced to Norma. "So if you're leaving and haven't got transportation, I'd like to offer my services."
"Well, being I'm on foot I think I'll just take you up on that," Norma said still grinning.
"Good deal, are you about ready?"
"All ready and raring."
She got her red purse off the radio table. Betty's round obese face beamed knowingly as they left. Jim winked in her direction adding to her wild imagination.
He led the new dispatcher out of the police station, using the front way so the other officers wouldn't see them leaving together or getting into his car. He drove to her furnished apartment, which was just seven blocks from the police station. The abode was a double duplex with Norma's duplex flanking the alley.
Much to his satisfaction she suggested coffee. He didn't have to walk the street to make up his mind. Norma directed him to a comfortable sofa in the small living room where he sat down.
"Is instant coffee okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, that'll do fine."
Norma went into the kitchen, leaving him alone with thoughts that were becoming animated.
He removed his jacket and cap, and laid them on the end-table at the end of the sofa. Then he unbuckled his Sam Browne and laid it and his gun on top of his jacket.
As he loosened his tie, Norma came back into the living room and set two steaming cups of coffee on the coffee table in front of the sofa. Kicking off her heels she sat down beside him, rubbing a shapely leg against his while he sipped his coffee and drooled.
"I hear you're quite a police sergeant?" she said.
"That depends on what you heard."
"They say you're quite a lady's man," her voice was low.
"So Betty has been feeding you, huh?"
"No. She mentioned it. But I've heard it all around." Her voice was lower, getting a musical ring to it now.
"Well, around the station you just believe half what you see and nothing you hear," Jim cautioned.
"Is that right?" she drawled sultryly, purposely rubbing her breasts against his shoulder. "I've been wanting to meet you, Jim," she purred in his ear.
"My name must be real popular in the radio room."
"To me it is," her voice was low and bed-roomish.
His thoughts were racing madly with burning wild passion. This coquette was easy, a regular push-over, and she was wanting him. It looked almost too easy. Yet here she was, and it was actually happening to him. She was evidently wanting him as bad as he was wanting her, which made this a dream come true. She would be his own private shack-up job. Now he would have a shack any time he wanted it.
"I've been divorced some time now," she was saying, "and I'm new in town. It's lonesome without a man around, Jim."
His arm was around her, pulling her willing, eager body to him. She tilted her lush lips up invitingly to be kissed. Her eyes looked hopefully into his as his craving lips found hers in a kiss. Their tongues locked tightly together, igniting the smoldering desire in their hearts.
"How come you picked me, honey?" he asked as their lips parted.
"Aren't you glad I did?"
"Yeah, but how come?"
"I told you. I heard about your activities with women and I knew you were for me. You won't broadcast it around, and that's the way I want it. I know you keep your mouth shut and I know you want what I want - so let's get together."
She stood up in front of him, and with an alluring smile playing on her lips, slowly removed her blouse, dropping it on the floor. Then came the skirt. And while he watched, as if under a spell, she removed the black lace bra and dropped it to the floor.
Her firm round breasts stuck out daringly as she stood there in her tight green panties and nylons. Hardly anything at all was left to Jim's imagination. Her smile broadened at the effects her disrobing was having on the sergeant.
"Let's go into the bedroom, honey, and get together," she invited softly, her voice warm and enchantingly sultry.
With their arms around each other they walked into the small bedroom. Norma closed the door after them, then turned to Jim and slowly began unzipping his trousers. They dropped to the floor. Looking closely at Jim, a wicked little smile playing on her lips, she moved closer to him and with both hands made an upward rubbing motion between his legs. Jim shivered with delight at this uninhibited bit of intimacy. Her hands moved up his hips in a sensuous crawl that thrilled him; down came his shorts. He stepped out of them, kicking them aside. Her eyes had not left his face; her smile now more deliberate.
She took his hands and placed them on her hips, indicating that he should take her panties off the same way she had removed his shorts. Jim let his hands play about her hips and behind to the bewitching curves of her butt. Her arms were about his neck. He pulled her to him, where she pressed even closer, rubbing her hips and stomach against him-maddening little circular motions of passion with a heat. Jim moved his hands up the cheeks of her butt and put them inside the elastic waist of her panties. Norma wiggled to help him get them over her hips. Going down, they rolled up at her knees. Grasping her by the fanny again, Jim raised a foot and inched them on down her legs to the floor. Norma stepped away from them, pulling him toward the bed. But Jim needed no coaxing.
He swept her up into his arms, high up, her stomach at his lips. He kissed her navel, drawing little circles around it with his tongue ...
"Ooooh," she said; "honey-sweet daddy-Jim ..."
He put her down on the bed and stood there at the side looking down at her. She took his hands and pulled to urge him down with her. Her smile was gone now. In her eyes the gleam had turned to want.
"Say it again," he told her.
"What?"
"Sweet daddy."
The look on her face took voice as the words began to pour from her lips:
"Oh, sweet daddy! Jim ... honey ... sweet daddy daddy daddy!" she exclaimed, rising up now to wrap her arms about his hips, pressing her breasts against him.
She hugged him tightly to her, rubbing her breasts against him as she had done her body a moment before. Jim could feel her trembling with passion. She leaned her head back to look up into his eyes. The look in her eyes was as old as humanity itself. As he looked down upon her, Jim had the sudden notion that this woman was women everywhere and that he was man eternal, that what he was doing was as right as life itself. It was a feeling that surged up from deep within him, pervading his being with a sense of power he had never before experienced. He reached down and cupped her face in his hands. A look of bewilderment came into her face.
"Lay down," he told her, moving his hands back to disengage her arms. "Lay down in the middle of the bed. I want to look at you. I want to admire your beauty. I want to see what I am going to have."
She did as he told her, never taking her eyes from him. She seemed now to have caught the spirit of his mood. She lay back pressing her legs tightly together - stretching. As he watched, she slowly spread them apart, lifting first one and then the other in a high revealing arc, crossing the last one far over the first. Sensuously she trailed her hand across the hip her movements had exposed to him.
"You like?" she asked.
"I like."
She took his hand and put it on her hip, guiding it over the silken smoothness of the curve and down to feel the other leg, and between. She raised slightly to take his other hand, which she placed on her stomach - which she pulled up the length of her body to press against one of her breasts-which she moved from the breast to her lips to kiss ... and kiss ... and kiss. Jim was on fire with his want for her.
She lifted her leg from its crossed position as he moved onto the bed. The other she raised slightly, bending it outward at the knee. Then she raised herself up at the hips to receive him, feeling as she did the first full thrill of his entry.
"Slow, daddy-slow," she whispered as he lowered his body more surely against her.
"Sure, baby," he answered in her ear. "I-dig-what-you-mean ..."
She lifted her feet from the bed and encircled his legs with hers. Jim could feel her legs tighten against his with each forward motion of his body. With each of his backward motions, she would bend herself up at the hips to keep as much of him in her as she could. Here was a woman who knew what she wanted, and how to give to get the most. She was tight down there- luscious, lovely, beautiful; those warm, moist, clinging lips of love down there.
He reached down to feel her. Her hand came down to touch his as he felt. A thrill coursed through his body, seemingly a thrill apart from that of having her. Eagerly she sought his lips with hers-kissing him with a kiss of passionate hunger.
"Let me turn over, Jim," she broke to say.
Jim raised himself up and waited, poised, while she turned over on her stomach. Spreading her legs wide, she reached up behind her to pull him to her. He lowered himself down, Norma twisting and moving herself to help guide him in. He felt himself entering her. She wiggled her butt upward.
"All of it, sweet daddy-all of it," she gasped.
The room filled with the noise of their love, with the heat and smell and breathing of their love. Once- twice-three times, they reached the ecstatic heights of climax together.
Now their labored breathing had subsided. They lay embraced in each other's arms. Jim was kissing one of her breasts, nibbling at the nipple, teasing ...
"Honey," Norma said, "you might as well stay and have lunch with me."
Jim laughed loudly: "Yeah. As late as it is, I might as well. This luscious tit of yours is making me hungry - afraid I'll bite it off?"
Norma laughed: "You do, and I'll bite this off," she nudged with her knee."
Laughing, she bounced out of bed.
"Make yourself at home," she said, "I'll fix you something to eat."
"Okay, baby," he answered.
Jim finished dressing and buckled his gun around his waist. Norma was busying herself in the kitchen. He was hoping Hal didn't go by his home in Pilots Point and let the cat out of the bag to Alice. He wished now he had told his partner what he had had in mind this morning. But that was water over the dam now. If the chief just didn't call his home for some reason, or Hal didn't come by, everything would be all right. He could think up some lie to tell Alice, just what he didn't know. Alice would leave him sure as hell if she thought he was seeing other women.
"Lunch is ready, sweetheart," Norma called from the kitchen.
Jim walked into the kitchen. He saw that she had dressed herself. She was now wearing one-only small apron. Very sexy. Maybe I shouldn't have got dressed so quick, he thought.
"I wanted to fix something fast so I fried two hamburgers apiece," she said as he sat down at the small dinette table.
His mind went back to the K & O and the meat block. The hamburgers seemed to look back at him and laugh. He began to feel nauseated.
"Anything wrong?"Norma asked, puzzled at the look on his face.
"No. Just a pain in my gut. Hunger pain I guess."
"Beer or coffee?" she asked, laughing at him.
"Beer of course. What else?"
He ate the hamburgers hurriedly and finished his beer. He lit up a Camel and inhaled slowly. His mind was searching for a plausible lie to tell Alice.
"Honey, I've got to go. I'm very likely in the dog house as it is," he said at length.
"Well, maybe so. I don't want you to get in trouble."
She followed him to the door, and he kissed her long and hard.
"Thanks for the wonderful time," he breathed.
"Thank you for a wonderful time. It was just like I thought it would be. You're wonderful."
"Can I see you again soon?"
"Jim, I don't want anything like this out, as I don't want to lose my job. And I'm sure you don't either. I really enjoyed myself today with you, but when I want to see you again I'll have to let you know. Until then forget you were ever here. We may see each other soon. Good-bye Jim. And thanks."
"Good-bye Norma."
He hurried to his station wagon and drove off.
It was one o'clock in the afternoon and he was wondering what in the hell to tell Alice. She was bound to be furious. She probably had become worried long ago and called the station. Maybe the cops were out looking for him. This would be a hell of a note, he thought. Or maybe she had called Hal to ask his whereabouts. That would be utterly disastrous. His partner could very innocently upset his apple-cart.
Women were fine and pussy was better. But he made a vow to watch the bedroom scenes more closely from now on. This half a day sex business and afterwards getting into trouble was for the birds.
In a few short minutes he wheeled into his driveway and parked. He prepared himself to greet hell.
Chapter Eight
"Where in the hell have you been?" Alice snapped as he stepped into the kitchen.
"I'm sorry, honey. I knew you'd be mad but I got to playing poker with the boys at the fire station. I hit a winning streak and just forgot time. You know how it is."
"A likely story," she flung at him.
"Honest Injun, honey. Please, I can prove it."
"Then you'd better do just that."
Hastily he reached into his inside jacket pocket and produced seventy dollars he had saving back from her. Seven nice ten dollar bills. He held it out for her to take.
Her temper cooled; she reached eagerly for the money. Jim maintained a poker-face. But inwardly he felt like crying, seeing the money go to hell, and with it his dreams of a new .357 magnum. Both he and Hal had been holding out on their wives to buy themselves a magnum each.
"The money's all yours honey," he moaned, "I gambled thinking only of you and the time got away from me. That's the reason, and the only reason I'm late."
"Oh! I just don't know what to say," she exclaimed, breaking into a grin. "Now I can buy that new dinette set I've been wanting so much. But why didn't you call me when you saw you were going to be late?"
"Well, I didn't think I was going to be so long. And er well, you know how it is when you get to playing poker and winning."
"I'm sorry I lost my temper, Jim, darling. And I forgive you. I think I have the best most wonderful husband ever."
He didn't reply. Instead he wondered if Norma's stuff was worth the price he had just paid Alice. Seeing her beaming face glowing with radiance he decided that maybe it was worth the sacrifice. He would just have to oil up his regular service revolver and be satisfied with if. Maybe he could hold back enough in three or four months to buy himself that Prince of pistols.
"The chief called this morning and wanted you," Alice said. "He sounded mad 'cause you weren't here."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. He wanted you to appear in court on that shooting case."
"What happened? They postpone the trial?"
"No. Hal Dempsey came by and told me to tell you that they called him. He went down and stood in for you."
"Pea-brain say anything about me?"
"No. He just spoke about the trial."
"Did he say anything about the results of the trial?"
"Yes. He said to tell you they found the guy guilty and gave him a year in jail."
"Good. They should have sent him to the pen."
"Now Jim, don't talk that way."
"What do you want me to do? Send him a Christmas present? He had no business shooting that Negro."
"But he said the Negro was reaching for a knife."
"Crap! I'm going to bed. I've had it."
"Have you had lunch yet?"
"Yeah," he said, thinking again of the meat block at the K & 0 as he walked in the direction of the bedroom.
* * *
Another damn night, and he was back in old faithful again. Hal was driving this time. Jim was knee-deep in the blues. His partner had shown off a new blued finish .357 magnum to the night crew.
He had bought it during the day, using his old regular service revolver as a trade-in. He was real proud of it. Also he had had to buy a new police regulation type holster to fit it, as the magnum wouldn't fit in a holster cut for a regular thirty-eight. Hal's spirits were soaring in the clouds while his sergeant felt like he was the dumping grounds for a manure-wagon.
Only a few minutes had elapsed since their leaving the station, when they heard the car behind them sounding its horn loudly. They had been cruising a dark street looking for excitement.
Hal no sooner parked and got the car out of motion than the two girls came up to the officers. Janet came to Jim's side while Flora went around on the driver's side.
"I'm damn glad you girls picked a dark street," Jim grunted. "It doesn't look good for two girls to stop a police car out in public."
"Ah, I'm a cute one I am," Janet laughed. "Jim, we just had to see you boys tonight. It's important, and we can't talk to you but just a few minutes."
"What's going on?"
"Both our husbands are home, and we had to lie like a dog to get out of the house. I told my old man I had to run and get a loaf of bread for breakfast. And Flora used the excuse that she wanted to go with me when I went by to pick her up."
"What's all the excitement? The old man wise to us?"
"No, it's not that. He's been home every night since I saw you last. And so has Flora's old man. They were transferred to day shift-and to make matters worse, I have to go to Fairview again."
"Your mother-in-law again?"
"Yes. They found out she has cancer and don't expect her to live long. So we're going to leave in the morning for Fairview. We'll stay there several weeks, possibly until the end. My husband got a leave of absence from the plant this morning. I imagine he'll want to work his mother's farm while we're there. I just had to let you know, Jim, darling."
She stuck her blonde head in the window and kissed his waiting lips long and affectionately.
"Can't you stay out a while, baby? Just a little while?" he asked.
"Lord, I would like to; but I can't, darling. I don't want my old man to get wise. I'll let you know as soon as I get back in circulation. And you be good while I'm gone."
"Ain't I always?"
She laughed and pressed her warm aching lips hard against his, squeezing his hand gently. Soon their lips parted.
"Flora, we'd better go," Janet called. "Jim, I must go but think of me and remember I love you the most."
"I will baby," he said as she hurried back to her Oldsmobile followed by her girl friend.
The officers waited until they were down the street a good distance before they drove off to continue their patrolling.
"Goddamn if everything's not going backasswards," he spoke his thoughts aloud.
"Yeah, I'll have to see Flora during the day," Hal said.
"You're lucky. I won't get to see Janet until her mother-in-law kicks off, goddamn my luck to hell."
The two officers finished a fast cup of Java at the K & O and Jim waved and winked at Molly as they left the unusually crowded cafe. She waved back returning his wink and smiling, but otherwise she had nothing to say which was understandable. This was her aloof way of doing things while on the job or in public.
Back in the police car he came up with an idea to kill a few of the boring hours. He made the suggestion to his partner.
"Hal, what say we run the pussy roads?"
"Yeah! Say, that's an idea. We haven't run them for some time and we might catch some fat fish getting a little."
They were referring to the roads on the outskirts of town where lovers go at night to be alone and discuss the important matters of the day. Pussy roads are a subject that seem to thrill all cops, young and old a-like. They seem to get a big charge out of walking up on a couple locked in a lover's embrace.
They like to slip through the brush like a thief in the night to a parked car and peep through the windows at the couple on the seat having at it. About the time the couple gets in the short rows the charming officers of the law will shine their lights in the faces of the unsuspecting love starved couple and scare the wits out of them. This is great pastime for cops and sheriff patrols.
The two officers drove to the outskirts of town and started driving up one pig trail and down the other. Nothing appeared to be in sight and their efforts were looking fruitless.
"The other cars live out here," Hal said at length. "I wouldn't doubt but what they've scared people out of the notion of using these back trails anymore."
"Hey," Jim said, "kick off your lights and go to the right, down toward that big tree by the creek bed."
Hal switched off the headlights and turned in the direction his sergeant pointed letting the police cruiser coast down the slight inclining slope toward the dry creek bed. He pumped the brake slightly so the cruiser wouldn't make any noise crashing through the tall weeds and dry grass. Now he saw what his sergeant had spotted from the road. He parked the cruiser a short distance from it.
The two officers stepped out and treked quietly through the weeds and dry grass toward the tutone Buick partly hidden under the large deciduous oak tree. There were no signs of life on the surface as the boys in blue crept nearer. They were approaching the rear of the automobile.
"Let's do this different this time," Jim whispered. "Let's just scare the living hell out of them. It's just teen-agers."
The sergeant drew his revolver and his partner catching the drift of the idea drew his new magnum.
Glancing in the rear window Jim could make out a form on the rear seat that looked like it was doing push-up exercises.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yeah," his partner answered.
Grabbing the door handle the sergeant jerked the door open violently.
"All right!" he thundered. "Come out of there with your hands in the air! Make one move and we'll blow your head off!"
The entanglement of flesh stirred, the groans of satisfaction changing to startled screams of terror.
"Hurry up! Hell, we ain't got all night!" Jim shouted again.
"Come out, damn you!" Hal yelled, and fired his magnum in the air.
The sergeant followed suit and fired his revolver twice in the air.
The roar of the heavy magnum shattered the serene calm of the night, sounding like a cannon going off in church during the hour of meditation; and the two shots that echoed in its wake gave meaning to the first.
"What in hell," stammered a short, obese, scared, red-faced man as he crawled out of the back seat, falling to the ground on all fours. The moonlight glistened off his partly bald head as he sat in the high weeds, dressed in BVD's, quivering with fright. The dry weeds rustled to his shaking as he looked up into the bright lights shining in his face completely terrorized.
"Oh goddamn! It's the goddamn Chief," Jim shouted in amazement about to go out of his wits, realizing he had goofed again.
Next, a nude woman crawled out the same way, crying like a baby and screaming wildly. She was about fortyish, gray-haired, and nice to look at. Her quivering nude body was racked in hysterics as she rustled in the dry weeds, trying to hide behind the Chief.
"The Judge's wife!" Hal cried as he stood frozen and prayed aloud. "Oh no! God help us."
Chief Ed Jefferson recognized his officers and his face got more red than ever as he roared, "Turn off those lights, you pig-headed fools! You goddamn lamebrain bastards!"
The officers turned off their lights hastily; they had seen too much already. Jim felt like throwing down his badge and running for home, while Hal looked like he was praying for the Lord to call him home at once.
"You goddamn ape-brained whore chasing sons-of-bitches!" the Chief roared, shaking a chubby fist at them now as he stood to his feet in the weeds unmindful of his almost nude, comical pose.
The woman got to her feet cowering and crying harder than ever, but from embarrassment now instead of fright. She was trying to cover as much with her hands as she could, but she couldn't as there wasn't enough hands.
Standing there in the dark, the bald-headed Chief looked like a big tub of melted lard set on two sticks for legs, with what could only have been a toothpick between them. The white haired woman hovered behind the nude bulk of the Chief trying desperately to conceal as much of her nude body as possible from the sight of the two bug-eyed police officers.
"Please, Ed," she cried. "Let's don't have a scene. Think, Ed, please. What would the Judge say if he found out? We were wrong and not these officers. They were only doing their patrol."
"Five miles outside the city limits?" he barked hoarsely.
"Please, Ed. Forget it. We must avoid any scandal of any sort. Ask them to forget this incident. Don't lose your temper and get us talked about."
Chief Jefferson was boiling with rage, but he could see his position. And the two terrified officers began to realize it too.
"You bastards, you," the chief said at length. "Thorn, you boil my piss. Both you sons of bitches meet me at my office in an hour. Now get out of here at once so we can get dressed."
The two officers rushed back to their prowl car and made a hasty departure of the heavy thicketed pussy road country and drove back to town in record time. Back in town they drove straight to the station to await the Chief. They were nervous wrecks when he got there.
The blustering red faced Chief dropped his heavy bulk behind his desk and glared for long moments at the two officers seated in straight back chairs before him. Silently he glared without saying a word. His bright red sport shirt and tan sport coat blended with his ruddy-red face. Without warning he spoke:
"Now what in the hell were you two doing out there tonight?"
"Well, I might as well tell you the gospel truth," Jim spoke.
"It'll be the first goddamn time if you do!"
"We decided to run the pussy roads like you showed me that first time you rode with me after making me sergeant," Jim said.
"Yeah, Chief," Hal spoke up, eager to help his buddy. "We thought we might find some fat fish out getting a little, and you turned up."
The chief coughed twice, almost strangled, and his face turned another shade of red. Then purple.
"Why did you fire those goddamn cannons?" he yelled in rage.
"We thought y'all was school kids, and we were going to scare the wits out of you," Jim answered.
"By god, you succeeded! You scared my pecker off. I'll bet I won't be able to make it for weeks. You two are the most worthless bastards on the force-and why I made you sergeant, Jim, I'll never in God's name know. Now I want you two bastards to get out of here and patrol this goddamn town, not the country side or the open range. And you do me the personal favor of forgetting what you saw tonight. In return I will keep you two sons-of-bitches working here as long as I'm Chief of Police. Your security for a favor. Is it a deal or not?"
Both officers nodded agreement, noticing as they did the tell-tale signs of relief on his hard stone face.
"Good. Then it's settled," he said roughly. "Now remember. Mum is the word. I can't have this get around. And also I want police work out of you two for a change. No more crap or chasing split-tails. Thorn, did you and my wife get the damn picnic plans taken care of?"
"Yeah, it's all ready to put in operation when the time comes."
"Good. At least you can plan picnics without getting into trouble. One more thing, Thorn. If and when I call your home again, I want you to be there and not out shacking with the new radio dispatcher."
Jim came to his feet as his mouth fell open in startled and stunned amazement.
"Don't ask me how I know. Just remember what I say," the Chief continued. "Now we both got a secret. Now you two low life sons-of-bitches get out of here and go do some police work so I can be proud of you worthless bastards."
Both officers hurried for the door with Hal rushing out first. Jim paused for a moment and called back.
"Chief, is the judge's wife really as old as she looks? Her knockers looked so round and fir ...?"
"That'll be all! Get out of here!" Jefferson roared as Jim disappeared.
The two officers killed the rest of the boring, dull, crawling night by patrolling alleys and checking the security of the downtown business places. Their spirits soared to new heights with the knowledge that the night had been a profitable one insomuch as it had gained them job security for as long as Ed Jefferson stayed in office. They laughed wholeheartedly at the incident.
Jim was baffled over how the Chief could have found out about Norma. He knew Norma wasn't going to squeal on herself and no one else but Hal knew, unless possibly Betty. Or maybe someone saw them leave together.
Six o'clock found them in a booth in the K & 0 cafe with steaming cups of coffee before them. Sally was in a good mood this morning, but was extremely busy as she had a lot of truck drivers and early morning plant workers for coffee customers.
"One thing for sure," Jim said. "We got a steady job out of this deal tonight."
"Yeah. It's funny now that it's all over," Hal answered.
"Yeah. Did you see the look on the Chief's face as he sat there in those weeds shivering his ass off?"
"Yeah. He was shaking so bad I thought he was taking a crap."
"And did you see that naked big-titted judge's wife crawl out?"
"She looked like a quivering pickle with a gash in one end."
They laughed and laughed, tears of merriment rolling out of their eyes. Sally along with the rest of the cafe trade looked at them like they suspected them of drinking Finishing their coffee the two laughing officers left the cafe and returned to their prowl car just in time to signal 10:19 (return to station). Their relief had arrived.
Chapter Nine
Another night came with Jim at the wheel of car 105. It was fifteen minutes before the hour of twelve midnight. Hal had his cap lying on the seat beside him and the light from the street lamp they passed shown through the car window on his side silhouetting his clean-cut features and blond flat-top hair cut.
"What did the Chief have to say at the meeting of the top brass tonight?" Hal questioned.
"How did you know I came to a meeting tonight?"
"Jean and I decided to have you and Alice over to our place for a game of bridge. So when Jean called your place Alice told her that you had to go to a meeting of the sergeants and lieutenants. So that played hell with the bridge game."
"Well, I'd rather have played bridge. It was like all his damn meetings are. You could write all he had to say down on a postage stamp. Mostly eating our ass out over the kick-in and wanting more efficient police patrol. He has to build a front you know."
"Yeah," Hal agreed. "Say," he said, looking at his wrist watch. "Drive me out to the Belle Meade will you?"
"What've you got out there?"
"I saw Sally up town this afternoon and she agreed to meet me out there tonight at twelve-thirty. She's going to borrow her daddy's car."
The Belle Meade Drive-Inn Theater was south of town not too far from Pilots Point. But it was deserted now due to remodeling and change of management.
The black police cruiser drove south down the highway then turned into the isolated theater area, driving down behind the huge mammoth screen. Jim parked behind the small Plymouth.
"I'll give you an hour then check back on you," Jim said as his partner got out.
"Okay," Hal said, hurrying to the Plymouth.
Jim drove back to the highway and returned to the south end of Dobbsville where he patrolled the streets, keeping off the main ones so none of the other cars would notice he was alone. In case he ran into them by chance, there would be questions.
Norma Jane Dickerson, the lovely dispatcher, was off tonight. The rough voice of her substitute blared over the air:
"Car 105."
"Go ahead."
"Go to 3866 South St. Charles. Lady got a prowler."
"10:04."
Prowler my ass, he thought as he drove in the direction of the call. It was funny; but every time a woman gets hot pants and her husband is out of town or gone somewhere she almost always will call the police station for help, using a prowler as an excuse to get a police officer to her house. The vehemence displayed by the women on calls of this sort was astounding. They had some women that called regularly once a week, shopping around trying to decide which officer appealed to them the most. Not only with cops, but this held true with cab drivers, salesmen, and sewing machine men as well.
There was something about the address he thought he recognized. But he thought little about it as he pulled up in front of the huge red stucco residence. He picked up the mike:
"105 is 10:97 (arrived at scene)."
"10:04 car 105 12:44 AM ... (call letters)."
Replacing the mike he stepped from the car, readily seeing that no prowler existed. He walked hastily up the walk toward the front door, wondering if the lady with troubles would be good looking and if she would be of the shopping type or the not-particularly-hot-to-trot type.
The door opened to his knock. He saw a very attractive lady in her late thirties clad in a thin, light green, sleek looking negligee. She was tall, with fascinating curves that stirred his wanton thoughts. Her beautiful face was enhanced by long luxurious brunette hair with enchanting streaks of white.
"Good. They sent you, Sergeant Thorn," she purred, blinking her brown eyes. "Come in."
He saw now why the address had seemed familiar to him. This was the Mayor's house and his wife. The house had been pointed out to him once by the Chief. And he had been introduced to the Mayor's wife at the picnic last year, but had never met the honorable Mayor.
He noticed her breasts rising and falling with her breathing. He stood there captivated, feeling very carnivorous.
"Do you have prowler troubles?" he asked, his tongue thick.
"No, but I have troubles," she purred. "I remember you from the picnic last year. Do you remember me?"
"Yes, I do."
"My husband has spoken of you often. He hasn't met you personally. But he knows of you. No, they couldn't have sent any one better," she said, closely inspecting him like she would a new dress. "Follow me."
She walked toward the bedroom and he followed, noticing the enchanting way her hips swayed as she walked. She sat down at a vanity dressing table and looked at herself in the large mirror. She started powdering her nose.
"Go in the kitchen and fix us a drink," she said. "You'll find everything you need. I'm getting ready for a party."
He hurried into the kitchen. In a few minutes he was back with two scotch and soda's in his hands, setting one before Mrs. E.E. Edwards who smiled her enrapturing 'thank you', and drank it down in three short swallows. Jim followed suit.
"Go fix another," she commanded sweetly.
Off he went again, to come back this time with a double re-fill. Hurriedly, silently, they drank them. Then she asked for another, and he was off again.
As he drank he watched her, his desire for her mounting. She continued silently to powder herself, making a lengthy, passion inspiring ritual of it.
Four double scotches later she spoke like an enrapturing serenade:
"Yes, I'm going to have myself a party," she sang. "My husband has been gone to Chicago on a convention for four days. He's due home tomorrow night. But I've had it. I'm lonesome for someone."
She was having a ball, enjoying herself immensely. But was wanting to play the game her way, so he gave her the spotlight she so anxiously craved.
"Oh, I'm gonna have myself a party," she sang as she stood up letting the negligee fall to the floor.
She sat back down and continued powdering her completely nude body. Her breasts pointed out at the mirror as she admired them. She shook her shoulders watching them shake and shimmy back enticingly ...
"Here," she said, handing the bewitched sergeant the powder puff. "Powder my back, handsome."
Taking the sweet smelling puff he started powdering the smooth white flesh of her back.
"Oh, I'm gonna have myself a party," she sang and laughed. "I'm gonna have some big fun. Powder me here."
He powdered where she pointed, feeling her firm soft breasts quiver under his touch. His mouth was watering, and his hungry eyes glowed lustfully. He touched the delectable, pointed nipples; she snickered coquettishly.
She stood up and stepped close to him pressing her breasts to his chest. She looked up into his eyes. Her alluring body was an open invitation, leaving nothing to the imagination.
"Don't worry, sergeant honey," she breathed. "No one will ever know how much our hearts are bleeding."
His eager arms reached to encircle the enticing woman, but she pulled away teasingly, darting for the bed to pull back the covers. She placed a foot up on the bed and stood posed invitingly.
"Come make me, sergeant," she drawled sexily, sipping at her drink.
Hastily he covered the distance between them and took her into his eager arms. Their hot burning lips pressed hard together. Her breasts mashed hopefully against his chest. The glass in her hand fell to the rug. The enthralling kiss lingered long as her hot body melted in his arms. Releasing his lips from hers, he laid her aching craving bundle of enticing curves on the bed and hastily undressed himself. She watched excitedly. Naked at last he crawled in on top of her ardent burning body. Spreading her legs, she took hold of him and guided him into her. Jim moaned with delight as he entered her deeply. The bed began to shake violently with the weight of their bodies undulating together in the lover's embrace.
In about an hour they were finished, lying exhausted on the bed with the satisfaction of a sensational climax, which had relieved their systems of what was bothering them.
Jim patted her on the butt and crawled out of bed with the intention of getting dressed.
"Honey, take time to shower with me," she begged, panting.
He glanced at the nude goddess lying there on the bed. Her suggestion sounded refreshing.
"Sounds great baby. You lead the way," he drawled.
* * *
They were both sitting on the sofa in the large spacious living room drinking another scotch and soda. Both felt refreshed after the delightfully amusing shower.
The shower room was large, and Jim made history tonight. He had been the first police officer in the history of Dobbsville police department to take a shower with the honorable Mayor's wife. And she had even given him the thrill of powdering her again.
He was fully dressed, but Mrs. Mary Edwards had returned to her thin negligee. Both were enjoying their drinks, with Jim now starting to feel the effects of his.
The police station checked the address in the crisscross and called the Edwards' residence to ask their sergeant's whereabouts. She gave them a cock and bull story along with a piece of her mind, which seemed to satisfy the station for some reason, considering the fact she was the Mayor's wife.
Finishing his drink he got up to leave and pulled her up off the sofa, kissing her long and lovingly.
"It's been a very delightful evening, honey," he whispered as he released his lips from hers. "Next time you have a prowler, call and ask for me by name."
"I will, but remember one thing, Jim. I wanted a party tonight. You satisfied me fine and I enjoyed it immensely. But when you walk out of here tonight, please forget this address. Okay?"
"Yeah, sure. Good-bye, beautiful."
"Good-bye, Jim."
He heard the door shut behind him as he hurried back to the prowl car. Turning on the ignition switch he started the motor letting it idle so the radio would warm up then he reached for the mike on the dash.
"Car 105 is 10:98 (assignment completed)." Understatement of the year, he thought.
"10:04 car 105, 2:17 AM ... (call letters)."
He replaced the mike and drove hurriedly in the direction of the Belle Meade Theater to pick up his partner. It was two-thirty when he finally drove down behind the huge mammoth screen. Sally's Plymouth was nowhere in sight nor was his partner. He turned on his spotlight, flashing it around searching for Hal. He saw him.
Not far from the car was an enclosed playground for the children of the drive-in patrons to play in while waiting for the picture to start. And there sat Hal in one of the children's swings waiting for his sergeant.
"Do you want the nice big policeman to come push you, little fellow?" Jim asked.
Hal sat there looking disgusted with everything and said sarcastically: "You're going to get yours some day, just you wait and see."
"Well, do you want to go with me or do you want to swing and have me come back for you later? There's a teeter-totter over there you might like."
Putting on his cap, Hal got up and walked to the car cussing under his breath. Jim was having a huge laugh. Hal remained aloof with a sour face while his sergeant cruised out of the theater area and drove back through Pilots Point on his way to town.
"How long have you been waiting?"
"As if you gave a damn."
"What happened?"
"She had to get home. She promised her parents that she would be home by one-thirty, so I told her to go on. I've waited about an hour for you to show your ugly mug. Where in the hell have you been?"
"Shackin' up with the Mayor's wife."
"Ha!"
"It's true," Jim insisted.
Briefly he told his amazed partner what had happened, from the prowler call to the shower and down to the last drink.
"I don't know how you do it. You must be hung like a stud horse."
"They just can't resist my bedroom eyes," Jim laughed.
"So that's the secret, huh?"
Jim drove out Thirty-Second Street and pulled on to the lot of Sam's Pick and Pay Market. He circled the large building, shining his spotlight over it to check the security thoroughly.
"Hell of a time to check it," Hal wised off. "After it's already been broken into."
"Let's change horses," his sergeant replied parking in the center of the large lot. "That whiskey is starting to hit me. It must be because I'm relaxed or not moving or something. Whatever it is, I can't even see the goddamn road."
They exchanged places; and while his partner wheeled the black cruiser, the sergeant removed his cap and laid his head back against the back of the seat to try to. clear the fogginess that was creeping into it. His thoughts were about himself ...
He had job security in his favor now, plus an IN with the Mayor through his charming wife, plus a good wife, plus two fine children, plus a good average home, plus a fair car and a damn good partner to work with, even if he was dense at times. So what more could he want, he thought, as his head started to clear.
The K & O cafe was closed at this hour. So at Hal's suggestion they drove to Gene's for a cup of coffee. The cafe was unusually crowded tonight with truck drivers. Clara was serving them hurriedly as she rushed to keep ahead of herself with so many customers.
They drank slowly, exchanging a few foul jokes. Then they left, with Hal leading the way, his sergeant staggering along behind him about half tight.
The night took on its usual serene quiet. Not a thing was stirring about. But they still had half the morning to go. As they were patrolling near the station the still half-tight sergeant got a bright idea. He pointed out a duplex to his partner, motioning for him to park across the street from it and turn off the headlights.
"How would you like to see a real beautiful (hic) body?" he asked.
"Hell yes. Sure. Where?" Hal asked excitedly.
"Follow me and I'll show you. Let's not check out. We won't be too far from the radio."
As the two officers stepped from the car Jim threw his cap back inside motioning for his partner to do likewise. Then he led the way as Hal followed his staggering figure across the street toward the duplex.
As they approached the small front porch of the duplex flanking the alley, they noticed a very dim light peeping through the bottom of the window blind in the front window of Norma's apartment.
"You remember about me telling (hic) you of Norma Dickerson, the new (hic) dispatcher?" Jim asked, as they stood hiding in the shadows of the high shrubbery surrounding the duplexes.
"Yeah, the one the Chief jumped you about?"
"Yeah. This duplex on this side is her (hic) apartment. She has a dim light on. If we're lucky we might get to see her naked, (hic) Follow me."
He led the way as they tip-toed quietly across the porch to the window to peek through the opening in the blind. They saw nothing in Norma's living room, but noticed the bedroom door standing slightly ajar, with another dim glow of light shining through.
"Let's go around in the alley to the bedroom window," he whispered in Hal's ear.
They moved quietly through the heavy shrubbery that ran around the side of the house. Regardless of their creeping there was still the rustling noise of their feet crashing through the dry leaves of the shrubbery.
"Quiet (hic)," Jim warned, putting his finger to his lips.
"Hell, you're making more noise than I am," Hal whispered back at him.
The blind on this window was up higher than the other one. But the window was higher too; so they had to stretch themselves in order to see over the lower part of the window sill.
The head of the bed was all that met their peeping eyes at first. Then by stretching a little further they saw two heads, which were attached to two wanton bodies locked delightedly in enthralling passion. It was a problem from their position in the alley to see over the headboard of the bed and distinguish whom the man was that was satisfying the beautiful dispatcher.
"Goddamn! Norma's getting it (hic) poured to her, but I can't seem to make out who with," Jim said in drunken glee.
"I can't either. The damn window is too high up."
"Let's go around and look in the other one. The blind on it is all the way up."
They plowed their way through the heavy thick shrubbery and crawled quietly around the corner of the duplex, making their way to the other window which looked out into the back yard. This window was directly across from the bed.
The thorns and twigs tore violently at their clothes as they plowed through the dense thicket. Finally they made it and raised themselves to look into the window, which was covered entirely by the thick clinging shrubbery.
Two galvanized wash tubs hung on nails on the side of the house, between the window and the small bark porch at the entrance to Norma's small kitchen. A few feet from that was a similar porch, at the entrance to the adjacent duplex.
The window blind was all the way up, affording the peeking cops a complete view of the dimly lit room. And there, in full view on the bed, were two nude figures having the time of their lives, unmindful of the two amazed officers watching as if under a spell.
One of Norma's breasts was in the fat man's mouth, while her lips were pressed to his ruddy red forehead. They were rolling violently on the bed, shaking the mattress vigorously.
"Chief Jefferson! Again!" Jim exclaimed in shocked surprise. "Well, I'll be go to hell."
"Why couldn't I have been a truck driver?" Hal uttered.
Then it happened. Hal stumbled over his own feet and crashed into the two wash tubs, knocking them off the side of the house.
Both officers froze in their tracks as one of the tubs hit the ground flat with a loud clanging crash. The other hit on end and rolled out into the concrete alley to go clanging down it until it collided with a telephone pole. Its noise was followed by a loud clanging echo that cut the calm sereneness of the night like a knife.
The two officers looked at each other with faces drained white, then looked back through the window at the nude couple in bed.
"Look what you went and done (hic) now," Jim barked.
"I couldn't help it, goddamn it all."
Norma and the Chief had jumped to the floor with startled looks of amazement on their terrified faces. They looked as if they expected Russian troops to come marching into the bedroom any minute.
"All right, you goddamn peeping toms," called a rough voice, "come out of that brush with your hands up!"
A huge towering man with bushy black hair stood on the porch of the other duplex with a double-barreled shotgun pointed in their direction. He was clad only in a grey night-shirt that came to his knees.
"What're we going to do?" Hal whispered excitedly.
"We'll have to make a run for it. We can't run for the car or our ass has had it. We'll have to run down the alley and try to make it back to the car without him seeing us. We can't let him see our uniforms either so when I say go, run like hell! If we can put twelve feet between him and us before he pulls that trigger we'll have it made. I imagine he's using bird-shot."
"I said come out of there, goddamn you!"
"Go!" Jim said.
"Kiss my ass!" Hal shouted at the man on the porch.
They crashed out of the thick brush into a dead, head-long run down the alley.
The man in the night-shirt ran to the corner of the house just a few feet from where the officers had crouched and took careful aim at the fleeing figures. He fired both barrels at once. Lights went on in some of the surrounding houses. The bird-shot sprayed, ricocheting off the concrete behind the heels of the fleeing officers as they ran toward the alley exit at First Street. The enraged man's curses carried to them and rang in their ears.
At First Street they left the alley, running west on First to the second street over. Then they turned south, running a half block past the street their prowl car was parked on. Sweat was streaming down their faces and their breath was coming in short gasps as they started darting between houses and running through private yards, working their way back to the prowl car.
At last they made it, getting into their prowl car with great sighs of relief. Nobody saw them. They laid their heads back against the back of the seat and gulped the refreshing early morning air into their tortured lungs. Never would they have guessed that the day would ever come when car 105 would look as good as it did now.
The man in the night-shirt came running around the duplex. Noticing their police car, he cradled his shotgun and ran toward them.
"Oh, good God no!" Hal moaned under his breath.
"Say! did you guys hear the shots?" the man asked excitedly as he came up to their car. "Maybe you saw those two bastards, huh?"
"Yeah, we heard the shots all right, but we ain't seen nobody," Hal drawled weakly, then grunted as Jim kicked him.
"What happened, sir?" Jim asked. "We just drove up when we heard the shots."
"I live in that far duplex there, and I heard noises. So I got up and got old Betsy here. Then I heard some wash tubs being knocked over so I stepped out on my porch and saw two thuggy looking bastards peeping in my neighbor's bedroom window. I ordered them out with their hands up, but got a cussing out instead. Then they took off, running down the alley like bats out of Joplin. So I opened up on them with both barrels. But I think I missed, damn it to hell."
"Which way they go?"
"North down the alley then west on First."
"You get any description of them?"
"No, it was too dark but you could tell they were thugs."
"Well, you go back in your apartment and get some sleep. We'll patrol around this area and see if we can locate them. If they come back, call the station, will you?"
"Okay, I'll do that. I'll say one thing about you boys. You sure are alert and on the job. Let's see, .this is 105. Tell you boys what I'm going to do. I'm calling the Chief first thing in the morning and put in a good plug for you officers."
The two officers looked at each other in wonderment as the huge man walked back to his duplex, still cradling his beloved Betsy. He seemed content with the knowledge that the dependable police had the whole situation well in hand.
"I'm glad you done the talking to him," Hal said. "I couldn't have."
"Well, let's drive around and act like we're looking for us."
"I hope the Chief don't come out."
"There's no danger in that. Are you nuts or something? You couldn't run him out of there now, not with all these neighbors on their porches."
"Wonder where he parked his car?"
"I would imagine up close to the station. He probably walked down."
They circled several blocks, letting the curious neighbors that were watching feel the satisfaction that the police were on the job. This would relieve their minds, and they could go back to sleep.
"I feel sober as a Judge now," Jim mused.
"Jesus Christ," Hal said, "I would think so."
"Attention All Cars: Reports of shots at First and Spring. Also several reports of men running through the yards between Second and Third along about Spring and Miller Streets. Check it out to your satisfaction."
Jim hastily grabbed the mike: "105 to headquarters and all Units. We were in the area at the time and heard the shots and also talked to the man who fired them. It was two peeping toms from what we can find out. But we have checked the area out thoroughly and can't seem to find anything. You might just as well 10:22 it (forget) and continue your patrol."
"10:04 car 105. Were you other cars 10:04 on 105's dispatch?"
He replaced the radio mike on the dash when he heard the other cars acknowledge the dispatcher.
"Well, as one peeping torn to another," Hal said. "I guess you know now how the Chief knew about your little love affair with the dispatcher?"
"Yeah, I sure as hell do. She was lonely and I came in handy for her to get some strange satisfaction, when all along she's the Chief's own private stock. She gives it to me, then tells that fat bastard all about it. And to think! it cost me seventy dollars. Goddamn her ass."
"Wonder if there's any danger that they saw us there at the window?"
"No. With all the noise you made they couldn't help but know someone was outside their window. But it was too dark for them to tell heads or tails who it was."
"I'll bet the Chief will die of curiosity, and Norma too."
"It'll do them good. It's an hour before relief so let's go get some coffee before we get screwed out of it."
"Now you're talking."
The two bushed officers drove straight for the K & O cafe with a clear conscience. They had searched the area thoroughly but try as they might they couldn't for the life of them seem to find the two thuggy-looking bastards. They decided to keep a sharp eye for them from now on.
Chapter Ten
Jim awoke of his own free will at three o'clock in the afternoon and went into the kitchen clad only in his shorts. He saw a note on the kitchen table. It read:
'Dear Jim, A very dear friend of mine is going to Mulsboro to do some shopping and I'm going along to shop for a new dinette set with the money you won. I left the kids over at my mother's. I doubt if I'll be home before you go to work. Your lunch is in the refrigerator so you can warm it up. For dinner you can eat out or go to mother's ... Take care ... Alice.'
His thoughts soared high with the idea that struck him as he finished warming up his lunch and sat down to eat it. Finishing the delectable meal, he took a shower, then shaved and got dressed in his sport clothes. Going to the telephone he dialed Hal's number. His pulse beat fast when Jean answered.
"Hal told me this morning at quitting time he had to go to Perryburg today, and would be an hour or two late for work tonight. Is that right?"
"That's right, Jim," she said suggestively. "His uncle is in the rabbit raising business, and Hal is wanting to learn it."
"Alice is gone for the day, too. She's shopping around for a new dinette set, and I'm all by my lonesome. I thought we might have a party."
"I'm ready. Come on over."
"Be there shortly," he said, replacing the phone on the cradle.
Hal lived out Thirty-Second Street in a large frame house not too far from the pasture that saw so much activity.
Jean answered his knock, opening the door to admit him. He stood there for an instant marveling at how pretty she was and wishing to God he had come over sooner. Her beautifully shaped breasts bulged daringly without the hindrance of a bra. She was wearing a tight red sweater with a V-shaped opening at the neck. He stepped in and closed the door behind him. She came into his arms.
Their kiss held long, her firm breasts pressed tightly against his chest. They rose and fell with each breath she took. He ran his hand down her back and started caressing her nice curvy buttocks. She wriggled delightedly in his arms. When their lips parted she playfully pushed him on to the sofa and began dancing before him. A new pop tune on the radio. He watched captivated.
This was no time for conversation. It was a time for love. He watched her as if under an enchanted spell. She danced bewitchingly to the music.
Jean wanted what he wanted, but wished to build his desires to the boiling stage before they started. As she danced she began stripping slowly. First came the sweater, which released her lovely breasts. Then came the skirt, followed by the half slip. Next came the daring red panties, leaving her with nothing on but a black garter belt, stockings and high heels-the heels accentuating the graceful lines of her shapely legs.
She laughed musically as she danced around the room inflaming his passion. "Come dance with me, darling," she called.
Instantly he was in her arms. They danced across the room and back to the sofa, where she delightedly sat in his lap. Feverishly his lips massaged the nipples of her tingling breasts, sucking like a yearling while she quivered excitedly.
"Get naked, honey. Let's have fun. Get naked," she begged.
Getting to his feet, he stripped completely nude and stood before her watching as she kicked her heels a-cross the room. Then in a pose that tore at his loins, she peeled off the alluring nylons and black garter belt, throwing them on the sofa. Wildly she rushed to his arms, showing her strong craving for what he had to offer her. Again they waltzed around the room, their naked bodies locked tightly together.
"Darling, I can't go on any longer. I need it," she panted.
He sat down on the sofa, pulling her willing body to his lap, directing her eagerly to the right position. She willingly bent over to just the right angle, helping him give her what she so anxiously wanted. She wiggled her tight firm buttocks against him violently, moaning with wild excitement as they both felt the sensational thrill of entry.
"Oh honey, I like it so much this way," she cried in joy.
"Me too," Jim said, pushing upward.
They reached climax seconds apart. Jim hugged her to him.
"I want to do it some more. But let's do it the old-fashioned way," she said. "Carry me in the bedroom, darling, and do it to me good."
He looked into her pretty brown eyes, shining now with lust, and pressed his lips to hers. He ran his fingers through her beautiful black triangle of hair.
"Do you love me just a little?" he asked as their aching lips parted.
"Darling, I love you madly," she whispered.
He lifted her up into his arms as their lips met again and carried her into the bedroom. For the next hour or so he would be hers and she would be his in another session of love. And he would make her like it again like he had done the last time, which seemed so long ago.
* * *
Jim was back in car 105, and was just driving away from the station to begin another night of patrol, having just checked into service on the radio.
The sound of Norma's voice on the air made him about half mad. But the lingering thoughts of the wonderful hours spent with Jean still remained fresh in his mind. The smell of the delightful perfume she was wearing still clung to his nostrils. With his partner's wife still in his memory it was impossible for him to bear any ill feelings toward Norma.
He had stayed with the enticing Jean all evening, and she had even insisted he have dinner with her. So he had departed her charming company with just enough time to allow him to return home and change into his uniform before he came to work.
It was a dirty trick to pull on a partner. But if Hal was more interested in raising rabbits than in taking care of his love-starved wife, then it was his duty as a red-blooded American male to do it for him. Because after all, he thought, what were friends for? And wasn't a sergeant supposed to take care of his men? So. Besides, having dinner with a delightful girl like Jean was so much better than eating with his mother-in-law, whom he heartily detested.
He circled the town and patrolled several streets, hoping almost frantically as he did that Alice didn't spend all the seventy dollars on her shopping trip today. Alice was like all women with money. Crazy wasn't even the word for it!
Turning off Kentucky Street onto Thirty-Second he saw something that made him disregard his roaming thoughts. He fell in behind a late model Cadillac to observe it more closely.
The direction of travel was east on Thirty-Second Street. He followed the Cad for several blocks, watching it weave back and forth across the center line numerous times. There was no doubt in his mind whatsoever that it was a D.W.I, (driving while intoxicated).
He turned on the red light and tapped the siren button with his toe. But even with the loud-crying siren going full blast the driver still failed to show any interest in the officer following him. He tapped the siren again, then slammed on his brakes to keep from running into the rear of the Cadillac. He skidded almost too close for comfort. The driver of the Cadillac in his intoxicated condition, had realized all of a sudden that a policeman was behind him and had slammed his heavy foot on the brake pedal, like all drunk drivers will do in spite of hell. The car had stopped instantly, catching Jim off guard.
The sergeant approached the car from the driver's side. The man in the Cad had a red fat face and a grey felt hat perched on the back of his head. He was wearing an expensive suit.
"May I see your driver's license, please?" Jim asked.
"H're ya go (hic) off'cer," the man mumbled, producing a fat wallet and handing it to the police sergeant.
"Would you take the license out for me?"
The man fumbled through the wallet muttering incoherent words, spilling money and other contents in his lap. But finally after what seemed hours to the waiting officer he produced his license and handed it to the anxious sergeant. The license revealed the man to be Frank 0. Potter, and listed an address in the swank Nob Hill section of town.
Potter was a man everyone in Dobbsville knew of. He had money invested in nearly everything in town and was well respected, as a man with money most usually is.
"Lookee heah, cop, I can't (hic) stand a run-in (hic) tonight, of all goddamn (hic) nights. I'm not (hic) drunk no how, by God. I'm not afraid of your (hic) goddamn jail. I can buy my way out again. So (hic) you can't get nowhere by (hic) taking me in. So why not just (hic) take me home (hic) huh? I'll (hic) make it worth your time, too."
The sergeant gave the man his license back. Knowing what the man had said was true, he made his decision. Of course, the man saying the small words about making it worth his while had a lot to do with it.
"You wait here until I can hide my prowl car from sight. I'll drive you home in your car and take a cab back."
"Hokay off'cer. It's (hic) goddamn nice of you. You're real people."
Jim drove car 105 behind the small neighborhood grocery store they were parked in front of, then hastily called in and checked out of service. The houses were scattered this far out, so he wasn't worried too much about any curious snooping neighbors calling in on him. Hurrying back to the Cadillac he told Potter to move over and crawled in behind the wheel. In a matter of minutes he was driving the Cadillac toward Nob Hill, wondering how much Potter would think this was worth. He was damn glad his partner hadn't reported in yet because he wanted to keep this money to himself, whatever amount it might be.
All the way to Potter's residence, Frank Potter explained to the good Samaritan in very incoherent words that he knew he could buy off ALL the city officials plus the whole damn town. But if he got picked up tonight it would get in the newspaper, which he couldn't buy off. And tonight of all nights he couldn't afford it.
He told briefly how he had a big business deal cooking with a firm that was backed by a large church organization from out of town. And just the slightest hint of scandal hitting the papers would kill it.
Finally he added, just as they pulled into the driveway of his large beautiful home: "I'd (hic) much rather pay you (hic) any day as those (hic) crooked goddamn city officials. Goddamn, I'm (hic) getting sick an' tired of keeping those (hic) sons (hic) o' bitches in spendin' money. The (hic) Chief, May'r an' all."
Minutes later a cab dropped a happy sergeant in front of the grocery store. He paid his fare hurriedly and walked behind the store to get his police car back in service.
Starting the motor he let the radio warm up to check back into service. Then he drove back to the heart of town.
Frank Potter was one hell of a fine fellow. He wished he could stop more people that felt the way he did, because burning a hole in his pocket was a crisp one hundred dollar bill. And in his mind was a dream of a new magnum revolver. Tomorrow he would buy it. And by trading in his old revolver he would have some money left to blow if he took the notion.
This was one hundred dollar bill the crooked city officials wouldn't see, which was sure a hell of a shame. And he would explain the magnum to his dense partner by telling him that he had bought it on a credit plan.
Parking in front of the K & O cafe he went in and selected a rear booth. Mary, who was the spitting image of her sister Molly, was behind the register tonight in Molly's place. The only real difference between the two lovely women was that Mary had deep red, dyed hair with a wave in front dyed pearl grey. He wondered as he sat there admiring her if she was as good at bedroom sports as her sister Molly was. Mary noticed him waiting for his coffee so she took time away from the register to bring him a cup and set it before him with one of her winning smiles.
He returned the smile and watched her walk gracefully away noticing she didn't have as much swing in the saddle as her sister Molly. But her breasts were larger, which could be only Playtex, he thought, as he drank his coffee.
Finishing his coffee, he left the cafe almost as hastily as he had entered and hurriedly returned to the prowl car, checking back into service almost before the radio had a chance to warm up good.
The hundred dollar bill in his pocket and the anticipation of becoming the proud owner of a magnum had his thoughts soaring.
"105, did you call?" Norma asked.
"I said 10:08 is all."
"10:04. Your partner is at the station."
"10:04."
"11:55 PM ... (call letters)."
Well, he thought, as he drove through the downtown business section toward the station, his partner wasn't as late as he said he would be.
Hal was waiting in the alley at the rear door when 105 turned into the alley and he hastily jumped in.
"Get your business taken care of?"
"Yeah, everything's shipshape," Hal answered.
"Let's cruise downtown. It's not too late yet and we might get to see some shapely legs."
"Sounds good. I like to look at split-tails and drool, even if I can't make all of them."
"Yeah, me too," Jim admitted. "Especially the ones in heels. I can almost get my rocks just watching."
They started dragging the Main eagerly looking to see something nice in heels-something to undress with their eyes. But the scenery turned out to be exceptionally poor. There was nothing on Main worth a second look. They decided to do a little police work; security checks, they decided.
Things were really quiet tonight. But working had made a little time fly by. Three o'clock was just around the corner. They were patrolling the north end of town. Hal was driving. He came up with a bright idea.
"Let's run some more pussy roads?"
"What if we run into the Chief again?" Jim asked.
"We'll be more careful this time, like we should have last time."
"It's funny we didn't recognize his car. I know it as well as I do my own."
"It's just one of those things. We were interested in other things. And besides, his car is a standard color, so anyone could have made a mistake like we made."
"Yeah, I reckon. Let's go run those pussy roads."
"We're off."
They drove north to the outskirts of the city, and in a matter of minutes they were lost from the world in a thick jungle of underbrush. They drove the often-used pig trails, eager with the excitement of catching someone getting a little, or seeing some woman with her panties oft.
"Stop the car," Jim said.
Instantly his partner stopped the car and doused the lights.
"See something?" he asked.
"Yeah. There's something shining over in that timber-like a light or camp fire. Let's go over and see what it is."
Getting out of the car they started walking toward the light, trekking as quietly as possible through the thick growth of brush. As they drew closer they saw the light was a camp fire. There seemed to be about a dozen or more figures moving about in the light afforded by the fire.
To avoid any possible detection by the group, they got down on their hands and knees and crawled quietly through the thick brush which was getting more dense by each step.
The camp fire was in a small clearing. So the officers crawled through the brush and tall weeds as stealthily as they could. Finally they made it to the edge of the clearing, where they laid quietly watching the nocturnal group. What they saw made their eyes jump out of their sockets.
There were about two dozen boys and girls running merrily around the camp fire stark naked. They were all teen-agers; the officers could tell by their Dobbsville Junior College school jackets lying in a heap on the ground, along with their clothes and shoes. Jim and Hal had been hearing for some time that there was a Virgins' Club in both the high school and the college. They were seeing the college one in operation now. Most of the girls and boys they recognized as being from the well-to-do section of the town and from respected church-going families.
Beer cans and whiskey bottles lay all over the clearing and the whole crowd was looped to the gills, with a few of them running in circles playing a form of tag, grabbing each other's private parts.
A few couples were on the ground actually doing it in front of the others, who were getting loads of fun out of watching.
Then, both boys and girls started doing immoral acts with each other while others watched, laughingly awaiting their turns at the amusing game. They would make the rounds with each other, then swap partners and start the charming cycle all over again, while the officers watched what seemed to be naked bodies everywhere. The party dragged on. As the officers watched, they saw the charming group initiate a new boy and girl into the club by making them have sexual intercourse while all the others watched.
Then they made the new boy do different, more thrilling acts to all the girls in the group. Each girl waited her turn, giggling with eagerness. They all laughed uproariously when the boy washed his mouth out with whiskey after the delightful affair. The girl was made to do the same thing with all the boys. Then she, too, was given the whiskey bottle. All the rest had watched as if under some wonderful spell.
According to the club rules, as far as the officers had learned, if a new member refused to be initiated he was given a fast kangaroo court and sentenced by the other members to a beating by a black-snake whip. But most of the college kids didn't mind the acts at all. In fact, from what the officers had heard, the kids really got a big charge out of this sort of thing. Apparently their information had been right.
As the stunned officers watched, three boys who appeared to be the bosses of the club, took the new girl off to one side and took turns with her several times.
"Wonder if they give degrees for this?" Hal whispered.
"I don't know-but I'd be tempted to take a course in it."
"Goddamn! Me too! I never saw anything like it before."
"Be real quiet and crawl back to the car," Jim instructed. "Radio the sheriff's office. Tell them the score and get the patrol out here pronto."
Hal nodded and crawled off.
A full twenty minutes elapsed with the kids having themselves a ball. Then all at once the clearing suddenly became infested with the uniformed members of the sheriff's patrol-Hal right smack in the middle of them. The girls were screaming loudly as they tried desperately to flee.
Jim ran to join the party and delightedly helped the sheriff's boys hold them all in tow. Hal had brought enough men with him to make the pinch one hundred per cent perfect. Nobody got away. It didn't take but a few minutes to get the charming group loaded into the Linn County paddy wagon, still naked as jaybirds, and on the road to the county jail.
The sheriff himself arrived on the scene and busied himself gathering up the pile of clothes. The reporters hastily snapped pictures for the newspaper. These pictures would also be used by the police as court evidence.
The sergeant and his partner were asked to pose for pictures to be used in the story expose. While the pictures were being taken they told the reporters what they had heard and seen while in the brush. Then they thanked the sheriff for his help and hurried back to their prowl car, leaving the sheriff, reporters and the few remaining deputies at the scene.
While his partner drove back to town Jim wrote a full report on the incident and when they approached the downtown area he had it completed.
"Did you ever see anything like that before in your life?" he asked as he stuck the report in his jacket pocket.
"No, I haven't," Hal answered. "I think I'll see if I can enroll in college today."
Jim laughed. "The public is sure going to be surprised when that story hits the paper."
"Lots of people will be."
"After a deal like that I could go for some ham and eggs. How about you?"
"I sure could."
"We still have a little while before quitting time so if you'll drive to the K & O I'll buy the breakfasts."
"Say, now that sounds like a good deal."
They drove toward the cafe. The fact that they were the ones that exposed the college virgin club made them feel proud.
Chapter Eleven
Lonely Sunday night rolled around which was his partner's night off. Jim was riding lone ranger again, making his usual rounds.
Over a week had elapsed since he and his partner had found the college kids having the wild party. Everything was starting to quiet down once again. But when the virgin club expose had first hit the newspaper, radio and television, the fireworks had really gone off. Public resentment had turned on the police department like a bunch of coyotes craving blood. The townspeople took the attitude that it was the police department's fault that the kids were out there doing what they were doing. But that's police work for you.
You can satisfy part of the people part of the time but you can't satisfy all the people any time. But to hell with all the fool people, Jim thought. If the people want their kids to be that way and don't want to believe the truth even when you draw them a picture of it then to hell with them all.
The college professors, the guys who get paid for knowing nothing, said they didn't believe the incident happened even when the kids involved signed confessions for the sheriff admitting they did it.
But regardless of all, he was a proud man. Because, fitting snugly in a short holster at his side, was a .357 magnum. He had been the proud owner of it for one week now. Already he had been to the pistol range to fire it, and was well satisfied with the nice way it performed. It was a blue-mirror finish, three-and-a-half inch barrel job, like the one his partner owned, with bone stag handles as an extra-plus the black engraved holster and the new engraved black Sam Browne which made it a very pretty outfit considering all as a whole. He explained the money that purchased the outfit to both his partner and wife by telling them that he won it gambling with friends.
Last Sunday had been a very delightful one with several enchanting hours spent under the sheets with Molly. But this Sunday night would be much different, because she had told him she was expecting her husband home for a three week stay.
As if that wasn't enough cold ice to throw on a man, she had told him she thought maybe she was pregnant, as she hadn't started her period. Then had come the shock of her asking him if he would consider leaving his wife and kids for her, which didn't set well with him at all. So as a result, he hadn't been to the K & O since.
Chances are, he thought as he cruised, she was just late on her period and was worrying for nothing. He decided to worry about it himself when the time came. But he damn sure wasn't going to leave his wife for Molly.
Last week he had spent half his time in court, because a drunk man he and Hal had arrested out at Tresa's Club had tried to sue the city police for violating his civil rights. But all the guy managed to collect was six months in the county jail. To top it all, Tresa was a 'protected' madam, running a very successful whore house.
Why people believe so entirely in civil rights when they are arrested, just because it's written in the books, was beyond him.
Police can cover up very easily,-like for instance, holding a prisoner in what they call a hideaway jail, which is illegal as hell. But it works just the same.
A hideaway jail is a jail like the others, all right. But the prisoner isn't listed on the station books, thus isolating him from all existence. This way the police can say they don't have the man, and hold him indefinitely without a charge. This makes it impossible for the man to have a lawyer or bail or any of his so-called civil rights.
If the public would just see through this sort of thing, they could put a stop to it. But somehow they don't see through it. They are instead very content with television's glorification of police work.
Jim drank a fast cup of coffee at Gene's Grill and returned to his prowl car. He drove off the graveled lot and cruised down Main, talking into the radio mike:
"105 is 10:08 (in service)."
"10:04 car 105. What's your 10:20? (location)."
"Eighteenth and Main coming north."
"10:04, 10:19 (return to station) at your convenience."
"10:04, be right in."
"10:04 car 105, twelve midnight ... (call letters)."
Now I wonder what in the hell is wrong, he thought almost aloud, as he cruised down Main toward the station.
Entering the station he saw the ruddy red face of Sam Dilly, the editor of the Morning Globe and Times Enterprise. Sam stuck out his chubby hand. Jim grasped it, shaking it heartily, while his intent gaze traveled across the editor's broad shoulder to a beautiful, sumptuous woman.
"How're you doing, Jim? I haven't seen you in a coon's age."
"All right, I guess," Jim said. "Yeah, Sam, it's been some time. You should get out more at night and see how the thugs live."
"Yeah," he admitted. "I guess I should. But that's what I hire reporters for."
The cordial Sam was a short obese man in his sixties with sharp beady black eyes. Habitually, he wore a derby perched on the back of his bald head and horn-rimmed bifocals.
The beautiful doll with him had an attractive face and smiling lips. Her short blonde curly hair was an abundance of richness encircling the white beret she wore. Full, soft, inviting breasts bulged excitingly in the snug yellow sweater she was wearing, while her tight green skirt showed off her wondrously enticing curves and shapely legs. Across her shoulder was a waist length sling from which hung a tan leather case.
"Jim," Sam said. "I want you to meet Miss Violet Thomas. She's new with the Globe-Enterprise. Came to us from a Little Rock paper. Miss Thomas, I'd like you to meet Sergeant Jim Thorn. He's in charge of the midnight shift."
The sergeant and girl reporter acknowledged the introduction and exchanged greetings, both seemingly satisfied with what they saw.
"She will handle the social column of our paper but will run the police beat occasionally," Sam continued. "Jim, I'd consider it a favor if you'd let her ride with you tonight and show her police procedure first hand. She has never run a police beat before, so I'd like her to get some actual experience. I feel she can report it better if she knows the inside story of police work. I feel you are the best qualified for the job."
"I doubt if she'll see much, Sam," he managed to say. "It's dead around here most of the time."
"Well, if nothing happens then just explain the correct police procedure to her in your own words. Frankly, I think we've had quite a lot happen lately."
"Yeah, I guess so," Jim conceded, "that is, if you figure it as a whole."
"Hell, yes. There was the kick-in, the college expose, which as you know, was red hot, then there was that gun-waving drunk at Tresa's Club. Hell, I say a lot has happened in the last two weeks."
"Well, I won't argue. But some of these nights get pretty dreary around here."
"Well, get out and stir up some excitement," Sam suggested.
"He usually does," the desk sergeant shot into the conversation.
For this he received a nasty glare from Jim, while the editor laughed knowingly.
"Yeah, so I hear," Sam boomed teasingly. "Now police work is all you need to show her, Jim."
"Police work is all I can show her, Sam. I don't know anything else but police work."
The desk sergeant coughed twice, then joined the obese editor-both laughing uproariously at the confused patrol sergeant. The girl reporter looked off in space as her pretty face colored.
"Just what have you vultures been telling this girl about me?"
"Why nothing, Jim," Sam pretended alarm. "I just said for you to show her police work, that's all."
"Are you ready, Miss Thomas?"
"Yes I am, sergeant," she replied mildly.
"Then let's go before Dilly comes up with more hog wash like what he prints."
He stepped to the rear door holding it open for the attractive reporter.
"I'll see you later, Sam," he called over his shoulder. "In the meantime, be careful."
"I will, and you do the same. And I do mean careful."
The laughter that followed Sam's words fell on deaf ears as Jim closed the door behind him and followed the pretty reporter to the prowl car.
Driving down the alley to Third Street he turned west toward Main with a satisfied feeling of being lucky to teach the attractive girl reporter the ropes of police work. And 'the ropes' was exactly what he would like to teach her. But first he wanted to feel her out to see if she was on the make.
"How long have you been on the force, sergeant?" she asked at length.
"Five years."
"That's quite a while. Do you like it?"
"It'll do."
"You always ride alone?"
"No, my shotgun buddy is off tonight. Well, he's off every night, but tonight it's legal."
Her laugh was soft and musical. "I'll bet it does get lonesome out here at night, especially riding by yourself."
"Lonesome isn't the word for it."
"Are you married?"
"Yeah."
"Children?"
"Yeah, two."
No matter how hot to trot a woman was, he thought to himself, it seemed like they all wanted to find out if a man was married or not, or had children, plus a a general third degree. And the reason why was hard to peg. Because after they pumped you dry, they would take off their panties and drop them in their purse.
"You married?" he returned the question.
"No."
"Ever been?"
"No."
"Now that's impossible. A girl as pretty as you not married?"
"Why, thank you," she smiled. "I just haven't found the right man yet."
"You must be awfully particular or else you've been living in a blind man's town."
"Thank you again," she responded prettily. "You're very complimentary. You're not the wolf Mr. Dilly was teasing about, are you?"
Goddamn Dilly, he thought, "Of course not. You know how some men like to joke. Sam is always teasing me and he doesn't mean a word of it. It's just hot air."
"I sure hope so. I'd hate to ride around all night with a wolf."
"You needn't worry. You're safer with me than any man in town."
Again the musical laugh. "Is crime bad in this city?"
"We have a small amount, but nothing to get alarmed about."
"I understand that public resentment over this awful thing about the college went against the police department?"
"Yeah, but that's the way it goes. People never like to hear the truth. But tell them a lie and they'll eat it up."
"It's a good thing you and that other officer discovered the wild party. People should be proud to get such an awful thing out in the open."
"Yeah, you'd think so."
"Where is the place you caught them?"
"Out in the brush north of town."
Suddenly an idea hit him. "It's going to be quiet tonight, so to kill time, and if you would like, I can drive out there and show you the exact spot."
"Okay, that sounds interesting," she agreed.
Instantly he wheeled the black cruiser north and in a matter of minutes he parked in the exact spot as before, secluded deep in the brush.
"Sure is peaceful and serene out here," she mused.
"Yes, it is. There's a clearing over beyond that row of trees and thicket. That's where it was," he pointed.
"This sure is the place for a petting party, I guess," she observed. "It's so secluded back here in this timber."
"Yeah, this is quite a place for lovers."
"Where did you and your partner hide?"
"We walked up that way, then crawled through that thicket there and hid over about there," he explained, leaning across and laying his arm around her to point.
Her lush lips provided too much temptation when she turned and looked up into his eyes. Gently he tightened his arm around her shoulders and pressed his eager lips to the warm enticing lips that were building a burning passion in him. He felt her firm soft breasts rising and falling, trembling against his chest.
She put her hands to his chest pushing hard as she struggled to free herself, but his embrace was too strong. She yielded to his lingering kiss, going all limp in his arms.
Pain was creeping excitedly into their lips when the thrilling pressure was finally released. She breathed in the refreshing air in short excited gasps while his exploring hand went working under her skirt, feeling the warmth of her firm tight thighs. His hand went to her panties, feeling feverishly as he brought his aching lips down to hers.
"No! Please! Don't! Stop! Please!" she cried as her lips were sealed shut. When the long kiss was over she again fought for air.
She crossed her shapely legs, pressing her soft firm buttocks hard against the seat cushion in a weak effort to keep her panties on. Jim's eager hand worked feverishly trying to pull them down. Touching her down there was setting him on fire.
"No, sergeant, please don't. Oh God, please don't," she uttered feebly before he sealed her lips with another kiss.
His hand left her skirt now, going excitedly to her breasts, where it lovingly caressed the soft abundance. He released his hungry lips and saw the tears in her pretty eyes. He felt her warm body quivering in his arms.
"Please don't make me do it," she begged. "Please, sergeant, I would like to say yes, but I'm afraid. Don't make me do it, please."
"There's no need to be afraid, honey," Jim argued. "Just let yourself go. What are you afraid of? You afraid of me?"
"No, I'm not afraid of you," she said, now crying uncontrollably. "Oh, Jim, I want you so! But I'm afraid. You won't believe me, but I'm twenty eight years old and I never have done it before. Oh, please Jim, I'm so very much afraid. Don't make me do it."
He threw the bra he had managed to unfasten into the rear seat, then pushed her sweater up exposing the firm soft breasts. He felt them feverishly.
"Honey, I believe you, and I want you badly! So let yourself go, baby, and let's live. I promise it won't hurt and you'll like it."
"No, Jim, don't make me do it. What if I'd have a baby?"
The tears were flowing freely, and her body was trembling with a deeply embedded phobia she had acquired during childhood.
"I'll be careful, honey. I promise you won't have a baby or be hurt in any way. Just let me have it, and let yourself enjoy it."
Her green nylon panties came free, and he threw them into the rear seat.
"No, Jim, I can't let myself. I'm scared silly. Please don't make me do it. Take me back to town, please."
"Please give in, honey. I know you'll like it if you'll just let yourself. Honey, I want you so much. Just trust in me and let yourself go. If you only will just once, then you'll see that there isn't anything to be afraid of."
His arm was squeezing tightly as he laid her back in the seat and put his lips to a nipple of her breasts, which he sucked delightedly.
"No, Jim! Don't! Stop! Please don't! Stop!"
Half on his knees, wild with excitement, he pushed hard.
She felt a quick, sharp, thrilling pain, followed by something even more wonderful than he had made it sound. She found herself doing something she had never done before in her life. It hurt a little, but she found much to her amazement that it was very thrilling.
"Oooooh, Jim, I like it. It's so wonderful. Please don't stop. Don't stop, please keep doing it. I don't want to leave you, ever!"
Caught up in their wanton desires, they rolled violently in the front seat, striving savagely for satisfaction. As the pleasing moments sped, the thrilling sensation of a gratifying climax was reached. At last they lay exhausted, looking at each other with a loving admiration.
She moved under his comforting weight enraptured with the happiness of her newly-found wonderment, marveling at her own ignorant phobia of it in the past. She thought of the long years of fun she had denied herself, just because as a child she had been frightened out of doing it. She raised her searching lips to his, and the kiss held lingeringly for long delightful moments. When their lips parted she heard his soothing words of tenderness giving comfort to her. The words made her feel so very much wanted.
"Are you happy, baby?" he whispered. "Are you glad you did it?"
"Oh yes, I'm so happy, darling. I'm so very very glad. It was so wonderful! And I don't ever want you to be far from me."
"I won't, honey," he promised. "You were wonderful and I liked it fine."
"I'm glad you liked me, honey. Let me up, darling, so I can get my clothes on."
He kissed her lips softly then raised himself and crawled back under the steering wheel, quickly readjusting his uniform. Hurriedly she dressed herself. Jim lit up a Camel as he watched her.
"Care for a cigarette, honey?" he asked.
"No, thanks. But I'd like to borrow your handkerchief if I may."
"Here," he said, handing her his handkerchief.
"Well," she said finally, "maybe we should go back to town so I can learn something about police work." She said this laughingly, cuddling up close to him.
"Yeah, that might be a good idea," he grinned back.
"We don't want to disappoint Dilly."
Putting the idling car in gear he turned around and plowed out of the brush country to the main highway. The girl reporter cuddled close to him.
Soon they were patrolling the dark deserted streets of Dobbsville. She had her blonde curly head laying against his shoulder, trying to absorb a brief but interesting run-down on everyday police procedure.
Jim had something good now, plus something that would be steady-something he wouldn't have to share because it would be his own private stuff whenever he felt the desire, which was often. He knew she liked him, too; so his thoughts soared high with great anticipation of a wonderful future with the pretty girl reporter.
"Let's go get a cup of coffee," he suggested.
"Darling, that sounds wonderful. Let's go."
A beautiful virgin had got laid, and a police sergeant had it made. So what more could a police department ask? After all, it was a good night's work.
Chapter Twelve
Another night, another slow, tiring, boring night was starting to get under way as the two officers of car 105 came out of Gene's Grill with a refreshing cup of Java under their Sam Brownes and climbed back into their black police cruiser.
A certain patrol sergeant wanted to steer away from a certain brunette for a while because pregnant talk didn't agree with his coffee somehow.
He was in too good of spirits tonight to let anything upset them; such as the horrible thought that Molly might be pregnant. Last night had been his night off, and the night before was still fresh in his mind. He wasn't about to forget that sweet little dream boat of a reporter.
While Hal drove south, Jim reached for the mike:
"105 is 10:08."
"10:04, car 105-11:23 PM ... (call letters)."
"Drive out to the outskirts and let's check those buildings out there," Jim said.
"Okay. As scattered as they are it's a damn wonder they haven't been broken into long ago."
"That's the reason I want to check them."
"Every kick-in we've had since I've been on the force has been downtown right under our nose."
"Well, one of these nights we'll get it on the outskirts."
"I'd like to catch me a burglar in the act."
"You and me both. If I did the undertaker would have him."
"Now you sound big and bad."
They were approaching the outskirts of town when their radio blared:
"Car 105."
"Go ahead," Jim answered.
"We had a signal 46 (car accident) a few minutes ago. Car 106 is at the scene working the accident and trying to direct traffic around it while they're waiting on the wrecker to come. The subjects involved were taken to St. Mary's Hospital, and 106 would like to have another car go there and get the information for them."
"10:04. We'll take it. We're not too far from there now."
"10:04, car 105, 12:36 AM ... (call letters)."
"This is a damn good deal," Hal spoke up as he wheeled the black cruiser around in the middle of the street and headed for the hospital.
"It is?" Jim asked. "Why, do you like to work accidents?"
"No, I just know two nurses that work there. We might be able to get a little if they're hot to go."
"Now you're talking like a cop. Let's go."
Driving into the ambulance lane, they parked their black cruiser and hurried into the emergency entrance of St. Mary's. Stopping the head nurse they inquired as to where the accident victims were being treated. She pointed out the emergency room that was being used then hurried on down the hall to continue her duties.
"Well, do your stuff," the sergeant said.
"Why must I always do the dirty work?"
"It was your idea to come here."
"Okay, you bastard."
Hal made a sour face as he took out a small pocket-size notebook and stepped quietly into the emergency room. His sergeant selected a chair in the hall and sat down to wait. Jim hated an accident and would do anything he could to get out of working one. In a few minutes Hal came out with a big smile on his face.
"You should have gone in," he said. "It was an old man in one of the cars involved, but two of the prettiest split-tails you ever saw in the other one."
"Hurt bad?"
"No. One got a bum knee and a small cut over on? eye and the other got a dislocated elbow plus minor cuts on the face. The old man didn't get hurt at all."
"Where's those nurses you spoke of?"
"Getting interested, huh?" Hal taunted. "They live out front in the nurses quarters."
"How can we get in? Men aren't allowed in there."
"They have a room on the ground floor with a window hidden by high shrubbery. We can crawl in the window. It's so dark no one will see us."
"Sounds good so far. Are they in a room to themselves?"
"Yeah, just the two of them."
"Well, you call them to see if they're in. I'll call the station to turn in this information for car 106. We'll wait to see if the girls want to see us. Then, if so, we'll use their phone to call the station with a good line of bull for staying out of service for awhile."
"Okay, good deal," Hal said, handing his notebook with the information in it to his sergeant.
The two officers split up, with each hurrying to a separate telephone.
Their phone calls finally completed and everything in readiness, they parked their prowl car on the large parking lot between the hospital and the nurses quarters. They walked quietly toward the window hidden by the high shrubbery. Fighting their way through the thick growth they came to the window.
Hal tapped the facing lightly with his gun butt and the window went up instantly.
"Hurry up and get in here," came a soft excited feminine voice. "Someone might see y'all."
First one then the other pulled himself up and through the window.
The light from the television lamp gave very little light to the dark room. But gradually their eyes adjusted. The two girls in thin negligees looked real inviting to the wanton eyes of the two policemen.
"Where have you been keeping yourself, dimples?" the pretty plump brunette asked Hal, falling into his eager arms.
"I've been working with this monkey," he pointed at his sergeant.
The other girl was admiring Jim's three yellow chevrons. She was very enticing to the eye standing there in the dim light. She was very pretty, well shaped; and her lush blonde hair was fixed in an alluring wind-blown look. Hal quickly introduced the charming 'nurses to Jim. They, too, had heard a lot about the sergeant.
"You should be ashamed of yourself waking us up in the middle of the night just to get some pussy," the brunette whispered teasingly to Hal, then laughed as she pulled him tightly to her swelling breasts, pressing her warm lips excitedly to his.
Both girls well knew what -cops want in women. And these two cops knew what they wanted, so no punches were pulled. The two couples, enraptured with wildly burning desires, hastily stripped to the raw.
The charming boys in blue were well educated in what to do for pretty young nurses with hot panties. Hal and his enticing little nude doll crawled onto the inviting bed that the two nurses shared, while the sergeant and his pretty nude bundle of charms walked to the divan that was already made out into a bed in preparation for the sex party. The dim light was left on, but it went unnoticed by the enchanted couples. For it was nothing compared to the raging fire in their hearts.
This was a perfect place to while away the rest of the early morning hours. So it was farewell to the cares of the rest of the world as they plunged into the more serious business of maintaining the reputation and sexual integrity of the Dobbsville police force. Maybe they should have a medal, too?
Chapter Thirteen
It was about twenty minutes after the stroke of twelve midnight. The two officers of cruiser 105 drove up Main Street in the quiet serene town of Dobbsville, starting another dreary old night. The sergeant was at the wheel. They were discussing their wonderful experience of the night before out at the St. Mary's Home For Student Nurses.
One good thing about being a cop-if there is anything good about it: you never have to be without strange stuff. All the men have you marked as a lousy cop son-of-a-bitch. But the women have you marked as a guy on the make. So when their husbands are out of town or they just plain get lonesome for a little new on the side, they always look for a cop and let him know in various ways that they want to play lion.
'Lion' is a game wherein the women lay down and the men throw them the meat. And 'Lion' plays an important part in midnight police patrol, because there are a lot of lonely women who get sexed up just watching the sun go down. They go driving in their husband's car so they can chase police cars all night in strong hopes that the police will drive to a dark alley somewhere and give them what they crave so badly, a little game of lion.
Another thing in favor of a badge is the drunken women you get to lay. And the good part about this is you don't have to worry about whether they're willing or not, because, considering their intoxicated condition, you just do it.
Then there are always the numerous prowler calls that are sure stuff all the time. Yeah, a cop really has it made when it comes to getting a little strange stuff away from home base.
They turned east on Thirty-Second Street when it happened again. But this time they saw where it came from. The black blur skidded out of the dirt road onto the highway in front of them, taking off at a high rate of speed, burning its rear tires.
"Get after that son-of-a-bitch!" Hal shouted. "That's the same Ford we let get away once."
The stern-faced sergeant pressed the accelerator to the floor, feeling the police interceptor shoot forward rapidly increasing its speed.
"If he can out-run this interceptor he's doing real good," Jim said.
They could see the familiar California tag, but it was too distant to read. The black Ford had evidently seen the prowl car following them, for it had increased its speed. They were on a straight away now and the prowl car, which was powered to the hilt, was gaining, shortening the length between the two cars.
The red lights were flashing and the siren was blaring out into the night, but the speed demon ahead paid no attention. This was getting the sergeant's temper to the boiling point fast.
"Give me that mike," he said.
"Here."
"105 to headquarters."
"Go ahead, 105."
"We're chasing a black Ford out Thirty-Second Street. It has a California tag, numbers unknown at this time. We're going west and are approaching the city limits. Radio the sheriff's office and see if they have a car out past us. If so, have him throw up a block."
"10:04, car 105."
"See if you can plug a tire," Jim said to Hal.
Taking out the thirty-eight special loads and replacing them with magnums, Hal leaned out the window taking careful aim. He squeezed off two shots. He missed.
"Car 105."
"Go ahead."
"The sheriff has a unit directly ahead of your location about five miles out."
"Which one? I'm far enough out now that maybe I can pick up his frequency."
"Unit 115."
"10:04, car 105 to unit 115," Jim called.
"Go ahead, 105."
"Can you copy me, 115?"
"10:04."
"Good. We're two miles out of the city coming your direction like a bat out of hell. What's your location?"
"I'm at Six Mile Corners and I got the road blocked with my car."
"10:04. This is Sergeant Thorn, deputy. My partner fired twice but missed. These bastards are trying their best to outrun us for some reason, so watch them when they come through. I'm sure they'll bust your block."
"10:04. I can see your red lights now, sergeant."
Hal reached out the window to fire at the fleeing car again.
"No, don't fire," Jim shouted. "We're getting too close. You might hit the deputy."
"They're coming closer," unit 115 said.
"10:04, watch them as they may bust that block shooting. We'll follow them through if they decide to bust it."
They were drawing close and they could see the deputy waving his arms wildly gesturing for the car to stop. But what the sergeant feared happened.
The black Ford swerved to the left, taking to the ditch as it went around the sheriff's unit-skidding back onto the pavement. Three shots echoed in the night as the deputy fired at the tires of the speeding Ford.
"Hold on, we're going through the same way he did," Jim said.
They hit the dirt hard and Hal was raised off the seat, bumping his head hard against the roof of the car as the police cruiser skidded back onto the highway, the sergeant about losing it in the soft shoulder.
"Fire again!" Jim shouted.
They were as close as they were going to get to the Ford. So now was the time, if any, to fire. The Ford had lost speed coming out of the ditch. Hal took careful aim with his magnum, then squeezed off a shot which found its mark.
The motor of the fleeing Ford started sputtering. The car left the highway, skidding off into the ditch. It climbed up the high embankment and fell back into the ditch turning completely over. It came to rest upside down with its wheels spinning in the air. Smoke was pouring from under the crushed hood.
The police cruiser skidded to a stop. The sergeant and his partner ran to the edge of the soft shoulder where they looked down at the car up-ended in the ditch. They trained their magnums on it. Unit 115 pulled up and the deputy sheriff ran to their side with a forty-five automatic in his fist.
A youth of around nineteen came crawling out of the window, followed by two more of about the same age. All three appeared to be unhurt, which was a crying shame.
Then three girls in their late teens crawled out one after the other and joined the boys.
All six were stunned momentarily but otherwise were safe and sound, which was a miracle, much to the sergeant's disgust.
"Get up here and line up, you thuggy bastards," Jim roared.
Instantly they crawled out of the ditch and lined up along the edge of the highway. The three boys were wearing black and red jackets with the lettering of the Dobbsville Junior College. And all three had long hair with duck tails.
All six were wearing blue jeans. The girls were also wearing gingham checked blouses which were open at the neck, exposing their round little breasts, that didn't have the benefit of bras.
The faces of the boys were lipstick smeared. It didn't take any deep thinking to figure out what they had been doing down in the pasture that the officers had spotted them coming out of.
"I'll have the paddy-wagon here in a minute," the deputy told the city cops. "It's en route now."
"Good deal," Hal replied.
"What were you brats trying to do, get your fool selves shot?" the deputy asked roughly.
"Aw, we just wanted to have some fun and see if we could outrun your cop cars," one pimply faced kid said, trying his best to sound tough.
"We'd have done it too, if it hadn't been for that road block you cops put up," another said.
"You just about got yourselves shot for your efforts, you wise little bastards," the deputy snapped.
"Aw, a guy can't have any fun at all with you lousy cops around," the pimpled face kid pouted.
"Yeah, cop, so arrest us and stop preaching," the other one wised off.
"Now look, you smart punks," the deputy said hotly. "If you want to get rough just say so and I'll pound the living hell out of you."
Jim couldn't check his temper any longer, so walking up to the tough acting punks he stood with legs apart, hands on his hips, eyeing them savagely. He spoke coldly-like ice:
"Now, you goddamn low life sons-of-bitches, you listen to me. I've took enough of your bull shit and I don't like your rotten looks. So I want you to open your crappy mouths one more time and give me an opportunity to pound the piss out of you right here and now. Come on! bat one goddamn eye or say one goddamn word, you bastards. I want to send you sons-of-bitches to the hospital. Say something! I want you to say something. You're supposed to be tough. I want to see how much. Come on and fight, goddamn you, or shut up and do as we tell you."
The boys fell silent, cowering under the sergeant's gaze. They could see his eyes blazing, and they knew that this was one cop that had been pushed too far. They didn't feel they wanted any of him.
"Why the California tag?" Hal asked.
"I moved here from California about two months ago," the kid with the pimples said, talking nicely now.
Just then the paddy-wagon arrived. Two deputies jumped out and opened the back. The sergeant and the deputy herded the teen-agers toward it while Hal ran to 105 to radio in for a wrecker.
"I sometimes wonder what teen-agers are coming to nowadays," the deputy of unit 115 said, as he and the sergeant watched the gruesome paddy-wagon roll away with the prisoners.
"Jim, I radioed for a wrecker and it's en route."
"Good boy, Hal. You're on the ball."
Within the next half hour the wrecker arrived and hooked onto the wreckage, pulling it out of the ditch and back onto the highway. There was no traffic on this highway this late at night because it wasn't a main highway. This was a break for the officers both during and after the chase. Another break was that the wrecked car hadn't caught fire after the crash. It had smoked badly, but that was all.
The wrecker started toward town with its wrecked burden. The three officers stood on the soft shoulder and watched it go out of sight. The deputy turned to the sergeant.
"Do you want me to file on them in the county or do you want to file on them in the city?"
"County," Jim said. "They're thugs, and if I filed in the city the damn Chief would turn them loose."
The deputy laughed: "Tell me what you want on them. I'll file for you, and you boys can come over in the morning to sign the complaints."
"Reckless driving, evading arrest, ... well hell, I guess that's all, goddamn it."
"Okay, I'll go over there now end take care of it. See you boys later. Don't run into any more bad ones."
"Let's hope not. Thanks for everything."
The two officers waved at the departing deputy, then returned to their unit and drove back into Dobbsville.
As his partner drove, the sergeant prepared two written reports on the incident; one for the Chief and one for the County. By the time Hal turned down Main Street he had them finished. He glanced at his wrist watch.
"Damn, it's after two. The K & O is closed."
"You didn't want to go there, did you?" Hal teased.
"Well, sort of. I'm anxious to know if it's good news or bad."
"It would be hell for you if she is pregnant."
"Don't you think I don't know that? I doubt it, though. I think she's just late this month."
"Could be," Hal agreed. "Let's go to Gene's Grill, what say?"
"Only place we can go, ain't it?"
"I believe in a wide choice."
"You just want some of Clara," Jim said.
"Your ass. After we have coffee do you want to get in another race or go see the nurses again?"
"Neither one. I want a woman to love tonight, but I'd like to try out newer pastures."
"Maybe we could raid a whore house!"
"Car 105."
"Go ahead," the sergeant answered.
"314 Selma Avenue. Report of a prowler."
"10:04."
"There goes our coffee," Hal grunted.
"This might be better than coffee."
"That's a short street in Nob Hill, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it's rich stuff craving attention. You want me to help the lady in trouble?"
"Let's wait until we get there and flip a coin for it."
"Okay. Heads I get her and tails you do."
In a few minutes they parked quietly in front of the house, and the sergeant produced a quarter which he flipped, and caught, laying it exposed on the back of his free hand.
His partner shone his flashlight on the quarter.
"Tails! I win," he exclaimed excitedly.
"You lucky dog."
"You're just jealous. I'll let you smell my finger."
"You go to hell."
The two charming boys in blue hurried to the front door with Hal almost falling over his feet trying to get there. They buzzed the door buzzer and waited. Soon a very attractive lady dressed in a thin negligee answered the door. Alarm began spreading across her pretty face when she saw them.
"Did they send two of you? I only have one prowler."
"We're partners, ma'am," Jim said. "He'll come in to look around for you to make sure the prowler isn't under the bed and I'll look around outside and wait in the car."
Jim winked at his partner, then hurried off to the car without awaiting the lady's reply. But he had noticed the look of relief that crossed her face when she realized she wouldn't have to entertain both of them.
His partner entered the house to look for the prowler while the sergeant settled back to relax in the prowl car and enjoy a Camel while he awaited the results. Somehow he didn't think a prowler would be found. He was finishing his third cigarette when his partner came walking back toward the prowl car, brushing at the wrinkles along the front of his uniform.
"Did you catch the prowler?" Jim asked, as Hal crawled under the wheel to start the car in motion.
"Yeah, I got him."
"Good stuff?"
"Real good. And tight, too. That gal has good meat. She said if another prowler came, she would call and ask for me by badge number."
"Good! One strike for your side."
Patrolling a few alleys overruled the coffee idea. So when they reached the downtown business section they ran a few then cruised slowly out North Main. As they drove into the driveway of a service station to turn around, Jim noticed a car that he had been noticing all night. The only place it hadn't been was with them on the chase. But it had damn sure been tagging along everywhere else they went.
"Follow that car," he told Hal.
They fell in behind, following it for several blocks. They saw that it was a woman driving. A lone woman, at that.
"I wonder if she's after what I think she's after?" Jim asked.
"Let's stop her and find out."
"My turn, remember?"
"Yeah, your turn."
The woman was driving slow, watching them through her rear-view mirror. As soon as the light from their spotlights flashed on the rear window of her car, she instantly pulled over and parked. The sergeant walked up to her side while his partner remained seated in the prowl car.
"Looking for something, honey?" he came to the point.
"Yes, I'm looking for a policeman."
"You've found one of the best."
"So I see. I've been hoping you'd stop me. I've been trying to get you to all night."
"Is your horn broke? Why didn't you honk?"
"I was afraid I'd make you mad at me."
Brother! he thought, of all the dumb angles. Why didn't she just come out and say she wanted a little instead of beating around the bush about it.
She was very pretty, with bashful-looking brown eyes and curly rich-looking chestnut hair poked out of the red beret she was wearing. Her alluring smile excitingly displayed the cute dimples at the corners of her small enticing mouth. She appeared to be of the flirty thirties vintage.
"What do you need, honey?" he asked, getting to the point.
"My heater won't work and I'm getting cold. I was wanting some nice policeman to look at it."
Her excuse for attention made the sergeant want to laugh out loud in her face, but he smiled instead. A heater in the summer time was one for the books.
"Honey, I'm sure I can fix your heater and warm you up but I can't do it here on Main. You follow our prowl car to a better spot and I'll see what I can do."
"Okay."
She was so very happy that the sergeant had been able to figure out what she wanted to do. It did take deep thinking, however. Jim shoved his partner over and took the wheel. He drove north toward the pussy roads, noting with satisfaction that she was following very closely behind.
He turned off the pig trail they were on and parked in a small clearing surrounded by high weeds. Then he turned off the headlights. As soon as she parked behind them and turned off her lights, he laid his cap on the seat and got out, starting back to her car to fix the heater.
Opening the door of her car on the driver's side, he slid her over and crawled in beside her-this woman that was freezing to death. She took one of his eager hands and touched it to the calf of a shapely nylon-covered leg. It was warm as toast and twice as inviting.
"See how cold my legs are," she whispered, her breath coming in short passionate gasps.
"Yeah, I see," he said, bringing his hand feverishly up to her knee, up to her firm soft thigh, up to her hot little panties.
Now she was against him as his eager lips pressed hard against hers starting a fire to burn. He could feel her breasts mashing against his chest. He knew this gal had been out with cops before. She didn't have to be told the score, because her panties were coming down without any fight or resistance whatsoever. Her panties off, Jim's hand felt what the panties had been hiding. His finger was massaging as their kiss lingered then he laid her willing body back in the seat to fix her heater.
Already she was starting to warm up with just the thought that he was fixing it. That wonderful moment of delight that she had driven around all night trying to find had finally come.
She was finding again that the old old saying was true: 'When in need or distress go see your policeman as he won't let you down but merely lay you instead. A public servant in blue is truly what he is.'
Hal was half asleep when his sergeant finally crawled back into the prowl car and the charming lady drove off, contented now with her fixed heater.
"Want to smell my finger?" Jim asked, grinning like the cat that got the fish.
"Go to hell. Was it good?"
"Some of the best! Real pussy!"
"You talk like you ate it."
"Maybe I did."
"I wouldn't doubt it a bit."
"You sure think a lot of your sergeant."
"You're goddamn right," Hal said.
"And to think I taught you all you know about women."
"Yeah, teacher. Want an apple?"
"Let's go get a cup of coffee then look for a good place to hide and sleep the rest of the morning," Jim countered.
"That's a pregnant idea."
"We might as well sleep a little tonight. I have to stay up most of the day. We got to go to the court house to sign those complaints and if those bastards plead not guilty we'll have to go to court. And after lunch I have to take my kids to the circus that came to town."
"Yeah, it's a rough life, all right," Hal reflected. "That's what happens when you arrest someone. They always holler not guilty, the bastards."
"You folks going to the circus?"
"Yeah, I'd counted on it."
"Well, we'd better get our sleep tonight then," Jim said.
"Yeah, cause tomorrow night will be a tiring son-of-a-bitch."
"Here we are. Check out, then we'll go get that coffee and think of a good secluded place to sleep when we get through."
Hal reached for the mike.
Chapter Fourteen
Gene's Grill was crowded to capacity. It was doing a booming business tonight because of the throngs that were pouring in from the circus. It was a few minutes after the hour of two in the morning so the K & O cafe was closed, leaving Gene's as the only cafe open to serve the crowds of people. The two weary officers were at their usual rear booth sipping a cup of coffee.
"Goddamn, I'm glad that damn circus is breaking up," Jim said.
"You and me both. I'll bet Molly is happy that her place closes at two. She just missed this mob."
"Y'all go to the circus matinee this afternoon?" Jim asked.
"Yeah, we went. Did you?"
"Yeah. What did you think of all those circus dolls?"
"Say," Hal brightened, "those were nice, especially the sideshow ones and that black headed one on the flying trapeze. I'd like to have some of that, what about you?"
"I don't know. I hear that most of those circus people haven't any morals at all, that they'll sleep with anything. I'd be scared of getting a dose."
"Yeah, I suppose so," Hal agreed. "I imagine they're loaded. Wonder what causes morals to be so low among circus people?"
"I don't know, they're just that way."
"You get any sleep at all today?"
"Not too much. Did you?"
"Not a hell of a lot. Just cat winks."
They finished their coffee and getting up to leave, they were surprised to see Tresa coming toward them smiling.
"How are you boys tonight?" she asked.
"Fine," Hal answered.
"After seeing you I couldn't feel better," Jim said.
"Why, thank you, sergeant. I'm glad I ran into you fellas. Were you just leaving?"
"Yes, we were, but it can wait," Jim answered.
"Good. Let me sit down a minute."
She slid into the booth and Jim sat down next to her with Hal sitting across from them.
"I want to show my appreciation for what you boys did for me the other night," Tresa said. "That drunk was giving me a bad time."
Both boys about jumped out of their uniforms. There was only one way they could think of that a woman like Tresa could show her appreciation.
She reached for her handbag and produced two tickets giving one to each of them.
"I'm giving a private party two weeks from tonight that's going to be one of the best I've had yet. I'd like you two to have these tickets, as my guests. They entitle you to have everything on the house. It's all free, drinks included."
The officers thanked her and pocketed the tickets feeling a little disappointed.
"What about the girls?" Jim asked at length.
Tresa burst out laughing. "Why, sergeant, I haven't got any girls working at my place."
"Bull," he said.
She laughed again: "Is that what you boys are really wanting?"
"Well, it would be nice, and even better with you," Jim said, his partner nodding in agreement.
"Sergeant, how you flatter. No, I'm sorry, but the girls or any gambling in the underground will have to be out of your own pockets."
"Well, we can't afford that part of it. But we'll be sure to be there for the rest of the party," he assured her, and his partner grunted agreement.
"Good. I'll expect you both."
They rose to leave.
"Wait a minute," she called; and they hesitated. "Do you boys know where I live?"
"Yes," Jim said, as Tresa glanced about the immediate area to see if anyone was listening to the conversation.
"Could you come by my place in an hour?"
"Yeah, unless we get a call."
"I'm quite thankful for what you boys did for me about that drunk in my place and I know how you must feel about tickets alone. As you must know, I come quite expensive, but if you will come by my house in an hour I'll give you something else, free, to go along with those tickets. But I'll want it kept on the QT. Okay?"
"Okay. We'll be there with bells on and you needn't worry about a thing. QT it'll be."
"Fine. In an hour then."
Both officers left the cafe feeling as if they were in the land of enchantment and returned to their patrol car to while away an hour patrolling. The inviting promise rang in their ears as they checked back in service and drove north on Main.
The throngs of people from the circus were starting to thin out now, and the familiar calm was once again engulfing the town. At the start of the shift, the sergeant, on orders from the Chief, had sent all three cars to the circus grounds to direct traffic. This had left only his own unit plus Schell's uptown to take care of any trouble, and there had been no trouble.
Tonight was going to be another slow one for the already tired officers. So Tresa's promise was a delightful lift for them, considering the hectic day preceding their coming on shift.
They both had to go to the court house during the day to sign complaints against the teenagers of the night before, but were lucky as they had pleaded guilty to the charges. The boys were assessed a fine of fifty dollars each with ten days in jail, and the girls were sentenced to ten days each without a fine imposed. Thus they didn't have to sit through court proceedings, so they managed to catch a few winks before their wives woke them up in time to attend the circus.
"Car 105 to headquarters," Jim spoke into the mike.
"Go ahead, car 105."
"Have the other cars checked back into their regular beats?"
"10:04, they left the circus grounds about ten minutes ago."
"10:04." He replaced the mike.
"10:04 car 105, 3:05 AM ... (call letters)."
Turning to Hal he asked: "You ever had any hundred dollar stuff before?"
"No, neither free or otherwise."
"Me neither."
"Goddamn we're lucky. I can't wait until we get there."
"You know where her house is, don't you?"
"Yeah."
"Then drive that direction. It's about that time."
"Hot dog," Hal answered.
Both officers were highly elated with the enchanting thoughts of the pending rendezvous as they drove into the driveway of the beautiful ranch-type house on the outskirts of Dobbsville.
The sergeant reached for the mike again.
"105 will be 10:07 (out of service for a while)."
"10:04 car 105, 3:16 AM ... (call letters)."
"Let's go, ole' buddy," Jim said.
"Right behind you."
Hal turned off the motor and pocketed the keys. Together they walked up the walk to the front porch. They noticed a dim light in the living room. They rang the door chimes.
"Come in," the voice was faint and musically far away.
Hastily they stepped into a spacious living room, closing the door after them.
"Who is it?"
"It's us," Jim answered the voice.
"Oh, my policemen friends. Good, I was hoping it would be you. I'm in the back bedroom, down the hall to your right. One at a time if you don't mind. So choose up sides."
The officers flipped a coin with the sergeant winning first pie. Hal dropped onto a comfortable sofa to wait his turn. He smiled as he watched Jim practically run down the hall to get his share.
He stepped into an elegant bedroom glancing around for Tresa. He saw a partially drawn green curtain extending from the ceiling. Behind it was a bed.
"You in here?" he asked, feeling a little foolish for appearing so dumb in a situation like this.
She laughed, her musical voice coming from behind the curtain.
"Oh yes, I'm here. I'm going to give you boys the full treatment like I would at the club. But tonight it's on the house and I'm going to enjoy myself. Take off your clothes, big boy, all of them."
Her voice was low with a sultry musical twang. The blood pounded in Jim's temples as he hastily peeled off his clothes, his hands trembling with excitement.
"Are you ready, sweet daddy?"
"Y-Y-Yes."
The green curtain pulled back. She was lying on the bed completely nude; her thin lush lips smiling and her eager body waiting.
"Come take me, Jim." Her voice was only a whisper now.
His voice left him as he viewed the beautiful hundred dollar a night body.
His breath was irregular and his body shook with thrills as he crawled into bed with the beautiful prostitute. He heard her gasp of wonderment at the surprise she had found. Then her eager lips pressed to his while their bodies locked together in a first embrace. She pulled the green cord by the head of the bed, sealing them off in their own private fantasy land ...
Hal was finishing his fifth cigarette when Jim came swaggering back into the living room.
"You're next," he gestured. "Goddamn! what a woman!"
Jim sprawled out on the sofa; his partner rushed eagerly down the hall ...
Two hours later they were patrolling the north end of town still enthralled with the thoughts of those enrapturing moments spent at Tresa's. The drinks she had prepared afterwards still lingered in their tastes, soaring the spirits of their passion drained bodies.
"Damn, if a man had the money to spend, she's well worth every goddamn dime," Jim said at length.
"You ain't just a-kidding. Damn, what a woman."
"God, I'm sore all over."
"You and me both. I'm stiff as a board."
"Tresa took out my stiffness," Jim teased.
"You're a wise one. Let's go get some coffee."
"Let's go. I'm too dead to patrol anymore this morning."
Chapter Fifteen
Jim left the K & O cafe walking briskly to prowl car 105. Putting it in motion he drove away to begin the usual midnight cruise of the now dismal deserted streets.
He reached for the mike on the dash:
"Car 105 is 10:08 (in service)."
"10:04 car 105, 12:30 AM ... (call letters)."
Replacing the mike he relaxed with his now highly elated thoughts. He was facing another lonely Sunday night by himself, but wished he could be home in bed like his partner. It was Hal's night off.
But he was happy. He was on top of the world. Molly had just given him some exceedingly good news. She wasn't pregnant. Molly had finally started her anxiously awaited period, eliminating all illusions of pregnancy. Not only that, her husband was leaving next week for a two month stay in Mexico on another construction job.
To top it all, he had received a letter tonight when he had reported for duty. Much to his delight, it was from Janet, and good news. She was expecting to be home in two weeks. She added cream to the sugar by saying that both her husband and Flora's had been informed by the cookie plant to report to work on the midnight shift. Great. This left the girls free at night to entertain him and Hal.
There was only one fly in tonight's ointment of happiness. Before leaving the station, he had called Violet at the office of the Globe-Enterprise, finding out much to his dismay that Sam Dilly had her in the middle of a big story for the social page. So he was out of luck with her tonight. He had made a date with her for tomorrow night, which would be his night off. Now all he had to do was think up a good plausible excuse to get out of the house tomorrow night without arousing Alice's suspicions. That would be easy. Yep. Things were really looking up. Life was good.
His thoughts roamed with ecstasy in the heady breeze of the summer night. As he patrolled the quiet streets of Dobbsville, he considered himself to be very lucky, almost untouchable.
Tonight would be a night without any strange, it appeared on the surface. But it would be only one night in a million, as everything was shaping up now. He had come out top-dog-at-the-trough with more women than he could take care of.
He had this rat race by the tail now and on a downhill pull. All the women in the world along with all the job security a town could afford, plus a damn good partner to ride with on these lonely dismal nights, plus a good average home with two wonderful kids and a trusting loving wife that believed in him, plus a fair old station wagon-not to mention his new magnum of which he was so proud. Just what in the hell more could a police sergeant want.
All he had to do now was make lieutenant, because he had everything else worth having. But he also had a conscience, which was slowly beginning to pick at him. He smiled as the idea hit him and turned the prowl car south, banishing all other thoughts. He spoke his thoughts aloud as if talking to the steering wheel:
"Goddamn! why didn't I think of it sooner. I have a license to do it to Alice, and she's as beautiful as any of them. I've been putting her off too much here lately, and she never complains. I'll just go home and crawl into bed with her. That'll surprise the hell out of her and give her a big thrill."
Alice was the best in the world, he thought, as he drove rapidly toward his home in Pilots Point. So naturally she needed certain attentions, which lately had been denied her. But he would fix that tonight, and then everything would be just as it should be-hunki-dori.
It was a wonderful dream, and he marveled at why he hadn't thought of it before this. The kids would be asleep. And he and Alice could be all alone in their own private little world.
Excitement was pushing him as he doused the headlights and turned noiselessly into his driveway. He turned off the motor. He decided to wait until after the wonderful surprise then use the phone by the bed and call the station letting them know where he would be for a few hours.
Pocketing the keys to the cruiser he walked quietly toward the dark house and entered through the kitchen, trying his best to be as quiet as a mouse. Closing the door soundlessly he removed his Sam Browne belt and laid them on the new dinette table Alice had bought. His pounding heartfelt a size larger as he removed his shoes and crept quietly down the hall toward the bedroom.
He would slip into the bedroom then hurriedly undress and crawl into bed with the sleeping Alice. What a startling surprise it would be and he would just love the hell out of her, making up to her for the last few weeks of denial. What a wonderful surprise this was going to be for Alice, he thought. Quietly he approached the bedroom door.
Pausing, he listened a moment then silently opened the door a crack. A soft ruffle of clean sheets and the faint squeak of the bed springs carried to his listening ears. Excitement pounded wildly in his temples as he thought of crawling into bed with her and kissing away the nightmare she seemed to be having.
He was starting to open the door slowly to slip on into the room. But with the door almost open he checked himself. The small squeaking of the bed springs had stopped-to be followed by low intimate voices:
"Oh Hal, my darling, I love it so. You do it just the way I like, it best."
"The best for the best, Alice, honey."
"Honey, I wish Jim could do it like you."
"I'm glad he can't. That way I have all the pleasure."
"Hal, you're awfully sweet to me. Jim's too wrapped up in other women to notice me anymore."
"I feel sorry for you, baby. It's a shame you have to live with a guy like that."
"Well, I have the kids to think of."
"Yeah, I suppose so."
"As long as you can slip over and see me, what's the difference?"
"None. He's not getting wise to us, is he?"
"No, he lives in another world. He doesn't know I exist."
"He'd die if he knew I slept with you on my nights off-and came over here every time he goes somewhere."
"Well, you stop worrying. He doesn't suspect a thing."
"I sure hope not. This is too good of a thing to have blow up in our faces."
"It won't blow up. He didn't suspect anything the day I met you out of town and we stayed in that motel, did he? I simply left him a note that I was going shopping, and that took care of it. He doesn't think about me at all. He was thinking about some other woman that day just as sure as the world. Now stop your worrying about my bastard of a husband, and love me!"
"Okay, baby. Do you really like me?"
"I wouldn't be letting you do what you're doing if I didn't."
"If I were Jim, I'd stay home with you every minute I could."
"Would you think up as many lies to fool me as he does?"
"I wouldn't have to. You'd be all I'd want in the world."
"Do you mean that, darling?"
"With all my heart."
"I think you're sweet."
"I love you, baby."
"Honey, I'm getting warm again. Let's do it some more then we'll go to sleep in each other's arms."
"Okay, just for you."
"Oh Hal. Ooooooh. God it feels wonderful."
"Like it, honey?"
"Oh yes, do it harder. Harder. Oooooooh, darling."
"I love you."
"Oh, I love you to. It feels so very good. Don't stop."
"Honey, you're the most, and you can have all of me."
"Give it to me. Don't stop doing it. I like it so."
"Kiss me, baby."
The mattress started shaking violently as the squeak of the springs, mingled with groans of satisfaction, engulfed the interior in a serenade of the lovers call.
Their heavy breathing was like a husky north wind blowing. And the minutes which meant nothing to the enthralled couple on the bed were like an eternal torture to the lonely man in the hall.
Jim's body was a shell devoid of the will for life. His drained emotional system seemed to be suspended in a deep, dark, bottomless pit, deprived of animation. He felt like an iceberg on a sea of the lost, drifting aimlessly toward a destination of despair.
He was without words or the will to say them if he had them. He had returned to his home at a moment he was not wanted or needed. Another was in his place. He had come home from a bright world of delectable's to enter a dark world of the living dead, where he would have to walk alone.
All at once he was too heavy for his feet. He felt a numbness creep over his body, followed by a sudden wave of sickness. He leaned his weight against the wall and feebly whispered to the night:
"What in the world have I ever done to deserve this?"
