The Complete Casebook of Cardigan, Volume 2: 1933 Read online

  Bounds’ voice shook. “You said you’d give me a break!”

  “I’d give any rat a break!” He reached up and ripped one of the guns from the little man’s hand. “You’ll take this rod, Bounds, and go out. You’ll both go out. I can’t turn him over to the cops without telling the whole story. And I can’t afford to tell the whole story. I said, Bounds, I’d get you off this particular spot. Well, I am. Beyond that, look out for yourself. Both you guys, put your guns in your pockets. Walk downstairs with me.”

  They left the room and marched down the stairs and Cardigan said: “There’s no choice between you. You’re both rats.” They reached the street and Cardigan said: “Bounds, start west. You get a start of a block. Get walking.”

  Bounds strode off, and Cardigan kept his gun trained on the little man, and he said: “My advice would be to forget it, for he’ll forget it. But I’m no judge, and I’m no law. You’re dumb and he’s smart, but underneath it all you’re both rats and a menace to society. Take my advice or leave it. O.K., you can go now.”

  He stood and watched both men disappear in the darkness, and then he headed east. In his pocket was the check, and that was settled—Hardesty was in the clear. But he was not happy, he did not gloat. He kept walking eastward, and soon the bleat and blare of Midtown enveloped him, the lights twinkled, crowds pushed and shoved.

  He went into a speakeasy and took up a diet of Scotch, feeling that it would be better to be tight and in the dumps than merely in the dumps.

  After a while a couple of men strode in, ordering drinks, and one said: “I hear two guys just shot it out over on Eleventh Avenue. Emptied their guns. Put out each other’s lights.”

  Cardigan mused aloud: “Well, O’Mara missed the dessert.”

  “Huh?” said the bartender.

  “Another Scotch.”

  Table of Contents

  The Complete Casebook of Cardigan, Volume 2: 1933

  Copyright Information

  The Murder Cure

  Me—Cardigan

  Doorway to Danger

  Heir to Murder

  Dead Man’s Folly

  Murder Won’t Wait

  Chains of Darkness

  Scrambled Murder

  Death After Murder

  Murder & Co.

  Murder À La Carte