Chapter 8

I made an unusual resolution for myself-young, vital and woman-lover that I was. I decided to stay away from fucking for a while-maybe even as long as three days ... Even for a prick-pusher like me, all of this screwing between Faye in the afternoons, Gretchen in the evenings, was running my balls down. I really needed a rest to charge up-and more important, for a clear mind. There were a host of problems bugging me that I had to think through. What was the actual scoop between Vince and Gretchen? That was one I had to ferret out. out.

What was the real trouble between my grandfather and Conrad Hammond? Who was the mysterious woman over whom they had once fought ... and why? Or was the woman a figment of someone's imagination. Namely, Faye's.

How about that diary that Conrad Hammond kept locked up in his private safe? Would it bring forth a few answers to some burning questions?

If Faye Baker was telling the truth, why was Conrad Hammond paying off Vince Bodine? Why was Mr. Hammond sending Faye to Vince with that envelope, apparently stuffed with cash, once a month?

Another troubling question was that of Babbs. Why in the devil did she take the notion to name her kid after me? Could it have been as she explained, that she merely liked my name ... and respected it? Or was there more to it than this? Was it possible that the kid actually belonged to me? It was a wild thought but it was far from impossible.

Toward the end of the week, Babbs telephoned me at the office. She told me she had something for me.

"What is it?" I asked.

"A woman answered my ring, giving the name of the company. That means your calls go through a switchboard operator, doesn't it, Phil?"

I hesitated, quickly seeing her point. And Lenore, the thistlebrained operator, had been known to listen in.

"Yes, they do," I admitted.

"Then you had better drop by at my place the first chance you have. It's pretty confidential information. Know what I mean?"

"Yes ... if it's what I think it is ... what I hope it is."

She laughed. "You're on the right track."

"Okay, good. See you as soon as I can possibly get away."

As I hung up, I smiled. I knew she had the combination to the safe. Marvelling, I shook my head. That little blonde cocksucker was a fast worker, all right. I sure as hell had to hand her that.

I sat staring at the wall, thinking about the diary. I felt an overwhelming eagerness to get my hands on it, to read every word on every page. I couldn't quite figure out why it seemed so important to me. It just did.

Just then, Faye came into the office. I couldn't refrain from asking about her husband.

"You told me your old man's name was Pete," I said. "Does he knock around with Vince Bodine?"

"Oh, yes. Vince and Pete have been good friends for a long time." Faye flashed me a green-eyed smile and ran her hand through her auburn hair. "Why? Have you somehow managed to meet my husband Pete?"

I grimaced, remembering the hammerlock. "Afraid so."

"You don't seem very happy about the event."

"Can't say that I am."

Faye was curious. "Pete cause you some trouble?"

"You might say that. In a manner of speaking, he gave me quite a pain in the neck."

She laughed. "Oh? Well, Pete can be a pain in the neck, all right. Where did you meet him?"

I ignored the question, tossing in one of my own. "Is your husband so fond of Vince that he allows him to shack up with you in motel rooms?"

Faye didn't like this remark. Her pretty face darkened.

"Don't be asinine," she snapped. "Pete has no idea that I've ever fucked for Vince. Or any other man for that matter, and I do hope you're not considering enlightening him on the subject. You don't know Pete. He would be furious enough to kill somebody if he learned the truth."

I smiled sardonically. "Maybe even you?"

"That's right. Maybe even me."

"I would think you'd be afraid to take chances then," I said.

She giggled, shaking her head.

"Taking chances is part of the excitement that comes with strange cock!" she said.

"You're nuts, Faye. You're off your rocker."

"Of course I am. But they say that you have to be a little crazy if you expect to have fun in life and life can be awfully boring if there's never even a little danger mixed up in it somewhere. Wouldn't you agree, Phil?"

She had a point. I had to smile.

"To each his own," I said. "Personally, I like to find my own hump-enjoyment without the suspence of the possibility of a gun about to blast off in my ear."

Faye sniffed and straightened out some papers.

"Don't you believe in giving in to impulses?" Faye asked.

I knew already what her smile and that certain glint in her eye meant. She began to swivel those curvy thighs in her short, tight skirt, my way. Even though old rough-and-ready was throbbing away in my trousers with a growing hard-on, I leapt up. She wasn't going to rape me with that swivelling ass of hers!

"Faye, I've made a resolution!" I proclaimed.

She cornered me at the door. As her hips ground lewdly against me, one hand speedily unzipped me and fondled my helpless, erecting cock.

"Did I ever tell you I'm pretty good at it standing up?" Faye asked innocendy.

There went the resolution.