Chapter 11
Margo was in the kitchen when Conway entered the apartment. Much to his surprise she smiled when she saw him. "You were longer than I expected," she said.
"I stopped by Clancy's for a drink," he explained.
"Did you get your girl friend home all right?" There was no trace of cynicism in the remark.
Conway didn't get it. He'd expected Margo to be broiling and tossing things all over the place. Her calmness aggravated him a little. She was spoiling the fun of what he was going to tell her. "Yeah," he agreed. "She's okay." He fixed himself a drink, swallowing it, then poured another.
Margo went to the window and pulled the blind, then turned back to face him. "This is our first evening together since you arrived home," she announced.
Conway studied the woman, trying to make some sense from her. As usual she was underdressed. The skirt was tissue paper thin, outlining the panties beneath. Her breasts had no protection other than the white sweater. The nipples were protruding outlines of darkness beneath the cloth. "Yeah," he agreed. "I guess it is." He took another drink, working up his courage.
Margo came a step closer, "I hope that you didn't wear yourself out," she said slowly. "I expect to be taken care of tonight." She swept the sweater back off her breasts and used both hands to lift one of the fullnesses toward him. "We missed you, Steve," she said softly.
Her display made Conway sick. He looked at the breast. It didn't hold a candle beside one of Teddy's. Margo's had been overused.
Margo wasn't finished. "How many times did you do it with her, Steve?" she asked. "Twice? Three times? Or did you go for over an hour like you did with me that first time in the car? That drives a woman crazy. It drove me crazy. After that I couldn't get enough of you." She took a deep breath and continued. "Have you shown her your shower trick yet? I've never known such a talented man with his body as you are, Steve. You've got so much to teach a girl. This Teddy has a great deal to learn."
"Lay off," Conway growled.
Margo's tone had turned sugar-sweet. "Why, Steve? Don't you like to be complimented? I'm just showing you my appreciation for your making me what I am today. I'm a successful hooker, and I owe it all to you. I owe this apartment to you. I owe all the money I have in the bank to you. Why shouldn't I tell you that I'm thankful?"
Conway knew that he was being needled. Just why, he couldn't figure out-unless this was her way of getting back at him. An old kids' quotation popped into his head: 'Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.' "If you're mad at me, why the hell don't you just throw something?" Conway spat.
Margo shook her head. "But I'm not angry, Steve," she protested. "I'm not in the least upset. I've had my fun these past two days. You've had yours. We'll just let it go at that and climb into bed together."
Her blatant attitude toward sex sickened him. Conway glanced at his watch. It was almost eight-thirty. He had to make his move soon. The storage house was open until nine. He had that much time to pick up the money and get over to meet Teddy. There was no use stalling any longer. He took one last, fast drink, hoping it was enough to give him the courage he needed.
At the same time Conway wondered just why he did need to be so damned brave. He wasn't married to Margo. He was privileged to walk out on her any damn time he chose.
Well, he chose this moment. "Don't get yourself all heated up," he said. "We aren't going to bed, not now or any time in the future."
If he'd expected this statement to shake her up he was wrong. She just kept looking at him with those big cow eyes.
"We're through, Margo," Conway continued hastily, lest he lose his nerve. "You're a beat-up broad who's washed out. "I'm getting myself some fresh material."
"Like your precious Teddy?" There was still no inflection in her voice that he could catch. She might as well have been announcing that dinner was ready.
"Yeah," he growled, more angry at her because she had no reaction. In his mind he'd pictured this as fun, his telling her off. So far, nothing.
Margo lit a cigarette and took a deep breath. "I'm not stopping you, Steve," she said slowly. "If you want this girl you're perfectly welcome to her. Lord knows I have no hold on you."
Now that statement Conway hadn't expected at all. The woman was infuriating him. He felt like slapping her sassy face. He hesitated a moment longer, then bolted for the door. He had one hand on the knob when Margo spoke again from behind him.
"Perhaps you'd better take this Teddy her handbag," she said evenly. "She left it behind today in her rush to get out of here."
Conway retraced his steps and grabbed the purse Margo was dangling from her fingertips.
"You're a fool, Steve," Margo suddenly snapped angrily. "You're a damned, sex-happy, blind, stupid fool."
Conway stopped, looking up into her face in surprise. Her eyes were flashing.
"What made you think that insurance investigator would send out a man to follow you?" she continued hotly. "He knew your weakness. Suppose he sent a young girl to do the job for him."
The implication of her statement staggered Conway. It was something he'd never thought of before.
Margo moved closer to him. "Suppose you were baited. What if it was intended that you rape that girl."
Conway's mouth was suddenly dry.
But Margo didn't quit. She had more to say. "You were supposed to get the money tonight, weren't you?"
"How ... how did you know?"
The woman's face was victorious. "Figure it out for yourself." She pointed at the purse still in his hand. "Why don't you open it up? There's a big surprise in there."
Conway stared at the bag as if it were about to bite him. Finally, stirred to action, he dumped the contents on the coffee table. There was the usual junk ... except for one small, white business card. His hands shook as he picked it up and read the printing. AMALGA MATED INSURANCE COMPANY. HARRY SMITH. INVESTIGATOR
Conway crumpled the card into a ball and threw it violently onto the floor. "That little minx," he spat. The pieces had fallen together, and everything was so simple. That louse Smith had warned him he'd get the money. And he hadn't sent a man. He'd sicced Teddy onto him. She was following him that night by the lake. And like a damned fool he'd raped her. Then, to make matters worse, he'd looked her up and walked right into her trap. No wonder she'd been so anxious for him to give the money back to the police. She was probably in for a nice, fat cut.
"You still meeting your little angel tonight?" Marge asked, triumph in her voice.
Conway stalked toward the door in a rage. "You're damned right I am," he spat. "I've got a few things to say to that tramp."
Margo followed him and put her arms about his shoulders, kissing him generously. "I'll be waiting for you when you get back," she smiled. "The bed will be waiting."
Conway burst from the apartment. He was going to knock that babe's teeth in for pulling a stunt like this.
By the time Conway reached their meeting place he'd calmed somewhat. However he still smoldered with anger at having been made such a patsy. This dame had to be taught a lesson.
He parked the car in the planetarium parking lot. As far as he could see there was no one around. The sound of the wind through the trees covered any noise of the lake beating on the breakwater.
Conway left the convertible and walked across the grass to the point where he'd laid her down after pulling her from the water. Standing on that spot he felt a trifle sad. Things might have worked out between himself and the girl. He knew now that he'd felt more strongly toward her than any other woman he'd ever met.
Conway smashed a clenched fist into his open hand in frustration. The little vixen. Why did she have to pull a stunt like this? Why?
He settled down to wait for her, lighting a cigarette and pondering why the world had been so cruel to him.
Fifteen minutes later a car turned onto the side road leading into the park. It's lights swept over Conway, blinding him for a moment.
The machine stopped a short distance away and someone got out. It roared off, leaving the quiet behind.
"Steve?" a voice called out. It was Teddy.
Conway controlled the coldness of his anger. "Over here," he called out.
The young girl approached, carrying a suitcase. She set it down and ran the rest of the way into his arms. She seemed to be shivering. "Oh, darling," she sobbed. "I was so afraid that you were making fun of me and wouldn't be here." She kissed him fervently.
Conway had to admit that the girl was putting on a damned good act for his benefit. But if he had any doubts concerning her intentions toward him her next question dispeled them.
"Did you bring the money?"
"Yeah," Conway grunted. "I did."
"Where is it?"
"In the car," he lied.
Teddy squeezed his arm against one lush breast. "Then let's go. This place frightens me." She frowned, adding, "I will have to stop and make a phone call. Mother wasn't home. I'd like to tell her good-bye."
So that's how she intended letting Smith know where they were leaving from, Conway reflected. It also told him that the chances were good they weren't being watched. That was just fine. He needed time for what he had in mind.
Teddy continued to tug at his arm, but he ignored her insistence. "There's no hurry," Conway said slowly. "Our plane doesn't leave until midnight." He put one arm about her and drew the girl against him. Despite the anger he felt for her, she was exciting warm and soft. As he put a hand on her breast he noticed that she was wearing the same sweater she'd worn the night of the rape. Somehow it seemed appropriate.
"I want you," he said softly, forcing his tongue between her teeth.
"Now?"
Conway nodded. What the hell! He'd get one last ride out of the dame. This would be one she'd never forget. When she seemed on the verge of protesting he ran his hand down between them and fondled her through the dress. She went limp in his arms.
"I can't argue when you touch me like that," she whispered.
Conway guided her away from the road until they were in a clump of bushes.
"Get my suitcase," she said softly. "Someone might see it."
When he returned with the bag she'd already removed her sweater and skirt. She stood before him, radiant in the remaining bra and half slip. Conway sucked in his breath. He'd almost forgotten how beautiful she was. He again damned her for what she'd done to him.
"It seems even more wicked undressing out here in public like this," she smiled.
"You still have clothes on," Conway reminded her.
"Do I?" Teddy swept the bra away and her big breasts bobbled into view. Next went the slip.
Conway stared at the stockings. They were black and looked like pure sin against the color of her flesh. Garter straps snaked up her thighs and ran beneath the transparent panties to the belt about her waist. "You really dressed formal," Conway growled.
"A lady always wears stockings when she travels," Teddy explained.
Conway pulled her to him and kissed her savagely, putting some of his anger into the contact. At the same time he grasped a breast and held it tightly.
Teddy pulled away. "Not so rough," she protested. "That hurt."
It was only the beginning, Conway thought beneath his breath. He felt his anger getting away from him."
Teddy saw the expression on his face. "Is something wrong?"
"Yeah," Conway growled. "There sure as hell is."
The young girl was suddenly concerned. "What?"
Conway didn't become angry often. But when he did the symptoms were always the same. Now he felt them. His head was like a stuffed balloon, and he could feel the heat in his face. "You should know," he snapped.
Teddy stepped away from him. "No," she said. "I don't understand. If I've done something wrong, tell me."
Conway slapped her. That helped him let off steam. The blow was loud in the quiet of the night. It threw Teddy backward. "You little tramp," he exploded, losing all control. "How in the hell did you expect to get away with it?"
Teddy was stunned. She stood immobile, staring at him, not recognizing the twisted face in front of her.
And there was fear in the expression on her face now. Something she'd seen in his eyes had terrorized her. "Please, Steve," she pleaded. "Tell me what this is all about."
"You let me rape you that night," he spat. "You knew it was me all the time."
At the words, Teddy's face went white as a sheet. She screamed, but the sound was lost in the vastness of the park.
Conway started after her as she ran, a half-naked nymph bursting from the bushes and scampering over the lawn, ignoring the dew on the grass, ignoring everything but the madman at her heels.
Teddy never had a chance. Before she'd gone fifty feet Conway caught her and threw her to the ground. She screamed again and again. Nothing did any good.
Conway vented his full fury on the girl. He stripped her of her remaining clothing, tearing the panties and the stockings to shreds and tossing them to the wind. Then he did the only thing left to do. He pinned the kicking figure down with a knee and ravaged her. He twisted her breasts until her cries became thunder in his ears.
More. Conway was getting his revenge. Steeped in sweat he attacked the youthful body with his fingers and his teeth and did things to her no sane man would do. He vanquished her, mauled her until no one would have wanted to touch her.
Then and only then did he stagger to his feet and attempt to catch his breath. He stared in fury down at the huddled clump of flesh sobbing pitifully at his feet. It would be a long time before she'd attempt to lure another sucker into her trap.
Satisfied, Conway made his way to the car. He'd done a good evening's work.