Chapter 12
I moved above her then, clasping her compact little hips. We wound together. Uttering a startled cry, she clung to me convulsively, digging her nails across my back. We moved together, swaying with the frenzy of our excitement.
"Oh, Hank," she cried. "I love it-"
I tightened my grip around her waist and lifted her up to me. I saw her head wallowing on the pillow, tossing from side to. side, her eyes wandering aimlessly. Her mouth was open, gasping. Then I felt her shudder.
An electric spark danced along my spine. I felt myself lifting up, tilting, floating in space without support. We soared up to the summit together, while I squeezed my arms around her and she thrust wildly against me ... no complaints.
I had intended to dump Billie in Texas, but by the time we got there I had changed my mind. She was beginning to grow on me in a lot of ways. I'm always better tied up with a female. It just seems more natural than traveling alone. And besides, she could still be useful to me in providing a front.
I'd raised a mustache, which I kept bleached as white as my hair. Maybe Duke wouldn't recognize me for the disguise, but he'd look even less intently at me if he found me with a woman. I didn't expect to come face to face with him, of course. But accidents do happen.
I took my time driving across Texas and Arkansas on my way to Tennessee. I wanted the arm to be well healed by the time I had the showdown with Duke.
We spent a pleasant week's vacation first at one spot then another. It was almost like a honeymoon. Billie was the kind of gal who grew on you with age.
There's a town called Fairview, just a few miles from Nashville. I put Billie in a motel there and paid the tab for a week in advance. I'd decided to keep her out of it after all. There was money involved, and the memory of Felicia's double-cross was still fresh in my mind--
With Billie stashed away in the motel, I drove on in to Nashville. My first stop was a bar at the edge of town. I ordered a bourbon and water and carried it back to the phone booth in the corner.
There was a string of twenty "Bevins' listed in the phone book. I didn't expect Duke to have a phone already, but I thought I might be able to turn something up. I had to start looking for him somewhere.
I had five dimes in my pocket. When I had gone through them, I went up to the bar and got a dollar's worth. The first ten numbers I called, nobody had heard of Duke. On the eleventh I got a different reaction.
"Let me speak to Duke," I said.
"He ain't here. Who is this?"
I leaned forward and looked at the number I had called. Bevin's Trucking Company. Of course. Duke had been a truck driver as well as a bulldozer operator. So some of his relatives owned a truck line.
"When will he be in?"
"I ain't expecting him."
"Tell me where I can find him."
"Who is this?"
"A friend."
"Give me a name", said the voice gruffly. I picked a name out of the air. "Pete Stowell."
The man at the other end of the line grunted. He thought for a moment before he spoke.
"I'll tell Duke you called."
"Tell me where I can find him," I insisted.
"I don't figure it's any of your business, buddy," said the gruff voice. "I'll tell Duke. If he wants to talk to you, he'll get in touch."
"I'm just passing through town, and I wanted to see Duke," I said, trying to sound reasonable. "He won't know where to get in touch. If you'll just tell me how to reach him."
"How come you know Duke?" the man asked suspiciously.
"I worked with him building a dam in Central America. He'd be glad to see me."
"Give me a phone number."
It was useless to argue. I gave him the number of the pay phone I was calling from, though I didn't expect to be there when Duke called.
"I'll give him the message," the man said. "What did you say the name was?"
I had to think for a second what name I'd given.
"Pete Stowell"
"I got it-"
The man hung up.
I sat for a minute chewing my lip. Then I slid the rest of the dimes into my palm and shoved them in my pocket. I took out a ballpoint and wrote down the address of Bevin's Trucking Company. It was on West Charlotte Avenue.
I finished the drink and put the empty glass on the bar on my way out. Just for assurance, I reached down and felt the bulge of the automatic in my coat pocket.
I drove on a couple of blocks and stopped at a service station to pick up a road map. Charlotte Avenue was easy to find. It ran right through the center of the city. I cruised along until I saw the trucking company. A big empty yard surrounded by a wire fence. There were a couple of trailers in the back, and a block office at the front gate beside the sidewalk.
Across the street was a restaurant with a counter that curved around by the front door. I took the front seat, where I could watch the office. Don't ask me what I was doing there. I was just playing it by ear.
I ordered coffee and a piece of apple pie from the sleepy-eyed waitress. I was the only customer in the place. After she had served me, she leaned against the counter and watched me eat while she popped her gum.
The window of the trucking office was too dirty to see much. Now and then a big guy in a sport shirt would lean in the door and look out at traffic. He had the same kind of burly, muscle-bound build as Duke. I figured they would be brothers.
On the other side of the fence, a kid of about fourteen was working on a bicycle. He had it turned upside down, propped on the seat and handlebars, and he was oiling the wheels.
After a while, the man called him into the office. The kid came across the street, dodging cars. He came right into the restaurant.
"Two cigars," he said, laying a quarter on the counter.
"White Owls?" asked the waitress absently as she picked them out of the box. I motioned to the boy, smiling. "You must be Duke Bevin's brother."
"No sir, he's my uncle"
"You favor him quite a bit."
"Yes sir, that's what they say"
"Maybe you know how I can get in touch with Duke. I'm just in town for a few hours, but I'd like to look him up for old times-"
"Did you know him in the army?"
"No. We worked together in Central America. Building a dam. I suppose he's told you about it."
The kid grinned. He was tall and gangly now, but give him a few years and he would be as beefy as Duke himself. He wasn't like Duke in one way. He was kind of shy.
"Yes, sir. Uncle Duke told me all about Central America. He brought me a hat back from Mexico. You oughta see it. A great big sombrero."
"I don't have much time to see him, but if you could tell me where to locate him "
"Gee, I don't know," the kid said. "Unless you go to the Embers Bar. He's got a girl friend that works there."
"The Embers? Thanks, kid."
"Don't mention it. I hope you find him."
"I do too, kid."
I watched the kid carry the cigars across the street, then I checked the phone book. The Embers Lounge was on West End Avenue.
The place was dark inside. So dark I had to stop for a minute to adjust my eyes after stepping out of the light of day. There were some small red and amber lights burning from a couple of chandeliers. A low murmur of music drifted from hidden speakers around the walls.
The place had class. Duke was traveling in a new league, since he'd come into all the money. I didn't like the idea that it was my money he was spending.
When I located the bar, I sat down on one of the plush stools. The bartender drifted up. He wore a neat white coat and a red sash wrapped around his waist. I ordered bourbon on the rocks.
The bartender mixed the drink and made change for the twenty I laid on the bar.
"Seen Duke Bevins today?" I asked casually.
"I don't think I know him-"
I slid a five dollar bill across to him. The bartender picked it up, examined it as though he expected it to be counterfeit, then stuck it in his pocket. It didn't seem to have changed his attitude much. He still looked at me with hard eyes and pursed his sour lips-remember him now?" I asked.
"Mr. Bevins. Yes, I know him. But he hasn't been in today."
"When do you expect him?"
"What do you want with him?"
"I thought that five gave me the privilege of asking the questions," I said curtly.
"Mr. Bevins is an important man," said the bartender. "He doesn't like people bothering him."
"He's got you in his side, hasn't he?" I muttered.
I could see Duke had been throwing money around lavishly. He'd bought the loyalty of the bartender. I decided to give up with him. Probably the answers I'd get would be wrong anyhow. I stared into the glass where the ice floated on top of the pool of amber liquid. It was good bourbon. It was the only good thing I would get in this place.
I lifted the glass and drank.
I heard the clink of ice to my left. For the first time I noticed there was a dame sitting two stools down from me. It was that dark in the place that you could be in a crowd and think you were drinking alone.
She was a brunette drinking something that looked milky in a cocktail glass. When she caught my eye, she made a point of letting me see her write something on the inside flap of a book of matches.
I caught a whiff of her perfume as she walked past me and out the door. Then I picked up the match book she had dropped into my lap.
I put a cigarette in my mouth, struck a match so I could see, and read. H you want Duke, phone this number in ten minutes ... 453-1838.
I checked the time by the clock on the wall behind the bar. Ten minutes would give me just time enough for one more drink. I jiggled the ice in the glass and slid it down the bar. This time the bartender got no tip. He wasn't earning it.
When the ten minutes were up, I walked back to the phone booth and dialed the number.
"Hello-"
Her voice dripped with honey and molasses, so soft and full of southern sweetness that it sounded like a whisper of love. It could have been just that.
"You can tell me about Duke Bevins?" I asked.
"How badly do you want to see him?"
"Badly," I said.
"For a friendly reason?"
"I just want him. It's personal."
"Will it be good or bad for Duke?"
I thought for a minute. I couldn't figure whose side she was on yet. But what the hell? I might as well take a chance. If this lead played out, I could find others.
"It won't be good," I muttered.
"Then why don't you come and have a talk with me. I'm at the Belleview Arms, just a few doors down from the bar where I saw you. Apartment 734."
"I'll be right there."
As soon as I went out the door I stood on the sidewalk and looked in both directions. The big sign which said BELLEVIEW ARMS was just a block up the street on my side. I decided to leave the car parked and walk.
There was a striped canopy over the entrance, from the curb to the front door. I walked between the two green shrubs in the planters and across the lobby. The doors of one of the self-service elevators were open. I got in and rode up to the seventh floor, then walked along the corridor until I found 734.
As soon as I pushed the buzzer, the door came open. The brunette smiled out at me.
"Come in--"
She had already peeled out of her street clothes, and she was wearing a pale blue negligee through which I could see interesting portions of bare flesh. Almost bare anyhow, except for the gauze-thin covering of cloth.
"You know where Duke Bevins is?" I asked, stepping into the plush living room.
"I could help you find him." She said it softly, shaping an oval with her lips. "If it's really that important."
"It's that important."
"I take it you don't like Duke."
"We won't go into that."
"Don't worry," she said. "I hate the bastard myself. I was married to him once. Any time I can do him harm, I'm ready to lend a hand. What is it you want with him?"
"He's got some money that belongs to me."
"I thought it might be something like that. Duke's a rat. You can't trust him an inch. But I suppose you found that out."
"The hard way," I said. "Where is he now?"
"He just got back in town. I don't know where he's living, but it shouldn't take long to find out."
"You can ask around."
"I can ask around-"
"Start asking."
"Just don't let Duke know how you found you."
"Don't worry."
She walked over to the phone, picked it up, then returned it to the hook. When she turned around to face me, I saw the rise and fall of her breasts like two swelling pillows of flesh. Her eyes were bright. She lifted a long strand of her dark hair and pushed it back from her face.
"On second thought, I'd better collect the reward first," she whispered. Then she licked her lips, leaving them wet and tempting. "You might just dash out and leave me hanging."
"I've got serious business with Duke."
"Sorry. It will have to wait." She slipped her arms around my neck and shoved with her belly. "We might as well get acquainted. I'm Fritzi. And who in the hell are you?"
"Hank."
"Hank." She laughed throatily. "Nice name. Hank.
As she kissed me, squirming with her thighs, I felt the ripple of muscle and flesh, the soft contact of her breasts mashing against my ribs. Her lashes fluttered upon my cheek. Her tongue dipped brazenly into my mouth.
Finally we came up for air, and I examined this lush little doll named Fritzi, wondering how in hell Duke had ever got her to marry him.
She had blue-black hair that was long and wavy with natural curls. She looked great with it swept back from her face. Her eyes were dark with luminous sparks. There was a look of sensual pain on her lips, which were parted slightly, displaying the rim of her teeth.
The blue gown clung tightly to her neat little frame, accenting the curves of her hips and thighs, the fullness of her breasts. The fragrance of her perfume started my head to spinning.
I clasped her around the waist and kissed her again.
Her mouth gaped open against mine. Our tongues mingled fiercely. I moved my hands along her swaying body, stroking her back, pinching her round little rump. She liked that, because she whimpered with delight.
She clawed my back and sank her teeth in my lower lip. It was kind of wild, like wrestling with a mink.
We were writhing and twisting, both of us breathing heavily, when she broke away and stared up at me with wide, dark eyes that were glazed with desire.
"Let's go beddy-bye," she whispered.
"Just what I was thinking-"
She was light when I lifted her up and carried her through the apartment. I had no trouble finding the bedroom, because I have an instinct for those things.
She had already tossed back the covers in anticipation. I put her on her feet and slid the gown over her head. Her nude body came into view suddenly, taking my breath away.
She crossed her arms, clasping her lovely white shoulders, and stood proudly while I looked at her beauty. Slowly she turned, displaying every inch of her body. She pushed her hands up through her long hair and let it fall in a black cascade around her face and neck.
It was quite a sight.
She saw me staring at her breasts, so she cradled them on her hands and offered them to me like twin globes of fruit. They were full, heavy breasts with big pink circles and hard little nipples in the center.
"Don't you want to kiss them?" she whispered. What's a guy to do?
I leaned down, and her hands went around my head. I felt them throbbing against my open mouth as I worked my tongue. I teased the nipples with lips and tongue until she became a squirming bundle of passion.
Finally I pulled away and started tearing at my clothes. I'd played around enough. I snapped a button off my shirt getting it loose. Fritzi stood naked beside the bed, watching me intently, biting her lip with emotion.
Then we were naked together. I pushed her down and lay beside her on the bed. As I held a creamy breast in my hand, cupping and massaging it, her hands began to stroke my face. She was writhing beneath me. My hand crept lower, and she began to moan.
I trembled as I felt the warmth of her body against my palm. Her breath was hissing through her teeth.
When she clamped her arms around my neck and drew me down on her straining body, I fell heavily, making her cry out in sudden, startled delight.
I held her hips in both my hands while she thrust beneath me, arching her body in a rhythm of sensual abandonment. I felt the gentle pressure of her rolling breasts, the clinging tightness of her legs.
As I lunged above her, I explored with my hands, stroking the smoothness of her flesh. I felt the warm curves of her hips, the fullness of her thighs. Impulsively I reached beneath her, caught her buttocks in my hands and squeezed the soft, round globes as I lifted her up.
She began to sob deliriously.
Her head tossed on the pillow, lashing it with long black strands of hair. Her eyes were wide and staring. Her hands were crawling up and down my back like frightened spiders. Her mouth gaped open with a silent cry.
Then she was screaming, while I felt her shudders of passion. She gave a wild cry, clamped her arms and legs tighter. I felt the sudden convulsion tearing my guts apart.
My body stiffened.
Violent shock waves swept over me, scorching my flesh, taking my breath away. Slowly my strength faded away and the rhythm of our bodies came to a stop. For a long time we lay in each other's arms, unable to move.
We must have dozed for half an hour. I was somewhere between waking and sleeping, aware that time was passing. When I finally came back to consciousness, I rolled over and sat up on the edge of the bed.
As soon as my legs would hold me, I walked over and took a cigarette from my jacket, which lay on the floor where I had dropped it. I sat on the bed and smoked. Fritzi rolled over with a lazy groan and took the cigarette from my fingers. She puffed twice and handed it back to me.
"I loved that, honey," she whispered. "So glad you could come up and see me."
"You know why I came," I told her. "Let's get busy and locate Duke."
"Okay, honey." She giggled. "Now that I've collected the reward-"
She yawned and snuggled up close to me. Her small hand began to stroke the back of my neck. I stood up before that kind of thing got to me and turned me away from my purpose. The fun was over. It was time to get down to business.
I gathered my clothes into a neat pile, laid them over a chair and began to dress. Fritzi crawled off the bed and slipped into the blue gown. She went into the other room. I heard her dialing the phone, then she was talking to someone.
When I had all my clothes on and my tie straight, I went into the living room. Fritzi was dialing again.
I smoked another cigarette and waited impatiently.
"Hello, George," she said into the phone. "This is Fritzi. Could you tell me how I can find Duke? Just a minute let me get a pencil."
I watched her scribble on a note pad.
"Thanks, George."
She hung up the phone and tore off the top sheet from the pad. I looked at the address she had written. 5604 Pinecrest. I folded the paper and stuck it in my pocket.
"That's Duke's address?"
"That's it."
"Where is Pinecrest?" I asked. "West of town. It's a swanky neighborhood. I wonder how come Duke would be living there."
"Duke always was a big spender," I said casually-
"But he's never had any money." Her eyes narrowed. "He must have struck it rich."
"He came into a little money," I said. "Most of it mine."
"What are you going to do when you find him?"
"That all depends," I said. "Don't tell anyone I'm looking for him. I don't want him spooked. Right now he's a sitting duck."
"I won't tell a soul." Fritzi slid up tight against me and smoothed the lapels of my jacket. "When you pay him off, Hank. Belt him one for me, will you?"
"Yeah," I said. "I'll do that."
She started crawling over me again. I unwound her arms from around my neck, gave her rump a friendly pat, and walked out the door.