Chapter 11
AFTER THAT SURPRISING WORKOUT, I HAD TO SHOOT back up to my room for another quick shower and new change. Frankly, I really felt cruddy and gave myself a good scrub. It wasn't so much the fun with Lita as the whole damn setup. I guess my conscience was bothering me after the party. But you have to be practical to get along in this world. That's the way you play the ball game if you want to hit a home run. It's a lousy setup, but the world mostly stinks anyway, so what are you going to do. Try and be a nice guy and do the right thing and you'll get dumped on your keester every time.
Washed, dressed and cologned, I went along up to Cataldo's suite for our five o'clock meeting. Tony and Phil already were on deck, and I no sooner had poured myself a J & B Rare Scotch and soda than Cataldo popped into the room. He nodded briefly, whipped off his jacket, took ' a proffered drink from Phil and plumped down in a deep leather arm chair.
"Okay, okay, what kind of shape are we? Everything going according to schedule? What's next on the agenda?" His questions poured from between his fat lips in machine-gun fashion. We just kept silent until he was finished. There was no sense of trying to reply because he would just go on asking more questions. By this time, we knew enough to stay tight-lipped until he leaned back exhausted. When he was breathless we could begin making our reports.
Cataldo finished up his line of questions and plopped back against the head rest. Phil immediately jumped into the gap and gave a rundown on his activities. I listened closely since Phil actually was under my command and I was interested in what he had been up to. Sounded all right. That was fine by me. Just one less headache. I'd have to watch him like a hawk though because sooner or later he was going to get overly ambitious and strike for my job. When he did I was going to stomp him right into the ground. Might even cut his gonads off at the same time just for being such a smart guy.
Phil wound up his report. Tony looked at me and nodded. That was typical of Tony. Class. He was considerate enough to check to see if I wanted to go ahead. Tony went on for about six minutes. His report was tight, to the point, and mostly favorable. He got a favorable nod from Cataldo when he signified that he had finished.
Cataldo then looked at me but my mouth already was open and the report was flying out. "What it all comes down to Johnny is that we are still two lousy votes away from sewing up the nomination. My stint with Sally Fitzpatrick brought us in four more votes to raise our overall tally to 299. It's as simple as that. Does any one have any suggestions as to how we pick up the other two. As far as I know Swenson and Mike Napolitano aren't ready to deal yet. The silly bastards are hoping for a deadlock and the chance to slip in a darkhorse."
"Those two S.O.B.'s," Cataldo spit out. "If it wasn't for me Mike Napolitano would still be digging ditches. The faker. I'm the guy that worked the deals to get him on the Liquor Commission. Thinks he's a big shot now, huh? I'll fix his wagon good for him. Ought to have him bumped off."
We all kept silent. It didn't do any good to interrupt when Johnny got all wound up. And I didn't doubt for a minute that he could have had Mike dropped into the bay wearing cement shoes. He was a tough guy to cross. Man, I'd be in a sling if he ever knew how I had made it with Angela.
"Okay, okay, so what are we to do? C'mon, what the hell am I paying you guys for anyway?"
"Take it easy, Johnny," Tony Boffo said. "We'll think it out. Just stay cool."
Tony could get away talking to Johnny like that. They went way back together.
"Cool it, Tony, for cripes sakes. It's almost that time. What do you think I've worked so hard all my life for. You want me to blow it now. We've come too far together to see it all go up in smoke. Now let's get hot on it."
"There is one chance, Johnny," I said. "But I want to discuss it privately. Just with you and Tony."
Phil came up out of his chair like he had been gored. "What the hell is this? There's nothing I shouldn't know about."
"Shut up!" Cataldo roared. "Shut up you silly little ass! You acting like a prima donna at a time like this. Now get the hell out of here so I can talk to Mark."
Phil got up from his chair. His eyes were filled with hate. I would have been dead I'm sure if he had a weapon handy. Right then and there, I made up my mind to get rid of that slob as soon as we copped the nomination. Once he shut the door behind him, I turned to look at Cataldo and Tony. Tony's eyes warned me to go slowly and surely.
"All right, Mark, let's have it, "Johnny snarled. "And it better be good."
"We need two votes to win. Swenson has two votes. We can't budge him. Maybe we can do it through his wife. I've already checked and found she's at home in Glenmont. It's about half an hour's drive. I go out there and make the scene. She prevails on the husband to toss his votes to you."
"Wait a minute, Mark. I know you're good, but what if she takes it and-likes it sure, but tells you to go to hell. You tell her husband she'll say you're a liar."
"Tony comes with me, Johnny," I said. "He stays outside until the action commences. Then he takes some photos. Tony's good at it."
Tony interrupted, "Sure I still know how to operate a camera, Mark, but we're not going to have time to get back to a lab, develop the negatives and print up some pictures in time. The voting could already be starting by then."
"Yeh, that's right, Mark," Johnny interjected, hie swarthy face darkening. "You've got to do better than that."
"It's still good," I said confidently. "I've carried it one step further. Instant pictures remember. Polaroid film. One minute after the action the picture is all developed and in your hand."
Johnny and Tony looked at each other and smiled, nodding their heads. Both of them turned to bestow eyes filled with admiration upon me.
"Mark, you are a clever bastard," Johnny said "no matter what Angela says. You're all right."
My heart leaped. What the hell did he mean by that cryptic remark about Angela? That silly broad hadn't squealed had she. He'd kill me. It took all my will power to appear relaxed and grateful for their admiration.
"Glad you like it, Johnny. I suggest that Tony and I get going. Tony can pick up his camera and meet me in the garage. Section F. Go down the service elevator so we can get out of the building without being seen. With a little bit of luck we should be back here by eight o'clock or so. I'll call Alice Swenson with some phony story for seeing her."
Tony already was on his feet. I jumped up. Johnny looked up at both of us. "Okay, okay, get going. Make it good, Mark. This may be our last chance. I'll have Phil keep after the press as well as the radio and TV people."
Tony and I flicked a finger in good-bye and quickly left the suite. Outside we parted to go our separate ways.
Back in my room I quickly found the Swenson's telephone number and rang it up. Man, she had better be home. After the third ring, the number was answered. A woman's soft voice said, "Hello, Swenson residence." I was taken back a bit. Residence. I didn't figure the Swensons to have enough dough for a maid.
"Hello, Mrs. Swenson, please."
"One moment, sir," the voice said. About ten seconds later another voice came on. Only this voice was huskier more mature. "Yes, hello. Mrs. Swenson here."
She really sounded bucks up on the phone and she had one of those real Vassar accents. You know like she had trouble breathing and it was all too much.
I was at my glib best. I explained that T was with the A.P. and that my editor had sent me up from Washington to do articles on all the candidates' wives. I had completed my assignment except for her. Would it be possible to see her? She hesitated, but I assured her it would only take about a moment. She agreed to see me if I came right out. We rang off.
Five minutes later with Tony in the front seat beside me I drove out of the hotel garage in my Mustang and wheeled north along the boulevard. It was getting dark already and I put on my lights. Didn't want any cop stopping me now.
As we connected with the State highway and roared to the west and Glenmont, Tony said, "How do you see this one, Mark? Fill me in."
"This is going to come as a surprise, Tony. But it's right off the top of my head. I knew we weren't getting anywhere with the male Swenson and Napolitano, so I figured we had nothing to lose trying one of their old ladies."
"Well, do you know this Swenson broad at all," he asked.
"Never saw her in my life to my knowledge."
"Oh, man!" Tony murmured. "We're going into this cold? I hope you know what you're doing, Mark. Johnny is getting desperate. We blow it and he'll flatten us both. Believe me! I've known him a long time. And there's something else too. I'm not sure but Angela was giving him an earful. I sure hope you haven't been fooling around with her private parts."
"C'mon Tony," I said, putting a tone of incredulity into my voice. "You think I want to commit suicide. You know no one wants Johnny to win this more than I. Hell, I've been knocking my ass off for him. I'm not going to ruin it by screwing around with Angela. I hardly know her."
Tony smiled. "Okay, Mark, if you say so. But what about this Swenson broad. How we going to get her in a compromising position anyway?"
"I don't know, Tony, I'll think about it."
The throaty Mustang zipped along the highway. I kept an eye peeled on the rear view mirror for any State troopers. Tony helped me keep an eye out in front for any traps. I glanced at my watch. It was almost quarter of six already. My mind was in a frenzy trying to think of some way I could get into Alice Swenson's panties. At least long enough so Tony could get some shots. And who was the other broad in the house?
Full darkness had descended when we were about five miles from Glenmont and approaching fast. Too fast! The goddam cop on the motorcycle came out of nowhere. The hell with him. I pushed my foot to the floor. Tony nodded in approval. It was old stuff to him. I detected a trace of a smile on his lips.
"He's gaining, Tony." I cried.
"That's all right, let him. I'll fix him."
"What are you going to do?" I said. I didn't want to get in a jam with a traffic cop.
"Just hold it in this lane and let him pull up alongside. Roll down that window. I want a clean shot," Tony said without a trace of emotion.
"Are you crazy, for God sakes," I said. "You're not going to shoot him, are you?"
"What the hell do you think. This is the big league, Mark. We haven't got time to stop and play games with any flatfoot. Don't worry, he won't feel a thing."
I couldn't believe the conversation was really taking place. And Tony always had seemed like such a likeable guy. Of course, I was seeing him through my eyes. I knew he and Johnny had been in the rackets once. But that was supposed to be far behind them. And as for shooting, hell I had knocked off more than a few gooks myself in Korea, but that was another thing. This was murder.
"We'll do it my way, Mark," Tony said and I could tell he wasn't about to take 'no' for an answer. I shrugged my shoulders. What the hell? Dumb cop didn't know enough to mind his own business. His tough hick.
"Okay, Tony, I'm with you."
I slowed down so the trooper could catch us quicker. He came up fast, his engine thundering. I looked in the rear-view mirror. The road was clear of any other lights.
Now the trooper was beside us. We were doing about sixty miles an hour. He was young but a big beefy-looking guy. He waved us over to the side.
"Screw you cop," Tony said. The cop saw the forty-five automatic pointed at him just before Tony pulled the trigger. His mouth started to open in horror. The automatic roared in my ear and the top of the cop's head blew off in a blinding red spray. I couldn't hear a thing from the smashing noise in my ear. But I glanced over to see the trooper falling backward over his seat as the motorcycle shot across the road, hit the median strip, and catapulted into the air. Then there was nothing but the darkness of evening behind us.
Tony calmly blew down the barrel of the weapon and then slipped it into what apparently was a shoulder holster.
"How'd you like that for a shot, Mark? Been a long time too."
"I'll have to admit that it wasn't bad. You must have got him just above the fold between the eyes. The poor bastard. Did you see his face just before you fired?"
"Yeh," Tony said basking in the warmth of my admiration. "Not bad, Mark. Little practice and I'd be right back in form. Now just relax. And don't sweat. I've knocked off any number of highway cops. They never catch you. There's no real scene of the crime. And they'll never find the slug. It's probably a mile away by now. And we've got the empty cartridge so there goes any ballistic tests."
"Real smooth, Tony," I said. It was a good shot. What the hell. I was playing with tough guys, I suppose I had to expect them to act that way. Someday though I'd break away and live a real clean life. Right now this was the only way up.
Ten minutes later we wheeled up to the Swenson place. It was a big red brick Tudor style mansion. It sat back about a hundred yards from the road. There was a tall iron spiked fence completely surrounding it. Only a few lights showed from the many windows facing the street.
Tony hopped out and said he'd sneak in after me. I drove up to the front of the house, parked the car and got out.
I no sooner pressed the door than I heard the sound of footsteps from within the house. They came closer. The knob turned slowly and the door opened. Framed in the opened doorway was a giant of a blonde woman. We both recognized each other at once.
"It's you," she said startled. "What the devil do you think you're doing? You told Mrs. Swenson that you were a newsman. Wait until I tell her who you really are."
"Mary, baby," I snarled, "you are going to keep your big mouth shut or I'll have it closed permanently."
We both stood there glaring at each other. Dressed once again in a maid's costume it was hard to visualize her as that same amazon who I had caught going at it with Angela. The two dykes. And here she was again.
"What the hell are you up to yourself, Mary? One minute you're working for the Cataldos and now here you are at the Swensons. What's going on anyway?"
"Never mind what I'm up to. I haven't forgotten how you screwed me you dirty man. I'll fix you for that if it is the last thing I do."
"Can it, you phony," I spat out. "You loved it and you know it. Is Mrs. Swenson another one of you Lesbian bitches? You must be the local queen the way you travel around."
"You'll never know," Mary growled and started to slam the door.
She waited too long. I heard Tony coming up fast to help. I hit the door with all of my strength. The door swung back viciously. It drove flat into Mary's face. Her nose burst, spewing blood all over the front hall.
Mary staggered backward. Her eyes were filled with horror and pain. She opened her mouth to scream. Followed closely by Tony I hurtled across the rug and drove my fist right into her solar plexus under those massive breasts bobbing about behind the black and white blouse.
Mary dropped to the floor. I heard Tony closing the door behind me. The blonde giantess still was full of fight despite her smashed beak. Flat on her back she began to rise. I knelt down and slapped her in the face. Again her mouth opened to scream. I straddled her and clobbered her face with my closed fists.
I felt Tony at my shoulder. "Hear, Mark. I'll fix this smart broad. The ice pick-shaped knife flashed in the light just for a split second before it shot up to the hilt into her chest. Mary's great blue eyes opened to their greatest limit. A look of disbelief was reflected from their bulging depth. A glazed film dropped over them. Her huge body shuddered and then lay motionless.
"Don't worry, Mark," she won't bleed at all. "I get 'em right in the heart fast. Knock the heart out and there's nothing to pump the blood to the surface and make a mess of things."
About ten different thoughts were trying to come to the front of my mind at once. What the hell was I getting into? Two murders in less than what fifteen minutes? And where was Mrs. Swenson? Didn't she hear the bell? What about the commotion after that? Man, if I got out of that one I'd be a lucky S.O.B.
"Now what, Mark?" Tony asked.
"Where the hell is Mrs. Swenson? Check downstairs. I'll take the upstairs," I ordered. Anything to keep busy and give myself a chance to get in order.
I was already up on the staircase when the door which Tony was approaching opened. I ducked down behind the railing. Tony was caught flatfooted by the tall, statuesque woman with the thirty-eight revolver pointing right at his belly.
"Who are you? What are you doing here? What have you done to my beloved Mary?" she asked. Her voice was a little falsetto but still surprisingly calm. "Get those hands up, you pig," she barked when Tony made a motion for his own automatic.
She waved Tony back with the point of the revolver. He stepped back so that Mary's body laid between the both of them. I clung close to the carpeting on the stairs. Fortunately the light was poor on the stairs and I guess it never occurred to her that Tony had a buddy with him.
"Is she dead, you pig?" Mrs. Swenson asked. Her voice was harsher now and more demanding. She felt surer of herself.
She was nearly opposite me now and I got a good look at her. She had long red hair and blue eyes with a glint of green in them. Her body was covered by what seemed to be a flannel housecoat, but it could not conceal the swollen ripeness of her strong body. Her breasts were large and obviously firm despite her age. There wasn't a trace of flab on her from what I could see. I visualized that her legs were long and rounded.
"Is she dead?" Mrs. Swenson cried, a bit of panic now in her voice. She was afraid her worse dreams were going to be realized.
I had to admire Tony. He was so damn cool. His eyes never left the muzzle of Mrs. Swenson's revolver. He stepped back and off to one side. I figured he wanted Mrs. Swenson to turn just a hair to give me a chance to jump her from my vantage perch on the stairs.
"Yeh, she's dead, doll. And you're going to be dead in a few minutes too if you don't stop playing with that pea shooter. C'mon give it to me."
It was a good bluff but Mrs. Swenson wasn't buying it. She leveled the muzzle on Tony and I knew she was determined to shoot. I had to get going.
I was over the railing in one circular motion. Even as my feet plowed into her back, Tony was darting off to one side. But the impact was enough to send Mrs. Swenson sprawling and the gun flying across the room.
Tony picked up the revolver and slipped it into his pocket. "Remind me to get rid of that later, Mark." Mrs. Swenson spun around on the floor. She looked up at us. Now she was really scared. If I knew Tony, she should be.
"All right you old bag, get up on your feet," Tony said. "And make it fast. We haven't got much time."
She started to rise. "Move! Damn it," Tony snarled. "Get up!" Mrs. Swenson stood. Scared as she was, she still had a lot of class. Her eyes just glared at Tony. I'm sure she was regretting now that she didn't fill him with lead when she had the chance.
"Okay, Mark this is my show now. We don't have any time. Get those clothes off that maid. And you Mrs. Swenson, you undress pronto. If you don't, we'll be taking them off your corpse. It's your choice."
I went over to Mary and started to undo the buttons. Tony tossed me his knife. Cut 'em off, Mark. We haven't got time."
I picked up the knife, stuck the blade under the collar of the uniform and slit it right down to the skirt. I cut through a small leather belt and then slit the skirt too. I reached down and pulled the blouse and skirt off. I rolled Mary over to pull the uniform free. She sprawled obscenely in death before us. Her glazed eyes were fixed on the ceiling. I cut the bra straps and slit it down between the cups. I cut the panties across the crotch and then up the middle. Two tugs on the bra and panties and Mary laid exposed to us in all her stiffening glory.
"She must have been a ride." Tony said in admiration. "Look at the size of those tits. And she was a real blonde too. Would I liked to have made that."
He turned back to Mrs. Swenson again. "Now look lady, I'm going to give you exactly three seconds to start peeling those duds or you're going to be stretched out dead with your queer friend. Now what's it going to be?"
"Pig!" Mrs. Swenson spat. But I noticed that her trembling fingers quickly began unbuttoning the front of her floor length dress. About half way down, the buttons stopped. She had to reach down and grasp the hem and pull the dress over her head.
Tony and I both looked at each other knowingly. Not bad at all. Desire sprung up in my loins. The tops of her huge melons popped over the top of her white transparent bra. White panties of a similar material clung around her round full hips and hugged the taut cheeks of her buttocks. Strong thighs tapered gracefully away to dimpled knees and muscled calves.
"Off with it," Tony barked. "All of it."
"You pig," Mrs. Swenson replied. Afraid and angry, she unhooked her bra and slipped it off. My breath jumped in my throat as her pendulous brown nosed bubbies plopped into view. Tony's eyes gaped open. Full of lust, we both watched as she wriggled out of those clinging panties. She disdainfully tossed them at Tony. He laughed and caught them. He smelled them. "My favorite odor."
Mrs. Swenson tried ineffectually to cover up her pendulous breasts. They hung down slightly but were still big and round and full of life. She gave it up as a bad job and held both hands over her big mystery.
Tony and I both exchanged knowing glances. Yet there wasn't much time. We have to get our pictures and get back to the convention. Our lust must have been obvious to Mrs. Swenson if she was using her eyes.
"What do you think, Mark?" Tony asked.
"Sure why not. A quick one won't hurt anyone," I responded thinking with my desire instead of my brains.
Mrs. Swenson started to get the picture. Her eyes opened wide. "Scream, lady, and you're dead," Tony barked. "Okay, Mark, I'm a sport. You go first."
"Thanks Tony," I said and advanced on Mrs. Swenson. She backed off but I was hot after her. She went hard up against the wall and I chopped her lightly on the chin. She groaned and settled to the floor. She was no more down than I mounted her in a great heat of passion and rode off like my life depended on it. She kept calling me a pig but I noticed after only about half a minute that she was riding with me.
"Who's the pig now?" I asked gloatingly.
"Beautiful. Beautiful," she sighed. "I forgot how good it was. My husband's been impotent for years and I had to take up with Mary," she gasped throwing her long legs around me.
Then I got a surprise. Tony apparently became so heated up watching us that he couldn't wait.
Tony and I must have hit it together because he was buttoning up as I got to my feet. Mrs. Swenson remained flat on her back. She still was moaning in ecstasy and saying how wonderful it had been.
"Okay, sister, let's go," Tony snapped. "The fun is over. Get over there on top of Mary. Fast!"
I was really seeing a new Tony Boffo. He was really a man of action. His mind was razor sharp and clicking all the time.
"What do you want to do?" Mrs. Swenson said perplexedly. "I don't understand."
"We want you to get on top of Mary. Make believe you're loving her up. C'mon, snap it up. She's still warm. Make believe you and she were making it like old times."
Mrs. Swenson crawled across the floor. I leaned over and wiped off the small bit of blood from her chest.
Tony was up at Mary's head. He knelt down and took a shot as Mrs. Swenson looked up. "That's good, baby. We'll see how it looks in a minute."
For the next seven minutes, Tony took one picture after another of Mrs. Swenson caressing Mary's body. A minute after each was taken he pulled out the film and peeled off the protective cover. He and I laughed like hell as each one came into view. The scenes were terrific and the color was exceptional.
"Okay, Mrs. Swenson, that'll do the trick," Tony said, waving her off the body. "C'mon, c'mon. Look at her, Mark. She's beginning to enjoy it." He lifted his foot and put it against her chest. He pushed hard and she flipped over on her back. "I said leave off, queer!"
Tony looked over at me. "Now what about her?" he asked, indicating Mrs. Swenson. "Shall we finish her off too?"
"No! Please!" Mrs. Swenson cried. "Don't kill me, please!" She crawled into a corner and cowered there. Her eyes gaped wide when Tony slipped his stiletto out of its sheath and tested the point with a finger.
"No, I don't think so, Tony," I said trying to come up with a plan that would keep Mrs. Swenson alive without endangering ourselves. "We've got the pictures. She turns us in and we distribute the pictures."
"Yes, that's right!" Mrs. Swenson cried. "I promise I won't tell. I didn't care anything about this blonde bitch. She was blackmailing me just like she was blackmailing Angela Cataldo. I couldn't help myself. I needed relief like everyone else."
"Okay, lady," Tony said. "I'll spell it out for you. We've got the pictures. Open your mouth and our lawyers will spread them around. Also Mark and I will have air-tight alibis. You'll look like a complete ass. Keep your mouth shut and no one will ever know. We'll take care of this stiff."
"All right, all right, I promise. Not a word," Mrs. Swenson agreed, shaking with fear and relief.
A few minutes later Tony and I were up forward in the Mustang and headed back toward the city. Wrapped comfortably in a heavy woolen blanket, the body of Mary was stuffed in the trunk.
"When we get back to the city, Mark, I'll drop you off and take the wheel. You take the pictures and give them to Johnny. He'll make sure all the prints are removed and that a complete stranger pops the pictures off to Swenson. We'll give him about two to get the idea and keep the rest. I'll dump this broad's body where it will never be found."
Nodding in agreement, I shot down the highway but was careful to stay within the speed limit. We had no time for any more dumb cops. To be on the safe side we took an alternative route in case the body of the trooper had been found and any roadblocks were up.