Read Online 1979 - You Must Be Kidding by James Hadley Chase - Free Book Online

have been passing through the City. We don’t want to start a panic, Pete, so play that angle down.’
    Hamilton’s eyes narrowed.
    ‘Listen, Joe, I have a sixteen year old daughter! Girls should be warned. If there is a nut around, it’s Mayor Hedley’s and your job to show the red light. I don’t give a damn about panic! Girls must be warned!’
    ‘I can’t stop you,’ Beigler said quietly. ‘The Chief is talking now with the Mayor.’
    ‘Have you talked to Chet Miscolo?’
    ‘We’ve talked to him.’
    ‘Didn’t he come up with anything?’
    ‘We have the names and addresses of all those in the colony last night,’ Beigler said. ‘We’re checking each and every one. It’ll take a little time. Right now as I’ve said we have nothing to go on. As soon as we have, I’ll alert you.’
    Instinct told Hamilton that Beigler was holding back on him.
    ‘Do you want me to say the police don’t know a thing?’
    Beigler gave him a sour smile.
    ‘You say what you like, Pete. It’s early days.’ He waved to a mass of papers littering his desk. ‘We’re checking. Just remember this girl was a whore and she asked for trouble. In spite of what she was, we will find her killer. That’s our job. If you want to be helpful, say we are doing just that.’
    Hamilton got to his feet.
    ‘Got a photo of her, Joe?’
    Beigler produced a copy of the polaroid print. Hamilton studied it, and grimaced.
    ‘Yeah, I see what you mean: a real toughie. Okay, I’ll play it down. After all, as you say, she was only a hooker.’
    While this interview was in progress, Lepski with Jacoby was visiting the various men’s wear shops in the city.
    While Lepski was driving, Jacob asked, ‘How did that car key drama with Carroll work out, Tom?’
    Lepski grinned.
    ‘Did I get away with that! I had the goddamn keys in my pocket. I thought they were mine! When I got home last night I put them under her car mat. I got her to apologize!’ He pulled up outside Henry Levine’s tailor shop. ‘When you get married, Max, you watch it! A husband has to act smart all the time or else he’s in trouble.’
    They entered the shop and asked for Mr. Levine. This was the fifth unsuccessful call on tailors they had made.
    Mr. Levine, fat and aging, but prosperous, immediately identified the golf ball button.
    ‘Sure, Mr. Lepski,’ he said. ‘This is a speciality of mine.’
    He walked to a rack and produced a blue jacket with golf hall buttons. ‘See? Nice idea, huh?’
    ‘We are trying to trace this button, Mr. Levine. Can you tell us who has bought one of these jackets?’
    ‘No problem. Just wait,’ and Levine went into his office.
    While waiting, Lepski examined the rack of jackets. He located one that attracted his attention.
    ‘How about this, Max?’ he asked. ‘Pretty sharp, huh?’
    Jacoby examined the jacket of pale yellow with broad blue stripes. He thought it was an abortion.
    He made a non—committal grunting noise. Lepski continued to regard the jacket, then taking off his own jacket, he slipped on the jacket and surveyed himself in the long mirror.
    ‘Boy! Is this great?’
    Jacoby thought Lepski looked like an escapee from a circus.
    ‘You could stop the traffic in that,’ he said.
    Lepski looked suspiciously at him.
    ‘Don’t you like it?’
    ‘I don’t have to live with it,’ Jacoby said, ‘but would Carroll like it?’
    ‘Yeah.’ He again regarded himself, frowning. He realized that Carroll would create a scene if he took the jacket home.
    Levine came from his office.
    ‘Ah, Mr. Lepski!’ he exclaimed, seeing Lepski had put on the jacket. ‘I’ve always thought you had a touch of class. Now that jacket is something very, very special. It’s an original. You won’t find a similar jacket in the city. Feel the cloth . . . wonderful! Look at yourself! It is made for you! It gives you a look of considerable distinction.’
    Lepski hesitated, stroking the cloth. He again regarded himself in the