Read Online Delta Factor, The by Mickey Spillane - Free Book Online Page A

about that?” I asked her.
    â€œWhat a wonderful way to begin a marriage. I get your message, Morgan; now can we get to business?”
    â€œMy pleasure, sweetheart.”
    For twenty minutes she was on the phone to her people, her guarded conversation giving the details of the wedding and our location. Evidently she was told to go ahead on her own; then for a full five minutes she did nothing but listen. When she hung up she swung around with an impatient gesture and said, “We’re to proceed as planned. There’s only one change.”
    I felt the hairs on the back of my neck bristle. “What change?”
    â€œThe agency feels that we’ll have to move faster. They’re sending in word of our arrival.”
    â€œThose stupid...”
    She waved a hand to shut me up. “Not through our people. It will come from their own sources. More a rumor than anything else. At least we’ll be expected and you won’t have to do all the groundwork.”
    â€œThat’s the key to the success of this thing. Don’t they know that?”
    â€œI’m sure they know what they’re doing.”
    â€œDamn it, they’d better.”
    â€œDo you mind tell me what arrangements you’ve made?”
    â€œWhen the time comes,” I told her.
    I picked up the telephone and gave a New York number to the switchboard. After the third ring it was picked up and a voice said, “Joey Jolley here.”
    â€œMorgan, Joey.”
    â€œAh, you’ve reconsidered—”
    I cut him off. “No dice yet, Joey. Let things jell first.” “If that’s the way it has to be. What can I do for you?”
    â€œGorman Yard is dead.”
    â€œYes, I know,” he told me without any emotion. “I took the trouble to make inquiries. My source tells me the accident he sustained wasn’t of his own doing. Naturally, nobody’s talking, but you know the grapevine. Somebody inside there got orders to cool Mr. Yard and did an excellent job of it.”
    â€œThat’s what I was afraid of,” I said.
    â€œIncidentally, he isn’t the only one from that neighborhood who took the big trip.
    Something tightened in the pit of my stomach. “Go on.”
    â€œI just heard the TV report that the body of a girl found strangled to death an hour ago has been identified as Bernice Case. They suggested she was a lady of the evening and probably was killed in the pursuit of her occupation. Or is that simply a cover job, Morgan?”
    My hand felt as though it would break the receiver into bits. Damn, they had gotten to her. One lovely, lonely girl who only wanted to be liked. One poor little hooker who gave more than she took. They had to go and slam her. I kept my voice as normal as possible and said, “I can’t see the connection, Joey. You know the racket she was in.”
    He let a few seconds pass. “Possibly. The mob doesn’t appreciate individual operators. If they hit her because she didn’t pay off they could be in real trouble. I understand she was a well-liked kid.”
    But she didn’t know that, I thought.
    â€œAny action on it?”
    â€œRough talk around the neighborhood. Somebody’s going to get their ass wiped with a cob if they find out who was behind it. Old Gussie is leading the parade and you know her.”
    â€œTough. Wish I could do something.”
    â€œSure there’s no connection?”
    â€œNot on my end,” I lied. “What I wanted to know was the inside on Whitey Tass.”
    â€œYou kidding?” Joey said. His voice said I should know better than to ask. “If it’s big it’s got his name on it, but he still commands a political power in his section that keeps the heat off better than fiberglass. He’s growing, Morgan. Keep clear of him.”
    â€œI intend to. That’s why I’m calling you. See what you can get.”
    â€œFacts or