Read Online He Won't Need it Now by James Hadley Chase - Free Book Online Page B

come on your ear, it's all the same to me.”
     “Okay, I'll come.”
     McGuire had quite a job getting him over to his place, but he did it. The taxi-driver who brought them took an extraordinary interest in Duffy. He helped McGuire get him out of the cab and up the steps. Then he stood there, shaking his head.
     McGuire got a little heated about it. “All right, all right,” he said; “ain't you seen someone pushed around before.”
     “He ain't been pushed around,” the taxi-driver said, looking Duffy over, “someone's been making love to him.”
     McGuire shut the door in his face.
     On the third floor Alice was waiting for them in the passage. A tall, dark girl, with black hair dressed low that set off her olive complexion, and gave her just a slight foreign look. Her large eyes, alight with life, were now large and scared.
     It didn't matter how low Duffy felt, Alice always made him feel good. When she saw him, she put her hand quickly to her mouth. Her skin went a little paler, so that it looked almost oyster colour in the sunlit corridor. Her eyes filled with tears, but that was as far as she would show her feelings.
     “Bill Duffy!” she said, “how could you?”
     McGuire said, “A real fighting drunk, ain't he?”
     Duffy tried a grin, but it was so painful to him and to look at, he hastily took it off his face. “This ain't anything,” he kidded; “you ought to've seen me when I put Dempsey to sleep.”
     “He's light-headed,” Alice said,, but she put her hand on his arm. “Get him inside quickly, Sam.”
     McGuire said, “I'll be glad to. The way he's leaning on me, you'd think he's hurt.”
     They took him into McGuire's little flat. A pleasant four-room box of a place, bright and comfortable. Everywhere, Alice had left something of herself. The neatness, the sweet-smelling flowers, the shine of the stained boards, showed the woman's hand. Duffy looked round the sitting-room regretfully. Whenever he saw it, he felt a faint hunger. He had never made a secret about it. If McGuire hadn't married Alice, he would have. The three of them were close linked.
     When McGuire got him undressed and into the cool sheets, he relaxed, and the pain that was riding his body gradually began to ease. Alice came in a moment later, fixed his pillow, fussed round him with a scent bottle, and Duffy loved it.
     McGuire looked at his watch. “Let the animal sleep,” he said to Alice. “I gotta go and work. Keep away from him. If he gets fresh, call a cop.” Then looking at Duffy, he said, “Take a nap, soldier, I'll have a little chin with you later.”
     Duffy said, “I'll steal your wife from you.”
     Alice and Sam exchanged glances, Duffy watched them through his swollen eyes. He thought they looked a swell pair. He shut his eyes for a moment, then found it was too much trouble to open them again.
     Alice looked down at him. “What can have happened to the poor dear?” she said, keeping her voice very low.
     McGuire put his arm round her and they left the room together. “He said three toughs set about him,” he said, when they were in the living-room. “Let him have a good sleep, then we'll hear something more. I'll get back early tonight.”
     “Sam!” Duffy's voice was urgent.
     McGuire went back into the bedroom. “Go to sleep, you big loon,” he commanded.
     “Listen, Sam.” Duffy raised his head. “I want you to find out all you can about a girl called Annabel English, a guy called Daniel Morgan and whoever works for him. Dig in and get the lowdown on them. Don't miss a thing. Also find out what you can about Cattley the dope-peddler. Get that, and I'll rest all right.”
     McGuire took out a note-book and jotted down the names. “All right,” he said; “it all sounds screwy to me, and I'm bursting with