Read Online Knock Knock Who's There? by James Hadley Chase - Free Book Online Page B

his Numbers racket, his loan shark service and his vice earnings.
    Tanza answered the telephone himself. He, like Massino, had come immediately awake, knowing no telephone bell would ring in his big, opulent house at this hour unless there was an emergency and Tanza's needle-sharp brain was always geared to meet an emergency.
    He listened to what Massino had to say and produced a solution without hesitation.
    "Okay, Joe. Don't worry about the money. By ten o'clock you'll have it for the pay-out. We'll keep the press out of this." A pause. "It'll cost you. Twenty-five per cent, but you've got to have it, so you've got to pay for it."
    "Hey! Now wait!" Massino did sums in his head. This steal would cost him $46,000 out of his own pocket! "You can't screw me that hard. I'll pay fifteen."
    "Twenty-five," Tanza said. "The money in your office at ten. You couldn't get it anywhere else. Now . . . who did it?"
    "All I know it was an inside job," Massino said. "It's just happened. I'll find out who did it, you can bet your life on that! I'm having the town sealed off, but the chances are the bastard's out by now."
    "As soon as you know, tell me," Tanza said. "I'll turn the organization after him. Just let me know his name and we'll find him."
    "Yeah. It must be one of my punks. Well, thanks, Carlo. I knew I could rely on you." A pause, "How about twenty per cent?"
    Tanza chuckled.
    "You're a tryer, Joe. I have to work by rule. If it was me I'd let you have it for ten, but this will be New York money and it comes pricey," and he hung up.
    Massino sat for a long moment, his face ugly with rage. Then, shoving back his chair, he strode out into the passage and into Andy's office.
    Lieutenant Mulligan, a fat, freckled-faced man was examining the safe. Two other plain clothes detectives were fingerprinting. Benno and Ernie had gone. Andy stood just inside the doorway, nibbling his thumb nail.
    "The road blocks are going up, Mr. Massino," Mulligan said. "If he hasn't got away by now, he won't get away."
    Knowing some thirty vital minutes had been wasted, Massino glared at the detective and then spat on the floor.

    Toni Capello had been told to find Johnny. As he got into his Lincoln, he decided that the most likely place where Johnny would be found was with his girl friend, Melanie.
    Toni envied Johnny. This lush, well built girl was his idea of a good lay. He thought it would be fun to batter on the door and get Johnny out of bed. Who knows? The girl might even come to the door herself.
    He knew her name and where she lived. Once, he had spotted Johnny and the girl leave a restaurant and because he had the hots for her and nothing better to do, he had followed them back to Melanie's pad.
    It took him only a few minutes to reach the street and he saw Johnny's car parked outside the apartment block. He grinned as he pulled up behind the car.
    So Johnny was up there with his whore, Toni thought as he crossed the sidewalk. Man! Was he in for a shock!
    He rode up in the elevator. Reaching Melanie's front door, he dug his fingers into the bell push and kept it there.
    There was a long delay, then the door jerked open. Melanie, holding a cotton wrap around her, stared at him, terror in her eyes.
    "What is it?" she demanded, her voice strident. What goes on? Toni wondered. This chick's flipping her lid.
    "I want Johnny . . . get him out of bed! The boss wants him pronto."
    "He's not here!" Melanie began to shut the door, but Toni's foot came forward, blocking it.
    "He is here, baby. Don't fool around. His car's outside. He's wanted." Then raising his voice, he yelled, "Hey, Johnny! The boss wants you!"
    "I tell you he's not here!" Melanie cried. "Get out! He's not here!"
    "Is that right?" Toni moved forward, pushing her back. "Then where is he?"
    "I don't know!"
    "His car's outside."
    "I tell you I don't know!" She waved imploring hands to the door. "Go away . . . get out!"
    Suspicion lit a spark in Toni's mind. Why was she so frightened? Why was