5 Detective Novels Magazine Cover — page 110: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

110 Borda gave me a dirty look. “If you hadn’t taken my gat, Ud have done it. It would have been easy.” I guess it was my fault, but I wasn’t too sure, after all. So I went downstairs. When I asked the prisoner who he was, he politely told me his name was George Lake and he wasn’t worried about a thing. He wasn’t surprised when I said Ryerson had been bumped off. “T didn’t do it,” he said. “It must have been Borda.” “So you know the boys?” I blurted. His mouth twisted and his beard twitched. His eyes got so narrow they looked like blue murder. “Rather!” he answered. “How does that del Rio dame fit into this ?” “T never heard of her.” He said it “She flat and level. “Don’t be like that,” I said. snitched the briefcase stuffed full of bonds while you and I were mixing it. I wasn’t too dizzy to hear and see.” “That’s her business,” Lake retorted from behind all that wire beard. “It’s her money. Ryerson stole it, and I helped her reclaim it. If you want her as a material witness, you have my sym- pathy. Try to bring her back to Florida. Anything I say can be used against me, and I don’t give a damn.” “You know the answers.’ “T ought to. ma ee That is, I used to be.” | Prenes had courage, all right—eguts, not bluster. With a murder rap hanging over him, he was positively cheerful. “You like Valeria del Rio?” “Plenty,’”’ Lake admitted. “But what is that to you?” “Ryerson was my client. If you killed him—and it looks like you did—you’re my meat if it takes ’til judgment day. If you didn’t, I’m all for you.” “You’re not boosting Borda?” he asked suspiciously. “I wasn’t working for him. But look here, Lake.” I stuffed a cigarette into his mouth. “Valeria is a long way from home. If Borda found Ryerson, he can find her. You won’t be on deck to look out for her any more.” He laughed in my face. “No good, Carmody. You want to find FIVE DETECTIVE NOVELS MAGAZINE Valeria and that briefcase. So did Hale and Borda.” “Oh, all right. Let’s hear your story. I like stories.” Lake grifned. He was the happiest guy I ever saw wired to a chair. “IT was waiting for Ryerson and Borda to run out, once you had shot Hale,” he began. “I was sure they’d want to leave before the police arrived. Investi- gation might have exposed the hidden bonds, negotiable paper that passes on delivery. It’s like cash, you know.” “Yeah, I know, only I never owned any. You heard me give it to Hale?” Lake grinned. “Mister, I saw it and liked it. I was squatting in that garage at the time. Yes, I was intimidating Ryerson with air-gun shots to make him run out so I could nail him with the loot in his hands. But I didn’t kill him. You know I could have any time before you came here and nearly any time after. It would have been easy.’ I admire nerve, and Lake had plenty. He was talking now the way he wouldn’t later. Battered, tired, and a big job just finished, he was considerably shaken. Who wouldn’t have been? “So you beaned Ryerson? You were sore, thinking of living in the dunes for weeks.” “Don’t be stupid, Carmody. While I was waiting, a man came out of the of- fice. He looped around the vacant store and raced toward the rear. I didn’t hear any voices or wrangling. A minute later, a man came back. It was Borda. tackled him as he headed for the car that was farthest from Ryerson’s. “Then you came up, damn your hide, as I was pounding Borda silly. I’d seen Ryerson, through a window, packing a suitcase. Therefore, I knew the loot would be dug up. But the man I tangled with was Borda, and he was carrying a briefcase. The idea was to have Va- leria run away with it while I toyed with you. I didn’t know you were a de- tective.” “You know now, and getting kayoed isn’t my idea of toying. You’re on the spot, pal. Valeria needs a lift. Well, do we play ball?” He laughed in my face again. I was beginning to get tired of it. “T still don’t know a thing about you.” GOMmiGcbdoo S (C(O)