5 Detective Novels Magazine Cover — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

22 “None. When I saw his picture—” “That’s all,” Barr said. “I’m ready for the next one. You wait.” The third lunatic who entered was a little short of seven feet, but not by much, and as skinny as an anemic frank- furter. He was a smart guy, too. He knew just what to say. Somebody had overtrained him. “This—” he indicated me with a jerk of his thumb— “was at one of my tables . at the Club Intime. He came in at nine- thirty. I know, because our floor show goes on then and he was hardly seated before the lights dimmed. He ordered brandy and soda, some curried chicken, hashed-in-cream potatoes, Caesar salad, coffee, and apple pie.” “Any questions, Counselor,” asked me. “Just one, Lieutenant. What are you framing me for?” Barr turned back to the waiter. “What’s your name?” “Fred Pizer. I’ve worked at that club for seven years. It’s a nice job. For in- stance, this man—he gave me two bucks for a tip. Just one at the table and I get two bucks. That ain’t bad.” I said, “If you ever try to spend that two bucks, get set to run, because who- ever you hand it to won’t see it either.” “That’s enough, Craig,” Barr said. “What else happened with this man, Mr. Pizer?” “Well, he was alone, like I said, and just across from him—three tables— at Jerry’s station—there was this to- mato—this doll. She looked at ‘him and he looked at her. Then he raises his glass and she raises hers, and pretty soon he goes over and she comes back to his table with him. So after a while, they go out together.” “What an imagination,” I said. Barr sent him away, but the next wit- ness was something else again. She was about five feet four, weighed around a hundred and ten with about eighty of those pounds distributed in curves. She had hazel eyes, light brown hair that could easily be called blond. She had a small, pert nose and a nice mouth. A very nice mouth. I walked my eyes down her body and discovered she had gorgeous legs. I hoped she’d seen me, too. I wanted her to have seen me that Barr FIVE DETECTIVE NOVELS MAGAZINE night even if I wasn’t there. Barr said, “State your name and then your story.” “I’m Cora Kane. Last night I went to the Club Intime. I often go there. It’s not far from where I live. I saw Mr. Craig at a near-by table. I was lonely, he smiled at me and then came over. We became friends. Afterwards, we went to my apartment.” “What time was that?” Barr asked. “We weren’t in the club long. I’d say we reached my apartment at ten-fif- teen.” “Could Craig have been anywhere else between the hours of nine-thirty and when he left you last night?” “Why, no.” “You’re sure of that?” I said, “You’d better be, baby.” She gave me a funny look. “We met just after nine-thirty. As I said, by a few minutes past ten we were in my apartment. He didn’t get the phone call until about eleven.” “And from shortly after ten until the phone call, he was with you.” “Yes, Oh, definitely.” “You’re sure about this?” Barr in- sisted. She smiled at him, looked at me, and batted her eyes a little. She said it as calmly as if she were talking about the weather. “I’m very certain. You see, I guess we were both a little steamed up by the time we reached the apartment, because we—well, we got pretty chum- re just about five minutes after we got here.” Chapter IV DIDN’T do anything. I didn’t faint, I didn’t scream. I didn’t rise to my feet in protest. I just sat there, hoping Cora Kane’s fairy tale would really hap- pen. I didn’t give a damn if she lied herself blue in the face. Any dish like her could tell those lies about me. “Well, Craig?” Barr asked. I didn’t pay any attention to him. At a time like this, should a measly homi- cide lieutenant be important? I looked at Cora. “It was nice, wasn’t it, beautiful? Where was this supposed to have hap- pened ?” COmiclboo (") S (C@)