5 Detective Novels Magazine Cover — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

86 “One of them wise boys,” Choo-Choo grunted in kind. “A regular funny fel- low. But I'll be fixing that in a couple of days, baby. You and me are going to have a talk—only I’m going to do the talking with this burp bazooka. You, Mead, come on up. You other birds stay down there.” “I am very much honored,” Sam Mead sneered. “That’s all right, baby. Just take this key and lock that door again. Then toss it up and come after it.” The key rattled down the concrete steps. Mead picked it up. Though dark- ness had come down, he got a good look at it and mentally photographed its shape in his mind. “Be back in a little bit, Tobie,” he said and locked the door. HOO-CHOO had backed off fifteen feet, submachine gun cradled. “Put the key down, baby, and then back away ten paces until I pick it up,” he said. “Guard duty stuff,” Mead grinned dryly. “Another ex-GI who didn’t want to go to school under the Bill of Rights. The books would have been better. Mac.” “Y’m doing all right.” Choo-Choo bent and pocketed the key, grinning hard. Mead got the connection then. This man Choo-Choo was the tough trio’s trigger man and he looked as though he liked his work. They went around to the back, Choo- Choo with his submachine gun a safe dis- tance to the rear. The kitchen was a huve place, all white and electrical, with two silent, seared Mexican women scurrying around, getting sinner. “On into the living room,” Choo-Choo said. The living room looked like Grand Central Station with all its carpeting, paintings, and drapes, it was that bia. Joe was there. So were Burke. the girl, and a crisp-looking, grav-mustached man who could be only her father. Horton obviously was a very angry man, but he wasn’t doing the red-faced, explosive, big executive act. He was pac- ing the floor savagely, head down, think- ing furiously, if the expression on his face meant anything. He made a turn and wheeled on Joe, pointing a finger. “It’s not the money,” FIVE DETECTIVE NOVELS MAGAZINE he snapped. “The money hasn’t anything to do with—” “Well, I’m certainly relieved to hear that, Mr. Horton,” Joe cut in in his cul- tured voice. “You had me worried. | was afraid you wouldn’t like it.” “Hang the money,” retorted Horton. “T’d have had to pay it out in income tax. What enrages me is that a group of criminals should use my own estate to kidnap and hold my daughter. I flew down here to short-wave my business manager and find you’ve even wrecked the radio.” He seemed to see Sam Mead for the first time, with Choo-Choo still ten paces to the rear. “Don’t mind me,” Sam said. “I just dropped in for tea.” Horton started to reply, but Burke jerked a hand at him, meaning shut up. He came over, his dark face showing rising, almost uncontrollable anger. I don’t like you at all, mister,” he said in that thin-lipped way. - “It’s probably a coincidence,” Sam Mead replied sardonically, unimpressed, “but I wouldn’t care to kiss you. either.” _Joe began to laugh softly, watching Burke’s face. “Don’t swing on him, Eddie,” he said. “That bov’ll hurt you. And now that nearly evervbody has had their say, sup- pose we get down to business.” “I haven’t got any,” Mead grunted. “You rodents ruined it all by taking away mv two trainers, plus one mighty good pilot.” “How about radio?” Joe asked. “Can you fix a radio. Mead? You handle them on a plane. Burke, here. got the brilliant idea that some of the Mexican servants might trv to use it and ierked out a few wires. Very bright boy—Burke. He never takes chances.” “So he told me. So I fix the radio? So what?” “T want to use it to call my business manager in New York,” Horton cut in. “We’re ham licensees. He keeps one in the office and another at home, so that I can call him at any time of the day or night when I’m down here. He'll get a hundred thousand dollars in cash from my bankers in a matter of hours and be down here on the quiet in a fast plane. Then we can pull out.” MICLOO @) CO S