Sin In Their Blood | Page 2

his big head. "This is real
crummy, worse than a two-bit pimp, or a--"
"See you around, Abe," I said, motioning at the elevator operator.
There was a bellhop waiting at the room and I had to give him half a
buck for unlocking the door. But he tossed the change on the bed, said,
"You don't have to give me nothing, Mr. Ranzino. I was coming from
school when you busted that drunken driver's jaw and..."
"Take the change."

"No, sir. They had a hell of a nerve busting you from the force just
because he was the mayor's cousin."
"The mayor's family can never be a drunk," I said. That was all only
five years ago, now it seemed like another lifetime.
"I followed all your cases in the papers after that, felt I was reading
about a friend. I mean, because I was in on that first thing. My name is
Jim, Mr. Ranzino, and I'm no movie-happy jerk, but if you should open
your own agency again, I'd like a job as office boy. Anything to learn
the business. I'm small but tough as..."
"Ask Abe to tell you the secrets of the trade."
"That ape, thinks he's funny giving you a grip-of-iron handshake. He
told me all he knows in two minutes. I'm serious Mr...'"
"Don't know exactly what I'm going to do," I said, "but I'll keep you in
mind, Jim."
His face showed the let-down at the brush-off, but he said thanks a
million and went out. I locked the door, opened my shirt, stretched out
on the bed. It was a big, soft bed, a big room. I wasn't tired and I
couldn't sleep. I wondered why I'd ever come back to this town. Pops
was dead, I had no one. And Abe and this Korea hero crap. And this
dizzy kid--must be almost 17 or 18, army-bait unless he was lucky
enough to be a moron.
I lay there, lazily wondering what to do--being out of a hospital was a
little like getting out of stir. One thing, I'd have to find a room, give my
change of address to the government as soon as possible. If my
monthly check was held up too long, I'd be in a bad way.
I'd look around out at the beach--be the best place to live. Air wasn't
too damp. Get me a cheap room there tomorrow--hell with this big bed.
I turned over and saw my wristwatch. It was after eleven and I went to
the neat adjoining bath and washed out a clean glass thoroughly, was

downing one of my multi-vitamin pills I had to take three times a day,
when the phone rang.
"Hear you just got into town, Matt." It was the smooth, almost purring
voice of my former partner--and as unpleasant sounding as ever. Harry
must really be a wheel, for obviously although he hated him--or said he
did--Abe had phoned him the minute I went up to my room.
I asked, "What's new, Harry?" to be polite.
"Plenty cooking. You feeling okay, Matt?"
"Yeah--guess so."
"That's swell. Must of had yourself a time with those nurses, coming to
your bed and throwing it at you all the..."
"What's on your mind, Harry?"
"Why Matt, this is the first time I've talked to you in a year. Get the
cigarettes I sent you every month?"
"No."
"That's odd, I sure sent them. Had Flo take care of it. Say Matt, like to
make a little real talkie with you. How about dropping over to my
office after lunch? Say about one-thirty?"
"Okay."
"See you then, Matt boy. Got a deal cooking at lunch, otherwise I'd
break bread with you. I'm in suite 2111, the Grace Building. See you."
I said okay and hung up. Harry was so smooth and full of crap it was
comical... the way he told me he was in touch with Flo, and that my
office jive. But I didn't give a damn about Flo or the office.
It was almost noon and I was hungry. As I crossed the lobby Abe
pretended to read a paper and didn't notice me.

I walked down Main Street and all the eating places were full and I
wanted to avoid crowds. Long as I was splurging, I dropped into The
Glass Stem, one of the more expensive bars in town. The bar was
crowded but most of the booths were empty. I took a booth, told the
waiter, "Glass of milk and a lettuce and tomato sandwich on whole
wheat toast."
He had fish-eyes and a skinny face and he almost looked pop-eyed as
he asked, "You say milk or beer?"
"Milk. Still serve that, don't you?"
"Yes, sir."
"Make sure it's fresh."
"Won't serve it if it isn't." He