Free Miss Callaghan Comes To Grief by James Hadley Chase Page A

stiffened. His thin hatchet face went white with anger. Without looking at Ellinger, he said to Henry: “I will not discuss this further. I've told you our policy. Leave Mendetta alone, and leave the Club alone. If any of your staff disobey our policy, get rid of them. Good night.” He turned on his heel and walked stiffly out of the room.
    Henry looked at Jay. “You heard him,” he said.
    “I wonder how much Mendetta gave him, the dirty rat−faced heel,” Jay said, picking up his hat. “If he thinks he can stop me he's made a big mistake.”
    Henry looked worried. “You've got to leave it alone, Jay,” he said. “Poison's the big shot.”
    “Yeah? Well, I don't spell it that way,” and Jay slammed out of the house.

11
    June 6th, 12.30 a.m.
    GRANTHAM SAT behind his neat desk, writing. A cigarette burnt lazily in an ash−tray at his elbow, and the room was silent but for the faint scratch of his pen.
    He heard his door open, and he glanced up irritably. Raven stood looking at him. Behind Raven, Grantham could see Lu Eller, white−faced and uncertain.
    Grantham laid down his pen very slowly. The colour went out of his face and a muscle in his jaw began to jump.
    Raven said, “Tell this monkey to go away.”
    Grantham knew that Mendetta was dead. Raven would never have come if Mendetta wasn't dead. He told Eller with his eyes to go away. He didn't trust his voice.
    Lu Eller lifted his shoulders. He seemed relieved that Grantham didn't want him. Raven came in and shut the door. He put a slip of paper on Grantham's desk silently.
    Without touching it, Grantham read it. It was in Mendetta's handwriting.
    “Is he dead?” Grantham said. His voice was very low.
    Raven sat down and looked round the office. “He had a little accident,” he said. “Things'll be very different now.”
    “What are you going to do?” Grantham studied the shabby figure sitting before him.
    Raven settled back in his chair. “Plenty,” he said. “This town was too small for Mendetta and me. One of us had to go. Now I'm takin' it over.”
    Grantham licked his dry lips. “Mendetta had plenty of protection,” he said. “You won't get far without that.”
    Raven inclined his head. “I've thought of that,” he said softly. “That's where you come in. You're going to be my front, Grantham. I've got it all worked out. I'll tell you what to do an' you'll do it. You've done the same thing for Mendetta, so you can do it for me. The difference is that I'm goin' to make more money than Mendetta ever did, an' you're goin' to do a lot more work.”
    Grantham didn't say anything.
    “Don't think you can get out of it. I haven't the time to play around with guys. If you don't like it you'll run into an accident too. Get it?”
    “I'll do it,” Grantham said quickly. “I've been waiting for you to take over. I knew Mendetta wouldn't last.”
    Raven inclined his head. “Yeah? You're a smart boy. Okay, tomorrow you an' me'll have a little talk. I want all the dope. I want the names of all the girls who worked for Mendetta. Listen, that guy didn't know how to organize vice. Well, I do. Ever been to Reno, Grantham? No? Well, I have. They make a lot of dough in that town. They understand vice. Well, I've got some ideas. We'll get together.” He stood up. “Just so that you don't feel worried about all this, there's a ten per cent cut coming to you on everything if you play ball. If you don't, you'll get a bullet. Think about it.”
    He wandered to the door.
    “I'll be down tomorrow at ten. Get all the stuff together,” and he went out, shutting the door softly.
    Grantham sat back, feeling slightly sick. So it had happened. Where was Jean? He picked up the phone and hastily dialled Mendetta's number. The operator told him after a short delay that no one was answering. He hung up.
    Lu Eller came in. Ever since Mendetta could afford gunmen, Eller had been looking after them. He was a tall, powerfully built man, with a heavy jaw and ingrowing