Free The Mike Hammer Collection by Mickey Spillane

might have noticed about Jack the past few days. Any remark that might have been passed or something you overheard.”
    â€œI’m afraid I can’t help you there. I’m not very good at eavesdropping and I don’t collect gossip. My sister and I have remained fairly isolated in our home, that is, until we came to town. Our circle of friendship reaches out to our neighbors who like isolation as much as we do. Rarely do we entertain guests from the city.”
    Mary drew her legs up under her on the divan and turned on her side to face me. During the process the negligee fell open, but she took her time to draw it shut. Deliberately, she let my eyes feast on her lovely bosom. What I could see of her stomach was smooth parallel rows of light muscles, almost like a man’s. I licked my lips and said, “How long do you expect to remain in town?”
    She smiled. “Just long enough so Esther can get her shopping spree over with. Her main joy in living is wearing pretty clothes, regardless of whether or not she’s seen in them.”
    â€œAnd yours?”
    â€œMy main joy in living is living.” Two weeks ago I couldn’t picture her saying that, but I could now. Here was a woman to whom time and place didn’t mean a damn thing.
    â€œTell me,” I started, “how can you tell the difference between you and your sister?”
    â€œOne of us has a small strawberry birthmark on the right hip.”
    â€œWhich one?”
    â€œWhy don’t you find out?” Brother, this girl was asking for trouble.
    â€œNot today. I have work to do.” I stood up and stretched.
    â€œDon’t be a sissy,” she said.
    Her eyes were blazing into mine. They were violet eyes, a wild blazing violet. Her mouth looked soft and wet, and provocative. She was making no attempt to keep the negligee on. One shoulder had slipped down and her brown skin formed an interesting contrast with the pink. I wondered how she got her tan. There were no strap marks anywhere. She uncrossed her legs deliberately and squirmed like an overgrown cat, letting the light play with the ripply muscles in her naked thighs.
    I was only human. I bent over her, taking her mouth on mine. She was straining in the divan to reach me, her arms tight around my neck. Her body was a hot flame; the tip of her tongue searched for mine. She quivered under my hands wherever I touched her. Now I knew why she hadn’t married. One man could never satisfy her. My hand fastened on the hem of the negligee and with one motion flipped it open, leaving her body lean and bare. She let my eyes search every inch of her brown figure.
    I grabbed my hat and jammed it on my head. “It must be your sister who has the birthmark,” I told her as I rose. “See you later.”
    I half expected to hear a barrage of nasty words when I went through the door and was disappointed. Instead, I heard a faint, faraway chuckle. I would love to have known how Pat reacted to that act. It had dawned on me all of a sudden that she was left in my path as a sort of booby trap while Pat went on his own way. Huh, I’d wrap that guy up for this little trick. There was a neat tomato down on Third Avenue who loved to play tricks herself, especially against the police. Later, perhaps....

CHAPTER 6
    V elda was still at the office when I got there. When I saw the light on I stopped in front of a mirrored door and gave myself a thorough inspection for lipstick marks. I managed to wipe my mouth clean, but getting it off my white collar was something else again. I could never figure out why the stuff came off women so easy and off the men so hard. Before I fooled around with Mary Bellemy again I’d be sure she used Kleenex first.
    I went in whistling. Velda took one look at me and her mouth tightened up. “Now what’s the matter?” I could see something was wrong.
    â€œYou didn’t get it off your ear,” she said.
    Uh-oh. This