Free Hostage For A Hood by Lionel White

that way, we won't have any trouble from her."
    Paula looked up and gave him a long look. "What did you want to bring her here for anyway?" she asked. "My God, a woman and a dog!"
    Cribbins turned on the couch and stared at her coldly. "Are you stupid?" he said. "I've told you; given you a diagram of the whole thing. What the hell did you expect me to do—turn her loose to start yelling for the cops? Let's stop worrying about her. Let's just think about us."
    Paula pouted her lips and then lay back against the couch and shrugged.
    "All right, Harry," she said, "let's start thinking about us. Do you know this is the first time you and I have ever been really alone? And speaking of that, don't you think it's about time we heard from the others? Someone should have called by now. How about Goldman; he must know what's going on. Why hasn't he called? I'm getting worried."
    "Worrying isn't going to do any good," Cribbins said. "You heard the broadcasts; the cops haven't got anyone. The boys must have made it back to town. They're playing it smart and lying low. They'll be showing up, but probably not for another day or so. They'll have to get hold of a car and they'll have enough sense to wait until the heat dies down a little. There's no point in worrying; no point in borrowing trouble. Goldman will call; just give him time."
    "Okay, Harry, I won't worry. Anyway, as far as that goes, it will be all right with me if they never show up. Especially Santino. I'll be happy if he drops dead."
    As she spoke she shook her head, tossing the long black hair out of her eyes, and leaned over so that she rested against his shoulder.
    "So here we are," she said.
    "Yes—here we are."
    His arm lifted and fell across her shoulders. She moved closer to him and then suddenly pulled back.
    "Take that shoulder holster off, Harry," she said. "It isn't very comfortable."
    Cribbins pulled away from her and got to his feet.
    "Sure, Paula," he said. "I'll take it off, and I'll go out and mix us a drink. In the meantime you might make yourself more comfortable. Get out of that suit and into a housecoat or something. We won't be having any callers tonight, but I think I'll sit it out downstairs here, just in case. You want to stay down here with me, that'll be fine. But if we're going to sit it out, you better get yourself set for the night."
    Paula half closed her eyes, watching him as he moved toward the kitchen. Then she slowly got up and stretched. She turned and climbed the stairs.
    Cribbins was again sprawled out on the couch when she re-entered the room. He'd mixed a couple of drinks and they stood on the table in front of the couch.
    Paula was wearing a wraparound terrycloth robe, her legs and feet bare. She stood for a moment in front of him and then suddenly threw herself down so that she fell across his lap.
    He half pushed her away.
    "What's the matter, Harry?" she said, her voice languorous, but without annoyance. "Nobody's coming—you said so yourself. Don't you like me, Harry? Don't you like women?"
    "I like women," Cribbins said. "I like you, kid. But it's like I told you from the first. When I'm doing a job, the job comes first. I don't mix things."
    "You just mixed a drink," Paula said. "And anyway, the job's done. Over and done with."
    For a moment he looked at her. He felt tired; not sleepy, just tired. "You're right, kid," he said at last. "You're right. The job is over and done with."
    He reached for her then and as she came to him the terrycloth robe fell open and he felt the firm, warm flesh of her body press against him as her arms went around his neck.
    She kissed him and then pulled back her head and looked into his eyes. "That bastard Santino should be here now," she said. "He's the kind who likes to watch."
    "We'll give him something to watch, then," Cribbins said. "But let's do it in the dark." His hand reached up for the switch of the shaded lamp on the end table.
    Once or twice the sound of the dog's barking drifted down