‘Listen!’ Rico said, stiffening. ‘Police sirens!’
Baird stamped on the brake, swung the car across the street with a screech of tortured tyres and drove up a narrow side street. He stopped the car, jumped out and stood on the sidewalk, his hand on his gun.
Fearfully, Rico peered through the broken rear window and looked towards the main street. The clamour of sirens grew louder. They watched three black and white police cars flash past, heading for Union Street.
‘That punk tipped them off fast enough,’ Baird growled as he got back into the Buick. ‘But they still mayn’t find her.’
He drove recklessly along the back streets and reached the club in under five minutes. He drove into the parking lot.
‘Get hold of yourself,’ he said, as he wiped the blood off his neck. ‘Come on out. We may be rushed for time.’
As they got out of the car, the parking attendant came over. He stared at the blood on Baird’s col ar, then his gaze shifted to Rico’s damaged nose, and his eyes popped.
‘Some drunk threw a bot le at the car,’ Baird said. ‘Smashed the rear window.’
‘Gee!’ the at endant exclaimed. ‘What did he want to do that for?’
‘Anyone been asking for me, Tim?’ Rico said, holding his handkerchief across his face.