‘It has its low moments. This is one of them. I’d like to put it on record if there’s anything I can do for you now or in the future, let me know. It’ll be on the house, and you’ll get our Grade A service.’
‘I’ll remember,’ he said, and grinned. ‘Right now I’m pretty well fixed, but you never know.’ He stuck his toe into the girl’s side and gave her a little nudge. ‘Is this one of the services?’
‘One of the less pleasant ones. I came here to take her back to her father.’
Think he’ll be pleased to have her back? I wouldn’t be if she belonged to me. I wouldn’t want her back if she was going away with a yacht.’
I fetched the blanket and dropped it over her.
‘Her old man’s only one degree better than she is. What’s the bouncer downstairs going tosay when he sees me carrying her through the lobby?’
‘Maxie?’ Perelli laughed. ‘He’ll hang out the flags. He’s been longing to get rid of her, only Barratt scares him. I’m on my way to meet my girl. We can go down together. I’ll see he doesn’t bother you.’
‘Fine,’ I said. ‘I’d hate to be run in for kidnapping after what I’ve just been through.’
‘The bathroom’s through there if you want to tidy up,’ he said, pointing. ‘You look a bit of a wreck. I’ll watch her until you get back.’
I went into the bathroom and repaired the damage as best I could. Even after a wash and I had pinned up the torn lapel I still looked as if I’d been wrestling with a wild cat.