Now, perhaps, I was going to get value for my money.
‘What gives?’ I asked. ‘Why should Barratt want to bother himself with a girl like that?’
The guy who owns this building tries to keep it respectable. Don’t ask me why. He’s funny that way. We’ve got instruc-tions that all women visitors are to check out before one o’clock or it has to be reported. Gracie works a night shift every other week. Barratt’s women visitors don’t check out at one o’clock and don’t get reported.’
‘So what does he do? Feed her five bucks a week? I’ll pay for information.’
Maxi finished his beer, dusted the ash off his trousers and stood up.
‘Well, I guess I gotta get back to work.’
‘Sit down and give. I haven’t had anything like ten dollars’ worth of information.’
‘At my rates you have. Make it another ten, and I’ll tell you something that’ll sit you on the edge of your can.’
‘Five.’
‘Ten.’