He bent over her, lifted an eyelid, straightened and grinned at me.
‘Hello. You seem to be having quite a time. I heard you yell. Was he going to knife you or were you two playing a game?’
I wiped my face and the back of my neck with my handkerchief before saying, ‘He seemed a little worked up. I don’t think he knew what he was doing. He’s hopped to the eyes.’ I looked a little anxiously at the naked heap of arms and legs on the floor. ‘You hit her pretty hard. I hope you haven’t damaged her. She belongs to a client of mine.’ He waved an airy hand.
Don’t worry about her. You have to treat these junkies rough. Besides, I’ve had a bellyful of them these past three days. They’ve been fighting and screaming at each other non-stop, and I like my sleep.’
I continued to wipe my face and neck. I was sweating quite a lot. The long carving knife on the carpet gave me the horrors.
‘You live here?’ I asked.
For my sins. Just across the way. Nick Perelli’s the name, in case it interests you.’ I told him who I was.
I’m grateful to you. If you hadn’t hit that goon he would have stuck that knife into me.’
Perelli smiled. His swarthy, thin face had a jeering, humorous expression. He wasn’t a badlooking guy: a little like George Raft, come to think of it. His clothes were good, and he wore them well.
‘So you’re the fella who runs Universal Services, are you? That’s a nice racket. Wish it belonged to me.’