“All right,” I said. “Now I had decided to leave the business alone. What’s one cheap crook among so many? I didn’t have to grieve about Vessi. I was bein’ offered ten grand. That ain’t such a lot of dough. So I decided to leave it alone. Then, when you started trouble for Miss Jackson, I just had to come into it again.”
Spencer glanced at Mardi and then back at me. His eyebrows went up a little, and he pursed his mouth. “So that’s how it sits, huh?”
“If you mean that I ain’t sitting still when you start pushing a nice girl around, you’re right,” I said.
“No more than that?”
I wanted to belt that guy in the puss very badly indeed. I didn’t say anything.
He chewed his cigar thoughtfully. “You’ve got me in a spot, Mason,” he said at last. “You and this young woman here could be a nuisance. Between you both you might start trouble which might upset my plans. If we can’t come to terms, I’m afraid you two are in for a bad time.”
His voice was very casual, but I didn’t like his tone. I glanced across at Mardi and she wasn’t looking too grand.
“Suppose you put your cards on the table,” I invited.
He looked over at Gus. “Clear out, you two,” he said. “I’ll call you if I want you.”
When they had gone he began to pace up and down the room. I could see he had a lot on his mind.