Satisfied. Flanaghan stepped back. “I guess that dame’s as stiff as a board,” he said. “You’d better get her home.”
I shoved some money into the hand of the old guy and slid under the wheel. “I’ll be seeing you some time,” I called, and I engaged the gears. The car shot away from the service station fast, leaving Flanaghan scratching his head, looking after us.
Ackie said in a faint voice, “You wouldn’t call this dame a hot one now. I’m about frozen to death.”
I said, “For the love of Mike keep quiet, you bum.”
We drove the rest of the way in silence. When we reached Blondie’s apartment it started to rain. Big drops the size of nickels came splashing down on the street. That was the one break we had had on the journey. Rain as hard as this would keep the streets cleared.
I swung open the car door and climbed out. “Wait until I get the door open,” I said.
Ackie said, “Sure, leave me with the corpse every time.”
I went over to the front door. In the faint light I could just make out the glitter of the plate. I thought she wasn’t going to need that any more. I only had a vague idea of how I was going to get in, but when I tried the handle the door opened. I stood hesitating, then I stepped inside. I ran up the stairs quickly to Blondie’s room. There was no one in the bedroom and the room was in darkness.
Down I went again and called to Ackie. “It’s okay. We’ll get her out.”
Handling Blondie this time wasn’t so bad. It was just like you had got hold of a wax dummy. When I got my arm round her, she was as hard as wood. I eased her out. She had stiffened in a sitting position, her hands folded in her lap.