Ackie’s face brightened. “You goin’ to give him the works?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m going to give it to him until he’s come as clean as Aimee’s surplice.”
Ackie scratched his head. “You’re sure headin’ for trouble. This guy’s the bad man of the town. He’ll start something which might come awkward.”
I didn’t bother to answer. I knew that things would start to hum pretty soon, and as long as I was making them hum I didn’t care. I ran through Katz’s pockets. The first thing I turned up was a roll of money. I didn’t have to count it. I knew that it was the five grand that Blondie had lifted off me. I showed the roll to Ackie. “That’s why he was up here,” I said. “Just lining his pocket, the yellow punk.”
“You keepin’ it?”
I shook my head. “I’m not takin’ any chances. I’ll leave it where I found it. If the cops are looking for me, that would be a fine one to pin on me.”
“You think of everything, don’t you?” Ackie looked at me admiringly. He was nearly sober by now, and I guess the drink was dying on him hard.
“Go into the bathroom and get some towels. I want to fix this bird.”
Ackie came back after a moment with a couple of towels. “Nice joint this, ain’t it?” he said.
I grunted and took the towels from him. I tore them in two and trussed Katz. I made a good job of it. Ackie leant over the bed-rail and watched. I knew Ackie was scared, but he wasn’t saying anything. He just stood and watched. I knew he was thinking that if we didn’t get away with this, we were going to get into a pretty tight jam. I thought it mighty white of him to come in with me.