Ackie had said this guy was as dangerous as a rattlesnake. To look at him now, I thought Ackie might be right. He didn’t look the dope any more. There was a cold, vicious gleam in his eye, and I thought he’d love to have a crack at me. When a guy’s got a gun I don’t argue too long. Guns always did make me nervous, anyway.
“Turn over, Tootz,” I said.
I wasn’t looking forward to the time when she got her hands free. The look she gave me didn’t exactly reassure me that a love feast was on its way.
I got her hands free and stepped away from her. I reckoned that I’d sooner argue with Katz’s gun than take anything from her.
She sat up, rubbing her wrists. “Give me a wrap,” she snarled at Katz.
Without taking his eyes from me, he pulled another wrap off the hook on the door and tossed it to her. She struggled into it and got off the bed. She looked a hell of a wreck. Blood from my nose was all over her shoulders and she’d got a big bruise on her jaw. I had left my fingerprints all over her arms, and the punch I had got in on her shoulder was already turning red and green.
She walked into the bathroom and shut the door. I could hear the water running.
“Sit down,” Katz said, jerking the automatic again.
I sat on the bed. I said: “Suppose you put the gun away and take it easy. This is a private matter between Blondie and me… it don’t call for any outside interference.”
Katz said: “You talk too much. Keep your trap shut. I’ll do the talking an’ you just answer… get it?”