Katz scratched his jaw with his thumbnail. “That all?” he said.
I nodded.
Blondie said suddenly: “What the hell’s the matter with you, Earl? Why don’t you rough this guy around. You won’t get anywhere talkin’ soft to him.”
Do you get the idea now? This dame was real poison ivy. I said quickly: “What more do you want me to say? I can’t tell you somethin’ I don’t know.”
Katz still sat there scratching his chin with his thumbnail. He kept his eyes fixed on my face, and I don’t mind telling you that I didn’t like the look in his eye. This guy was as tough as Blondie, only in a different way. He wasn’t all wind. When he started something, you’d know about it all right.
He said at last: “Okay, I guess you can beat it. You better keep clear of this place. You won’t find that five grand, an’ you’d better not go to the cops about it… get it?”
Blondie pushed forward. “You’re crazy,” she said. “Look what this heel’s done to me. You ain’t lettin’ him get away with that?”
A sudden flash jumped into Katz’s eyes. He looked mean. “Listen, Roundheels,” he said, “You lay off. I’m handlin’ this… so shut your trap.”
Blondie stepped away, shrugged, and walked into the bathroom. Katz watched her go and then turned back to me. “She’s mad with you,” he said, chasing holes in his teeth with the pick. “I’d watch my step with her. Once she gets mad with a guy, she stays mad.”
I sat up. “Suppose you get rid of this strap, an’ I’ll scram.”