Lu glanced away. “Where’s this leadin’ to?”
“As long as we’ve got a witness that Raven killed Mendetta we’ve got Raven where we want him. If he slips, then the Perminger dame goes to the cops with my love.”
“Yeah? And she spills that you’ve been holding her in a knockin’−shop.”
Grantham’s thin mouth twisted into a smile. “She’ll do what she’s told, and she’ll say what I want her to say.”
Lu raised his eyebrows. “She may be tough,” he said.
“Carrie likes ’em tough.” Grantham reached forward and knocked the ash off his cigarette. “I’ve told her to start softenin’ her as soon as she comes to the surface. Carrie knows her job.”
“If Raven gets to hear about this it’s goin’ to be just too bad for you.”
“Raven won’t hear about it. Carrie knows me well enough not to open her mouth. You’re the only other one. If you say anythin’ to him you’ll only do yourself dirt. You an’ me get along all right, don’t we?”
Lu nodded. “Sure,” he said. “I was just thinkin’ of Carrie.”
The phone bell rang sharply. Grantham picked it up.