“What I say. When one of those floosie’s found a sucker she took one of my cabs. My cabs were kept mighty busy doin’ that businessnow it’s all gone.”
Little Joe looked perplexed. He hadn’t thought of it in that light. Spade was a member of the Hack Drivers Union and he’d got a certain amount of political influence.
“What makes you think I know anythin’ about it?” he said cautiously.
“I use my eyes and my ears. They said Raven’s at the back of the vice ring now. I know you’ve done a lot for Raven. You’re in the dough now. Anyone can see that by the fancy uniform you’re wearin’”
“Let me tell you,” Little Joe said heatedly, “this suit cost me”
“Skip it,” Spade said roughly. “What’s goin’ on?”
Little Joe hesitated. “Maybe the girls’ve got scared,” he said at last.
“If they’ve got scared, someone’s scarin’ them. You’d better lay off, Joe, an’ you can tell Raven to lay off too. No one’s goin’ to bust up my business without hearin’ from me.”
“Take it easy,” Little Joe said hastily. “I don’t know a thing about ithonest. I’ll have a word with Raven. I can’t promise anythin’. He’s a hard guy.”
Spade got to his feet. “So am I,” he said shortly. “Tell him that, too.”