Spade struck a match and for a moment his big face was hidden behind blue smoke. “I want to know why,” he said.
“You know a lot. Why don’t you find out?”
“If you’re goin’ to take that angle, I will,” Spade snapped, his face darkening. “Listen, Lefty, this isn’t the way to take it. I’m willin’ to work with you boys, but I can’t let you ruin my trade. What the hell is all this about? Can’t you see you ain’t doin’ yourselves any good clearin’ the streets like this?”
“Raven thinks it’s a grand idea.”
“Well, I don’t. I’m tellin’ you it’s gotta stop.” Spade thumped his fist on the desk. “I thought you’d come along to talk business.”
Lefty shook his head. “Nope, we can’t help you, buddy. The girls stay off the streets.”
Spade nodded. “Okay,” he said. “Then you can’t blame me if it gets tough for you boys. I ain’t givin’ way on it. I can’t afford to. I’ll give you till next week. If the girls ain’t workin’ then I’ll have to start somethin’.”
Lefty took a blunt−nose automatic from his pocket. “You’ll just be a big smell in the ground, buddy,” he said evenly. “Raven sends this with his love.”
The automatic cracked once. Spade half rose from his chair. A big blot of blood suddenly appeared between his eyes. He spread out his hands and then fell forward over the desk.
Lefty ran over to the window, threw it up and climbed into the dark alley. He ran very quickly to the car parked at the end of the alley. Maltz swung the door open for him and Little Joe started the car rolling. Long before Spade had been found the car was out of sight.