He started to open the door. Then he came back and grabbed Gladys’ shoulders. He shook her. “But I can always use more. You asked me for the wire and now I’ll give it to you. Renzelli’s dead. You know that. You know who killed him. So do I. Now you’re going to tell me where I can find—”
Despite the alcohol she was carrying, Gladys had strength. Using every ounce of it, she threw a fist at Elrick’s right eye. It missed the eye and it hit the cop on the forehead. It gave Elrick pain, and it made him release the girl. She kicked him in the left shin, and then she kicked him in the right shin, and he made a grab for her. She dodged him. She snatched at the pitcher and swung it at his head.
He ducked and made another grab for her. She jumped up on the bed and screamed and kicked again. One of the kicks caught him on the side of the lip. He cursed. Blood was running from his mouth and he was losing his temper. Again he reached for her.
Gladys still had hold of the pitcher. She raised it over her head, brought it down hard. It made a dull sound as it connected with Elrick’s skull. He fell back, tripped and went up against the window sill and Gladys threw the pitcher at him as he lunged at her. The pitcher hit Elrick full in the face. It loosened up a few of his front teeth and now he was out to do damage.
But he tripped again as he neared the bed. He went down on his knees and, before he could straighten, Gladys’ fist swung around in a flat arc and landed on the side of his jaw. He twisted over and fell on his back. Gladys jumped off the bed and picked up the empty gin bottle and hit him over the head. He tried to get up, tried to bring an arm up to protect his head.
Gladys was too fast. Again she banged him with the gin bottle. Elrick fell flat on the floor. His eyes were closed. He was unconscious...
Somebody was saying:
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I couldn’t help it. I lost my head.”
“I always told you not to get excited.”