Maybe she didn’t believe me.
I had to leave the booth to get some change and when I got back some guy was entering the booth.
“Look, mister,” I pleaded. “I’ve got a priority. Would you mind giving way to me?”
He shook his head. “I’ve got a priority too,” he said. “My wife’s apartment’s on fire…”
“I know and she’s up on the roof,” I skid, in disgust.
He looked at me sharply. “I wonder how you knew that,” he returned, then he suddenly shrugged. “Well, hell I’ll wait. There’s plenty for her to look at up there.”
I thanked him and got back to the Recorder. “If you don’t put me through to Miss Halliday,” I said when I got the operator, “I’ll fix you good some dark night.”
“Let’s make a date,” she replied promptly. “The trouble is the nights are never dark enough these days.”
“How can they be?” I said, wanting to strangle her. “Well, you know what I mean. How dark does it have to be?”
“I don’t know and I don’t care. I’ll just choose the first dark night that comes along,” I said, snarling.