This began to worry me. “If I thought you were serious, P. J.,” I said, “I’d have someone examine your head.”
“There’s nothing the matter with my head,” Juden said shortly. “But there’ll be a lot wrong with your job, if you don’t get some action and get it soon.”
“Do you honestly mean that if this girl’s just having a good time, I’ve got to fix some greaser to kidnap her?”
“Yep, that’s the way it is. It shouldn’t be difficult. We’ll cover the expenses.”
“You’ll do more than that,” I said. “You’ll send me a signed statement. If I get picked up there’s a bell of a rap tied to kidnapping.”
“You won’t get a statement, but someone’s got to win the 25,000 dollars reward.”
“You mean I stand to pick that up?” I asked, interested for the first time.
Juden closed one eye. “It depends if you claim it,” he said. “Maddox doesn’t expect you to, of course, but if you jumped him at the civic reception, I guess he couldn’t very well back out of it.”
And I was thinking Juden was a two-faced grafter and he turns out to be a real pal.
“I’ll remember that,” I said “Have another drink?” He shook his head, “I’m off home. It’s the children’s night out and I’ve got their nurse to look after.”