Devlin looked back and nodded. “I’ll be back early tonight.” He glanced at the boys. “You be ready to take a ride with Frost and me.”
He slammed the door and Nickie paled, noticeably. Frost sat idly at the table drumming his thick fingers upon the oilcloth cover. Skippy went to the window and watched until Devlin backed the big car out. Then he turned suddenly.
“Say, mister,” he said to Frost, “me an’ Nickie know what Devlin’ll take us on a ride for tonight.”
If Frost was surprised he did not show it. He glanced up at Skippy. “So you’re a wise kid, hey?”
“Nope, we just kept our ears open last night an’ heard plenty. Devlin talked loud enough so we put two and two together. Anyhow we know Timmy never went out West—we know he’s dead. Tucker got picked up in Chicago an’ that put the bulls wise Devlin was in a new racket.”
Frost was aghast. “How do you—you....”
Skippy put his cards on the table. “I know everthin’ now, I do, an’ I knew plenty before I ever seen Devlin. We’ll give you a break if you let us get away tonight. If you don’t Devlin’ll go to Pittsburgh with you an’ grab that dough—a blind guy could see he figures you’re givin’ him the double-x—an’ besides I heard him say he’d get you. Anyhow I know the cops’ll grab him there an’ if you’re with him you’ll be grabbed, too. So chaw on that a bit.”
Frost was plainly frightened. “He’s been actin’ so crazy lately he might take me for a ride at that and if I get grabbed with him I’ll get the hot squat too.”
Skippy used the best thrust he knew. “Sure, you will. The cops got that notebook right now—anyway if they ain’t, Carlton Conne’s got it an’ that’s as good as with the cops.” He waited a moment until that shot had found its mark and then he added: “I sent Carlton Conne a note an’ that notebook too the night Devlin took us to the doctor’s house—I told him how long it was from the time we had the accident an’ all about this house an’ what the hermit told you. So if you know anything about Carlton Conne you know he’ll find this joint sooner or later an’ if Nickie an’ me are dead, it’ll be tough for you if you’re found with Devlin. Now I’ll give you a break if you’ll give us one. How ’bout it?”
Like many of his ilk, Frost thought only of his own safety and as he had neither brains nor cunning, he did not stop to question nor consider anything but himself.