1980 - You Can Say That Again Read Online Free PDF

car accident.’
    I didn’t say anything. The hint was there because Larry Edwards hadn’t cooperated, he had been murdered. I couldn’t accept this, but the hint was there.
    ‘Now, this afternoon, palsy, we start business. Just go along with it, huh?’
    I nodded.
    ‘A creep will come and work you over. Just sit still and let him have his way. Get it?’
    Again I nodded.
    He smiled.
    ‘You know, palsy, you and me are going to get along fine together. I saw that movie of yours: The Sheriff of X Ranch. I thought it stank.’
    ‘So did I,’ I said hoarsely.
    He widened his smile.
    ‘See what I mean? We’re going to get along fine.’
    ‘Mrs. Harriet liked it.’
    ‘Sure . . . women! They like anything that moves.’
    He got to his feet. ‘Whatcha want to eat for lunch, palsy? You name it, you have it.’
    My stomach was churning. The thought of food made me cringe.
    ‘I had a fine breakfast. Nothing, thanks.’
    He released a soft laugh. It sounded like someone stepping on a pair of bellows.
    ‘Take it easy, palsy. You have nothing to worry about. I’ll have something light fixed for you, huh?’
    He moved his great body to the door, turned, smiled his rat smile and went away.
    Could Larry have been murdered?
    I sat there, sweating.
    Something went wrong with his brakes .
    No, I couldn’t believe it. I pushed the frightening thought out of my mind.
    So I just sat still. I didn’t even get up to look at the paperbacks. I had this frightening thought that now I had committed myself and had accepted the first payment, I would have to do whatever these people told me to do.
    He had an accident. Something wrong with his brakes. He’s dead .
    I thought of Mazzo’s rat smile.
    Man! I thought. What the hell have you walked into?
    Can it be possible, that unless you go along with these awful people, if you don’t do just what they want you to do, you could finish up dead?
    I sat there, working myself up into a monumental panic.
    At 13.00, Mazzo wheeled in a trolley.
    ‘Take something, palsy,’ he said. ‘It’ll be a long afternoon.’ He regarded me. ‘You feeling okay?’
    ‘Yes, but I don’t want anything.’
    ‘You eat something. Get it?’ There was a sudden snarl in his soft voice. ‘You’ve work to do,’ and he stalked out.
    So I ate some of the lobster soup because I was scared not to. It was so good, I finally finished it, then sat away from the trolley, fighting the inclination to throw up.
    Then action began.
    Mazzo came in, inspected the empty tureen, smiled at me and wheeled out the trolley. Then Harriet, minus the poodle, came in, followed by a short, fat man in a short sleeved white overall, carrying what looked like an expensive vanity box.
    This man was something to see. His hair, thick and long, was dyed the color of apricots. His eyelids were tinted pale blue and his lips were shell pink. He paused as the door slid shut and gave me a half sly, half roguish smile.
    ‘Jerry, dear,’ Harriet said. ‘This is Charles. He knows just what to do. Do, please, be cooperative. I want to make sure you will pass as my son.’ She turned to the fat little man. ‘Charles, this is Jerry Stevens.’
    ‘My dear boy!’ Charles gushed, bounding forward. ‘I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to meet you. I have seen so many of your wonderful movies! What talent! The Sheriff of X Ranch! I was overwhelmed!’ He seized my hand and shook it. ‘It is my great, great pleasure to meet you!’
    ‘Thank you,’ I said, not believing a word of this gush.
    ‘Charles!’ A curt note in Harriet’s voice made him stiffen. ‘You are wasting my time!’
    ‘Yes, yes, of course.’ He gave her a cringing smile. ‘We mustn’t waste time.’
    I saw tiny sweat beads on his forehead.
    ‘Then get on with it!’ She moved to the door. ‘Ring when you have finished.’
    Both Charles and I watched her leave, then when the door slid back, I said, ‘What do you want me to do?’
    ‘Sit down, please, Mr.