Angel Eyes Read Online Free PDF Page B

neck. The light from a dusty fifty-watt bulb in the ceiling shone purple off a scar like a dueler’s cicatrix on his glistening brown cheek. I seized a bottle by the neck from a nearby crate and smashed it against the edge. The jagged end glittered in my hand. Whiskey fumes—rank, nauseating in that close room—enveloped me.
    My challenger hesitated a moment, then grinned. He liked the idea. We were squaring off when the Arab swept a short-barreled revolver out of his expensive jacket and showed me the round blue emptiness of its bore.
    “Please release the bottle.” To the man with the crowbar: “I said grab him, not fight him.”
    My weapon tinkled against the concrete floor. Immediately the gun swung in a short, vicious arc and caught me on the side of the head. Purple lights blossomed behind my eyes. I staggered backward, coming up hard against a stack of crates behind me.
    “I think that the police will be interested in the package we have for them,” he announced calmly, transferring the revolver to his other hand and shaking circulation back into its mate. “But not until we have finished with him.”
    “You’re finished.”
    I recognized the voice, its flat blandness, but I was too busy marshaling my senses to place it right away. The Arab turned toward the door, through which Lieutenant Fitzroy was striding. His expression beneath the porkpie hat belonged to someone who had just remembered a wry joke.
    “Lieutenant,” greeted the owner, his tone drenched with Near Eastern hospitality. “I was just going to call the station. We have your murderer.”
    “I hope you also have a permit to carry that, Mr. Krim.”
    The Arab glanced down at the gun as if he’d forgotten he was still holding it. “Of course.”
    “I see it’s a thirty-two caliber. Would you object to our borrowing it for a comparison test?”
    “Not at all.” His teeth glowed against the brown of his skin. “If you have a warrant.”
    Fitzroy smiled back. They were fast friends, these two. Krim put away the revolver.
    “Hello, Mack,” said the lieutenant to Scarface. “Glad to see you learning some trade besides making license plates.”
    Mack, still holding the crowbar, grumbled something I didn’t catch and dropped it. It clanged deafeningly.
    Fitzroy said, “Walker has already been in custody and released for lack of evidence. If you’d excuse us I’d like some time alone with him.”
    The Arab’s eyes, almost without whites, shifted from my face to Fitzroy’s and back to mine. Finally he nodded. “Fortunately we do not require evidence.”
    “Thank you,” said the lieutenant, as the workers followed their employer out the door. “This city could do with more public-spirited citizens like yourselves.” He watched as the door closed. Then he whirled and sank a fist in my stomach. I doubled over, emptying my lungs.
    “Just a little reminder to stay out of my case,” he explained. “The landlady at the apartment house called me after you left. I figured you’d come here next. You’re as predictable as you are curious, Walker. Sooner or later one of them’s going to get you killed.”
    I took a deep breath and let it out slowly to ease the pressure. “Thanks for the advice, Lieutenant.” My croak was fairly normal. “I won’t forget it.”
    “Are you threatening a police officer?”
    “I wouldn’t dream of it. But if you hit me again you’d better have a month’s sick leave built up.”
    He watched me closely. “I’m strongly tempted. I’d like to see how much of you is mouth and how much muscle.”
    “Screw you, Lieutenant.”
    Seeing his jaw tighten and his muscles bunch, I braced myself. I’d promised him one more try; after that things were going to get lively. Then he relaxed, smiling.
    “Some other time, shamus,” he said. “When there are no witnesses around to tell the judge how the big mean cop beat up the defenseless snooper. Yeah. I’d really like to see.”
    “Where’s Tonto?”
    “If