Crooked Read Online Free PDF

deserved. Persons who crossed him had only themselves to blame.
    No, the thing he feared most was the cold and the emptiness, the bad dreams that were his constant company. He wanted to stop the nightmare. He wanted to turn off the dark. But then the pollutants descended as thick as a woollen blanket and smothered his face, so he could see and breathe, only with difficulty. Those times, not even the sunlight could warm his poor shivering being.
    â€˜Stow it,’ said Ducky, when he came banging through Reilly’s door earlier that evening. ‘Just hand over the ready, I’m broke.’
    Reilly was cocked back in his swivel chair, nursing a chihuahua on his knee. He glanced at him strangely through half-lowered eyelids. ‘I hope you’re not here intending to cause a blue, like you’ve been blueing with all of the people in this town. I dunno what’s got into you, Ducky. But if you keep on like this, you’ll end up the same as some others I could name.’
    â€˜You threatening me, Dick?’
    â€˜Could be.’
    Reilly’s eyes drifted to the Smith & Wesson that lay on the edge of his desk, but Ducky beat him to it. He snatched it up, waved it around. Reilly’s chihuahua got up on its hind legs and tore at Ducky’s sleeve.
    â€˜Shut up the rodent or I’ll mangle him, Dick.’
    Reilly scooped up the dog, muffled it with his fingers. ‘Look, mate, I reckon we’ve been friends for a very long time. I know you’re in a spot of trouble over this Melbourne matter, and it’s got you shook up. That’s why I’m going to give you a monkey.’ He stuck a hand in his pocket and pulled out a wad. ‘But I want you to see Lennie and set things to rights.’
    Ducky sneered, waving the gun. ‘So this is how the great Dick Reilly handles his business? Go and see Len, go and see Len. Let Lennie sort it out. I reckon you don’t see what’s coming, do you, Dick?’
    But Reilly wasn’t listening. He dropped the dog, threw a short jab from the right, a hook from the left, connecting with Ducky’s chin.
    â€˜Sorry, mate,’ said Reilly, glancing at his knuckles. ‘But I can’t help it when you do things like this. It gets me upset.’
    Ducky threw himself into the nearest chair, nursing his jaw, chastened. ‘There’s no way I’ll stand trial in Melbourne, not in a hanging state. I won’t.’
    Reilly sighed. ‘Well, it’s a bit late for that. Should’ve thought about it before you shot up that sheila you never even met and dunno from nothing.’
    â€˜I killed for you, Dick. I killed Pretty Boy Walker and Charlie Bourke. I shot sixty slugs into Jackie Steele on account of the fact he was bothering you –’
    â€˜Yeah, and a fat lot of good it did me. Jackie gets up off the footpath and trots along to the hospital.’
    â€˜Have you paid somebody to knock me?’
    â€˜I dunno.’ Reilly scratched his head. ‘But the way you go on I wouldn’t have to pay anything. They’d knock you for free.’
    â€˜Lennie doesn’t like me.’
    â€˜No worries. I’ve had a talk to the bloke. I’ve told him to make the arrangements. Wasn’t it Len got you out last time you was banged up?’
    â€˜He doesn’t want to talk.’
    â€˜God knows he’s got better things to do. But he’s waiting at the Latin Quarter. I’ve already told him you’re coming.’
    Ducky edged his way to the door. ‘I reckon you don’t know what you’re doing.’
    â€˜And you do?’
    â€˜I can look after myself.’
    Reilly called after him. ‘Yeah, well don’t go in there blowing like a maniac.’ But it was already too late. Ducky was gone, leaving Reilly gobbling air.

    Things took a turn for the worse. Ducky had parked his blue Holden round the corner from Kellett Street but, for some reason, the engine failed