High Spirits [Spirits 03] Read Online Free PDF

Jinx didn’t seem particularly ecstatic about this sign of affection, although he didn’t shake her off. He knocked on the door, using the time-honored if trite rhythm of “shave and a haircut, six bits.”
           A voice from beyond the door said, “Yo!” and the door was yanked open so fast, I jumped. Harold patted my shoulder. Another bruiser, not quite as large as the monster but every bit as scary, said, “C’m in, youse two. Da boss is waitin’.”
           I was too terrified to apologize for my jumpiness, which was okay, since we weren’t late or anything. Gee, but those people frightened me! I wasn’t sure Rolly would be able to show up even if he was me, if you know what I mean. I’m no prima donna, but shoot, I need to have some kind of peace of mind and freedom from panic when I work. Then the door closed behind us, and absolute silence filled the space in which we stood.
           Shocked by the sudden stillness, I turned to stare at the door. It looked just like any other door in the world. A chuckle at my back startled me, and I spun around.
           “Da doors and walls is soundproofed, Mrs. Majesty.” The words came from the mouth of a large man standing at the other side of the room. In spite of his accent and grammar, he looked as if he’d just stepped out of a gentleman’s fashion magazine. His smile made my stomach hurt, probably because it didn’t go with his eyes, which were cold, and black, and small, and reminded me of the eyes on a cobra I’d seen at the Griffith Park Zoo the previous November.
           “Oh.”
           “Dis,” said Jinx with a smirk of pride, “is da medium, boss.”
           “You should oughta interduce me to da lady, Jinx, not da lady to me,” the boss said.
           “Oh, that’s all right,” I said in a rush. “I don’t mind. Really. It’s fine. Truly. I—”
           Harold took my arm, and I realized I’d started babbling. I swallowed, and Harold said, “It’s okay, Daisy.” After clearing his throat, he said, “Mrs. Desdemona Majesty, please allow me to introduce you to …” His voice trailed off, I guess because he didn’t know “da boss’s” name.
           “Da name’s Vicenzo Maggiori, Mrs. Majesty. Pleased ta meetcha.” His voice was deep and oily and kind of reminded me of the olive oil Aunt Vi used when she fixed spaghetti.
           The feeling wasn’t mutual. I said, “H-how do you do?”
           “Don’t pay no attention to Jinx. He ain’t got no manners.”
           None of these people had no grammar either, apparently. Or maybe that should be neither. Unable to speak because my throat was dry and my tongue had stuck to the roof of my mouth, I nodded and attempted one of my gracious smiles. Gracious smiles were my stock in trade, along with gentle murmurs and Rolly, but I couldn’t find one in me to save myself. I hoped the nod would suffice.
           It seemed to. Maggiori swept out a well-manicured hand and said, “Please, Mrs. Majesty, sit here.” He looked at Jinx. “Tell George to bring refreshments, Jinx. Da lady prolly wants somethin’ to drink.”
           The notion of being served an alcoholic beverage jarred me out of my fear-induced stupor. “No!” I swallowed. “I mean, I don’t need anything, thank you.”
           “Nuts,” said Maggiori. “Get da lady a ginger ale, Jinx.”
           “Sure ting, boss.”
           “Bring me another drink, too, Jinxy,” said Stacy, acting flirty.
           “You’ve had enough,” Jinx said with noticeable coolness.
           Stacy pouted.
           The bottle-blonde I’d assumed to be Flossie sidled up. Actually, it wasn’t really a sidle. In fact, she seemed kind of shy. A gangster’s moll who was bashful was such a surprising concept, I forgot my nervousness and smiled at her. What the heck. Since we were the only two people present with