The Love Killers Read Online Free PDF

forward, his watery eyes stayed fixed on her legs while he buzzed Cass’s apartment.
    Cass told him to send the girl right up. So many women had been to see her since Margaret’s death, she was used to it. She gave them coffee and a picture of Margaret inscribed ‘Peace—Love.’ In a way it was a solace to know how deeply so many people had cared. She liked to talk to them.
    Putting down the house phone, she said, ‘There’s another one on the way up. Will you let her in?’
    Beth nodded. She’d been there a few days, and Cass didn’t know how she could have managed without her. Margaret’s baby sister had turned out to be strong and loving—a great comfort.
    Beth opened the door for Lola and led her into the kitchen to offer refreshments. She knew by the girl’s eyes she was a junkie. Life on the commune had not sheltered her from the harder facts of life.
    â€˜I don’t want anything,’ Lola said restlessly. ‘Are you Cass?’
    â€˜No,’ Beth replied quietly.
    â€˜Well, like I gotta see Cass. Get her.’
    Cass came in then. She looked tired. There were deep purple shadows under her eyes; she was having trouble sleeping.
    â€˜I got somethin’ t’tell you,’ Lola said hastily. ‘I don’t want no reward, pity, nothin’ like that. You can sure see what I am, it’s no big secret.’ She paused to nibble on a hangnail, realized what she was doing, and stopped. ‘Margaret Lawrence Brown gave people hope. She wouldn’t have gotten
me
together—I’m nothin’ but a loser. Only I had a sister—just a baby. Aw,
shit
—I can’t even tell you what they did to her.’ She paused again, wiping her nose on the back of her hand. ‘Anyway—about Margaret. One of Tony’s boys made the hit. It don’t matter who—he was working on orders. Tony was working on orders, too. The big guy who ordered it done was Enzio Bassalino—
he
arranged it—the hit was
all
his.’
    â€˜Who’s Enzio Bassalino?’ Beth asked.
    â€˜This big guy prick. He lives in some fancy mansion in Miami. They say he’s retired, but believe me—he controls it all. The words to waste her came outta
his
mouth—not out of no gun.’
    Cass didn’t say anything. Intuition told her the girl was speaking the truth.
    â€˜Now I told you, I gotta get outta here.’ Lola stood up and scurried toward the door.
    â€˜Wait a minute,’ Cass said quickly. ‘If what you’re saying is true, let’s get the police in on it.’
    Lola laughed harshly. ‘Cops. Are you shittin’ me? Half of them are in Bassalino’s pocket.
Everyone’s
on the take. If you want him, you’re gonna hafta get him yourself.’
    â€˜I don’t understand,’ Beth said.
    â€˜Yeah, well, think about it. You can do it. You’re both clever. You got connections.’ Lola shivered; she had more to do. ‘
I’m
gonna take care of the guy who made the hit. Yeah, I’m
really
gonna look after that motherfucker. He’s called Charlie Mailer. Remember his name an’ watch the papers, you’ll be readin’ about him.’ She stopped by the door, a forlorn figure. ‘Just don’t forget who the real murderer is.
Enzio Bassalino.
I admired Margaret Lawrence Brown, an’ I wanna be sure you’re gonna get that Bassalino bastard.’
    â€˜Can’t you wait?’ Cass pleaded. She wanted to call Dukey or Rio, someone who would understand this whole thing better than she and Beth did.
    Lola shook her head. ‘I gotta split. I’ve told you enough.’
    Outside it was dark, and Lola headed for Times Square. She didn’t have to pull a trick or make a score, but somehow it seemed right that she did.
    Stationing herself in the foyer of a movie house, she approached the first man going in on his own.
    He was middle-aged, with a