A Gambling Man (Archer #2)(50)

“I guess it can get pretty tricky driving up or down here when the mist rolls in,” said Archer.

“It’s tricky driving up or down here at any time, and I’m not necessarily referring to the weather.”

“Where to now, Willie?”

“Back to the office. I need to think some.”

Archer checked his timepiece. “It’s still early for me. How about I do some sleuthing on my own?”

“And how exactly would you go about doing that, I’d like to know.”

“I wouldn’t mind having another go at Ruby Fraser. She’s got more to say than she did. I can go back to see her show, and talk to her after. I can bring my friend along with me. She’s looking for work.”

“Ruby might not talk to you again, Archer.”

“She might with another woman there. Let me work it, Willie. You have to trust me at some point.”

“Right, only I don’t know if I’ve gotten to that point yet, Archer. We did just meet.”

“I won’t louse it up. I’ll just be listening.”

Dash rubbed his stomach and grimaced in some pain.

“You got something going on down there?” asked Archer.

“I got something going on lots of places. It doesn’t concern you.”

“If his wife maybe believes he’s having an affair, what are we supposed to do about the blackmail angle? And Kemper might very well win the election, affair or not, like his wife said.”

“The election isn’t the thing, Archer. Somebody is committing a crime. And they need to be punished for it.”

“Now you’re sounding like Mr. Shaw.”

Dash looked down. “I was a cop for a long time. Sticks to your bones and your brain. But since you’re an ex-con maybe I’m speaking to a wall.”

“I’ve got morals, Willie, maybe more than you think.”

“And I’ve got to always keep in mind that I work for the client, not the blindfolded lady holding the scales of justice.”

“I can see how that might be hard.”

“If it ever stops being hard, I need to see about another line of work.”

“So drop you off at the office then?”

“Yeah, and keep your eyes on the road, or the only place we’ll be going is off this mountain, the hard way.”

After leaving Dash at the office, Archer turned the Delahaye around and drove back to the boardinghouse. He passed Madame Genevieve in the hall. She spoke to him with only her eyebrows, which rose toward the ceiling.

“Is there a problem?” he asked.

“Your lady friend is very demanding.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

He raced up the steps and knocked on Callahan’s door.

“Who is it?”

“Archer.”

“Come on in.”

“You decent?”

“Well, if I were, I wouldn’t have told you to come on in.”

Even Archer had to grin at that one.

He opened the door and closed it behind him. Twirling his hat, he moved over to the bed where Callahan was lying and wearing the same pale clingy robe she’d had on before.

“Had a busy day?” he began, eyeing her closely.

She stretched like a cat, yawned, and wiggled a bit, lifting the robe to a fascinating height. “Yeah, I’m worn out just being little old me.”

Archer looked at the floor and said, “Madame Genevieve says you’re a tough customer.”

“If asking for hot water and a towel is a tough customer, then I plead guilty.”

She sat up against the pillow, pulled out a cigarette from her case, and lit it. Archer did the same and perched on her bed.

“I did run out for smokes. Do you know what they’re charging for a pack of Camels? A quarter. It’s eighteen cents back in Reno. What’s so special about this place?”

“Maybe it’s the ocean premium.”

“Yeah, right. Oh, did you get the job?”

Archer nodded. “Already working a case.”

“Why are you here then?”

“You still thinking about trying for a job at Midnight Moods?”

“Yeah, I am. Seems to be the only game in town.”

“How do you know that?”

“I haven’t been lying here all day waiting for you, Archer.”

She swung her legs over the side of the bed so they were sitting shoulder to shoulder. He breathed in her perfume and watched as she crossed one bare leg over the other. He closed his eyes and thought of every sad thing that had ever happened to him. It was almost enough. It gave him a fighting chance.

“I was there earlier today because the case I’m working has to do with one of the gals who performs out there. I’m planning to go back there tonight. So I came back here to ask if you want to come along with me tonight and see about getting a job out there. Like you said, it’s the only game in town. And then maybe you could be there while I talk to the lady again. She might feel more comfortable with another woman there.”

She rubbed her toes against his pants leg. “You promised you’d take me to dinner.”

“Her show doesn’t start until ten. So we can go there after dinner. And my treat. I’m gainfully employed, and now I have some leads to follow up on. So how about it? Will you come?”