Read Murder Me for Nickels for Free Online Page A

he walked through there he knocked into the table. He kept right on walking and left the table standing at an off-angle. Lippit was that big and that mad. He kicked the screen door open and so he would know I was out there before the door came flying shut with a racket I said, “Hello, Walter.”
    He stopped, caught the door and closed it very gently.
    I said, “You—uh, spoke to Benotti?”
    Lippit didn’t answer. He just took a deep breath.
    “I’m sorry I’m late, Walter.”
    “ Late? ”
    “Yes. I was….”
    “You got here before me, didn’t you?”
    Then he opened the screen door again and then slammed it shut.
    Lippit, when his mood demanded, would bellow his words for a while and then would be done with his rage. That, and slamming that door, did it for him and he felt visibly better.
    “Yessir,” he said. “I came for a calm, friendly talk. Yessir.”
    “Didn’t work, huh?”
    He looked me up and down, but didn’t bother to answer.
    “I talked to Folsom,” I said. “The way he acted, I am glad to see that you aren’t taking all this with the same….”
    He bent to the floor and picked something up.
    “You’re missing a button,” he said. “This the one?” And he gave it to me.
    The gesture raised hell with the argument for a cool, peaceful procedure I was going to offer. Not that I was the reasonable one and Lippit the oaf needing special guidance. Except, the case was special for me. I just wished Lippit wouldn’t start going too fast.
    “How’s Benotti?” I said. “Is he in bed?”
    Lippit went down the porch steps and said, “Yeah. He’s in bed.”
    “That’s a help, isn’t it? Now he’ll be out of touch for a while and….”
    “Yeah,” said Lippit, and then he turned and went back into the house. The screen door slammed shut, his steps clunked down the hall, but then he was back almost immediately. He came out on the porch, took my arm, and walked me around to the street.
    “What was that just now, Walter?”
    “You got your car here?”
    “Yes. But what did….”
    “Meet me at my place. But soon, Jack. I mean tonight, soon.”
    “Sure. What was that at Benotti’s just now, one more good-bye?”
    “No. I tore out his phone.”

Chapter 6
    W alter Lippit, I knew, was not a phone-out-of-the-wall tearer, or door kicker, or anything like that. If he should kick a door it was because the door didn’t open and he wanted in. If he tore a phone out of the wall, it meant he didn’t want anyone to use it.
    So while Benotti would be pretty much out of touch, Lippit meant to hustle.
    I took him so seriously, I got to his apartment before he did. Because when I rang the bell Pat opened the door and when she saw me she slammed the door shut again.
    “No!”
    “Pat, listen. You listening, Pat?”
    “Walter is going to be home any minute,” she said through the door, “so you better beat it, Jack.”
    “I know he’ll be home any minute. That’s why I want….”
    “I know what you want and you must think you’re pretty good.”
    I know that she wanted to slam the door right then except it was closed already. I heard her walk away and knew just when she’d get to the living-room door, to slam that one, but nothing happened. I knocked again and said, “Pat?” when she suddenly opened up.
    “What changed your mind?” I asked her. “I mean, aside from the fact that you just can’t help yourself.”
    I walked in but she didn’t answer. On the way to the living room I looked at her once but she just smiled back.
    I mean, I was used to No’s from this girl. Not counting an overwhelming gambit like that zipper deal, this girl was Lippit’s, she could say no in her sleep, and our boss was due any minute. In addition, of course, Pat was a great calculator. She had on a nightgown and a robe over that. She held it tight where it mattered and left it loose where it mattered and without make-up on she looked soft and sleepy. It made me think of a warm bed.
    “Sit down,