Read Too Darn Hot for Free Online Page B

him.”
    “Never entered my mind.”
    “I like that song,” he said.
    “What?”
    “ ‘It Never Entered My Mind.’ You know it, don’t you?”
    “Why are we talkin about songs?”
    “Song. We’re talking about
one
song. You know the words?”
    “Yeah.” It was one of the songs I wanted to sing in my act if I ever got to do one.
    “I always think of Claire when I hear it.”
    At least we were back to Claire. I thought about the words. “I can see why ya would.”
    He smiled sadly and then he killed his cig in a heavy-looking ashtray. I figured it was so he couldn’t accidentally knock it to the floor. “And you thought I’d know where Ladd was?”
    “Anything’s possible, Mr. Widmark.”
    “Is Claire all right?” He wheeled himself closer to me but he still wasn’t within arm’s reach.
    “She’s fine. Worried about Private Ladd.”
    “Can’t she identify the man in Ladd’s room?”
    “She doesn’t know about him yet. She’ll have to view the body later if no one else can ID the corpse.”
    “Did she hire you?”
    “Can’t tell ya that, Mr. Widmark.”
    He nodded. “I’d do anything to help Claire. But I don’t know what to tell you.”
    “Ya still in love with her?”
    “I’ll always be in love with her.”
    “Would ya do anything to get her back?”
    “I’d . . . what does that mean?”
    “It’s not a trick question.”
    “If you mean would I kill Charlie Ladd or some man in his hotel room, I wouldn’t. Not even if I could get there. And even if I could get there and wanted to kill this mystery man, I can’t see how that would get Claire back.”
    “I just asked if you’d do anything to get her.”
    “In case you haven’t noticed I’m no longer a man. There won’t be Claire or any other woman knocking on my door.”
    “Speakin of that, I heard there was some girl who used to visit ya, but no more. Who was she?”
    “Where did you hear that?”
    I shrugged.
    “I get it. I answer the questions but you don’t.”
    “Somethin like that.”
    “And what if I don’t answer.”
    “Nothin. Ya don’t hafta talk to me.”
    “Maybe I won’t.”
    “Ya don’t wanna tell me who yer lady visitor was?”
    “It wasn’t Claire.”
    “Did she know Claire?”
    “You could say that.”
    “Do ya?”
    “What?”
    “Say that. That she knew Claire.”
    “She did.”
    “Can’t ya tell me her name?”
    “I could, but I’m not going to. I’m not getting that girl in trouble.”
    “She wouldn’t get in trouble.”
    “Then why do you want to know her name?”
    “Can ya tell me why she stopped comin around?”
    “I told her to stop.”
    “Why?”
    He lit another cigarette.
    “Why’d ya tell yer girlfriend to stop comin round?”
    “She wasn’t my girlfriend. I told her to stop because it . . . it wasn’t good for her.”
    “Good for her? Why not?”
    “Forget it, Miss Quick. I think it’s time for you to go now.”
    The words I loved to hear. The words I’d heard too often. I stood up.
    Widmark didn’t say anything. Just sat there looking down at the blanket that covered his missing legs. I started to leave and then I remembered my stolen wallet.
    “Mr. Widmark. I have one more question.”
    He looked up at me. “Yes?”
    “Could ya lend me a nickel?”
    “What?”
    “My wallet was stolen on the subway up here and I don’t have any money. I’m very embarrassed to ask ya for it, but I don’t have any choice. I hope you’ll understand.”
    “Who stole your wallet?”
    “I don’t know.” I wasn’t about to tell him that it was an old lady.
    A grin grew on his kisser and then he broke out guffawing until I thought he was gonna hurt himself.
    I waited.
    “I’m sorry. It’s just that . . . you’re . . . well, you’re not much of a detective, are you?”
    What could I say to that?
    “Can I have the nickel?”
    “Sure. Take it from that jar over there.”
    He pointed to a small purple vase with a large opening. I dipped in and came up with some