Datasets:

skeskinen

/

books3_basic_paragraphs

like 0

'He'll get plenty. All Bobby's royalties revert to him now.' He pushed the cheque across the table.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

I picked it up and without looking at the face of it, tore it into four pieces, screwed them into a ball and dropped them into the ashtray. 'No thanks, Roger. It wouldn't feel right,' I said.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'From now on that's exactly what I intend to do. What about you?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'I'm off home tonight to see the woman I told you about. If she's still there. Eventually the band will get together again. There's an album to finish, remember?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Money to be made,' I said.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'That's right. Not everyone has your contempt for the stuff.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'I heard that the band were broke.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

Lomax pulled a face. 'Not really. We'll survive.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Even Valin's death, and the tour being cancelled, and the album being delayed?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'I believe there were some big insurance policies on him?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'I'm impressed. You have been doing your homework. There's big insurance policies on each of them.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Sterling, two million – two million five. Depending on the exchange rates.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'And every other member of the band cops that much?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Correct,' he said.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'So nobody hurts too much. Except him, of course.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

I saw Lomax shrug. He lit a cigarette.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'So how come he was alone, Roger?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Valin. How come he was alone last night? Where were all the ever-present security men?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Haven't the police told you?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'I told you already, they're not talking to me at all.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'He sent them downstairs to wait for him. He was off to a club with his girlfriend.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'And where was she?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'He sent her with them.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'And they all went?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Not really. He's one of the stars of the show. He pays their wages. One word from him and they're back on welfare. Look at Ninotchka the other night. She left Don behind and went out with you. You can't protect people who refuse to be protected.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Sure,' I said. 'You're right. Whatever. It doesn't matter now anyway.' I paused. 'What time's your plane tonight?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Seven. Oh, by the way, you can stay here as long as you like. The place is paid for, for weeks. All you have to do is pay your own bar tab.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Thanks,' I said, 'but I don't think so. This place has no pleasant memories for me. I'll go back home, I think. I used to have a cat. Some people down the street are looking after him for me. I'll bet he doesn't even recognise me. So listen, Rog, if I don't see you again, good luck. Say hello to McBain if you bump into him in Los Angeles. It was nice meeting you. Really.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Same here, Nick. If you're ever on the coast...'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'I'll look you up.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Goodbye then,' I said. We both stood up and shook hands, and I left the remains of my beer and went back up to my suite to pack.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

As I finished folding my last clean shirt the telephone rang. I tried to ignore it, but its insistent tone got on my nerves. It just wouldn't stop. Eventually I picked it up. 'What?' I said.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Hi,' I said. 'How are you doing?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'How do you think? Listen, I've got something you should hear.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'More rock and roll?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'I don't know really, it's strange.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'How strange?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Come up and hear it for yourself.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'OK,' I said, and hung up.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

I put my cases by the door and walked upstairs to Ninotchka's suite. She was alone when she opened the door.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'So what's up?' I asked.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

She went to the stereo and pushed the play button. I heard the fade to Zip Gun Boogie, and then a voice I recognised as Louis Pascall's. '... So when do I get it, Keith?' the voice said.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'I told you, it's sorted,' said Pandora's voice in reply.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'What the hell is this?' I said.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Just listen and you'll find out.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'I'm not sure I like the way you operate.' Pascall again.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'You never complained before.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'I know. But this is starting to get way out of hand.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'No, man. No, it isn't.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'I'm not so sure. Roger's brought in this guy Sharman.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'The guy's a bum,' said Pandora. 'A broken-down PI from the boonies, for Chrissake. Forget him. He's a fucking joke.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'He did OK when he worked for McBain.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Dumb luck. I said, forget him.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'OK. But I don't like it.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'You don't like anything. Except money. The next time I'll do what needs doing. Then the insurance is mine, then it's yours, and I'm in the clear.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'You know what they say, Keith. Once is cool, twice is queer. If the cops come in and start digging, you're up shit creek.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Don't you believe it. I've got the perfect fall guy.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'That jerk! It's the last time I trust him with anything. Getting cheap shit. No wonder it didn't do the job. And now the stupid bastard's guessed. No, I've got someone else in mind.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Never mind, you'll find out.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'You'll screw up the band and the tour.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Fuck the tour! We're insured for that too. And I'm the fucking band, don't ever forget that. I've rebuilt it before and I'll rebuild it again.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'I don't know, Keith.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Trust me...' said Pandora, and the tape ended with a click.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

I looked at Ninotchka. 'Where did you get it?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'It was the one we picked up last week. Remember? I just got round to playing it.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'But how did that get on the tape?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

She shrugged. 'How the hell do I know? Check with Tony at the studio.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'So what? The studio's open. Try it. Otherwise I've got his home number.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'I will,' I said, and pulled over the phone, got an outside line and dialled the number from Ninotchka's book which was next to it. The phone was answered on the third ring. I asked the switchboard if Tony Tune was in. The operator answered in the affirmative. I told her who I was and got put straight through.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Tony, it's Nick. Nick Sharman. I came in with Ninotchka to pick up a tape, remember? And I met you again at the reception for The Miracle.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Sure I remember. How could I forget? Hi, Nick, what can I do for you? I thought I'd heard the last of The Box for a bit.' He paused for a beat. 'Oops, sorry, I didn't mean it like that.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Sure,' I said. 'Listen, Tony, the tape we collected. When did you do it?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'When did you make the copy?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Let me see,' he said. 'The band came in Monday. That was the night that Trash got sick. Hell of a thing, wasn't it? I knew Bobby Boyle, you know.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

It was hard to be polite. 'Yeah,' I said.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'And you collected the tape when?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Oh, sure. Tuesday night late, then. After everyone else had gone.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Keith and that lawyer guy.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'That's the fella. They came in to listen to some overdubs. I left them to it, and went for a drink. Fucking lawyers! What do they know?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'You'd be amazed,' I said.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'These days nothing surprises me.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Join the club. So it was definitely Tuesday night?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Yessir. Well, the early hours of Wednesday, you know.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'I do,' I said. 'What kind of tape did you use?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

There was a pause. 'Did it fuck up? I didn't have any fresh tapes. That bloody tape-op of mine forgot to order any. Can you believe that? And everything else was locked up. So I used the first one I could lay my hands on. No good, huh?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'On the contrary. It's perfect. Thanks, Tony. I'll see you later.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Look forward to it.' And we both hung up.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

I looked at Ninotchka. 'Thank God for incompetent tape-ops,' I said.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'So I was right all along,' she said. 'It wasn't Bobby, was it?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Poor Bobby. My God, that bastard Keith! He killed all those people, just for the insurance money.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Are you going to call the police?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'No,' I said. 'I've been wanting a piece of Pandora since we met. Let's go play him some pretty music. I'll give him broken-down PI from the boonies, the son of a bitch!'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

Ninotchka knocked on the door of Pandora's suite at precisely one o'clock. Not quite high noon, but close enough.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

Louis Pascall answered. He ignored me and said: 'Ninotchka?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

Someone mumbled something inside, and Pascall said, 'Keith says not now.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Now,' I said, and straight-armed the door. I caught him off balance, and the door burst open, and I pushed Ninotchka inside. Pandora was the only other person there. 'Just the people we want to see,' I said.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

Pandora wore tight jeans and cowboy boots with a western shirt. Pascall was wearing a blue button-down shirt that stretched tightly over his belly, and suit trousers. His jacket was draped over the back of the sofa. There were suitcases lined up neatly on the carpet. Through one of the open bedroom doors I saw two more cases on the bed. On the dining table was a leather Gladstone bag. Open.

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'I said, not now,' said Pandora. 'Are you deaf?'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'That's not very hospitable,' I said. 'Especially to a lady.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm

'Sorry, Nin,' said Pandora. 'It's been a tough week.'

Zip Gun Boogie_nodrm