to pull the gun. I had just finished this mental map-making when he spoke:
“That lousy ring wasn’t worth no grand. I did swell to get two centuries for it.”
“Sit down and tell me about it.”
He shook his head again and said:
“First I want to know what you’re meaning to do about it.”
“Cop Whisper.”
“I don’t mean that. I mean with me.”
“You’ll have to go over to the Hall with me.”
“I won’t.”
“Why not? You’re only a witness.”
“I’m only a witness that Noonan can hang a bribe-taking, or an accomplice after the act rap on, or both. And he’d be tickled simple to have the chance.”
This jaw-wagging didn’t seem to be leading anywhere. I said:
“That’s too bad. But you’re going to see him.”
“Try and take me.”
I sat up straighter and slid my right hand back to my hip.
He grabbed for me. I threw my body back on the bed, did the hip-spin, swung my feet at him. It was a good trick, only it didn’t work. In his hurry to get at me he bumped the bed aside just enough to spill me off on the floor.