L Is for Lawless

hot water pound down my frame like a waterfall. I dried myself off and then pulled on one of the two unisex robes provided by the hotel. My spare underpants were now dry, though a bit stiff, hanging across the towel rack like the pelt of some rare beast. Coming out of the bathroom into the dressing area, I noticed the message light on my telephone was blinking. The phone must have rung while I was in the shower – inevitably Henry, since he was the only one who knew my whereabouts. Unless the hotel management was on to me. Somewhat uneasily, I rang the hotel operator. "This is Ms. Millhone. My message light is on." He put me on hold and then came back on the line. "You have one message. A Mr. Pitts called at eight fifty-one. Urgent. Please call back."
    "Thanks." I dialed Henry's number. Before I even heard the phone ring on his end, he picked up the receiver. I said, "That was quick. You must have been sitting right on top of the phone. What's going on?"
    "I'm so glad you called. I didn't know what to do. Have you heard from Ray Rawson?"
    "Why would I hear from him? I thought he was gone."
    "Well, he was, but he's back and I'm afraid there's been a complication of sorts. Nell and I went shopping this morning, shortly after you rang. William and Lewis had gone over to Rosie's to help with the lunch prep, and that left Charlie here by himself. Are you there?"
    "Yeah, I'm here," I said. "I can't think where this is going, but I'm listening."
    "Ray Rawson showed up at Chester's and Bucky told him what was going on."
    "As in what? That I'd seen the guy who beat him up?"
    "I'm not sure what he was told except that you'd been hired. Bucky knew you'd left town, but he didn't know where you were. Ray must have come right over here, and since I was out, he gave Charlie some long song and dance about the danger you were in."
    "Danger? That's interesting. What kind?"
    "Charlie never really got that part straight. Something to do with a key, is what he said."
    "Ah. Probably the one Johnny had in his safe. I was going to show it to a friend of mine who's acquainted with locks. Unfortunately, I suspect he's been incarcerated for his expertise."
    "Where is it now? Bucky told Ray you had it with you last he knew," he said.
    "I do. It's tucked in the bottom of my handbag," I said. "You sound worried."
    "Well, yes, but it's not about that." I could hear the anxiety underlying Henry's tone. "I hate to have to say this, but Charlie told Ray your current whereabouts because Ray convinced him you needed help."
    "How did Charlie know where I was?"
    Henry sighed, burdened by the necessity for a full confession. "I wrote the name and number of the hotel on a pad near the phone. You know Charlie. He can barely hear under the best of circumstances. Somehow he got it in his head that Ray was a good friend and you wouldn't care if he gave out the information. Especially since you were in trouble."
    "Oh, boy. The room number, too?"
    "I'm afraid so," Henry said. He sounded so guilty and miserable, I couldn't protest, though I didn't like the idea of Rawson knowing where I was. Henry went on. "I can't believe the man would actually fly all the way to Dallas, but he'll probably call, and I didn't want you to be surprised or upset. I'm uneasy about this, Kinsey, but there's nothing I can do."
    "Don't worry about it, Henry. I appreciate the warning."
    "I could just wring Charlie's neck."
    "I'm sure he was trying to be helpful," I said. "Anyway, there's probably no harm done. I don't consider Ray Rawson any kind of threat."
    "I hope not. I feel terrible about leaving the information out in plain sight."
    "Don't be silly. You had no reason to think anybody'd ask, and you couldn't have known Rawson was going to show up like that."
    "Well, I know," he said, "but I could have said something to the sibs. I gave Charlie a fussing at, but it's myself I blame. It truly never occurred to me that he'd do such a thing."
    "Hey, what's done is done. It's not your fault."
    "You're sweet to say so. All I could think to do was call as soon as possible. I think you should check out or at least change rooms. I don't like the idea of his showing up on your doorstep. There's something 'off' about the whole business."
    "I'd have to agree, but I'm not sure what to do. At the moment, I'm trying to keep a low profile around here," I said.
    I could tell I'd put Henry on red alert. "Why is that?" he asked.
    "I don't really want to go into it. Let's just say that right now I