Private Dick Casefile 01 - Lily White Rose Red

them the third degree until they squealed.”
    “Why are you talking like that?”
    “Trying to speak your lingo, gumshoe,” she said, very tough.
    “Don’t crack wise with me, babe,” I said.

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    CATT FORD

    “So, tell me, Grey….” She leaned toward me, putting a familiar hand on my knee and gazing soulfully into my eyes. “Do you have a moll?”
    “Uh, no, I’ve never really needed one,” I said, wondering where we were going.
    “If you need any help, keep me in mind.” Lily slid her skirt up her leg to reveal a little pearl-handled revolver stuck in the top of her stocking. “I’m heeled.”
    “Well, thank you for the offer, but it really wouldn’t be appropriate when I’m working for you,” I said, trying to be tactful about it. I guess it was my day for dames to flash me. I was hoping my lack of reaction would leave them thinking I had nerves of steel. “And stop trying to distract me. It might make me think you don’t want to talk about what I found out at the Jungle Club.”
    “Darling! I’m all ears.”
    Funny how some women can say darling and it sounds silly, but from someone like Lily, it was just right. I gave myself a shake back to reality. This could all be a ruse.
    “I hear you got Miss Saint-Ville the job at the Jungle Room.”
    “So you said. And is that a crime?”
    “No, of course not, but—”
    “She was a good dancer. I know Jack, the choreographer. He needed a girl, and she needed a job. It all worked out.” Lily shrugged.
    “Sometimes it’s more important who you know….”
    “And I heard that you know everyone it’s important to know.” Lily looked pleased, as if I’d just paid her a compliment. “I am fortunate in having a great many friends. What else did you learn?” I thought about giving her the lowdown on Suzy’s snappy maneuver with the brassiere but decided it wasn’t pertinent to the case.
    And besides, I was betting Lily knew all about it and could probably pull it off with more finesse anyway, not that I wanted to be there to witness it. “The girl I talked to said Miss Saint-Ville had an apartment all to herself, something she couldn’t have afforded on the salary she Lily White, Rose Red: Grey Randall, Private Dick Casefile #1
    65

    made at the Jungle Room, and speculated that maybe she had help paying the rent from a man. She said Margie had several boyfriends at the same time.”
    “Margie,” Lily mused in a strange voice. She caught me looking at her and said, “Miss Saint-Ville was… very young. That’s the time to date several gentlemen friends, before one thinks of settling down.” The term seemed quaint coming from Lily. Settle down? I bet Lily was still sampling several men at once. “Do you know where she lived?”
    “I’ll check my address book when I return home. I may have jotted it down.”
    The car drew in to the sidewalk in front of the biggest, most expensive department store in Vegas, Ronzone’s. I guess maybe I’d interrupted a shopping trip.
    “Would you mind asking your driver to bring me back to my car?” I asked.
    Lily nudged me, and I got out, giving her my hand to help her step out of the car. First she swung those fabulous legs out, clad in black hose. Several men passing stopped to ogle her as she emerged and smiled up at me.
    “Don’t be ridiculous, Grey, darling. You’re coming in with me.”
    “Shopping?” I asked dubiously. Not my idea of a fun time. I wondered if she was going to try on dresses and ask my opinion. That could prove to be deadlier than catching a killer.
    “We’re getting you a new tie. You’re still wearing that hideous one,” she said, flicking the tie over my shoulder.
    “No, this is the other one,” I started to explain, glancing down at the one I was wearing. If Miss McIntyre thought the first one was hideous, this one didn’t stand a chance. It was paisley, and even I didn’t like it. I would be embarrassed to wear this tie to one of Artie’s fights.
    Even though it was his.
    On the other hand, if I had to question Phil Mar—anyone apart from the thugs I usually ended up chasing, I needed a better tie. I shut 66

    CATT FORD

    my eyes, trying to remember what kind of tie Mr. Big had been wearing when we met, but the gloss of his looks kind of blurred the details for me, and I was lost.
    “I can see you in a lovely purple tie, Mr. Randall.” I opened my eyes and growled at her. “Purple!” Miss Lily McIntyre threw back her head and laughed. You read