Build My Gallows High Read Online Free

reading to me,’ Sterling said. ‘How you been, Red?’
    ‘Fair, Whit.’
    ‘Business good?’
    ‘Lousy. And yours?’
    ‘Average.’
    The man named Lou returned with Fisher’s drink, gave it to him grudgingly and resumed his seat. ‘Don’t talk any more,’ he told Sterling.
    Sterling’s head relaxed on the pillow. There were lines of bitterness around his mouth and his eyes were clouded with pain.
    ‘Somebody has to talk,’ Red observed. ‘This is no social call.’ Fisher shot a pained look at him.
    ‘Mr. Sterling wants you to find a young woman for him,’ Lou explained.
    ‘I thought he might,’ said Red. ’Mr. Sterling is not the forgiving type. Why did she shoot him?’
    ‘That’s unimportant,’ Lou brushed the question aside.
    ‘Except to Whitney,’ grinned Red. ‘Eh, Whit?’
    Sterling’s expression hardened. He wet his lips and his lids lowered over his eyes.
    ‘Her name is Mumsie McGonigle,’ Lou went on in his cool, precise voice. ’After the shooting she disappeared. So did fifty-six thousand dollars.’
    Fisher looked up from his drink, whistled softly. Lou gave him a disapproving glance.
    ‘A police case,’ Red observed.
    Sterling spoke without opening his eyes. ‘No. Yours.’
    ‘So that’s how it was,’ said Red.
    ‘We’re not asking you to think.’ Lou took a wallet from his pocket, extracted five one-thousand-dollar bills and held them out to Red. ‘Find her. Bring her back here and forget it.’
    ‘You want her, or the dough?’ Red asked, ignoring the proffered bills.
    ‘Both.’
    ‘And what happens to her?’
    ‘Nothing.’
    Red’s look had disbelief in it. Lou smiled. ‘She left under the impression she had killed Mr. Sterling,’ said Lou. ‘Naturally she was frightened.’
    ‘And her conscience hurt her,’ Red said.
    Sterling opened his eyes. They were as warm as a cat’s. ’My gut keeps me from laughing. Will you get busy?’
    Through the smoke of his cigarette, Red grinned at the man under the pink quilt. ‘Tell me more about Mumsie, Whitney.’
    ‘He shouldn’t be talking,’ Lou protested.
    Sterling ignored the protest, adjusted his pillow so that he could look across at Red, gingerly touched his stomach. ’I had it coming. She found me with another dame. I want her back.’ He motioned to Lou. ‘Show him her picture. Then maybe the bastard will believe me.’
    Languidly Lou crossed to the dresser, opened the top drawer, took out a photograph and, returning, handed it to Red. He stood over the detective, holding the wad of money in his right hand.
    Red stared at the lovely oval face. After a moment he turned his attention back to Sterling. ‘I’d want her back too,’ he admitted. ‘But then, I’m a sentimentalist. I never suspected you of tender moments, Whit.’
    Fisher spoke for the first time. ‘For Christ’s sake,’ he said, ‘don’t you ever run down?’
    ‘He’s having fun.’ Sterling offered Red a thin smile. ‘Five thousand now and another five when you bring her back. Plus expenses.’
    ‘And God help Mumsie.’ Red flicked the picture with his forefinger.
    Whit shook his head. ’I won’t touch her.’
    ‘Any idea where she went?’
    ‘Mexico, probably. I took her there last year and she loved it. Anyway, that’s where I’d suggest looking.’
    Across the bed Red could see the windows. He could see the snow flaking down and could hear the wind petulantly rattling the glass. There would be sun in Mexico—sun and a warm wind, orchids in the jungle and a sky washed clean of clouds.
    Reaching out, he took the money from Lou’s hand and thrust it carelessly in a pocket. He stood above the bed, dribbling smoke from his thin nostrils.
    ‘A deal, Whit. On one condition. You don’t lay a hand on her and none of your boys lays a hand on her.’
    ‘I said that already.’
    ‘I’ll see you after a while.’ Red headed for the door, opened it, threw a bleak smile back at Sterling and went out. Fisher hurried after him.
    At