Part 8 (1/2)
Brody left it for aof her career in Harleiven
”Did your husband give him an allowance?” Brody asked
”Naw, he just slipped him money from his pocket whenever Val asked for a loan, and soave hied to Doll Baby?”
She laughed sarcastically ”Engaged! He was just keeping hiular with that slut”
Brody dropped it and repeated the questions about Val's racket, enee sum of money when he was killed, and asked her to describe the jewelry he earing The wrist watch, gold ring and cuff links checked hat had been found on the body She said the thirty-seven dollars found in his wallet would be about right
Then Brody worked on the time element
She said Val had left ho to see a show at the Apollo Theatre-- Billy Eckstein's band was doubling with the Nicholas brothers--and had asked to come with him, but she had an appointment with her hairdresser So he'd decided to drop by the club and come with Johnny to the wake, and said they'd pick her up there
She'd left hoht with Alamena, who lived in a rented roo were you and Mamie locked in the bathroom?” Brody asked
”Oh, a half hour, more or less I can't be sure When I looked at an knocking on the door right then”
Brody showed her the knife and repeated what Reverend Short had said
”Did chink Charlie give you this knife?” he asked
The attorney broke in to say she didn't have to answer that
She began laughing hystencally, and it was five minutes before she had caletto roll hirunted ”I thought a Holy Roller preacher got the call to roll with all the sisters,” he said
”Most of 'em is,” Dulcy said ”But Reverend Short's too full of visions to roll with anyone, unless it be a ghost”
”Well, that's all for now,” Brody said ”I' to have you held in five-thousand-dollar bail”
”Don't worry about that,” the attorney said to her
”I ain't,” she said
Johnny was fifteenHis attorney had to telephone the bail-bondse for Dulcy's bail, and he refused to be questioned without him
Before Brody could fire his first question, the attorney produced affidavits given by Johnny's two helpers, Kid Nickels and Pony Boy, to the effect that Johnny had left his Tia Juana Club at the corner of 124th Street and Madison Avenue at 4:45 AM, alone, and that Val had not been inside of the club all evening
Without waiting to be questioned, Johnny volunteered the infor his flat at nine the night before
”How did you feel about supporting a brother-in-laho did nothing to deserve it?” Brody asked
”It didn't bother me,” Johnny said ”If I hadn't taken hi him money, and I didn't want to put her in the middle”
”You didn't resent it?” Brody persisted
”It's just like I already said,” Johnny stated in his toneless voice ”It didn't bother me He wasn't a square, but he wasn't sharp, neither He didn't havc any racket, he couldn't gamble, he couldn't even be a pimp But I liked to have hi”
Brody showed him the knife
Johnny picked it up, opened and closed it, turned it over in his hand and put it back
”You could turn a mother-raper every way but loose with that chiv,” he said
”You never saw it before?” Brody asked
”If I had I'd have gotten me one like it,” Johnny said Brody told hi Dulcy the knife
When Brody had finished talking, there was no expression of any kind on Johnny's face
”You know that preacher's off his nut,” he said His voice was toneless and indifferent
They exchanged stares for a
Then Brody said, ”Okay, boy, you can go now”
”Fine,” Johnny said, getting to his feet ”Just don't call me boy”
Brody reddened ”What the hell do you want me to call you--Mr Perry?”
”Everybody else calls h of a handle for you?” Johnny said
Brody didn't answer
Johnny left with his attorney at his heels