An Eye for an Eye by Leigh Brackett Page A

so long that he thought she was going to tell him to go to the devil and hang up. But finally in a sulky ill-natured tone she began to recite addresses. She could not remember all or even most of the numbers, but that did not matter. The streets, the neighborhoods, the places of employment were the important part. He wrote them down as she gave them.
    It was quite a long list. Longer than he had hoped.
    “You’re sure that’s all?” he asked when she had finished.
    “Yes, that’s all.”
    “Thank you,” he said, and hung up. He got the street map of Woodley out of the car and brought it in and spread it on the dining table. He got to work.
    In about half an hour the phone rang. It was Vernon Kratich.
    “I’m glad I caught you in, Mr. Forbes. I want to talk to you. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”
    “But,” said Ben, “I’m very busy.”
    “This won’t take long,” Kratich said, politely inflexible. “I’ll be right there.”
    Irritated and uneasy, Ben put away the map and the list and waited.
    Kratich came in something less than fifteen minutes. Ben let him in but did not ask him to sit down. “I really am very busy,” he said. “What was it you wanted?”
    Kratich regarded him steadily with a shrewd hard gaze. “I want to know what you’re up to with Lorene.”
    Ben tightened up. “I don’t think I understand you.”
    “Calling up in the middle of the night. Asking all these crazy questions about Al Guthrie. You’ve got her very upset, Mr. Forbes. I want to know why.”
    “I told you why. It’s necessary for me to find Guthrie—”
    “I know that’s what you told me. I also know that you’re Lorene’s lawyer, not his, and there isn’t any reason under the sun why you should have to find him. And if you did there are better ways of doing it than calling up at 3 A.M. to find out where he lived a year ago.”
    “Mr. Kratich,” said Ben harshly, “will you allow me to handle my own affairs? Please.” He put his hand on the door.
    Kratich shook his head. “Don’t rush me, I’m not through yet. Where Lorene is concerned I’m concerned too. In plain English, Mr. Forbes, I want you to stop hounding her.”
    “Hounding her,” said Ben bitterly. “That’s fine.” He opened the door. “I think you better go.”
    Kratich refused to stir. He took out his wallet and removed a check from it.
    “I found out from Lorene how much money she owes you. She has a great deal to learn, Mr. Forbes, and I understand her faults probably better than anyone. But I also understand why she has them. For the first time in her life she was able to buy some of the things she always wanted.” He held the check out to Ben. “This covers it, I think. And any further business you have with Lorene you can refer to my attorney, Jacob Lender. He’ll take care of it.”
    Ben stared at the check. Then he stared at Kratich.
    “Take your check,” he said, “and get out of here.”
    Kratich looked at him, narrow-eyed. He hesitated, then shrugged and put the check back in his wallet. “Very well. I’ll handle this through Mr. Lender.”
    He walked to the door and stopped close to Ben, facing him.
    “I don’t know what your angle is, Mr. Forbes. Maybe you’re a sick man. Miss Brewer thinks so. But you’re not too sick to understand what I’m saying. If you bother Lorene any more I’ll make trouble for you.”
    “Lorene,” said Ben savagely. “Damn Lorene.”
    He shoved Kratich bodily through the door and slammed it after him. Hounding Lorene, indeed. The bitch. Answering a few questions was too much for her, but it didn’t matter what happened to Carolyn. And Kratich. The hell with Kratich. If he gets in my way, Ben thought, I’ll tramp him under.
    He went back into the dining room and pulled out the map and the list. And then he thought, Good God, what’s happening to me? Lorene doesn’t know anything about Carolyn, and Kratich is only trying—
    If he gets in my way toward what, will I