Free Fall in Crimson by John D. MacDonald Page A

never learned a thing out here. And if you learn anything from me about that little party . . ."
    "You don't need to say it. Now, something else. A couple of biker movies a few years ago.
    Chopper Heaven. Bike Park Ramble."
    "Saw them when they came on the cable. What do you want? Some kind of critique?"
    "Whatever."
    "The outlaw bikers came off meaner and nastier than they are as far as tearing up civilians is concerned. And they came off a little more clean and pure than they are the way they act within the group. Enough stimulation, and they get into gangbang situations. And if anybody finks to the law, man or woman, they can be a long slow time dying in the piney woods. Technically there were very few mistakes. A lot less than usual. I understand they used outlaw bikers as technical advisers. The sound track was too loud. And those pack leaders were just a little bit too evil to be real. They came out close together, those two movies, at least five years ago. Probably seven years ago. The straight clubs are still bitching about those movies because they think the civilians can't tell the difference between outlaw and straight. I see they still run them on syndication, late at night. Why do you ask?"
    "Ted, I'm just rummaging around in this thing, kicking stones, shaking the bushes. The fellow who wrote and produced and directed those two movies stood to maybe get hold of a lot of money due to the killing of Esterland."
    "How could that be, for God's sake?"
    "Esterland's daughter was dying, in a coma. No chance of recovery. If Esterland survived her, most of the money would go to a foundation. If he died first, the daughter would get it; and then it went to the mother, who was still legally married to Esterland, on the death of her daughter a couple of weeks later. And that movie person, Peter Kesner, is or was close to Mrs. Esterland."
    "Way way out there on the end of a long stick, pal."
    "For two and a half mil, net, you can think up some very strange things. People will take a lot of pains over that kind of money."
    "Did Kesner need money that bad?"
    "I'll probably go out there and see what's going on. I haven't really decided. I'm on expenses, but I don't want to waste my friend's money."
    "I heard over the grapevine you'd tapped out, Trav."
    "In what way?"
    "The quiet life. The straight life. Peddling boats or some damn thing. Heard you got scuffed up and turned into a nine-to-five person. When I heard it, I said there was no way. I said you were Page 37

    too used to conning the world, knocking heads, saving maidens. I said that you could lose an arm and a foot and an ear, but when they rang the bell, you'd still slide down the pole and hop onto the truck."
    "Meyer said the same thing, but in a slightly different way."
    "How is that old egghead?"
    "As hairy and beloved as ever. He's being entertained by a chain of small newspapers."
    "That's nice."
    "You'll be in touch?"
    "I get even a whisper, I'll give you a call. Look, send Mits on in with a Dr Pepper. Thanks."
    I went out and found her rinsing glasses and told her what Ted wanted. She nodded and I said,
    "He doesn't look too great."
    She straightened up and turned to face me. "He isn't too great. That's for sure. These last weeks, he's been going down. It makes me nervous."
    "Can you get him looked at?"
    "I've tried. You better goddamn believe it."
    "I believe it. He is a strange and special guy."
    "I know."
    "He's very fond of you, Mits."
    "I know that too."
    "Look, here's my number. Any real bad turn, you can phone me and I'll be out here with a doctor."
    "You can't get a doctor to make a house call."
    "How much would you like to bet?"
    The shiny black eyes looked me over, and suddenly the impassive brown face broke into a big smile that wrinkled the nose and squeezed the eyes almost shut. "No bet. Thanks."
    When I went out, there were two large bikers staring into the front of my pickup. They had opened it up.
    "Something I can do for you?"
    They turned to