“Is that a subtle way of calling me a louse?” I asked.
Eddie laughed. “Hey, that’s a good one, boss.”
“Shut up,” Manfred said. “He made the joke, not me.”
“I’ve been talking to my friends in New York, too, Manfred,” I said. “I picked up a few interesting things. I knew all about you, but I found out that you have a girl working for you. She’s called Torchy and she’s a match. Last night she tried to put me in a frame and hang me on your wall. She’s quite a girl, but I guess you know it didn’t work out.”
“I don’t know nothing about any broads,” he said. “I’m clean, March. So get off my back before something happens to you.”
“I’ve heard that from others. I’m still around.”
“You never heard it from Harry Manfred before.”
“Besides,” I went on, “I haven’t been on your back. I’ve been on t
