Arym shrugged, “I don’t want to come back,” she said. “You don’t have to get so worked up. I don’t think it would be safe any more. In fact, I’m certain it wouldn’t be,” and she laughed.
Myra stared at her. “What do you mean by that?” she demanded.
“If it wasn’t for that silly little man, I suppose I wouldn’t have left you for good. I think I was getting the upper hand of you although it was a tough struggle. But be had to interfere and so I had to kill him. You see Peppi says they’ll put me in the chair if they catch me. He’s going to hide me until they find you. They think you killed him, so when they’ve dealt with you, I’ll be able to start all over again.”
Myra suddenly saw what a jam she was in and looked desperately at me.
“If I could only get this handcuff off,” I said, jerking furiously at the chain, “I’d know what to do.”
“There’s nothing you can do,” Arym said, curling up her long bare legs under her. “This is the proverbial struggle between good and bad. I’ve tried to get along with Myra, but it’s been too uphill. Why should a girl with such a nice body and looks lead such a dreary life as she makes me lead? I’m sick of it. Since she met you, she hasn’t stolen a thing. How does she expect us to live? Why, had to leave her to get alter that reward. She wouldn’t have bothered about it. Now, I’ve salted it away where no one can find it,” and her eyes lit up at the thought. She put her arms behind her and leaned back. I don’t want to stress the point, but that dame would certainly have made Petty a swell model. “Are you still going to marry me like you said, when all this is over?” she went on looking at me with an arch smile.
“I’ll have you understand he loves me, you horrid little hooker!” Myra broke in before I could say anything.
“That’s what you think,” Arym said, waving her away. “But he’s actually proposed to me. Haven’t you, darling?”
I didn’t know what to say.
“That settles it,” Myra said grimly. “I won’t let you get your claws into him. You’ve talked too much already. I’m going to take you to the police. They can choose between us.”
Arym looked alarmed, “Oh no, you’re not,” she said, sliding off the bed. “That wouldn’t do at all,” and she made for the door.
“Don’t let her get away,” I shouted, trying to reach her.
Myra made a dash towards her, but Arym was too quick. As she opened the door, Lew came bounding in.
Then things happened. I kicked over the table in front of Lew. Aryrn disappeared out of the room, slamming the door behind her and Myra suddenly swooped up to the ceiling.
As the table went over, the man-trap apparatus crashed on the floor. The fall set the mechanism working; there was a whirr of wheels and the handcuff clicked open. I just managed to get it off my wrist as Lew came at me.
I stopped a punch on the side of my head that made my teeth rattle, but I managed to slow him down with a counter to his belly.
He stepped back and Myra grabbed his hair. She twined her fingers almost lovingly in his locks and pulled.
I thought he was going out of his mind. He looked right and left and then behind him. He couldn’t see anything because Myra was above him. While he was occupied, I stepped in and hit him pretty well where I liked. I remembered Whisky, so I let him have it. He tried to back away, but Myra, exerting all her strength clung to him like a leech. Then he looked up and saw her. He could only gape in horror and I had no difficulty in hanging a punch on his jaw that came up from my ankles.
He gave a tired little smile and folded up on the floor.
“Very nice work,” I said, blowing on my knuckles. “And now let’s get out of this fast.”
I reached up to take Myra’s hand and I pulled her gently to the floor. She was as light as a thistle down and I had difficulty in keeping her by my side.
“She’s gotten away,” she said desperately, holding on to me, her feet a few inches off the floor.
“Never mind that,” I said, “at least, I’ve got you and that’s something.” As I moved to the door I heard the sound of heavy footsteps pounding up the stairs.
“The window,” Myra said. “Quick!”
I let her go and dashed to the window. As soon as I released her, she shot up in the air and banged against the ceiling.
“Oath!” she exclaimed from up there. “That hurt!”
I didn’t pay any attention. I was leaning out and looking down into the street. It was a long drop and we’d only break our necks if we went that way.
“It’s too high!” I said, coming away from the window. “What the hell are we going to do now?”
Myra floated down and drifted out of the window. She hung suspended just outside. It was an unnerving sight to see her standing calmly on nothing thirty feet or so above ground.
Already a number of people had stopped and were staring up at her. Several were clutching each other and one fat woman began running madly down the street, screaming like a train whistle.
“Don’t stand there,” she said impatiently. “Give me your hand. I won’t let you fall.”
“What? You want me…” Then I heard the door crash open behind me and Myra grabbed me.
I don’t mind admitting that I shut my eyes as I stepped into space. But she had no difficulty in keeping me from falling. I felt a rushing sensation and I opened my eyes timidly.
We had flashed over some buildings, leaving Waxey’s dive far behind.
“Do you like it?” Myra asked, holding my hand firmly and smiling at me.
“Only because I trust you,” I said, taking a firmer grip on her. “Otherwise, I’d just go crazy at the thought.”
We swooped over a crowded street. I noticed a loiterer below. He glanced up casually, stiffened and then hid his face in his hands. I guess that guy would go off liquor for the rest of his days.
“Pick a quiet spot and let’s get down,” I said. “We’ll start a riot in a minute.”
We circled some buildings, spotted a deserted alley and floated gently to the ground. As we recovered our balance, we noticed an old man standing in a doorway staring at us with fixed concentration.
“Do you do that often?” he quavered, plucking nervously at his beard.
“It only happens when we’re a bit light-headed,” I returned, dusting myself down. “Think nothing of it.”
“I wish I could,” the old man said, wistfully. “It’ll haunt me for the rest of my days.”
“That won’t be long,” I said, kindly, “so it won’t be hard to bear.”
“Don’t tease him,” Myra said. “He looks as if he’s been through rather a strain.”
“I have, lady,” the old man said eagerly. “The trouble is no one will believe me,” and he went into his house and shut the door.
“Phew!” I said. “We’re lucky to get out of that.”
Myra suddenly faced me. “Did you really propose to that blonde?” she said, looking at me accusingly.
“But, darling,” I said hastily, “I thought it was you. There was a look in her eyes and…”
“You mean, I haven’t encouraged you?” Myra said seriously. “I suppose I haven’t,” and she reached up and kissed me.
“The proposal still stands,” I said, a few minutes later. “Will you consider it?”
“I will,” she said. “And now I want some undies. Will you take me somewhere where I can buy them?”
“We’ve got to be quick,” I said. “If the cops…”
“I can’t go around like this,” Myra said firmly. “We’ve just got to take a chance.”
At the end of the alley, I spotted a taxi and I waved. Just as we go in, Whisky came bounding up. He scrambled in as we drove off.