“O.K. if I go now?” The boy said, after a few minutes had passed.
“You want to go? No kidding, Jim?” Surcher said.
“Yeh, I do.”
“Well, I can’t stop you.” He paused. “But I’ll tell you what—I think we have a few more things to talk about.” “Like what?”
“Well—take for instance—” And the Captain leaned forward slightly, “Take for instance, Jim—” He said—“Just exactly where were you during Assembly yesterday morning?”
The boy’s eyes dug holes in him.
“Jim?”
“In Assembly, man”
“Is that right?”
“Damn right it’s right.”
“Where were you sitting?”
“With my home room—where I always sit.”
“Is that right?”
“Right.”
“Next to who?”
“Hell—Dink—uh—Dink Reagan, yeh—and—Lennie Al-mot—for two—”
182 Pretty Maids All in a Row “Were you between those two?”
“Yeh—I was.”
“Sure you were?”
“Well ask them, I don’t care.”
“What’s the difference if you were?”
‘That’s what I’d like to know!”
“You think I’m nuts?”
“You’re on the wrong trail.”
“Know what your Home Room Teacher said?” “Crispwell?”
“That’s the one.”
“What’d he say?”
Surcher answered carefully, laying on each word, “He wasn’t sure.”
“Not sure? Hell, ask Dink! Ask Lennie! Ask anyone!”
“I will. I’m only telling you what Mr. Crispwell said—” “That guy’s nuts!”
“He might be.”
“What if you were?”
“Listen, say what you wanta say—”
“What would I have to say?”
“Aw—I’m going, man.”
The boy got up from his chair. He walked to the door. “Jim—”
Surcher calmly said. . . •
31
“Mm mm mm—“ Mona moaned "Ohhhh—"
Tiger couldn’t agree more, and he told her so, murmuring to her. What a great kid. What a girl. What a hon bun. He kissed her again and again, gratefully. What a throbbing girl. What a reward. Long months patiently thinking of her, watching her, wondering about her. Marvelous reward. Triumphantly, gloriously, mutually—patience’s reward. He viewed the situation in bliss, in all its exquisite glory. Warm. She w-as so warm. On his lap, still. Tiny pulsations
Pretty Maids All in a Row 183 still. He loved the warmth, the last tiny pulsations of bliss. The embers of that great bliss. What bliss. How deep had he probed? Embracing her, giving her face whisper kisses, Tiger wondered that. He thought of her stars. He would be generous and how. Two at least. Tiged mused. With a kiss. “You liked that?” He murmured low.
"Ohhhhh—”
“I loved it, hon—”
“Mmmmmmm—”
“Deep enough?”
“Ohhh—Were you deep—” She kissed him.
“Like that way?”
“It’s quite a way—”
“It’s a way—”
“Hope I don’t have a baby—”
“Not much chance—”
“Hope I don’t—”
“You won’t—” He kissed her again. They gave little kisses to one another’s lips. “Next time—” he said, “We’ll try another way—” He said— “And—I’ll give you a little something—to take—” The little kisses flew— “You take them like I say—then—everything—will be O.K.” She sighed, she moaned, “O.K.?” She nodded her head. "No worries no more .”
“Tiger. Ohhhh—” She embraced him.
She was all set again, Tiger couldn’t help note, amazed, almost, but, as always, open-minded, and ready for all things. He stirred, taking her warm, wet lips in full form. What lips. What marvelous lips. Her gorgeous tongue probed—
"Let’s go on the floor—”
He murmured low. . . .
“I didn’t touch her!” shouted the boy, whirling around to face Surcher, who sat absolutely unruffled, in that comfortable chair.
“Who said you did?” He asked, calmly.
“Well quit screwing around—” the boy said.
“Who’s screwing around, Jim?”
“You are.”
“Jim—listen—” Surcher said, quietly, calmly, as ever, “Sit down, let’s talk awhile—”
“What’s there to talk about?”
“Well—Jim—we’ve got a problem—” Surcher said, “Quite a problem—” He also said— “Look at it—Somebody, somewhere around here, probably yesterday morning, probably during Assembly, we think, killed that girl. You know that.” He paused “This guy is running around, somewhere, we think around here.” He paused again. “See the problem?”
“I’m not that guy.”
“Did I say you were?”
“You don’t have to„ man.”
“Jim—put yourself in my shoes—"
“You talked to the others only ten minutes—maybe.”
“Did they write the letter?”
The boy stood still. Then, he moved a few steps toward Surcher.
“That letter can’t prove a thing,” He said, quietly. “You can’t pin this on me.”
“I don’t want to, my boy,” Surcher said, in all sincerity, “I just want to find the guy.”
“I don't know about that.”
“You’ll have to believe that.”
“Why should I?”
“Well what good would it do?”
“Make a hero out of you.”
“Are you kidding? A monkey, you mean.”
There was silence. The boy stood there.
“Sit down, Jim,” Surcher said.
Slowly, the boy did so.
“Now,” Surcher said, leaning forward slightly, over his notepad, “Let’s start from the beginning again—”
33
“TigerГ Mona moaned, beside herself, once more.
“Aren’t you a hon—”
“Ohhh—what fun—”
“You bun—”
It had been even more spectacular on the floor, Tiger mused, finally withdrawing from her. She continued to sigh and moan, she held him close. It had been superb, without a doubt, and he was more than ever in favor of a free and complete mixing of the races, all the races, particularly white and colored. Particularly, Tiger mused, feeling her warm form pressed close. That marvelous form. Milk chocolate, really, that’s it. What a form. He perused and admired her form, he fondled her marvelous orbs, cupping them in his hands. The uplift was a sight to behold, a gift of the gods, he tried to think just who had more. It was much more than he had bargained for. A class of its own. The sweet tips sang. Truly they sang. Forever more. He thought of those two stars. Was he being generous enough?
“How long can we stay?” The girl said, cuddled on his shoulder. She murmured low.
He was impressed. He thought: More than two. Definitely.
“Better break fairly soon,” he murmured, “Fairly soon —Honey.”
“Mmmm—” said the girl, “Mmmmm—” She moaned.
“I feel the same,” Tiger said, helping her up.
“Look at me,” Mona said.
Tiger did, grinning, admiring her naked form.
“You’re a beauty. You’re beautifully formed. I could pet you all day. Know that?” He murmured.
She snuggled up in his arms, making soft little sounds, rubbing herself exquisitely, against him. Tiger chuckled, and urged her away from him.
“No more for now.”
“You’re a tiger you are—”
“Ah ha—save some for next time—”
“When will that be?”
“Soon as I can.”
“Let me know?”
“Don’t worry—I’ll let you know.”
She was fondling his love tool again. Gently, Tiger drew away. Without a doubt, it could go on all day.
“Let’s get dressed.” He said, tenderly.
“You’re spilling out of me—”