–
Dashiell Hammett
11AMEST:
The heat is still on, but here's what I have so far. Hang on for
the rest because these people are getting my dander up.
Chapter
5: No Truth Yet
Daniel
was at the Duval house, trying to find out whom Ivana had eaten with
that day. Honestly, she could do better than this creepy little worm
who chewed gum like a cheap bookie. She started to describe the
subject of her lunch with Max, but her aunt arrived just in time to
stop that. Daniel changed the subject to a dinner invitation to
dinner that night. Ivana told him tomorrow, knowing he didn't want
to be put off. “Do you think you're the only man I've ever dated?”
she asked. She started looking like she'd rather have root canal.
“I just refuse to be hurt.”
“You're
hurting me,” he said to her, “I believe in you but you don't
believe in me.”
She
fell for that act and let him climb all over her.
Max
Bustamante entered his father's office to talk about that meeting.
Claudio understood the case. He knew what the outcome should be.
But he could not get personally involved but was willing to talk off
the record. Max was happy about that.
In
the barrio Fermin was being threatened by the two thugs who murdered
Rudolfo. He said he wouldn't squeal. Orlando and Ari arrived and
they backed off.
Rudolfo's
widow and daughters talked about Isela and her crazy mother. No
matter what Josefa thought she knew, they knew about how she abused
this girl. The whole neighborhood knew. She had gotten worse after
the death of her older daughter. Maria Dolores thanked Esperanza for
being a very different person from Josefa.
Out
on the street Maleny Santibañez argued with Ari about reporting the
car theft. She was too embarrassed that anyone might find out it was
stolen from a street in that part of town. She'll be a damned sight
more embarrassed when the word bankruptcy is on the entire town's
lips. Ari finally put her in a cab and told the driver to take her
to the police station. Orlando arrived just in time to see this. He
was concerned about Isela. Ari talked about living La Dolce Vita
when Maleny married the rich lawyer her mama had in mind for her. He
had no intention of living in her shadow. At least not until he
could meet another hot dame with money.
Ivana
showed her aunt she wasn't the fool Susanna thought she was. She
told her off about how she had behaved in front of everyone,
including Daniel. Ivana had no intention of staying in the mold she
had made for her.
Orlando
and Isela spoke over the phone, very sotto voce. He didn't
want any more conflict with her mother. He wanted Jacinto to get
what he deserved. She started to say more, but changed her mind. He
got curious and she explained that Max Bustamante would take care of
the case. He was to stay out of it so things wouldn't get out of
control He agreed.
Daniel
called Maria Dolores, kissing up to her while standing on the balcony
of his mother's mansion. Úrsula listened and smiled, thinking he
was talking to Ivana. “Whom are you talking to?” she asked.
He
ended the call, saying he would call back and they'd see each other
later. He then told her he was speaking to his girlfriend, Ivana.
“I asked her last night and she said 'yes, yes, yes.'” he said.
“And
how drunk was she?” asked Ursula, holding back a laugh.
“Oh,
it was all me,” he said. Before much more was said he grabbed her
and kissed her, saying “Soon we'll get married and your worries
will be over.”
The
way they kissed once inspired an ancient dramatist to write a famous
trilogy. One that got banned in Boston.
Maleny
got up and they told her the news. She was grateful for this good
news because of her bad one. The one she couldn't sleep because of.
She told her mother that her car had been stolen at gunpoint.
While
these layabouts lied to each other, Ivana told Gerry about Daniel's
proposal. He didn't approve; he saw that she was making the mistake
of her life.
Ursula
told her daughter to talk to the police and calm down because they
would get her car back.She should talk to Max so he could help her
press charges. Maleny was being her usual spoiled self, complaining
that “All you care about is the car!” Daniel told her not to
exaggerate because “It's not like you broke a fingernail,” which
provoked her to tackle him. Sophocles should really see this.
“That
car was expensive,” Daniel reminded her.
She
released him saying “I'm not taking chances over a car. Just buy
another.”
She
really had no grasp on the truth of her situation. Ursula's migraine
came back.
In
another part of town, Julian and Maria Dolores talked about the case.
She was willing to accept any settlement because it was a win. He
promised his help if she needed it and she said she would call if she
did. She kissed him goodbye on the cheek. He watched her go to the
Metro stop, looking at her in a very non-fraternal way. Then he saw
a sign saying “Room for Rent.”
Maleny
was curled up on the couch almost in a foetal position. Ursula knew
something didn't jive with her story but couldn't get her to admit
it. She threatened to bring up everything that ever gave her a bad
memory.
Ari
went into the shop where Doris worked and asked for her. The manager
tried to put him off, saying she wasn't allowed personal visitors
during business hours. He told her he was looking to buy a dress for
his girlfriend. While this was happening Ivana swore to Gerry that
if Jacinto was taking advatage of the women in the factory she would
make him pay.
Ari
tried to apologise for being drunk the last time he and Doris saw
each other. She wasn't so quick to forgive him. He started
sweet-talking her, using the “someday” word, and mentioning his
parents. Doris seemed to fall for this. They started to kiss when
they heard Doris' boss approaching. They separated and she grabbed a
red dress off the rack and started talking it up. Ari went along
with it, the manager left, and they both breathed relief. They
kissed, he left before the manager returned, and Doris explained that
he had a very picky girlfriend who would have to come to see the
dress.
Julian
looked at the room which was really a garage. He convinced the
doubtful landlady he cuold be trusted.
Isela
waited in Claudio's office looking like she was reading a lawyers'
magazine. She wore a cocktail dress short enough to almost be a
blouse. He walked in and stared for a moment.
Maria
Dolores arrived at that same moment. Max pulled up before she
reached the top of the stairs. He must have just been on the phone
because he told her he had to deal with his girlfriend's emergency.
Unseen by both of them, Daniel pulled up in his car and watched. Max
said he would call and reschedule their appointment. Maria Dolores
was alright with this and Max went back to his car. Daniel slipped
out of his and out of sight until Max drove away. He was very
peeved.
Claudio's
secretary came in to tell him that Max had to deal with an emergency
and would be back later. Isela said she would return later. Claudio
said he was impressed at her interest in the law. More likely he was
impressed with her legs and stiletto heels. She told him she and
Maria Dolores would need to find work. He looked like he wanted to
hire her to chase her around the desk.
Daniel
asked Maria Dolores whether she was looking for a job at the law
firm. She told him that this was about the lawsuit she was bringing
against the salon. He tried to press her for information but she
wouldn't spill. She didn't want him doing anything that would put
her case on the line. They drove off.
Jacinto
was talking to two men about the situation. He protested that he had
been working there since before Ivana Duval took over the company.
They knew that, but this was a serious issue.
Over
in Bankruptcy House, Úrsula was talking with Arrango about their
prospects when Max arrived. Maleny came in and played the Damsel in
Distress part well enough. She talked about the imaginary gun that
was put to her head by the non-existent thieves,throwing herself into
Max's arms. Arrango looked like he wasn't buying her act.
In
the salon Paloma (the new girl) was getting lectured about how to
behave while in the barrio Esmeralda was giving Rudolfo's clothes to
Honoria for her son. Josefa had to get a nasty crack in about the
paltry help Esmeralda got after Rudolfo's funeral.
Max's
day got stranger when Maleny insisted he not do anything. The police
were useless, she said, and she wouldn't get her car back. She
became almost hysterical when she told him she was afraid of what the
thieves would do to her. Max
tried to tell her that she needed to or she would not recover her
car. She got up hysterically. Úrsula told her off and she tried
to play the weakling,going into Max's arms. Arrango looked
suspicious the whole time.
Daniel
drove Maria Dolores to where she wanted to go. He tried to talk her
into dropping the suit against the company if she didn't want him to
do anything. She wouldn't find a job if other places found out she
was making trouble even for the competition. She refused but met him
halfway. She said she would talk to Max first and they would decide
together. They kissed and she went off to a job interview. He
stared after her for a minute.
Max
talked on the phone with his father as he left the mansion. He told
him he felt guilty for neglecting Maleny. Some dames really know how
to work that on a man.
Isela
got home and told Josefa that the appointment had been canceled.
This really brought out the brute in her, ranting about her plan
going to hell as she began abusing her would-be femme fatale. Isela
broke away, yelling that she would take care of this in her own way.
Jacinto
was as overconfident as usual, saying that these foolish bimbos
wouldn't get anything on him. However, his company lawyer (or so he
seemed to be) told him that Max Bustamante was on the case. And that
he was damned good. He then left to speak with Ivana.
Maria
Dolores arrived at a sweatshop where the supervisor told her she
would have to meet her daily quota within working hours or be docked
for the slack. The place must have catered to strippers for all the
hooker-pink fabric and feathers laying around. Her cell rang and she
excused herself to answer. Jacinto then threatened that if she
continued with the lawsuit he would raise a scandal with the lawyers.
Not to mention “You'll never work in this town again.”
“Jacinto,
if you want to talk to me, talk to my lawyer,” and ended the call.
She then apologised to the supervisor for not having a
recommendation. The woman told her that a letter from the president
wouldn't matter and it was all about being able to finish the work.
Clara
found Leonardo walking seven dogs at the same time. Not what his
father would have liked to see but he didn't complain. She said
something about it being difficult and he said “Not really, want to
try?” so she took the leashes from him. The larger dogs pulled a
little hard for her and Leonardo ran after to help. Nice kid.
Daniel
waited for Ivana at an outside table. An attractive young couple sat
nearby and he entertained himself looking at the girl. Ivana
arrived, telling him she had dealt with a serious business matter.
He asked her if he could help and she liked that. She filled him in
on the particulars, including that Jacinto accused one of the women
of theft and the other of assault. The company lawyers talked to the
others who claimed they had no problems with Jacinto. She also said
that Gerry had his doubts about this. Daniel laughed and doubted
Gerry's manhood. He said that the two complaining women sounded like
typical easy pieces. Ivana took this to mean that he divided women
into those that were easy and difficult. He denied that, talking
about women who manipulate men. She told him she would talk to Max
and work things out, probably paying his clients what they deserved.
He went on about probably not having to pay them anything because he
would talk to Max. After all “We're almost family.”
Somebody
should tell him that playing both sides usually lands one in the
middle of a squeeze play.
Clara
had fallen down by the time Leonardo caught up with her. She asked
if he had ever lost a dog doing this but he assured her that the park
was enclosed. She noticed that they were all panting and he said
they'd get water for them. He kissed her and she pushed him away.
“You didn't ask,” she said.
“I'll
do better. Want to go steady?”
“I
thought you'd never ask,” she said, kissing him back. Out of the
mouths of babes.
Isela
spoke to Maria Dolores on the phone, saying she'd come to meet with
her. She had to tell Josefa that the other women in the salon
weren't with them in the suit. “But you haven't talked to the
lawyers yet,” said her “mother.” “You don't want that fool
to mess things up.”
Maria
Dolores was on her way to meet with Isela. She had no idea Jacinto
was following her at close range. He grabbed her from behind and
threatened her again. Unfortunately for him Max was right behind him
and stopped him from further assault. He accused Maria Dolores of
lying. She accused him back and Max believed her. He told Jacinto
that he could end up in jail and to get lost.
He
did.
Max
made sure Maria Dolores wasn't hurt and promised her he would get
justice for her. Isela arrived and told them that the other women
were all cowards and wouldn't help them. They went inside to talk. Isela
volunteered to make coffee. Maria Dolores said she needed to change
her shoes and that she found a job. Isela said that this job was
beneath her. She told then they'd talk about this later. She then
invited Max to sit down. She told him that this case wasn't just
about themselves, but also for the other women. He told her that
this will be about her if they were afraid to help. This was a
women's rights issue. She was then determined that Jacinto not
bother another woman again.