Rico put down his pen and sat back with a little grunt. His swarthy, pock-marked face plainly showed his dissatisfaction. Five hundred and twenty dollars up on last month’s figures. Six months ago he would have been pleased, but now he knew it wasn’t enough. A month’s work for five hundred and twenty lousy dollars, he thought, pushing back his chair. He got to his feet and began to pace up and down. Not enough, he thought, scowling. Already he was overdrawn at the bank. His standard of living had gradually risen, and he was now living well beyond his income. Recently he had moved from his three-room apartment to a six-room one that cost him four times as much. His taste for tailored suits and silk shirts had given him a tailor’s bil he couldn’t set le without pinching himself for ready cash. He had bought himself a Roadmaster Buick, and that had to be paid for. The erotic pleasure he derived from several of his carefully selected hostesses was also a heavy drain on his income; and they had to be paid in cash.
Since the Bruce killing he had stopped dealing in illicit jewellery. He knew Olin was watching him, and until things cooled off a little, it would be unwise to tempt providence. He sadly missed the extra income from his activities as a fence.
He went over to the cellarette and mixed himself a whisky and soda. Three weeks had gone by since Kile had come to him with the mysterious proposition that might put fifteen grand in his pocket. For three weeks Rico had been hunting for Baird, but Baird seemed to have vanished off the face of the earth. No one had seen him: all Rico’s spies were hunting for him, and so far had nothing to report.
Kile was fast losing patience. He had been in last night and had bluntly said he would give Rico three more days to find Baird, and if he wasn’t successful the deal was off.
Fifteen grand! Rico sipped his drink and scowled down at his expensively shod feet. Where the hell was Baird? Why hadn’t he got into touch with Rico as he had promised? Had it been Baird who had been chased across the roofs and shot at that night the cop and girl in the drug store had been murdered?
How long ago was that? Rico thumbed back the leaves of his calendar. Twenty-three days. The papers had said the killer had been wounded. Maybe Baird had holed up somewhere and had died. Rico felt sweat start out on his forehead at the thought. If Baird was dead, then the hope of laying his hands on Kile’s fifteen grand was dead, too.
He finished his whisky, went over to the cellarette and made another. Then he lit a cigar and sat down at his desk again. There was nothing more he could do. Every petty crook in town was searching for Baird. Rico had offered a reward for reliable news of Baird, but so far no one had claimed it.
After he had finished his second whisky he decided he would take a turn in the restaurant. It was getting on for midnight, and it was time he showed himself. He went over to a vase of carnations, selected one, stuck it in his button-hole and surveyed himself in the mirror. In spite of his bald head, his pitted complexion and his bloodshot eyes, Rico was quite pleased with his appearance. He adjusted his silk handkerchief, shot his cuffs and turned to the door.
For a moment he stood completely still, scarcely believing his eyes, then with a sharp exclamation, he darted forward, holding out his hand.
‘Baird! Wel , damn it! I was only just this moment thinking about you. Where the hel have you been?’
Baird closed the door and walked across to Rico. He shook hands without enthusiasm, looked Rico up and down and then went over and dropped into the red leather armchair.
‘Get me a drink,’ he said curtly. ‘I need it.’
Rico gave him a quick, anxious glance. Baird was thinner than when he had last seen him, and his face fine drawn. There were smudges under his eyes as if he had been sleeping badly, and he looked surly.
‘I’ve been hunting al over for you,’ Rico said, hurriedly splashing whisky into a glass. ‘Where’ve you been?’
‘Out of town.’
‘Olin’s stil looking for you,’ Rico said, remembering with an anxious pang that Baird was a wanted man. ‘Maybe you shouldn’t have come here.’
Baird made an impatient gesture.
‘You don’t have to get steamed up. I’ve seen Olin.’
Rico stiffened.
‘You mean you’ve talked to him? When?’
‘Gimme that drink, can’t you?’ Baird snarled. ‘I’ve been at headquarters al the goddamn afternoon.’
Rico put the whisky on the desk by Baird’s hand and sat down.
‘What happened?’
Baird drank half the whisky, put the glass down and drew in a slow, deep breath. He reached out and helped himself to a cigarette from Rico’s box, lit it and stretched out his long legs.
‘I got myself a cast-iron alibi,’ he said. ‘Olin couldn’t bust it, so I walked out.’
‘You mean they haven’t anything on you?’ Rico asked eagerly.
‘They never had anything on me,’ Baird said, and his hard mouth twisted into a jeering grin. ‘No one ever saw me. They tried to pin the Bruce killing on me, but they hadn’t any proof. As soon as I could get around again I went up to New York and fixed myself an alibi. I’ve got a lot of friends in New York. Six of them swore I was with them the night Jean Bruce was knocked off. I and my lawyer took their statements to Olin. There was nothing he could do about it.’
Rico drew in a deep breath of relief.
‘That’s fine!’ he said, rubbing his hands. ‘That’s terrific! You’re free to operate again?’
‘Sure,’ Baird said indifferently. ‘Did you get rid of that bracelet?’
Rico nodded.
‘I didn’t get much for it, but I was lucky to find a buyer.’
‘Don’t talk crap,’ Baird said roughly. ‘If the stuff’s good there are always buyers.’
‘What happened to you? There was some talk you were shot.’
Baird stared across the desk at Rico.
‘I was. I was laid low for a couple of weeks. I had a pretty close call.’
‘How did you get away from them?’ Rico asked, his eyes popping.
‘I holed up with a girl,’ Baird said, and rubbed his hand across his eyes. ‘She looked after me.’ He frowned down at the desk. ‘The damnedest thing that’s ever happened to me.’
‘Who was she?’ Rico asked. ‘Talk about luck! Was she pret y?’
The look Baird gave him was hard and menacing.
‘Shut your dirty trap,’ he said. ‘Never mind who she was. She had more guts in her little finger than you’ve got in the whole of your rot en body. So shut up about her!’
Rico smiled ingratiatingly.
‘Sure, sure,’ he said. ‘I didn’t mean to talk out of turn.’
‘I’m running short of dough,’ Baird said. ‘Anything around for me?’
‘Yes,’ Rico said, leaning forward. ‘Something big. You’ve arrived in time. Another three days, and it’d have been too late. This is a big job; worth ten grand to you.’
Baird lifted his head sharply.
‘Ten grand? You been drinking?’
Rico rubbed his hands together excitedly.
‘The guy who’s behind this is Preston Kile, the financier. He’s offering ten grand for a guy who’l do a job for him. I told him you were the only one I’d trust to handle it.’
‘What’s the job?’ Baird asked suspiciously.
‘I don’t know. Kile wants to see you first. He’s acting awful cagey. Says he wants to talk to you before he spills any details, but it’s okay, Baird. Kile’s a big-shot. He’s got a front that’l knock your eye out, and you want to see his girl. Used to be with the Follies. Everything about Kile is big. Getting in with him is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.’
Baird didn’t seem impressed.
‘You’re sure about the ten grand?’
‘Yeah. If you pull the job off it rates ten, if you fail he’l pay five. There’s nothing smal about Kile.
You wait until you meet him.’
Baird started to say something, but broke off as the door opened and a red-headed girl wandered in.
She was wearing a low-cut evening gown of lemon yellow, and her green eyes looked Baird over sharply.
Rico said, ‘What do you want, Zoe? I’m busy.’
‘That guy Dal as asked me if he could cash a cheque,’ Zoe said, coming over to the desk. She tossed a slip of paper on Rico’s blot er. ‘It’s only for thirty bucks. He wants to buy me champagne.’
Frowning, Rico picked up the cheque, scrutinised it, opened a drawer and dropped it in. He took out a cash-box and began to count five-dollar bills on to the blotter.
‘He’s get ing quite a regular customer,’ he said. ‘What’s he do with himself?’
Zoe rested an elegant hip on the desk and swung her leg, her eyes roaming over Baird.
‘I guess he’s got ideas about me,’ she said, smiled and winked at Baird, who stared at her stonily.
‘He’s spending a lot of dough here, so why should you worry?’
‘I didn’t say I was worrying,’ Rico said, and pushed the money over to her. ‘Next time you come in here, Zoe, please knock.’
Zoe lifted her eyebrows.
‘Why, sure, I didn’t think. Aren’t you going to introduce me to your boy friend?’
Baird made an impatient movement.
‘Run along, Zoe,’ Rico said, waving her away. ‘I’m busy.’
She slid off the desk with an indifferent shrug.
‘Well, I can console myself I’m not missing much,’ she said, making a little face at Baird. She crossed to the door with an elaborate sway of her hips, opened it and went out.
‘Who’s that?’ Baird asked, when the door had closed.
‘She’s okay. She’s one of my girls: Zoe Norton,’ Rico said. ‘Maybe I could fix it for you to see Kile tonight. Okay with you?’
Baird nodded.
Rico picked up the phone, dialled and waited.
‘Put me through to Mr Kile,’ he said, when a voice came on the line. He listened, frowning, then said,
‘I gotta get in touch with him. Know where he is?’ He scribbled down a telephone number and hung up.
‘He’s with his girl friend,’ he told Baird and grinned. ‘Hope I don’t interrupt anything important.’
Baird continued to stare at him stonily, and a little flustered under the hard look, Rico hurriedly dialled the new number.
‘This is Rico,’ he said, when Eve Gil is answered. ‘Could I speak to Mr Kile?’
‘Hold on a moment,’ she said, and he heard her cal ing Kile.
‘What is it?’ Kile snapped, coming on the line. ‘Who told you you could call me here?’
‘The guy we’ve been looking for has shown up,’ Rico said quickly. ‘I’ve got him here now.’
‘You have?’ The sharpness went out of Kile’s voice. ‘Can you bring him over right away, Rico?’
‘Sure. I told him you wanted to see him.’
‘Now look, he may not be the man I’m looking for. I can’t tell until I’ve seen him. Warn him there may be nothing in it for him. I’l only see him on that understanding.’
Rico laughed excitedly. He looked across at Baird and winked. Baird’s face remained dour, and his look was still stony.
‘You’l want him all right, Mr Kile, but I’l tel him.’
‘Be over as soon as you can,’ Kile said. ‘Apartment 200, Roxburgh House. You know where it is?’
‘Sure, Mr Kile, I know it’
Kile grunted and hung up.
‘He wants to see you right away. He’s at Miss Gil is’s place on Roxburgh Avenue. Maybe I’d better come with you.’
Baird got to his feet. He finished his whisky, mashed out his cigarette as he said, ‘Suit yourself.’
Rico took his black slouch hat from a hanging cupboard, slapped it on his head and jerked it so it rested at a jaunty angle over his right eye.
‘Let’s go,’ he said. ‘Be careful how you handle Kile. He likes respect.’
Baird sneered.
‘For ten grand he’l get it,’ he said, opened the door and walked out into the passage leading to the kitchens and rear exit.
Neither of them saw Zoe watching them through a half-open door at the far end of the passage. As soon as they were out of sight she signalled to Dallas, who reached for the telephone on her dressing-table and dialled Harmon Purvis’s number.
Kile sat in Eve’s morning-room: a feminine room he liked, and which, up to now, had been restful to his nerves to sit in. The big windows overlooked the river, and from where he sat he could see the lights of the shipping, and on the far bank the headlights of the stream of cars heading up town.
It was a hot, close night, and the windows were wide open. Kile was sweating a little. He cradled a highball in his hand; a smouldering cigar rested in a deep ash-tray on the arm of his chair.
Eve sat on the broad window seat, her back half turned to him while she stared down at the river. She looked pale, and the scarlet evening dress she wore seemed too gay for her mood.
Neither of them had spoken since Kile had told her Baird was on his way over. Both were preoccupied with their thoughts. Kile had an uneasy feeling that Baird was going to be the right man for this fantastic job. If he was then it would mean Kile would have to go ahead with the plan. Since his first enthusiasm had waned, he had begun to wonder if anyone in his right mind would have even contemplated such a plan, let alone waste time investigating the possibilities. He had to admit he hadn’t done much himself so far. Eve had done all the necessary work. It was extraordinary how she managed to obtain her information. Admittedly, she was in a position to know many people, but how she had got together all the minute details and information with which she had presented him, defeated him.
The plan couldn’t succeed, he told himself again and again, but Eve wouldn’t admit defeat.
‘What have we got to lose?’ she had asked patiently. ‘If this man says it won’t work, then we can drop the idea, but if he has the nerve to go through with it, and if he pulls it off, it’s a half a million in your pocket.’
That was the only argument that kept Kile in the running. A half a million! But if Baird turned the plan down, Kile would be relieved. Of course he would hate to let such a sum slip through his fingers, but the danger and the risks he would be involved in if Baird went ahead frightened him.
Up to now he had managed to concentrate on the prize, but now that Baird would be here at any minute, he could think of nothing but the risks.
‘This fel a won’t do it,’ he jerked out suddenly, speaking what was in his mind before he could stop himself. ‘I’ve been considering your plan, Eve. It — it won’t work. It can’t work!’
She turned her head and looked at him. She looked tired and uneasy. She didn’t think the plan would work, either. She thought it was the craziest, the most dangerous idea Adam had yet thought of, but he had said it would work, and she knew from past experience that once Adam had made up his mind about anything, no one or nothing would stop him. If she backed out now, or even encouraged Kile to back out, she knew instinctively that she had seen the last of her brother. In her more rational moments she knew it would be the best thing that could happen to her, but she also knew she was fooling herself: life without Adam would be no life at all.
‘Let him judge,’ she said. ‘To hear you talk, Preston, I’m beginning to think you don’t want the money.’
Kile drank some of his highball.
‘The risk wil be frightful,’ he mut ered. ‘Of course I want the money, but…’
‘I don’t see what risk you run. This man Baird wil shoulder the risk.’
‘He won’t!’ Kile said excitedly. ‘He wouldn’t be such a fool!’
‘Ten thousand is a lot of money,’ Eve said listlessly. She was speaking the words Adam had put into her mouth. ‘We can but ask him.’
The front-door bell rang.
Kile started so violently he spilled some of his highball on his trousers. Swearing softly, he wiped the wet patch with his handkerchief as he stood up.
The Filipino boy who looked after Eve’s apartment came in.
‘Mr Rico is here,’ he said, and Eve could tel he didn’t approve of Rico.
‘Show him in,’ Kile said, trying to steady his voice. He moved over to the fireplace and stood facing the door, a scowl on his heavy features. The pain under his heart had sharpened.
Eve didn’t move. She felt frightened. She, too, had a feeling that once Baird was told of the plan there would be no drawing back.
Rico came in, followed by Baird, who hadn’t taken off his hat. Baird’s eyes went quickly and suspiciously around the room. He gave Eve a quick glance, then stared directly at Kile.
In his turn, Kile was looking at him. He saw at once this tall, powerfully built man in his creased brown suit, the shabby hat tilted to the back of his head, was dangerous, and he felt a little prickle run up his spine as he met Band’s ice-cold eyes.
‘This is Baird,’ Rico said, corning forward. His smile was ingratiating, and he gave Kile a little bow.
‘I told him you wanted to see him, and that you might have something you could put in his way.’
Kile nodded curtly to Baird, who continued to stare with cold, unfriendly eyes. He wasn’t impressed with Kile. A rich, well-fed sonofabitch, he decided, soft at the core and jumpy. Not anyone you’d want to trust further than you could throw him.
‘Sit down,’ Kile said, waving to two armchairs. He was aware that he hadn’t made an impression, and that irritated him. ‘Whiskies, Philip,’ he said to the Filipino boy, ‘and then get out.’
The boy put a tray containing whisky, charge water and ice on the table.
‘I’ll mix them,’ Rico said. ‘Baird?’
Baird shook his head. He dug out a crumpled pack of cigarettes, fished one out, stuck it on his lower lip and sat down in an armchair. He glanced across at Eve, who was still looking out of the window, her back turned to him. He allowed his eyes to run over her figure, paused for a moment or so on her neatly turned ankles, and then struck a match with his thumb nail and lit the cigarette.
As soon as the Filipino boy had left the room, Kile said, ‘Miss Gil is is interested in this proposition I want to talk to you about.’ He hadn’t missed the searching look Baird had given Eve. ‘Eve, won’t you come over here and join us?’
She turned and looked at Baird. What she saw in the brooding eyes chilled her. She left the window seat and came over to stand near Kile.
Rico bowed elaborately.
‘I haven’t seen you at the club for several nights, Miss Gil is,’ he said. ‘I hope you won’t neglect us.’
‘Suppose we get down to business,’ Baird broke in in his cold, soft voice. ‘I’ve got a date in half an hour.’
Kile looked at him sharply. The soft voice had startled him. He sat down, pulled at his cigar and said,
‘I want you to understand there is nothing definite yet arranged. I am sounding the ground, as you might say. It is probable that nothing will come of it.’
Rico winced as he poured himself a whisky.
‘But, Mr Kile…’ he began.
‘Shut up!’ Baird growled. He leaned forward to stare at Kile. ‘Rico told me you wanted a job done that paid ten grand. What’s the job?’
Kile flushed, and his bloodshot eyes watered. For a moment he looked as if he were going to fly into a rage, but the cold eyes that stared at him warned him that bluster wouldn’t get him anywhere.
‘A certain man is in a certain prison. I want this man out.’
He felt, rather than saw, Rico stiffen, but Baird showed no surprise.
‘Go on,’ he said, ‘what’s the rest of it?’
Kile licked his dry lips.
‘I wil pay ten thousand to anyone who can get this man out of prison and bring him to me,’ he went on. ‘That’s the proposition. It won’t be easy, and I don’t want to know how it is to be done. When the man is brought to me, I will pay the ten thousand in cash.’
Baird flicked ash on to the floor. He didn’t show his surprise, but he was surprised. This was something he hadn’t expected, and his shrewd brain looked for snags.
‘That’s a lot of dough,’ he said, studying Kile. ‘You could get the job done for a lot less than that.
What’s the idea?’
Kile touched his sweating temples with his handkerchief.
‘It’s very probable,’ he said, his voice thickening, ‘this man won’t want to leave jail, and that makes it doubly difficult. Apart from that, the prison is extremely well guarded, and the territory is bad.’
Rico was listening now, dumbfounded. He had been expecting Kile to propose a big jewel robbery.
This business about getting a man out of prison made him uneasy.
‘What you’re trying to say is you want this man kidnapped from prison?’ Baird said.
‘Call it what you like,’ Kile said sul enly. ‘He may resist. Whatever happens he must not be hurt in any way.’
Baird blew smoke to the ceiling.
‘Why do you want this man?’
‘That’s my business!’ Kile said sharply. ‘Your job is to get hold of him, not to question my motives.’
Baird’s eyes shifted to Eve. She was watching him intently. She was pale, and her breasts rose and fell quickly under the scarlet chiffon of her gown.
‘It isn’t easy,’ Kile went on, seeing Baird’s apparent hesitation. ‘In fact, it may be impossible. But if you produce this man it’l be worth ten thousand to you. If you can convince me you have made a good attempt, but have failed, I’l pay you half the money.’
‘Where is he?’ Baird asked.
‘Bellmore State Prison Farm. It is situated about three miles from Red River Falls, and is in the swamps.’
‘Who’s the man?’
‘That I’l tell you when you’ve decided if you’l do the job, and when you’ve convinced me you have a workable plan,’ Kile said. ‘I can supply you with maps, the man’s photograph and his prison number.
At present he’s working with other convicts on dredging operations at Red River basin, a mile outside the prison. The convicts arrive at the basin in trucks at eight o’clock in the morning and return to the prison at six. While they are at work there are four guards…’
‘Five,’ Eve put in quickly.
Kile frowned.
‘Four or five,’ he said. ‘There are dogs, too.’
Baird shifted lower in his chair. He looked down at his scuffed shoes, his face expressionless.
‘I’ll have to take a look at the territory,’ he said. ‘But it sounds as if it could be done.’
He saw Eve give a little start and nervously clench her hands. Kile hurriedly put down his glass and sat forward.
‘Don’t forget this man may resist,’ he said, his voice unsteady.
Baird looked up sharply.
‘So what? Don’t you want the job done?’
‘I wouldn’t be offering you ten thousand unless I did,’ Kile snapped, flushing. ‘But it’s only fair to you to know what you’re up against.’
Baird stood up.
‘You don’t have to worry about me,’ he said. ‘I can do that better than anyone. This time next week I’l tel you if I’l do it or not. I’l want a hundred to cover expenses, and I’l want it now.’
Rico put in smoothly as he saw Kile hesitate.
‘As I know Baird, and you don’t, Mr Kile, perhaps you would let me take care of his expenses, and if he proves satisfactory, you could settle with me direct.’
Kile nodded.
‘Very well,’ he said, getting to his feet, ‘we’l leave it like that. If you’re in no hurry, Rico, perhaps you’l remain behind. I know our friend here is anxious to get away.’
Baird smiled jeeringly.
‘If I do the job,’ he said, looking at Kile, ‘I’l expect proof that the money’s there to pay me.’
‘That’s okay,’ Rico said quickly. ‘Mr Kile and me have worked together before. You don’t have to worry about your end, Baird.’
‘Al the same I’m going to worry about it until I get it,’ Baird said. He nodded to Kile, glanced over at Eve and gave her an insolent little smile. She turned away and went back to the window. ‘Be seeing you in a week’s time,’ he went on to Kile, walked across the room, opened the door and went out.
There was a long pause while Kile freshened his drink, and Rico stood staring uneasily at his feet.
‘Your friend’s quite a character,’ Kile said at last as he came back to his chair. ‘I can’t say I like his manner.’
Rico laughed uneasily.
‘Baird’s a hard man,’ he said apologetical y, ‘but he’s a man who gets things done. If the job can be done, he’l do it.’ He fidgeted uneasily while he studied Kile. ‘Where exactly do I fit in in this, Mr Kile.
If you remember, you said…’
‘Once Baird agrees to do the job I’m dropping out of the picture,’ Kile said. ‘I intend to leave the whole thing in your hands. I don’t wish to know how you are going to get this man out of prison or any of the details. I don’t even wish to be consulted. You and Baird must handle the whole thing independently of me. If you think you’l need more help, that’s up to you to arrange and pay for. Do the job and hand the man over to me, and you will receive fifteen and Baird ten thousand. Now do you see where you fit in?’
Rico nodded. He also saw how he could run into a fifteen to twenty years’ sentence. He didn’t like the proposition, but the money drew him like a magnet.
‘This man’s important to you, Mr Kile?’
Kile gave him a hostile look.
‘I’d scarcely pay out twenty-five thousand unless he was,’ he said curtly. ‘I can understand you are wondering why I want him, but I have no intentions of telling you, so don’t ask.’
‘That’s all right,’ Rico said hurriedly. ‘But to kidnap a man from prison! It was something I wasn’t expecting.’
Kile didn’t seem to think that cal ed for a remark. He sipped his highbal and looked away.
After an awkward pause, Rico said, ‘It depends on Baird, then. If he says he’l do the job, I take it you’re satisfied for him to try?’
Kile glanced across at Eve, who nodded silently.
‘Yes,’ he said, ‘but I don’t think I need meet him again. Frankly, I don’t like him. The less I have to do with him the better. If, after he has looked over the ground, he thinks he can succeed, then let him give you his plan, and you can pass it on to me. If I’m satisfied the plan wil succeed, I wil tell you to go ahead, and until the man is brought to me, I don’t want to hear anything more of what you are doing.
Have I made myself quite clear on that point?’
Rico nodded.
‘Before he makes the at empt, Mr Kile, I expect he’l want an advance of some kind: say three or four thousand?’ Rico smiled apologetical y. ‘That could be arranged?’
‘Yes,’ Kile said impatiently. ‘The best thing to do would be for me to give you five thousand, and for you to keep what you think for yourself, and the rest can go to Baird. Then if the job is successful, I’ll pay the balance.’
Rico relaxed.
‘That’s fine, Mr Kile. That’d suit me wel . In the meantime I will finance Baird and keep an account.’
Kile got to his feet.
‘Then this time next week?’
‘Yes,’ Rico said, bowing.
When he had gone, Kile joined Eve at the window. He stood near her, his hand resting on the sill. For some time they stood silent, looking down at the lights of the shipping, then abruptly Kile said, ‘Wel , I hope to God you’re satisfied.’
Eve didn’t say anything. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her shiver slightly.
Kile had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, and the pain under his heart nagged at his frayed nerves. He had a feeling that he was being dragged down into a nightmare situation like a swimmer helplessly caught in a whirlpool.
He felt he must get back to the quiet of his own home, where he could rest and try to forget that in a week’s time this crazy plan might materialise.
‘I’m going home now, Eve,’ he said. ‘I’m feeling tired. There’s nothing more we can do until this fella reports back. Do you think he’l do it?’
Without turning her head, she said in a quiet, flat voice, ‘Yes, he’l do it. A man like that would do anything.’
During his week in New York, Baird had thought a lot about Anita Jackson. Up to now he had never been interested in a girl. He had regarded women as a tiresome necessity, using them as a physical convenience and promptly forgetting them as soon as his infrequent desires were satisfied.
But this girl was different. He had spent thirteen days in her room, living in the closest contact with her, watching her prepare meals, seeing her dress and undress, go out to work at half-past seven in the morning and come in again late at night. He had watched her mend and iron her shabby wardrobe. He had lain in bed while she had shampooed her hair or cleaned her teeth or washed her stockings in the small toilet basin, seeing all the small activities that go on in hundreds of rooms rented by hundreds of girls like Anita Jackson, and which no other man was likely to see. It was this intimacy that created in him an interest he had never known with other women. It puzzled him that even though they had lived like this for thirteen days, he hadn’t thought of her in the way he thought of other women. What she had done for him and was doing for him protected her from the brutal urge he felt sometimes towards women. There was something about her that he couldn’t understand that made her untouchable to him.
She had saved his life by letting that fat Wop maul her on the bed. That was something he just couldn’t get over. She had changed the dressings on his wound day and night, and it was due to her care and attention that he was able to get on his feet ten days after the shooting. She wouldn’t explain why she had given him sanctuary, and when he pressed her she had turned on him angrily, saying, ‘Oh, do stop talking about it! I’m doing this to please myself. I don’t want your gratitude or your thanks. I’m not going to discuss it any more!’
It had worried Baird. He couldn’t understand anyone doing what she had done for a stranger. By letting him stay in the room, she was also risking a prison sentence. It baffled him. When he was well enough to think of leaving he had put three hundred dollars on the table, saying, ‘I guess I owe you something. Take this: I’ve got enough for myself. I’m not going to forget what you did for me. Go on, take it. You’ve earned it.’
He wasn’t used to expressing himself, and this speech had embarrassed him. At the back of his mind he thought he must be crazy to give her so much, and yet there was something in him that drove him to be generous: something he had never known before.
And when she had refused the money it was like a slap in the face to him. She had refused it curtly, as if money meant nothing to her, and his savage temper got the better of his intentions.
‘Then don’t have it!’ he snarled, put ing the money back in his pocket. ‘To hel with you! I’m not going to beg you to take it. If you’re going to be such a goddamn sucker you deserve what you get. I must be going soft in the head even to offer you anything!’
She had gone on preparing supper while he talked, and he had an uncomfortable feeling that she wasn’t even listening. This had so enraged him he had caught hold of her and jerked her around, pulling her close to him.
‘Do you hear what I’m saying?’ he demanded, glaring down at her. ‘Three hundred bucks!’ He gave her a little shake. ‘Why, you stupid bitch, it’s a fortune to you! What do you think you’re playing at –turning it down?’
‘Take your hands off me!’ she had said, with a fury that matched his own. ‘I don’t want your money!
Do you imagine kindness can be bought like something out of a grocery store? I helped you because I was sorry for you, as I would help anyone who was one against many. Let go of me!’
For a moment they had stood staring at each other, then he had released her and had moved away to sit on the bed. No other girl he had known had ever dared look at him the way she had looked at him. He hadn’t frightened her as he had meant to frighten her. He might have been just any other man, instead of a killer who was mauling her, and the discovery that she wasn’t afraid of him had given him a strange and intense pleasure.
Ever since he could remember people had been afraid of him. Even his mother had been afraid of him when he was in one of his savage tempers. His brother and sister seemed to know instinctively that he was dangerous, for they didn’t kid him as they kidded each other, and they were never at ease when they played with him. The children at school had been wary of him, and as he grew older, he came to recognise the quick fear that jumped into people’s eyes when they met him. Even Rico was afraid of him, although he fawned over him. Kile had been afraid of him, and that doll-faced blonde. They all seemed to sense the savage killer instinct that was in him.
This knowledge forced him into a dark, savage loneliness, making him callously self-reliant, bred in him suspicion and distrust, and to find someone who wasn’t afraid of him was like a light shining in the darkness.
The following morning, after Anita had gone to work as usual, he decided to quit. Every day he stayed in this room made it more dangerous for her. If she wouldn’t take his money, the least he could do was to get out. He left as it was growing dark, an hour or so before she was due back. He went through the skylight and across the roofs, following the same route as he had come.
He had left without telling her he was going, or without leaving a note for her to find on her return.
During the week in New York, while he had been fixing an alibi, he had thought continually of her.
Although they had spent so much time together, he knew nothing about her. He knew only that she had a job as a waitress in a steak joint, but he didn’t know where the joint was. He had tried to find out her background. It was beyond his powers to ask anything but direct questions, and she quickly blocked off the questions by curtly saying she didn’t wish to talk about herself.
In New York he found he missed her. He stayed at a cheap hotel, and each night as he undressed for bed he brooded on those past thirteen days when she was bustling about her room, not saying anything, but keeping him company by her presence, and pushing back the wall of loneliness that surrounded him.
He kept thinking of what she had said: Do you imagine kindness can be bought like something out of a grocery store? Kindness! To him it was a word in a foreign language, and yet his mind kept coming back to it. Well, he still owed her something. He was determined now to get out of her debt. He had to see her again. He knew she was desperately poor, and for some reason appeared to have no friends. In her way, she was as lonely as he was. She didn’t go to the movies or a dance or do anything girls with her looks were doing every night of their lives. Men seemed to have no place in her life. When he had asked her why she didn’t go out and enjoy herself, she had said defiantly, ‘I do enjoy myself. I don’t have to go out to do that. Anyway, I don’t want men hanging around me. They’re only after one thing, and they’re not going to get it from me!’
He had given up. She was too complicated for him to understand. Besides, it wasn’t his line to ask questions or to show interest in anyone. He felt hopelessly at sea with her, and irritated with himself for bothering about her.
But he had to see her again. Although it was after eleven o’clock when he left Eve Gil is’s apartment, it didn’t cross his mind that it was too late to cal on Anita. She got in from work at ten-thirty, and immediately went to bed. He knew she would probably be asleep by now, but he didn’t care. He made up his mind to see her that night, and that was the end of it.
On his way down town, he thought about Kile and his proposition. Ten grand to get a man out of jail!
With ten grand in his pocket, he would be on easy street for months. But what was behind all this? If he was worth ten grand to him, this man must be worth considerably more to Kile.
The job appealed to Baird: it was dangerous, difficult and well paid. It would mean a change of scenery. He felt in the mood to tackle some impossible task: it would be an outlet for his pent-up mood of savage, aimless anger that had been slowly welling up inside him for the past two weeks.
He had heard about the Bellmore State Prison Farm. It was one of the toughest prisons in the country.
Abe Golheim had been there, and Abe had told him about the place. It was surrounded by a belt of swamp land, thirty miles long and ten miles broad. Up to now no prisoner had ever got through the swamp, although a number had tried. They had either been caught by the dogs or had drowned. There had been lurid rumours that several had been eaten alive by alligators.
To get a man out of that swamp would be a hell of a job, Baird thought, as he walked quickly along the sidewalk towards the garage where he kept his car and, if the man resisted, it could be impossible.
But difficulties never worried Baird. He never considered defeat. He would try, and if it didn’t come off it would be just too bad. If it did the prize of ten thousand was worth having.
But he would have to make certain the money was there. He didn’t trust Kile. He knew instinctively that Kile wasn’t the top man. Someone was using Kile as a front. Baird was sure Kile didn’t want the job to come off. Even before the final arrangements had been made, Kile was jumpy and scared. Someone bigger than Kile was pushing him into the job either by threats or by the inducement of money.
What was the doll-faced blonde doing mixing herself up in this? Where did she fit in? She was scared, too. When he had said the job wasn’t impossible, she had flinched as if he’d hit her. Before he committed himself he would have to find out something about these two, and if he could, find out who the top man was and why he wanted this man in jail kidnapped.
There might be even more than ten grand to pick up if he kept his ears and eyes open. The job seemed full of possibilities.
He reached the garage, got into the battered Ford and drove over to the walk-up apartment house where Anita rented her room.
He left the car a hundred yards or so beyond the entrance to the house, walked back and paused to look up at the top window. It was in darkness, and he grimaced, sure now she was asleep.
There were still a number of people in the street and sitting at open windows, and he felt their eyes on him. Two men sat on the doorstep to the apartment house, smoking, and as he came up the steps they looked curiously at him. One of them was Toni, and Baird gave him a hard, menacing stare.
Toni shifted quickly to one side to give Baird room to pass. Baird saw the scared look that came into Toni’s eyes, and he felt like taking Toni by his mop of black hair and banging his head against the wall until his brains spilled out.
But he kept on, walking into the smelly, dimly lit lobby, and began to mount the stairs, aware that Toni and his companion were staring after him.
He walked up the five flights of stairs until he came to Anita’s landing. He paused outside the door, listening. Then he went back to the banister rail and looked down to make sure no one was coming up or watching him. He saw no one, and he returned to the door and rapped softly.
‘Who is it?’
The sound of her voice sent a little prickle up his spine, surprising him.
‘Baird,’ he said, his mouth close to the door. ‘I want to talk to you.’
He leaned against the doorway and waited. He heard the light click on, the pad of bare feet on the floor, then the door opened.
She stood looking up at him, her dark eyes unafraid and enquiring. She had pulled on her shabby overcoat. Beneath it he caught a glimpse of her plain white nightdress he had seen her in so often.
‘What do you want?’ she said sharply. ‘I was asleep.’
He experienced a pang of disappointment that she wasn’t pleased to see him, but he wasn’t going to be put off.
‘I guessed you would be,’ he said. ‘I’ve just got in from New York. I thought I’d see how you were getting on.’ He moved forward, riding her back into the room.
‘I don’t want you in here,’ she said, stepping away from him. ‘Not at this hour.’
‘Take it easy,’ he said, moving around her to the sagging armchair. ‘You’re not scared of me, are you?’
‘Why should I be? I just don’t want you here so late.’
He sat down, his eyes searching her face. No, she wasn’t afraid of him. He could tel that by looking at her.
‘Get into bed,’ he said. ‘I won’t keep you long.’
‘No.’ She sat on the edge of the bed and ran her fingers through her hair. She looked tired and pale, and he noticed her lips were whitish without the lipstick camouflage. ‘I’m dead beat. I wish you’d go. I don’t want you here.’
He felt a wave of irritation run through him, but he controlled it.
‘I shouldn’t have gone off like that without saying goodbye,’ he said uneasily. ‘I’ve had you on my mind. I’ve stil got that money. I’d like to lend it to you.’
She sat for a long moment looking at him. She saw his embarrassed uneasiness, and she felt sorry for him. Suddenly she smiled. She looked pretty when she smiled, and Baird found himself smiling stiffly back at her. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had smiled at him. He felt as if he had been given a costly and unexpected present.
‘Why do you want to lend it to me?’ she asked.
‘Because you’re such a damned mug you won’t take it as a gift,’ he said, sitting forward. ‘I owe you plenty, and it gives me the belly-ache to know you’re short of dough when I could help you.’
‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘I appreciate that, but I can’t take money from you. I guess I am a mug, but that’s the way it is. I don’t suppose you’l understand, but I must stand on my own feet. I can’t see you borrowing money if you were in a jam. You would want to be independent. Well, I guess I’m like that, too.’
He studied her.
‘But if a guy owes me something, I’d expect to be paid,’ he said. ‘And I owe you plenty.’
‘Can’t you forget that? It just happened you were lucky to come here. I would have done the same for anyone else. I always side with the one against many. It’s the way I’m made.’
He didn’t like that. He had hoped that she had helped him because of himself, not because of some cock-eyed kink about helping one against many. His expression changed, and his eyes became hostile.
‘You can’t expect me to keep on begging you to take the dough,’ he said roughly. ‘If that’s the way you feel about it…’
‘I’m sorry,’ she said quickly. ‘I didn’t mean to hurt you. I do appreciate…’
‘Ah, the hel with it!’ he said in disgust, and got to his feet. What had promised to be a pleasant and unusual evening was turning sour. He stood staring at her, then blurted out, ‘I don’t mean a thing to you, do I?’
He could read the answer in her surprised expression. The idea of caring for him had never entered her head.
‘Why…’ she began, and stopped.
‘Skip it,’ he said. ‘I’m get ing soft in the head. The trouble with me is I’m not used to dealing with a girl like you. The women I mix with would take the gold out of my teeth if I give them the chance.
You’re different. I was beginning to get ideas about you. You’re the first woman I’ve ever met who hasn’t been scared of me. Even my old lady was scared of me when I was a kid.’
‘She wasn’t afraid for herself,’ Anita said, looking straight at him. ‘She was afraid for you.’
Baird frowned. He had never thought of it in that way.
‘Maybe you’re right,’ he said uneasily. ‘She was the worrying kind.’
She drew her coat closer about her and moved her bare feet on the threadbare mat.
Watching her, Baird felt a sudden pang of desire shoot through him. He would have given a lot for her to have made a sign of encouragement, but she didn’t. She didn’t seem to realise he could reach out and grab her, and she wouldn’t have the strength to protect herself against him. He felt a sick disgust with himself for even thinking of this.
‘I guess I’l go,’ he said thickly. ‘Want to change your mind about that dough?’
She looked up and saw at once what was going on in his mind. Even then she showed no fear. She stood up and put her hand on his arm.
‘I can’t take it. Thanks for the offer. I’m sorry I’m not like your other women friends, if that’s what you want.’
He smiled crookedly and pulled her to him.
‘You’re okay as yourself.’
Her hands on his chest stopped him from kissing her. She didn’t push at him, but the pressure was firm, as if her hands were asking him not to do it.
He released her and stepped away.
‘I guess I’m get ing soft,’ he said. ‘Wel , so long. I guess we won’t see each other again, but if you’re ever in a jam you’l find me at 223 Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street. It’s not more than five minutes walk from here. Up on the top floor. Any time you’re in trouble and want help, come and see me.’ He opened the door, turned to look hard at her. ‘I owe you plenty. Don’t forget the address. You never know. You might need me one of these days.’
He went downstairs quickly, cutting off her reply. Toni and his companion still sat on the steps. They made way hurriedly as Baird came through the lobby.
He ran down the steps, and walked quickly along the sidewalk to his car.
Jack Burns, who had been lolling against a lamp standard, reading a newspaper, watched him drive away. Then he headed for a nearby drug store. He got Harmon Purvis on the phone after a delay.
‘Burns reporting,’ he said, pushing back his hat and speaking rapidly. ‘Baird left Roxburgh House at eleven-five. Rico didn’t come out with him. Baird’s been cal ing on a girl who has a room on the top floor of an apartment house on Twenty-fifth Street. He stayed about a quarter of an hour. It’s my bet he holed up with this girl when the cops were hunting for him.’
‘Who is she?’ Purvis asked.
‘Her name’s Anita Jackson,’ Burns said. ‘I managed to get one of the tenants of the house to talk about her. He says her morals are no better than they should be: whatever that may mean. She works at a steak joint on Western Street. Want me to do anything about her?’
‘Not yet,’ Purvis said. ‘Stick to Baird. If he sees her again we might put a tail on her. Don’t let Baird out of your sight. I have an idea things will start moving in a day or so.’
‘Yeah,’ Burns said, yawning. ‘Maybe sooner. I’l get over to his place. Tel Ainsworth not to be late. I want some sleep tonight.’
‘You’ve got al tomorrow to sleep,’ Purvis said heartlessly. ‘There’re more important things to think about.’
‘Don’t let me keep you out of your bed,’ Burns said sarcastical y, and hung up.
Adam Gillis went over to the window and looked down into the street. He was utterly bored now with the girl on the bed. It had been a mistake to have brought her up to his room. Her appearance had been deceptive. She was a common little beast, he thought, and not particularly clean. Her awful voice jarred on his nerves, and her perfume was simply hell.
He watched a taxi coming along the street, wondering how best to get rid of her without causing a scene. The only thing in her favour was she hadn’t asked for money, but it was obvious by the way she was making herself comfortable she expected to stay the night.
The taxi pulled up outside his apartment house, and a girl got out.
Eve!
Gillis swore under his breath. What did she want, coming here? He turned swiftly away from the window.
‘Get your clothes on quick and get out!’ he said. ‘My damned sister’s coming. Hurry up! Do you hear me? She’l be here in a minute or so!’
‘Who cares?’ the girl on the bed said sulkily. ‘You don’t have to answer the door, do you? Let her ring.’
Gillis went over to the bed, caught hold of her arm and pulled her to her feet.
‘Let go of me, you big stiff!’ the girl said angrily. ‘Who do you think…’ She broke off with a squeal as he slapped her buttocks viciously.
‘Do what I tel you,’ he said, giving her a push that sent her reeling across the room. ‘Get dressed and get out!’
The venomous look in his eyes frightened her, and she hurriedly snatched up her dress and struggled into it.
‘You dirty, rot en creep,’ she wailed. ‘Where do you think I can go at this time?’
‘I don’t give a damn, and keep your mouth shut or I’l take the skin off your hide,’ Gil is snarled. He grabbed up her stockings, underthings and hat and threw them at her. ‘Come on; outside! You can finish dressing in a taxi.’ He opened the door. ‘Here, take this, and get out.’ He pushed a dol ar bil into her hand, ran her into the passage. ‘On your way, and be quick about it.’
As she began to curse him, he gave her another slap that shot her forward to the head of the stairs.
She bolted down them like a scalded cat.
Gillis shut the door and turned the key.
The room stank of cheap perfume and, cursing, he threw open another window and began to fan the air with a newspaper until the rumpled bed caught his eye and he dropped the paper and ran over to straighten the sheets and pillows.
He was emptying an ash-tray full of cigarette butts stained with lipstick when a knock came on the door.
He took a quick look at himself in the mirror. His pyjamas were grubby and most of the buttons on the jacket were missing. There were lipstick smears on his chest and neck. He bolted into the bathroom and hurriedly sponged them off, then slipped into a faded dressing-gown before re-entering the bedroom.
The knock was repeated. He unlocked the door and opened it.
‘Why, Eve!’ he said, staring at her. ‘What on earth are you doing here?’
‘I had to see you,’ she said. ‘Can I come in?’
‘I suppose so,’ he said reluctantly. ‘It’s a hell of a time to cal . I was asleep.’ He stood aside to let her in. ‘Sorry about the stink in here. I upset a bot le of perfume. As a matter of fact I’d bought it for you. It smells pretty horrible, doesn’t it, and the blasted girl swore it was ful of al ure.’
Eve glanced around the big, shabby room. She had been here only once before. It was a room that set her teeth on edge. It was dirty and dusty. Two naked French dolls stood on the mantelpiece, either side of a row of tarnished silver sporting trophies. Above them, slung perilously on two hooks, was a sculling oar; above the oar were two crossed squash rackets. On either side of this sporting set were boxing gloves that hadn’t been dusted since they had been hung in position.
Eve had certain knowledge that her brother had loathed sport of any kind during his very short stay at college. He had been sent down after six months of college life for ‘infamous behaviour’, the details of which she had never learned. Where he had filched the sporting trophies from she couldn’t imagine, and didn’t like to ask.
Over the bed was a large framed photograph of the men of his year, sitting bolt upright with arms crossed and chins thrust out: young men looking into the future with aggressive determination. She looked at the photograph, and for a moment she couldn’t find Adam amongst these determined young men, then she spotted him by his shifty expression, and jeering, untrustworthy smile. He was not so thin as he was now, and she noticed with surprise that his hair was thicker, and it came as a shock to realise his hair now was thinning fast, hinting at a premature baldness.
She moved away from the photograph, feeling ashamed as if she had been caught looking through a keyhole. The years that had passed since he had left college had taken a heavy toll. At least, in the photograph, he looked amused, happy and cared-for, but looking at him now, as he stood scowling at her, he looked seedy and disreputable and forsaken.
‘Wel , what is it?’ he asked crossly. ‘Do sit down, can’t you? Must you wander around sticking your nose into everything?’
She sat down, and as she did so she saw something on the floor, half hidden under the bed, and she felt a sense of sick shock as she hurriedly averted her eyes.
‘Oh, I know what you’re thinking,’ he said, sit ing on the window-sill and staring at her. ‘You’re thinking I’ve had a woman up here. Wel , you’re quite wrong. I was sound asleep when you knocked.’
‘It’s nothing to do with me who you have here,’ she said quietly. ‘But you don’t have to lie about it.
She dropped a stocking on the stairs. You’d better give it to her. She didn’t look as if she could afford to lose it.’
Gillis’s face registered surprised blankness.
‘I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re drivel ing about. I’m not the only lodger in this cess-pit. Why, only yesterday I found a pair of panties in the telephone-box,’ and he sniggered, watching her warily.
‘She looked very young,’ Eve said, as if he hadn’t spoken. ‘Almost a child. Adam, do be careful what you’re doing.’
‘Oh, shut up!’ he said furiously. ‘I’ve had enough of this. I tel you no one’s been here. So shut up!’
There was a long silence. Eve sat motionless, her hands folded in her lap, her eyes closed. The sordid room, the knowledge that that vicious little chit of a girl — she couldn’t have been more than sixteen –
had been here, the phoney sophomore atmosphere and the smell of the cheap perfume made her feel physically ill.
Adam said impatiently, ‘Well, I don’t suppose you came here to admire the scenery. What is it?’
Without opening her eyes she said, ‘Rico brought Baird to see Preston tonight. They’ve just gone.’
‘Baird!’ Adam left the window and came over to her. ‘Did you see him?’
She nodded.
‘Is he going to do the job?’
‘I think so. He wants to look the territory over first.’
‘What happened? Tel me everything. I want to know exactly what was said.’
He sat on the bed and listened while she gave him a detailed account of the meeting. When she had finished, he lit a cigarette and smiled at her, his thin, handsome face animated.
‘That’s fine. Of course he’l do it. I knew I wasn’t mistaken in my man. He’s really got something.
What did you think of him, Eve?’
She gave a little shiver.
‘He frightened me. He’s dangerous, Adam. There’s something about him — he — he’s like a wild animal: like a tiger.’
‘He’s a kil er,’ Gil is said admiringly. ‘One of the few genuine killers left. There never were many: Dillinger, Nelson, the Barkers — you can count them on your fingers. Baird’s about the last of them, and he’s just the right man for the job.’
‘Adam, this whole business is worrying me,’ she said, sit ing forward. ‘It’s too dangerous. Even if you succeeded in getting Hater out of prison, what makes you think he’s going to tel you where the jewels are hidden?’
The animation in his face went away, and the shifty expression returned.
‘Of course he’l tel us,’ he said breezily. ‘He’s going to be grateful we’ve got him out, isn’t he?
When I’ve explained to him the Rajah’s wil ing to do a deal with him, he’l only be too glad to tel us.
Without us he can’t do a thing.’
‘But he can!’ Eve said. ‘Do you think I’m an idiot, Adam? You’re not planning to help this man to escape: you’re going to kidnap him. You told me that’s what you’re going to do. You’re expecting him to resist. Of course he’s going to resist. In two years time he’l be released. If he escapes now, he is a fugitive, and if he’s caught, he’l go back to prison for another long term. He’s waited fifteen years: two more are nothing to a man like that. How can you, Adam? Why don’t you wait until he comes out a free man?’
Gillis mashed out his cigarette in the ash-tray on the dusty bedside table. His eyes were hard.
‘You can scarcely expect me to wait two years,’ he said with deceptive mildness. ‘It was only by the merest fluke I heard the Rajah was planning to gyp the insurance companies if he could. If it hadn’t been for that little rat of an A.D.G. who got tight when he and I were in the Bazaar, I never would have got the information. If I wait until Hater comes out, someone else may have the same idea and beat me to it.
I’ve got to go ahead now if I’m going to collect that money, and if it’s the last thing I do, I’m damn well going to have it. A half a million! Think of it, Eve! Think what we can do with it.’
She wasn’t deceived for a moment by his use of ‘we’. She knew she wouldn’t see any of it. It was his way of encouraging her to help him. Not that she wanted the money. If he offered it to her she wouldn’t touch it. She was keeping in step with him so she shouldn’t lose him: that was her reward for meddling in this dangerous business.
‘But it won’t be half a million,’ she said, watching him. ‘You’l have to give Hater a share. He may even want half.’
Gillis laughed. He saw the trap, and he side-stepped it with his usual slick adroitness.
‘Al right: a quarter of a mil ion, then,’ he said, smiling at her. ‘Even two hundred and fifty thousand isn’t to be sniffed at.’
But Eve wasn’t to be put off.
‘You don’t intend to give him anything, do you, Adam?’
‘You mean Hater? Why, of course. He isn’t likely to part with any information unless he gets well paid. Of course he’l have to have something: not half, but certainly something pret y big.’
‘And Kile? Isn’t he to have anything?’
‘Wel , it may be necessary to give him something to keep him quiet,’ Gil is said. ‘How curious you are.’
‘But as he is dealing direct with the Rajah, what’s to stop him taking the lot and leaving you out of it?’ Eve persisted. She had a feeling that Adam’s plans had taken care of al contingencies, and she wanted to know just what he was up to.
‘What’s to stop him?’ Gil is repeated. His eyes narrowed. ‘I would stop him. That’s something I was meaning to speak to you about, Eve. It’s up to you to find out something about him that we could use if he makes himself awkward.’
She shied away from this.
‘We’re get ing into an awful jam, Adam,’ she said, twisting her hands anxiously in her lap. ‘I’m scared. Kile expects to have all the money. Then there’s Baird. Suppose he finds out why Hater’s to be kidnapped? Do you think a man like Baird will let you walk off with all that money when he has the most dangerous part of the job to do?’
He laughed.
‘You’re continual y thinking up difficulties, aren’t you?’ he said lightly. ‘The trouble with you is you worry too much. As soon as Baird starts on the job, you don’t have to think anything more about it. I’ll handle it.’
‘That doesn’t answer my question. What are you going to do about Kile? What wil you do if Baird finds out there’s a half-million involved?’
Gillis lit a cigarette and flicked the match out of the window.
‘I’ll wait until the time comes. But it wouldn’t do any harm to keep your eyes and ears open so far as brother Kile is concerned. He must have a few secrets he doesn’t want to broadcast. Suppose you concentrate on that angle, pet? If we could get something on him, we’d have him where we wanted him if he did turn nasty.’
‘I’m not going to do it,’ Eve said evenly. ‘It’s blackmail.’
‘Why must you always put a label on everything? Suppose it is blackmail: what of it? Or do you want me to leave you to be Kile’s toy until you lose your looks and he boots you out?’
She stood up.
‘Please listen to me, Adam,’ she said quietly. ‘You may be able to handle Kile, but I know you won’t be able to handle Baird. Kile doesn’t matter. He’s old and il and finished, but Baird’s not. He’s dangerous and he’s no fool. If he finds out…’
‘I know, I know,’ Gil is said, giving her his charming smile that was a little faded at the edges. ‘I heard you the first time. It may surprise you to know I’m not worried about Baird. I hope I’ve enough brains to outwit a man of his calibre. I know he’s a kil er; but that’s al . A good boxer can always beat a good slugger, and that’s what Baird is. He doesn’t scare me in the slightest.’
She caught hold of his arm.
‘Darling, I beg you not to go on with this,’ she said imploringly. ‘It won’t work. Oh, yes, I’m sure Baird’l get Hater out of prison. He could do anything, but it’s when Hater is free that your troubles are going to start. Please give up the idea before it’s too late. You’re running into something that’s more dangerous than anything you’ve ever mixed yourself up in before. You must give it up, Adam, before it’s too late.’
Gillis patted her hand.
‘I think I’l go to bed now,’ he said, yawning elaborately. ‘I’m dead tired. Go to bed yourself, Eve, and take my advice: mind your own business and leave me to mind mine.’
She looked at him helplessly.
‘Al right, darling,’ she said. She knew in a moment he would begin his threats again. ‘I’l go to bed.’
‘You wouldn’t have ten dol ars on you, would you?’ he said, as he steered her to the door. ‘It’s a debt I promised to settle.’
She opened her bag and took out two ten-dollar bills.
‘Take them,’ she said, without looking at him.
‘Only ten,’ he said, taking one of the bil s. ‘Never let it be said that I sponge on you.’
As he opened the door, she turned to face him.
‘Adam, please think about this. Can’t you see how dangerous…?’
‘Don’t let’s go al over that again,’ he said, a sudden rasp in his voice. ‘You’l begin to bore me.’
‘I’m sorry, but do think about it, darling, before it’s too late. Don’t blame me if something horrible happens. I can’t keep warning you.’
‘Have that engraved as one of those mot o things, pet,’ he said, ‘and I’ll hang it over my bed. Good night and sweet dreams.’
He gently pushed her into the passage and shut the door.
Jack Burns sat in his car, a cigarette hanging from his lips and a heavy scowl on his fat face. From time to time he shot his cuff and stuck his arm out of the window to see the time by his wrist-watch in the light cast by the street standard. It was getting on for a quarter-past one, and still no sign of Ainsworth.
He yawned and cursed Ainsworth, using all the bad words he knew. It took a little while to run through his entire vocabulary, and when he had finished, he felt a little less annoyed.
If only this punk Baird would go to sleep, he thought, he’d chance it and go home, but so long as the light burned in the top window, he knew he couldn’t take any risks.
He lit another cigarette and groaned. This was a hell of a life, he decided, for a guy who likes his sleep. Purvis, the old goat, would expect him to take over day duty by eleven o’clock. At this rate he wouldn’t get more than eight hours sleep, and he needed ten to feel anything like normal.
Every now and then he caught sight of Baird’s shadow as he crossed the blind. He was up to something, moving backwards and forwards like that. He didn’t give the impression of a man preparing for bed.
Again Burns leaned out of the window to see the time: one twenty-five! He yawned again, threatening to dislocate his jaw.
A patrolman came slowly along the sidewalk, gently whacking the side of his leg with his night-stick.
He looked over at Burns, sitting in the car, paused, then came across the street and stopped beside the car.
‘Waiting for someone?’ he asked, eyeing Burns suspiciously.
‘For the end of the world,’ Burns said sarcastical y. ‘Haven’t you heard? You and me and all the rest of the lousy bunch will come to an end in half an hour. If you want proof, my tea leaves told me, and they’re never wrong.’
The cop rested his foot on the running-board. The situation seemed to him to have possibilities.
‘Been drinking?’ he asked hopeful y.
‘Look, I’m busy,’ Burns said. ‘Go away and catch a burglar. Do anything, but don’t bother me.’
‘What’s this about the end of the world?’ the cop asked. ‘My tea leaves didn’t say nothing about it.’
‘Maybe you use the wrong make of tea. Why don’t you run away and make yourself some more? If you don’t want to drink the stuff, and if you’ve made enough of it, you can always drown yourself in it.’
The cop considered this, cocking his head on one side and squinting at Burns.
‘This could be a pinch, fel a,’ he said amiably. ‘I haven’t made a pinch for a week, and it’s time I did.
Suppose you and me take a ride down to headquarters.’
Burns shook his head.
‘I’ll play cops and robbers with you some other night,’ he said. ‘I’ve got work to do right now. Be a nice guy and fade away. If you’re al that hard up, why don’t you go pinch yourself a tart?’
‘You’l do,’ the cop said, his voice suddenly aggressive. ‘The Sarge hates funny men. He’l put you in cell 6, the one that leaks and has beetles. Start rolling, brother, you and me are going for a ride.’
With an air of bored weariness, Burns produced a card and pushed it under the cop’s nose.
‘Take a look at that, ambitious, if you can read. My old man and Lieutenant Olin are like that.’ He held up two fat fingers, pressed tightly together. ‘Interfere with me and you’l lose your badge so fast you won’t know it’s gone til you come to clean it — if you ever do clean it.’
The cop read the card, then spat in the gutter.
‘A shamus,’ he said bit erly. ‘I might have known it. Okay, forget it. That Purvis creep’s always making trouble for us workers.’
‘He makes trouble for me, too,’ Burns sighed. ‘I haven’t had a good night’s rest since last week, and then that was an accident.’
‘It beats me how you punks who peep through other people’s keyholes can sleep at al ,’ the cop said virtuously. ‘If I had your job my conscience wouldn’t let me sleep.’
Burns saw the light in Baird’s room had gone out.
‘Pipe down,’ he said tersely. ‘The pigeon I’m watching’s going to roost.’
The cop looked up at the darkened window.
‘That guy Baird? You interested in him?’
‘What do you know about him?’
‘I’ve got my orders. Never mind what I know about him.’
‘Aw, forget it. If there’s a thing I hate more than a stye in the eye, it’s a mysterious cop.’
The front door to Baird’s apartment house opened, and Baird came quickly down the steps.
‘Jeepers!’ Burns mut ered. ‘The punk’s going for a walk.’
‘Looks like he’s going on the lam,’ the cop said.
Baird was carrying a grip. He glanced at the cop and the parked car and went quickly down the street, away from them.
Burns scrambled out of the car.
‘Listen, brother, this is important. One of my buddies is due along any moment to relieve me. Will you tell him Baird’s left with a grip, and I’m going after him?’
‘I don’t mind,’ the cop said. ‘Not if you make it worth my while.’
‘And they say the police aren’t corrupt in this town,’ Burns said bitterly. He produced a five-dollar bill. ‘Stick around until he turns up. You can’t miss him. He walks pigeon-toed and wears a hand-painted tie.’
‘I’ll tell him,’ the cop said, pocketing the bil . ‘Nice to have known you.’
Burns snorted and set out after the fast-disappearing figure in the distance.
He had some difficulty in shortening the distance between Baird and himself. Baird swung along at a fast clip, and once or twice Burns had to break into a run or he’d have lost him.
Baird’s quick, suspicious ears heard the pat er of feet behind him, but he didn’t look around. He kept on, not sure yet if he was being tailed. Was it the police? he wondered. He turned down a side street, swearing softly under his breath. He had cut it fine. The train was due out at two, and he had yet to reach the depot and get his ticket. But he had to be sure no one was following him.
When he reached a dark patch of the road, he glanced back. A short, fat man was walking rapidly after him, keeping in the shadows. He didn’t look like a cop, and he puzzled Baird.
Baird kept on until he reached an alley that cut through to the railroad depot. He had ten minutes before the train left. Once in the darkness of the alley, he stopped and set down his grip and waited.
But Burns was too experienced to walk into that kind of trap. As soon as he could no longer hear Baird’s footfal s, he guessed Baird had spot ed him and was waiting for him in the al ey.
He walked slowly past the mouth of the alley, so Baird could see him, and kept on down the street until he was out of ear-shot, then he doubled back on tiptoe until he reached the mouth of the alley again.
He stood just out of sight, listening.
Although he had moved silently, Baird had heard him. Baird guessed this fat punk wouldn’t venture into the alley so long as he was uncertain Baird was still there.
Time was getting on. Baird couldn’t afford to hang about any longer, nor could he afford to let anyone interested in him know he was catching a train.
His hand slid inside his coat and came out again, holding his Colt. Silently he began to edge back along the alley, moving like a ghost.
Burns stood straining his ears, sure now that Baird was still in the alley. He decided not to show himself, but to wait Baird out. He didn’t hear Baird creeping along the al ey, and he had no idea of his danger until a hand came around the corner of the wall and grabbed hold of his coat.
He let out a yell as he felt himself jerked forward, and he hit out blindly. Then something hard and heavy smashed down on his head, and his world snuffed out into darkness.
Baird dragged Burns into the alley, turned him on his back and went through his pockets. He found one of Burns’s cards and he struck a match to read it.
International Detective Agency! A shamus following him! He gave Burns a hard nudge with the toe of his shoe and stood up, his face hard and set.
He hadn’t time now to think what it meant. If he didn’t hurry he’d miss his train. He left Burns’s body in the alley and ran towards the railroad depot.
Forty minutes later Harmon Purvis was startled out of a heavy sleep by the furious ringing of his telephone bell. As he picked up the receiver he glanced at his bedside clock. It showed a quarter-past three.
‘Who is it?’ he demanded.
‘This is Ed,’ Dal as’s voice barked over the line. ‘Baird’s given us the slip. Burns is in hospital with a fractured skull. I thought you’d welcome the good news.’
‘Any idea what happened?’ Purvis said, dropping back on his pillow and frowning up at the ceiling.
‘The Gil is girl cal ed on her brother tonight. She left around eleven-thirty. I watched Gillis’s window until he turned off the light and presumably went to bed. It was after two before I got away. I ran into Ainsworth on his way to relieve Burns. I went with him. We found Burns’s car near Baird’s place, but no Burns. A cop told us Baird had left his house, carrying hand-baggage, about five minutes before we showed up, and Burns had gone after him. We went after them. Obviously from the direction, Baird was heading for the railroad depot. We found Burns in an alley, bleeding like a pig, and the top of his head shoved in. No sign of Baird.’
Purvis made clicking noises with his tongue.
‘Is Burns bad?’
‘Yeah, but the croaker says he’ll survive.’
‘Did you go to the depot?’
‘Ainsworth did while I took Burns to hospital. The ticket agent told Ainsworth that Baird had booked through to Shreveport.’
Purvis sat bolt upright in bed.
‘Shreveport! You sure?’
‘Of course I am. What’s the excitement?’
‘You and Ainsworth grab a taxi and come here pronto,’ Purvis bawled. ‘This is important.’
‘Why? It’s after three and I haven’t had any sleep…’
‘That’s all you damned operators think of,’ Purvis snarled. ‘I don’t pay you to sleep. The Bellmore Prison Farm is within fifteen miles of Shreveport, and that’s where Paul Hater’s serving his sentence!
That mean anything to you?’
Dallas gave a long, low whistle.
‘I’m on my way,’ he said, and slammed down the receiver.