1977 - My Laugh Comes Last (15 page)

'Hold a moment, sir.' There was a delay, then she came back to me. 'I'm sorry, sir, this is an unlisted number.'

'I know that. His son has been badly injured in a car accident. I've got to alert his father. This is Doctor Lewis talking.'

A long hesitation.

'Okay, doctor, I'll connect you.'

I wiped the sweat off my face as I waited, then Benny's harsh voice came over the line.

'What is it?'

'Give me Klaus,' I half shouted. 'This is Lucas.'

'What makes you think he wants to talk to you, fink? Get stuffed!'

'Get him, you ape!' I yelled.

There was a pause, then I heard talking, then Klaus came on the line.

"Yes, Mr. Lucas?'

'The police have taken the parcel to Los Angeles. I'm going there right now, but I can't get back to you before four o'clock.'

'At exactly four o'clock, Mr. Lucas, unless you have arrived, Benny will be allowed free access to your woman,' and he hung up.

It wasn't until just after 11.00 that I reached the Los Angeles station house.

Captain Perrell, a short, heavily built man, knew I played golf with Brannigan, so I got the V.I.P. treatment.

'I've got your problem solved for you, Mr. Lucas,' he said.

'Although we haven't found Maclain, we found his deputy who is already on his way back to Sharnville. He tells me Maclain is spending the weekend with some woman, but Maclain told him to deliver this parcel you're worried about to the bank. He did this at 09.30 this morning and got a receipt.' He handed me a slip of paper.

With my heart thumping, I looked at the paper.

Received one parcel from Mr. Lucas, Sharnville, for Mr. Fanell Brannigan.

Lois Shelton. Secretary to Mr. Brannigan.

I knew Lois Shelton well.

'Thanks, Captain, I'll get over to the bank.'

As I returned to my car, I asked myself if Brannigan had already opened the parcel and had read my statement.

Entering the bank, I asked to speak to Miss Shelton. The receptionist smiled at me.

'Go ahead, Mr. Lucas. I guess, by now, you know your way.’ I took the elevator to the top floor and walked into Lois Shelton's office.

She was tall, dark, slim and nice looking without being pretty.

'Why, Larry, what brings you here?' she asked, pushing back her desk chair.

‘You signed for a parcel for F.B.,' I said. 'Has he got it?'

Sweat was running down my face, and my voice was a croak.

'Is anything wrong?' She looked alarmed as she got to her feet.

'Has he got it?'

'It's on his desk right now. He's away for the weekend. Is it something important?'

I sucked in a deep breath.

'He's away?'

‘Yes . . . he left last night. He said he was taking a golfing weekend.'

'I've just found out my calculator is on the blink. The figures in that parcel are all haywire. If F.B. sees them, he'll throw the book at me.'

She laughed.

"Don't look so worried. It happens. I'll get it for you.'

While I was waiting, an idea jumped into my mind. I had already made a copy of my statement and the tapes which Klaus now held. Why not make a third copy? I looked at my watch. It was just after 12.00. If I worked fast, I could still return to Sharnville by 16.00.

Lois came in with the parcel.

'Lois - a favour. Can you let me have the use of two tape recorders and a photocopy machine?'

'Of course. Come with me.'

She took me into a small office.

'There you are: two tape recorders and a photocopy machine. Anything else?'

'No . . . fine. I won't be long.'

Hearing her desk telephone bell begin to ring, she gave me a little wave and left me.

It took a little over an hour to copy the two tapes and take a copy of my statement. I also made a photocopy of the bonds. I repacked the parcel, then put the photocopies of my statement and the bonds and the duplicate tapes into a big envelope I found in a desk drawer, sealed the envelope and wrote on it:

To be delivered to Mr. Brannigan on July 5th, and not before.

Today was June 29th. This would give me time to manoeuvre. If Klaus completely outwitted me and I was killed, Brannigan would still have enough evidence to go after him, but if I had luck, and I survived the breakin, I could get the parcel back from Lois,

I went into her office and put the envelope on her desk.

'I want you to give this to F.B., Lois, on July 5th, and not before. It contains ideas for a new system of security. I'm still working on it. If you don't hear from me by July 4th, give it to him the following morning. I could have a change of mind, then I'll call you, and come over and collect it. It sounds a bit like James Bond, but it is important to me. Okay?'

Looking puzzled, Lois nodded.

'I'll lock it in my safe. No problem.'

'Thanks. I've got to get back to Sharnville,’ and blowing her a kiss, I took the elevator down to the ground floor, holding on to the parcel, got into my car and headed back to Sharnville.

I drove up the dirt road leading to Klaus's house as the hands of my watch moved to 15.15.

Benny opened the front door as I walked up the steps.

'So you made it, fink,' he said. 'My bad luck. I was looking forward to giving your whore a workout.'

I walked into the living-room where Klaus was sitting at his desk and I put the parcel in front of him.

'Open it, Mr. Lucas.'

I ripped off the string and brown paper, opened the briefcase and let him see the original statement, the two tapes and the forged bonds.

He nodded.

"You have done what you have been told to do. That is sensible, Mr. Lucas.' He stared at me, and there was a look in those icy-grey eyes that frightened me. After a long pause, he went on, 'Now if I had been an amateur as you are an amateur, before parting with the contents of this briefcase, I would have made two further copies of the tapes and have photocopied the statement and the bonds if I had been an amateur like you, Mr. Lucas. I would have left them with the bank with instructions to give them to Mr. Brannigan on his return from his golfing weekend. Did you do that, Mr. Lucas?'

He's a devil! I heard Glenda's despairing voice.

Somehow, I kept my face expressionless. Somehow I forced my eye to meet his probing glare.

'I wish to God I had thought of that,' I said, huskily.

His smile sent a chill through me.

'I propose to call Miss Shelton, and you will ask her if the package you left with her is safe.'

Benny came into the room, and stood against the wall, grinning.

'I have an extension, Mr. Lucas, so I will hear what she says.'

He began to dial.

He is a devil!

My bluff called, and feeling utterly defeated, I said, 'She has copies.'

He replaced the receiver and stared at me with that maniacal glare, then he looked at Benny.

'I leave this stupid amateur to you. Try not to make too much of a mess,' and getting to his feet, he walked by me, and out of the room.

Grinning evilly, Benny moved away from the wall.

'Fink, this is going to be a pleasure,' he said. 'When a fink gets beaten by me, he knows he's been beaten.'

Moving swiftly, he brushed my jaw with his left, and then, as I threw up my hands, he slammed a right that felt like a chunk of concrete into my stomach.

Slowly, I drifted back to consciousness. Far away, as if in a dream, I heard Glenda's voice saying, 'Oh, my darling, what have they done to you?'

I moved, and pain like the snapping of a wolf's teeth gripped me so violently I cried out.

‘Don't move.'

My eyelids felt leaden, but I forced them up. Dimly, and out of focus, I saw Glenda's red hair, then her face.

'Don't say anything. Wait, Larry. Don't move. Just wait.'

My eyelids were too heavy to support, and I drifted away into unconsciousness.

The next time I became aware of her, her face was in focus: a white, drawn face, but Glenda's face, and it was close to mine. I felt her lips brush against my cheek. I groped for her hand and held it.

'Don't try to move, darling,' she said. 'It'll wear off... be patient.'

‘What have they been doing to you?' I managed to ask.

Her hand tightened on mine.

'Never mind about me. Please listen, Larry. You must get them into the bank. I told you he's a devil. You wouldn't listen. Oh, darling, why did you have to act smart? Look at what they have done to you. If you only knew what they have done to me.'

I lay still, riding the pain of my bruised body. I felt as if something had broken inside me. I thought of Alex Marsh who had sat crying while they had beaten Glenda. He had lost his guts. The scientific beating Benny had given me had reduced me to utter terror that he would do it again, and yet deep in my subconscious, there began to grow a burning desire to kill him, to kill Klaus, to kill Harry and to kill Joe. But I knew this desire to kill them was way out of reach, but it was there, and growing.

'Don't worry. I'll get them in.'

'Oh, darling! I can't stand being locked up here with that thug any longer.'

I then became aware I was lying on a bed, and looking around, I saw we were in a small room with the window boarded up. Opposite, was a half-open door, leading to a bathroom.

'Is this where they keep you?'

‘Yes. Benny brought you in here and told me to take care of you. I think Klaus and he have gone somewhere.'

‘You mean we are alone?'

'I think so.'

I made a tremendous effort and sat up. My body raged with pain. She tried to stop me, but I pushed her hands away.

‘This is our chance! We've got to break out!' Sweat broke out on my face as I swung my feet to the floor. 'Help me up, Glenda.'

‘You can't get out! Don't you think I've tried and tried?'

'Help me up!'

Supporting me, as I dragged myself upright, she said, 'It's no good, Larry. You'll only hurt yourself.'

I staggered over to the door and put my hands on the panel. The door was as solid as a brick wall. Even with an axe, I would have had trouble to break it down. Turning to the window, I found the boards were of oak, screwed in.

There was no hope of getting out through the door nor the window.

The pain raging through me made me feel faint, and I slumped down on the bed.

Glenda ran into the bathroom and returned with a glass of water. I poured the water over my head, and the dizziness went away. As I handed her the glass, I looked at my watch.

For a moment, I couldn't believe it. I had been unconscious for more than four hours.

‘We might break through the ceiling,' I said.

'It's too high. There's nothing to stand on. Nothing to use! Oh, Larry, darling, we must do what he tells us!'

Then we heard a sound outside, and Glenda clutched hold of me. A moment later, the door jerked open, and Klaus walked in.

Behind him, pausing in the open doorway, were Benny and Joe.

'By now, Mr. Lucas, you will realize it is most unwise to play tricks with me.' Klaus turned to Glenda. 'A glass of water.'

Picking up the glass, she almost ran into the bathroom. It sickened me to see how terrified she was of him.

'Here are some pills, Mr. Lucas. Take them! I want you to be fit and ready for die operation.'

Benny, followed by Joe, lounged into the room.

There was nothing I could do. The thought of Benny's massive fists smashing into my aching body made me cringe.

I took the three pills, then the glass of water which Glenda put shakily into my hand.

'Take them!' Klaus snarled.

I swallowed the pills and drank the water, 'I'm sure you won't object to sharing your woman's bed,' Klaus said. 'Good night to you both,' and he left the room.

'I'll be right outside, fink, if you want anything during the night,' Benny said. He lifted his great fists. ‘You have only to ask.'

Joe let out a bellow of laughter, then they backed out of the room, and I heard the bolt slam shut.

As I reached for Glenda's hand, the pills hit me and I went out like an extinguished light.

chapter seven

I
dreamed Joe was playing the spiritual on his harmonica.

I moved, hoping to break the dream, then I abruptly came awake, and still the tune persisted.

I opened my eyes, and there was Joe, sitting on a stool, playing his harmonica, and seeing me staring at him, he stopped playing, and his thick lips moved into a wide grin.

'Hi, there, man,' he said. 'Time to get up.'

I sat up on the bed. There were no agonizing pains, but my body ached. I looked around.

Seated on the floor, in a corner, was Glenda. She looked at me, her big eyes dull.

'Come on, man,' Joe said. 'Have a bath. I'll fix it for you. Time's getting on. You can't sleep forever.'

I looked at my watch. The time was ten o'clock. I had no idea if it was ten in the morning or night.

Joe opened the door and called. A moment later, Benny came in. He went over to Glenda, grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet.

'Nice walk now, baby,' he said, and hustled her out of the room.

Joe went into the bathroom and turned on the bath taps.

I got to my feet, expecting sharp pains, but there were no pains. This was something I wasn't going to let Joe know about. As he came out of the bathroom, I drew in a shuddering breath, and bent double.

'Come on, come on, man,' he said impatiently. ‘You ain't that soft.'

I remained still, bent double, then hobbled slowly to the bathroom. I stood by the bath, breathing heavily as Joe turned off the taps. He pulled off my shirt.

‘Yeah, man. Benny certainly can do a job.'

I looked down at my chest. It was yellow, black and blue.

Taking my time, making out I was much more feeble than I was, I got out of my trousers and pants, then naked, I reeled back, thudding against Joe who grabbed me.

'Come on, man!' he said impatiently, and half shoved, half lifted me into the bath.

I lay in the hot water, my eyes closed, but my mind now active. There must be some way out of this trap! As long as Glenda was a hostage, I was powerless. If I could only find some way to free her . . .