Fast Buck (20 page)

‘Nice work,’ Baird said approvingly. ‘If they ask questions, tel them you haven’t seen us.’

‘Sure.’

Rico scrambled into the Packard.

‘Good luck, Mr Rico. I’l stal them,’ the parking attendant said.

‘Thanks, Tim. Maybe I’ll be back,’ Rico said mournful y.

Baird let in the clutch, swung out of the parking lot, and headed up town.

MacAdam, who had been sitting in his car waiting patiently for Gillis to show, spotted Rico in the Packard. He thought he recognised Baird at the wheel. He didn’t hesitate. Instinct told him it was more important to go after Baird and Rico than to wait for Gillis.

He trod on the starter and shot his car away from the kerb.

VI

‘Peggy, darling,’ Gil is said, turning on his boyish charm and leaning across the table to catch her hand, ‘aren’t you get ing a little bored with all this? Wouldn’t you like to come back to my place? We could have much more fun alone together.’

His blonde companion screwed up her eyes to focus the tanned, smiling face that appeared to bob up and down like a toy balloon on a rough sea.

‘I’m having fun right here,’ she announced, in a voice that carried across the restaurant. ‘I don’t want to go to your dreary old place. I’ve been there, and I know what you cal fun. I’m staying right here.

Let’s have some champagne.’

Gillis’s smile became fixed. He glanced a lit le anxiously at the tables close to his. Some of the diners were looking at Peggy, amused smiles on their faces.

‘I think you’ve drunk enough already, darling,’ he said, keeping his voice low. ‘Come on, Peggy, let’s get out of here.’

‘I don’t want to,’ she said, with drunken obstinacy. ‘I want some champagne. I’m not asking you to pay for it. I’l pay for it myself. I’ve lots and lots of money. Hey, waiter!’ she went on, raising her voice.

‘Where’s the lousy waiter? Waiter!’

Gillis went white with suppressed fury. If there was one thing he hated, it was to be the centre of a scene. People were now staring at him, and some of them were whispering to each other.

‘Keep your voice down, you lit le fool!’ he said furiously. ‘You’re making a scene!’

‘I don’t care!’ the girl cried. ‘Why shouldn’t I make a scene if I want to? I’m paying for this meal, and if I want to, I’m entitled to make a scene!’

A waiter came up quickly.

‘Is there anything madam wants?’ he asked, bowing.

‘Get some champagne,’ the girl ordered. ‘My boy friend’s thirsty. He only drinks champagne if I pay for it. Don’t you, Adam darling?’

Gillis pushed back his chair. He was sweating now.

‘Sure,’ he said soothingly. ‘But excuse me a moment. I’l be right back. I’ve just remembered I’ve got to make a phone call.’

‘Oh, no, you don’t!’ the girl exclaimed at the top of her voice. ‘I’m not al that drunk. You’re not going to walk out on me just when I’m buying you champagne. Just because I won’t go back to your fusty old bedroom and let you maul me around, you’re not going to leave me flat!’

The people within ear-shot had stopped pretending to listen, and were frankly gaping at Gillis.

‘Shut your mouth!’ he snarled at her, getting to his feet. ‘You’re not fit to go to public places.’

Peggy giggled.

‘I’ve got a hundred dollars in my bag for you, Adam, darling. If you go I shan’t give it to you.’

Gillis was already walking stiff-legged down the long aisle to the exit. Sweat beaded his face as he saw people staring at him.

Peggy picked up a spoon and began to hammer with it on the table, chanting drunkenly, ‘Gigolo!

Gigolo! Dirty little gigolo!’

Gillis went hurriedly into the men’s toilet. He was so furious he could have gone back and murdered the bitch. He ran cold water into the basin and plunged his face in it.

That was the finish of him in the club. He couldn’t come here again, he told himself, as he groped for a towel. Damn her! He might have known the vulgar little fool couldn’t have held her liquor. He was crazy to have thought he could have persuaded her to go back to his room, after what had happened the first time. Then she had smashed a window, scratched his face and nearly wrecked the room. It was a wonder the police hadn’t turned up. He had thought if he could get her tight she might be more amenable. Instead, he had let himself in for this scene. To look at her you’d have thought she was an absolute pushover. He stood staring at his reflection in the mirror, while he called her every name he could think of.

Well, he wasn’t going to leave by the front entrance. She might be there to start another scene. He’d go by the back exit.

Pushing open the door on his left, he stepped into the passage that led to Rico’s office, the changing rooms and the back exit. He hadn’t taken more than a dozen steps when he came to an abrupt standstill.

Someone was talking in Rico’s office. He recognised Baird’s soft tones. He moved forward silently, opened the door next to Rico’s office and slipped into a smal , dark room used by waiters for changing into their outdoor clothes. The room smelt of damp wool and unwashed bodies, but Gillis was far too intent to notice. He put his ear against the wall and listened. He heard Baird say, ‘You can come to Red River Basin. That’s where I’m going. Have you forgot en? There’s half a mil ion or more to be picked up there, and it’s where Olin can’t get at us. What do you care about this lousy club if you can get your hands on money like that?’

Gillis held his breath so he could hear better. There was a set, hard smile on his mouth now. Already he had forgotten about Peggy and the way she had insulted him. If the little fool hadn’t made the scene he wouldn’t be listening to this conversation now.

‘It’l turn out to be another of your bright ideas,’ he heard Rico say, his voice unsteady. ‘How do I know I shan’t get into a worse jam?’

‘You couldn’t be in a worse jam,’ Baird returned. ‘Get moving. Col ect al the dough you can lay hands on, and make it fast.’

Gillis heard Rico leave the room and go down the passage in a stumbling run. What had happened?

he wondered, puzzled. Why had they suddenly decided to leave for Red River Basin in such a hurry? He hadn’t been wrong about Baird. Baird was going to gyp Kile if he could. He knew neither Rico nor Baird could hope to handle the jewellery. They would wait until Kile got the money. That’s when they’d act. Well, he was ready for them.

But why rush off like this? What did Baird mean when he said Rico couldn’t be in a worse jam?

He opened the door and moved cautiously into the passage. He edged his way along the passage to the rear exit and peered into the alley. Immediately facing him was a dark blue Packard. A man in a white coat and peak cap was standing near by. Gillis dodged back and shut the door. He heard Rico coming along the passage. He darted into Zoe’s dressing-room and pushed the door to.

The telephone bell rang in Rico’s office, and Gillis cursed himself for leaving the waiters’ changing room. Where he was he couldn’t hear what was being said. There was a slight delay, then Rico’s door opened, and he heard Rico say frantically, ‘Leaving al this! I’l be ruined…’

Baird came out of the office, carrying a suitcase. He went to the rear exit, and leaving the door wide open, climbed into the Packard.

A moment later Rico came blundering after him, struggling into his overcoat.

As the Packard started up, Gillis moved swiftly to the open door and stepped into the alley. He was in time to see the Packard shoot into the main street.

‘Anything you want, sir?’ the parking at endant asked suspiciously.

Gillis ignored him. He ran to the end of the alley and looked after the swiftly moving Packard. From across the road he heard a car start up, and he looked in its direction. He saw a dusty Lincoln pull out dangerously into the thinning traffic. It went after the Packard, cutting in front of other drivers, causing them to swerve and sound their horns. Gillis caught sight of a big fleshy man at the wheel, and he stared after him thoughtfully.

The man in the Lincoln worried him. Was he a policeman? Gillis thought that was unlikely.

Policemen usually hunted in pairs. Then who was he? What was he doing, tailing Baird?

He crossed the street and went into the bar. The barman knew him and nodded to him.

‘A Scotch, Jack,’ Gil is said, leaning against the bar. When the barman put the drink in front of him, Gillis went on, ‘Seen a big fat guy in here? He was wearing a dark green leisure jacket and a brown hat.’

The barman nodded.

‘Yeah, I’ve seen him. It’s my bet he’s a shamus. He’s been watching the club for the past hour.

Another guy joined him a while back, and they, went out together. The fat fella sat in his car and went on watching the club, the other one went into the club.’

Gillis finished his whisky and slid a five-dollar bill across the counter.

‘Hang on to the change,’ he said. ‘What was the other guy like?’

‘Tal , lanky, with a crew hair cut.’

Dallas!

‘Thanks, Jack,’ Gil is said, and pushed himself away from the bar. For the first time since he started on this business he felt uneasy. If Dallas was watching him – how much had he found out?

He stood hesitating for a moment, then walked quickly to a pay booth and shut himself in.

VII

Rico sat huddled up, staring miserably at the two pools of light from the headlamps that raced ahead of the Packard. He was sure now he had seen the last of the Frou-Frou Club, and the future yawned before him as a dark, menacing chasm. If Baird didn’t pull this job off, he would have to start all over again. Baird had nothing to lose, but it was different for him: he had established himself; he was a man of substance. He was leaving behind him a flourishing business, a newly furnished apartment, a wardrobe full of clothes, and a Buick. He must have been out of his mind to have got himself in a jam like this.

Baird said, ‘In another fifteen miles we’l be across the State line. We can get an air taxi from Lincoln Falls to Shreveport. If we get the breaks we should be in Red River Basin by tomorrow night.’

Rico didn’t say anything. He thrust his hands in his coat pockets and huddled further down in his seat.

Rain beat against the windshield and drummed on the roof of the car. There was very little traffic on the highway, and Baird kept up a fast speed.

‘Get ing this guy Hater out of the swamp isn’t going to be a picnic,’ Baird went on, ‘but it can be done. I’ve fixed a boat. As soon as we get over the State line you’d bet er get Kile on the phone and let him know what we’re doing.’

‘If this doesn’t come off…’ Rico groaned.

‘It’s got to come off!’

‘Even if Kile pays us when we hand over Hater, how are we to get hold of the pay-off when Kile collects it? He’l probably get it at his house. What can we do if he does? We can’t show our faces in town. How shall we know when he does collect the dough?’

‘What makes you think we can’t go back there?’ Baird asked indifferently. ‘Olin wouldn’t scare me away from any town.’

Rico began to sweat.

‘We’l walk into a trap if we go back,’ he said, sit ing upright and staring hard at Baird.

‘If you want the dough you’l have to go back. There’s no other way of get ing it. That’s a risk we’ll have to run. When Kile takes delivery of Hater we can’t afford to let him out of our sight for a second!’

Rico groaned.

‘I wish I’d never touched this,’ he said in despair. ‘It’s ruined me.’

‘You can quit any time you like,’ Baird said. ‘If you don’t want your share, say so: al the more for me.’

Rico lapsed in moody silence. He sat still staring at the broad black ribbon of the road as it fled under the wheels of the Packard.

Every now and then Baird glanced into his rear mirror. The two distant headlights he could see puzzled him. There was a car behind him that had kept a hundred yards or so in his rear ever since he had struck the highway. He didn’t think anyone was tailing him, but he couldn’t afford to take chances.

It couldn’t be the cops. They wouldn’t hang behind like this. They’d overtake and force him to stop.

Who else could it be? One of the International operators? That was possible, and his thin lips set in a hard line.

‘There’s a car behind us I don’t like the look of,’ he said, giving Rico a nudge with his elbow. ‘Keep an eye on it. I’m going to try and shake it.’

Rico caught his breath in alarm and screwed around, staring at the two blobs of light that hung steadily in the rear.

Baird gradually increased pressure on the gas pedal. Slowly the car began to build up speed. From sixty miles an hour the speedometer needle crept up to seventy.

‘He’s stil there,’ Rico said.

Baird was afraid to drive too fast in the pouring rain. The surface of the road was treacherous, and he had no intentions of having a smash-up at this stage of the game.

‘Okay,’ he said. ‘We’ll stop and see what he does.’

Gradually he slowed down the Packard.

‘He’s slowing down too,’ Rico said in alarm.

Baird swung on the grass verge and brought the Packard to a standstill.

They both watched the headlights of the approaching car. The driver appeared to hesitate, then increased speed and went past them. Baird caught a glimpse of a big man at the driving-wheel of a Lincoln.

Baird lit a cigarette.

‘We’l let him get wel ahead,’ he said. ‘Maybe he wasn’t fol owing us, but I’m not taking any chances.’

‘We’re not over the State line yet,’ Rico said uneasily. ‘We’d bet er get on.’

Baird grunted. There was some sense in that. He started the car engine and drove along the highway at a steady forty miles an hour.

There was no sign now of the others car’s tail lights. A mile or so up the road, Baird spot ed a side turning.

‘Maybe he’s turned off,’ he said. ‘I’l get moving again.’

He increased his speed and continued along the broad Highway.

‘Keep a look-out behind,’ he told Rico. ‘Just in case he’s foxing.’

Rico couldn’t see any light, and he remained, screwed around, watching the darkness through the rear window. After several miles, he said sharply, ‘A car behind.’

‘Same one?’