James Chase - Figure It Out for Yourself

‘You’re the chap who’s going to pay them the ransom money,’ he went on, stating a fact and not asking a question.

I said I was as he carried a fair-size snifter to an arm-chair opposite mine. He sat down and stared at me over the rim of the glass the way you would stare at some curious animal at the Zoo.

‘She tells me she’s going with you.’

‘So she says.’

‘I wish she wouldn’t, but nothing I say makes any difference. He sipped the whisky, stared down at his white buckskin shoe. He had the smallest male feet I have ever seen. ‘I never have been able to influence her one way or the other. A pity, really. Of course, old people are bores, but sometimes they are able to help the young if the young would only let them.’

I had the idea he was talking rather to himself than to me so I didn’t say anything.

He brooded off into a silence that lasted some time. I helped myself to another of my cigarettes, kept an intelligent expression on my face just in case he might think it worth while to speak to me and resisted the temptation to fidget.

In the middle distance I noticed the two Chinese gardeners had decided to call it a day. They had been staring at the umbrella standard for some time without touching it; now, having learned it by heart, they moved off to enjoy a well-earned rest.

‘Do you carry a gun?’ Marshland asked suddenly.

‘Yes; but I don’t expect to use it.’

‘I hope not. You’ll see she takes as little risk as possible, won’t you?’

‘Of course.’

He drank half the whisky. It didn’t do much to cheer him up.

‘These fellows have pretty big ideas. Five hundred thousand is an enormous sum of money.’

He seemed to expect me to say something so I said, ‘That’s why they snatched him. The risk is enormous too.’

‘I suppose it is. Do you think they’ll keep their side of the bargain?’

‘I don’t know. As I explained to Mrs. Dedrick, if he hasn’t seen them…’

‘Yes; she told me. You’re probably right I’ve been reading about some of the famous kidnapping cases of the past years. It would seem the higher the ransom the less likely is the chance of the victim surviving.’

I was suddenly aware that he wasn’t mild or absentminded any more, and that he was staring at me with an intent, rather odd expression in his eyes.

‘It depends on the kidnappers,’ I said, meeting his eyes.

‘I have a feeling we shan’t see him again.’ He got slowly to his feet, frowned round the room as if he had lost something. ‘Of course, I haven’t said anything to her about it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they haven’t already killed him.’ The white eyebrows lifted. ‘What do you think?’

‘It’s possible.’

‘More than possible, perhaps?’

‘I’m afraid so.’

He nodded. The pleased, satisfied expression in his eyes jarred me to the heels.

He went out of the room, very spry and dapper, and humming a tune under his breath.

It wasn’t until the hands of my watch had crawled round to eleven that the telephone bell rang. The five-hour wait had been interminable, and I was so het-up I very nearly answered the telephone myself, but someone in some other part of the house beat me to it.

I had been pacing up and down, sitting on the settee, staring tout of the window and chainsmoking during those five long hours. I had seen Wadlock for a few minutes when he had brought me dinner on a wheel wagon, but he hadn’t had anything to say and left me to serve myself.

I had been out just after eight o’clock to have a word with Kerman and to drop him a cold breast of chicken through the car window. I didn’t stay more than a minute or so. I was scared anyone who might be watching the house would hear his flow of bad language.

Now at last something was going to happen. Although Dedrick meant nothing to me, I was nervy after the long wait. I could imagine what Serena must be feeling like. She was probably fit to walk up a wall.

A few minutes later I heard movements outside and I walked into the hall.

Serena, in black slacks and a short, dark fur coat, came hurrying down the stairs, followed by Wadlock, who was carrying three oilskin-wrapped packages.

She looked white and ill; there was a pinched, drawn look about her that told more clearly than words how she had suffered during those long hours of waiting.

‘Monte Verde Mining Camp. Do you know it?’ she said in a low, unsteady voice.

‘Yes. It’s on San Diego Highway. It’ll take us about twenty minutes to get there if the traffic is light.’

Franklin Marshland appeared silently.

‘Where is it?’ he asked.

‘Monte Verde Mining Camp. It’s an old worked-out silver mine on San Diego Highway,’ I told him. ‘It’s a good spot for them.’ I looked at Serena’s white face. Her lips were trembling ‘Any news of your husband, Mrs. Dedrick?’

‘He—he is to be set free three hours after the money has be delivered. They will telephone us here where we will find him.

Marshland and I exchanged glances.

Serena caught hold of my arm.

‘Do you think they’re lying? If we let them have the money, we’ll have no hold on them at all.’

‘You haven’t a hold on them, anyway, Mrs. Dedrick. That’s what makes kidnapping such a filthy business. You’re entirely in their hands, and you just have to trust them.’

Wouldn’t it be better, my dear, if you let Mr. Malloy delivers the money, and you wait here for the second message?’ Marshland asked.

‘No!’

She didn’t look at him.

‘Serena, do be sensible. There’s always a chance they might be tempted to kidnap you. I’m sure Mr. Malloy is quite capable…’

She turned on him, distraught with misery and hysteria.

‘I’m going with him, and nothing you say will stop me!’ she cried wildly. ‘Oh, you needn’t pretend any more. I know you don’t want Lee to come out of this alive! I know you hate him! I know you’ve been gloating with joy that this has happened to him! But I’m bringing him back! Do you hear? I’m bringing him back!’

‘You’re being absurd…’ Marshland said, a faint flush coming to his face. His eyes looked hard and bitter.

She turned away from him to me.

‘Are you coming with me?’

‘Whenever you’re ready, Mrs. Dedrick.’

‘Then bring the money and come!’

She ran to the front door, jerked it open and went out on to the terrace.

Wadlock gave me the three packages.

‘You’ll take care of her, sir,’ he said.

I gave him a crooked grin.

‘You bet.’

Marshland walked away without looking at me.

‘She’s very upset, sir,’ Wadlock murmured. He looked upset himself.

I ran along the terrace, down the steps to the Cadillac.

‘I’ll drive,’ I said and tossed the packages into the back of the car. ‘I won’t be a moment. I want my gun.’

I left her getting into the Cad. and ran over to the Buick.

‘Monte Verde Mine,’ I said. ‘Give us five minutes, then come on—and watch out, Jack.’

A soft moan came from under the rug, but I didn’t wait. I went back to the Cadillac and climbed under the steering wheel. Serena sat huddled up in a corner. She was crying.

I sent the car shooting down the drive.

‘Don’t let it get you down.’

She went on crying quietly. I decided perhaps it was the best thing for her, and drove as fast as I could without taking risks, and ignored her.

As we drove along Orchid Boulevard I said, ‘Better get hold of yourself now. You haven’t told me yet what was said. If we make one false move, we may spoil his chance of getting back to you. These guys will be a lot more scared than we are. Now, come on, pull yourself together, and tell me. What did they say?’