James Chase - Tiger by the Tail

Ken straightened up, grabbed the oars again and began to row. It took him over ten minutes to come within forty yards of the cruiser. He rested on his oars and let the boat drift while he examined the deck of the cruiser for any sign of life.

He spotted the motorboat tied up to the cruiser. He could see no one on deck, and he began to row again until he came up alongside the cruiser. He stared up at the deck rail while he listened.

He imagined he heard the faint sound of voices, and he wondered if he should take the risk of climbing on board. If anyone came up on deck his boat would be seen. He decided against the risk.

Rowing slowly and quietly, he passed under the stern of the cruiser and came up on the port side.

One of the port-holes showed a light, and as he let his boat drift silently up to the cruiser, he heard a voice coming from the port-hole say, “It’s time we had a straight talk, Johnny. You are in no position to dictate terms. You either accept my conditions or you’ll stay here until you change your mind.”

Ken quietly paddled his boat up alongside the cruiser and shipped his oars, taking care to stop the boat from bumping against the cruiser’s side. He caught hold of an iron bracket near the port-hole, steadied the boat while he stood up and took a quick look into the cabin.

The tall, fair, good-looking man he had seen outside the Blue Rose nightclub the previous evening was lounging on a bunk facing him. A tall, dark man in an expensively cut suit leaned against the wall, smoking a cigar.

Ken drew back quickly; then, keeping his boat steady, he listened to what was being said.

Solly caught the rope O’Brien tossed to him, held the motor-boat steady while O’Brien scrambled aboard.

“Tux here?” O’Brien asked abruptly.

“Yes, boss,” Solly said, startled that O’Brien had brought the motorboat over himself.

“Where is he?”

Tux came out of the shadows, buttoning up his shirt. He had been asleep, but had wakened when he heard the motorboat and had scrambled, cursing, into his clothes.

“I want you,” O’Brien said curtly.

Tux led the way down the companion ladder, along the dimly lit passage to his cabin. He sat on his bunk, stifled a yawn and looked enquiringly at O’Brien.

“Did you fix Louie?” O’Brien asked.

“Sure,” Tux said, looking a little uneasy. “Whitey hit him a shade too hard.”

O’Brien stared at him, his eyes intent.

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t reckon Louie is feeling too good right now,” Tux said guardedly. “He’s got a dome like an egg-shell.”

“Does that mean he’s dead?”

Tux lifted his shoulders.

“He could be. He spilt a lot of brain.”

O’Brien rubbed his jaw.

“This set-up is getting out of hand,” he said, took out a cigar and bit off the end. “It might be a good thing if Louie did croak.”

Tux looked relieved.

“It’ll surprise me if he doesn’t.”

“We don’t want any death-bed confessions.”

“He was too far gone to talk when we left him.”

O’Brien lit his cigar, blew smoke to the ceiling while he eyed Tux thoughtfully. This was the beginning, he thought. Rough stuff again after four years. Well, it couldn’t be helped. He had to keep control of, the situation, and if guys were a nuisance they must expect trouble.

“I’ve decided to get rid of Johnny,” he said, lowering his voice.

Tux was surprised, but he didn’t show it.

“Anything you say, boss.”

“I want him planted where he won’t be found,” O’Brien went on. “He must never be found.”

“I can fix that,” Tux said. “I have a barrel on board that’ll fix him, I’ve plenty of cement, too. He won’t be found.”

O’Brien nodded.

“You mustn’t slip up on this, Tux. I’ll go along and talk to him now. I’ll let you know when to do it.”

“Tonight?” Tux asked, thinking longingly of his much-needed sleep.

“It’ll be tonight. Better get that barrel and the cement ready.”

“I’ll tell Solly.”

“Do it yourself,” O’Brien said sharply. “Solly is to keep out of this. I’ll take him back with me. I don’t want him to know anything about it. Only you

and I are to know about it, Tux.”

Tux grimaced.

“That barrel’s going to be goddamn heavy. I can’t handle it alone. I’ll have to have Solly.”

O’Brien took his cigar from between his lips, stared at the glowing end, then said, “Please yourself, but if you have Solly, you’ll have to take care of him. He’ll have to go the same way.”

Tux was fond of Solly. Besides, Solly was as strong as a bull and as quick as a rattlesnake.

“He’ll keep his trap shut. You don’t have to worry about him,” he said.

O’Brien looked at him.

“If you don’t want to handle it my way, Tux, just say so.” The threat in his voice was unmistakable.

Tux eyed him, then shrugged.

“Okay, I’ll manage on my own.”

“You’d better make a job of it.”

“I’ll make a job of it.”

O’Brien got up, opened the cabin door and went into the passage. He walked to Johnny’s cabin, turned the key that was in the lock, pushed open the door and entered.

Johnny was dozing. He opened his eyes, blinked, then sat up.

“Hello, Johnny,” O’Brien said quietly.

He looked at Johnny’s bruised face with satisfaction. It was about time someone pushed this punk around, he thought as he closed the door and leaned against it.

Johnny eyed him warily.

“What do you want?”

“I’ve decided to make you a proposition,” O’Brien said.

“Yeah?” Johnny swung his legs off the bunk. “Well, okay, but it’s going to cost you plenty.”

O’Brien shook his head.

“It’s time we had a straight talk, Johnny. You are in no position to dictate terms. You either accept my conditions or you’ll stay here until you change your mind.”

“What are the conditions?” Johnny asked, touching his bruised face with his finger-tips.

“You’ll leave here tonight, go to the airport and fly to New York. One of my agents will meet you at the airport and put you on a plane for Paris. Another of my agents will meet you in Paris and take you to an apartment there. You will remain in Paris until I give you permission to leave.”

“And that will be after you’ve married Gilda, I suppose?” Johnny said with a sneer. “Do you imagine she’ll marry you unless I’m there to give her away?”

“You will write and tell her you are leaving for Paris tonight, and you won’t be back,” O’Brien said quietly. “She knows you’re in trouble, and she won’t be surprised you are clearing out.”

“Why are you so anxious to get rid of me?”

“Need you ask?” O’Brien returned. “You are a damned nuisance. I know what I’m in for taking you on as a brother-in-law. I can do without your company.”

Johnny laughed.

“You’re kidding yourself, Sean. If you want Gilda you’ll have to put up with me. I’m not going, so get that idea out of your head. I’m sticking to

you and Gilda and your dough.”

O’Brien shrugged.

“Please yourself. You’ll either go or stay on this boat until you rot. You have no other alternative, and if you think you can escape, try it and see how you get on!”

Johnny grimaced.

“I might go if there was some money in it. Is there?”

“I didn’t expect to get rid of you without it costing me something,” O’Brien said. “I’ll give you ten grand in return for the letter to Gilda and your promise to remain in Paris until I tell you to return.”

“Ten grand?” Johnny said incredulously. “You’ll have to do better than that. Make it fifty, and it’s a deal.”