James Chase - Just Another Sucker

We kept at it for over two hours. During those hours of intensive questioning, she never once put a foot wrong.

Finally, I said, ‘You’ll do. Just so long as you don’t alter the story and you watch out for traps, you’ll do.’

She gave me a small, mocking smile.

‘I’ll watch out fop traps… Harry.’

I got to my feet.

‘Well, okay, then we’re ready for Saturday. I’ll be at the Pirates’ Cabin at nine-fifteen. You know what to do.’

She uncurled herself off the settee and stood up.

‘Yes, I know what to do.’

We looked at each other, then her expression softened, and smiling, she moved towards me, that thing in her eyes.

‘Poor little man,’ she said. ‘Paw me if you want to. I don’t really mind.’

I waited until she was in range, then I slapped her face, hard. Her head jerked to one side. Then I slapped her again.

She stepped back, her hands going to her flaming cheeks, staring at me, her slate eyes glittering.

‘You stinker!’ she said shrilly. ‘I’ll remember that! You rotten stinker!’

‘Get out!’ I said. ‘Before I hit you again!’

She moved to the door, swinging her neat hips. At the door she paused and turned to stare at me.

‘I’m glad I’m not your wife,’ she said. ‘That’s one thing I’m glad about,’ then she suddenly giggled and turning, ran out into the moonlight and scampered away across the hard, damp sand.

I felt such a heel, I could have cut my throat.

When I got up on Saturday morning, there was a hint of rain in the air. I was nervous and uneasy. All my doubts about this job came crowding up out of my sub-conscious. It was only the thought of the money that stiffened my jittery nerves.

‘I’ll be late tonight,’ I told Nina who was preparing breakfast. ‘This is the last night of the traffic count.’

She looked anxious at me.

‘Will you be seeing John today?’

‘I’ll see him on Monday. If he had any news for me he would have telephoned.’

She hesitated, then asked, ‘Are you going to take the job, Harry?’

‘I think so. A lot depends on what they will pay.’

‘John said the salary would be good.’ She smiled at me. ‘I’m so glad. You really have been worrying me.’

‘I’ve been worrying myself,’ I said lightly. ‘I’m taking the car tonight. It’s going to rain.’

‘There’s very little gas, Harry.’

‘That’s okay. I’ll fix it.’

Later, I went down to the beach cabin. I had just got into my swim trunks when Bill Holden appeared in the doorway.

‘Hello there, Mr. Barber,’ he said. ‘Are you keeping the cabin on for another week?’

‘I guess so,’ I said. ‘Maybe not for the whole week but at least until Thursday.’

‘Would you like to settle for this week?’

‘I’ll settle tomorrow. I’ve left my wallet at home.’

‘That’s okay, Mr. Barber — tomorrow’s fine.’

I stared out at the grey, heavy sky.

‘Looks like rain. I guess I’ll have a swim before it starts.’

Holden said he thought it would hold off until later, but he was wrong. I had just come in from the swim when the rain started.

I settled down in the cabin with a paper-back. The beach was now deserted. That suited me. I hoped the rain would go on all day.

Around one o’clock, I went over to the restaurant which was empty and ate a hamburger and drank a beer, then I returned to the cabin. As I pushed open the door, the telephone bell rang.

It was Rhea on the line.

‘Is everything arranged?’ she asked. There was an anxious note in her voice.

‘On my side, it’s arranged,’ I said. ‘I’m ready to go. Everything now depends on Odette.’

‘You can depend on her.’

‘Well, fine. Then at eight-forty-five, I’ll start things moving.’

‘I’ll telephone you tomorrow at eleven o’clock.’

‘I want some money,’ I said. ‘I have to pay for the rent of this cabin. Maybe it would be better if you came down here tomorrow morning. I’ll be here.’

‘I’ll do that,’ she said and hung up.

I remained in the cabin for the rest of the day. The rain beat down on the roof. The sea turned slate grey. I tried to concentrate on the paper-back, but it was impossible.

Finally, I got up and prowled up and down and smoked endless cigarettes, watching the time and waiting, waiting and waiting.

When at last the hands of my wrist watch showed eight-thirty, I left the cabin and ran across the wet sand to the Packard. It was still raining, but more lightly. I drove to a drug store in the main street of Palm City. By the time I had parked and had walked through the drizzle to the drug store, it was close on eight-forty-five.

I called Malroux’s residence.

Almost immediately the call was answered.

‘Mr. Malroux’s residence,’ an English voice announced. ‘Who is this, please?’

‘I want Miss Malroux,’ I said. ‘This is Jerry Williams.’

‘Will you hold the line, Mr. Williams? I’ll see if Miss Malroux is available.’

I held the line, aware that I was breathing over-fast.

There was a longish delay, then Odette’s voice said brightly, ‘Hello?’

‘Is anyone listening?’

‘No. It’s all right. Hello, Harry.’ There was a caress in her voice. ‘You’re the only man who has ever dared to hit me. You are quite a character.’

‘I know. Watch it I don’t hit you again. You know what to do? I’ll be at the Pirates’ Cabin in twenty minutes. The Packard will be parked on the far right-hand side of the parking lot. The dress will be on the back seat. You haven’t forgotten any of the details?’

‘I haven’t forgotten.’

‘Then get moving. I’ll be waiting for you,’ and I hung up.

It took me a quarter of an hour, driving fast to reach the Pirates’ Cabin. The parking lot was pretty full, but I managed to park the Packard where I had told her it would be. There was no parking attendant and that suited me. Someone was playing a squeeze-box and singing. I could see through the windows that the bar was crowded.

I sat in the Packard and waited. I was pretty tense. Every car that came into the park made me stiffen.

At twenty-five minutes after nine, I saw a white T.R.3 slide through the gates and park within twenty yards of my car.

Odette climbed out. She was wearing a white plastic mack over a scarlet dress. She paused beside the T.R.3 and looked in my direction.

I leaned out of the Packard and waved to her. The thin drizzle of rain was now becoming heavier. She waved back, and then walked quickly to the restaurant and entered the bar.

I got out of the Packard and crossed over to her car. There was a suitcase lying on the passenger’s seat. I looked to right and left, satisfied myself no one was watching me, then took the suitcase over to the Packard.

Through the bar windows I could see Odette. She was speaking to the barman. He shook his head at her and she moved away from the bar and out of my sight.

I looked at my wrist watch. The plane to Los Angeles left at ten-thirty. We had plenty of time. I had made her reservation by telephone in the name of Ann Harcourt. I had told the clerk she would pick up and pay for her ticket at the airport. I had also telephoned and reserved a room at a small hotel in Los Angeles that I had once stayed at. It was quiet, and away from the centre of the town; I felt sure she would be all right there.

I saw Odette come out of the bar. My heart skipped a beat when I saw she wasn’t alone: there was a man with her.

She began to walk towards the Packard. The man caught hold of her arm, pulling her back. I couldn’t see much of him. He was short and fat, and he was wearing a light coloured suit.