Джеймс Чейз - I Hold the Four Aces

‘But how do you know?’ Helga said sharply. ‘It could interest me!’

‘I couldn’t discuss it with you without my boss” say-so. Sorry, Helga, but that’s how it is, and I do assure you, you wouldn’t be interested.’

‘Very well,’ Helga said, frowning.

Grenville then began to tell her the history of the Fontainebleau forest, but she paid little attention. She was curious about this property scheme and felt frustrated, as Archer had assured Grenville she would be. If this scheme was interesting, she thought, it could give her a new outlet for her money, and it could also, much, much more important, give her Chris.

They arrived back at the Plaza Athénée Hotel.

‘Unhappily, I now have a business date with my boss,’ Grenville said as they entered the lobby. ‘It has been a wonderful evening, and thank you for your company.’

Watched by Patterson, who was sitting in one of the alcoves, Helga looked at Grenville.

‘And thank you,’ she said. ‘It really has been fabulous. That chicken!’

Grenville escorted her to the elevator, kissed her hand, looked at her for a long moment, and then left her.

In her suite, and although it was only 23.00, Helga undressed and dropped into bed.

She felt relaxed and happy.

She was in love with this man. That look he had given her as they had parted at the elevator told her he too was in love with her. No man, she told herself, could look like that without being in love, but then she didn’t know just how professional Grenville was.

Lying in bed, she had a moment of panic, realizing that Grenville had said nothing about meeting her the following day. The thought of being in Paris without him depressed her. Paris would be nothing without him! Relax, she told herself. He is in love with me. Tomorrow, he will telephone, and we will go somewhere marvellous together, but she couldn’t drift off into sleep, and finally, she once again took two sleeping pills.

She slept late. Awakening after ten o’clock, she ordered coffee, then took a bath. As she was dressing, the telephone bell rang. Eagerly, she snatched up the receiver.

‘The desk, madame,’ an obsequious voice said. ‘There is a message for you. Shall I send it up?’

Disappointed that it wasn’t Grenville, Helga snapped, ‘Yes,’ and hung up.

A few minutes later a page arrived with a bunch of roses and an envelope.

The message sent her into the depths of despair.

I am called away on dreary business. I loved our evening together. May I hope, in two days’ time, we can meet again? Chris.

Two days!

But there was hope! He wanted to see her again! She must wait!

Going to the window, she looked down at the traffic moving in the bright sunshine. There would be no spring for her for the next two days.

And the next two days were purgatory for her as Archer had intended them to be. Loman suggested she should go with him and Winborn to Versailles where there was a possible site for the new factory. She went with them because she had nothing better to do. They spent the day discussing the site with a minor minister. Helga couldn’t work up any enthusiasm. Her mind was continually on Grenville. The minor minister invited them to dinner to finalize the plan, and again, because she couldn’t bear the thought of being on her own, Helga joined them in the Plaza Athénée grillroom.

The following day, she, Loman and Winborn had lunch with the French Prime Minister. Again, she was utterly bored, wondering what Grenville was doing, and if he was thinking of her as she was continually thinking of him. She had a lonely dinner in her suite and two sleeping pills, with the thought that tomorrow, she would see him again.

Grenville had driven out of Paris and had had two enjoyable days at the Host du Chateau, Fere-en-Tardenois, where he ate well and toured the Marne 1914-18 battlefields. He liked being on his own, spending Patterson’s money and he didn’t give Helga even a thought.

He arrived back at the Plaza Athénée Hotel around 11.00, two days after his departure. He called Archer from his suite.

‘Go in and win,’ Archer said. ‘I’ve talked to Patterson. He is getting restive,’ and he went on to tell Grenville exactly how he should handle Helga.

Grenville said he would follow Archer’s suggestions, then added, ‘The trouble now, Jack, is I’m running out of money.’

‘That is something you must talk to Patterson about,’ Archer said. ‘There’s nothing I can do about that.’

So Grenville went to Patterson’s room. He found him and Shappilo studying a large-scale map of Corsica.

‘What’s going on?’ Patterson demanded aggressively. ‘Where the hell have you been these past two days?’

Grenville took a chair and smiled at Patterson.

‘I have been keeping a pair of pants hot,’ he said. ‘Jack and I discussed the situation. He agreed I should go off for two days and let the lady simmer. It’ll pay off tonight.’

Shappilo said, ‘That’s good thinking, Mr. Patterson.’

Patterson grunted.

‘So what’s going to happen tonight?’

‘I will explain the Blue Sky thing to her and then put her to bed.’

Patterson thought, then nodded.

‘Sounds okay, and then what?’

Grenville lifted his hands.

‘That depends. I think she will go along with the idea, but one never knows. It is the beginning of the operation. She might bite at once. If not, then I will continue to work on her, but I assure you, Mr. Patterson, in at least ten days, you will get the money.’

‘Well, okay.’ Patterson pulled at his cigar and released a cloud of smoke. ‘It’s your baby... you handle it.’

‘Which I will do, but it is now a matter of more money, Mr. Patterson,’ Grenville said smoothly. ‘Your five thousand francs has run away. If you want me to continue this operation, I need another five thousand francs.’

Patterson glared at him.

‘You don’t get another dime out of me, Grenville! You finance yourself! When this deal jells, you’ll get a cut, but from now on, you finance yourself!’

‘Unfortunately, Mr. Patterson,’ Grenville said, ‘I have no finances. I thought that was understood. You either give me five thousand francs or the operation is off... it is as simple as that.’

Patterson’s face turned purple.

‘What have you done with the money I have given you?’ he barked. ‘I want an accounting!’

‘That I can give you,’ Grenville got to his feet. ‘Frankly, Mr. Patterson, when two million dollars are involved, I find your attitude extraordinary. Well, shall we forget the whole thing? I have other irons in the fire, and this haggling over money bores me.’

Patterson hesitated, looked at Shappilo who nodded, then he took out his wallet. He counted out three one thousand franc notes and put them on the table.

‘That’s all you’re going to get!’

Grenville shook his head, his expression sad.

‘Such a pity. All right, Mr. Patterson, then let us forget it all. You could, of course, find someone else. I said five thousand francs, and I mean five thousand francs.’ He turned and smiled at Shappilo. ‘I shall be leaving this afternoon. I have an interesting proposition in Madrid: a very wealthy widow who wants to buy a castle.’ He shrugged. ‘Poor Helga Rolfe! But for a tiny sum of two thousand francs, she is going to lose a lover, but I always say one woman’s loss is another woman’s gain.’ As he moved to the door, he waved to Patterson. ‘Bye, Mr. Patterson.’

‘Hey, wait!’

Grenville paused and lifted his eyebrows.

‘Here’s your goddamn five thousand! But you deliver...!’

As Patterson added two more one thousand francs to the money on the table, Grenville walked back, picked up the money and stared at Patterson.