Джеймс Чейз - I Hold the Four Aces

‘You must give him time, darling.’ Helga gathered up the papers. ‘I have just time for a swim. You stay quiet,’ and she went away.

Grenville longed for a swim, but that would be unwise. He counted the hours: only ten more! They would be dreary hours, but then he would be free! He lit a cigarette and relaxed back in his chair.

They lunched under sun umbrellas, then Helga insisted that Grenville should take a nap. He was willing enough and went to his own bedroom while she opened her file and reached for the telephone.

At 16.30, Grenville came out onto the terrace to find Helga still making notes and still studying the file.

‘You never seem to stop working,’ he said in dismay.

She smiled up at him.

‘I am the head of a kingdom that is worth more than a billion dollars, Chris. You are going to be my strong right hand. When you own such a kingdom, it is very difficult to stop working. Ring for tea. I’ve just finished.’

To be married to this woman! Grenville thought. I would become a button on a calculator!

They spent the evening, talking. Helga eagerly made plans for their honeymoon. She had a yacht, she told him. Would he like to cruise around the Florida keys? Grenville agreed with all her suggestions, knowing thankfully that in a few more hours he would be free of her, plus a million dollars.

Watching her in the soft evening light, he felt a pang. She was really a beautiful woman, he thought. If only she wasn’t so terrifyingly efficient, so frighteningly hard at times and so possessive. That steely look that came into her eyes and her voice when things weren’t going her way scared him. No, he thought, I could never handle this woman to my advantage. The ball would always be in her court. Yet, he had regrets: she was marvellous in bed, she was lovely to look at and she was worth millions, but he knew she was too strong for him, and he knew, once married to her, she would completely dominate him. He wanted to be free, to have lots of money and to be able to pick up a dolly bird, use her, drop her and find a replacement. That was his idea of how to live: no complications and no more dreadful, fat old women. He looked furtively at his watch.

Hinkle came out on the terrace with the cocktail shaker and two glasses. This time, Grenville, who was longing for a drink, said he could manage a glass.

‘I feel so much better, Hinkle,’ he said with his most winning smile. ‘Do you think I could have a steak?’

Helga, pleased, looked at Hinkle, but there was no benign expression on his face.

‘Certainly, sir. A Tournedos Rossini or steak au poivre?’

You hostile sonofabitch, Grenville thought, but who cares? By tomorrow, I shall have forgotten you.

‘A steak au poivre would be perfect.’

‘Yes, Hinkle, for me, too,’ Helga said. ‘No starter. Could we have one of your champagne sorbets?’

As if to slight Grenville, Hinkle beamed at her.

‘Certainly, madame,’ and he went away.

Grenville sighed.

‘I’m not making much of an impression, am I?’

‘It’ll take time,’ Helga said. ‘Be patient.’

‘Of course.’ He got to his feet. ‘I’ll change.’

After dinner, and when Hinkle had gone to fetch coffee, Grenville said, ‘Shouldn’t Hinkle relax now, Helga? He’s not all that young, and he seems to have been on his feet all day.’

As Hinkle served the coffee, Helga said, ‘That will be all, Hinkle. It was, as always, a lovely meal. Please leave us. We need nothing further.’

Hinkle inclined his head and picked up the tray.

‘Very well, madame. I will retire. Mr. Grenville has only to lock the french windows and lower the shutters. The rest of the villa is secured.’ He gave her a little bow. ‘I trust you sleep well,’ then, ignoring Grenville, he walked off the terrace.

Well, at least I’ve got rid of him, Grenville thought.

‘There’s a good movie on television,’ he said. ‘Shall we watch it?’

‘Yes, but let’s stay out here for a while. It’s so lovely. What time does the film begin?’

‘Nine forty-five.’

‘Then we have time.’ She put her hand on his. ‘Are you sure you are feeling all right now, Chris?’

‘I’m fine.’ He smiled at her, ‘After the film, I’ll prove it.’

Her eyes sparkled.

‘Darling! I’m so happy! You can’t imagine what you mean to me!’

Grenville felt a tinge of conscience. In another hour and three-quarters! They could hear Hinkle clearing up in the kitchen. The moon’s reflection on the lake, the mountains outlined against a star-filled sky and the scent of flowers made this a night for romance.

Later, Grenville, who was listening intently, heard Hinkle close the kitchen door and walk off to his room at the far end of the villa.

‘Let’s look at the film.’

They went into the living-room and Grenville turned on the TV set.

‘I’ll be back in a moment,’ and he went out into the lobby, closing the living-room door. It took him only a few moments to draw the bolts, undo the safety chain and unlock the front door. Then he went into the toilet and flushed the cistern. He looked at his watch. Another hour!

He returned to Helga’s side, his heart beginning to thump, and stared sightlessly at the lighted screen. All he could think of was that in an hour, an explosion would occur that would alter his whole way of life.

Fortunately, the film had a grip, and Helga was interested. She was completely relaxed, holding Grenville’s hand, lying back in her chair, only one lamp to light the big room.

On the over-mantel was an illuminated clock, and Grenville kept looking at it.

As the hands of the clock moved to 23.00, the door jerked open and two men, wearing hoods, guns in hands, burst into the room.

Archer looked at his strap watch. The time was exactly 23.00. At this moment, he thought, Segetti and Belmont would be entering Helga’s villa.

The two men had arrived at Archer’s rented villa at 22.15 as arranged. They had shown him the two black leather hoods and two automatic pistols. Archer, who had served in the Army, knew about small arms and he examined both pistols, making sure they were unloaded. He again emphasized there was to be no violence.

‘Rather than that drop the plan,’ he said. ‘You will be paid just the same. Do you understand?’

Segetti, grinning, said there would be no problem.

‘And bring my friend back here. Don’t speed. We don’t want trouble with the police,’ Archer went on.

When they had gone, he paced the small living-room, his eyes continually on his watch. If all went well, they should be back with Grenville by 23.30. If all went well...

Archer’s suitcase was packed. He was ready for a quick take-off if something did go wrong. When dealing with a woman like Helga, one just couldn’t be sure. On the face of it, providing Grenville had really sunk a hook into her, she would pay up, but there was this steel in her that Archer had already encountered that made him wary of her.

He thought back to the time when he had tried to blackmail her and she had trapped him in a cellar of the Castagnola villa. Even when he thought he had had the last laugh on her, she had beaten him, and from that moment, he had become one of the shabby, fringe people, always scratching for money.

His face hardened. When Grenville arrived, and when he had been assured the kidnapping had succeeded, Archer intended to call on Helga. It would be his moment of triumph, and he would take his revenge for what she had done to him.

Again he looked at his watch. 23.20. By now, if all had gone well, they would be on their way back. He thought of Hinkle. There could be a dangerous man! He had met him from time to time when Hinkle had been Herman Rolfe’s personal servant, and he knew that Hinkle had disliked him, and that in spite of Hinkle’s deceptive appearance he had as much steel in him as Helga had, and that was why Hinkle had come to admire Helga so much. They were two of a kind.