Джеймс Чейз - You're Dead Without Money

Holtz thought for a moment.

‘If he is going to try for the stamps, sir, he will still be in the City. This narrows the field. I will alert Lessing.’

‘I will leave it to you.’ Radnitz paused and stared at Holtz. ‘I’ve explained this to you because I want you to realize how important and how serious this operation is. If I get the stamps I will be in an excellent position to bargain with the Russians. The Kazan dam project is hanging fire. If I give them the stamps, they will give me the contract for the dam. It’s as simple as that. I don’t have to tell you how valuable the contract is. I expect to hear Elliot has been traced within the next twenty-four hours.’ By way of dismissal, Radnitz reached for the telephone receiver.

A lot of questions ran through Vin’s mind as he drove back to the bungalow.

Did Elliot know the real value of the stamps? Did Kendrick know? Just how much had Kendrick offered Elliot — a lot more than the fifty thousand Elliot was offering him, Cindy and Joey, that was for sure — but how much more?

Then he thought over the information he had got from Judy. The actual steal didn’t worry him. He was sure he could handle the alarms and the closed circuit TV but how to get hold of the register? Various ideas occurred to him, but each was dismissed as too dangerous. He decided he would have to consult Elliot. Vin knew his own abilities were not up to organizing a tricky steal like this. One slip, one false move and a million dollars would escape him. The thought made him sweat No, he would have to give Elliot some of Judy’s information. Then if they were successful and got the stamps, he would have to fix Elliot and also Judy. He had already made up his mind there was going to be no share out on this steal. It was going to be the Big Take for him and nothing for the rest of them.

He found Elliot, Cindy and Joey in the garden. They looked expectantly at him as he came over and took the fourth chair.

‘Where have you been?’ Joey asked. ‘We were getting worried. What’s been going on?’

‘Plenty.’ Vin grinned. ‘I’ve got this Larrimore babe eating out of my hand and I’ve got most of the info we want.’

‘That’s quick.’ Elliot looked startled. ‘You mean you’ve already talked to her about the stamps?’

‘Sure... it was a natural. She brought the stamps up herself.’

‘Has Larrimore got them?’

Vin pointed his finger at Elliot.

‘Just hold it, buster... I’ll ask the questions. How much did Kendrick offer you for these stamps?’

‘It’s not what he offered me that concerns you,’ Elliot said quietly. ‘You three agreed to work with me for fifty thousand dollars.’

Vin shook his head.

‘Not now, buster. I’m doing all the work. You couldn’t get to first base without me. These stamps are worth money... so let’s hear what Kendrick offered you.’

Elliot hesitated, then shrugged.

‘Two hundred thousand. As it is my idea and my contact, fifty thousand is a fair split for you three.’

‘You think so?’ Vin was very sure of himself. ‘I say no. It’s going to be better than that.’

Elliot looked at Cindy and Joey.

‘Are you satisfied with the split... do you want more?’

‘Never mind about them. I want more,’ Vin said, ‘and I’m going to get it. Here’s the new deal. I get fifty, they get fifty between them and you get a hundred.’

Listening, knowing that once the operation was concluded, he and Cindy would be rid of Vin, Joey said quietly, ‘That still puts you ahead, Mr. Elliot.’

Elliot thought for a moment. This cut in the take would mean a few months less to live and he realized he was now ceasing to care.

‘Okay, you have yourself a deal. Has he the stamps?’

‘Yes.’ Vin went on to explain about the register. ‘This is the problem. Without this index, we’ll never find the stamps. But once we know the number of the drawer containing the stamps I can get them.’

‘This isn’t our problem,’ Elliot said. ‘The deal I made with Kendrick is that if I can assure him Larrimore has the stamps and tell him how to find them, he’ll pay off. You’ve given me the necessary information. We don’t have to do anything more. It’s his problem to get the stamps. By this time tomorrow we will have the money and can get out of town.’

Vin squinted at him.

‘If a slob like Kendrick is willing to pay two hundred grand to you, how much do you imagine he is going to get when he sells the stamps?’

‘That’s his affair,’ Elliot said impatiently. ‘A hundred thousand is enough for me. I’ll see him right away, give him this information and arrange for payment’

‘Hold it! Suppose I tell you I can find out who the buyer is Kendrick is dealing with? Suppose I tell you this buyer would pay five hundred big ones and this could come to us instead of Kendrick?’

Elliot stared at him.

‘Do you know who the buyer is?’

‘I can find out.’

‘How?’

Vin grinned.

‘Don’t worry about that. I’m not kidding. I can find that out. Now listen, we would be nuts to deal direct with Kendrick. That slob will pay you two hundred and put three hundred in his pocket for nothing. With my info we can get the stamps and then we can sell them to Kendrick’s man for five hundred grand, cutting Kendrick out of the deal.’

Looking at Vin’s excited face and seeing the greed in his eyes, Elliot suddenly felt sure that Vin was planning to double cross not only Kendrick but Cindy, Joey and himself. Just how the double cross would work Elliot had no idea, but he was sure this was what Vin was planning.

He felt a surge of excitement run through him. This could be much more fun than living in debt and pitying himself because he had a tin foot. He had made six successful movies in which he, as the hero, had pitted his wits against thugs like Vin. The scriptwriters had taken care that his wits had always been sharper and that always in the end he had come out top. But now, this was for real: not a thriller that was put in a can and exhibited in the movie houses of the world. There would be no scriptwriter to take care of him. No director to shout ‘Cut 1’ when the going got too rough.

Okay, he thought, let’s see how smart you are. Let’s act this out as if it were a movie. What have I got to lose anyway? A few more months of life? If I don’t get the money, there are the sleeping pills to take care of the final fade out So I’ll pretend to play along with you. Could be I’ll be trickier than you think you are. At least, it could be fun... acting out one of my movies, but this time for real.

‘It’s an idea,’ he said. ‘So what do you plan to do?’

Vin moved uneasily.

‘Let’s take another look at this: we have now the chance of getting five hundred grand. Let’s work out a new deal. Joey and Cindy get a hundred and you and me get two hundred each. How’s about it?’

Joey was listening and worrying. A hundred thousand dollars! This was money beyond his dreams. He cringed at the thought of the prison sentence Cindy and he could get if this operation turned sour.

‘No... count us out!’ he exclaimed. ‘We’ve never done a job this big and we don’t want to do it now!’

Vin looked contemptuously at the old man.

‘Okay, then pull out. Elliot and I can swing it without either you or Cindy. So, okay... go back to your small time if that’s the way you want it.’

Cindy leaned forward, her eyes sparkling.

‘It’s not the way I want it!’ she said. ‘I’m sick of small time.’ She looked at Joey. ‘Okay, dad, if you want to pull out I won’t try to persuade you but I’m staying in!’

Joey stared helplessly at her, then he lifted his hands in despair.