Джеймс Чейз - You're Dead Without Money

‘Here’s something,’ he said, putting down his sandwich.

Fay joined him at the window and they both examined the car through their field glasses.

‘New York plates,’ Fay said. ‘It can’t be Elliot.’

‘Look who’s here... the girl,’ Orson said. He had spotted Judy running down the drive. ‘Alert Fred!’

While Fay was speaking to Nisson on the transceiver, Orson watched Judy get into the Jaguar. There was a moment’s pause, then the car drove off, heading towards the centre of the City.

Orson was relieved to see Nisson’s Chevy appear and follow the Jaguar.

‘Well, how’s Superman?’ Judy asked as she settled herself beside Vin. ‘What’s the programme for tonight?’

He glanced at her. She was wearing a red mini skirt, a yellow see-through blouse, yellow tights and slippers. He thought she looked pretty good and he said so.

‘Low-Life Club,’ he told her. ‘Let’s turn it on there and then we’ll go back to that beach you took me to last time.’

‘Oh no, we don’t! If you’re thinking of screwing me on sand you have another thing coming. If you plan to get laid, we’ll go to the motel.’

Vin laughed.

‘Okay. What have you been doing with yourself?’

She grimaced.

‘The usual. I’m sick of the way I’m living! Time’s running out. In another two years I’ll be twenty! I’ve got to get some money!’

‘I’m not stopping you. Thought any more about those stamps?’

‘Yes... have you?’

‘Sure. I think we can swing it, but let’s not talk now. Let’s have a drink, eat and then we’ll go to the Blue Heaven and make a night of it.’

After an excellent meal, they danced for an hour or so, then Vin said, ‘Come on... let’s go.’

Nisson followed them without difficulty to the Blue Heaven motel, watched them check in and go to one of the cabins, then he called Orson.

‘They’ve shacked up at the Blue Heaven motel, Harry,’ he reported. ‘Want me to stay with them?’

‘See if you can find out who he is, Fred.’

‘I’ve got that from his licence tag.’ Nisson read off the details he had jotted down which Orson noted.

‘Can you get into the cabin next to theirs? I’d like to hear what they’re talking about.’

‘No can do. The cabins either side are occupied. Besides, from the look of them, there’s not going to be much talking.’

‘Okay. It’s early yet. There’s a chance they won’t spend the whole night there. Stick around until 02.00, then if there’s still no sign of them I’ll send a relief and you can go home.’

‘Go... where?’ Nisson said bitterly. ‘Since when have I a home?’

Orson passed the details he had got on Vin to Lessing who in his turn telexed the F.B.I. Washington for an immediate report back.

Oblivious of this activity, Vin was occupied with Judy. When they had had enough lovemaking, Vin got off the bed, made two stiff whiskies and then returning to the bed he gave his attention to business.

‘With your help, baby,’ he said, I’m sure I can get those stamps, but there are things I must know and you can tell me. You say there’s an electric switch that controls all the drawers and the switch is in a steel box let in the wall of the stamp room and kept locked. Right?’

Judy nodded.

‘I want you to find out the name of the maker of the steel box. Lock makers are so proud of their safes they invariably have their name on the door. Do you think you can do that?’

‘If it’s there I can.’

‘The same applies to the burglar alarm. There’s certain to be a fuse box somewhere in the house. Find out where it is and see if the maker’s name is on the box. You say there’s a close circuit TV covering the stamp room?’

‘Yes. It was installed by Security Guards and the monitor is in their office.’

Vin nodded. ‘I know the system. In a city like this it would be popular. They have a big room where screens are hooked to cameras protecting people’s homes and one guard watches all the screens. It works pretty well.’ He paused to think. ‘How come your old man thought of installing a system like that?’

‘They have one at the City Hall covering the Kennedy memorial. My old man saw it and fell for it.’

‘Why should they have a scanner in the City Hall?’

Judy giggled. ‘A year ago, some joker splashed paint on the statue. The City Hall blew its cool and had one installed. Why should they worry... it’s the taxpayers’ money.’

Vin filed this piece of information away in his mind.

‘Your old man’ keeps the door to the stamp room locked?’

‘You bet.’

‘How about the windows?’

‘When he’s not there, there are steel shutters to every window.’

‘Is the lock on the door something special?’

‘I wouldn’t know.’

‘Okay, baby, that’s something you find out. Do you think you could get hold of the key?’

‘Not a hope.’

Seeing she was getting bored with his questions, Vin began to wonder if she was going to be as helpful as he had hoped.

‘When does he play golf?’

‘Every Tuesday afternoon.’

‘Could you get me into the house when he’s at the club?’

‘Not a hope.’

He resisted an urge to slap her.

‘Why not?’

‘The lousy staff are always fiddling around. Anyway they wouldn’t let you in. I’m not allowed to take my friends home.’

‘Use your head,’ Vin said impatiently. ‘There must be some way you can get me in. How about at night? How do you get in with the alarms set? Don’t tell me your old man sits up for you.’

‘I have my own entrance. The door from my apartment to the house is always locked after ten o’clock.’

Vin got off the bed.

‘I’ll take a shower.’

While standing under the cold water, he turned over in his mind the information Judy had given him. When he returned to the bedroom, he said, ‘Get dressed. We have work to do.’

‘Oh, for God’s sake.’ Judy squirmed down in the bed. ‘I want to sleep. Look at the time!’

Vin was putting on his clothes.

‘Never mind about the time. Get dressed!’

Grumbling, she got out of bed and pulled on her panties.

‘You know something, Superman?’ she said, struggling into her see-through blouse, ‘you’re beginning to bore me.’

‘That’s too bad.’ Vin was now dressed and was writing on a pad he had brought with him. ‘Does a million bucks bore you too?’

He tore the page off the pad and gave it to her.

‘A reminder. I want all this information tomorrow night. I’ll pick you up at the house at nine.’

She read what he had written.

‘Okay... I don’t promise anything.’

‘I want this information!’ Vin snapped. ‘You’re in this for a million... so work for it!’

She was startled to see the cold hardness in his eyes.

‘Well, don’t shout at me.’

‘Now I want you to draw a plan of the house.’

Her eyes widened.

‘So you’re really going to try?’

‘That’s it, baby,’ he said staring intently at her. ‘I’m really going to try.’

Soon after 11.00 the following morning, Lessing came briskly into Holtz’s office.

‘I’ve found Elliot,’ he announced as he shut the door.

‘About time.’ Holtz was always grudging with praise. ‘I’ll tell Mr. Radnitz. He may want this direct from you.’

Lessing stiffened. Radnitz scared him.

‘Don’t do that. I...’

But Holtz had already gone out on to the terrace and a moment later he returned and beckoned to Lessing.

Lessing approached Radnitz like a mouse approaching a cat. Radnitz was reading a document and Lessing waited, his sweating hands gripped tightly behind his back.