Джеймс Чейз - Believe This... You’ll Believe Anything

‘Val! What is it?’

I jerked my arm free and stared at her.

There was an expression of terror in her eyes that frightened me. She had turned pale, her lips were trembling and I could see she was shivering.

‘Val!’

She scrambled off the bed, and with desperate haste, began pulling on her stretch pants.

‘He’s here!’ she gasped. ‘He’s come back! I always know! I get this awful pain when he is near!’ She dragged her shirt over her head, thrust her feet into her sandals, then ran over to the mirror.

‘He can’t be here!’ I said, but her panic was infectious. I too began to throw on my clothes. ‘It’s not four o’clock. Rivera told me he wouldn’t be back until eight.’

‘He’s here!’ She dragged my comb through her hair, then paused, bending double, her hands pressed to her sides. ‘God! It hurts!’

I was dressed now.

‘Stop being hysterical!’ I exclaimed, angry that she was frightening me. ‘He can’t be here! Sit down! You have a cramp!’

‘He’s here I tell you!’ She moaned, pressing her sides. ‘Go down! Stall him until I get to my room. Quick!’

The panic in her voice flustered me. With by heart thumping, I left the room, ran to the elevator and pressed the call button. As I stood waiting, I told myself she was dramatising a situation that didn’t exist. Rivera had told me that Vidal had gone to Santa Rosa de Lima to visit the owner of a sugar plantation. Rivera had been gloomy. ‘It is a very long, hot drive, Señor Burden,’ he had said. ‘Poor Jose He will miss his siesta. He won’t be back before eight.’

As the elevator door swished open and I moved into the lobby, I saw Henry Vidal. He was standing by the reception desk, collecting a thick packet of mail.

The sight of him gave me such a jolt, I stood rooted, a cold sick sensation developing in the pit of my stomach.

As if sensing my presence, he turned abruptly. Then he came towards me, his short, thick legs taking bouncing strides.

‘How is the sightseeing?’ he demanded in his squeaky voice. His hard little eyes searched my face. ‘Nothing much I am sure. Well, she had to come. I warned her. Women are obstinate. No sightseeing this afternoon? Too hot for her, I suppose. She wilts in the heat. It’s never too hot for me. I thrive on it. She is in her room, resting, of course, when she should be exercising in the pool. She hasn’t enough to do.’ He began to flick through the envelopes. I tried to think of something to say, but my mind was a panic-stricken blank. ‘We leave tomorrow.’ His little eyes lifted to my face, then back to the envelopes. ‘We will be down here at 07.45. Handle everything, Mr. Burden. Tips... baggage... I don’t have to tell you.’ He looked up. ‘Accept two hundred dollars for your service. My wife tells me you have been most helpful. Thank you,’ and moving around me, he entered the elevator and was whisked out of sight.

Val would be back in the suite by now. Would she give herself away? I thought not. It had been a narrow escape... too narrow.

There were a few people around the pool. A number of small children splashed and yelled. I went down the steps and into the sunshine and walking as far from the pool as I could get. I sat down under a sun umbrella.

My mind was crawling with alarm. How had Val known Vidal had returned? Could she be psychic? I recalled how her face had been contorted with pain as she had pressed her hands to her body. I get this awful pain when he is near. I had read about mediums and spirit sessions in the newspapers but I had dismissed these odd people either as fakes or cranks. I was sure Val wasn’t a crank.

Possessed?

When at school I had studied the Bible. Now I remember reading of people being possessed of the devil. Val had said Vidal was a devil.

I recalled what she had said: Evil spirits do try to possess people. He is evil! He is a devil!

I now wanted to question her and to listen, without scoffing, to her answers. But I would have no opportunity to talk to her until we returned to Paradise City. Then another thought occurred to me: a thought that turned my mouth dry.

Was Vidal suspicious of her and of me?

I got up and walked around the back of the hotel to where the waiting taxis were parked. There was just a chance that Jose, Vidal’s driver, was still hanging around, but, of course, he wasn’t. As I was re-entering the hotel, I spotted Rivera lounging in the shade, talking to one of the hotel porters. I moved towards him and he seeing me approaching, got to his feet and joined me.

‘The last day here, Señor Burden. Very sad for me. The Señora perhaps would like a nice drive when it is cooler?’

‘I don’t think so.’ I was surprised he made the offer until I remembered he was thinking of his tip. ‘Mr. Vidal returned unexpectedly. I doubt if she will be going out.’

He beamed.

‘It was very fortunate for Jose. He did not have to drive to Santa Rosa de Lima. Señor Vidal’s friend met him halfway at Zacatecoluca because of the heat.’

So that was it.

I drew in a breath of relief. Vidal hadn’t been suspicious of us. This hadn’t been a manoeuvre to catch us in the act.

‘Will you have the car ready tomorrow at 07.30?’ I said.

‘Yes, Señor Burden. You can rely on me.’ He paused and looked hopefully at me. ‘If the Señora doesn’t need me, I go.’

‘I’ll check first.’

I went into the lobby and called suite 7. Val answered.

‘This is Burden,’ I said. ‘Roberto wants to know if you would like a last drive?’

‘I’ll ask my husband.’ Her voice sounded calm. There was a pause, then she said, ‘No, it is all right. We are going to take a swim later,’ and she hung up.

I told Rivera he could go and he went off happily. The time was 17.10. I had nothing to do. I would have liked to have taken a swim but if Val and Vidal were coming down I thought it wiser to keep out of their way.

So I walked down to the city and in the stifling heat, wandered around the shops. I suddenly remembered I should take Rhoda back a present: no easy task as she was always critical of what I bought her. I finally bought a snake skin belt which I thought might please her.

I returned to the hotel at 18.30 and went to the bar. Carrying a gin and tonic out on to the terrace, I sat down.

As I settled myself, I looked across the pool. Val and Vidal were sitting under the shade of a tree. He was wearing purple swim trunks. His chunky body was covered with coarse black hair. Looking at him, I saw the brutal power and strength of him. With his short thick legs and his barrel shaped chest he looked more like an ape than a human being.

Abruptly, he turned his head and looked at me. He seemed to feel instinctively if anyone was regarding him. Then he spoke to Val, looking beautiful in an emerald green bikini. She looked in my direction and smiled, then nodded to Vidal who raised his hand and beckoned to me to join them.

The San Salvador-Guatemala-Miami flight was full. Arriving at el Aeropuerto de Ilopango twenty minutes before takeoff, Vidal said to me, ‘Call us when we can board,’ and he and Val went to the V.I.P. lounge.

Rivera and I checked in the luggage. I got hold of one of the airhostesses and warned her the Vidals were on her flight. She promised to take care of them. I then tipped Rivera, shook hands with him and thanked him for his service, not that he deserved thanking. He had done as little as possible.

When the last of the passengers had passed through the security screen, I went to the V.I.P. lounge.

‘All ready for boarding Mr. Vidal,’ I said.

They took their seats. Satisfied they were in good hands already the airhostess was offering them champagne which they refused — I went to the economy class and took my seat.