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

‘Who?’

‘Mrs. Vidal.’

‘I doubt it. From what I hear she travels a lot with Vidal.’

‘Oh.’ Rhoda thought for a moment, then decided not to pursue the subject. ‘Come on to bed. I feel sexy.’

I didn’t but this wasn’t the time to say no. When I put out the light and took her in my arms, I thought of Val, but even thinking of her wasn’t enough to turn me on.

When it was over, Rhoda said crossly, ‘What’s the matter with you? That was a complete drag.’

‘Sorry. I have a lot on my mind.’

‘You can say that again,’ and she turned her ‘back to me.

I lay in the darkness, thinking of Val. It was long past midnight before I fell asleep.

The following week proved a busy one and I was glad to have Olson to handle the routine work. I saw Massingham and told him of Vidal’s offer.

He took it well, ‘It’s up to you Clay,’ he said. ‘We’ll be sorry to lose you. Are you sure you’re doing the right thing? Vidal could be here today, gone tomorrow.’

‘Oh, I wouldn’t say that. I’ve thought about it. I need a change. There will be more to it than booking tickets and the money is good.’

‘All right. Try it. See how you like working for him. If it doesn’t work out, come back to us. There’ll always be a place for you.’

It was more than I had expected.

I called on Vidal’s attorney, Jason Shackman. He had my contract ready. It was a simple affair. Either party could give six months’ notice: the contract to run for three years with a salary increase each year. I signed. He signed, and that was that.

Rhoda had her Austin Cooper and loved it. Although I was busy, the days dragged. I longed for the moment when I would see Val again.

On Saturday morning, as I was clearing my desk. Dyer came in.

‘All fixed for Monday, old boy?’ he asked. ‘I’ve been saving it all up for you. You’ll be as busy as a buzz saw. Tiny is going on a trip at the end of the week. Bring plenty of tranquillisers with you.’ He took a blue card in a plastic envelope from his pocket. ‘This is your pass. Show it to the guard at the barrier. Don’t lose it.’ He looked around my office, then rested a hip on my desk. ‘It foxes me why you’re giving this up. Here, you are your own boss and you have fixed hours of work.’ He shrugged. ‘It’s your funeral. You’ll appreciate this after a week or so working for Tiny.’ He looked thoughtfully at me. ‘Take a tip from me and be careful of Mrs. V. Strictly between you and me, she’s an odd ball. There are times when she really baffles me. She’s fine one day, then moody and far away the next. The damnedest thing happened a couple of months ago. She and I were discussing the arrangements for a big dinner party. I couldn’t remember the name of one of the guests. She couldn’t either. Then just when we were about to give up, I remembered. I snapped my fingers like this.’ With thumb and third finger, he made a loud snapping noise. ‘Believe it or not, she went into a trance. You know... like a subject who has been hypnotised. She just sat motionless, her eyes empty: she looked like a goddamn zombie. Gave me a hell of a turn. I had seen the trick done at a nightclub. I snapped my fingers twice in her face and she came to as fast as she had gone into the trance. She didn’t seem to know what had happened.’ He took out his gold cigarette case and offered it. ‘Odd, don’t you think?’

I refused the cigarette. It was as much as I could do to keep my face expressionless.

As I said nothing, he scowled. That I appeared to show no interest in what he had told me plainly irritated him.

‘Well, don’t say you haven’t been warned,’ he went on. ‘No finger snapping, old boy, unless, of course, you want to make her your slave, but with Tiny around that would be most unwise.’

‘You’ll have to excuse me,’ I said curtly. ‘I’m trying to clear up,’ and opening a desk drawer I began to empty it.

‘Mustn’t hold you up gossiping then.’ He slid off my desk. ‘Have a nice weekend.’ He moved to the door, then paused. ‘Oh, one other thing. Tiny works seven days a week. Don’t count on your future weekends. I never do,’ and on that cheerful note, he left.

I had no time to think over what he had told me about Val as Olson came in with some last minute queries. We were all kept busy until 13.00. Then, as it was my last day, I invited Sue and Olson to join Rhoda and me for lunch. When we broke up, Rhoda said she wanted to go into Palm Beach to do some shopping. As she now had her own transport, I gladly opted to return to the apartment.

Sitting on the balcony, I thought over what Dyer had told me and recalled what Val had also told me. Had Vidal really hypnotic powers? If he had, was Val under his influence? If she was, could he get from her that we were lovers?

Remembering her terror and her warning of his viciousness (he would have us killed!), I became so uneasy I just couldn’t continue to sit on the balcony any longer. I had to find something to do to rid myself of this pressure of growing alarm.

I changed into slacks and an open neck shirt and drove to the golf club. I found Joe Harkness of the American Express hopefully looking for a partner. He brightened when he saw me.

‘You’re in for a beating, buddy,’ he said. ‘I’m feeling right on form.’

With Val very much in my thoughts, I was in no mood to concentrate, and I played my worst ever round of golf.

As we went together to the bar, Harkness said. ‘Boy! You’ve certainly things on your mind. Is Dyer worrying you?’

Knowing he would find out sooner or later, I told him, starting from tomorrow, I was going to work for Vidal. The news seemed to shock him out of his jocular mood.

‘Is that such a bright idea Clay?’ he asked. ‘Of course it’s no business of mine, but the last man I would care to work for would be Vidal.’

‘He’ll probably be tricky, but the money is good and I need a change.’

‘But for how long? I have an idea he isn’t going to last. This empire he’s built gives off a smell. Frankly, I’ve never slept better since we lost the account. I have a feeling that before long there’s going to be a godawful crash.’

I looked sharply at him.

‘Just a feeling? Anything to support it?’

‘Nothing tangible but people are talking and there’s no smoke without fire.’ He glanced around to make sure we couldn’t be overheard, then went on, ‘I know for a fact that when his contract with U-Drive comes up for renewal at the end of this month, they are only going to give him a month’s credit instead of six. Once that leaks, all his other creditors will do the same. Has it occurred to you Clay that if your people still had his account and learned no one was going to give him six months credit any longer, wouldn’t they follow suit? If Vidal suspected that his credit was going to be cut, it I would be a smart move to hire an experienced operator like yourself to handle his travel. At least, he would be saving agency commissions.’

I stared at him. This certainly hadn’t occurred to me but I didn’t go along with the idea. It had been Val who had made the suggestion. However, I could see that if Vidal did suspect he was only going to get a month’s credit from the A.T.S. in the future, he would jump at the idea of employing me.

‘Well, it’s no skin off my nose,’ I said and finished my beer. ‘Even if Vidal comes unstuck, I’m safe. Massingham is holding my job open. Let’s hope Vidal keeps going long enough for me to pick up some extra money before he goes crash always providing he is going to crash.’

‘I hope so.’ He still looked worried. ‘I’d better be moving or the little lady will have my hide. See you next week, huh?’