Реймонд Маршалл - The Paw in the Bottle

‘But if she doesn’t?’ Harry persisted. ‘Suppose she loses her nerve and talks. That’ll let us out.’

Theo suddenly sat up.

‘She won’t lose her nerve,’ he said. ‘That’s the last thing she’ll lose,’ and he began to laugh. The high-pitched, cracked laugh was vicious and degenerate.

‘Shut up, you fool!’ Mrs. French shouted, thumping the table.

Theo stopped laughing and looked across at Julie.

‘What’s so funny?’ Harry demanded, glaring at him.

‘You’ll see,’ Theo returned, looked again at Julie.

‘Shut up,’ Mrs. French repeated, turned to Harry. ‘Don’t pay any attention to him. He’s stupid to-night. We’ll have to take a chance on Julie keeping her head. We can’t take her with us. They’ll find us through her if we do.’

Harry got to his feet.

‘All right,’ he said, but he wasn’t happy. ‘How do you feel about this, Julie? Think you can go through with it?’

‘You don’t have to worry about me all of a sudden,’ Julie snapped. ‘You were quick enough to drag me into this. Why the sudden concern?’

‘If that’s how you feel,’ he said, flushing. He turned away. ‘Anything else?’

‘There are other details but we can fix them up between now and Friday. The main thing’s settled,’ Mrs. French said. ‘Friday at eight o’clock.’

‘I’ll be running along then,’ Harry said, and moved to the door.

‘I’ll come with you,’ Dana said, pushing back her chair.

‘I’ve got to see a man,’ Harry said, shaking his head. ‘Sorry. Good night all,’ and he went out.

Julie felt a little thrill of delight that Harry should have snubbed Dana like this. Not that she cared, she told herself, she was through with a cheap crook like Harry. But it was nice to see Dana put in her place.

She got up.

‘I can go now, I suppose?’

Mrs. French nodded.

‘And Julie, watch your step. If you try anything smart you’ll be sorry. Theo’s watching you.’

Julie went out of the room without a glance at either Dana or Theo. Her heart was pounding, but she was triumphant. She had found out when they were going to attempt the robbery. Now there was nothing else for her to do but to wait. The responsibility had shifted from her to the police.

She walked quickly along the deserted street, crossed New Bond Street and made her way towards Berkeley Square.

Suddenly she became aware of footsteps behind her and she looked hastily round.

Harry came out of the shadows, took her elbow and moved along at her side. She tried to shake him off, but he retained his grip.

‘Now don’t be mad with me, kid,’ he said. ‘It wasn’t my fault. I know that rat Theo had a go at you, but I found out too late to stop him.’

She wrenched her arm free, faced him.

‘Get away from me!’ she said furiously. ‘I don’t want to have anything more to do with you.’

He shuffled his feet uncomfortably.

‘Don’t go on like that, Julie,’ he said. ‘I’ve been thinking about you. Look, kid, let’s get this job over and then let’s go to the States. I’m sick of this life. I’ve been thinking a lot recently. Why shouldn’t you and me hook up? Come on, give me a smile, and say you’ll come with me.’

She eyed him up and down and nearly laughed. The idea of her marrying this cheap spiv, she thought, when she was going to have a West End flat and a thousand a year of her own! She wouldn’t marry him now if he were the last man on earth.

‘Get away from me!’ she repeated. ‘I hate you. You’re nothing but a cheap crook,’ and she turned on her heel and I walked quickly down the street.

He came after her and jerked her round.

‘What’s the matter, Julie? You love me, don’t you? We mean something to each other. I’m sorry, kid. I know I’ve got you into this mess, but I’ll make up for it.’

‘Leave me alone! How many more times have I to tell you I never want to see you again?’

He stared at her, refusing to believe her.

‘Don’t you want to go to the States?’ he asked persuasively. ‘I’ll give you all the fun in the world. Come on, kid, give me a kiss and let’s make it up.’

He reached for her, and stung to anger by his supreme confidence in himself, Julie slapped his face.

‘And now leave me alone!’ she cried, and turning, she ran down the dark street.

Harry stood still, his hand to his face, a blank, hurt look in his eyes. No woman had ever treated him like this before. It was a shock to him; a shock to his pride. He drew in a deep breath. Well, he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. He would do everything in his power to win her back. No other woman he had known had been able to resist him; Julie wasn’t going to be the exception. He loved her. When the job was over, and she was away from that flat, she’d be more reason-able, he told himself. It was living in luxurious surroundings that had gone to her head. She’d be all right when she had a place of her own again. She’d want to go to the States with him after a week or so of that.

He shoved his hands deep into his coat pockets and walked quickly away into the darkness.

Theo, who had been watching all this from a shop doorway, leaned forward and spat in the gutter.

From the moment she had met Wesley in the lobby of the Piccadilly Hotel, Julie had been acutely uncomfortable. And she had been so looking forward to this outing. Up to the moment of meeting him the afternoon had promised well. She was excited and was wearing her smartest outfit. She had had the excitement of making sure Theo wasn’t following her; and dodging from bus to taxi had added spice to what she imagined was going to be a thrilling afternoon. But she had not anticipated how embarrassing it would be to go out with a man who appeared blind. It wouldn’t have been so bad if Wesley had been blind, but knowing he was pretending she was embarrassed by the way people looked at him, made way for him and even offered to help him. There had been a long queue for a taxi outside the hotel, but immediately Wesley appeared, his hand on Julie’s arm, the commissionaire had insisted he should go to the head of the queue, and no one in the queue had raised an objection.

It seemed to Julie, who was a little superstitious, that it was wicked of Wesley to act in this way. She had an uneasy feeling that God would suddenly rise up in wrath and strike him blind to teach him a lesson.

As the taxi drew away, Wesley seemed to sense her embarrassment, and smiling said: ‘Poor Julie; I’m afraid you’re very uncomfortable. But don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.’

‘But must you do it?’ she asked angrily. ‘Isn’t it unfair?’

‘When you play a part, Julie, you must be thorough,’ he returned, a sudden sharp note in his voice. ‘If we are to get along together you must accept me as you find me.’

Nothing further was said until the taxi driver drew up outside Fowler & Freebody, Estate Agents, in Duke Street.

Mr. Fowler appeared in person and took them into his office.

Wesley explained what he wanted, and Julie caught Mr. Fowler’s startled glance. She saw at once he guessed what was in the wind, and hated him for the shocked expression that jumped into his eyes. But he produced particulars of two flats that he thought might possibly suit. One of them was in Berkeley Square and the other in Vigo Street.

They took a taxi and saw both flats. Julie immediately fell in love with the Vigo Street flat. The bedroom, Julie thought, was too elegant for words. There were silver stars painted on the dark blue ceiling and a pink-tinted mirror covered the whole of one of the long walls.

Wesley stood quietly by the door while Julie examined the room. They were alone and he had taken off his glasses. There was a cynical expression in his eyes as he watched her run excitedly backwards and forwards, through to the bathroom that delighted her and back to the bedroom again.