Джеймс Чейз - Have a Change of Scene

‘Sydney cut his arm with the dagger.’

‘Yeah. We have this blood group from the dagger,’ Hess said. He spoke casually but his words sent a sudden chill through me. A blood group! One small step towards pinning the murder on Fel if he was ever caught.

‘Let’s take the man first, Mr. Carr,’ Hess went on. ‘Will you give me a description of him as you saw him?’

‘He was heavily built,’ I said, ‘about your height. (My second lie.) He had on a Beade wig, big silver lensed goggles and a red jacket with black patch pockets.’ I put my hand wearily to my head. ‘That’s the best I can do.’

‘Heavily built and about five foot eight?’

‘Yes.’

Hess rubbed the tip of his nose.

‘Lawson says he was tall: around six foot and thin.’

Confusion was my main hope.

‘That wasn’t my impression.’

‘Yeah.’ Hess sighed. ‘In a setup like this no witness ever seems to agree.’ He shrugged. ‘But the wig, goggles and jacket match. Now about the woman.’

‘I didn’t register her much except she had on big silver goggles which blotted out her face. I think she was big and powerfully built for a woman. She gave me the impression of being around forty-five: a mature woman. She had on red trousers and her hair hidden by a black scarf.’

The door opened and Dr. Summers came in.

‘I think, Sergeant, that must be all for today,’ he said firmly. ‘I said twenty minutes.’

‘Sure.’ Hess got to his feet. ‘Well, thanks, Mr. Carr. You take it easy. Thanks for your help. I’ll be seeing you again.’

He and Lepski left the room.

Doctor Summers took my pulse, told me I should now have a nap and that my lunch would be coming in about an hour. When he had gone, I lay still and thought over what I had told Hess. It seemed to be going well except for the blood group. But there was nothing I could do about that. I knew my safety depended on whether Rhea and Fel were caught. But providing Rhea didn’t try to sell the necklace, I couldn’t see how they could be caught.

After lunch and after a nap, the nurse came in and told me Miss Baxter was asking to see me.

‘Do you feel like another visitor, Mr. Carr,’ she asked with a knowing smile.

I said I did.

Jenny came in with a bunch of red roses and a basket of hothouse grapes. She stood at the foot of my bed and regarded me and there was a light in her eyes that really did things for me.

Her hair was neat and tidy. She had on a navy blue coat and shirt with a frilled white blouse and she looked marvellous to me.

‘How do you feel, Larry?’

I grinned at her.

‘We’ve changed places... roses and grapes too. How’s your ankle?’

‘Coming along.’ She moved awkwardly to the chair by my bedside and sat down. ‘Tell me... how do you feel?’

‘I’m okay... now you’re here.’ I held out my hand and she took it. ‘Jenny... this is marvellous. Thank you for coming. Where are you staying?’

‘Oh... a little hotel. When I read about it in the paper, I just had to come.’

‘This is a hell of a thing,’ I said. ‘Sydney was my friend. I still can’t believe he is dead.’

‘You must try not to think about it. It doesn’t do any good. The thing for you to do is to get well.’

‘That’s right. You remember when I called you... the evening when it happened? I thought I was saying goodbye to you. Odd how things work out, isn’t it?’

She nodded.

‘The doctor said I mustn’t tire you. I’m not going to stay any longer,’ and she got to her feet.

‘Hey! Wait a minute! You’ve only just arrived.’

‘I wanted to see you. Is there anything I can bring you tomorrow?’

‘Sit down, for God’s sake! I want to talk to you. How long can you stay in Paradise City?’

‘Two or three days.’

‘Don’t tell me with that ankle of yours you can start work yet, Jenny.’

‘No... I can’t, but...’ She smiled. ‘I can’t afford to stay here. This must be the most expensive city in the world.’

‘Yes, it certainly is.’ I paused and looked at her. ‘I don’t know how long I’ll have to stay here. It could be several weeks. Would you do me a favour?’

‘Of course, Larry.’

‘Check out of that hotel and move into my apartment.’

Her eyes opened wide.

‘I couldn’t do that!’

‘This is a business proposition. I must have someone there to answer the telephone, look after my mail, keep the place in order. I have a coloured woman who comes in twice a week and if she isn’t supervised she’ll do nothing. There’s a spare bedroom you can have and I pay a willing housekeeper a hundred dollars a week... all found. That’s the favour, Jenny. Please...’

She hesitated, then as she began to shake her head, I went on, ‘The favour also includes coming to see me every day so I won’t feel neglected and lonely.’

She smiled.

‘All right, Larry, but I’m not going to be paid. I have some money of my own. Honest. I won’t do it otherwise.’

My blonde nurse came in.

‘It’s time for Mr. Carr’s nap, Miss Baxter,’ she said, smiling at Jenny.

‘Nurse, would you give Miss Baxter the key of my apartment, please?’ I said. ‘Mr. Harmas had it. I expect he has returned it by now.’

‘Yes, he has.’ The nurse looked at Jenny and then at me and gave me a sly little grin. ‘Come with me, Miss Baxter.’

Jenny patted my hand.

‘I’ll be in tomorrow afternoon,’ and she followed the nurse out of the room.

The following morning, soon after Dr. Summers had been in to see me, I had an unexpected visitor. I was feeling depressed because Summers had said I would have to stay in hospital for at least another two weeks. Even when I returned home I would have to be careful not to exert myself.

My unexpected visitor was Tom Luce. He came into my room looking more like a bulldog than ever, wearing a dark, immaculate suit, his balding head glistening with sweat beads.

I had seldom had much to do with him as I had always worked with Sydney, but I knew him to be tough, loyal and a financial wizard.

‘Well, Larry,’ he said, sitting down by my side. ‘I’m sorry to find you in this state. What a terrible thing! Poor Sydney! His funeral was yesterday. A wonderful turn out... everyone who is anyone was there. I had a wreath in your name put in the best place. You have never seen so many flowers.’

Inwardly, I winced and was thankful I hadn’t been there.

‘Thanks, Tom. It’s a hell of a thing. I still can’t believe he’s gone.’

‘No.’ Luce shook his head. ‘I’ve been talking to Dr. Summers. From what he tells me, Larry, you’ll be out of action for three or four months. Can you suggest anyone we can get to take your place until you can get back?’

I had been thinking of this problem.

‘You’ll need a designer and an assistant to work with Terry. I know Hans Kloch wants a change. He’s a good designer: not quite in Sydney’s class, but good enough. Why not write to him? He’s with Werner of Antwerp. Then there’s Pierre Martin. He’s with Carders, Los Angeles. I think he would jump at the chance.’

Luce made notes on the back of an envelope.

‘I’ll get on to them right away. Terry and Miss Barlow are really stretched.’ Again he paused, then said, ‘You should know right away, Larry, that you are now the senior partner.’

‘Senior partner?’ I stared at him. ‘You mean you are offering me a partnership, Tom?’

‘Of course I would have offered you a partnership, but Sydney has willed you all his holdings, so that makes you senior partner without my say-so. I am most happy about this, Larry. I wouldn’t want a better man to work with.’

I felt a rush of cold blood up my spine.