Джеймс Чейз - So What Happens To Me?

‘He was... that I grant you, but not now. He just doesn’t concentrate and you know a pilot damn well has to concentrate.’ He crushed his cigarette, then went on, ‘Suppose you talk to him? Suppose you try to persuade him to get rid of Pam? I can’t think of any other solution. Get rid of her and he might settle down again. What do you think?’

I shied away from this suggestion. I couldn’t imagine talking to Bernie about his woman.

‘Why don’t you talk to him?’

Erskine shook his head.

‘He might start thinking I was after his job. You could do it. I can’t.’

I thought for a long moment, then asked, ‘if he got the heave, would you get his job?’

‘No I’m too young. Essex would find an older man... no problem. Look, Jack, if we’re going to swing this operation, you either talk to Bernie and make him see sense or the operation is a non-starter.’

‘You’re sure Pam is the trouble?’

‘I know it.’

Again I paused to think. The idea of losing three million dollars because a woman had hot pants stuck in my maw.

‘Maybe it would be better if I talked to her.’

Erskine grimaced.

‘She’s tricky.’

‘That’s right.’ I sat back, my mind racing. ‘Look, I’ll think about it. Okay. Harry, thanks for wising me up.’ I didn’t want to talk anymore this night. I now had enough to think about as it was ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

‘You think this operation will jell?’

‘I don’t know. All I know is if you want to pick up three million dollars, you have to expect a lot of headaches.’ I stood up.

‘You really believe these Mexicans could knock us of when we land the kite?’ he asked as he climbed to his feet.

‘Ask yourself. We haven’t landed yet: let’s take one problem at a time.’

‘Yeah.’ He brushed his hand over his close cut hair. ‘Well, I’m leaving it up to you. I’m in cabin 15 if you want me.’

‘Where’s Pam’s cabin?’

‘№ 23: the last in the row.’

I let him out, then moved around the living room, turning over in my mind what he had told me, then I went into my bedroom, slid out of my pyjamas, put on a shirt and slacks, shoved my feet into sandals and left my cabin.

I walked silently down the row of cabins to the last one. I checked that it was No. 23, then rapped on the door.

A light was showing around the curtains. After a pause, Pam said ‘Who is it?’

‘Your boyfriend.’

She opened the door and I pushed by her, closing the door behind me.

She had on a flimsy wrap and her feet were bare.

‘You! What do you want?’ Her voice was shrill.

‘A talk about Bernie.’ I moved to a lounging chair and sat down.

‘I’m not talking to you about Bernie! Get out!’

‘Take it easy... this is business. We four stand to pick up three million dollars, but it could come unstuck because of you.’

She glared at me.

‘Because of me? What do you mean?’

‘If you don’t know, you are dumber than I think you are, but I’ll spell it out to you. Because you are screwing around with anything in trousers, Bernie is flipping his lid. He’s not concentrating and I’ll tell you, baby, just in case you don’t know a pilot has to concentrate. Because you sleep around and imagine Bernie goes along with it, you have demoralised him.’

‘That’s a lie!’ She clenched her fists. ‘Bernie told me...’

‘Oh, wrap up! Bernie’s soft about you. To hold onto you, he’d tell you anything. Now, listen to me. We’re in this thing for three million dollars. I’m not going along with a bitch like you who thinks she has to have it and by having it, ruins a great pilot. Hear me?’ I wasn’t shouting; I was talking quietly. ‘So tomorrow you see him and you tell him that from now on you stay with him and there’s going to be no more screwing and you’ll convince him.’

‘Who the hell do you think you are, talking this way to me?’ she yelled at me. ‘Bernie and I...’

‘Wrap up! This is an ultimatum, baby. You either keep your legs crossed from now on until this operation is over or you get out of here. You convince him or you’re out?’

‘Yes? And who’s going to put me out?’

I smiled at her.

‘Baby, I have you over a barrel. It’d be too easy. I have only to tell Mrs. Essex that you are acting like a whore for you to get tossed of the airport. I don’t want to do it. but I will if you don’t convince Bernie that from now on, you’re going to behave.’

‘You bastard!’

I got to my feet.

‘That’s the deal. You convince him or you’re out.’

I left her.

Back in my bed, I thought about it all. I couldn’t see how I could have improved on what I had said: it either worked or three million dollars went up in smoke.

Eventually, I fell asleep to be awakened by the sound of the telephone bell. I looked at my watch. The time was 10.24. The sun was coming through the drawn curtains. I had slept better than I had expected.

I went into the living room and picked up the receiver.

‘Jack, cheri.’

I knew who was calling.

‘That’s me.’

‘I’ve talked to my client. You can inspect the runway. He tells me it isn’t necessary, but if you’re nervous about it you can inspect it.’

‘I’m nervous about it.’

‘Yes. Well, go to the Continental hotel at Merida. I have arranged for you to be picked up around 12.30 on the morning of the 4th. That will give you three days to get organised. Will that suit you?’

‘Fine.’

‘Bye now, cheri,’ and he hung up.

I showered and shaved, then taking the Alfa, I drove into Paradise City. I spent the whole day there, taking in the sights, the sun and thinking about this operation. I had three good opportunities to pick up a dolly, but I resisted that. There was too much to think about without getting into complications with one of these little pushovers.

I returned to the airport just after 19.00 and went to cabin 15. With a cordless shaver in his band. Erskine opened the door.

‘Hi!’ He grinned at me. ‘You’re a goddamn miracle worker!’ He stood aside so I could move in and then shut the door. ‘Did you swing something! Bernie’s a different man!’

I felt suddenly relaxed.

‘You think it worked?’

‘It’s worked. Look, Jack, I have a heavy date and I’m late already. Go, talk to Bernie. He’s in his cabin: No. 19. See for yourself.’

‘I’ll do that,’ and leaving him I went along to No. 19.

Erskine was right. As soon as Bernie opened the door, I could see the change in him. It was as if the cloud that had been obscuring him had lifted. He stood upright and there was that grin again.

‘Hi! Jack! Come on in. Have a drink?’

As I started into the cabin. I paused, seeing Pam sitting there.

‘I don’t want to barge in.’

I looked at her and she looked at me, then she smiled.

‘Come on in: you don’t have to be shy.’ She leaned back. ‘We have got it all straightened out... haven’t we, Bernie?’

‘Yes.’ Bernie started to mix drinks. ‘Pam told me about last night. You were right Jack. She needed to be told.’

‘Okay... so let’s forget it. Let’s talk business.’

‘Just a moment.’ Bernie gave me a whisky on the rocks. ‘I want to say thank you and so does Pam.’

I couldn’t believe any of this, but again looking at Pam, I saw she was smiling and completely relaxed.

‘Let’s skip it. It’s all water under a bridge. Man! What dialogue!’ I waved my drink at her. ‘Here’s to you and I mean it.’

We all drank. There was a pause, then she said. ‘You came at the right time Jack.’

I sat down.

‘As I said, let’s skip it.’ I turned to Bernie. ‘Kendrick has given me the green light to inspect the runway. I leave on the third.’