Джеймс Чейз - So What Happens To Me?

‘What’s cooking with Essex?’ I wasn’t interested in his domestic problems.

‘I’ve got instructions to fly him to Paris tomorrow. The new kite is ready for delivery. So I drop him in Paris, fly back, sell the old kite, take delivery of the new one, go on the course and be ready to collect him from Kennedy when he returns. He flies back from Paris by Pan-Am.’

‘Is Mrs. Essex going with him?’

‘Yes.’ He looked sharply at me. ‘Why the interest?’

‘I want to know where everyone is. And Pam?’

‘The airfield closes down for four weeks. Everyone except Harry, Jean and me go of on vacation. Pam is going to stay with her married sister until the green light goes up, then she flies to Merida and waits for us.’

‘So we have four weeks?’

‘That’s it. I’ve talked to Jackson about you. I’ve told him I need you to handle the servicing of the Condor. So he talked to Mr. Essex and it’s fixed. You’re now on the payroll from today at thirty thousand. You’ll have to see Macklin, the staff manager, who will sign you on and fix everything. Officially, we start work in four weeks’ time, but while you and the rest of them are on vacation, you get paid.’

‘I like that.’ I paused, then went on, ‘Can you give me a date when you fly in the new kite?’

‘October 3rd unless the tests don’t jell.’

This was September 4th.

‘When we hijack this kite, Bernie, we need to be armed. I’m not taking any chances with these greasers. Each of us should have a machine pistol and at least one automatic rifle.’

He stared uneasily at me.

‘You really think there could be trouble?’

‘I don’t know, but I’m taking precautions. Where can we get them?’

‘That’s no problem. We have an armoury here and it’s pretty comprehensive. All we have to do is to help ourselves.’

‘Fine. Now there’s another thing, Bernie. We all have to have false passports. We all have to begin new lives. Do you think Kendrick can fix that?’

‘Hell! I never thought of that. You’re right.’ Bernie hesitated, then nodded. ‘If he can’t, no one can.’

‘I’ll see him today. I’ll want passport photos of you all.’

‘No problem. We always carry spares. I’ll get them for you.’

‘Then another thing. I’ve been thinking more about the pay out, Bernie. I suggested it should be paid in your name to the National Bank of Mexico. This was half-ass thinking. My new thinking is we form a company in Mexico. This is much the safer way. I’ll fly down to Mexico City and fix it up. I thought of calling the company the Blue Ribbon Air Taxi service. Once the company’s set up then Kendrick pays the money into the bank who will credit the company. What do you think?’

He blinked.

‘You’re way ahead of me Jack. That’s fine. I like the Blue Ribbon Air Taxi Service.’ He smiled, looking happy for the first time. ‘You’ll be needing more money, won’t you?’

‘I’ll get it from Kendrick. Get me the photos and leave the rest to me.’

‘Okay.’

‘One more thing. How is the three million to be shared.’

He looked vague.

‘I haven’t really thought about it.’

‘Well, I have. You dreamed up the idea: so you get a million. I handle your idea so I get a million and a quarter. Harry gets three quarters. That’s the way I see it.’

He moved uneasily.

‘You’ve forgotten Pam.’

‘She’s your woman, Bernie. You take care of her. She’s not in the operation.’

He hesitated, then shrugged.

‘Yes.’

‘Okay, so the payout is agreed?’

‘I’ll have to talk to Harry.’

‘Those are my terms. Without me this operation would never get of the pad and you know it.’

He got wearily to his feet.

‘Okay, Jack. It’s agreed.’

When he had gone I rang room service and asked them to send their special for the day. The Maître d’ said in a chilly voice that he understood I was now on the staff. If I wanted to eat, I would have to go to the restaurant.

I then went over to Macklin’s office. He greeted me the way a high executive greets a staff hand. He asked me to return all the credit cards he had given me, then he shoved a form at me. He told me once I had completed the form my first month’s salary would be credited at the Florida Bank. After I had completed the form, he said I was no longer to use the Alfa. Wes Jackson had certainly been busy this morning.

I went over to the restaurant, had lunch and paid for it then returned to my cabin. After a while Bernie came in. He handed me a set of passport photographs.

‘Did you talk to Harry?’ I asked.

‘Yes. He goes along with the share out.’ He looked thoughtfully at me. ‘You seem to have made quite a hit with him.’

‘That’s something. Look Bernie, I’m no longer a VIP here. I need a car.’

‘Take mine: the Buick. I can use a staff car.’ He started towards the door, then paused. ‘I have a hell of a lot of work to do now Jack. We leave tomorrow at midday. What are you going to do with yourself while I’m away?’

‘See Kendrick, then fly down to Mexico City and set up the company, then go home and spend a couple of weeks with my old man.’

‘You can reach me at the Avon Air Corporation, Texas from September 10th. Harry and I will be working on the course.’

‘Okay. Anyway we meet here on October 3rd?’

‘Yes.’

We shook hands.

As he opened the door, he looked uneasily at me. ‘You do think it will jell?’

I grinned at him.

‘It’s got to hasn’t it?’

Louis de Mamey, Kendrick’s stooge, weaved his way down the aisle of the gallery, bordered with art treasures, waving his hand at me.

‘Mr. Crane! How nice!’ he gushed. ‘Claude was only talking about you this morning. We were really wondering when we would see you again.’

I looked around. The vast room was stuffed with items the rich would fall for.

‘Is he around?’

‘Of course. A tiny moment. I’ll tell him,’ and he swished his behind along the aisle and disappeared through a doorway at the end of the gallery. He reappeared in moments and beckoned to me.

I went down the aisle and entered a vast room with a picture window looking onto the sea. sumptuously furnished with what seemed to me impressive looking antiques and pictures that were probably worth a fortune, hanging on the silk-covered walls.

Kendrick was sitting in a vast chair, his feet on a footstool. He rose and offered his hand. His vast face lit up with a roguish smile.

‘So glad, cheri. Do sit down. A tiny drink? Whisky? Champagne? We have everything. Do just say.’

‘Nothing, thanks.’ I lit a cigarette and sat down opposite him. De Mamey lurked in the background. ‘I want false passports.’ I laid the photos on an occasional table near him. ‘Can you fix that?’

‘For whom?’

‘Bernie, Erskine, myself and Pam.’

His eyes studied me, then he nodded.

‘You will have the new names?’

I took out my wallet and handed a slip of paper to him.

‘It can be arranged, but it will cost, cheri.’ He blew out his cheeks and sighed. ‘Everything costs.’

‘You’re financing this caper.’ I said. ‘I’m not interested in costs.’

‘Yes.’ He took the photos and the slip of paper, beckoned to de Mamey and handed them to him. ‘Arrange it, precious.’

De Mamey went away.

Kendrick shifted his awful wig, then looked inquiringly at me.

‘What else, cheri?’

‘I want two thousand dollars in cash.’

He grimaced.

‘It will be deducted from your share.’

‘No, it won’t. It’s for expenses and you’re taking care of the expenses.’

He smiled, but his eyes were like wet stones.