James Chase - Not My Thing

‘Thank you.’ She sipped the coffee, then regarded him. ‘You make excellent coffee, Kim.’

Ng was overwhelmed. How he loved this beautiful, gracious woman!

‘Thank you, ma’am.’ He hesitated, then went on, ‘I am afraid you will have to stay here for a few days. Is there anything I can get you? Please ask.’

Shannon finished her coffee while her mind raced. She must know more details of this kidnapping.

‘Does my husband know I have been kidnapped?’ she asked as Ng refilled her cup.

‘Oh, yes, ma’am. He knows.’

‘That tall thin man who talked to me before I blacked out,’ Shannon said. ‘He is the kidnapper… not you?’

Ng hesitated.

‘That’s right, ma’am.’

‘And you do what he tells you?’

Again Ng hesitated. He was becoming uneasy at these questions, but he wanted her to regard him as her friend.

‘Yes, ma’am,’ he said finally. ‘I’m sorry, but there is nothing more I can tell you. Is there something I can get for you? The refrigerator has lots of food, but there may be something else you need.’

‘I’m to stay here for several days?’

‘I’m afraid so, ma’am.’

‘Kim, I don’t know if my husband will pay the ransom. What will happen to me if he doesn’t pay?’

She saw Ng flinch and his hands turn into fists.

‘He will pay, ma’am,’ Ng said earnestly. ‘My master has told me so.’

‘How can you be so sure, Kim?’

‘He has to pay, ma’am. My master has told me so.’

‘Your master?’ Shannon drank more coffee. ‘How odd for you to call a kidnapper your master.’

Ng had a sudden feeling he was talking too much. He wanted to talk. He wanted to tell this lovely woman how much he loved her. He wanted to tell her about his past life, but he restrained himself.

‘Is there anything I can get for you, ma’am?’

Shannon realized that he had gone on the defensive, and for the moment she had lost him. She knew she would get nothing further from him, but she also felt, if she handled him gently, he would co-operate.

‘Yes, please, Kim. If I have to stay here for some days, I would like a radio. Could you get that for me?’

‘Oh, yes, ma’am,’ Ng said eagerly. ‘That’s no problem.’

‘Then the other thing I would like is a Bible.’

She saw Ng stiffen, then he stared at her.

‘A Bible?’

‘I think you are a good Catholic as I am,’ Shannon said, quick to see his reaction. ‘Yes, please… a Bible.’

Ng’s mind flashed back to the priest who had taught him English and how to write, his kindness, his understanding and his religious instruction.

‘Yes, ma’am. I’ll be back soon.’

The film going on in Ng’s mind faded.

He had bought a small transistor and a Bible out of the housekeeping money that Kling had given him. He had returned to the Whipping room and was glad and sorry that Shannon was in the bathroom. He paused, listening to the sound of water filling the bath, then he placed the radio and the Bible on the occasional table, paused for a long moment to stare wistfully at the bathroom door, then went out into the lonely sunshine.

Looking around at Beigler, Lepski and Howard Jackson, Terrell said, ‘Drysdale has fingered Lucky Lucan for the kidnapping.’

‘That I can’t believe!’ Lepski said with a snort. ‘That wet creep wouldn’t have the guts to kidnap a mouse!’

‘You’re right, Tom,’ Terrell said, ‘but it looks as if he just might have steered the kidnappers to Mrs Jamison. Drysdale said Lucan came to him for information about Jamison and his wife. Then this morning, Drysdale saw Lucan talking to a tough-looking, thin man who could match the boy’s description. When Drysdale questioned Lucan about Mrs Jamison, Lucan seemed to fall apart and got in a panic. That’s all we have to go on, but it makes a picture.’

‘The tough-looking man?’ Jackson asked.

‘Lucan says he’s just a neighbour and doesn’t know his name, according to Drysdale. It would be helpful to find out if this tough-looking man has a companion.’

‘That’s easy,’ Jackson said. ‘The Star Motel? So suppose I put one of my women operators there. She can rent a cabin and watch.’

‘That’s a good thought,’ Terrell said, nodding. ‘We have to tread carefully, Jackson. Neither Lucan nor this tough must get the idea we are checking them out.’

‘Leave it to me, Chief. I’ve just the woman,’ Jackson said. ‘I’ll get her there in a couple of hours,’ and he reached for the telephone.

Lucan was in a state of near panic. If Kling hadn’t promised to pay him half a million dollars, he would have packed and fled back to New York, but he was sure Kling would never part with the money unless he stayed.

Drysdale’s unexpected visit had almost destroyed Lucan’s nerves.

As Lucan paced up and down in the living-room of his cabin, he kept asking himself if Drysdale knew that the Jamison woman had been kidnapped. Was Drysdale sniffing for a clue or was he just trying to satisfy his curiosity?

Lucan cursed himself for losing his nerve and had reacted so stupidly when Drysdale had asked him how he had got on with the Jamisons. That could have been a harmless question, but Lucan now was sure that by his stupid reaction he had aroused Drysdale’s insatiable curiosity.

Hearing a car start up, he hurried to the window in time to see Kling drive away.

He looked at his watch. The time was 20.40. He realized he had been pacing the floor for the best part of two hours, worrying and sweating. He felt mildly hungry. He decided to drive down to the city and have dinner at one of the many sea-food restaurants. Maybe he could find a woman who would help him pass the night. If he didn’t relax, he told himself, he would go out of his skull.

He took a quick shower, put on a fresh shirt, then, turning off the lights, he went out into the steamy darkness.

As he was locking the door, a small car pulled up.

‘Excuse me.’ A girl’s voice. ‘Can you tell me which is cabin twenty-four?’

Turning, Lucan surveyed the girl who had just got out of the car. She stood in the hard light from the roof of the motel and smiled at him.

Lucan felt his blood quicken. Some chick! he thought.

She was tall, slim, wearing skin-tight jeans and a T-shirt. What this get-up did to her figure startled Lucan. Some body! he thought. She was pretty in a sophisticated way: blonde curls, big blue eyes and a wide, sensual mouth.

‘Cabin 24?’ he said, turning oh his charming smile. ‘Right next door. I’m Julian Lucan. Looks like I’m going to be your neighbour. Are you here for long?’

‘I’m Beryl Shaddock. Call me Berry,’ the girl said. ‘Sure, I’m staying for at least a week. I’m waiting for my husband to join me.’ She pouted. ‘He’s always joining me some place or the other.’

Lucan smiled again. He liked nothing better than pretty wives whose husbands were joining them sooner or later.

‘Anything I can do to help, Berry?’

‘Well, I’ve got a suitcase.’ She looked helpless. ‘Perhaps…?’ She flicked open the trunk of the car.

‘Sure.’ Lucan heaved out the heavy bag. ‘Give me the key. I’ll see you settled.’

Together they entered the cabin. Lucan switched on the lights and placed the bag by the bed.

‘That’s real nice of you, Julian,’ the girl said. ‘Well, thanks a million.’

‘Maybe we’ll be seeing each other,’ Lucan said as he moved to the door. ‘I know this city. I could show you around.’

‘You could?’ Her smile brightened. ‘I’d love that.’

‘Okay,’ Lucan said. He was getting the idea that this well built chick could be a push-over.