James Chase - The World in My Pocket

‘You bet I’m the boss,’ Morgan said, then he swung around to stare fixedly at Kitson. ‘What do you say?’

Morgan didn’t scare Kitson, but Ginny did. If she had the nerve to go through with this, he knew he had to, too.

‘I just asked the question,’ he said, staring back at Morgan. ‘What’s wrong with that?’

‘Okay,’ Morgan said, relaxing a little. ‘You’ve got your answer. Now I can get on or do you two want to waste some more time?’

‘Go ahead,’ Kitson said, his face flushing.

‘Once on the highway,’ Morgan said, ‘we head for Fawn Lake. There’s a big caravan camp there, and that’s where we’re going to plant the caravan, slap bang in the middle of two hundred other caravans. We should get to Fawn Lake by midday. There are cabins around the lake and Kitson will hire one.’ Morgan’s voice was harsh now, his temper still edgy. He looked

at Kitson. ‘You’ll park the caravan close to the cabin. You and Ginny will act like honeymooners. You’ll fish, swim and enjoy yourselves. You’ll let people know you are on your honeymoon and you want to keep to yourselves. While you are creating this atmosphere, Gypo, Ed and me will be working on the truck.’

‘For Pete’s sake!’ Bleck exclaimed, an exasperated note in his voice. ‘This bum certainly has picked himself the soft end of the job!’

Kitson started to his feet, his fists clenched, his face red with anger.

Morgan snapped, ‘Pipe down, will you?’ The snap in his voice made Kitson pause. ‘Look, Ed, just listen to me. We are a team. Kitson gets the honeymoon end of the job because he can handle a car better than any of us can. You cut out picking on him or you and me will have trouble. I’m getting sick of the way you lot are beefing. The only one who keeps her mouth shut is Ginny. If this job is going to be pulled, we’ve got to work as a team. Remember that and shut up!’

Bleck shrugged.

‘Okay, okay. Can’t I make a remark?’

Morgan stared at him for a long moment, then when Bleck’s eyes shifted, he said, ‘As soon as the caravan is parked, Gypo starts to work on the truck. It won’t be easy. There isn’t much room to work in, and it’ll be hot in the caravan, but that’s something you’ll have to put up with, Gypo. Ed and me will remain in the cab of the truck out of your way. If you want any help, we’re right there to give it to you. We three have the rugged end of it because we’ll have to stay in the caravan until it is dark. When it is dark, we’ll move into the cabin for the night, but we’ve got to be back in the caravan as soon as it is light. We can’t take the risk of being seen by anyone. We’ll have to be careful. We may have to move on if Gypo finds the job is going to take some time. If we have to, we’ll go up into the mountains, but I don’t want to go up there. I’m worried the Buick won’t haul the load and we’d look damned cockeyed if we got stuck.’ He looked over at Gypo. ‘Any questions?’

‘You mean you want me to work on the truck while it’s still in the caravan?’ Gypo asked. ‘I couldn’t use the flame in there, Frank. It’d be seen through the curtains, and besides, it would be dangerous. The caravan could catch fire.’

‘Maybe you won’t have to use the flame,’ Morgan said. ‘The time-lock will have operated by then. Maybe you’ll be able to find the combination.’

Gypo nodded, his face clearing.

Morgan slid off the workbench and stretched.

‘Well, that’s the plan. It’s pretty comprehensive, but it’s not perfect: no plan is. I’m pretty certain we’ll be able to keep the truck hidden. No one’ll think of looking for it inside a caravan among hundreds of caravans. That’s the brightest part of the plan.’ He looked over at Ginny. ‘That was smart, kid: really smart.’

‘It’ll work,’ she said. ‘Just so long as you all do what you have got to do.’

The cold, determined expression in her eyes bothered Kitson. He remembered what Gypo had said about a girl like her with a body like hers was made for love. Now watching the cold, set face and the hard eyes he decided Gypo had been romancing.

‘Well, I guess that’s it,’ Morgan said, looking at his watch. ‘Ed, you and Kitson, take Gypo’s car and take a ride around the car parks. I want a sports car tonight. When you’ve found it, bring it here and Gypo will do a spray job on it. You two get off now.’

Scowling, because he didn’t fancy spending the evening in Bleck’s company, Kitson got to his feet and slouched over to the door.

Bleck followed him, whistling under his breath, winking at Ginny as he passed her. Ginny stared blankly back at him, but Bleck continued to grin, and he paused at the door to wink again. A few moments later they heard the Lincoln start up and drive away.

‘All I want you to do, Ginny,’ Morgan said, ‘is to organize the food. Get a couple of baskets and buy canned food.’ He took some money from his pocket and gave it to her. ‘Get stuff that will keep and put a couple of bottles of Scotch in the basket. There’s nothing else for you to do. We’ll see you here on Friday morning at eight. Okay?’

‘Yes.’

From the writing pad, she tore out two pages of notes she had made and gave them to him.

‘Can I drop you anywhere?’ he asked, knowing what the answer would be. ‘It’s still raining.’

She put on her plastic mac, shaking her head.

‘No, thanks. I’ll take the bus.’ She looked at him. ‘You think this is going to work out all right, don’t you?’

‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘You think so too, don’t you?’

‘Yes.’ She hesitated, then nodded. ‘Well, so long.’ She nodded to Gypo and then went quickly out into the rain.

Gypo was feeling pretty shaky. Only the thought of laying his hands on two hundred thousand dollars and the silent threat from Morgan kept him together. He was scared of this job now. If something went wrong! If the cops caught him! Santa Maria! What would his mother think?

Morgan patted him on the shoulder.

‘Relax,’ he said. ‘This time next week, you’re going to have the world in your pocket. That’s worth taking a risk for, isn’t it? I’ll be down tomorrow morning. You’ve done a swell job on the caravan, Gypo. Be seeing you,’ and giving Gypo a gentle punch on his chest, Morgan left him.

As Kitson drove towards the big parking lot at the back of the Gaumont Cinema, his mind was in a state of confusion. He had no hope that this job would succeed. He had now committed himself to a murder rap. This would have frightened him had it not been for what Morgan had said. He and Ginny were to act as honeymooners. They were to swim and dance and have a good time together, and knowing by now how thorough Ginny was in everything she did, Kitson had no doubt that she would act out her part as if it were the real thing.

The thought of having two or three days in such close intimacy with her more than counterbalanced the fear of failure and eventual arrest.

Bleck lounging beside him in the Lincoln watched him out of the corners of his eyes.

‘Hey, kid,’ he said abruptly, ‘maybe I should tip you off. I wouldn’t want you to get any ideas about Ginny. She and I have an understanding. When this job’s over, we’re joining up. I promised her I’d show her Paris and London. I thought I’d mention it in case you were getting ideas of your own.’

Kitson nearly drove into the back of a truck that had slowed down before stopping at the traffic lights as the red came up. He felt as if someone had given him a hard blow under his heart. He managed to pull up and he turned to glare at Bleck.

‘You’re lying!’ he said furiously. ‘She wouldn’t go any place with you, you jerk! You’re lying!’