Brian Freemantle - Charlie Muffin U.S.A.

‘What happened?’ said Warburger.

‘We’d established the routine that if anybody called Pinkerton’s in Washington, where Jack was supposed to be going, they patched the call through to me. The Englishman came on about two this afternoon,’ said Bowler.

‘What for?’

‘He wouldn’t tell me. I alerted Jack, who came back later to say the guy wanted to check about something concerning the opening of the damned display cases.’

‘What do you think?’

‘An unnecessary risk, like I’ve said all along. I think we should dispose of him rather than endanger everything.’

‘Might draw attention to the exhibition, which is just what we don’t want to do,’ warned the Director. ‘Get any sort of activity around there and Terrilli won’t come within a mile.’

‘It’s not an easy decision now it’s gone this far,’ admitted Bowler. ‘I don’t think we should have listened to Jack, in the first place. We could have settled this in New York.’

‘Warn him,’ said Warburger. ‘Tell Pendlebury we’re unhappy with it.’

‘One of the troubles with Jack,’ said the deputy, ‘is that he’s a cocky little bastard… thinks he can handle everything.’

Giuseppe Terrilli chose a downtown Miami Howard Johnson hotel for the meeting with Chambine, confident of the anonymity. He arrived early, but found Chambine waiting for him. Still club soda, the millionaire noted.

Chambine made to rise, but Terrilli gestured him down, not wanting any indication of deference that might be remembered by a curious waiter. They delayed until one came and completed the order before talking. Terrilli realised the younger man had selected a table apart from others in the bar so that they could not be overheard.

‘Well?’ demanded Terrilli.

‘Fairly standard security,’ reported Chambine. ‘Electronic surveillance and the cases are wired, I suspect. A rotating staff of twenty uniformed people and some plainclothes. I don’t think more than ten. Pinkerton chief is a man called Pendlebury. There is also an Englishman representing the insurers.’

‘Anything unusual about them?’

Chambine shook his head. ‘Has-beens, both of them.’

‘What do you think?’

‘It’ll need proper planning,’ said Chambine, ‘but it won’t be too much of a problem.’

Terrilli smiled, impressed with the answer. Most people trying to please, as Chambine was, would have boasted that it would be easy and that would have shown worrying immaturity.

‘Fixed the number of people you’ll need?’

‘Six, like I originally estimated.’

‘Got them?’

‘All arranged,’ said Chambine. ‘Two from Vegas, one from Chicago, one from Philadelphia, and two from Los Angeles.’

‘Why the spread?’

‘I didn’t think it would be sensible to recruit all from the same city. It might have been noticed.’

Chambine was good, decided Terrilli.

‘What do they know?’ he demanded.

‘That they’re getting $50,000 for a heist, no questions asked.’

‘Organisation men?’

‘Every one. Just doing a little freelancing.’

‘For whom?’

‘Me,’ said Chambine. ‘I saw no point in involving you.’

‘You’re very thoughtful.’

‘I’ve tried to be, Mr Terrilli.’

‘I’m very grateful,’ said the older man. ‘And I intend to show it.’

Chambine smiled, a hopeful expression. ‘I’d like another meeting, if it’s possible, to discuss the final planning. And I’m a little concerned by the security at your house.’

‘It’ll be arranged on the night, don’t worry,’ promised Terrilli. ‘You’ll be expected.’

‘There won’t be any trouble?’ asked Chambine.

Terrilli smiled, knowing the meaning of the question.

‘My people do as they’re told. There’s no cause for them to resent an outside operation.’

‘What about Mr Santano?’

Terrilli let the other man know by the silence before he replied how near he was coming to impertinence.

‘Santano will do as he is told, like everyone else. If you join my operation after everything is over, it’ll be for the two of you to create a working relationship.’

Realising he had gone far enough, Chambine said, ‘Unless you think otherwise, I intend to be the only person to remain on the island after the robbery. I’ll bring the rest in and out the same night. It cuts down the risk of a chance arrest if the robbery is discovered earlier than I plan it to be.’

‘These guys got records?’ demanded Terrilli instantly.

Chambine coloured. ‘I’ve been as careful as I can. They’re all minor things… juvenile stuff…’

Terrilli took several moments to reply, apparently thinking. ‘In and out the same night,’ he agreed, finally. ‘It won’t matter how minor the convictions if they get arrested.’

‘If the worst were to happen, they could only identify me,’ reminded Chambine.

‘And you could identify me.’

‘I wouldn’t do that, Mr Terrilli. Whatever happened, I’d never point the finger at you.’

‘You’d die,’ said Terrilli, unemotionally. ‘Irrespective of any trouble it might or might not cause, you’d have to die.’

‘That’s why I wouldn’t do it,’ said Chambine, and Terrilli laughed aloud at the honesty.

‘I think we are going to get on well,’ said Terrilli. ‘Very well.’

‘I thought our next meeting should be at least four days before we actually lift the stuff, to give me time to make alternative plans in case you don’t like those I put forward.’

‘Agreed,’ said Terrilli immediately.

‘I’m assembling everyone in Disneyworld,’ announced Chambine.

‘Disneyworld!’

‘Fifty thousand people a day, none knowing the other,’ pointed out Chambine. ‘It’s got to be the perfect place.’

‘I suppose so,’ agreed Terrilli, with obvious reluctance.

‘You and I could always meet elsewhere, of course,’ offered Chambine, discerning the other man’s attitude.

‘No,’ replied Terrilli, after thinking. ‘I like it. I really do. When are you bringing the other people in?’

‘The two from the West Coast are arriving tomorrow. The others at daily intervals.’

‘Will you put them together immediately?’

‘No,’ said Chambine. ‘It’s always possible they may know each other, of course. Vegas isn’t far from Los Angeles. But I won’t establish the link until the weekend. There’s no point until then. And six men hanging around might attract attention.’

‘Do you need any more money?’ asked Terrilli, indicating the briefcase beside him.

‘No thank you,’ said Chambine.

Terrilli lapsed into silence. Chambine sat attentively, not attempting to lead the conversation.

‘I like very much your keeping me out of it,’ said Terrilli, breaking the pause. ‘On the night of the robbery, when the collection arrives at my house, I’ll not meet any of them personally. I’ll pay you off in a separate room and you can pay them in turn…’

Chambine nodded.

‘It wouldn’t take anyone long to discover who lived in the house, of course,’ went on Terrilli, thinking aloud. ‘But if no one actually sees me, then they can’t prove anything.’

‘I think that’s a wise safeguard,’ agreed Chambine.

Terrilli sat back in his chair, the movement indicating that the discussion was over.

‘I’ve rooms at the Contemporary Resort in Disneyworld,’ said Chambine. ‘Would Sunday be convenient to you?’

‘Noon,’ agreed Terrilli, rising.

The two men shook hands and Terrilli went out into the foyer, nodding to the doorman’s query about taxi. He asked for the Omni complex on Biscayne Boulevard, paid before he left the car and took the elevator as if going into the shopping complex. Instead he cut through to one of the linking entrances into the Omni Hotel, descending to the foyer and within fifteen minutes was in another taxi, going uptown towards the Tuttle Causeway joining the mainland to Miami Beach. He paid the taxi off a block away from the Fountainbleau, finishing up the journey on foot, and entered the hotel through one of the side doors near the golf course.