James Chase - I Would Rather Stay Poor

‘Why, hello, Ken,’ he said when he saw who it was. ‘Don’t tell me we’ve got an emergency on?’

‘It’s all right, Sheriff,’ Travers said, following the sheriff into the small sitting-room. ‘It’s not that kind of an emergency.’ He put his deputy’s badge and his .45 revolver on the table. ‘I’m resigning from office as from this minute. I’m sorry to spring this on you, but there are special circumstances. Iris and I are leaving tonight for ’Frisco. We’re getting married tomorrow. I’m quitting because I don’t want to be a police officer when I marry her.’

The sheriff stared at Travers, then he walked heavy-footed to an armchair and sat down.

‘Well! Do you have to drop this kind of bombshell in an old man’s lap as late as this? What’s wrong with being a police officer? Why can’t you marry her and still remain a police officer?’

‘Special circumstances,’ Travers said woodenly.

‘They must be. Don’t you think I’m entitled to know what the circumstances are?’

‘Yes, I do, but I’m sorry, Sheriff… I can’t tell you.’

The sheriff pulled at his moustache.

‘Look, son, you and I have worked together now for more than five years. I’ve known you since you were a kid. Let’s have the truth. What’s gone wrong?’

‘I can’t tell you,’ Travers said. ‘I’ve got to quit and that’s all there is to it.’

‘You’ll be sheriff next year. You can’t throw up your career this way, Ken. Have you thought of that?’

‘Of course I have,’ Travers said a little impatiently. ‘I know what I am doing. I’ve got to quit, and I’m quitting.’

The sheriff shrugged.

‘Well, okay, I guess I can’t stop you.’ He waved to the badge and the gun. ‘They’re still yours. You can’t walk out of the force in five minutes. It’ll take a couple of weeks before you are officially free of us, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stop you quitting tonight if it’s that urgent. All the same, hang on to the gun and your badge until your papers come through.’

‘I don’t want them,’ Travers said. ‘As far as I’m concerned, I’m officially off the force as from now.’

The sheriff got to his feet.

‘Sure you don’t want to tell me? You can trust me, Ken. I think you could do with some help.’

Travers smiled tightly. He held out his hand.

‘Thanks, Sheriff, but there’s nothing I want to say.’

The two men shook hands.

‘I guess this damn bank robber is going to get away with it,’ the sheriff said gloomily. ‘I was counting on you to get him. This job is way out of my class and out of Easton’s class too.’

‘If he’s to be caught, he’ll get caught,’ Travers said woodenly. ‘I’ll get in touch with you. So long for now and thanks for everything.’

He went out to the waiting car. Iris looked questioningly at him as he got in beside her.

‘That’s number one problem out of the way. He took it all right. Now we’ll go to your home for you to pack a bag. I’ll wait outside. If there’s trouble, you call and I’ll fix it.’

‘There won’t be any trouble,’ Iris said.

Ten minutes later, they pulled up outside the rooming-house.

‘Go ahead and pack what you want,’ Travers said. ‘We should be moving in about an hour. If you want me, I’m right here.’

As Iris entered the hall, she heard music from the TV filling the house. She went quickly up the stairs to her room. Shutting the door, she found a couple of suitcases and hastily began to pack them. This took a little time, but finally she finished. As she was trying to shut the lid of one of the cases, Calvin said, ‘Can I help?’

She spun around, her heart missing a beat. He was standing in the doorway, watching her, a fixed, ugly grin on his face.

She backed away as he moved into the room and shut the door.

‘Go away!’ she said, terrified. ‘Don’t come near me!’

‘What’s all the excitement about?’ he asked mildly. ‘What’s all the packing for? You’re not leaving, are you?’

‘I’m leaving with Ken tonight,’ Iris said, trying to steady her voice. ‘He’s outside… waiting for me. Now get out!’

‘You have a little job to do for your mother tomorrow. You can’t leave until then.’

‘I’m not doing it! Ken knows… get out!’

Calvin moved to the window and looked down at the waiting car in the drive. A hot, scalding rage ran through him.

‘What is he planning… to jail your mother?’ he asked, turning and staring at her.

‘He’s resigning from the police. We’re getting married. Please, go away!’

‘You mean he isn’t going to do anything about Kit nor me?’

‘That’s what I mean.’

Calvin thought for a long moment, then he switched on his charm.

‘Why, that’s wonderful. Maybe it’s better for you two to be out of the way.’ He crossed the room and shut the lid of the suitcase with a squeeze from his powerful fingers. ‘I’ll carry your bags down.’

Iris didn’t say anything. She watched him pick up the two bags and walk out of the room. For a moment she stood motionless, trying to control the trembling of her body, then she went quickly out of the room and up to Kit’s room. She turned the door handle, but the door was locked.

‘Kit… it’s me. I want to talk to you.’

There was silence.

She knocked.

‘Kit… please… I’m going away: please open up.’

A loud, drunken voice exclaimed. ‘Oh, go to hell for all I care! Go away and keep away!’

Iris stepped back, hesitated, then turned and went quickly down the stairs. Calvin was standing in the hall.

‘Well, so long,’ he said. ‘Have a nice honeymoon. I won’t embarrass the groom by coming out. You may not think it, but we’ll get away with this. There’s no opposition now. The boy who had me worried was your smart future husband.’

Iris picked up the two bags and without looking at him, went out to where Travers was impatiently waiting.

Calvin watched them drive away, then he walked upstairs and into his room. He sat down and lit a cigarette, he was much more confident now. Of course it was tiresome that Iris wasn’t taking the money out, but at least, he now only had an ageing sheriff and that fool Easton to worry about. There must be some way to get the money out. The great thing was he was rid of Travers.

Around eleven o’clock, he was still sitting, chain-smoking when the communicating door jerked open and Kit came in.

Calvin looked up.

Now for another scene, he thought irritably. She’s been howling her eyes out and she’s tight again.

‘Where’s Iris gone?’ Kit asked, standing in the doorway.

‘While you have been swimming in alcohol,’ Calvin said, stretching out his massive legs, ‘our problems have solved themselves. Iris very sensibly has decided to marry her cop who very sensibly, in view of the circumstances, has decided to resign from the police force. They have gone off together, and I imagine this will be the last time we see them. This is excellent for us because we now have a dotty old sheriff and a F.B.I. agent with stomach ulcers trying to solve the famous bank robbery. The chances of either of them solving it are remote, so for the moment we are sitting pretty.’

‘She’s marrying that boy?’ Kit said, coming into the room.

‘Why shouldn’t she? He’s smart. If I had a daughter, I’d be glad to see her marry our hero.’

‘I owe you something, don’t I?’ Kit said, sitting down and staring at him with hate. ‘How I wish I had never set eyes on you! You’ve spoilt my life. All I hope now is you’ll suffer the way you’ve made me suffer.’

Calvin stifled a yawn.

‘There’s a chance, but I hope not, but life’s damn odd. It catches up with you. Well, could you get over the dramatics? We have business to discuss. I have an idea.’