James Chase - Mission to Siena

While Willie was sweating over this problem, Felix was reporting to Alsconi who sat at his desk, his hands folded on the blotter.

Within reach of those long white fingers was a small ivory button let into the desk that when pressed would fire a gun, cleverly concealed in the front of the desk, and which was pointing at this moment at Felix.

“Micklem’s letter has been delivered,” Felix was saying. “There was no trouble. His secretary is flying to New York right away. She believes the money will be at the Banca de Roma in five days.”

Alsconi absently rubbed the top of the ivory button with the tip of his forefinger. It gave him a feeling of intense pleasure to know that he had only to press down on the button for Felix to get a bullet in his stomach.

“So they appear willing to co-operate?” he said.

“They seem more than willing.”

“And Lorelli delivered the letter?”

“Yes.”

“She was alone?”

“She thought she was alone,” Felix said. “I had Willie watching outside in case there was trouble.”

“She made it clear that if they went to the police, Micklem would suffer?”

“She followed my instructions,” Felix said curtly. “She did the job very well.”

“Splendid.” Alsconi examined his finger-nails, a bland expression on his fat face. “Where is Willie?”

“He’s still at the villa. I told him to wait until Jacopo relieved him,” Felix said.

Alsconi scratched the side of his nose while he looked at Felix.

“So you have the report only from Lorelli, and no confirmation yet from Willie?”

Felix stiffened.

“Confirmation? I don’t understand. I haven’t yet talked to Willie, but he won’t have anything to tell me. Are you suggesting we can’t trust Lorelli any more?”

Alsconi lifted an eyebrow.

“Certainly not. It is always better to have confirmation of any report. For all we know Lorelli might have lost her nerve at the last moment. She might not have gone to the villa. I am quite sure she did go, but it will be more satisfactory not only for me but for her if Willie confirmed what took place at the interview.”

“Willie was watching from the outside,” Felix said. “He wouldn’t have heard what was said.”

Alsconi picked up the telephone receiver.

“Carlos? Send Jacopo at once to the Trioni villa to relieve Willie. Willie is to report to me immediately he comes in.”

He replaced the receiver. “Don’t let us assume anything, Felix. It is a fatal mistake. I’ll talk to Willie.”

Felix shrugged angrily.

“If that’s the way you want it.”

“Yes. We have agreed that Lorelli is inclined to get flustered. I want to be sure that she has handled the assignment well. Very soon I shall have a special job for her. Crantor has a large amount of sterling that should be brought here. I want Lorelli to go to London and bring this money back.” Alsconi played a soundless tune on the edge of his desk.

“You are satisfied that she is still reliable? The money is in cash, and there is a lot of it. I wouldn’t want her to run off with it.”

“She wouldn’t do that,” Felix said. He had to make an effort to meet Alsconi’s probing eyes. “Of course she is reliable, but we can’t send her on that job. The London police have a description of her. It would be risky to send her to London again.”

“Ah, yes. I had forgotten that. Well, someone must get the money. I need it. Would you trust Willie to do it?”

Felix shook his head.

“No. Willie’s all right for the day-to-day work, but I wouldn’t trust him with money.”

“Then I’ll have to see if Crantor can suggest anyone,” Alsconi said. “We had better find some other work for Lorelli to do. She is rather lost here, I feel. No scope for her.” He paused, then went on, looking fixedly at Felix. “I have been thinking that we might begin limited operations in South America: Buenos Aires, for instance. Would she mind going there, do you think?”

Felix very nearly betrayed himself. He covered his confusion by taking out a cigarette and lighting it. Was this a coincidence or had Alsconi somehow overheard their conversation?

“Buenos Aires? I don’t know. I can ask her.”

Alsconi smiled.

“Leave it for a moment. When I have more time I will talk to her myself. It is a long time now since I have had a chat with her. Sometimes I wonder if it is wise to employ women in the organization. They have their uses, of course, but they can be unpredictable. I don’t like unpredictable people.”

“You can’t say Lorelli is unpredictable,” Felix said hurriedly. “You seem to have lost faith in her, but you have no reason for it. After all she is one of the original members of the organization. She deserves better treatment. I have always found her reliable when it comes to carrying out orders.”

“You are in a better position to judge her than I am,” Alsconi said. “But I think a change would be good for her: new faces, new routines. Would you be interested in going with her to Buenos Aires and handling my business there?”

“If you told me to go, I’d go,” Felix said, aware that he was beginning to sweat. “But I should have thought I was more useful to you here. I’ve handled the set-up for you for two years now.

It isn’t an easy set-up to run. If I had the choice I would stay here.”

Alsconi lifted his eyebrows.

“That would mean losing Lorelli. I thought you were attached to her.”

“No woman has her hooks that deep into me,” Feliх said. “Do you intend sending her to Buenos Aires?”

“Perhaps not. It’s an idea that occurred to me.” Aisconi shrugged his shoulders. “I’m still thinking about it. I should have to be very sure that Lorelli could do the work and wanted to do it. Let us continue to think about it.” He waved his hand the gesture of dismissal.

Felix was glad to escape from the staring, probing eyes.

He was badly rattled and he went to his room» took from a cupboard a bottle of whisky and poured himself liberal shot.

Then he sat down, holding the glass in his hand while he considered the situation.

After some thought, he told himself that AlsconVs reference to Buenos Aires must have been a coincidence. ft ^Vent only to show how crazy and irresponsible Lorelli’s ideas. If he had thought, it was obvious that a town with so muc)i money as Buenos Aires would eventually come on Alsconi’s schedule. Besides, if Alsconi had overheard Lorelli trying to persuade him to clear out, he wouldn’t have put him on his guard to this. He would have struck. He knew how Alsconi worked, he was quick and ruthless.

He finished his drink and set down the glass. tfe decided the situation wanted careful watching, but it wasn’t d^gerous.

The great point in his favour was there was no one to tAce his place. The organization didn’t run itself and he had purpose underlined that to Alsconi. There were a hundred and one details to be watched and Felix had all these details at his fingers’ end.

Alsconi wouldn’t be so stupid as to get rid of him, he told himself. He would only saddle himself with all the dirty work that Felix now shouldered. But from now on, he would be on his guard. He would watch Carlos who carried out Alsconi’s instructions.

His hand went inside his coat and his fingers touched the butt of his .45. Carlos was quick and big, but a .45 slug would stop him.

He had another drink and then got to his feet. He would go along and talk to Lorelli. He’d throw a hell of a scare into her.

She must stop this yammering about leaving the organization once and for all. That kind of talk could be fatal.

He went over to the mirror and straightened his tie. He grinned at his reflection. The whisky gave him a feeling of security. He was still smiling as he went out of the room.