Have a Change of Scene

Seven

Thursday passed off as well as could be expected. I was edgy in spite of trying not to be and Sydney drove me nearly crazy with his buzzing and fluttering. He kept appearing from his office, spinning around the showroom, giving me conspiratorial looks and then buzzing back out of sight. Of course, Terry became aware that something was cooking and he watched me with baleful, curious eyes.

Finally, I decided this must stop. I went into his office, closing the door.

‘For Pete’s sake, Sydney,’ I said, ‘do control yourself. You’re behaving like an escapee from the Mafia.’

His eyes popped wide open.

‘I am? I’m as calm as a bishop. What do you mean?’

‘As calm as a bishop who finds he has a girl in his bed.’

He giggled.

‘Well, maybe I am just a wee bit excited. I just can’t wait for tonight! You’ll be utterly thrilled!’

‘Keep it for tonight and stop buzzing around me. Terry is chewing his nails with curiosity.’

He took the hint and remained in his office for the rest of the afternoon, but when he left at 18.00, he couldn’t resist giving me a broad wink. I frowned at him and a little crushed, he took himself off.

Terry immediately got to his feet and wandered over to me.

‘What’s the excitement about?’ he asked. ‘He’s been behaving like a yo-yo all day. Are you two cooking up something?’

I began to clear my desk.

‘Why not ask him? If he wants you to know, he’ll surely tell you.’

Terry put his hands on my desk and leaned forward. His mean little eyes were furious.

‘You hate me, don’t you?’

I stood up.

‘No more than you hate me, Terry,’ I said and went across the showroom to the washroom.

Ten minutes later, I was driving back to my apartment. In a week, perhaps less, I told myself, I would be in Antwerp, talking to one of the biggest diamond buyers in the business. I would offer him ten of the best stones, but not the big one. This I was going to take to Hatton Garden, London. Wallace Bernstein had already asked me to look out for a top class stone that could be used in a tiara. He hinted it was for one of the Royal family. I had no doubt he would jump at the big stone and at my price. Then from London to Amsterdam, then to Hamburg and finally to Switzerland. By then I would be worth a million dollars. That sum invested in 8 percent bonds would give me an income for life of $80,000. I would apply for a Swiss livret pour etrangers, pay token tax and I would be set for life.

I was satisfied with the way I had handled Rhea. I was sure now that she was no longer suspicious and this was important. With her out of the way, cooling her heels in Frisco and Fel out of the way in Luceville, I had room in which to manoeuvre.

A lot depended now on whether Sydney would call in the police after the robbery. I would have to be careful how I handled him. He would be in a terrible state and furiously angry. When like that he was difficult to control. I would have to warn him and keep warning him that once the police took over, Tom Luce was certain to get to hear what had happened. It depended on whether Sydney’s rage or his fear of Luce won the battle and I was inclined to bet on the latter.

I got back to my apartment at 18.35. I had four hours ahead of me to kill. Remembering I was supposed to be dining with the Johnsons, I took a shower, shaved and changed into a dark suit. Although I did all this in slow motion, I still had three hours and a quarter before I went into action.

I made myself a stiff whisky, turned on the TV which didn’t hold me, so turned it off. I wandered up and down my living room, uneasy and edgy. I kept looking at my watch. I didn’t feel like eating. There was a sick sensation growing in my stomach, but the whisky helped. For no reason at all I suddenly thought of Jenny. I had a sudden impulse to speak to her. Searching through my pocket diary, I found the number of the city hospital, Luceville and put through a call.

After a little delay, Jenny said, ‘Hello?’

‘Hello yourself,’ I sat down, feeling suddenly relaxed. ‘This is your old partner in Welfare. How are you, Jenny?’

‘Larry!’ The lift in her voice made me feel good. ‘How nice of you to call. I’m getting along fine now. I can even hobble around with two sticks.’

‘You can... that’s wonderful! When are you leaving?’

‘The end of the next week. I can’t wait to get out and to get around again. Tell me, Larry, is all well with you?’

I wondered how she would react if I told her I was about to involve myself in a robbery.

‘I’m all right. Back in harness again... busy. I have a dinner date. I just finished dressing when you suddenly jumped into my mind.’

‘I’ve been thinking of you too. I’m so glad you left this town, Larry. Luceville wasn’t for you.’

‘I guess. Yet I miss it... and you.’ I suddenly wanted to see her again, but I knew this wasn’t possible. In four or five days I would be on my way to Europe and probably wouldn’t ever come back. I thought of her untidy hair, her eyes, her efficiency and her kindness. ‘I have to go to Europe in a few days... business. Otherwise, I would have driven up to see you.’

‘Oh!’ A pause, then she went on, ‘Will you be away long?’

‘I’m not sure... it depends. I may have to go on to Hong Kong. Yes... it’ll be some time.’

‘I see... well, have a good trip.’ There was a sudden flat note in her voice that told me she was upset. I stared at the opposite wall. I thought of the loneliness that lay ahead of me. An exile living in a foreign country. I didn’t even speak any language except my own. How different it would have been to have Jenny with me. With all that money, we could make a wonderful life together. These thoughts flashed through my mind as she said, ‘I suppose the sun is shining your way. Here, it is dreadful. There are times when I long for the sun.’

I thought of the fun I would have showing her Hong Kong, then with a feeling of heavy depression I realised I had left it too late. I couldn’t say ‘Come away with me.’ I couldn’t jump it on her like that. Besides, she couldn’t walk yet. No... it was too late. I would have to leave within a few days after the robbery: probably Monday next. It would be too dangerous not to leave.

‘The sun’s marvellous here,’ I said and now wished I hadn’t called her. ‘I’ll write, Jenny. Well, it’s getting late. Look after yourself.’

‘And you too.’

We spoke for a few more seconds, then I hung up. I sat there, staring at the wall. Was I in love with her? I wondered. I was beginning to think I was, but was she in love with me? Maybe when I was safe in Switzerland, I would write to her and tell her how I felt about her. I would ask her if she would come to Switzerland so we could talk about it. I would send her the air ticket. I felt she would come.

I looked at my watch: still two hours and three-quarters to wait. I couldn’t stay any longer in the apartment so I left and drove to an Interflora that remained open late. I ordered roses to be sent to Jenny and wrote a card on which I said I would be in touch with her before long. Then knowing I should eat something, I drove to the Spanish Bay Hotel and went into the snack bar. I had a smoked salmon sandwich and a glass of neat vodka.

One of my clients, Jack Calshot, a rich, boozy-faced stockbroker came over and joined me. We talked of this and that. He said he was looking for an emerald and ruby bracelet and gave me a heavy wink. ‘Not for the wife, you understand. I’ve found me a piece of tail that’s really enthusiastic, but she needs softening. Got anything like that, Larry?’

I said it was no problem and for him to look in at the shop tomorrow.

I spent the next hour listening to his chat. He was a useful man to know as I had had several good market tips from him in the past. At the back of my mind I thought that very soon all this would change — yet another change of scene. I wondered if I would make friends in Switzerland. From what I had heard about the Swiss, they weren’t overfriendly to foreigners, but at least there would be an American colony I could get to know.

Finally, my watch hands crawled to 21.45. I said so long to Calshot who said he would be around tomorrow at ten o’clock. As I got into the Buick I thought of Fel and flinched inwardly. A bang across the face can hurt. A million dollars could never be easy to earn, I told myself.

As I buzzed the entrance bell to Sydney’s apartment block and as Lawson came across the lobby, I saw Claude come out of the elevator.

They both greeted me as Lawson opened the door.

When Lawson had returned to his office, moving at a trot that told me he had a good show to watch on TV, Claude said, ‘Mr. Sydney is very excitable this evening, Mr. Larry. I had some trouble persuading him to eat his dinner. I do hope you will have a calming influence on him.’

When I thought of what was going to happen, I decided that would be unlikely.

‘I’ll do my best, Claude,’ I said. ‘Goodnight,’ and I took the elevator to the penthouse. Leaving the elevator, I started down the stairs, moving swiftly. I reached the lobby, paused, looked around, then crossing quickly to the entrance door, I turned the knob, lifted the catch, then spun around and started up the stairs. As I had thought, unlocking the entrance door had presented no problems. Reaching Sydney’s front door, I gently turned the handle and found the door unlocked. I re-shut it and rang the bell.

Sydney came bounding to the door, throwing it wide open.

‘Come in, dear boy!’ he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. ‘Did you have a dreadful dinner?’

‘Pretty bad.’ I closed the front door and taking his arm, went with him into the living room, knowing that the door was unlocked. ‘She’s dithering. I don’t think her husband wants to spend the money, but I ran into Calshot and he’s after an emerald and ruby bracelet. He’ll be in tomorrow... another new chick.’

‘Never mind him... come and look at my designs.’

As I followed him to the desk, I glanced at my watch. The time was 22.10. In another twenty minutes all hell would break loose. I found I was sweating slightly, and taking out my handkerchief, I wiped my hands.

‘Look!’ He spread four designs out on the desk. ‘What do you think?’

I bent over them, scarcely seeing them.

‘Don’t you think this one’s marvellous?’ He put his long artistically shaped finger on the second design.

I pulled myself together and forced my eyes to focus. For several seconds I examined the designs. He had surpassed himself. The second to which he had pointed was the best piece of jewellery designing I had ever seen.

I straightened.

‘You’re a genius, Sydney! There’s no mistake about that! This is the one! It’s top class and if I can’t sell it for two million then my name’s not Carr!’

He simpered, wriggling with pleasure.

‘I thought it had to be right, but now you say so.’

‘Let’s compare it with the necklace.’

He looked surprised.

‘But why?’

‘I want to compare the cut of the stones with your design.’ I began with a husky voice and had to pause to clear my throat.

‘I see... yes.’

He turned, crossed the room, removed the Picasso and went through his secret motions of opening the safe.

I looked at my watch: another fifteen minutes.

He brought the necklace and laid it on the desk.

‘Sit down, Sydney and let’s compare it.’

He went around his desk and I got behind him and we both looked first at the necklace and then the design.

‘It’s marvellous,’ I said. ‘You’ve caught the spirit of the stones beautifully. Can you imagine how this will look after Chan has finished with it? I can’t wait to get it to him.’

He swivelled around in his chair.

‘When can you get off?’

‘Monday. I’ll see my travel man tomorrow. I should be in Hong Kong some time Wednesday. I’ll have to spend a week with Chan, making sure he starts right, then I’ll fly back.’

He nodded.

‘That’s good. How long do you think you’ll take to sell it?’

‘That’s a toughie. I don’t know. I’m already working on a list of names. Chan will take two months on this job. As soon as he’s finished, I’ll start.’

‘You can’t give me any idea?’

I stared at him, not understanding what he was getting at.

‘I don’t think that’s possible, Sydney. It could be a month, could be eight months. Two million isn’t small.’

He fidgeted on his chair.

‘You see, Larry, I’ve insured the necklace for nine months. For that period I’ve managed to get a special rate, but it’s still a hell of a premium. If it’s not sold within nine months, I’ll have to pay more and I don’t want to do that.’

I stood still, transfixed.

‘You’ve insured it?’

‘But of course, sweetie. You didn’t imagine I would let you go all the way to Hong Kong with this necklace without insuring it? Anything could happen to you. Someone might even steal it from you. There could be an accident — God forbid! Three quarters of a million is a hell of a lot of money to risk.’

‘Yes.’ My heart was thumping now. ‘Who did you insure it with?’

‘Our people... the National Fidelity. I had a terrible fight with that dreadful man Maddox! I hate him! He’s so materialistic!. Finally I had to go to one of the directors to get a cut rate. Maddox wanted to charge me nearly double.’

Maddox!

I too had had dealings with this man and I knew him to be the toughest, hardest and shrewdest claims assessor in the business: a man who smelt a crime before it was even thought of. He and his aide, Steve Harmas, had solved more insurance swindles and had jailed more people attempting to defraud than all the other insurance assessors put together.

Knowing I had lost colour, I turned away and walked slowly to the uncurtained picture window.

My mind was stiff with panic. The robbery was off! I had to stop it! But how? My brain just wouldn’t work, but I did know it would be fatal to go ahead now Maddox was looming in the background.

Smart as the Paradise City police were, they were not in the same class as Maddox. I remembered a case when Chief of Police Terrell was glad to cooperate with Maddox’s investigator, Steve Harmas, and it was Harmas who had solved the theft of the Esmaldi necklace and also a murder.

‘What’s wrong, Larry?’

‘Getting a headache, damn it!’ I held my head in my hands while I tried to think what to do. Then I realised how absurdly easy it was to stop the robbery. I had only to cross the room, go out into the lobby, slip down the catch on the Yale lock and Rhea and Fel couldn’t get in.

What could they do? What could they do except go away and curse me when we met again.

‘I’ll get you an Aspro,’ Sydney said getting to his feet. ‘Nothing like an Aspro, precious.’

‘It’s all right.’ I started towards the door. ‘I’ll get it. They’re in the bathroom cabinet, aren’t they?’

‘Let me.’

Then the door burst open and I knew I had left it too late.

Days later and looking back on that night, I was able to understand why the operation had blown up in my face.

The fault was entirely mine. In spite of my hours of thinking and careful planning, I had completely misjudged how Sydney would react under pressure. I had been so certain that this willowy queer, with his buzzing and fluttering, wouldn’t have the courage of a mouse and would shrivel with terror at any threat of violence. Had I not misjudged his courage, I wouldn’t be in the position I now find myself, but I was sure he would present no problem and I never gave this vital part of the operation a thought.

I was moving towards the door and Sydney was coming around his desk when the door bust open and Fel, with Rhea behind him, came charging in.

Fel had on the Beatle wig and the silver glasses, an ugly looking Colt automatic in his fist. Behind him, her red hair concealed by a black scarf, her face hidden behind enormous silver goggles, Rhea also made a threatening sight, a .38 automatic in her gloved hand.

‘Stay still!’ Fel yelled: his voice spine chilling. ‘Get your hands up!’

I was moving towards him. I tried to stop myself, but my legs kept moving. I was almost within reach of him when he swung at me. I saw the movement and tried to duck but the gun barrel smashed against my face and a white light exploded inside my skull. I felt warm blood running into my mouth and I was flat on my back, dazed by the violence of the blow. I lay there, my right eye rapidly closing, but my left eye registering what went on.

I saw Sydney grab hold of the Borgia dagger he used as a letter opener: an antique which had cost him thousands of dollars and of which he was very proud. He went for Fel like a charging bull, the gleaming dagger thrust forward, his face the colour of old parchment, his eyes bolting out of his head. He not only looked berserk but homicidal.

I saw Rhea back away and lift her gun, her lips coming off her teeth in a vicious snarl. There was a flash and a bang as Sydney stabbed at Fel who was standing motionless as if stupefied. The point of the dagger cut into Fel’s arm and blood spurted. The back of Sydney’s head exploded into a red mushroom and he went down with a thud that shook the room.

Gunsmoke curled up to the ceiling. Fel staggered back, holding his arm. Somehow with pain raging in my face, I got on to my hands and knees.

I stared at Sydney’s body. Something horrible, white with blood, began oozing from the back of his head. He had to be dead. This I knew. Sydney! Dead! Something came loose in my mouth. I spat out a tooth on Sydney’s two hundred year old Persian carpet. I started to crawl towards him. I wanted to touch him, to try to bring him back to life, then as I nearly reached him, I saw Rhea’s shadow fall in front of me.

I stayed still, on my hands and knees, blood dripping from my mouth and I looked up. Opposite me was a big mirror. I saw her reflection in the mirror. The huge silver goggles, her white teeth, her lips drawn back in a vicious snarl, the blood-red trouser suit made her look like a demon escaped from hell.

She was holding the gun by its barrel. Even as I stared at her reflection, she set herself and smashed the gun butt down on my head.

When consciousness returned to me, I wasn’t to know I had been in a coma for five days, had undergone brain surgery and twice had been given up as dead.

The first intimation of life I had as I seemed to swim upwards through murky water was the sound of a voice talking. I kept swimming higher and higher with no choking sensation, only a lazy, unwilling motion to reach the surface and I tuned into the voice speaking quite close to me and the words of the speaker penetrated.

He was saying, ‘Look, Doc, how long do you think I’ve got to stick around here, waiting for this guy to come to? I’m losing out, sitting here. I’m the top man on the force. For God’s sake, I’ve been sitting around here for five goddamn days!’

Force? The police?

Five days?

I lay motionless, now aware of a throbbing headache.

Another voice said, ‘He could come out of this coma a moment. He could stay this way for months.’

‘Months?’ The other man’s voice shot up. ‘Isn’t there anything you can do... like giving him a shot or something? If I go on sitting here for months I’ll go into a coma and then you’ll have two patients in your lap.’

‘I’m sorry we have to wait.’

‘That’s wonderful... so what do I do... practice Yoga?’

‘That might be an idea, Mr. Lepski. Yoga is often very beneficial.’

There was a pause, then the man called Lepski, said, ‘So you can’t get him out of this goddamn coma?’

‘No.’

‘And it could be months?’

‘Yes.’

‘Boy! Do I pick them! Okay, Doc, so I sit.’

‘It would seem so.’

Then the sound of footsteps crossing the room, a door opened and shut and the man called Lepski snorted, got to his feet and began to move around. His fidgeting became a background sound. I was able to consider what had been said. I wished my head didn’t ache so badly and wished I could think more clearly. With an effort of will, I forced my mind to look back into the past. I saw again that awful moment when Rhea had murdered Sydney. I saw her raise the gun, saw the flash, heard the bang again and saw poor, brave Sydney’s head explode in a mess of blood and brains.

I had been so stupid! Why had I misjudged his courage? I could see him charging at Fel, the Borgia dagger in his hand... something I knew I could never have done in the face of a threatening gun. It had been a mad, reckless, but magnificent thing to have done, but only someone who had guts and real courage could have done it. Sydney must have known as soon as they had burst into the room, that they were after the necklace, but he didn’t know the necklace he was trying to protect was of glass and he had given his life for nothing.

Well, he was dead. Now I was in the worst kind of trouble with a police officer sitting by my bedside waiting for me to talk. Did they suspect that I was involved in some way with the murder and the robbery? Surely that was unlikely? How was Maddox reacting, knowing that his company would have to pay out three-quarters of a million dollars? Knowing him, rather than pay out that enormous sum, he would dig and dig and dig until he came up with something that would hook me with the murder.

Well, I had time. If I remained still, gave no sign that I was now conscious, I might think of some way out... some way to save myself.

I heard the door open. A woman’s voice said, ‘Your lunch is ready, Mr. Lepski. I’ll watch him.’

‘Okay, baby. If he even lifts an eyelid call me. What’s for lunch?’

‘Beef stew.’

‘Sure it’s beef and not dog?’

She giggled.

‘The Matron’s cat has gone missing.’

‘That’s it! Boy! Do I get the breaks!’ Then the door closed.

I heard the nurse sit down, then the pages of a book began to turn. I went back to my thoughts.

Rhea and Fel had taken the glass necklace. Fel had been wounded. Had the sound of the shot alerted anyone in the building? Had anyone seen them leaving? Maybe the police had them already and Rhea had talked. Maybe that was why this police officer was guarding me. I was sure if Rhea was caught, she would implicate me. But how to find out? I was also sure by the brief glimpse I had had of her expression in the mirror that she had meant to kill me as she had killed Sydney. But if I survived... as I seemed to be surviving... and if she and Fel were caught, then she would talk.

I wanted to lift my hands and press them to my aching head but I resisted the urge. I wanted time. I had to appear to be still in a coma.

Supposing she and Fel got away? What would they do? They had stolen a necklace they imagined to be worth at least a million dollars. They knew one false move would be disastrous. Would they try to sell the necklace? I had already warned them that no small fence would touch it. Now, with a murder rap hanging over them, would they be so reckless as to approach any fence? Yet I could imagine Rhea with her inborn greed for money might not be able to resist the temptation of trying to turn the necklace into money.

But why think of them? If I was going to survive, I now had to think of myself.

Suppose the police or Maddox — especially Maddox — suspected I was behind the steal? Suppose they got a warrant and opened my safe? How would they react when they found the real necklace?

Then I saw a glimmer of hope... a solution and dear God! how I needed a solution!

I lay still, my aching mind busy and it finally seemed to me that I could save myself... always providing that the police never caught up with Rhea and Fel. If they didn’t, then I was safe. I could muzzle Maddox. I could return to the showroom. With Sydney dead, Tom Luce would offer me a partnership. Without my expertise the shop could even fail. I suddenly felt lighter, relaxed and hopeful.

It could work out, but always providing Rhea and Fel were never caught.

But how could they be? No one, even if they had been seen leaving the apartment block could identify them. So long as they didn’t do anything stupid like trying to sell the necklace, then surely they, as well as myself, were safe?

But Rhea?

I remembered what Jenny had said: She has this obsession about getting rich. She just won’t accept the fact that if one wants money one has to work for it... she says she won’t wait that long.

But Rhea was no one’s fool. She must realise in spite of the temptation to make quick money the moment she tried to sell the necklace she was sunk.

Then I heard a tap on the door and the nurse get up and cross the room.

‘Hello, Miss Baxter,’ she said.

‘How is he?’ Jenny asked.

‘Just the same.’

Jenny here!

It needed a great effort of will not to open my eyes. It was too soon for that. When I let them know I was conscious, I would have to do it slowly so that if this police officer turned tough I could retreat back into a faked coma. The knowledge that Jenny had come to Paradise City and was inquiring about me was like a shot in the arm to me.

‘Could I see him?’

‘Of course.’

I lay there, my heart pounding, as I heard movements by my bed.

‘He looks so bad.’ The distress in Jenny’s voice meant a lot to me.

‘That’s to be expected. He’s had brain surgery and it’s been touch and go, but Dr. Summers says he is now out of danger. We just have to wait for him to come out of the coma.’

Cool fingers touched my wrist. Jenny’s fingers. I longed to open my eyes to look at her, to see her untidy hair and the expression of anxiety in her kind eyes, but it was too soon. For my own safety, I had to wait.

Then the sound of the door opening and another voice — Lepski’s voice — broke in.

‘If that was the Matron’s cat, then I dig a cat lunch.’ Lepski was back again. ‘Hi, Miss Baxter,’ he went on. ‘You see he’s still at it.’

‘Yes.’ I heard Jenny sigh. ‘You will let me know the moment he comes to, nurse?’

‘Of course.’

There were movements. I didn’t dare look even between my eyelashes as I heard Lepski sit on a chair near me.

Then the door closed. Jenny had gone.

‘I like her,’ Lepski said. ‘She’s got something. She loves this guy like crazy, doesn’t she?’

‘You can say that again,’ the nurse said.

‘Yeah.’ There was a long pause, then Lepski went on, ‘A couple of months ago I got promoted to Detective 1st Grade. You wouldn’t believe it the way I get pushed around. Just sitting in this goddamn room day after day! They’re trying to kid me it’s important.’

‘I just can’t follow what this is all about,’ the nurse said. ‘I wish you would explain it to me. I’ve read all the papers but they don’t say a thing except Mr. Fremlin was murdered. Just what’s going on?’

‘Strictly between you and me, we don’t know what’s cooking either. Everything depends on Carr coming to the surface and telling us just what did happen. We think something important has been stolen, but we don’t know what. So you don’t understand what it’s all about... so that makes two of us.’

I was now listening intently.

‘But surely you have some clues?’ the nurse said.

‘Baby, you have been reading too many detective stories.’ Lepski’s voice sounded bitter. ‘All we know is a man and a woman broke into Fremlin’s place, shot him, put Carr out of action and scrammed. We have a description of them. The nightman heard the shot and saw them leaving. His description amounts to nothing. So it depends on what Carr saw and what he knows. So I sit here. You get the photo?’

‘I’m glad I’m not you.’

‘That makes two of us.’ A long pause, then Lepski asked, ‘What’s for supper?’

‘You’ve just had your lunch, Mr. Lepski.’

‘Never mind. I’m a man who looks ahead. What’s for supper?’

‘I wouldn’t know. It depends on how the cook feels.’

‘Is that right? How about telling her I’ll give her a feel if she cooks up something good?’

The nurse giggled.

‘That’s not a nice way to talk, Mr. Lepski.’

‘You’re right. Sitting around here, looking at this guy turns me off. You going?’

‘I certainly am before you get a feeling for me.’

‘An idea! If I wasn’t a respectably married man.’

I heard the sound of the door closing.

So they didn’t know the necklace had been stolen. So Lawson had seen Rhea and Fel leave, but as Lepski had said, that didn’t mean a thing. In their disguise and moving fast, they would be as good as anonymous. I lay still, thinking, then decided I mustn’t come to the surface for at least a couple of hours. I mustn’t let Lepski have an inkling that I had heard what he had told the nurse.

So I lay still and thought while time moved on. My head ached and Lepski’s fidgeting irritated me. From time to time the nurse looked in. Finally, the doctor arrived and I decided now I could show signs of life. As I heard him greet Lepski, I moved, groaned softly, opened my eyes and looked up at a fat face bending over me, then I shut my eyes.

‘He’s coming to.’

‘Man! Is that news!’ Lepski exclaimed.

I opened my eyes again and raised my hand to my aching head and felt bandages.

‘How do you feel, Mr. Carr?’ This from the doctor.

‘Where am I?’ The classical remark made by people returning to consciousness.

‘There’s nothing for you to worry about. You’re in the city hospital. How do you feel?’

‘I have a headache.’

‘I’ll fix that. Don’t worry. Just relax, Mr. Carr.’

‘Sydney... they killed him.’

‘Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll give you a shot and you take it easy. There’s plenty of time.’

‘Hey! Hold it! I want to talk to him!’ Lepski said, feverishly. ‘This is important.’

‘You don’t talk to my patient yet.’ There was a snap in the doctor’s voice. ‘Nurse...’

A moment later I felt her dab my arm and then the prick of a needle. As I drifted off I thought that time was on my side. I was in no rush to talk to Lepski, but I knew in this coming game of poker, I held the better cards.

Sunlight woke me. I moved, raised my head, then blinked around. The pain in my head had gone. My mind was clear. Across the room, standing by the window was a tall, lean man with a heavy sun tan who I guessed was Lepski. Seated by my side was an attractive nurse who, seeing me move, got to her feet and bent over me.

‘Hello, Mr. Carr... feeling better now?’

‘I’m feeling pretty good.’ I lifted my hand to my head. ‘What’s been going on?’

‘Just relax. I’ll call Dr. Summers.’

She crossed the room to the telephone as Lepski converged on me. I found myself looking up into two hard pale blue eyes: cop’s eyes.

‘Hi, Mr. Carr,’ he said, keeping his voice down. ‘Am I glad to see you alive again. Do you feel like talking?’

‘Who are you... the doctor?’

Then Lepski was shoved aside by the nurse.

‘Not yet,’ she said to him. ‘You don’t talk to him without Dr. Summers’ say-so.’

‘Is this a goddamn ball!’ Lepski said and walked back to the window.

A moment later a short fat man wearing a white coat came bustling in. He took my pulse, beamed at me, said I was doing fine and not to worry about anything.

‘Mr. Carr, there’s a police officer who wants to question you. Do you feel like talking to him? Don’t hesitate to say no if you don’t feel well enough, but it seems important.’

‘It’s about Sydney Fremlin?’ I made my voice husky, a whisper.

‘Yes.’

I closed my eyes and remained silent for several seconds. I wanted him to know I still felt pretty bad.

‘All right.’

The doctor turned and beckoned to Lepski.

‘Just a few minutes.’

Lepski came and stood by my side.

‘Mr. Carr... I can guess how you’re feeling, but this is important. Can you tell me what happened? Just briefly... just tell me what happened to have gotten you in this mess.’

I noted his voice wasn’t hostile and that surely meant he wasn’t suspicious of me.

Sounding weary and speaking in a whisper, I said, ‘Fremlin and I were working. The door burst open. A man and a woman rushed in. Fremlin tried to stop them. The woman shot him and then she hit me.’

‘What were you working on?’

‘A design for a diamond collar.’

‘Have you any idea what they were after?’

‘The diamond necklace.’

‘What necklace?’

‘We were converting the necklace into a collar. The necklace was lying on the desk... did they take it?’

‘There was no necklace when we arrived,’ Lepski said, leaning forward and staring at me. ‘What necklace... what was it worth?’

That would be enough for now, I told myself and wearily closed my eyes.

‘That’ll do,’ Dr. Summers said. ‘He must rest now.’

Lepski made a noise like a trapped bluebottle fly.

‘This is a murder case, Doc. I’ve got to talk to him. Hey! Mr. Carr!’

I opened my eyes, stared at him, then closed my eyes. I got another prick in the arm and I drifted away, hearing Lepski protesting.

When I came to again, I found another man sitting by my side. He was tall, lean and ugly in a pleasant way with an easy quiet manner.

‘How are you, Mr. Carr?’

Behind him hovered the nurse.

‘A bit doped,’ I said, shut my eyes, moved my head, then looked at him again. ‘Who are you?’

‘I’m Steve Harmas,’ he told me. ‘I represent the National Fidelity Insurance Corporation.’

I felt a cold chill start up my spine.

So this was the man who I had heard so much about: the man who solved frauds and murders with Maddox behind him.

This man would be far more dangerous than Lepski. I was sure of that, but I couldn’t stall any longer. This was the showdown. I had to convince him or I was sunk.

‘Feel like talking?’ Harmas asked. His voice was quiet and he had this bedside manner, but I wasn’t conned.

‘Yes.’ I made out I was making an effort and I raised myself slightly so I could look directly at him. ‘Go ahead.’

‘I’ll make it brief, Mr. Carr.’ His voice wasn’t hostile, but his eyes were watchful. He didn’t con me for a moment. ‘Did you know Mr. Fremlin had insured a diamond necklace for three-quarters of a million dollars?’

‘Yes... he told me.’

‘We get the idea the necklace has been stolen. From what you told Lepski, it was the necklace they were after. Mr. Fremlin’s safe was open... no sign of the necklace. Did they get it?’

‘No.’

He stared at me.

‘They didn’t? Are you sure?’

‘Yes.’

He regarded me doubtfully.

‘Do you know where it is?’

Here it is, I thought, now I play my ace card.

‘Yes, I know... it’s in my safe in my apartment.’

There was a long pause as Harmas regarded me, his eyes quizzing.

‘In your safe, Mr. Carr? I’m not following you.’

I closed my eyes and pretended to rest, then looking at him again, I said, ‘I can assure you the necklace hasn’t been stolen. There were two necklaces. The original in diamonds and an imitation in glass. We were working with the imitation.’

Harmas let breath whistle out between his teeth.

‘Is that good news! My boss thought we were going to be stuck for a three-quarters of a million claim! You really mean this?’

‘Yes. Fremlin was scared to have the real necklace in his apartment. He asked me to house it in my safe. Unless the thieves have been to my apartment, then the necklace is still in my safe.’

‘Could I check, Mr. Carr? My boss is having one coronary after the other and I’d like to put him out of his misery.’

‘Go ahead. You’ll find my apartment key in my jacket pocket.’ I gave him the address. ‘The combination of the safe is X-11-0-4. Go ahead,’ and I closed my eyes.

‘You take it easy, Mr. Carr. Don’t worry about a thing,’ and he was gone.

I drew in a long deep breath. Surely, I thought, this has got me off the hook. But there was this risk: if the police caught up with Rhea and Fel, they would talk, then this slick inspiration of mine would come unstuck at the seams.