Just Another Sucker

I

As I drove to the beach cabin, it began to rain. There was a chilly wind and the sea was grey and rough: not a day to spend on the beach, and there was no one in sight as I drove into Bill Holden’s parking lot.

I went to the cabin, shut myself in and put a call through to the Regent Hotel, Los Angeles.

After a few minutes’ delay, I was speaking to Odette.

‘This is Harry,’ I said. ‘Listen carefully: we could be in trouble. I can’t talk over an open line, but whatever you do, stay in your room. I’ll be phoning you again. I may want you back tomorrow.’

I heard her catch her breath.

‘Is it that man — the drunk?’

‘No. It’s worse than that. The people I thought would come into this later are already in it. Do you understand?’

‘What are we going to do?’

‘It may still work. If I think it won’t, I’ll call you again t night. For now, keep out of sight and stay in your room.’

‘But what’s happening?’ There was a touch of panic in h voice. ‘Can’t you tell me?’

‘Not over an open line. Just stay where you are and don’t go out. I’ll call you tonight,’ and I hung up.

I felt sorry for her, but I didn’t dare talk. I didn’t know if the girl on the hotel switchboard was listening in.

I went to the window and looked out. The heavy rain was making patterns on the sand. The beach looked forlorn and empty. I lit a cigarette and began to prowl around the room.

At least Malroux hadn’t called in the police so far, but if the police found the T.R.3 with its crushed wing, they would have the excuse to call on him, and then he might admit his daughter was missing.

I saw Rhea coming across the beach. She was wearing a black raincoat, and she was sheltering under an umbrella. If Holden caught sight of her, he couldn’t possibly recognise her as she held the umbrella so it hid her face.

I opened the door as she came up the steps.

‘He’s collecting the money from the bank now,’ she said as she folded the umbrella and shook it before coming in. ‘I told him I was going to church to pray for Odette.’

I am not a religious man, but that cold-blooded statement gave me a feeling of disgust and an acute dislike for her.

‘When do you plan to collect the money?’ she asked as I took her raincoat. She went over to a lounging chair and sat down.

‘I’m not all that sure we’re going to get it,’ I said.

She stiffened, her eyes hardening.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Maybe this will surprise you,’ I said, putting the raincoat on the table and sitting down. ‘Your husband’s bank manager and his chauffeur have shot their mouths off. The police know already that Odette has been kidnapped.’

If I had slapped her across her face, the effect of my words couldn’t have been more electrifying.

‘You’re lying!’ She jumped to her feet, her face chalk white and her eyes glittering. ‘You’ve lost your nerve! You’re scared to collect the money!’

‘Do you think so?’ Her frightened rage helped to steady my own feeling of panic. ‘This morning, Mr.

Masters, the manager of your husband’s bank, called the District Attorney and told him your husband wanted five hundred thousand dollars in a hurry. It seems there is an arrangement now between bank managers and the police for the bank managers to inform the police when large sums are drawn from their customers’ accounts in small bills, and in a hurry. The police automatically assume, until proved otherwise, this money is for a ransom note.’

‘How do you know this?’ she demanded shrilly.

I told her about my new job and how I had talked to the D.A.

‘Renick has already talked to your chauffeur, O’Reilly,’ I went on. ‘Maybe you don’t know, but O’Reilly is an ex-cop. He’s told Renick that Odette didn’t meet her girl friend last night, nor did she come home. The D.A. has put two and two together and has made four. He is sure Odette has been kidnapped, and he’s standing by for the biggest sensation since the Lindberg case.’

Rhea put her hand to her throat and sat down abruptly. She was no longer beautiful. The expression of fear and frustrated fury was ugly to see.

‘What are we going to do?’ she said at last. She began to hammer the arm of her chair with her clenched fists. ‘I must have the money!’

‘I warned you, didn’t I?’ I said. ‘I told you the police could come into this.’

‘Never mind what you told me! What are we going to do?’

‘You’d better hear the whole story, then maybe you can decide what you want to do.’

I gave her all the details. I told her about the drunk, the car accident and that the police were now looking for the T.R.3, and when they found it, they would come to her husband and ask questions.

She sat motionless, her hands clenched between her knees while she listened.

‘Well, that’s it,’ I said. ‘On the credit side, the D.A. won’t make a move unless your husband asks him to. They won’t attempt to follow your husband when he goes out to deliver the money. Everything really depends on your husband. Will he tell the police Odette has been kidnapped when they question him about her car?’

She drew in a long slow breath as she glared at me.

‘So this is what you call efficiency!’ she said furiously. ‘Your clever little plan! Couldn’t you have guessed she would have got involved with some drunk, going to a place like the Pirates’ Cabin?’

I didn’t say anything. I watched her, wondering just how good her nerve was.

There was a long pause, then she said, ‘Well, don’t sit there, staring at me like a zombie. What are we going to do?’

‘That’s up to you,’ I said. ‘If you can persuade your husband not to tell the police, we can still go ahead, but I warn you when Odette gets back, the police are certain to question her about the car.’

‘I must have the money!’

‘If your husband doesn’t talk to the police, I’ll get it for you.’

‘He won’t. After you telephoned, he said he wasn’t calling in the police. I didn’t even have to persuade him. He is prepared to pay so long as he gets Odette back.’

‘Well, if you’re sure he won’t talk, then we can still go ahead.’

‘I’m sure.’

I looked at my wrist watch. The time was just eleven-thirty.

‘I’ll find out what’s happening,’ I said and reached for the telephone. I called Renick. When I got him, I asked, ‘Anything breaking? Do you want me?’

‘Nothing yet.’ He sounded irritable. ‘We haven’t found her car. Malroux collected the money ten minutes ago. The Federal Agents are standing by. Give me a call around three o’clock. We may have the car by then.’

I said I would do that and hung up.

Rhea stared at me. She was very tense.

‘They haven’t found the car yet. With any luck they won’t find it,’ I said. ‘The next move is to get Odette’s letter to your husband.’ I took the letter from my pocket book. I had put the envelope in a plastic slip-case to guard against my fingerprints getting on the envelope. ‘How do you get your mail?’

‘There is a box at the gate.’

‘When you go back, put this in the box. Make sure no one sees you do it. In this letter are the delivery instructions for tomorrow.’ As she took the letter, I went on, ‘Be careful how you handle it. You don’t want your prints on the envelope. Use gloves when you take it out of the slip-case.’

She put the letter in her bag.

‘So you’re going ahead with this?’ she said.

‘That’s what you are paying me for, isn’t it? I think we can get away with it. At least, now I’m working for the other side, I’ll know the moves. If it looks bad, I’ll let you know. The set-up now is this: I’ll call Odette and tell her to come back tomorrow night on the eleven o’clock plane. She’ll be here around one o’clock. She’ll wait here. Your husband is to drive along East Beach Road until he sees a flashing light. He will drop the briefcase as he passes the light. I should have the money by two-thirty.

He will drive on to Lone Bay, expecting to find Odette. You will come here, and I’ll join you two at two-forty-five. We will split up the money. Your husband, not finding Odette, will come home. You and Odette will be there, waiting for him. Your story will be that after he had gone, Odette just walked in.

I’ve coached her in her story and she should be able to convince him. That’s the set-up.’

She thought for a long moment, then she nodded.

‘All right… then tomorrow night at two-forty-five here.’

‘Watch out for O’Reilly,’ I said. ‘Make sure he doesn’t see you leave. This guy is a police spy. From now on, anything he spots, to do with this set-up, will go back to the D.A.: so watch out.’

She got to her feet.

‘I understand.’

‘Fine. Now I want some money,’ I said. ‘I have to pay the rent of this cabin. Fifty will cover it.’

She gave me the money.

‘Then tomorrow night…’

‘That’s it.’ There was something about her manner that made me uneasy. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it was there. ‘You watch out for O’Reilly.’

She looked at me.

‘You’re sure you can handle this?’

‘I wouldn’t touch it if I wasn’t sure.’

‘I must have this money,’ she said. ‘I expect you to get it for me — I’m paying you enough.’

She moved to the door, opened it, put up her umbrella and walked down the steps into the rain.

I watched her move across the sodden sand to the car park.

When she had driven away, I walked under the shelter of the coverway that connected all the cabins to Bill Holden’s office. I paid him the rent of the cabin.

‘Is the work going okay, Mr. Barber?’ he asked as he gave me the receipt.

For a second or so, I stared at him, not knowing what he meant, then I remembered and gave him a fatuous grin.

‘It’s going fine,’ I said. ‘I’ll need the cabin for one more night. Okay with you?’

‘Anything you say, Mr. Barber.’ He looked gloomily out of his office window. ‘I’ve never known such weather. It’s ruining me. Look at it!’

‘It’ll clear up tomorrow,’ I said. ‘Cheer up! I’ve just paid you rent, haven’t I?’

Leaving him, I returned to the cabin.

I hung around there until after two o’clock, then I ran through the rain to the snack bar across the way and had a sandwich lunch. When I got back to the cabin, I called Nina. I told her I didn’t know when I would be back.

‘The job’s fixed, Harry?’

‘The job’s fixed,’ I said. ‘From now on, I’m fixed too. From now on, we’ve nothing to worry about.’

I wished I really believed that. I had plenty to worry about.

‘That’s wonderful.’ The note in her voice made me feel more of a heel. ‘What did John want you for so urgently?’

‘I’ll tell you when I get back. I can’t talk on the telephone.’

‘I’ll be waiting for you, Harry.’

‘I’ll be back as soon as I can.’

At five minutes to three I called Renick.

There was a long delay before he came on the line.

‘Harry? You’re just in time.’ His voice boomed in my ear and he sounded excited. ‘We’ve found the car! You know Lone Bay parking lot? Meet me there as soon as you can make it. I’m on my way now.’

With my throat suddenly dry and my heart thumping, I told him I was coming.

II

A large red-faced cop stood near the white T.R.3. Renick and a couple of detectives I didn’t know were examining the car. It had stopped raining and the sun had come out.

As I came up, Renick said, ‘Look at this, Harry. This is a bit of luck for us — a bashed wing.’

The two detectives glanced at me as I joined Renick by the car.

‘Sure it’s hers?’ I said for something to say.

‘The number and licence tag check. It’s hers all right.’ Turning to the two detectives, he went on,

‘Check the car for prints and don’t move it. When you’re through, leave it as it is, and report back to me.’

Renick went on to me. ‘I’m calling on Malroux. You come with me. This bashed wing gives me the chance to talk to him. We’ll take your car. You can drop me off at headquarters after we have talked to him.’

I wished I could warn Rhea that we were coming, but there was no chance of that. It didn’t take us ten minutes to reach Malroux’s residence.

The house was hidden behind high walls. As we drove up to the massive wooden gates, a broad-shouldered man in a dove grey uniform came out of a nearby lodge and looked inquiringly at us.

‘Calling on Miss Malroux,’ Renick said.

The man shook his head.

‘She’s not in.’

‘Know where I can contact her?’

‘I don’t.’

‘Then I guess I’ll talk to Mr. Malroux.’

‘Not without an appointment.’

‘I’m Lieutenant Renick, City Police. It’s an official call.’

The man looked startled.

‘I guess that’s different. Stick around, Lieutenant.’ He went into the lodge. Through the window I saw him using a telephone. There was a delay, then he came out and opened the gates.

‘Go right ahead, Lieutenant.’

We drove up a sanded carriageway. On either side were lawns and flower beds. The massed effect of colour was impressive. We could see the house now. It was a low built Spanish styled house with terraces and an ornamental fountain. It looked what it was: the residence of one of the richest men in the world.

‘Pretty lush,’ Renick said as I parked the Packard on the tarmac apron beside the glittering Rolls.

‘How would you like to own a joint like this?’

‘I’d like it fine,’ I said, following him up the steps. By now I was really worked up. Everything depended on what Malroux said. I felt the fifty thousand dollars that was coming to me hung in balance.

The butler was waiting for us by the front door. He was a fat, elderly man with a supercilious stare.

‘Lieutenant Renick, City police,’ Renick said. ‘I want to speak to Mr. Malroux.’

‘If you will come this way.’

The butler led us across a patio where another fountain played, and out onto a large terrace that looked directly on the sea.

Rhea was in a lounging chair, leafing through a magazine. She was wearing sun goggles. She glanced up as we stepped onto the terrace.

A tall, thin man, very sun tanned, wearing a pair of white slacks and a blue and red sweat shirt sat in another lounging chair. This must be Malroux, I thought. He was handsome. His thick hair was steel grey. His steady blue eyes were very alive. It was impossible to believe that he was fatally ill.

‘Mr. Malroux?’ Renick said, pausing.

‘That’s right, Lieutenant. Sit down. What can I do for you?’ The voice was impersonal and quiet. The steady blue eyes didn’t encourage a spate of words.

‘This is Harry Barber,’ Renick said, waving to me. ‘He works with me.’ He didn’t sit down.

Malroux’s voice and expression gave him the hint he wasn’t wanted. ‘I hoped to see Miss Malroux. I hear she isn’t here, sir.’

‘That is right. What is it?’

‘I’m sorry to bother you with this, Mr. Malroux,’ Renick said in his smoothest manner, ‘but I’m investigating a hit and run case. Late last night a woman was knocked down and fatally injured and the driver of the car didn’t stop. We have been checking cars all day. We have found your daughter’s car in Lone Bay parking lot. The car has a badly damaged wing. We would like to know how the accident happened.’

I watched Malroux and I sweated. Would he tell Renick his daughter had been kidnapped? His face was expressionless. He regarded Renick thoughtfully and with no apparent interest.

‘If my daughter had knocked anyone down, she wouldn’t run away. She is staying with friends I believe. I don’t know who they are. Young people, these days, don’t tell their parents anything.’

I glanced at Rhea. She had gone back to leafing through her magazine. She appeared to be paying no attention to what was being said.

‘When will she return?’ Renick asked.

‘In a few days. When she does return, I will speak to her. I am quite sure she has nothing to do with this accident.’

‘Can you explain, sir, why her car should be left at Lone Bay parking lot?’

Malroux moved restlessly.

‘No. What my daughter does with her car is no concern of mine.’ He reached out and picked up a book that was lying on the table. ‘When my daughter returns, I will arrange for you to see her if it is still necessary. I am sure by then you will have traced the person responsible for the accident. I am satisfied my daughter has nothing to do with it. Good day to you, Lieutenant.’

‘Well, that’s that,’ Renick said as we walked back to the Packard. ‘He’s a cool old bird, isn’t he?’

I was feeling limp.

‘We don’t know for certain she has been kidnapped,’ I said. ‘He could have wanted that money for a business deal.’

Renick shook his head.

‘I don’t think so. Even a millionaire doesn’t make a bank manager open his bank on a Sunday unless it is a life and death matter. I’m willing to bet she’s been kidnapped. We’d better report to Meadows.’

The District Attorney was pacing his office and chewing a dead cigar when we walked in.

Renick told him about finding the car, about the bashed wing and of his interview with Malroux.

‘He’s not talking,’ he concluded. ‘I can’t say I blame him. Do you think we should put a call out for the girl?’

Meadows threw his cigar into the trash basket.

‘No. We’ll wait. I’m not sticking my neck out. Malroux’s got plenty of influence. If we move in now and make trouble for the girl, I’m the guy who’ll hear about it. We’ll wait.’

Renick shrugged.

‘Okay, sir.’ He turned to me. ‘Keep near a telephone, Harry. I may need you in a hurry. Are you going home?’

‘Yes. If I go out I’ll leave a telephone number with Nina where you can get me.’

‘Do that.’

I drove home.

Nina was working in the lounge on a garden pot. She put down her paint brush as I came in.

‘Darling… I’m so excited.’ She put her arms around me. ‘Is it going to be all right?’

I swung her up in my arms and sat down with her on my lap.

‘It’s going to be all right. I’m working again and it’s a job I’m going to like.’

She asked me why John had wanted me so urgently and on a Sunday. I told her about Malroux.

‘John thinks the girl has been kidnapped, but I’m not worrying my brains until we know for certain.

Personally, I think Malroux could have wanted the money for a big business deal.’ I steered the conversation away from Malroux by asking her if she still planned to go on with her art work now I had a steady job.

‘We can afford it if you want to drop it,’ I said.

‘I think I’ll go on. Anyway, until the end of the season.’

After dinner, I said I would go down to police headquarters to if there was any news.

‘I won’t be long. I think it’s an idea to show myself.’

I drove to the nearest drug store and called Odette.

‘It’s fixed for tomorrow night,’ I said. ‘It’s going to work. I want you to catch the eleven o’clock plane back here. When you arrive take the bus to the terminus. You’ll get there just after one. I’ll be waiting for you. I’ll take you to the cabin and leave you there. Then I’ll collect you-know-what and come back.’

She said she understood. Her voice sounded anxious.

‘You’re sure it is going to be all right?’

‘Yes… relax. I’ll see you at the bus terminus at one o’clock,’ and I hung up. I then called police headquarters. The desk sergeant told me Renick had gone home. I guessed nothing had happened, so I went home myself.

The next morning, soon after nine, I went down to the District Attorney’s office. It seemed odd to be starting a routine life again: odder to sit at a desk.

Renick’s secretary gave me a bunch of files. She said if I read through their contents, I would have a good picture of what was going on in the office. She said Renick would be in later in the day.

I started on the files. Renick came in soon after eleven. He sat on the edge of my desk and asked me how I liked the feel of work again.

‘I like it fine,’ I said. I waved my hand to the files. ‘This is right up my street. Any news of the Malroux girl?’

‘Nothing so far. I have a guy out at Lone Bay parking lot. If she turns up to take her car, he’ll call me.

There’s nothing else I can do until Malroux calls us in. The Federal boys and the State police are all standing by.’

‘If Malroux pays the ransom and the girl is returned, you may hear nothing further.’

‘These days kidnappers don’t usually return their victim. They are safer dead,’ Renick said grimly. ‘If she has been kidnapped, I’ll bet you he’ll call us in.’ He slid off the desk. ‘Well, I’ve work to do.

Anything you want — I’m right next door.’

When he had gone, I pushed aside the file I had been reading and lit a cigarette. By tomorrow morning, with any luck, I should be worth fifty thousand dollars. It was hard to believe. The money would be in small bills. I had already decided to rent a safe deposit and put the money there, drawing it from time to time, when I needed it. I would have to be careful. I couldn’t suddenly alter my standard of life. Later, I could give out that I had made a killing on the Stock Market, but I would have to wait at least a year or so, if not longer.

Just as I was thinking of going to lunch, my office door jerked open and Renick came in. The excited expression on his face told me something had happened, and my heart turned a somersault.

‘I think we’ve got a break!’ he said. ‘Come on down with me to police headquarters. I’ll tell you about it on the way.’ As we walked fast down the corridor to the elevator, he went on, ‘Talk about luck!

I was going through the routine police reports for Saturday night, and I turned up an item that could be something. A man was found unconscious in the car park at the Pirates’ Cabin. Do you know it?’

My mouth turned so dry, I couldn’t speak. I managed to give a grunt and nod.

‘This guy had a pretty bad head wound. The barman called a cop. He told the cop this fellow had followed a girl into the car park. He said he had an idea the girl was Odette Malroux.’

‘What makes him think that?’ I asked huskily.

‘She’s a well-known character in Palm City. Her photos are always appearing in the Press. He was pretty sure it was her. They’ve picked him up and he’s at headquarters now. I’ve got some photos of the girl with me. I’m hoping he will identify her.’

‘Is the other guy badly hurt?’

‘He’s taken a nasty bang on the head, but he’s all right. Who hit him? If this girl was Odette Malroux, what was she doing in a joint like the Pirates’ Cabin?’

‘Maybe it wasn’t her.’

‘We’ll soon see.’

Ten minutes later, we were in Sergeant Hammond’s office. With him was the barman of the Pirates’ Cabin. I recognised him as the man Odette had spoken to.

Renick showed him a selection of photographs of the girl.

‘That’s her,’ the barman said. ‘That’s her for sure.’

‘What time did she come in?’ Renick asked, looking significantly at me.

‘A little after nine o’clock. She looked around as if expecting someone, then she asked me if there was another bar. I told her no, and showed her where the restaurant was. She checked the restaurant, then started to leave. There was a guy with a load on: he wasn’t boiled, but he had had plenty. He grabbed hold of her arm as she passed him. She shook him off and went out. He followed her.’

‘Then what happened?’

‘About ten minutes later some guy comes in and says there’s a man lying in the car park. I went out and found this drunk. He was bleeding badly so I called a cop.’

‘Any cars leave the parking lot before he was found?’

‘A few minutes after the girl left I heard two cars start up and leave. One of them was a high powered sports car: I could tell that by the noise it made.’

‘And the other one?’

‘Just a car.’

‘So the girl came into the bar as if expecting to meet someone and then she left?’

‘That’s correct.’

‘How was the girl dressed?’

The barman gave a pretty good description of the clothes Odette had worn that night and Sergeant Hammond jotted down the description.

When the barman had gone, Renick said, ‘I guess we’ll call on this guy in hospital. What’s his name, Sergeant?’

‘Walter Kerby.’

We found Walter Kerby lying in bed, his head in bandages and looking pretty sorry for himself. He admitted right away that he had been drunk on Saturday night.

‘I saw this dish,’ he said, ‘and I thought she was a push over. No decent girl goes to that joint. She turned snooty, but I thought it was the old come-on so I went out into the parking lot after her. I guess I was wrong about her. I was fooling around with her and she didn’t like it. Then all of a sudden, some guy comes out of the darkness and clubs me over the head. That’s all I know about it.’

‘What was he like?’ Renick asked.

I was standing on the other side of the bed and I was scared Kerby would hear my heart beats.

‘He was a big guy. I wouldn’t recognise him again, I never did see his face. It was dark, and he was fast. I didn’t stand a chance.’

On the way back to the office, Renick said, ‘Why did she go to the Pirates’ Cabin? She had a date with her girl friend to go to the movies. They were to meet at nine o’clock, but just after nine she arrives at this joint. What made her change her mind?’

‘Could be she had a telephone call.’

‘Yeah. That could be the answer. Was she kidnapped at this joint? I’m going to get a check on Kerby.

He could have been connected with the kidnapping although I don’t think so. I’ll get O’Reilly to see if he can find out if she did have a telephone call before she left home.’

It wasn’t until five o’clock that Renick got the information he wanted. He came into my office and sat on my desk.

‘At a quarter to nine, just before the girl was leaving for the movies, she did get a call,’ he told me. ‘It was from a friend of hers: Jerry Williams. I’ve checked on Williams. He’s a student at the College of Medicine. The girl and he go out together occasionally. He mixes in her set. We’ve got nothing against him. I’ve talked to Meadows. He’s against questioning Williams. I guess we’ll just have to wait for something to happen.’

‘Want me to stick around?’

Renick shook his head.

‘If I want you in a hurry, I can always reach you at your home.’

‘I have a date tonight,’ I said. ‘I could be late.’

‘That’s okay, Harry. You keep your date. If I want you, I’ll send a call out for you. Where will you be?’

I had anticipated this, and I was ready for him.

‘At the Casino restaurant. I’ll be leaving there about one. You can get me at home after two.’

After he had gone, I telephoned Nina.

‘I’m going to be late,’ I told her. ‘This thing I told you about is developing. I shall be moving around.

I told John if he wants me after two, I’ll be home.’

Then leaving the office, I drove down to the beach cabin to wait.