Mission To Siena

Chapter X

WILLIE

Don looked ruefully at the five cigarettes in his case and decided to resist the temptation and keep them for a more pressing occasion.

He was sitting on the straw-covered floor, his back against the wall of the cave, the steel bracelet and chain attached to his ankle. It was close on half-past three in the afternoon. Since Felix had "come into the cave some three hours ago, no one had been near him. Felix had come for the letter to Don's New York banker. He was surprised when Don had written the letter without protest. But by writing the letter, Don reckoned on gaining at least four days in which to organize his escape, and he knew he would need those four days. Although the police had failed to find him, he was sure Harry wouldn't give up, and if it were possible to break into this fortress Harry would do it, but it was bound to take time. When Marian got the letter to the bank, she would know that he was alive, and he hoped she wouldn't be influenced by the unsuccessful search made by the police.

Don had no intention of paying the ransom. He had no illusions about Alsconi. He was sure Alsconi wouldn't be content with five hundred thousand dollars nor would he release him. It was a comforting thought to know that Harry would be doing his best for him, but Don knew the difficulties, and he didn't intend to rely on Harry's efforts. If he were to get out of his underground prison, he would have to rely largely on himself.

He regarded the bracelet around his ankle with disgust. Without some tool there was no way of tackling the lock. He had already tried to lever the staple to which the chain was fastened out of the wall without success.

He was considering the problem, wondering if the next time they brought him food he couldn't break off one of the prongs of the fork and use that to pick the lock when he saw a light coming down the tunnel.

He was startled to see Lorelli come out of the shadows into the pool of light in which he was sitting.

Lorelli was agitated. Her face was pale and her eyes showed the fear that gripped her.

She came over to him and dropped on her knees beside him. "I've talked to your secretary," she said in a breathless whisper. "I've told her I would get you out of here. In return I want two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Your secretary has promised me this sum, but you have to pay it, and I want your promise too."

Don saw the fear in her eyes and realized at once that she meant what she said.

"That's quite a chunk of money," he said. "Why this, sudden change of heart?" I

"I've had enough of them. I want to break away. I must have money to be safe," she said. "They won't ever let you free.

They intend to get all your money and then murder you. I can help you escape, but you must give me your word that you will pay me two hundred and fifty thousand dollars when you are free."

"That's fair enough," Don said. "You won't get the money unless I am free so I'll give you my word. It's a promise!"

"You mean that?"

"I've told you - it's a promise. How are you going to get me out?"

"I'm working on a plan now. All the doors here are electrically controlled. The passages can be flooded. There's a control room that is guarded night and day. Before you can hope to get out of here you will have to overpower the man in charge. It'll be easier to escape during the night. Everyone will be asleep except Carlos who is in charge of the control room at night."

Don grimaced.

"You mean I'll have to overpower him?"

Lorelli nodded.

"Can you get me a gun?" Don asked.

"I think so. I'll try."

"Do more than try. Without a gun, I don't think I'm going to have a great deal of success with Carlos. What about this?"

He tapped the bracelet around his ankle.

"I could get you a file."

"I'd rather have a hair-pin," Don said and grinned. "Have you got one?"

Her hand went up to her red-gold hair and she found a hairpin which she gave to him. Then she got to her feet.

"I'll come again," she said. "I'll try to get a gun for you, but it won't be easy. If I have to I'll let you have mine." She looked down at him. "I'm trusting you to give me the money when I get you out."

"I'm not out yet," Don said, "but if I do get out, you'll have the money. Don't fool yourself, will you? The police want you. There's nothing I can do about that."

"I'm not worrying about them."

"Where is the control room?"

"Opposite Englemann's surgery. You've been there, haven't you?"

"Yes. Try to get the gun. Carlos will take a lot of stopping."

"I'll do what I can."

She went away quickly, and after a moment or so, Don lost sight of her torch down the tunnel.

He decided the occasion justified a cigarette and he lit one, drawing the smoke deep into his lungs. He felt his future now was a lot more secure. He didn't waste time to wonder what lay behind Lorelli's sudden desire to get away. That was something he could think about later. He settled down to work on the lock with the hair-pin she had given him. It took him a half an hour of patient fiddling before the lock turned, and the bracelet dropped off his ankle. It was a snap lock, and he-could fasten the bracelet back on to his ankle again in a matter of seconds. He was about to stand up and savour his freedom when he spotted a light coming down the tunnel and he hurriedly replaced the bracelet and slid the hair-pin under his watch strap.

Dr Englemann came out of the shadows. He lurched slightly as he walked and his lined bitter face was pallid. As he came into the light, Don could see the sweat beads on his forehead.

"Hello," Don said, "What do you want?"

Englemann looked down at him, his deep-set eyes glittering.

"There seems a possibility, Mr Micklem," he said, his words slurred, "that you may be placed at my disposal for a certain experiment. Of course the matter isn't entirely settled, but it would help me if you wouldn't object to a few preliminary tests some time this evening. I would like a specimen of your blood and your pulse rate. I would also like to examine your eyes."

"Sorry to disappoint you," Don said curtly, "but I object strongly. It is only fair to warn you that if you come within reach of me I shall take great pleasure in strangling you."

Englemann's face hardened, but he took a step back. "I am anxious not to lose time. My experiment is of the utmost importance, but if you won't co-operate, then I must wait until I have permission to force you to co-operate."

"You're going to have a long wait. I intend to pay the ransom."

"I think not," Englemann said. "I told il signor Alsconi that you are merely trying to gain time. I know your type. You are not the kind of man who can be forced to do something against your will."

"Then you had better tell Alsconi you have made a mistake," Don said. "I'm not at all anxious to be a subject of one of your experiments."

"Signor Alsconi did tell you what I am attempting to do?" Englemann said. His hands moved unsteadily to his coat lapels and anchored there. "You realize the importance of the experiment?"

"He told me," Don said. "He also mentioned that you would probably be tight when you did the operation and it would be certain to fail."

Englemann looked at him; his eyes seemed to catch fire. "I shall take great pleasure in having you on the operating table, Mr Micklem," he said. 'JLdon't think I shall have to wait very long."

He turned and walked away, steadying himself, his hand on the wall of the tunnel.

Don watched him go. He was annoyed to find his heart was thumping and his mouth had turned dry.

Willie sat under the shady tree where he could watch the entrance to the Trioni villa. He was in such a state of nerves and excitement that sweat ran down his face as if a sponge of water had been squeezed over him.

He felt something should be done immediately about Lorelli's treachery. His first inclination was to bolt back to Felix and tell him what he had overheard, but Felix had told him to watch the villa until Jacopo relieved him, and this put him in a quandary. Felix expected his orders to be obeyed, and if Willie deserted his post, he could run into trouble. He reluctantly decided to wait for Jacopo and then report to Felix.

Then into Willie's cunning and easily frightened mind, there dropped an unpleasant thought: Lorelli was Felix's girl.

How was Felix going to react when he heard she was selling them out? Suppose he didn't believe what Willie had to tell him? Felix had a reputation of being quick with his fists, and often, before he struck a blow, he had been known to slip on a leather glove, covered with brass studs. Willie had seen a man's teeth broken by a punch from that glove, and he flinched at the recollection. But surely, he reasoned, Felix wouldn't be such a mug as not to believe him? He wouldn't want two million pounds to walk out on him and the cops to walk in. Surely he couldn't be so besotted with Lorelli that he would let her get away with this? But he would have to be careful how he broke the news to Felix. Maybe he had better keep his gun handy. If Felix looked like starting trouble, he would show him the gun.

But what was he personally going to get out of this? Willie asked himself. Would it be a smarter idea to put the bite on Lorelli? He could keep track of her until she got the money, then move in and demand half: a hundred and twenty-five thousand bucks. His face lit up at the thought. But after thinking this idea over, he realized that he hadn't the nerve to go through with it. Alsconi would go after Lorelli, and he would eventually catch her. Willie knew enough of Alsconi's methods not to know how long his arm was. No one had quit the organization and got away with it. If he took money from Lorelli he would be putting himself in bad with Alsconi, and he wasn't all that soft in the head.

After wrestling with the problem for some minutes, he came to the conclusion that the safest way to play the hand was to tell Felix, and rely on Felix to do the right thing by him. He'd ask Felix to get him a bonus: that was the least he deserved.

It was a pity about Lorelli. She was almost certain to be handed over to Englemann. Willie grimaced at the thought. But it was her own funeral. She was asking for trouble, and she would certainly get it.

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.

But he wouldn't have felt so secure if he had known that at that moment Alsconi was talking to Crantor who sat in his hotel bedroom straining to hear Alsconi's voice that came to him over the crackling telephone line.

"I want you to fly out here at once," Alsconi said. "Take route 3 and bring the goods with you. You know what I mean?"

"Yes," Crantor said, scarcely believing his ears. This was the first time he had heard Alsconi's voice. It was a big moment for him.

"Be here by midnight tonight," Alsconi went on. "I am making changes here. I may find a better job for you."

"I'll be there," Crantor said, his nightmare of a face lighting up.

"Good," Alsconi said and replaced the receiver. He reached for the house telephone. "Carlos? Who is down there with you?"

"There's Menotto, Mr Felix and Miss Lorelli," Carlos said. "Jacopo has gone to get Willie."

"Send Menotto to me, then turn the current off," Alsconi said. "No one is to leave. Do you understand? Let me know if anyone does try to leave."

"Yes, boss," Carlos said; the surprise in his voice made Alsconi grin evilly.

A faint sound behind him as he sat with his back to the tree, made Willie's hand fly to the inside of his coat and jerk out his .38. He rolled over, bringing the gun into a firing position.

Jacopo who had come out from behind the shrubs came to an abrupt standstill.

"That's the way numbskulls get shot," Willie snarled. "Why didn't you call out, you dimwit?"

" I didn't see you," Jacopo said, moving forward again. "What's the matter with you -jumpy?"

Willie slid the gun back into its holster that was strapped under his armpit. He got to his feet.

"Nothing's the matter with me. You taking over now? You're early for a change, aren't you?"

"The old man wants you," Jacopo said; his eyes showed his curiosity. "Rather you than me. What have you been up to?"

Willie stared at him, his thin, rat-like face questioning. "You mean Alsconi wants me?"

"Who else? You'd better get moving. He said he wanted to see you at once, and he's waiting."

Willie wiped his sweating face with his dirty handkerchief. He had only spoken to Alsconi once in two years.

Excitement and fear jostled his mind. Here was his chance to get his bonus. He wouldn't have to rely on Felix. He could give Alsconi the dope about Lorelli direct. He felt a twinge of fear. But what did the old man want him for? Had he done something wrong?

Jacopo, who took a pride in his appearance, regarded Willie with contempt and disgust. Willie hadn't shaved that morning. His shirt was filthy and his shabby black suit was stained and creased.

"You'd better clean up before you see him," he said. "You look like a tramp."

"Never mind what I look like," Willie snarled. "Did he say what he wanted me for?"

"Is it likely; but you can guess, can't you? He wants to kick your teeth in for doing nothing for the past months," Jacopo said. "Or maybe Englemann's persuaded him to let him have you."

Willie cursed him.

"You'd better not keep him waiting," Jacopo said, grinning. "He said at once and that means at once."

"I'm not scared of him," Willie said untruthfully. "I've got something to tell him that'll get me a sack of dough. You'll stop grinning like an ape when you see the car I'm going to buy."

"Got a touch of the sun?" Jacopo asked blankly.

"You wait and see," Willie said darkly. "I keep my eyes and ears open. I've got information that the old man will pay big money for."

"What information?" Jacopo demanded.

"He'll tell you if he wants you to know," Willie said. "Where's the car?"

"Down the lane. What have you got to tell him?"

"Go jump in a lake," Willie said and set off at a run through the trees.

For the first time in his life Willie did not obey an order, and it was to prove fatal to him. Jacopo had said that Alsconi wanted to see him at once. Willie was anxious to make a good impression on Alsconi. He decided to sneak back to his room, have a shave and a wash and put on his best suit. The old man wouldn't know he had spent ten minutes sprucing himself up before reporting to him, and the effect of his new suit might have good results, Willie told himself.

He left the Citroen at the bottom of the drive and made his way through the shrubbery to the back entrance of the palazza. He entered the underground quarters by the concealed door a few seconds before Carlos threw the switch that put the door out of operation. Unaware that the exit was now sealed off, Willie scuttled quickly along the corridor to his room. He was opening the door when Felix appeared.

"The old man wants you," Felix said. "Have you seen him?" "Not yet," Willie said uneasily. "Thought I'd have a wash first. What's up?"

"You'd better get a jerk into it. He wants to see you right away." "I can't go looking like this," Willie whined. "What's he want?"

Felix crowded him into the small, fusty room Willie regarded as his home.

"Nothing to get excited about," Felix said, grimacing at the smell in the room. "It smells like a pig-sty in here."

"I can't smell anything," Willie said, stripping off his coat. He hung his gun holster over the back of a chair, then pulled off his shirt. He ran hot water into the toilet basin. "I'm not in trouble, am I?" He looked anxiously over his skinny shoulder at Felix.

"No. He only wants to know what happened at the villa when Lorelli delivered the letter."

Willie stiffened and the cake of soap slipped out of his hand. The old man was smart, he thought, as he bent to pick up the soap; nothing seemed to escape him.

Felix watching him, saw his start, saw the startled look on his rat-like face and suddenly felt an ice-cold chill creep up his spine.

"You saw Lorelli?" he said, making his voice sound casual.

"I saw and heard her," Willie said and tried unsuccessfully to conceal a leer. He splashed his face with water, and began to lather his prickly stubble.

"She didn't see you?"

"No." Willie hesitated. He was undecided whether to tell Felix what he had overheard. He didn't want to make an enemy of Felix. He would have to work with him long after Lorelli was forgotten, and Felix wouldn't be pleased if Willie told Alsconi the news without first telling him. It wasn't as if Felix could now stop him tilling the old man.

Alsconi was waiting for him, and that would be more than Felix dared do. And since the old man was waiting for him, Felix wouldn't dare get tough with him either. He decided to tell Felix. Two moments of sensation were better than one, he reasoned. In his position of safety he was tempted to see Felix's face when he heard his girl was selling him out. "If she had seen me," he said and leered, "she wouldn't be here now."

Felix's reaction was so quick Willie hadn't a chance to grab his gun. He found himself caught by his throat and slammed against the wall.

"What the hell do you mean?" Felix snarled, his face livid with rage and fear.

Willie caught hold of Felix's wrists and tried to lever his hands from his throat. His grotesque face covered with white lather turned purple as the steely fingers sank into his windpipe. Felix shook him, then slackened his grip.

"What do you mean?" he repeated.

Willie drew in a long, shuddering breath.

"Let go of me!" he gasped. "I'll tell the boss. Get away from me!"

Felix slapped his face very hard with his open hand. The lather flew in an explosion of wet whiteness and splashed the wall.

"Why shouldn't she be here?" he demanded. "Come on; spill it before I knock your teeth down your throat."

"She's double-crossed us," Willie panted, tears of pain starting from his eyes. "She's sold us out."

Felix lifted his clenched fist, then stopped. His face had turned the colour of snow.

"You lying rat!" he said viciously.

"I heard her," Willie gasped, trying to grind himself into the wall to get away from Felix. "She said she wanted to quit the organization. She wanted money. She said she would get Micklem out for two hundred and fifty grand."

Felix remembered what Lorelli had said: You and I have to get out of this racket before it's too late. Sooner or later the police are going to get on to us. We've got to get out!

The crazy little fool! She was committing suicide.

He stepped away from Willie.

"You heard her say that?"

Willie put his hand to his face and wiped off the lather.

"Yes. You've got no right to hit me..."

"Shut up!" Felix snapped. "Let's have it. Every scrap of it."

Willie told him how he had seen Lorelli enter the villa and how he had gone after her in case she ran into trouble.

"I did what you told me," he said, his voice snivelling. "There were three of them in the room: the guy who got away the other night, a fat old bloke they called Cherry and this girl Rigby. She said she would go to New York right away.

Then Lorelli said she was going to tell them something she wasn't supposed to tell them. She said Micklem would never be released and we were after all his dough. She said if they promised to pay her two hundred and fifty grand, she would get him out."

"Did they agree?" Felix asked.

"Of course they did, but it's my bet she'll never see the dough. She said she would work out a plan how to get him out.

She's going to see them again Thursday night. She's going to show them where the alarms are and tell them about the guards."

Felix leaned forward. There was sweat on his face.

"Listen, Willie, if you're lying, I'll kill you," he said in a low vicious voice.

Willie flinched and cringed back.

"I'm giving it to you straight'," he whined.

Felix took out his handkerchief and wiped his face.

"What are they going to do - tell the police?"

"No. Lorelli made them promise to keep the police out of it."

Felix moved away from Willie.

"You haven't told anyone about this?" he asked.

"No," Willie said.

"You didn't tell Jacopo?"

"Of course I didn't. It's not his business." Willie began to feel a little more sure of himself now that Felix seemed to have got over the shock. He picked up his safety razor and began to scrape the stubble off his chin. "The old man ought to be pleased when I tell him. I'm going to ask him for a raise. He ought to come across."

Felix scarcely heard him. This was the end of Lorelli, he thought. Alsconi would hand her over to Englemann. The thought turned him sick. He suddenly realized just how much Lorelli meant to him; the realization came as a shock.

This might be his end too. Alsconi might not believe he hadn't anything to do with it. He might even think he had put Lorelli up to asking for the money. Fie glanced over at Willie who was now washing his face. There was nothing he could offer Willie that would make him hold his tongue. He knew that. Willie was a rat, and he'd be mad to trust him.

He would take everything he was offered, and still go to Alsconi. If he was to save Lorelli, Willie had to be fixed, and he was suddenly determined to save her.

As Willie began to diy his face on a grubby towel, he said, "What do you think will happen to her? Think Englemann will work on her?"

Felix shrugged.

"I don't know," he said, forcing his voice to sound harsh, "and I don't care. She's asked for it and she'll get it."

Willie nodded.

"That's the way I figured it," he said. "It's nothing to do with me what happens to her. Think I could ask the old man for a bonus?" He opened a drawer and took out a clean shirt. "There's a car I saw in Florence the other week. If the old man shells out, I might be able to buy it."

"He'll give you something," Felix said and wandered over to where Willie's gun was hanging. He got between Willie and the gun. "Don't press him. If he doesn't offer you anything, I'll have a word with him."

Willie's face brightened.

"You will? That's fine. It's time I had a bit more money. I work hard enough for what I get."

Felix's hand went behind him, his fingers closed around the butt of Willie's gun and gently eased it out of the holster. He let the gun slip through his fingers until he was holding it by its barrel.

"You'd better hurry," he said. "The old man won't give you anything if you keep him waiting much longer."

Willie shook the shirt out of its folds and slipped into it.

"Yes," he said. "I've been too long already."

He turned to the mirror and began to comb his thin, greasy hair. He saw in the mirror Felix had moved forward. Their eyes met in the reflection of the mirror. The expression he saw on Felix's face suddenly turned him cold. He saw Felix's hand flash up. He opened his mouth to shout, but he knew he had left it too late. Then the butt of the gun smashed down on the top of his head and he fell limply forward, bouncing against the toilet basin. His dying body slid to the floor.