My Laugh Comes Last

Chapter Five

As I walked into the outer office on Monday morning, my secretary, Mary Oldham, at her desk, looked up.

‘Good morning, Mr. Lucas.’

‘Hi, Mary! What’s the mail like?’

‘Lots of it. It’s on your desk.’ A pause, then she said, ‘That’s a terrible thing about Sheriff Thomson, isn’t it?’

I stopped as if I had walked into a brick wall.

‘Thomson?’ I turned and stared at her. ‘What happened?

‘It was on the radio, Mr. Lucas. Didn’t you catch it?’

‘What happened?’ I was aware my voice was shrill.

‘Late last night: a hit-and-run driver. The poor man was walking to his car when this car deliberately hit him. Three people say they saw the car mount the sidewalk. Sheriff Thomson hadn’t a chance.’

The Siberian wind blew over me.

‘Is he — is he dead?’

‘He’s very bad. He’s in hospital. They say he is m a serious condition.’

I heard Klaus’s dry voice saying: Never mind about the sheriff. I have already anticipated trouble from him, and I will take care of him.

So he had taken care of him. I stood there, feeling the blood leaving my face, then pulling myself together, I mumbled I was sorry and walked into my office. I sat down at my desk. I hadn’t time even to think before Bill Dixon breezed in.

‘I’m off to ‘Frisco, Larry,’ he said, and put a pile of papers on my desk. ‘More work for you. Lowson wants us to equip them with their office furniture. It’s the usual rush job. The details are all here.’ He looked at me. ‘Did Brannigan give us credit?’

‘I didn’t get around to seeing him again,’ I said, ‘but he will. Don’t worry about that.’

He grinned.

‘That’s your worry.’ He looked at his watch. ‘I must get off. Tough about Thomson. I liked the guy. He was a dedicated cop.’

I turned ice cold.

‘Have you more news? I heard he was knocked down.’

‘Heard it on the radio as I drove in,’ Bill said. ‘He died half an hour ago. What kills me is that three jerks actually saw this driver run him down, and none of them got his licence number nor even a description of the car. Some goddamn drunk. Thomson really had crime under control here. Maclain, his deputy, is less than useless. Well, I’m off. See you, Larry,’ and he left.

I sat still, staring into space.

I’ll take care of him.

First Marsh, now Thomson. Two men dead to achieve a vicious revenge. I remembered what Glenda had said: He is a devil. I also remembered that both she and I were equally in the shadow of a violent end.

Then the telephone bell rang, and from then on, I was caught up for the rest of the day in non-stop work.

At 18.00, our small factory at the back of the office block closed for the day. Having cleared my desk, I went down and walked into the big room that housed our setup for repairs, for experiments and for new machines. My three engineers were on the point of leaving. Frank Dodge, my chief engineer, looked inquiringly at me.

‘Something special, Mr. Lucas?’ he asked. ‘I’m in no hurry. Something I can do?’

‘It’s okay, Frank. I just want to work out an idea. You get off.’

When they had gone, I sat down at the bench. I worked until midnight on a gimmick that would unscramble the direct telephone line from the Los Angeles bank to the Sharnville bank. When I had finished, I knew all I had to do was to connect this gimmick with the telephone in Manson’s office, and I could open the three locks of the vault.

Taking the gimmick with me, I returned to my apartment. By now I had got over the shock of Thomson’s death. He had been dangerous, and I had had the feeling he had been hostile to me. Deputy Sheriff Fred Maclain would take his place until the next election. I didn’t have to worry about him. He was a big, grossly fat drunk who was good for nothing except bawling out traffic offenders. He could no more cope with a bank break-in than a six-year-old child.

But the red light was up. I knew now that Klaus was utterly ruthless, and nothing would stop him cutting Brannigan down to size. I was sure he would have me murdered if I failed to get his men into the vault. I also felt sure he now wouldn’t go ahead with his blackmail threat. I had alerted him that if I were arrested for Marsh’s murder, I would talk, and he was more than aware of Brannigan’s power. Having discarded this blackmail threat to make me co-operate, he would now switch threats, and kill Glenda and me if I didn’t get his men into the vault.

The next two days passed quickly. I had so much to do in the office, I hadn’t time to think of Klaus, but, at night, when I was alone, I thought and planned, and by the third morning, I had a watertight plan for not only getting Klaus’s men into the vault, but for them to get away with the loot. I also made other plans to take care of Glenda and myself.

During these three days, there was a tremendous uproar in the local press about Sheriff Thomson’s death. The editor said it was shameful, and what were the police doing about it? Even the Mayor joined in. The paper carried a photo of Deputy Sheriff Maclain’s fat, bloated face. He declared the police of Sharnville would never rest until they found this drunk driver. No one killed a fine man like Sheriff Thomson and got away with it... just words that meant nothing.

Thomson’s funeral was attended by more than two thousand people. Every leading citizen, including Dixon and myself, was there. It was an experience I will never forget. There was a long queue of important people to shake Mrs. Thomson’s hand and mutter condolences. I couldn’t face that. I told Dixon to represent us, and I moved out of the queue. He gave me an odd look, began to say I should do it, but I walked away.

That night, at 21.00, there was a ring on my doorbell. I had been waiting. I picked up my brief-case, opened the door and found Joe, waiting by the elevator. We rode down together, and got in the Chevy. I put my brief-case between us.

‘So we’re going into action, Mr. Lucas?’ he said, as he started the engine. ‘You’ve got it all fixed?’

‘I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t,’ I said.

‘Yeah, man. Soon we’ll all be on the gravy train. Man! Does this mean something to me! I’ve got a girl waiting. Me and she’ll take off. I’ve got it all figured out. We’re going to be in the gravy for the rest of our days!’

‘Did Benny kill the sheriff?’

He nodded.

‘He sure did. Now, I don’t dig Benny, but he sure does a job. That sonofabitch sheriff was like a boil on my arse. You know something, Mr. Lucas? I was driving along, nice and quiet, when this sonofabitch flagged me down. He wanted to know what I was doing in Sharnville. I smelt he hated black people. I told him I was passing through, and he said for me to keep passing.’ Joe giggled. ‘He was too smart. When a creep gets too smart, Mr. Klaus fixes him, and that sonofabitch was sure fixed.’ There was a pause, then he went on, ‘You’ve really got this operation fixed, Mr. Lucas?’

‘Yes, but it could still go wrong. You could still get twenty years, but that’s your funeral.’

‘Yeah, man.’ He gave a short barking laugh, ‘but it sure would be your funeral too.’ He drove the car out of the town traffic and on to the highway. ‘The boss says there will be three million bucks in that vault. I can’t sleep thinking of all that bread.’

This gave me the chance I was waiting for.

‘What makes you think you’re going to get any bread at all, Joe?’ I asked.

I could see his black face in the light from the dashboard. The muscles under his skin tightened.

‘What was that again, Mr. Lucas?’

‘I was just thinking aloud, forget it.’

‘What was that about me not getting my share?’ There was a sudden snarl in his voice.

‘Forget it. If you’re lucky, you’ll get it... if you’re lucky.’

He drove in silence for some moments. I lit a cigarette. I hadn’t spent the past nights, thinking and planning, for nothing.

Finally, he said anxiously, ‘What you mean — lucky?’

‘Are you lucky, Joe?’

He thought about this, his face worried.

‘Lucky? I guess not. I’ve never been lucky. I’ve spent most of my life in jail. I get all the dirty work to do for the boss. No, I guess I ain’t lucky.’

‘Three million dollars!’ I released a low whistle. ‘That’s a heap of money. I don’t know what they have promised you, Joe. Maybe half a million. That’s a lot of money for a black boy, but you could be lucky.’

He slowed the car and pulled into a lay-bay. He turned and glared at me.

‘What are you getting at?’ he demanded, alarm in his voice.

‘Just stating a fact, Joe. That’s a lot of money. What s to stop Benny putting a bullet through your head once he has the loot?’

He stared at me: the whites of his eyes enormous: his thick lips twitching.

‘Harry wouldn’t let him! What are you getting at?’

‘Just warning you, Joe. I’ll tell you something. I’m worried about Benny. He’s a killer. I’ve got this operation fixed, but I am getting paid in advance. I’m covered, but you aren’t. Now, think, Joe: can you imagine a killer like Benny would let a black boy walk away with five hundred thousand dollars? Ask yourself.’

Sweat broke out on his face.

‘Harry will look after me.’ He banged his big fists down on the steering wheel. ‘I trust Harry.’

‘That’s fine, but it’s news to me. I didn’t know any black man could trust any white man when there’s big money around. If you can trust Harry to take care of you, then you’ve nothing to worry about. I was only thinking aloud. Come on, let’s get moving.’

He wiped his sweating face with the back of his hand.

‘Are you trying to con me, Mr. Lucas?’

‘It’s a lot of money. Think about it. If you can really trust Harry, you have no problem... a little luck perhaps. Let’s go... your boss is waiting.’

‘If Benny tries anything with me,’ he muttered ‘I’ll fix him.’

I had sown a seed of doubt in his mind, and that’s what I wanted to do,

‘Sure, but watch him, Joe. When you three get the loot, don’t turn your back on him. Now, let’s go.’

He sat for a long moment, muttering to himself, then he started the car and drove back on to the highway. I didn’t want further talk, so I pressed down the cassette, and the car rocked with beat music.

Harry was at the gate. He waved to me as Joe drove by, I lifted my hand. I would now have to work on Harry. He was a very different proposition to Joe, but I had worked that out too.

As I got out of the car, Benny met me at the front door.

‘Hi, fink,’ he said. ‘The boss is waiting.’

I looked him over, knowing he was the danger. There was a leering expression on his brutal face. I knew I could do nothing with him. I walked by him and into the living-room.

Klaus was sitting at his desk, his small brown hands resting on the blotter.

‘Come in, Mr. Lucas, and sit down.’

As I sat down, Harry came in and moved over to a distant chair.

I twisted around and looked at him. I wondered about him. He was an unknown factor. He looked tough and cocky as he scratched his beard, but he hadn’t Benny’s brutal viciousness.

‘This is Harry Brett,’ Klaus said. ‘From now on, Mr. Lucas, you and he will work together. You will tell him what you want, and he will arrange it.’ He leaned back in his chair. ‘I take it you can tell me how to break into the vault and how to get the money out?’

I stared at him.

‘Did you have to murder Sheriff Thomson?’

His hands turned into fists and his slate-grey eyes lit up with that maniacal glare.

‘Let that be an example to you,’ he snarled. ‘When anyone obstructs or is likely to obstruct me, I get rid of him. Remember that! Now answer my question: can you tell me how to break into the vault and get the money out?’

‘I can, but on my terms.’

‘We have gone into that already.’ There was a snap in his voice. ‘That we will discuss later.’

I glanced at Harry who was listening intently.

‘You are forcing me to betray a trust,’ I said. You are blackmailing me for a murder I didn’t commit. The evidence you have against me could put me in jail for years, and you know it is faked evidence. I have a trump card. I could tell Brannigan, and he would come after you, and make no mistake about it, he would nail you. Unless you meet my terms, I am prepared to stand trial, and I know you will also land in jail. I want advance payment if I tell you how to break into the vault.’

‘We have gone into this before,’ Klaus said impatiently. ‘I will pay you as arranged if you can convince me we can break into the vault and get the money away.’

‘We?’ I shook my head. ‘I don’t imagine you will participate. You will be sitting here in safety while your people take the risks.’

Klaus glared at me.

‘What risks?’

‘The unexpected. If the unexpected happens, your people will go away for twenty years.’

I saw Harry shift uneasily.

Leaning forward, his face a snarling mask, Klaus said, ‘And you and your woman will be dead as Marsh and Thomson are dead!’

Looking at him, I now was sure he was mentally unbalanced: he was a psychopath, and I felt a chill crawl up my spine.

‘Then let us hope the unexpected doesn’t happen,’ I said, trying to keep my voice steady. I reached down and picked up my brief-case I had brought with me.

Moving with the quickness of a lizard, Harry was by my side. He snatched the brief-case from me, put it on the desk, flicked up the catches and opened it. A brief glance at its contents satisfied him. He nodded to Klaus, then returned to his chair.

I guessed he might have thought I had brought a gun with me or it might have been a show of efficiency to impress Klaus. Whatever it was, by his lightning movement, I was warned that this man must not be underestimated.

From the brief-case, I took the gimmick I had made and two photoelectric neutralizes and the blue print of the bank.

I spread the blueprint on the desk.

‘Here is the entrance to the bank. Double doors are operated by a photoelectric cell. It is a unique cell with a neutralizer only held by Manson, the head teller and myself. There is no security risk. If someone got hold of the neutralizer, he would only be able to enter ‘he lobby of the bank. He couldn’t get into the vault nor get up to the second floor where the staff is. This neutralizer will get your men into the lobby. Getting in has to be timed right when the guard is patrolling. The doors slide back, your men rush in and the doors will automatically close. It shouldn’t take them more than thirty seconds. They will have to bring with them a small oxyacetylene cutter to get into the deposit boxes. There will be no problem burning out the locks. It’ll take time, but a cutter will do it. The problem, of course, is getting into the vault.’ I pointed to the blueprint. ‘Here is Manson’s office. There are three scanners covering the lobby. Each is activated to take photographs if a beam is broken. Here is the beam,’ and I drew a pencil line across the lobby. ‘By crawling on hands and knees, your men can reach the elevator without activating the scanner. Using this second neutralize they can operate the elevator and get into Manson’s office on the second floor.’ I picked up the gimmick I had made. ‘On Manson’s desk is a red telephone. The lead wires must be cut and stripped, then joined with these two wires here,’ and I showed him the two loose wires on the gimmick. ‘Then using the dial on the red telephone, four numbers must be dialled. The numbers are 2-4-6-8. These numbers will release three of the vault’s locks. Then using the cassette of Manson’s voice, the other three locks will be released and the vault door opens. The cassette is in a spring-opening panel behind Manson’s desk. It is up to your people how fast they break into the deposit boxes. Assuming they enter the bank around 02.00 on Saturday morning, they should have cleared the boxes by the evening.’ I paused and looked at Klaus. ‘Any questions so far?’

Klaus looked at Harry who shook his head.

‘You and Harry will work out the details later,’ Klaus said. ‘Now tell me how to get the money out.’

‘At first, this seemed to me a major problem, but I’ve got it fixed. There are some four hundred deposit boxes in the vault. Not all of them are in use, but to make sure, your people will have to open them all. Those that are in use will contain money, jewellery, bonds and documents. You must have cartons in which to move the loot. It takes the guard around three minutes to patrol the bank before returning to his sentry-box by the bank’s entrance. So your people will have to rush in, not only with the cutter, but a number of collapsible cartons. The change of guards takes place on Sunday morning at 08.00. This is when the loot must be moved. It is an acceptable risk because there are few people on the street, and the guards will be chatting each other up in front of the bank. At exactly 07.55, a security truck will arrive at the back of the bank. Every Monday morning, a security truck arrives around 08.00, delivering bank reserves, money for wages and so on. Everyone in Sharnville has seen this truck at one time or the other. You can say it is a familiar landmark.’ I pointed my pencil to the blueprint ‘The truck arrives at the bank, here, and drives down this ramp into a cellar. Once in, the doors, leading into the cellar, automatically shut. The truck driver has a neutralizer that opens the door of the cellar. Once in the cellar, he waits, until one of the staff opens a steel door with direct access into the vault. This staff member will not open the steel door until the truck driver has identified himself. I can open the doors to the cellar and the steel door into the bank, but only from inside the vault. You will have to supply an identical truck and two men wearing security guards’ uniform. You put the cartons in the truck and drive away. Unless your men slip up, there will be no alert until the bank opens on Monday morning so your men should get well away.’

Klaus looked at Harry.

‘Can you get a truck and the uniforms?’

‘Sure. I’ll need to get a photo of the truck and the uniforms. I know a guy who can fix it. No problem.’

Turning to me, Klaus said, ‘You think this plan of yours will succeed?’

‘If it doesn’t, no other plan will.’ I pointed to the gimmick and to the blueprint. ‘I’ve made it as foolproof as possible. It is now up to your people.’

‘No, Mr. Lucas, it will be up to you. You will be with them.’ He leaned forward to stare at me, his eyes glittering. ‘If anything goes wrong, you will be shot. Benny killed Marsh, and he killed Thomson. He has orders to shoot you if this operation fails or if he thinks you are being tricky. Remember that.’ His face set in a snarling mask. ‘And there is another thing for you to remember. I will personally shoot your woman, Mr. Lucas! This operation must succeed!’

‘I hear you,’ I said.

Klaus looked at Harry.

‘Get it moving, Harry: the truck, the uniforms, the cutter and the cartons. I want the operation to begin Saturday at 3 a.m. You will discuss with Mr. Lucas all the necessary details tomorrow night. Where will you meet him?’

Harry scratched his beard as he thought.

‘Nine, tomorrow night, at the Golden Rose motel on the Frisco highway.’ He looked at me. ‘Do you know it?’

‘I’ll find it.’

‘Ask for cabin six.’ He gave a sly, cocky grin. ‘They know me there.’

Getting up, he left the room.

‘Are you satisfied?’ I asked Klaus.

‘If Harry finds no problems, I will pay you as agreed.’ He took from a drawer a bulky envelope. Opening the envelope, he produced bearer bonds. ‘Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, Mr. Lucas. Look at them.’ He pushed the bonds across the desk. ‘They should give you an incentive.’

I picked up the bonds. They were each of the value of $25,000. Ten of them: they looked as if they had passed through many hands. I put them back on the desk, and Klaus scooped them up.

‘These bonds will be delivered to you at your office next week if I am satisfied Harry thinks there are no problems.’

I picked up my brief-case and got to my feet.

‘No money... no operation,’ I said.

‘If there are no problems, you will get the money. From what you have told me, I don’t anticipate problems. When. you get the bonds, be careful. If you decide to sacrifice your woman’s life, and bolt, don’t do it.’ Once again his face turned into a snarling mask. ‘From now on, you will be watched. I have an organization: not just three men. If you try to bolt, you won’t get far, and your end will be unpleasant.’ The slate-grey eyes lit up. ‘They will cut off your hands, blind you and cut off your tongue. You will be left to bleed to death. So don’t try anything tricky, Mr. Lucas.’

Then I knew he was utterly mad.

‘I hear you,’ I said, and leaving him, I walked into the lobby.

Benny, standing by the front door, sneered at me.

‘Be seeing you, fink,’ he said.

I went out to where Joe, playing his harmonica, sat in the Chevy.

As I slid into the passenger’s seat, I thought thankfully that Klaus wasn’t as smart as Joe said he was. I had taken a risk. Neither Klaus, Harry nor Joe had an idea that I had a tape recorder built into the lid of my brief-case, and I now had a tape recording of every word they had said.

Joe sat silent as he drove down to the highway. I glanced at him, seeing his black sweating face dimly lit by the dashboard lights. He looked, as I hoped he would look, like a man with a load on his mind. When we reached the highway, and were heading towards Sharnville, I said, Your boss, Joe is happy. We break into the bank at three o’clock Saturday morning.’

He grunted, the worried frown on his face deepened, but he still said nothing.

It wasn’t until we were nearing my apartment block that I said, ‘Come on in, and have a drink with me, Joe, or have you a date?’

He stared at me for a brief moment. I could see the whites of his eyes.

‘You asking me to drink with you, Mr. Lucas?’ There was surprise in his voice.

‘Look, Joe, we are all in this. With luck, we’re all going to be rich.’ I underlined the word luck. ‘Cut out this crap, don’t call me mister... call me Larry.’

He pulled up outside my apartment block.

‘Harry has never asked me to drink with him,’ he muttered.

‘Oh, come on, Joe.’ I got out of the car. ‘Don’t act like an Uncle Tom.’

I walked across the sidewalk, willing him to follow me. As I was pushing open the glass doors to the lobby, he joined me. We rode up in the elevator. I unlocked my front door and moved aside to let him pass. He stood uneasily while I shut and locked the door.

‘Whisky and Coke, okay?’ I said, going over to the liquor cabinet.

‘Yeah, man.’ He looked around the room, wiping sweat of his face with the back of his hand. ‘I don’t catch this. What do you want to give me a drink for?’

‘Quit being servile, Joe,’ I said impatiently. ‘You’re a man like I am, and we’re going to work together. Sit down, for Christ’s sake!’

Muttering to himself, he sat down in an armchair, resting his elbows on his knees.

I fixed him a drink that could have knocked over a mule.

Keeping my back turned, I poured myself a Coke and left out the whisky. I gave him his drink and sat down, opposite him.

Speaking casually, I told him how we would break into the bank, all about the gimmicks and the neutralizes, how Harry was fixing the getaway truck. I gave him all the details, and he sat forward, his black face intent, listening, while he kept sipping his drink.

‘So that’s it, Joe,’ I concluded, noticing by now his glass was nearly empty. ‘With luck, by next Monday morning, you will be rich.’

His eyes narrowed.

‘Didn’t I tell you, man, I’m never lucky? I’ve been thinking about what you said. I’m not even sure of Harry now.’

‘Oh, come on, Joe. You said you could trust Harry.’

‘Yeah.’ He finished his drink and grimaced. ‘Harry and me shared a cell for three years. That’s a mighty long time. We got along fine together. He fixed me up with the boss.’

‘What was he in for, Joe?’

‘Harry? His old man was the finest forger of bonds ever. Harry handled them. Harry told me his old man got careless, and they caught him and Harry. Harry drew six years.’

The finest forger of bonds!

The nickel dropped.

I realized why Klaus had agreed to pay me in bonds. I was now sure the bonds he had shown me had been forged by Harry’s father!

Looking at Joe, I could see the drink was hitting him. There was now a dazed look in his eyes, and he kept rubbing his mouth aimlessly with the back of his hand.

‘Harry seems okay with me,’ I said, ‘but Benny scares me, I get a feeling once the money is in die truck, he’s going to kill me. He could kill you and Harry too.’

Joe shook his head as if trying to clear it. He stared at me, ‘Yeah, man. I don’t dig Benny.’

‘Have you a gun, Joe?’

‘Sure, I’ve got a gun.’

‘I wish to God I had one. Together — you and I — could take care of Benny if he started something.’

Joe gaped at me.

‘What’s that mean, man?’

‘Neither of us need worry about Benny if I had a gun. I could watch him when you’re doing the work, and you could watch him while I was doing the work.’

He screwed up his eyes while he thought.

‘But Harry would be watching him.’

‘I’m going to talk to Harry, Joe. With the three of us watching Benny, he won’t stand a chance of double-crossing us.’

He thought some more, then nodded.

‘Yeah, that’s right.’ He reached in his hip pocket and produced a .38 police special. ‘You have this, man. I’ve got another in my pad. Yeah, between the three of us, we can handle Benny.’

I took the gun, not quite believing it would be as easy as this.

‘Another thing, Joe: don’t entirely trust Harry. That’s a lot of money. Harry could knock Benny off. He could also knock both of us off.’

Joe again screwed up his eyes, then shook his head.

‘I don’t dig that... not Harry.’

‘It’s a lot of money.’

He thought some more, then nodded.

‘Yeah, it sure is.’

‘Look, Joe, it’s up to you to take care of yourself. Three million dollars! You’ve got to be sure you get your share. I have no worry. As I told you, I’m getting my cut in advance, but you have to worry about Benny and Harry. I’ll watch you, and you watch me. Don’t say anything to Harry. You just never know.’

‘Yeah.’ He shook his head. ‘Who the hell knows? You know something, man? I’ve drunk too much.’ He got unsteadily to his feet. ‘I’m going back to my pad.’

‘Do you want me to drive you, Joe?’

He lurched to the door, paused and looked at me.

‘Would you?’

‘We’re working together, Joe. I don’t want some smart cop picking you up. I’ll drive you home.’

‘Thanks, man. I guess that drink...’

I steered him to the elevator and down to the Chevy.

‘Where do we go?’ I asked, as we settled in the car.

‘Straight ahead. Tenth to the right. No. 45,’ he mumbled, and his head fell forward.

After a ten-minute drive, I stopped outside a walk-up apartment block and shook him awake.

‘We’re here, Joe.’

He pawed my arm.

‘You’re a real pal, man,’ he muttered. You take the car back. I’ll pick it up tomorrow. Man! Was that drink strong!’

As he made to get out of the car, I caught hold of his arm.

‘Joe where is Glenda?’

He stared drunkenly at me.

‘With the boss, man. Where do you think? All nice and snug with Benny breathing down her neck.’

He reeled out of the car and plodded across the sidewalk.

I watched him open the front door and disappear. Then I drew in a long, deep breath.

It seemed to me the cards were falling my way.

‘The truck will be ready next week,’ Harry said. ‘I’ve got the uniforms fixed.’

We were sitting in cabin six at the Golden Rose motel. The room was comfortably furnished with a double bed against the far wall, four lounging chairs, a TV set and a liquor cabinet. We were both nursing whiskeys as we sat opposite each other.

‘I’ll collect the truck around midnight from Frisco,’ Harry went on. ‘That’s no problem. I have a couple of stooges who will be the guards.’

‘They know what they are walking into?’ I asked.

‘Oh, sure. They’re picking up a couple of grand. For that money, they would cut their mothers’ throats.’ He eyed me thoughtfully. ‘The one weak thing in this operation is this patrolling guard. How would it be if we knocked him off, and put a guy in his place?’

This suggestion shocked me, but it warned me that Harry was as ruthless as Klaus.

‘The guard is relieved Sunday morning. Get rid of him, and the operation is blown.’

Harry thought about this, then nodded.

‘Yep. I see that.’ He scratched at his beard, then smiled. He said he had a girlfriend who would be waiting on the east side of the bank, and when the guard came around, out of sight of the bank’s entrance, she would ask him to direct her to a hotel.

‘She’s cute,’ Harry said, his grin widening. ‘She can chat up this guard for at least five minutes: all the time we need to get into the bank. She’s done jobs for me before, and she’s sharp.’

This seemed to me a sound idea. I had been worrying about the guard.

‘I go along with that,’ I said,

‘Now tell me, pal, is this shindig going to work?’

‘My end will. What happens when you get the loot into the truck and take off is up to you.’

He regarded me, his eyes narrowing.

‘Why shouldn’t we get the money away? You said the alert won’t be until Monday morning. That gives us all Sunday to get lost.’

‘That’s fine.’ I sipped my drink. ‘Then you have no problem, but that’s a lot of money.’

He cocked his head to one side.

‘So?’

‘You realize Klaus is as nutty as a fruitcake? He’s a psychopath.’

‘Suppose he is?’

‘Three million, Harry. Even a psychopath doesn’t give that kind of money away. You’re taking all the risks. He just sits back.’

He stiffened and leaned forward.

‘So?’

‘Anything. I don’t have to worry. I’m being paid in advance. It’s you who have to worry.’

‘You think Klaus could double-cross us?’ There was a note of uncertainty in his voice.

‘You are dealing with a nut case. Anything can happen. I don’t know. He might be so nutty he will let you three walk away with three million dollars. On the other hand, he might arrange for you and Joe to get knocked off, and take the money for himself.’

Harry scratched his beard, his eyes uneasy.

‘Who would knock us off?’

‘He tells me he has an organization.’

Harry laughed.

‘Sure: he has me, Joe and Benny: that’s his organization. He likes to talk big. I’m the guy who knows where to hire help: he doesn’t. You’re talking a load of crap. Once we get the money, there’s nothing he can do about it.’

‘There’s Benny,’ I said quietly.

Harry jerked upright. He looked like a man who had walked into a brick wall.

‘Yeah... there’s Benny.’ He sat silent, thinking, as he stared into his glass.

‘Benny is a moronic killer,’ I said. ‘If you can trust him, you have no problem. I wouldn’t trust him further than I can throw him. He bothers me. Given the slightest chance, I think he would knock off the three of us, and drive away with the loot. That’s my thinking.’

Harry shifted uneasily. He thought about this, frowning, then finally he said, ‘Aw, come on. I...’

‘What would a moron like Benny do with three million dollars?’ I broke in. ‘If he knocked off the three of us, he wouldn’t know how to handle money that big, but Klaus would. Benny would go to Klaus. Maybe Klaus has already sold him on the idea he’ll tell him how to handle the money. So Benny could be a sucker too. What’s to stop Klaus knocking Benny off, and vanishing with the money? Three million dollars!’

Harry stared at me, and I could see I had got him worried.

‘You’re a smart guy,’ he said slowly. ‘You’ve given me something to think about. You do your job, and leave me to look after Benny. Now let’s go over the whole operation from A to Z. Right?’

Certain I had sown a seed of doubt in his mind, I produced the blueprint of the bank from my brief-case, and for the next two hours, we worked on the break-in.

Harry was quick and intelligent. His questions were probing, but he seemed satisfied with my answers.

Finally, he said, ‘That’s it. It looks good to me.’

‘Sure?’

‘Can’t see how it can go wrong. Yeah, it’s fine.’

‘Tell Klaus that. He’s agreed to pay me in advance if you’re satisfied.’

He gave me a sly look.

‘Looking after yourself, huh?’

‘I’d be a sucker if I didn’t. I’m not kidding myself you three would share with me. My share comes out of Klaus’s pocket.’

‘What’s he paying you?’

‘Two hundred and fifty in bearer bonds.’

I saw his eyes shift.

‘Bearer bonds?’ he repeated.

‘Yes... as good as cash.’

He gave a sly little grin that told me all I wanted to know. He knew the bonds Klaus had given me were forgeries.

‘You’re real smart.’ He nodded. ‘Bonds are a lot better than a heap of bills.’

‘They sure are,’ I said, thinking, okay, you twister, my laugh will come last. ‘How are you getting rid of the jewellery?’ I went on casually as I put the blueprint back in my brief-case. ‘There’ll be a lot of it.’

‘Should be no problem. I’ve a guy lined up who’ll handle it, but there will be cash, won’t there?’

‘Yes, but more jewellery than cash.’

He grimaced.

‘You think there’s three million in that vault?’

‘I don’t know: could be more. In a town as rich as Sharnville, there must be a lot of money stashed away in the vault. There are all kinds of big property deals going on right now, and a lot of it will be in cash to avoid tax.’

‘Okay. Well, I guess that fixes it.’ He got to his feet. ‘A real nice operation. Klaus may be a nut case, but he’s certainly smart.’

‘So Joe tells me.’

‘We’ll pick you up at your place at 2.30 next Saturday morning. Right?’

‘I’ll be ready.’

‘And if something turns up, I’ll give you a call at your office.’

‘Give your name as Benson, and say you’re from I.B.M.’

‘Right.’

As we moved to the door, I said, ‘And watch Benny.’

‘I’ll watch him.’ He paused and stared at me, his eyes suddenly cold. ‘And I’ll watch you too, buster.’

Moving by me, he walked out into the darkness to the Chevy. As he drove away, I turned off the stop switch, concealed in the handle of my brief-case, of the tape recorder.

I went over to my car, put the brief-case carefully on the passenger’s seat and headed back to my apartment.

Around 11.00 on Wednesday morning, as I put down the telephone receiver after a long call from Bill Dixon, my secretary came in.

‘A special delivery for you, Mr. Lucas. It’s marked personal.’ She put a bulky envelope on my desk.

‘Thanks, Mary.’

I waited until she had left, then picking up the envelope by one corner, I carefully slit the flat. The bonds spilled out.

I regarded them. They looked genuine enough, but I wasn’t fooled. There was no note. Using my handkerchief, I put the bonds back into the envelope, and locked the envelope in one of my desk drawers.

I sat back and considered my position. I had two damning tapes covering Klaus’s talk with me, and Harry’s talk with me. I also had Joe on tape. I had Harry’s fingerprints on my brief-case. It had been a stroke of luck that he had snatched the brief-case from me as I was about to open it. His prints would be on record. With any luck, Klaus’s prints would be on the envelope and possibly, the bonds. With his record, the forged bonds would get Klaus a long term in jail. I could tie him, Harry and Joe in with the break-in, but not Benny. That bothered me. So far, I had nothing on Benny. Then Mary looked in to say the building contractor was waiting to see me, and for the next three hours, I was all business.

Around 13.00, my usual lunch time, I told Mary I had a special job to do and to send out for sandwiches for me ‘I need another tape recorder, Mary. I want to copy some tapes.’

‘I’ll do that for you, Mr. Lucas.’

‘Thanks, but I’ll do it myself. For the next hour don’t put any telephone calls through: say I’m out to lunch.’

Taking the recorder from her, I locked my office door, and made a copy of the two tapes. Then using my portable typewriter I wrote, in duplicate, to Farrell Brannigan. I told him of my love for Glenda, of Klaus and his blackmail, and of his determination to break into the safest bank in the world.

I told him there was enough on the tapes to nail Klaus, and that the bonds he had given me were forgeries. I omitted no details. I ended by telling him Klaus was threatening to kill Glenda and myself if the bank break-in failed.

I read through the statement, then satisfied, I put it m an envelope, together with the original tapes and sealed the envelope. I locked the copy of my statement with the tape copies in my desk drawer. By then it was 14.15, and I could hear Mary moving around in her office. I unlocked my office door and told her I was ready for business, and a few minutes later the telephone bell began to ring.

It wasn’t until after 20.00, when Mary and the rest of the staff had long gone and I had cleared my desk, that I was once again able to concentrate on the problem facing me. I was now satisfied that I had taken care of myself, but not Glenda. Somehow, I had to get her away from Klaus. According to Joe, she was a prisoner in Klaus’s place. At least, I told myself I had all day Thursday and Friday to fix something.

Taking the original tapes and my statement, leaving the copies in my desk drawer, I went down to my car. I had put the gun Joe had given me in the glove compartment of my car. As I started the engine, I took the gun and dropped it into my jacket pocket. It gave me a feeling of security. I parked some two hundred yards from my apartment block. I was now taking no chances. Carrying the bulky envelope containing the tapes and my statement, my hand resting on the butt of the gun, I walked to the lighted entrance. As I neared the glass door leading into the lighted lobby, I paused, looking right and left, then I started forward again, but immediately stopped.

Sitting in one of the lounging chairs in the lobby, by the elevator, his hat at the back of his head, a racing sheet in his hand, was Benny.

The sight of him sent a chill up my spine. I spun around, and moving fast, I headed back to my car. Obviously, Benny was waiting for me, but why? Seeing the bulky envelope I was carrying, he might grab it. I wasn’t ready yet for a showdown with Klaus.

How long would Benny wait for me? I wanted to get to my apartment, but I had to wait until he had gone. I decided I would drive to a restaurant at the end of the street, have dinner and then make a cautious return.

As I paused by my car, I saw Deputy Sheriff Fred Maclain now acting sheriff of Sharnville, walking along the sidewalk towards me.

‘Hi, there, Fred!’

He paused, peered at me, then his red, bloated face split into a grin.

‘Hi, Mr. Lucas.’

I shook his hand.

‘Terrible thing about Joe,’ I said. ‘I can’t get him off my mind.’

‘Yeah.’ Maclain blew out his fat cheeks. ‘We’ll get the punk, Mr. Lucas. Don’t worry about that. We’ll get him!’

‘I’m sure you will, Fred.’ I paused, then went on, ‘I’m just going up to my apartment for quick snort. Then, I have a dinner date. Feel like joining me? I’ve got some good Scotch.’

‘It’s bad luck to refuse a drink, Mr. Lucas,’ he said, grinning. ‘Lead me to it.’

We walked back together, and into the apartment block’s lobby. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Benny stiffen, start to get to his feet, then seeing Maclain, he resettled himself in his chair, staring at the racing sheet. I led Maclain to the elevator, not looking at Benny. I saw Maclain staring at Benny, his little pig eyes hardening.

‘Just a moment, Mr. Lucas,’ and he walked over to Benny. ‘Haven’t seen you around here before, stranger,’ he said, in his rough cop voice. ‘I’m sheriff here. I like to check strange faces. Who are you?’

Benny got hastily to his feet. His brutal face shone with sweat.

‘Just resting my dogs,’ he said. ‘Any harm in that?’

‘You live here?’ Maclain barked. He was only happy when he was barking at people.

‘No, just resting my dogs.’

‘Then rest your goddamn feet someplace else. What’s your name, and where do you come from?’

‘Tom Schultz,’ Benny said, backing away. ‘I’ve got an hour to wait for my train.’

‘Come on, Fred,’ I said. ‘Time’s running out.’

Maclain grunted, then waved Benny to the door.

‘Get lost,’ he said, and as Benny walked out into the night, Maclain grinned, then joined me at the elevator.

‘He looked a punk,’ he said, as we entered the elevator. ‘I hate punks.’

In my apartment, I built him a whisky and soda, and got him settled in a lounging chair.

‘Excuse me for a moment, Fred,’ I said. ‘I want to wash up.’

‘You go ahead.’ He sipped the whisky and sighed. ‘Now that’s what I call the genuine stuff.’

I put the bottle and charge water on a table by his side, then I went into my bedroom. I put the envelope into a brief-case which I had already wrapped in cellophane. Going into the kitchen, I found a sheet of brown paper and string and made a parcel of the brief-case. All this took less than fifteen minutes.

Carrying the parcel, I returned to the living-room. Maclain was humming softly. I saw the level in the whisky bottle had shrunk.

‘Damn fine whisky, Mr. Lucas.’

I went to my desk and addressed the parcel to Brannigan at the Californian National Bank, Los Angeles.

‘Can I ask a favour, Fred?’

He blinked blearily at me.

‘For you. Sure... anything.’

He poured more whisky into his glass, drank, sighed and shook his head in appreciation.

‘I have here in this parcel some important papers for Mr. Brannigan,’ I said, hoping he wasn’t, by now, too drunk to understand. ‘Would you lock this parcel in your safe, Fred?’

He gaped at me.

‘Put it in the bank, Mr. Lucas.’

‘I told Mr. Brannigan I would give the parcel to you for safe-keeping,’ I said. ‘He went along with the idea. He thinks a lot of you, Fred. He told me you would be the next sheriff if he has anything to do with it, and you know Mr. Brannigan draws a lot of water.’

Maclain’s bloated face lit up with a delighted grin.

‘He said that? Mr. Brannigan?’

‘That’s what he said.’

‘Yeah, and he’s right.’ He levered himself out of his chair. ‘For Mr. Brannigan, any favour.’

‘I want you to keep this parcel in your safe, Fred. If you don’t hear from me on Monday morning, I want you to deliver this parcel in person to Mr. Brannigan. Monday morning after ten o’clock, and not before. Now listen, Fred, this parcel is important. When you drive to Los Angeles, take one of your boys with you. Mr. Brannigan would appreciate this, and don’t give this parcel to anyone except Mr. Brannigan.’

Maclain again gaped at me.

‘Well, okay. I’ll take care of it. On Monday morning, huh?’

‘That’s it. When Mr. Brannigan gets this parcel, you can reckon on becoming the sheriff of Sharnville.’

He hitched up his gun belt, pushed his Stetson hat to the back of his head and grinned drunkenly at me.

‘Consider it done, Mr. Lucas.’

‘Thanks, Fred. Let’s go. I’ll drive you back. I want to see this parcel locked in your safe.’

‘Sure.’ He bent forward and splashed more whisky into his glass, drank the whisky, grunted, grinned at me, then holding the parcel under his arm, he went with me to the elevator.

At the police station, I watched him lock the parcel in the big safe.

‘Okay, Fred, unless you hear from me before ten o’clock on Monday, take this parcel with an escort to Mr. Brannigan.’

‘Sure, Mr. Lucas. I’ll take care of it.’ He wiped his lips with the back of his hand. ‘That was fine whisky.’

I left him and returned to my car.

Sitting in the passenger’s seat, his hat at the back of his head, was Benny.