The Delta Factor

4

I got out of the cab in front of my hotel and stared at the nearly empty streets of the city that hadn’t struggled back to life yet. A wet mist slicked the streets, and the tops of the buildings were smothered by low-hanging clouds.

When I reached my room I slept until two in the afternoon, then got on the phone to Miami and laid out my program with Art Keefer to get me and Kim out of the country. He thought I was nuts picking the place I wanted to go when a few better ones were another day’s flight further south where a guy could hide out all his life if he wasn’t an Eichmann and had the money to grease a few palms. But I insisted and he went along with me like he always did and told me when and where we’d meet. The second call got me Little Joe Malone, who promised to deliver a few necessary items to a locker in the bus station with the key left downstairs at the desk for me.

At four thirty I picked up the key, paid my bill and hopped a cab uptown, picked up the.45 and box of ammo, a set of picks and two small files that had the biting edge of an acetelene torch. A half hour later I was knocking on Kim Stacy’s door and heard her cross the room to open it for me.

“Hello, my betrothed,” I said.

“Let’s not make too much of a game of it, Morgan.”

“Everything’s a game, Kim. It’s only the stakes that change.”

She shut the door behind me and followed me inside, waited until I had settled myself in the big chair, then sat crosswise on the one by the desk. “You weren’t here last night.”

“Did it matter?”

“My people didn’t like it.”

“Screw your people.”

“Your part of this operation is voluntary.”

“Okay, so I’m back.”

Kim nodded, but there was a shadow of accusation in her eyes. “Not that it will matter to you,” she told me, “but I have signed a receipt for your person and until I in turn sign you over to your next custodian, my neck and career are on the block. I didn’t ask for this duty. I didn’t want it. But it was offered to me and I accepted it. Since your acceptance was of a voluntary nature I was hoping our arrangement would be to our mutual satisfaction. There’s no reason for either of us getting hurt.”

“Oh, honey,” I said, “come off it. Hell, if I wanted to exercise my talents I’d take on the whole damn department you represent, not pick on just you. Now knock it off, okay?”

Reluctantly, and with a dour grin, she said, “Okay, Morgan. We’ll stay loose and cool.”

“Sure. Now… anything on Gorman Yard?”

For a few seconds she worried her lip with her teeth. “He’s dead, Morgan.”

“What!”

“There was an industrial accident in the prison machine shop. No one was held responsible.” She stopped, watched my reaction, then folded her arms on the back of the chair. “Since you were the one to institute the inquiry, they’ve started another investigation.”

“That should be fun with those boys up there. They won’t get very far. How did the cops nail him in the first place?”

“They ware tipped off to his whereabouts by an anonymous phone call. They followed up the story the informer gave them and made the charge stick. It was all cut and dry. Yard even confessed and didn’t try very hard to fight his conviction. It was almost as if he preferred being sent up.”

“That might just be the way it was.”

“Oh?”

“Nothing. What about the rest of my forty million?”

“So far, nothing has appeared. All possible outlets for bills of that denomination with those serial numbers had been alerted. You did a good job of it. The only trouble is, the heat’s not going to go off in this case. You can pass that on to the rest of your friends you worked that robbery out with.”

“I’m a loner, Kim. You saw my record.”

“This time you weren’t. It took more than one person to engineer that job. You pulled the same stunt twice during the war, getting those troop-movement plans and coordinates on the German blockhouses from their armored cars. You even laid it out ahead of time in Allied Headquarters, the booby-trap devices to stop their vehicles at a given spot, the D-Y gas to knock out the occupants without them ever knowing what had happened and the means of entry with that compact torch unit they devised for you. Only this time you improved your technique. There was no torch. It was more like an acid burn. They still can’t figure it. What did you use, Morgan?”

Somehow her tone had changed to one of mild respect and I grinned at her. “We had six men on that deal, honey.”

“I know. We looked into that too, wondering if they decided to become accomplices in a bigger haul. Three are dead; one was a rather severe casualty and later disappeared into the limbo of Australia and the German national you worked with is now a staid, successful businessman in Berlin. No, you’re the only one left, the only one who could plan and execute a coup like that one.”

“I accept your applause.”

“It’s too bad you’re not worth it.”

“Nuts.”

“At least this way you can redeem yourself a little bit.”

“Nuts to that, too,” I said.

“Your funeral, Morgan.”

“Maybe.” I looked at my watch. It was almost six thirty. “You packed?” I asked her.

Puzzle lines touched her forehead. “Why?”

“Because we’re leaving on our honeymoon.”

She seemed to stiffen and her mouth went tight. “You said… you wanted three days.”

“Then let’s just say I can’t wait any longer. If I have to do this on my own I’m going to do it my own way. Get your bags packed. I have a car waiting downstairs. You’re on orders, so don’t buck me. Like you said, stay loose and cool. The worst of it is still ahead.”

We were married in Georgia near the Florida line at a little place that specialized in “Marriage Certificate, Blood Test and Ceremony, One Hour.” My lack of any name but Morgan almost stopped the JP until I came up with my Army discharge papers and suggested their style of NFN-NMI, no first name-no middle initial; then he was ready for his routine.

It wasn’t the happiest of weddings because Kim looked too nervous and I as too damn tired to react like a normal bridegroom should. When I kissed her as custom required and the JP and witnesses expected, it was more like a couple of fighters touching gloves before the first round began. But maybe it wasn’t such an abnormal reaction at that. The fee and tip were collected with a toothy smile and a hearty “good luck” while our first witness went to the phone to get the notice into the local paper.

When we got back to the car Kim sat a little farther over than she had been and without looking at me said, “Now what?”

“We make it look real, pet. We cross the state line, register at a motel and get some sleep.”

I knew what she was thinking, but she didn’t say it. Her nod was one of perfunctory agreement, but a little shudder seemed to run across her shoulders and took the edge off for me. It’s always good to have a broad a little scared of you. I grinned at my reflection in the windshield, turned on the ignition and got back out on the highway.

At dusk I spotted the Flora Palm Ranch Motel and turned in the pebbled driveway. Being off season, there were only a few other cars, but two of them had “Just Married” slogans painted on their sides and were festooned with ribbons and shredded pieces of crepe paper. I said, “We’re in good company, Kim.”

“Please.”

“Don’t worry; I’ll get twin beds.”

The clerk handed me the register and took my money without a second glance and slid a key to Number 20 across the counter. I left a wake-up call for six, then pulled the car down to our room and unloaded the two bags and stuck them inside the room. I had to have at least one kick out of the deal, so as Kim walked by I scooped her up in my arms and carried her inside. She let out a sudden, sharp gasp and froze momentarily in my arms until I put her down.

“It’s an old custom, sugar. I’ve never been married before.”

Very slowly the frost left her face and she smiled gently at me. One hand touched my cheek and she raised herself on her toes and touched her mouth against mine. It was only for a second, but the rich softness of her lips was bedded in warmth their moistness couldn’t quench.

“I’m sorry, Morgan. It was sweet of you. I’ve never been married before either. Thank you.”

“The government has some screwy regulations. I hope you know all the rules.”

“I do. I hope you observe them.”

“Don’t trust me too far, doll,” I grinned at her. “And don’t depend on your karate training.”

“Now we’re back to that again,” she laughed. “How about this?”

In her hand she held a tiny black automatic and the snout was pointed right at my belly. But she didn’t see my hand move and suddenly the big hole in the end of the.45 in my fist was staring at a spot between her eyes. “How about that?” I asked her.

“What a wonderful way to begin a marriage. I get your message, Morgan; now can we get to business?”

“My pleasure, sweetheart.”

For twenty minutes she was on the phone to her people, her guarded conversation giving the details of the wedding and our location. Evidently she was told to go ahead on her own; then for a full five minutes she did nothing but listen. When she hung up she swung around with an impatient gesture and said, “We’re to proceed as planned. There’s only one change.”

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck bristle. “What change?”

“The agency feels that we’ll have to move faster. They’re sending in word of our arrival.”

“Those stupid…”

She waved a hand to shut me up. “Not through our people. It will come from their own sources. More a rumor than anything else. At least we’ll be expected and you won’t have to do all the groundwork.”

“That’s the key to the success of this thing. Don’t they know that?”

“I’m sure they know what they’re doing.”

“Damn it, they’d better.”

“Do you mind tell me what arrangements you’ve made?”

“When the time comes,” I told her.

I picked up the telephone and gave a New York number to the switchboard. After the third ring it was picked up and a voice said, “Joey Jolley here.”

“Morgan, Joey.”

“Ah, you’ve reconsidered—”

I cut him off. “No dice yet, Joey. Let things jell first.”

“If that’s the way it has to be. What can I do for you?”

“Gorman Yard is dead.”

“Yes, I know,” he told me without any emotion. “I took the trouble to make inquiries. My source tells me the accident he sustained wasn’t of his own doing. Naturally, nobody’s talking, but you know the grapevine. Somebody inside there got orders to cool Mr. Yard and did an excellent job of it.”

“That’s what I was afraid of,” I said.

“Incidentally, he isn’t the only one from that neighborhood who took the big trip.

Something tightened in the pit of my stomach. “Go on.”

“I just heard the TV report that the body of a girl found strangled to death an hour ago has been identified as Bernice Case. They suggested she was a lady of the evening and probably was killed in the pursuit of her occupation. Or is that simply a cover job, Morgan?”

My hand felt as though it would break the receiver into bits. Damn, they had gotten to her. One lovely, lonely girl who only wanted to be liked. One poor little hooker who gave more than she took. They had to go and slam her. I kept my voice as normal as possible and said, “I can’t see the connection, Joey. You know the racket she was in.”

He let a few seconds pass. “Possibly. The mob doesn’t appreciate individual operators. If they hit her because she didn’t pay off they could be in real trouble. I understand she was a well-liked kid.”

But she didn’t know that, I thought.

“Any action on it?”

“Rough talk around the neighborhood. Somebody’s going to get their ass wiped with a cob if they find out who was behind it. Old Gussie is leading the parade and you know her.”

“Tough. Wish I could do something.”

“Sure there’s no connection?”

“Not on my end,” I lied. “What I wanted to know was the inside on Whitey Tass.”

“You kidding?” Joey said. His voice said I should know better than to ask. “If it’s big it’s got his name on it, but he still commands a political power in his section that keeps the heat off better than fiberglass. He’s growing, Morgan. Keep clear of him.”

“I intend to. That’s why I’m calling you. See what you can get.”

“Facts or rumors?”

“Either one. Both are probably true.”

“One’s easier to get.” He coughed, then added, “The things I’ll do for a slice of that forty mil amaze me, Morgan.”

“Just remember that it’s all on speculation.”

“I’ll trust your reputation. How do I reach you?”

“You can’t, I said. “I’ll call you.”

I hung up and turned around. The muscles in my back and shoulders were bunched into knots and I could feel the tightness drawing my mouth into a flat line. Kim watched me a moment, saying nothing, knowing I had to get it out of me anyway.

When I felt like bursting I said softly, “Bernice Case. She was my friend. They killed her for nothing.”

I didn’t have to say anything more. She’d remember the name and call it in and all those big agencies could go to work on it and if they were smart they’d put things together and work it out with the ones in the neighborhood who could be just as efficient in their own way. And if they didn’t do it, I’d be back and do it for them.

A promise, Bernice, for that wonderful night of just lying there on the sofa with you in my arms, warm and soapy smelling from a hot shower, with the perfume in your hair and that crazy Hawaiian mu-mu that seemed to glow in the darkness and all that silly talk about when we were kids. You were well liked, little kitty cat.

I flopped on the bed and closed my eyes. In a few minutes I heard the bedsprings next to me creak. Outside, the tree frogs peeped an endless tune and far off I could hear the traffic on the highway going by.

Kim’s voice was very quiet when she asked, “Was she your girl, Morgan?”

“I only saw her once,” I said.

For the second time that night she said, “I’m sorry.” For that one moment she was a woman, and not a trained pro playing watchdog to a fugitive.

By sunup we were on the road, picked up the Florida Turnpike and headed toward Miami. Traffic was light, but every twenty miles we’d have to bust our way through a thunderstorm and with the windows up the car was like the inside of a Bessemer Converter. I made a quick stop at the bank where Gavin Woolart had established an account for me, got a checkbook and with the first one drew out twenty thousand in handy denomination bills and folded them into my pocket. No one seemed concerned about the transaction, though there were several curious glances thrown my way. I figured Woolart had set up the deal so that I’d look like one of his own people and no questions were to be asked. Kim was mopping her face when I got back in the car and it felt like it was still getting hotter. I picked up the Palmetto Highway, swept around the Miami area and headed down into the Keys. Both of us were soaked in our own sweat by the time we reached the Grove Motel.

While Kim headed for the shower, I went down the road, brought a six-pack of Pabst and put in a call for Art Keefer from a pay station. He said he’d be by in an hour, so I went back to the motel, parked in the slot beside our room and went inside.

Kim wasn’t there, but her clothes were hung up near the air conditioner and her suitcase was open on the bed. From the back I could hear a couple of kids yelling around the pool, looked out and saw the back of her head in one of the lounge chairs, then showered, climbed into my trunks and went out with a can of beer in each hand.

And almost dropped them.

In a black-and-white bikini that would have been invisible had it not contrasted so sharply with the gold of her skin, she was stretched out languidly, her lovely body lying in a provocative S curve. It was a dizzy, instant experience to see the heady swell of her breasts that dipped into the hollow of her stomach, then flowed into the rise of her hips and melted into the warm, sweeping fullness of her thighs and calves.

I sat on the end of the lounge quickly and handed her a can. “Have a cold one.”

A smile danced around her mouth as she took it. “I didn’t think you could be affected like that.”

“When I marry I sure can pick them,” I said. “Sorry, but you surprised me.” I tasted the beer, licked my lips and let my eyes roam over her again. “You have a hell of a shape, baby.”

“So I’ve been told. At times it’s useful to disconcert somebody.”

“I’m disconcerted. You did a magnificent job.”

The little smile drifted away then. “Don’t take it to heart. It’s only a temporary arrangement.”

I couldn’t let her get away with it. I let my mouth twist in a nasty grin and said, “Only if I want it that way. Don’t forget it.”

The way her stomach sucked in a fraction said she got the message but she pretended to ignore it with, “Did you make your contact?”

I nodded.

“Can you tell me now?”

I finished the can of beer and tossed the empty in a wire basket behind me. “Tomorrow we charter a fishing boat that leaves from a private docking area. At noon we’ll be out about twelve miles; Art Keefer will pick up up in a seaplane, fly us offshore a mile from our destination where we’ll be met by another boat and taken in. After that we’ll play it by ear.”

“Is this… the usual arrangement?”

“The pattern varies,” I said. I let out a small laugh. “After all, people like us don’t like being nailed by the cops. It’s a way of life.”

“A stupid way.”

“Maybe for you, kid. It’s hard to explain. I’m assuming you’re smart enough not to try to bust any of these people. Not that you can. They’re clever enough to keep themselves covered.”

“My orders read that way,” she said. “We’re not interested in the little people.”

“Kid, you got a lot to learn,” I told her. “My friend is doing us a favor. Taking us in will be easy. He’s putting his neck on the line getting us out.”

“No he isn’t.”

I turned slowly and looked at her. She focused her eyes on my face and said, “The return trip will be under our direction. You see, we’re not taking any chances on losing you along the line.”

“You’re crazy, sugar. What makes you think I won’t cut out anytime?”

“Because you’re made like that. Now you’re having fun.”

“I’ve changed my mind before.”

“That’s why I’m wearing the bikini,” she said. “At least it will keep you thinking of other things. Not that it will do you any good,” she added.

My grin got nice and tight this time. “Why does the female have the unholy idea she can conquer the male?”

“Can’t she?” There was the slightest haughty tone to her voice.

“Only some,” I said. “Only some, baby.”

Then Art Keefer came up and rescued us both from the conversation. He was a big, rangy guy with corded forearms and hair bleached almost white from the sun, skin like tanned leather and bright green eyes that had looked on the world and thrown it away. He had the indelible stamp of the adventurer, a perpetual cynical twist to his mouth, scars from a dozen battles etched into the lines of his face.

His reaction to Kim was almost the same as mine, the sudden appreciation but tempered with regret because right now she belonged to me. I hadn’t seen him for seven years, but nobody would have known it. He threw me a wink and said, “Hello, jailbird.”

“They didn’t keep me long enough to rate the compliment, Art.”

“Somebody should have clued them in. How’d you do it?”

“Rubber bars,” I laughed. “Meet Kim Stacy… or rather, Mrs. Morgan.”

“My pleasure,” he said.

Kim held out her hand and he took it, but the introduction was one of two animals sizing each other up. When he stepped back he looked at me quickly and I got his meaning. I said, “It’s a clean deal, Art. No repercussions.”

“You’re nuts, buddy. There are other ways.”

“I like it this way.”

“Sure, you always did. But then, you always were nuts too.”

“Everything ready?”

Art said softly. “Six A.M. at Raymond’s. Travel light. I want as much fuel aboard as I can carry. How much does she know?”

“The works.”

“There’s something else. You’re expected. Vince got the word an hour ago and sent it out on shortwave. Who planted it?”

Kim said matter-of factly, “We did.”

Art looked at me, his eyes curious now. “That okay with you?”

“They had to expedite matters.”

“You’re going to have plenty of company, then. Right now their regime is damn rocky and with that loot they think they can extract from you they can get back on their feet. They’re going to want to expedite matters too. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes.”

I glanced at Kim and laughed. “The hell you wouldn’t.” Art grinned and shrugged. “I don’t know how you always get the best end of the deal.”

“Pure good luck,” I said. “All the other details standard or have things changed?”

“Four points up on the old wavelength and use the same Kissler code. They still haven’t broken that one. Somebody will be monitoring around the clock and if you need a contact, try the one at the Orino Bar who’ll sing our old song as a recognition gimmick.”

“Any heavies in the act?”

“Watch out for one called Russo Sabin. He’s a hatchet man for Carlos Ortega who’s about to take the power away from the present government. He has civilian and military personnel behind him and we know damn well he’s been buttering up to the Commies, who will jump right in and back him if he wins this political battle. All Ortega needs is a few million to grease the right palms and we’re going to have another Cuba on our hands.”

“How does it look?”

“Right now, all in his favor. You’re going to be a welcome addition to his program.” Art paused and looked at the both of us a second. “Any interagency cooperation here?”

“Why?”

“The Navy and the Border Patrol are pretty damn tight, old buddy.”

“Good. It has to look right. They haven’t been alerted, so it’s all your operation.”

“As long as I know.”

“If we get hit it will be our own fault. Nobody gets off the hook.”

“They haven’t caught me yet,” Art said. We shook hands; he nodded to Kim and stalked away with a fierce stride, disappearing around the corner of the building.

Kim watched him go, then said, “He seems very proficient.”

“He has to be,” I told her.

Something made her look at me sharply. “Who is he?”

“One of the men you said was dead. We were part of that team that operated behind the lines in Germany during the war.”

“But… there was no Keefer…” she started.

I laughed and shook my head. “He was in the Army under a different name then.”

Her eyes looked almost black under the frown. “Then the other three…”

“Oh, two of them are dead, all right.”

She kept studying me and I knew what she was thinking. I shook my head slowly and said. “He wasn’t any part of that forty-million-dollar haul, sugar. Forget it.”

Overhead there was the dull rumble of thunder and the sun slid behind an ominous bank of black clouds. The two kids in the pool came out of the water and scurried into their room. I took the empty can from Kim’s hand, tossed it into the basket and waved my thumb at our door. “Go get dressed. I’ll give you five minutes.”

She uncurled from the lounge, stood up and stretched deliberately, legs spread apart, back arched so that I could see every glorious inch of her undulating in the posture. Then she relaxed and looked at me with a chuckle. “You’d better wait ten,” she said. “There may be people watching. You wouldn’t want them to see you like that, would you?”