You've Got It Coming

III

Harry opened his eyes and stared around the small, but luxuriously furnished bedroom. For a few seconds he didn't know where he was, then he recalled the happenings of the previous night and relaxed back on his pillow. In the twin bed near his, Glorie still slept. He looked across at her, frowning. He could see how nervy she was even in sleep; her body twitched and her hands were restless. Her drawn, tired face and her twitching displeased him, and he looked away, reaching for a cigarette.

He glanced at his wristwatch. The time was just after seven o'clock. Now wide awake, he switched on the automatic coffee maker that stood on the bedside table. Again he looked around the room. This was pretty good, he thought. It was costly, but it was the most luxurious motel he had ever stayed at. To have a room as good as this, you had to expect to pay top prices.

Joan had found them the accommodation. She had driven them to the motel in a grey-and-blue six-cylinder Bentley which had been waiting at the airport when they had touched down. During the flight, she had sat in the co-pilot's seat next to Harry and they had talked. Glorie had sat behind them. She had been silent, and, he had felt, disapproving.

He had told Joan that he was looking for an opening in an air-taxi company as he wanted to continue his flying. He had asked her if she thought Miami would offer any opportunities.

“Of course,” she had said. “There's a constant demand for air-taxis in Miami, but it's no good doing it in a small way. You'd want to form your own company. I know where you can get the land to build an airfield.”

“I wasn't planning to go in for it that big,” he had said. “I thought a couple of kites to start with. I could rent space on one of the commercial airfields.”

“Oh, you can't do that,” Joan had said emphatically. “You want at least a dozen aircraft—twenty-five would be better and you must have your own airfield. There are too many lone operators on the job now. To do any good, you'd have to squeeze them out and get a monopoly here.” Her enthusiasm excited him. “You must form a company. It won't be difficult. I think my father might be persuaded to put up some money.”

He had learned then with a sense of shock that her father was Howard Graynor, the steel and oil magnate: one of the richest men in the country.

“I think it's a wonderful idea,” she had gone on. “I've always been crazy about flying although Daddy won't let me take my pilot's certificate. He thinks I'll kill myself. If you really intend to form a company I will talk to him about it.”

They had argued and discussed the pros and cons, completely forgetting Glorie who sat silently listening. This was something she didn't understand, and it frightened her to see how animated Harry was. She had never seen him like this before.

When they had arrived at the motel, Joan had said they must meet the next day and continue the discussion.

“I'd love to run an air-taxi business,” she had said. “I’ve a mind to open up in competition with you.”

Harry had grinned.

“Why not be my partner?” he had said jokingly. 'That way we wouldn't cut each other's throats.”

“I might at that,” she had returned. “Anyway, you must see the land I was telling you about. I'll pick you up around noon. How's that?”

Harry said he would be waiting. She had nodded to Glorie and had driven away fast, leaving Harry staring after her, entranced not only by her, but by her ideas.

He hadn't noticed Glorie's silence when they had undressed and had got into bed, and when Glorie had said suddenly, “I thought we were going to Europe, Harry,” he had stared at her as if aware of her for the first time.

“Let's go to sleep,” he said curtly and switched off the light.

“I'm about all in even if you're not.”

The bell on the coffee maker rang to tell him the coffee was ready. As he filled his cup, Glorie sat up, ran her fingers through her dark hair and looked around the room.

“You know, Harry, this is going to cost an awful lot.”

“Oh, don't crab!” he said. He wasn't in the mood to talk. He had a lot on his mind, and he wished that he could be alone for the next hour. He wanted to drink his coffee, He in this comfortable bed and think. The last thing he wanted was to have to listen to a lot of chatter from Glorie. “Help yourself to coffee if you want it. If s all ready.”

Glorie was aware of a cold feeling around her heart. This was the beginning, she told herself. She recognized the signs. All the men she had known had behaved like this before the brush off came. The frowning, bored look in their eyes. The help-yourself-if-you-want-it attitude that was the same way of saying I-can't-be-bothered-to-do-it-for-you. What a fool she had been to have asked that blonde to help them. She was sure Harry was thinking of her at this moment and Harry was. He was wondering what he would do if she did offer to put some money up for the taxi service. He would have to be careful to keep his independence.

He didn't intend to have a board of directors telling him what to do. She had been right, of course. A two-kite setup would be all hard work and little profit. It would be fun to work alongside a girl like her. Talk about a ball of fire! But had she been serious?

She seemed to know what she was talking about. Suppose she did get her old man interested? He had millions....

“Harry . . .”

He started. Glorie's voice was like the flick of a whip.

“What is it?”

“We must talk about what we are going to do,” she said. “We can't stay here.”

He half raised himself to stare at her.

“Why not? Of course we can. What are you talking about?”

“It’s not safe. Borg will find us.”

Harry had completely forgotten Borg. He felt a vicious spurt of fury run through him.

“He can't search the whole country for us. We're as safe here as anywhere. We've shaken him off, haven't we? He didn't see us. How can he even guess we're here?”

“We may not have seen him, but I'm sure he saw us. I know him, Harry. He wouldn't have gone to Oklahoma City unless he was after us. He knew I was meeting you at the airport. I'm sure he saw us leave in Miss Graynor's aircraft.”

“What if he did? That doesn't mean anything. He's lost us now.”

“But, Harry, she's a well-known personality. Anyone on the airfield could tell him who she is. He'll know we are here. That's why we must move today.”

“Move today?” Harry said, his voice shooting up. Are you crazy? Didn't you hear what Joan said? We're meeting this morning. Don't you realize what this could mean to me if she got her old man to put up some money to finance me? He's worth millions. Think of it! Twenty-five aircraft! Ifs just the kind of setup I've always hoped for.”

“But, Harry, please be sensible. She's not likely to persuade her father. Why, he wouldn't take her seriously. She's only a kid.”

“That's where you are wrong. She may look a kid, but she's smart. She's got a heap of brains. I wouldn't be surprised if her old man didn't put up some money. I have an idea once she gets started she could persuade a bronze statue to part with money.”

His infatuated expression sparked Glorie's anger into life.

“Is it likely he would finance you?” she said tartly. “He's bound to make enquiries about you. How do you think he'll react when he finds out Why you lost your job?”

The moment she said it she was sorry.

Harry's face tightened. He looked at her, and she saw the angry dislike naked in his eyes.

“You're a goddamn wet blanket, aren't you?” he said. If you can't be a bit more constructive, for the love of mike, shut up!”

Glorie was instantly terrified. Suppose he walked out on her?

He might do it if she provoked him too much. She had no money; Borg was after her, and she would be alone. The prospect chilled her.

“I'm sorry, darling, but we must be sensible, she said, loosing anxiously at him. “ I'm only trying to be helpful. He's bound to make enquiries about you if he is interested in such a proposition. You have to be very careful what you tell him.”

Harry frowned. His angry expression changed to uneasiness.

“I guess you're right. Yeah, a guy like Graynor would put me under a microscope before he'd let me handle any of his dough.”

“Don't you think it would be safer for us to do what we originally planned? Don't you think we should go to London, away from Borg? He wouldn't follow us to London.”

“To hell with Borg!” Harry said, and got out of bed. “He won't come here, so stop yapping about him. We're not going to London. I've better things to do with my money. Right now I'm going for a walk. I've things to think about. And look, Glorie, I'd better see Joan on my own this morning. This is business. You'd only be in the way. Why don't you get some more sleep? You look washed out. I’ll be back for lunch.”

He snatched up his clothes and went out of the room, slamming the door behind him. A few seconds later, she heard him singing under the shower.

You'd only be in the way. You look washed out. Why didn't he say what he meant? I'm bored with you. I've found someone who doesn't look old, worn out and second hand.

Why didn't he say it? That's what he meant and that's how she felt.

It was only when she tasted salt in her mouth that she realized she was crying.