‘I didn’t think it would be. I have a very rich queer who needs a companion, but you... no, I can’t see you filling that bill.’
‘Nor can I.’
‘How would you like to be a lifeguard? It pays around a hundred, but it’s as good as a free vacation. All you have to do is sit on the beach and wait for someone to drown.’
This suggestion appealed to Frost until he considered the salary.
‘It has to be a lot better than that. From what Marcia told me, I’m expecting to pick up big money.’
Solomon sighed.
‘That old trout...’
‘That’s out. How about a bodyguard?’
Solomon brightened. He leaned forward and thumbed a buzzer. The Spanish chick looked in.
‘Any vacancies for a bodyguard, Carmen?’
‘Not right now.’ She gave Frost a jeering smile. ‘Strictly a drug on the market,’ and she removed herself, shutting the door.
‘From time to time, we do get requests for a bodyguard,’ Solomon said. ‘It’s your best bet. Suppose you hang around? If I hear of something...’
‘I can’t afford to hang around,’ he said. ‘Okay, if that’s all you can do, I’ll call Marcia. Maybe she can do something for me while she’s hating you.’
Solomon winced.
‘Don’t do anything hasty. Give me a couple of days... okay? I’ll get Carmen to go through our files. Give her your telephone number. We’ll find you something.’
‘Two days, then I call Marcia.’
Frost left him and went into the outer office.
Carmen smiled jeeringly at him.
‘I warned you. Give me your number, but don’t squeal if you don’t hear from us.’
Frost wrote down the telephone number of the Sea Motel and laid it on her desk.
‘Get me a good job, baby, and I’ll buy you a ribbon for your typewriter,’ he said.
‘More corny dialogue,’ she said, and reached for the telephone.
Back in his sweltering cabin, Frost settled down to wait. If Solomon didn’t come up with something, Frost knew he was in trouble. He had no idea how to contact Marcia, and even if he did contact her, he didn’t think she could help him. He had just to wait and hope. So that was what he did — hoped and waited. Scared to leave the telephone, he sent over to the quick-snack bar at lunchtime for a sandwich and beer. The beer was flat and scarcely cold, the sandwich could have been made of cotton wool.
At 20.00, Frost decided Solomon and the Spanish chick had gone to their respective homes, and it would be safe to take a swim. He spent until midnight, swimming, lazing under the palm trees, and watching the dolls and their boys having a ball. He felt lonely.
He slept late, had lukewarm coffee that should have been ashamed of itself, then dressing, he sat down to wait again.
By 15.00, after another gruesome lunch, he was fit to be tied. Maybe, he told himself, it hadn’t been such a hot idea to come to this City. He was now sorry he had listened to Marcia’s sales talk. Then just when he was deciding to cut his losses and take a look at Miami to see if there was anything cooking there, the telephone bell rang.
It was Solomon on the line.
‘I have a job for you, Mr. Frost. Will you come to my office immediately. It’s a matter of urgency.’
‘The knock you are hearing on your door is me arriving,’ Frost said, hung up, bolted to the VW and was on his way.
The Spanish chick was at her desk manicuring her nails when Frost hurried into the outer office.
She gave him a stony stare and flicked her fingers at Solomon’s office door.
‘There you are, Mr. Frost,’ Solomon said, from behind his desk. ‘Sit down. A job’s come in that’s custom made for you.’
Frost sat down.
‘What’s it pay?’ he asked.
‘Six hundred a week, your own quarters, all found. Nice, huh?’
Frost said it was nice.
‘You know the Agency’s terms?’
Frost cocked an eye at him.
‘Not yet, but you’re sure to tell me.’
Solomon chuckled.
‘Fifty percent of your first week’s salary and ten percent until the job folds.’
‘No wonder you can afford to wear a suit like that,’ Frost said. ‘Well, okay. What’s the job?’
‘Bodyguard. That’s what you want, isn’t it?’
‘Whose body do I guard?’
‘Mr. Grandi is a very valuable client of mine. He has reason to be anxious about his daughter’s safekeeping. He has a permanent home in Rome. An abortive, but vicious attempt was made to kidnap the girl while in Rome. Mr. Grandi, naturally alarmed, has rented a villa on Paradise Largo where he has installed his daughter. He thinks, away from Rome, she will be safe.’
‘Grandi? Who’s he?’
Solomon made an impatient gesture.
‘Carlo Grandi is the richest industrialist in Italy. Rumour has it he is worth several billion dollars. He is, as I have said, one of my most valued clients. I have supplied all the staff at the villa, and I arrange everything for his daughter’s comfort.’
‘Several billion dollars?’ Frost’s ears pricked up. ‘What’s the daughter like?’
‘I haven’t had the fortune to meet her nor Mr. Grandi. I deal through Mr. Grandi’s major-domo, Mr. Frenzi Amando.’ Solomon grimaced. ‘Now, there is a difficult man, but that’s neither here nor there. The reason why I have had this urgent request for a second bodyguard is that Mr. Amando, checking during the night, found the night guard asleep. He was instantly dismissed.’ He paused to light a cigar. ‘I have highly recommended you, and Mr. Amando is prepared to give you a month’s trial. He relies on me to check out references and so on, and I have told him your background is impeccable.’ He looked slyly at Frost. ‘It is, isn’t it?’
‘You can say that again,’ Frost said, with a grin. He now understood why the Agency’s terms came so high.
‘I didn’t mention your more violent activities, Mr. Frost. I feel that would be unwise. I told him you have been a detective attached to the N.Y.P.D., then a Federal Agent, and recently a security guard. He seemed satisfied’
‘You mean the job’s mine?’
‘Yes, if you want it. I have several applicants for bodyguards, but as Marcia is a friend of mine and yours...’
He waved his cigar in the air.
‘I want it. So what do I do?’
‘You are to report to Jack Marvin who is the senior guard. He is expecting you. Mr. Amando may not find time to see you himself. He’s a busy man, but if he does see you, watch your step.’ He pushed a slip of paper across his desk. ‘Here are instructions how to reach the villa. Paradise Largo is where the very wealthy live. Villa Orchid — Mr. Grandi’s residence — is on an island. Access to the Largo estate is over a bridge which is constantly guarded. You will have to show your driving licence to the guard who has been alerted to expect you. I suggest you pack, and get over there pronto. Okay?’
Frost got to his feet.
‘I’m on my way, and thanks.’
Solomon waved that away.
‘Anything for Marcia.’
‘Where does she stay when she’s here?’ Frost asked as he moved to the door.
Solomon eyed him.
‘Didn’t she tell you?’
‘I forgot to ask.’
‘The Spanish Bay Hotel — where else?’
‘Is that something?’
‘The best and the most expensive. Marcia can pick up a thousand bucks a night when she’s in the mood.’ He rubbed his hands. ‘What a worker!’
Going into the outer office, Frost saw Carmen had finished her repair work on her nails and was now reading a legal looking document.
‘The job’s mine,’ Frost said, pausing at her desk. ‘I owe you a ribbon for your typewriter.’
‘Shove the corn,’ she said curtly, ‘and sign this.’ She handed him the document. ‘It’s your contract with this agency.’