I began to relax, although my head still ached. Impatiently, I got out of bed, threw eight Aspro tablets into my mouth and washed them down. I got back to bed and waited for the pills to work. Money bought anything, I told myself, providing you had enough money. I would buy her! She has this obsession about getting rich, Jenny had said. Rhea, I told myself, would jump at two hundred dollars. I didn’t care now that I was buying her. My overpowering lust that was tormenting me demanded the sight of her naked, on a bed. Then once I had taken her, once this lust was satisfied, I would return to Paradise City and forget her.
Still thinking, I finally fell asleep.
The following morning, feeling much more confident, I went to the local bank and cashed five one-hundred dollar Traveller’s cheques. Just to be on the safe side, I told myself. I would offer her two hundred and go to five if I had to, but I was sure she would grab the two hundred.
I returned to where I had parked the Buick, started the motor, then as I was about to engage gear, I remembered her brother. Would he be there? Would he be hanging around that sordid little bungalow? My fingers tightened on the driving wheel. I couldn’t make my offer if he were in the bungalow.
This was a problem and a wave of sick frustration ran through me. I turned off the ignition, got out of the car and started down the street. It was too early. The City Hall clock was striking ten o’clock. I had to contain my impatience. I would have to wait until at least midday and even then, I couldn’t be sure the brother would be away at work. I walked aimlessly, not seeing anyone, Rhea burning a hole in my mind. I wandered around like that until the City Hall clock struck eleven. By then I was fit to climb a tree. I went into a bar and called for a double Scotch on the rocks.
The drink steadied me a little. I lit a cigarette and just as I was going to call for another drink, I saw Fel Morgan across the street, getting out of a dusty 1960 Buick.
I hurriedly paid for my drink and went quickly to the bar entrance. Fel was already walking away, his hands in his jeans pockets: a tight, dirty white Tee shirt outlining his powerful muscles.
I went after him, following him to a scrap metal yard. I paused to watch him enter and wave to a fat man in overalls who was struggling with a vast lump of rusty metal.
With my heart hammering and my breath coming in gasps, I spun round and raced back along the street to where I had parked my car. I sent it shooting towards Highway 3.
Twenty minutes later I was bumping up the dirt road that led to the Morgan’s bungalow.
I kept muttering to myself: ‘Please God, let her be in!’
As I pulled up outside the bungalow, I saw the front door was standing open. I switched off the motor and sat still, my hands gripping the steering wheel, listening to the thump of my heart while I stared at the open door. I sat there for a minute or so, then I got out of the car and, in a sexual fever, walked slowly over the rough grass, picking my way through the litter.
As I reached the open front door, Rhea appeared in the doorway that led to the sitting room.
We stood looking at each other.
She had smartened herself up since last I had seen her. She had on a skimpy cotton dress that reached to just above her knees. Her legs and feet were bare. Around her neck was a cheap blue necklace. Her face was as cold and as expressionless as ever and her green eyes as cynical.
‘Hello,’ she said in her husky voice that sent shivers through me. ‘What do you want?’
Trying to keep my voice steady, I said, ‘You know what I want.’
She studied me and then stepped back. ‘Better come in and talk about it.’
I followed her into the sordid little room. A chipped coffee pot and two used cups stood on the table. A tin ashtray, spilling over with butts, made a centre-piece.
I watched her walk over to the ruined armchair and sink into it. Her dress rode up to her thighs and as she crossed her legs I caught a glimpse of blue panties.
‘I thought the idea was you were going to wait until I came to you.’ She reached for a pack of cigarettes lying on the table.
‘How much?’ I said hoarsely. ‘Don’t light that! How much and let’s get on with it!’
She struck a match and lit the cigarette and she smiled jeeringly.
‘Man! How you want it,’ she said.
With a shaking hand I took two one-hundred dollar bills from my hip pocket and tossed them into her lap.
‘Let’s get on with it!’
She picked up the bills and regarded them, her face expressionless, then she looked up at me. I was hoping to see a flash of greed, even pleasure, but this cold mask of a face chilled me.
‘What’s this supposed to be for? Two hundred bucks? You want your head examined.’
That was the most truthful thing I was ever to hear from her, but I didn’t give a damn. I wanted her with an urgency that was close to madness and I was going to have her.
I pulled out the remaining three one-hundred dollar bills and threw them at her. Although I lusted for her, I have never hated anyone as I now hated her.
‘That’s more than you’re worth, but take it!’ I said violently. ‘Now, let’s get on with it!’
Slowly and deliberately she folded the five bills neatly and put them on the table. She leaned back in the chair, letting smoke drift down her thin nostrils while she regarded me.
‘There was a time when I got laid for a dollar,’ she said. ‘There was a time when I got laid for twenty dollars. There was even a time when I got laid for a hundred dollars. When you spend years in a cell, you have time to think. I know what men want. I know what you want and I know I have it and I want money: not a hundred dollars nor five hundred dollars nor five thousand dollars: I want real money! There are old, fat, stupid creeps in this country worth millions. I think in millions. I’m going to find one of these old, fat stupid creeps and I’m going to sell him my body for real money. It’ll take time, but I’ll get him.’ She flicked a contemptuous finger at the money on the table. ‘Take it away, Cheapie. My legs stay crossed until I find a creep with the money I want.’
I stood there, staring at her.
‘Can’t you use five hundred dollars?’
‘Not your five hundred dollars.’
I wanted her so badly I lost what was left of my pride.
‘Why not? Five hundred dollars for half an hour. Come on... take the money and let’s get on with it.’
‘You heard what I said, Mr. Larry Diamonds Carr.’
I stiffened and stared at her.
‘What are you saying?’
‘I know who you are. Fel found out. He got your car number and checked Paradise City. You’re a well-known character, aren’t you, Mr. Larry Diamonds Carr?’
A red light lit up through my madness, warning me to get away from this woman and stay away, but I was too far gone, and after a moment the red light faded to nothing.
‘What does it matter who I am?’ I said. ‘I’m like any other man! Take the money and strip off!’
‘If you don’t take it, baby, I will,’ Fel said from behind me.
I whirled around to find him leaning up against the door frame, watching me, an evil little grin lighting up his face.
The sight of him brought alive a flicker of that insane rage I had experienced before, and he saw it in my eyes.
‘Take it easy, buster,’ he said. ‘I’m on your side. This bitch is only playing hard to get. You want me to fix her for you?’
Rhea got swiftly to her feet and snatched up the money from the table which she crumpled in her fist.
‘You come near me, you creep,’ she snarled at her brother, ‘and I’ll hook your goddam eyes out!’