Fel gaped at me.
‘A bang across the face with a gun can hurt,’ he said.
‘I know that, but it’s got to be done and done convincingly. I’m not going to moan if I lose a tooth. A million is a lot of money.’
‘You really mean you want me to bash you with the gun?’
‘Across the face: not the head. I want to get that clear. Not the head: across the face. Do you understand?’
‘Why not save your looks, mister and take a rap on the nut?’ Fel asked, frowning.
‘I’ve had concussion. It would be dangerous to hit me over the head.’
‘Yeah.’ Again he looked at Rhea, but she sat still, her face expressionless, her eyes watchful.
‘I fall down,’ I went on. ‘You two take care of Sydney. Bring with you a roll of two-inch tape. Bind and gag him. Do the same to me. You will find the necklace on the desk. Take it and get out.’ I paused, then went on, ‘That the operation. It’s straightforward. There will be no opposition, no police and if you’ve taped us well enough, we will have to wait until Fremlin’s manservant arrives at eight in the morning to release us.’ I lit a cigarette, then asked, ‘Any questions so far?’
‘You want to ask him anything?’ Fel asked Rhea. ‘It’s fine with me.’
‘Not yet.’ She flicked ash on the carpet. ‘Keep talking,’ she said to me.
‘You have to have an alibi,’ I went on. ‘Your story is you left Luceville on Monday afternoon for a trip to Frisco. Rhea thought she might get a job there and you drove her up. This will account for your bungalow being shut up for two days and on the night of the robbery. Rhea will catch the 05.00 flight on Friday morning to Frisco. You, Fel, will drive flat out back to Luceville the moment the robbery is over. You should get there Friday night. Tell anyone interested that Rhea has gone to Frisco after a job. The chances are you won’t need an alibi, but you have to have one just in case.’
‘Yeah.’ Fel nodded. ‘That makes sense.’
I took from my billfold the Traveller’s cheques and tossed them into Rhea’s lap.
‘This will take care of your expenses. There’s no trouble getting an air ticket to Frisco; give a phoney name and address. At that hour you walk on. Stay at a modest hotel and look for work. This is important in case the police check. Then after ten days, come back to Luceville... not sooner... you understand?.. ten days.’
She now asked her first question.
‘So what happens to the necklace? Do we stuff it in your pocket before we scram so you can sell it?’
‘If you think that’s a hot idea with Sydney watching, you need your head examined,’ I said, now very alert. ‘You take the necklace with you. Either you take it or Fel takes it and hides it in the bungalow. That’s up to you.’
She stared at me, her eyes narrowing.
‘You’re pretty trustful, aren’t you? Suppose we take off with the necklace. You’d look dumb, wouldn’t you?’
‘Suppose you did that?’ I smiled at her. ‘Do you imagine you could sell it? It will have to be broken up. Okay, so you break it up. We are in this for a million. You would have an impossible job to find any fence to handle it and if he did he’d rob you blind. That’s why I can afford to trust you. I know dealers who will pay me the highest prices for these stones and no questions asked... you don’t. It’s as simple as that.’
She considered this, then for the first time she began to relax.
‘So okay,’ she said, ‘but what happens when you sell the stones? You take the necklace. So suppose you run off with it and leave us looking dumb?’
She was following the pattern of my past thinking. I had anticipated she would ask this and I was ready for her.
‘Fel goes back to the bungalow to keep up appearances,’ I said, ‘but you come along as my secretary. You’ll be in on all the deals. You’ll know what I’m getting paid for each individual stone. I’ll be paid in cash. As each stone is paid for I’ll give you half of what I get. Does that assure you you won’t be double-crossed?’
She sat back, staring at me. I had cut the ground from under her feet. She couldn’t think of any other objections.
‘Just so long as you don’t walk out on me when I’m not looking.’
Again I smiled at her.
‘I won’t have the chance even if I wanted to. The idea is we stick close together,’ I paused, then went on, looking directly at her, ‘we even sleep together... that’s part of the bargain.’
Fel gave a guffaw of laughter.
‘This guy’s my man! Brother! You deserve what you get!’
Rhea suddenly smiled: a hard, cold smile, but still a smile.
‘You have yourself a deal,’ she said. ‘Okay, we’ll do the job.’
I drew a long deep breath.
‘Right. Now let’s settle the remaining details and then I’ll get home. First, you both wear gloves. This is vitally important. If you leave just one fingerprint in Fremlin’s penthouse there won’t be any million.’ I waved to the sling bag. ‘I’ve brought along an outfit for Fel. Take a look.’
Fel opened the bag and took out the wig, the glasses and the jacket. Grinning he put on the wig and the glasses and surveyed himself in the mirror.
‘Man! This is super! I don’t even recognise myself!’
I looked at Rhea.
‘Hide your hair under a scarf. Get yourself a pair of those glasses to hide your green eyes. As soon as the job’s over, change out of the things you’re now wearing. Get a cheap suitcase, put your things in it and dump it somewhere safe. Fel will have to do that... understand?’
She nodded. She was much less hostile now and I knew I had her hooked.
I tapped the paper on the table.
‘It’s all written down here,’ I said. ‘Everything I’ve told you. Go over it and over it until you know every move by heart, then destroy it.’ I got to my feet. ‘I guess that’s all. Tomorrow night at ten-thirty.’ I again looked at Fel. ‘Remember, my face and not my head. Hit me hard enough to look convincing.’
He grimaced.
‘Rather you than me.’
I paused at the door to look at them.
‘Rather me than a million dollars,’ I said and left them.
Seven
Thursday passed off as well as could be expected. I was edgy in spite of trying not to be and Sydney drove me nearly crazy with his buzzing and fluttering. He kept appearing from his office, spinning around the showroom, giving me conspiratorial looks and then buzzing back out of sight. Of course, Terry became aware that something was cooking and he watched me with baleful, curious eyes.
Finally, I decided this must stop. I went into his office, closing the door.
‘For Pete’s sake, Sydney,’ I said, ‘do control yourself. You’re behaving like an escapee from the Mafia.’
His eyes popped wide open.
‘I am? I’m as calm as a bishop. What do you mean?’
‘As calm as a bishop who finds he has a girl in his bed.’
He giggled.
‘Well, maybe I am just a wee bit excited. I just can’t wait for tonight! You’ll be utterly thrilled!’
‘Keep it for tonight and stop buzzing around me. Terry is chewing his nails with curiosity.’
He took the hint and remained in his office for the rest of the afternoon, but when he left at 18.00, he couldn’t resist giving me a broad wink. I frowned at him and a little crushed, he took himself off.