During these four days, he got to know something about Alice Craig. She was a good worker, and once she got used to him, an easy companion. He found he could leave most of the routine work to her and he was happy to do so. He was thankful she was so completely sexless and negative. To share such long hours with her if she had been otherwise would have been dangerous. Calvin had always made a point never to have an association with any girl employed by the bank.
During these four days he had seen little of Kit Loring. He had listened to her going to bed each night, and he had got into the habit of lying in his bed, staring fixedly at the communicating door as if he were willing it to open. Each time he met her to speak to, he found her more attractive, but he made no serious attempt to get to know her better.
On the Wednesday evening while he was completing the work of the day, his desk-lamp alight, papers spread out on his desk, Alice tapped on the door and came in. He looked up, switching on his charm.
‘It’s about tomorrow, Mr. Calvin,’ Alice said, hesitating at the door.
‘Something special? Come in and sit down.’
She perched herself on the arm of the armchair.
‘The money for the wage pay-out will be coming.’
‘What wage pay-out?’
‘It’s for the four local factories. The money arrives in an armoured truck at six,’ Alice explained. ‘Sheriff Thomson and Mr. Travers are here to see it into the vault. Then the following day the accountants from the four factories come at nine and collect the money.’
Calvin rubbed the side of his jaw while he looked at her.
‘Seems an odd way to do it. What amount is involved?’
‘Three hundred thousand dollars,’ Alice said quietly.
Calvin felt a sudden rush of cold blood up his spine. He leaned forward, staring at the girl, his blue eyes alive.
‘How much?’
She looked startled at his reaction.
‘Three hundred thousand dollars,’ she repeated.
Calvin forced himself to relax. He leaned back in his chair.
‘That’s quite a sum,’ he said. ‘What’s the idea — leaving it here over night?’
‘It comes from Brackley. It wouldn’t arrive in time if they delivered it on Friday. The pay-out always starts soon after nine. We don’t really have anything to do with it. We just house the money for the night. The factory accountants handle it.’
Calvin stared at the glowing end of his cigarette, his mind busy. Three hundred thousand dollars! You could take quite a few risks to get your hands on that kind of money!
‘Has this arrangement been going on for long?’
‘Oh, yes, for the past five years.’
‘Well, so what do we have to do about it? Are we responsible for the money until it leaves here? It doesn’t seem to be a hundred per cent safe bet. Any determined robber could get hold of it. Our security isn’t all that brilliant, is it?’
‘It’s quite safe,’ Alice said seriously. ‘You have the key to one of the locks of the vault and I have the other. There is also a device that protects the vault. No one could rob the vault without being detected.’
Calvin ran his fingers through his sand-coloured hair.
‘That sounds like famous last words to me. Just what is this wonderful device?’
‘It is an electronic eye one of the factories installed,’ Alice told him. ‘Once it is switched on you can’t go near the door of the vault without setting off alarms at the sheriff’s office and the Federal Bureau’s office at Downside…’
‘Sounds fine: so we just don’t have to bother our heads? It’s not our responsibility?’
‘No. We lend the vault, but we’re not responsible.’
‘But we do have to remain here late every Friday?’
‘Yes, we do have to do that.’
‘And it looks as if I’m going to be a little late tonight. I have another half hour’s work to do. Have you finished?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well, okay, you get off. I’ll lock up.’
‘Can’t I help you?’
He gave her his charming smile.
‘Thanks, no. I have to write this report about Mr. Lamb. I’ll be back in time for dinner.’
She smiled nervously at him and went out of the office. After a few minutes, she came back wearing her hat and coat.
‘I’ll lock myself out,’ she said.
What an awful taste in clothes this girl has, Calvin thought as he got to his feet. She was wearing a mustard-coloured coat with a green collar that made her complexion seem muddy. Her big dowdy hat half hid her face.
‘I’ll let you out,’ he said and walked with her to the door. ‘Tell Mrs. Loring I won’t be late for dinner.’
He watched her walk towards the bus stop, then as he was closing the door, he suddenly realised that across the street was the sheriff’s office. He could see the sheriff’s ten-gallon hat hanging on a peg through the big, lighted window that was half screened to hide the actual office. As a symbol of authority, the hat made Calvin stiffen and stare. He stood for a long moment staring at the hat, then he closed the door and locked it.
He remained, his hand on the door handle, thinking, then he went behind the counter, opened the door leading to the vault and descended the ten steps into the cold, steel-lined room. Facing him was the door of the vault with its two elaborate locks. He could see no sign of an electronic eye. He stared at the door for some minutes, then humming tunelessly, he left the vault, closed and locked the door and returned to his office.
He sat at his desk and stared sightlessly at his half-written report.
Three hundred thousand dollars! Was this the chance he had been waiting for for seventeen long, dreary years? The sum was certainly worth great risks, but just what were the risks?
‘I’m here for at least six months,’ he said to himself. ‘I mustn’t rush this thing. I have plenty of time. I must see how the money is delivered, how this electronic gadget works. I must find out if there is any weakness in the security measures these people have taken to protect their money. If I am going to take this money, I must be absolutely certain no one will know I have taken it. That’s how every bank robbery fails. Once the Federal agents know who has taken the money, you’re as good as cooked. The trick in this set-up is not to let them have a clue that you have taken it. If you can do that, if you are patient enough not to spend a cent of the money until the heat is off, you stand a ninety-nine per cent chance of getting away with it. These odds are worth the risk when three hundred thousand dollars are for the having.’
With an effort he shelved these thoughts and finished his report about Joe Lamb. Then he turned off the lights and left the bank.
As he edged his car into the big garage at the back of the rooming-house, he saw Kit getting out of her car.
‘Hello,’ he said. ‘Have you just got in?’
She was wearing a short leather coat and black slacks. She rested her hips against the fender of the car and surveyed him coolly.
‘I’ve been to the movies. Now I must rush. It’s Flo’s night off.’
He came closer to her. He took out his pack of cigarettes and offered it. They both lit up.
‘I’m a handy man,’ he said, switching on his charm. ‘Can’t I help? I’d like to. I get bored sitting up in my room waiting to eat.’
Her brown eyes studied him with that odd, amused expression that slightly irritated him. It was as if she were telling him she knew his charm wasn’t to be trusted.
‘I never refuse help. Come on then: help me get the dinner.’
He followed her from the garage, around the back of the house and into the well-equipped kitchen.