I sat down. With an unsteady hand, I lit a cigarette.
‘I’m glad I’m not your father,’ I said. ‘That’s one thing I’m really glad about.’
She giggled, drawing smoke down into her lungs and expelling it through her pinched nostrils.
‘Why bring my father into it? You’re just mad at me because I’m not the easy toy you thought I was.
They all say the same: stupid, unsuccessful men with the sex itch.’ She smoothed down her dark hair as she stared mockingly at me. ‘Now we have got over all that, shall we talk business?’
I hated her then more than I thought it possible to hate anyone.
I had trouble in opening my briefcase and taking out the papers on which I had written my questionnaire. My hands shook so badly, the papers made a rustling noise.
‘I’ll ask the questions,’ I said, my voice scarcely under control, ‘you give me the answers.’
‘You don’t have to get upset, little man,’ she said. ‘You’re being very well paid.’
‘Shut up!’ I snarled at her. ‘I don’t want any of your cheap remarks,’ then I began to fire questions at her. ‘Why did she go to the Pirates’ Cabin?’ ‘What was the room like in which she was imprisoned?’
‘What was the woman like who fed her?’ ‘Did she see anyone else besides this woman while she was in the farmhouse?’ and so on and so on.
Her answers were slick and smooth. Not once did she hesitate nor make a mistake.
We kept at it for over two hours. During those hours of intensive questioning, she never once put a foot wrong.
Finally, I said, ‘You’ll do. Just so long as you don’t alter the story and you watch out for traps, you’ll do.’
She gave me a small, mocking smile.
‘I’ll watch out fop traps… Harry.’
I got to my feet.
‘Well, okay, then we’re ready for Saturday. I’ll be at the Pirates’ Cabin at nine-fifteen. You know what to do.’
She uncurled herself off the settee and stood up.
‘Yes, I know what to do.’
We looked at each other, then her expression softened, and smiling, she moved towards me, that thing in her eyes.
‘Poor little man,’ she said. ‘Paw me if you want to. I don’t really mind.’
I waited until she was in range, then I slapped her face, hard. Her head jerked to one side. Then I slapped her again.
She stepped back, her hands going to her flaming cheeks, staring at me, her slate eyes glittering.
‘You stinker!’ she said shrilly. ‘I’ll remember that! You rotten stinker!’
‘Get out!’ I said. ‘Before I hit you again!’
She moved to the door, swinging her neat hips. At the door she paused and turned to stare at me.
‘I’m glad I’m not your wife,’ she said. ‘That’s one thing I’m glad about,’ then she suddenly giggled and turning, ran out into the moonlight and scampered away across the hard, damp sand.
I felt such a heel, I could have cut my throat.
CHAPTER FIVE
I
When I got up on Saturday morning, there was a hint of rain in the air. I was nervous and uneasy. All my doubts about this job came crowding up out of my sub-conscious. It was only the thought of the money that stiffened my jittery nerves.
‘I’ll be late tonight,’ I told Nina who was preparing breakfast. ‘This is the last night of the traffic count.’
She looked anxious at me.
‘Will you be seeing John today?’
‘I’ll see him on Monday. If he had any news for me he would have telephoned.’
She hesitated, then asked, ‘Are you going to take the job, Harry?’
‘I think so. A lot depends on what they will pay.’
‘John said the salary would be good.’ She smiled at me. ‘I’m so glad. You really have been worrying me.’
‘I’ve been worrying myself,’ I said lightly. ‘I’m taking the car tonight. It’s going to rain.’
‘There’s very little gas, Harry.’
‘That’s okay. I’ll fix it.’
Later, I went down to the beach cabin. I had just got into my swim trunks when Bill Holden appeared in the doorway.
‘Hello there, Mr. Barber,’ he said. ‘Are you keeping the cabin on for another week?’
‘I guess so,’ I said. ‘Maybe not for the whole week but at least until Thursday.’
‘Would you like to settle for this week?’
‘I’ll settle tomorrow. I’ve left my wallet at home.’
‘That’s okay, Mr. Barber — tomorrow’s fine.’
I stared out at the grey, heavy sky.
‘Looks like rain. I guess I’ll have a swim before it starts.’
Holden said he thought it would hold off until later, but he was wrong. I had just come in from the swim when the rain started.
I settled down in the cabin with a paper-back. The beach was now deserted. That suited me. I hoped the rain would go on all day.
Around one o’clock, I went over to the restaurant which was empty and ate a hamburger and drank a beer, then I returned to the cabin. As I pushed open the door, the telephone bell rang.
It was Rhea on the line.
‘Is everything arranged?’ she asked. There was an anxious note in her voice.
‘On my side, it’s arranged,’ I said. ‘I’m ready to go. Everything now depends on Odette.’
‘You can depend on her.’
‘Well, fine. Then at eight-forty-five, I’ll start things moving.’
‘I’ll telephone you tomorrow at eleven o’clock.’
‘I want some money,’ I said. ‘I have to pay for the rent of this cabin. Maybe it would be better if you came down here tomorrow morning. I’ll be here.’
‘I’ll do that,’ she said and hung up.
I remained in the cabin for the rest of the day. The rain beat down on the roof. The sea turned slate grey. I tried to concentrate on the paper-back, but it was impossible.
Finally, I got up and prowled up and down and smoked endless cigarettes, watching the time and waiting, waiting and waiting.
When at last the hands of my wrist watch showed eight-thirty, I left the cabin and ran across the wet sand to the Packard. It was still raining, but more lightly. I drove to a drug store in the main street of Palm City. By the time I had parked and had walked through the drizzle to the drug store, it was close on eight-forty-five.
I called Malroux’s residence.
Almost immediately the call was answered.
‘Mr. Malroux’s residence,’ an English voice announced. ‘Who is this, please?’
‘I want Miss Malroux,’ I said. ‘This is Jerry Williams.’
‘Will you hold the line, Mr. Williams? I’ll see if Miss Malroux is available.’
I held the line, aware that I was breathing over-fast.
There was a longish delay, then Odette’s voice said brightly, ‘Hello?’
‘Is anyone listening?’
‘No. It’s all right. Hello, Harry.’ There was a caress in her voice. ‘You’re the only man who has ever dared to hit me. You are quite a character.’
‘I know. Watch it I don’t hit you again. You know what to do? I’ll be at the Pirates’ Cabin in twenty minutes. The Packard will be parked on the far right-hand side of the parking lot. The dress will be on the back seat. You haven’t forgotten any of the details?’
‘I haven’t forgotten.’
‘Then get moving. I’ll be waiting for you,’ and I hung up.
It took me a quarter of an hour, driving fast to reach the Pirates’ Cabin. The parking lot was pretty full, but I managed to park the Packard where I had told her it would be. There was no parking attendant and that suited me. Someone was playing a squeeze-box and singing. I could see through the windows that the bar was crowded.