‘There is a box at the gate.’
‘When you go back, put this in the box. Make sure no one sees you do it. In this letter are the delivery instructions for tomorrow.’ As she took the letter, I went on, ‘Be careful how you handle it. You don’t want your prints on the envelope. Use gloves when you take it out of the slip-case.’
She put the letter in her bag.
‘So you’re going ahead with this?’ she said.
‘That’s what you are paying me for, isn’t it? I think we can get away with it. At least, now I’m working for the other side, I’ll know the moves. If it looks bad, I’ll let you know. The set-up now is this: I’ll call Odette and tell her to come back tomorrow night on the eleven o’clock plane. She’ll be here around one o’clock. She’ll wait here. Your husband is to drive along East Beach Road until he sees a flashing light. He will drop the briefcase as he passes the light. I should have the money by two-thirty.
He will drive on to Lone Bay, expecting to find Odette. You will come here, and I’ll join you two at two-forty-five. We will split up the money. Your husband, not finding Odette, will come home. You and Odette will be there, waiting for him. Your story will be that after he had gone, Odette just walked in.
I’ve coached her in her story and she should be able to convince him. That’s the set-up.’
She thought for a long moment, then she nodded.
‘All right… then tomorrow night at two-forty-five here.’
‘Watch out for O’Reilly,’ I said. ‘Make sure he doesn’t see you leave. This guy is a police spy. From now on, anything he spots, to do with this set-up, will go back to the D.A.: so watch out.’
She got to her feet.
‘I understand.’
‘Fine. Now I want some money,’ I said. ‘I have to pay the rent of this cabin. Fifty will cover it.’
She gave me the money.
‘Then tomorrow night…’
‘That’s it.’ There was something about her manner that made me uneasy. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it was there. ‘You watch out for O’Reilly.’
She looked at me.
‘You’re sure you can handle this?’
‘I wouldn’t touch it if I wasn’t sure.’
‘I must have this money,’ she said. ‘I expect you to get it for me — I’m paying you enough.’
She moved to the door, opened it, put up her umbrella and walked down the steps into the rain.
I watched her move across the sodden sand to the car park.
When she had driven away, I walked under the shelter of the coverway that connected all the cabins to Bill Holden’s office. I paid him the rent of the cabin.
‘Is the work going okay, Mr. Barber?’ he asked as he gave me the receipt.
For a second or so, I stared at him, not knowing what he meant, then I remembered and gave him a fatuous grin.
‘It’s going fine,’ I said. ‘I’ll need the cabin for one more night. Okay with you?’
‘Anything you say, Mr. Barber.’ He looked gloomily out of his office window. ‘I’ve never known such weather. It’s ruining me. Look at it!’
‘It’ll clear up tomorrow,’ I said. ‘Cheer up! I’ve just paid you rent, haven’t I?’
Leaving him, I returned to the cabin.
I hung around there until after two o’clock, then I ran through the rain to the snack bar across the way and had a sandwich lunch. When I got back to the cabin, I called Nina. I told her I didn’t know when I would be back.
‘The job’s fixed, Harry?’
‘The job’s fixed,’ I said. ‘From now on, I’m fixed too. From now on, we’ve nothing to worry about.’
I wished I really believed that. I had plenty to worry about.
‘That’s wonderful.’ The note in her voice made me feel more of a heel. ‘What did John want you for so urgently?’
‘I’ll tell you when I get back. I can’t talk on the telephone.’
‘I’ll be waiting for you, Harry.’
‘I’ll be back as soon as I can.’
At five minutes to three I called Renick.
There was a long delay before he came on the line.
‘Harry? You’re just in time.’ His voice boomed in my ear and he sounded excited. ‘We’ve found the car! You know Lone Bay parking lot? Meet me there as soon as you can make it. I’m on my way now.’
With my throat suddenly dry and my heart thumping, I told him I was coming.
II
A large red-faced cop stood near the white T.R.3. Renick and a couple of detectives I didn’t know were examining the car. It had stopped raining and the sun had come out.
As I came up, Renick said, ‘Look at this, Harry. This is a bit of luck for us — a bashed wing.’
The two detectives glanced at me as I joined Renick by the car.
‘Sure it’s hers?’ I said for something to say.
‘The number and licence tag check. It’s hers all right.’ Turning to the two detectives, he went on,
‘Check the car for prints and don’t move it. When you’re through, leave it as it is, and report back to me.’
Renick went on to me. ‘I’m calling on Malroux. You come with me. This bashed wing gives me the chance to talk to him. We’ll take your car. You can drop me off at headquarters after we have talked to him.’
I wished I could warn Rhea that we were coming, but there was no chance of that. It didn’t take us ten minutes to reach Malroux’s residence.
The house was hidden behind high walls. As we drove up to the massive wooden gates, a broad-shouldered man in a dove grey uniform came out of a nearby lodge and looked inquiringly at us.
‘Calling on Miss Malroux,’ Renick said.
The man shook his head.
‘She’s not in.’
‘Know where I can contact her?’
‘I don’t.’
‘Then I guess I’ll talk to Mr. Malroux.’
‘Not without an appointment.’
‘I’m Lieutenant Renick, City Police. It’s an official call.’
The man looked startled.
‘I guess that’s different. Stick around, Lieutenant.’ He went into the lodge. Through the window I saw him using a telephone. There was a delay, then he came out and opened the gates.
‘Go right ahead, Lieutenant.’
We drove up a sanded carriageway. On either side were lawns and flower beds. The massed effect of colour was impressive. We could see the house now. It was a low built Spanish styled house with terraces and an ornamental fountain. It looked what it was: the residence of one of the richest men in the world.
‘Pretty lush,’ Renick said as I parked the Packard on the tarmac apron beside the glittering Rolls.
‘How would you like to own a joint like this?’
‘I’d like it fine,’ I said, following him up the steps. By now I was really worked up. Everything depended on what Malroux said. I felt the fifty thousand dollars that was coming to me hung in balance.
The butler was waiting for us by the front door. He was a fat, elderly man with a supercilious stare.
‘Lieutenant Renick, City police,’ Renick said. ‘I want to speak to Mr. Malroux.’
‘If you will come this way.’
The butler led us across a patio where another fountain played, and out onto a large terrace that looked directly on the sea.
Rhea was in a lounging chair, leafing through a magazine. She was wearing sun goggles. She glanced up as we stepped onto the terrace.
A tall, thin man, very sun tanned, wearing a pair of white slacks and a blue and red sweat shirt sat in another lounging chair. This must be Malroux, I thought. He was handsome. His thick hair was steel grey. His steady blue eyes were very alive. It was impossible to believe that he was fatally ill.