‘These kids,’ he said in disgust. ‘They get a fixed idea, and nothing will shift it.’
‘Thanks,’ I said, breathing again. ‘I was damned if I was going to let him bust my car.’
‘You were right. Okay, Mr. Barber.’
He saluted Nina and then went off down the path.
‘Well!’ Nina said. ‘I hated that little beast. I knew he was going to make trouble the moment I saw him.’
I closed the garage doors.
‘Better lock it,’ I said. ‘I don’t want him sneaking back here, and he could.’
She gave me the key and I locked the doors.
Together, we went into the bungalow.
‘What’s been happening, Harry? They think this girl’s dead. Everyone is talking about her. What’s been happening?’ Nina asked as we walked into the lounge.
‘I don’t know. Get me a drink, will you? I’ve been at this rat-race all day and I’m about petered out.’
I took off my jacket and tossed it into the settee, then I sank into a lounging chair and loosened my tie.
Nina mixed a whisky and soda.
‘What are we going to do about the car?’ she asked.
‘It’ll have to wait. We can’t afford a new gearbox.’
She carried the drink over.
‘A cigarette?’
‘Yes.’
She gave me a cigarette.
‘My lighter is in my pocket.’
She went over to my jacket and put her hand in one of the pockets. My mind couldn’t have been working. I was so used to having her wait on me.
‘Harry!’
The tone of her voice brought me alert.
She was holding my car keys and her car keys in her hand and she was staring at them.
I felt my mouth turn dry.
She looked at me.
‘Harry!’
There was a long pause while we stared at each other, then the glass of whisky I was holding slipped out of my hand and smashed to pieces on the parquet floor.
CHAPTER TEN
I
The hall clock began to strike nine. The sharp pinging sound of the bell seemed to fill the room.
I got to my feet, staring down at the broken glass and the puddle of whisky on the floor.
‘I’ll fix it,’ I said and started for the door.
‘Harry…’
‘I’ll be right back.’
I had to have a breather. I knew I was chalk white. My mind was seething with panic. I strove desperately to think of a convincing lie, but I couldn’t think of one.
I picked up a swob in the kitchen and then started back down the passage to the lounge. I saw Nina fumbling at the front door, trying to open it. When we had come in I had shot the bolts. The top one was stiff and she was trying to draw it back.
‘Where are you going?’ I shouted to her, throwing aside the swob.
She looked over her shoulder at me. Her face was pinched and white and her eyes unnaturally large.
‘To the garage.’
She got the bolt back as I jumped forward and grabbed her.
‘You’re not going out there! Give me those keys!’
‘Let go of me!’
She wrenched free and darted away from me, putting her hands behind her back and leaning against the wall. Her breasts under her white shirt rose and fell with her violent breathing.
‘Give me those keys!’
‘Don’t come near me! What have you done?’
‘Give me those keys!’
‘No!’
I had to have them. I grabbed her, but she twisted away and ran into the lounge. I went after her, caught her wrist and spun her around with her back to me.
‘Harry! You’re hurting me!’
I wrenched open her fingers and got the keys. As we struggled, she slipped and fell on her knees.
I let go of her and stood away, breathing heavily. I felt like hell.
She remained on her knees, her face in her hands and she began to cry.
I dropped the keys into my pocket.
‘I’m sorry, Nina.’ I could scarcely get the words out. ‘I didn’t mean to hurt you. Please don’t cry.’
I wanted to pick her up but I was too ashamed even to touch her.
She remained on her knees for about two minutes while I stood there, watching her. Then slowly she got up, holding her wrist.
We faced each other.
‘You had better tell me the truth,’ she said. ‘What have you done?’
‘I haven’t done a thing,’ I said. ‘Forget it. I’m sorry I hurt you.’
‘Will you please give me my car keys? I want to open the trunk of the car.’
‘For God’s sake, Nina! Will you stop it! I told you to forget it. Don’t you understand? You’ve got to forget it.’
She held out her hand.
‘Give me my keys.’
‘You little fool!’ I said desperately. ‘Keep out of this! I’m not giving you the keys!’
She sat down abruptly, staring at me.
‘What’s in the trunk you’re so frightened I’ll see — so frightened those two soldiers would see? Harry!
Don’t tell me that — the girl is in the trunk?’
Sweat was glistening on my face now and I was shaking.
‘Listen to me,’ I said. ‘You’ve got to pack a bag and go to a hotel! I must be alone here tonight! Will you please, please do what I’m asking and don’t ask questions?’
‘Oh, Harry!’ She was staring at me now in horror. ‘Tell me it’s not true! I can’t believe it! Harry!
She’s not in there, is she?’
‘Stop asking questions!’ I slammed my clenched fists together. ‘Go and pack a bag! Get out of here!
Can’t you see I have enough on my mind without having to worry about you?’
‘Is she dead? She must be dead! Did you kill her?’
I went up to her, grabbed her by her arms and pulling her upright, I shook her.
‘Stop asking questions! You know nothing! Do you understand that? Nothing! Now get out and keep away until tomorrow.’
She pulled free and moved away from me, her hands to her face. Then suddenly she seemed to relax and she lowered her hands.
‘I’m not going,’ she said, her voice quiet and steady. ‘Stop shouting Harry, and sit down. We’re going to share this thing. Please tell me what has happened.’
‘Do you want me to hit you?’ I snarled at her. ‘Can’t you get it into your head you could go to prison for years if you know anything about this? Don’t you understand? I’m trying to save you. You’ve got to leave here and at once!’
She looked steadily at me, shaking her head.
‘The last time you were in trouble you kept me out of it and made me an outsider. You’re not doing that to me again. I’m going to help you in any way I can.’
‘I don’t want your help!’ I said violently. ‘Now get out!’
‘I’m not going, Harry.’
I started a swing, the flat of my hand aiming at her face, but I couldn’t hit her. My hand dropped to my side. I stared helplessly at her, feeling completely defeated.
‘Did you kill her, Harry?’
‘No.’
‘But she is in the trunk?’
‘Yes.’
‘Dead?’
‘Yes.’
Nina shuddered, and for a long moment the only sound in the bungalow was the steady ticking of the hall clock.
‘What are you going to do?’ she asked finally.
‘I’ll hire a car, and take her out to the Petrie silver mine.’
‘We haven’t the money to hire a car.’
I dropped wearily into a chair.
‘I have the ransom money.’
Nina got up and made two drinks. She gave me one and drank the other. Then she sat on the arm of my chair, her hand on mine.
‘Please tell me how it happened: right from the beginning.’
‘If the police catch up with me,’ I said, ‘and they find out you know about this, you’ll go to jail for ten years; maybe longer.’