‘If you try any further trickery, your woman will be tortured to death! I know all about your futile attempts to undermine Harry and Joe. There are three million dollars in that vault, and they want them! From now on you cooperate! Understand?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then tomorrow morning here!’ He slammed his fist on the desk and screamed at me in a mad, high-pitched voice, ‘No one, least of all you, will stop me breaking into that bank! Now get out!’
Joe came over to me and caught hold of my arm.
‘Come on, man,’ he said giggling. ‘Didn’t I take you for a ride!’
Joe burst out laughing, slapping his great black hands on his thighs.
‘Man! You sure do flap with your mouth.’
I walked out of the house to where my car was parked. As I got under the steering wheel, I remembered what Glenda had said: He’s a devil.
I felt utterly defeated and crushed. The trap had been sprung, and there was no way out. I heard again Glenda’s scream, and I shivered. I was not only dealing with a devil, but also a madman.
I drove back to Sharnville in despair.
At 08.30, I walked into the police station house.
This day was Friday: a hot, sticky morning with high humidity, but with clear sky and a bright sun.
I had spent a bad night, tossing and turning, with Glenda constantly on my mind. My face, where Benny had hit me, had been bruised, but Jebson’s ointment had cleared the bruise during the night. I shrank from facing Klaus again, — but I had to get the parcel from Maclain and deliver it.
Deputy sheriff Tim Bentley sat at his desk. He was a good cop, but young. He would have made a much better sheriff than Maclain. He was tall, rangy with fiery red hair and freckles. He grinned at me as I came in.
‘Hi, Mr. Lucas. Anything I can do?’
‘Maclain in yet, Tim?’
‘He had to go to L.A. last night, Mr. Lucas. I don’t expect him back until Monday.’
I stiffened.
‘I gave him a parcel on Wednesday evening to be delivered to Mr. Brannigan,’ I said. ‘He put it in the safe.’
Bentley nodded.
‘Sure. I know about that. The Sheriff took it with him.’
I had sudden difficulty in breathing, and my sticky sweat turned cold.
‘I’ve got to get that parcel back!’ My voice was harsh, and seeing Bentley’s startled expression, I fought to control my rising panic. ‘The arrangement was, Tim, that Maclain should deliver the parcel on Monday, and not before.’
‘Sure, Mr. Lucas. He knows that, but as he had urgent business in L.A. last night, and planned to stay over the weekend, he took the parcel with him. It’s okay. He’ll deliver it on Monday.’
‘The parcel, Tim, contains plans for a new bank. I’ve just found that a lot of the costing is wrong. I’ve got to get it back right now!’
‘I’ll call L.A. and find out where Maclain is.’
I kept thinking of Klaus’s vicious, snarling face. If I didn’t deliver the parcel to him by this morning, he would take it out on Glenda.
After talking, Bentley put down the telephone receiver.
‘Captain Perrell saw Maclain last night, Mr. Lucas, and concluded the business. He doesn’t know where Maclain is right now.’ Bentley shrugged. ‘He could be returning here or having himself a weekend ball. You know what he’s like.’ He shrugged. ‘He did tell me not to expect him back until Monday evening.’
I really flipped my lid. Crashing my fist down on the desk, I shouted, ‘I’ve got to get that parcel back! I was out of my mind to have entrusted it to that drunken sot! You’ve got to help me, Tim!’
He regarded me with startled eyes.
‘Hey, Mr. Lucas! Take it easy. I...’
‘Do you mean you can’t find him! What the hell are the police for? You’ve got to find him! If I let Brannigan see those figures, my firm will lose a contract! It’s as important as that, and goddamn it, I’ll hold Maclain and you responsible!’
‘Well, if it’s that important.’ He hesitated, then picked up the telephone receiver. He called L.A. again, and said it was urgent for them to find Maclain. He hung up.
‘They’ll find him, Mr. Lucas, but it could take time. Suppose I call you at your office.’
‘How long will it be?’
‘Depends if Maclain is sober or not. I guess a couple of hours.’
‘And if he’s drunk?’
He shrugged.
‘Your guess is as good as mine.’
‘Call L.A. again. Tell them what I’ve told you. I’ll drive out there right away. Let me use your phone.’
‘Go ahead, Mr. Lucas.’
I called my office, and told Mary I had to go to Los Angeles, but I would be back some time this afternoon.
‘But, Mr. Lucas, you have three appointments.’
‘Cancel them,’ I said, and hung up. ‘I’m on my way, Tim. Thanks for what you’re doing,’ and I went back to my car.
By now it was 09.00. It would take me around two hours of fast driving to reach Los Angeles. There could be a delay getting the parcel. I didn’t think I could get to Klaus before 15:00.
I walked fast to the post office, then realized I hadn’t Klaus’s telephone number. I looked him up in the book, but he was unlisted. Sweat was pouring off me. I dialled Directory Enquiries. I got a helpful operator.
‘This is an emergency,’ I said. ‘I must contact Mr. Edwin Klaus. He lives at The Farmhouse, Shannon Road. Please connect me.’
‘Hold a moment, sir.’ There was a delay, then she came back to me. ‘I’m sorry, sir, this is an unlisted number.’
‘I know that. His son has been badly injured in a car accident. I’ve got to alert his father. This is Doctor Lewis talking.’
A long hesitation.
‘Okay, doctor, I’ll connect you.’
I wiped the sweat off my face as I waited, then Benny’s harsh voice came over the line.
‘What is it?’
‘Give me Klaus,’ I half shouted. ‘This is Lucas.’
‘What makes you think he wants to talk to you, fink? Get stuffed!’
‘Get him, you ape!’ I yelled.
There was a pause, then I heard talking, then Klaus came on the line.
‘Yes, Mr. Lucas?’
‘The police have taken the parcel to Los Angeles. I’m going there right now, but I can’t get back to you before four o’clock.’
‘At exactly four o’clock, Mr. Lucas, unless you have arrived, Benny will be allowed free access to your woman,’ and he hung up.
It wasn’t until just after 11.00 that I reached the Los Angeles station house.
Captain Perrell, a short, heavily built man, knew I played golf with Brannigan, so I got the V.I.P. treatment.
‘I’ve got your problem solved for you, Mr. Lucas,’ he said. ‘Although we haven’t found Maclain, we found his deputy who is already on his way back to Sharnville. He tells me Maclain is spending the weekend with some woman, but Maclain told him to deliver this parcel you’re worried about to the bank. He did this at 09.30 this morning and got a receipt.’ He handed me a slip of paper.
With my heart thumping, I looked at the paper.
Received one parcel from Mr. Lucas, Sharnville, for Mr. Fanell Brannigan.
I knew Lois Shelton well.
‘Thanks, Captain, I’ll get over to the bank.’
As I returned to my car, I asked myself if Brannigan had already opened the parcel and had read my statement. Entering the bank, I asked to speak to Miss Shelton. The receptionist smiled at me.
‘Go ahead, Mr. Lucas. I guess, by now, you know your way.’
I took the elevator to the top floor and walked into Lois Shelton’s office.
She was tall, dark, slim and nice looking without being pretty.