Lucan lost all his fears. Man! he thought, I could buy an apartment in Monte Carlo, play at the Casino, not bother ever again with fat, randy old women.
‘Okay, Ernie. That sounds great.’
‘Yeah, now the safe-house. Any ideas?’
Lucan sat back and thought while Kling watched him. Finally, Lucan nodded.
‘I think so. I’ll have to talk, but, Ernie, this will cost money.’
‘The sky’s the limit, if it’s really safe for two weeks.’
‘It could cost a hundred thousand.’
‘So what? We’re going to make five million. What’s a hundred thousand, and this won’t come out of your share. I’ll take care of the cost.’
‘My prospect is tough, Ernie. She will want an advance.’
‘She?’
‘I’m thinking of Lucy Loveheart. She runs a top-class, very discreet brothel. She and I have done business. Whenever I lift a bit of jewellery or something of value, I take it to Lucy and she gives me a fair price. How she gets rid of the stuff I sell to her is not my business. She has around twelve apartments in her house, all fitted to take care of rich lechers, plus girls. At the top of the house is the Whipping room. I just might persuade her to rent it to me for a couple of weeks if the price is right.’
‘Whipping room?’ Kling said, staring. ‘What the hell’s that?’
‘Lucy deals with all kinds of perverts. There are guys who like to thrash girls, and the more they scream, the better these punks like it, so Lucy has a sound-proof apartment on the top floor. I’ve seen it. A decent living-room, a bedroom, bath and even a kitchenette. You could let a gun off in there and no one would hear it. What’s more there are no windows. Could be your ideal safe-house if Lucy will play.’
‘That’s a great idea, Lucky. Go, talk to her. I don’t give a damn what it costs, but try to get it as cheap as you can. I’ll pay ten thousand deposit.’
‘Leave it to me, Ernie. I’ll go talk to her now.’ Lucan got to his feet. ‘About my ten thousand. When do I get that?’
‘A week, Lucky. It depends on what deal you do with this woman. I’ll be running myself short.’
‘You’ll fix a Swiss account for me?’
‘Sure. No problem.’
Lucan relaxed and smiled his charming smile.
‘I’ll fix it, Ernie,’ and he left the cabin almost at a run.
Ng Vee who had been listening to all this from the kitchen came into the living-room.
‘Sir,’ he said, ‘it seems a lot of money to give a disgusting gigolo like that. A half a million dollars!’
Kling stretched his long arms and yawned.
‘Who said that creep will ever get the money, kid? What’s for lunch?’
After lunch at Chong Wing’s restaurant of sweet-sour prawns and side dishes, Lucan, feeling buoyant and fortified, walked up the steps to Lucy Loveheart’s residence.
The time was 15.00. With luck, Lucy wouldn’t be too busy to see him, he thought, as he rang the bell.
Sam opened the door. Recognizing Lucan, whom he despised, he gave a slight nod.
‘Mrs Loveheart,’ Lucan snapped. ‘It’s urgent.’
‘I will inquire if she is free,’ Sam said, and stood aside. He showed Lucan into the ante-room and Lucan prowled around as Lepski had done some three hours ago. After an irritating wait of fifteen minutes, Sam appeared.
‘Mrs Loveheart can spare you a few minutes,’ he said and conducted Lucan to the elevator.
Lucy was at her desk which was covered with papers. She looked up, her violet-coloured eyes unfriendly as Lucan entered her office.
‘Hello, Lucky. Have you got something for me? We must make it short. I’m busy.’
‘When aren’t you, dear Lucy?’ Lucan said with his charming smile. ‘It depends on you how long this will take, but I assure you I’m not going to waste your time.’ He sat down in the visitor’s chair, crossed his long legs and took out his gold cigarette-case.
‘What is it?’ Lucy snapped. ‘Come on, Lucky! What have you got for me?’
‘A lot of money, dear Lucy. Around fifty thousand dollars. Like the sound of it?’
Lucy regarded him.
‘You mean you have something you think is worth that kind of money?’
‘Nothing like that. I’m offering you fifty thousand for a little service. It’ll be in cash,’ Lucan said, lighting his cigarette.
Lucy couldn’t conceal her surprise.
‘You are offering me money? You must be drunk!’
‘Lucy, don’t let’s waste time. I want to rent the Whipping room for two weeks. I’m offering fifty thousand for the two weeks’ rent. How about it?’
Lucy, whose shrewd mind worked quicker than fork lightning, immediately shook her head.
‘The Whipping room for fifty? Run away, Lucky. I’m busy.’
Lucan had expected this reaction. He knew Lucy to be very tough.
‘Look, Lucy dear, let me explain the setup. A rich client of mine wants to put his wife out of the way for two weeks. She is a little scatty in the head and has caused him a lot of trouble. He just wants to lose her for two weeks so he can do a business deal. He consulted me and I thought of the Whipping room. It’s an ideal place to keep this woman. It’s only for two weeks. No problem. How about it?’
‘Why doesn’t he send her to a clinic if she’s scatty?’
‘Because she isn’t scatty enough and wouldn’t go. She’ll have to be kidnapped, dear Lucy. Now don’t get excited. She’ll be brought here under sedation. She won’t know where she is. You won’t be involved. When the time comes for her to be released, she will again be sedated. You won’t be implicated, and it will be an easy fifty thousand in your pocket.’
Lucy smelt money. That was something she couldn’t resist.
‘What you are telling me is a woman is to be kidnapped and hidden in the Whipping room… right?’
‘That’s it.’
‘And you’re offering twenty-five thousand a week to house her here?’
‘Dead easy money, Lucy,’ Lucan said, flashing on his charming smile. ‘We’ll fix it someone will take care of her. You don’t have to bother. Just shut off the Whipping room and pick up a nice fifty grand.’
‘Kidnapping is a Federal offence,’ Lucy said. ‘No! Go elsewhere. Run away, Lucky. You’re wasting my time.’
‘There’ll be no blow-back. This woman is scatty. The husband will say she’s in a clinic. The cops nor the Feds won’t come into it. Come on, Lucy! What’s your price?’
‘Who is this woman?’
‘Don’t ask me. I wouldn’t know, nor do I care. I’m acting as a go-between. What’s your price?’
Lucy thought. There was a long pause.
‘Two weeks only?’ she asked, staring at Lucan, her eyes hard.
‘No more and utterly safe, Lucy. What’s your price?’
‘For a risky job like this, two hundred thousand,’ Lucy said. ‘For that I’ll rent you the Whipping room for two weeks.’
‘That’s crazy!’ Lucan exclaimed. ‘I could easily find some place else, but I wanted to do you a favour. Look, let’s say sixty a week. How’s that?’
Then began the haggling. After twenty minutes, Lucan, now sweating, agreed the sum should be one hundred thousand a week with a ten thousand cash down-payment. As it wasn’t his money, he didn’t really care. He promised to let Lucy have the down-payment by tomorrow and she agreed the Whipping room would be closed to clients as soon as she had the deposit.