‘But, Mel dear, she’s not a boy. Perhaps she isn’t interested in sport. A lot of girls aren’t.’
‘Yes, I guess that’s right. I thought it would be fun to play tennis with her and go riding. Yes, I put my foot wrong there.’
‘What else does she do?’
‘Well, I gave her a car and she goes over to Seacombe a lot.’ Mel stared down at his hands. ‘She’s seeing too much of that damned dwarf. She’s much fonder of him than she is of me. There’s something unhealthy and unpleasant about him. I’m thinking of putting a stop to her seeing him.’
Joy lifted her dark eyebrows.
‘How will you do that, Mel?’
‘Well, I’ll tell her not to see him.’
‘And if she wants to know why?’
He looked sharply at her.
‘You don’t think I should stop her seeing him?’
‘Look at it this way,’ Joy said. ‘This little man knew her mother well. At the moment he is Norena’s feeling of security. She’s been suddenly transplanted into comfort and wealth with a man she knows is her father, but who doesn’t mean a great deal to her. It’s natural she should want to see Edris. is that his name?’
‘But he’s a dwarf! There’s something about him... I don’t know what it is but I don’t like him! Why should a seventeen-year old girl want to spend so much of her time with a dwarf!’
‘You leave home at half-past eight and you get back at six-thirty. It’s a long day for her to sit at home listening to pop records. Who else is there for her to talk to?’
‘If she would come to the club, she would find someone.’
‘Oh, no, Mel, be sensible. The women at the club are either married with children or like me, too old to bother with a teenager.’
Mel sat back in his chair and spread out his hands.
‘All right. All my ideas are wrong. Suppose you make a suggestion.’
‘I should have thought the obvious solution was for her to get a job. That way she will meet people of her own age. She’ll be occupied and she won’t feel like a fish out of water.’
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake! I don’t want my daughter to work! Why should she? I have all the money either of us need. As a matter of fact she did say something about getting a job at the bank. It’s ridiculous. Why should a pretty girl bury herself in this bank?’
‘Could you get her in, Mel?’
‘It wouldn’t be easy. Yes, I guess I could. As V.P. I could arrange it. But I’m not going to do it. I don’t want her to go out to work.’
‘I think you should.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘Will you come back to dinner? I know father would like to see you.’
‘I would like to see him, but I can’t. I can’t leave Norena all this time alone. I’m a bit tied up now, Joy. You can see that.’
‘I won’t suggest she should come too. An eighty-year old Judge and a middle-aged spinster wouldn’t be much fun for her.’
‘Where do you get this middle-aged spinster stuff from?’
Joy laughed.
‘You will have to do something. You must let her work here. I am sure it will solve the problem. You usually take my advice. Will you please make arrangements for her to come here as soon as possible?’
‘You really think it would work?’
‘I’m sure of it.’
He hesitated, then nodded.
‘Maybe you’re right. I’ll talk with her. I’ll have to consult Crawsure. He looks after the staff. He won’t like it, but I’ll pull my rank on him.’
Joy got to her feet.
‘It’s my first night back, Mel. Father expects me. I must go. When do we meet?’
‘Tomorrow night? Let’s have dinner at the club.’
‘And Norena?’
‘She’ll be out. She’s out most evenings.’
‘Why not ask her to come with you?’
‘She won’t. She thinks the Club’s square.’
Joy lifted her shoulders. She knew she should press this, but she didn’t. She wanted to have Mel on his own.
‘She’s probably right. Then tomorrow at the Club. Don’t worry too much. It’ll work out. You’ll see.’
When she had gone, Mel sat for some moments thinking. He had always found Joy’s advice sound. Maybe if she had an occupation, Norena would be less hostile. He decided, after further thought, that it was worth a try.
A little after ten o’clock the following morning, Ticky Edris came out of the shower room, wrapping himself in his dressing gown. He trotted into the kitchenette and plugged in the coffee percolator, then he went to the front door to collect the milk and papers. He paused as the elevator doors swished back and Phil Algir stepped out.
‘Hi, buddy-boy,’ he said and picked up the milk. ‘You’re early. Want to see me?’
Immaculately dressed as usual, Algir pushed past him into the apartment. There was a bad-tempered scowl on his face and Edris could see he was working himself into a rage.
‘Who else do you imagine I want to see?’ Algir demanded, throwing his hat on a chair.
Edris shut the front door and trotted into the living room.
‘Have some coffee? It’s just made.’
‘Stuff it!’ Algir snarled and sat down. He took out a pack of cigarettes and lit a cigarette with an unsteady hand.
‘Something wrong?’
‘How much longer do you imagine I can go on like this?’ Algir demanded, sitting forward and staring at Edris, his pale eyes glittering.
‘I’ll be right back,’ Edris said calmly and trotted into the kitchenette. He returned after a few moments with the coffee things which he set on the table. He sat down and began pouring coffee into his cup.
‘What’s this bitch doing? Algir snarled.
‘She’s getting established,’ Edris returned, sipping his coffee. ‘What’s eating you, Phil?’
‘I’m skint. It’s all very well for you, you’ve got a job. I can’t stick around here forever without money. Just when do we start operating?’
‘Now look,’ Edris said, his voice sharpening. ‘I warned you this couldn’t be rushed, didn’t I? We make one false move and the whole thing blows up.’ He leaned forward and tapped the table with his stumpy finger. ‘I’ve been dreaming and planning this job now for five years. I’ll wait two more years if I have to to get this thing perfect. She’s got to get into the bank. She’s working on it. That girl’s smart! She’s handling it dead right. The whole trick of this is for her to get in there and become part of the bank’s background. Do you expect that to happen in a couple of days? If she doesn’t become part of the bank’s background, we can’t pull the job. It’s as simple as that. Once she’s in and she’s found out their system, then we start, but not before.’
‘This could take months! What am I going to do for eating money? You’ve got to give me some dough, Ticky! The hotel is pressing me.’
‘I gave you two hundred bucks last week.’ Edris’ face hardened. ‘Do you imagine I’m made of money?’
‘I want another two hundred bucks. You’ll get it back after we’ve pulled the job.’
‘You’ll get a hundred and not a dime more, and you’ll make it last at least two weeks,’ Edris said. He went to his bureau drawer and opened it.
Moving swiftly, Algir got up, crossed the room, gave Edris a hard shove that sent him reeling and dipped into the drawer. He took out a bundle of twenty dollar bills.
‘I’ll help myself, Ticky,’ he said, grinning. ‘You’ll get it back.’
Edris recovered his balance. His face had gone white. His small eyes were like flat bits of black glass. He backed away as Algir counted out three hundred dollars.
‘I’ll make it three,’ Algir said, grinning. ‘That’ll leave you a hundred. That’s enough for you, Ticky. A little guy like you hasn’t the expenses a big guy like me has.’
Ticky was now leaning against his miniature desk. He slid open a drawer and took from it a tiny pistol with a rubber bulb in place of a butt.