“Quite a situation for a movie,” he said, lighting a cigarette. “But I saw it would be static. You know? A criminal and a writer holed up in a lonely fishing lodge. So far so good, but then what? Then the writer’s wife arrives. He didn’t expect her. Now the plot comes alive. This man now has two hostages. That’s a big step forward. I’m still working on the idea.”
“Sounds fine to me,” Ross said. “Yeah. I’ve seen all your movies, Mr Weston. This one could be the tops.”
“Glad you think so.” Perry finished his beer. “The trick now is how to finish the movie. You see these two are hostages. If the police come to the rescue, the killer will kill them, then fight it out until he himself is killed. I can’t allow this to happen. This might not work out.”
Ross was now convinced that Chet Logan was hiding in Weston’s lodge, but he gave nothing away as he finished his beer.
“I could make a suggestion, Mr Weston. Of course, I’m not in your trade. I’m thinking as a cop.”
In spite of trying to be casual, Perry slightly stiffened and Ross, watching him, saw his reaction.
“Any idea is better than none,” Perry said. “What’s the suggestion, Jeff?”
Ross thought for a long moment, then said, “The setup is your character has a homicidal killer in his lonely fishing lodge?”
How right! Perry thought, but merely nodded.
“Two cops arrive. Your character knows if he gives them the nod, there’ll be a shootout. Right?”
Again Perry nodded.
“These two cops suspect what is happening. They see your character is in danger so they leave as Hollis and I left. Now, suppose the younger cop happens to have served in the marines as an anti-sniper. Suppose he returns to the scene, climbs a tree overlooking the lodge, and waits.”
Perry drew in a long, slow breath. He realized that Ross knew Brown was hiding in his lodge. He thought of Hank Hollis, lean, tough, every inch an ex-marine. Was he really already up a tree, watching?
“Sounds good,” he said, aware his voice was husky. “Then what?”
“Well, here is a tricky situation, Mr Weston, but I guess with your know-how and for a movie, you could get around it.”
Now it was Ross’s turn to hesitate, then, shrugging, he went on, “This killer had murdered six people in one night. If he is caught, he’ll go away for thirty years which doesn’t mean a damn. He could be paroled after serving only eight or less years so he’d be loose again to kill more innocent people. The cop up the tree would treat this killer as he treated murderous Vietnamese snipers. That’s against the law, Mr Weston. As cops, we must arrest this man for trial, but this cop isn’t going to bother his head about that. So he kills this man.”
Perry stared down at his hands. “I don’t think that would jell, Jeff. It would put the police in a bad light.”
“Sure, but you could think up some solution. Suppose this killer spots the cop and fires at him, then the cop is justified in killing him.” Perry felt a cold chill run through him.
“I understand.”
“There’s another trick you will have to think up, Mr Weston,” Ross said quietly. “Your character and no one else can do it. Your character has to find a pretext to persuade the killer to show himself... to come out into the open so the cop in his tree can nail him. It’s got to be a certain shot. If the cop fires and misses, the killer will dive for cover and your character and his wife are as good as dead. So somehow you have to think up an excuse for your character to entice the killer out into the open.”
Perry thought of Brown. Entice him out into the open. What plausible reason could he give Brown to persuade him to show himself?
Watching him, Ross saw his look of despair.
“Think about it, Mr Weston,” he said. “There’s no hurry.”
“Yes.” Perry abruptly stood up. “I must be getting back. This has been a very helpful talk, Jeff. Thanks.”
Ross got to his feet and the two men shook hands. They stared at each other for a long moment, then walked across the road to the jeep.
Chapter 10
Hank Hollis eased his position as he straddled the branch of the tree.
A depressing thought struck him. Fifteen years ago when he was twenty five years of age, he had thought nothing of hiding in a tree in steamy heat, watching, waiting, but now, after five hours of waiting, he realized he wasn’t the man he once was. His back was aching, his crotch was getting sore, The mosquitoes tormented him. All this he had laughed off fifteen years ago. He remembered once a snake coming along the branch where he was sitting. He hadn’t moved. He knew one move from him would alert the Vietnamese sniper who was watching. He had let the snake slide over his legs and disappear into the foliage. He was damn sure he wouldn’t have remained still now.
Fifteen years was a long time. Although he attended the rifle club twice a week, was reckoned to be the best shot there, he knew his shooting wasn’t as sharp as it once was. He took a look at his watch. The time was 4:25. In another three hours it would be dusk, then quick darkness. Would Logan show himself? Hollis decided he couldn’t remain up the tree during the night. As soon as it dark, he would climb down, move into the forest to sleep. Then, before dawn, he would climb the tree again to wait.
Then he heard a soft bleep from his radio and switched it on.
“Sheriff?”
“Yup.” Ross’s voice was soft. “I’m now damn sure that Logan is in the lodge. I’ve been talking to Weston.”
Briefly, he described the conversation he had had with Perry. “Weston is in a tight situation, Hank. So long as Logan remains out of sight, there’s nothing we can do for either Weston or his wife. I could call out the National Guard and have the lodge surrounded, but that would mean Logan would murder the Westons. Weston is smart. He has ideas. He could persuade Logan to show himself. Then it’s up to you.”
Hollis wiped the sweat off his face. “I’m with you, Sheriff.”
“It looks as if Logan is going to make a break for it. Weston drew ten thousand dollars from his bank. Logan could take off when it’s dark, but I’m sure he will kill both the Westons before he goes. He wouldn’t want them to raise the alarm that he is on the move. This is a real mess, Hank.”
“Yeah. Okay, I’ll keep watch.”
“I guess I should come down there and relieve you...”
“No, this is my problem, not yours.” Hollis heard Ross sigh. “I’ll handle it.”
“How are you making out, Hank? You’ve been up that tree for more than five hours.”
Hollis hesitated, then decided he wasn’t going to get Ross in a flap. The last thing he wanted was this big, bulky man pushing his way through the forest and alerting Logan. “I’m fine,” he said. “Don’t worry about me, Sheriff. This is my specialty. I’ll keep in touch. Tell Mrs Ross her sandwiches were great.”
“Okay. Keep alert. Let me know when Weston gets back,” and Ross switched off.
The next hour dragged by. Hollis kept shifting his position. He looked down at the glittering river and longed to take off his sweat soaked clothes and take a swim. To pass the time he ate some of the cold fried chicken. He was thirsty and longed for a beer. He also longed for a cigarette.
“Show yourself, you bastard!” he thought. Come on, show yourself! But there were no signs of life from the lodge. Yes, he was right. Logan must be there, otherwise, on this hot evening, Weston’s wife would have come out. Hollis imagined her, terrified, cooped up with a thug like Logan.
Then he heard the sounds of the jeep approaching. He became very alert. He saw the jeep pull up outside the lodge and watched Perry get out. Perry took from the hatch back a sack of shopping and he saw the front door open. Perry entered and the door shut.