She took the glass and smiled up at him.
‘When you have the stamps and when you have shown them to me I’ll tell you the name of the buyer. We’ve gone over this routine before... remember? But in case you are suffering from amnesia, I take the stamps to the buyer, collect the money and pay you off... remember? We have also gone over that routine before.’
Vin took a long pull at his glass. So he would have to take action, he thought. Well, okay, she couldn’t say she hadn’t asked for it. He would have to get her off her guard, then slam a punch at her jaw. He mustn’t make a mistake. He would have to knock her cold with the first punch or else the bitch would start yelling her head off.
‘She knows where he keeps them,’ he said, moving away from the bed. He sat down in a nearby chair. ‘I can get them. I’ll try tomorrow night.’
‘How did she do it?’
He shrugged.
‘Don’t worry about that... she did it and I’ll get them tomorrow night.’
She sipped her drink, regarding him over the rim of the glass.
‘Do you read gangster stories, Superman?’
He gaped at her. She was always asking unexpected questions that threw him.
‘No... I watch TV. I don’t read books.’
‘I read a gangster book the other night,’ she said. ‘It was about a brainless moron who was hired to kill people. Guess how he killed them?’
Vin put his glass down on the occasional table. Her steady, probing stare brought him out into a sweat.
‘Who the hell cares? Let’s talk business.’
‘I thought you might have read the book. It’s called, Dollars are for Dames.’
‘I don’t read books.’
‘That’s right... you told me. Well, this moron carried a dog lead around with him. He strangled people with it.’
Suddenly Vin could smell his own sweat A quick jump across to her, his fingers on her throat to throttle back her scream, then a slam on the jaw. Once he had got her gagged and bound, he would teach her to act tricky with him. He braced himself. One quick jump. He could hear yells and gunfire from the TV in the next cabin. Even if she did yell before he could shut her mouth, no one would pay any attention.
‘Are you married, Superman?’ Judy asked, nursing her drink.
This question so surprised Vin’s slow working mind that he paused as he prepared himself for his spring forward.
‘Married?’ He gaped at her. ‘No... why the hell do you keep asking stupid questions?’
‘Are you sure you haven’t a jealous wife?’ Her eyes were mocking now.
‘What’s with it?’ He got to his feet and began to move casually towards her. ‘I haven’t a goddamn wife.’ Three more steps and he would be within range.
‘Then why are these two men following us?’ Judy asked. ‘I thought they were private dicks after divorce evidence.’
Vin felt as if he had walked into a wall. A wave of cold blood rushed up his spine. It was only at this moment that he remembered Elliot’s warning to watch out that he wasn’t followed. He remembered that Joey and Cindy had said they had been tailed.
‘Following us?’ His voice was strangled. ‘What do you mean?’
His expression of fear, vicious frustration and alarm seemed to amuse her. She giggled.
‘They followed us last night and they followed us tonight.’ She put her head on one side and looked cute. ‘Didn’t you spot them, Superman?’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ he snarled.
‘I like having them around.’ She smiled at him. ‘They give me a feeling of security.’
Vin drew in a slow breath. She was wise to him! The shock hit him and he found his legs were unsteady. He sat down abruptly. What an escape! Suppose he had knocked her off! Imagine carting her body from the cabin to the Jag and as he was putting her body in the boot, these two punks had descended on him. The thought made sweat run down his face. What an escape!
‘Have they upset your plans?’ she asked. ‘How sad! Did you really think I’m so dopey as to come here without protection? You and your dog lead!’ She put her glass down and throwing back her head, she began to laugh.
Vin sat like a stricken bull. Finally he could stand the sound of her laughter no longer.
‘Shut up, you goddamn bitch!’ he bellowed.
She stopped laughing and taking a handkerchief from her bag, she mopped her eyes.
‘Superman! You’re the funniest thing alive. I knew you were stupid, but I didn’t believe you could be such a brainless moron as you are.’
Vin half started from his chair, but, with an effort, he controlled the urge to grab her by her throat and strangle her.
‘Cut it out!’ he snarled. ‘You and me are partners. I know where the stamps are and you know where the buyer is. We both want the money. Do we go ahead with this or don’t we?’
She regarded and her face became as hard as stone.
‘Yes... we go ahead.’ Her voice now had a cutting edge that startled Vin. ‘Now listen to me, you stinking creep. You planned to force me to give you the name of the buyer and then you planned to murder me and take all the money for yourself. You’re so obvious an idiot child could read the mess you call your mind! Make no mistake about this: you’re going to get the stamps and you’re going to give them to me! Don’t imagine, you stupid clown, you can get them and take off. I’ll know if they go and I’ll give the police a description of you and they’ll pick you up so fast you won’t know what’s hit you. From now on, Superduper, you’re going to do what I tell you to do. There’ll be no more cosy motels. When we meet, we meet with people around us so get the idea out of your moronic head that you’ll ever get a chance of murdering me. Understand?’
Vin eyed her. The expression in her hard, cold eyes warned him to play it cool. This bitch was dangerous. If she put the cops on him... but dare she? She would get involved herself.
‘My father wouldn’t bring a charge against me, Superduper,’ Judy said. I know what you’re thinking. Just step out of turn and you’ll have the fuzz crawling over you like fleas on a dog.’
Vin wiped the sweat off his face. He realized with sick frustration she was too goddamn smart for him to cope with.
‘Okay,’ he said. ‘I’ll get the stamps and then we’ll do a deal.’
‘It’s going to be a different kind of deal, little man,’ Judy said. ‘You will now get a hundred thousand and I’m having the rest Now get out! I’ll take a taxi home. When you have the stamps, telephone me and we’ll meet at the Plaza Beach. If the stamps go and I don’t hear from you, the fuzz will be after you. That’s a promise... now, get out!’
Vin hesitated. This could be his last chance to be alone with her. Suppose she was bluffing? Suppose they hadn’t been tailed? Dare he take the risk? His fingers itched to fasten on her throat.
Judy faced him, her eyes contemptuous.
‘Just try it, you stinker, and see where it gets you!’ she said in a fierce whisper. ‘Get out!’
With a feeling of frustrated defeat and fury, Vin turned and stamped out of the cabin.
Soon after Vin had gone to meet Judy, for no reason at all Elliot’s non-existent foot began to ache. This pain always put Elliot in a bad mood and saying curtly he wanted to read, he went to his room, leaving Cindy and Joey to settle to television.
Lying on his bed, Elliot again considered his future. He realized that Cindy had made an unexpected difference to his outlook. He now had the stamps. He was sure Vin planned to double cross them all... so why not double cross Vin? Why not take the stamps to Kendrick, try to get the price upped or if Kendrick wouldn’t play to accept the two hundred thousand dollars and with Cindy and Joey, take off, leaving Vin to whistle for his share?
But Elliot realized after some thought that it wasn’t in him to double cross anyone. He knew Cindy wouldn’t approve and if he did it he knew for the rest of his days he would have put himself on the same level as Vin and that was unthinkable.