‘Don’t do it!’ His voice cracked. ‘I’ve heard them talking about someone, but he mightn’t even be a client. I just heard a name.’
‘What name?’ Elliot asked.
‘I heard Nisson and Ross talking. They talked about a man called Herman Radnitz who lives at the Belvedere Hotel.’
Radnitz!
Elliot stiffened. His mind went back to a big cocktail party thrown by the Vice President of M.G.M. when he was on vacation in Paradise City. Elliot, along with four hundred other celebrities, had been invited. The one man who had made an impression on him among all the rich and the famous had been a toad like, fat financier who someone had told him was the most important wheeler-dealer in the world. His name had stuck: Herman Radnitz. ‘A man who has dealings with the Soviet Union,’ his informer had told him. ‘Come to that: he has dealings with every foreign government and is on first name terms with the President.’
Concealing his excitement, Elliot asked, ‘Who are Nisson and Ross?’
‘They lead the investigation... Ross is out there in the car.’
Vin was listening to all this with growing impatience.
‘Let’s set about this creep. He’s got more up his jersey than he’s spilling.’
Elliot was satisfied. He shook his head.
‘Get your sock and shoe on,’ he said to Folls. ‘I could turn you over to the police, but I’m not going to. You keep your mouth shut and I’ll keep mine shut. Go ahead and watch us. We’re doing nothing wrong and we have no intention of breaking into Larrimore’s house. That’s someone’s pipe dream. You start something and I’ll start something. Okay?’
‘Are you letting this creep go?’ Vin asked, gaping at Elliot.
‘That’s right. Let him watch us. What have we to worry about?’ Elliot turned slightly so Folls couldn’t see and winked at Vin.
Vin, baffled, moved to the door and unlocked it.
‘Get the hell out of here!’ he snarled at Folls.
Scared witless, Folls bolted down the passage and out into the garden.
Elliot regarded Vin.
‘I think he gave it away,’ he said. ‘Herman Radnitz. There’s no one in this City except him who could offer a million for those Russian stamps. He has dealings with Russia. He fits, but now I want to find out why he wants these stamps so badly.’
‘Who cares as long as he pays out?’
‘He’s big time and dangerous. He could put you on the ball of his thumb and make a smear of you on a wall.’
‘Oh, yeah?’ Vin sneered. ‘Rich punks don’t scare me.’
‘There are times, Vin, when I despair of you.’ Elliot moved to the door. ‘I’m going to bed.’
‘Hey, wait a minute! Are you seeing this guy tomorrow?’
‘No. I have to be sure he really is the one who wants the stamps. At the moment, I’m guessing. Then I’ll have to think of a way to handle the deal.’
‘What’s so tough about it?’ Vin demanded impatiently. ‘You go to him, tell him you have the stamps, you want a million, get the money and give him the stamp. What’s wrong with that? If you don’t want to handle it, I’ll handle it!’
‘As I said, there are times when I despair of you,’ Elliot said and left the room.
Eight
The following morning, Elliot joined Joey and Cindy for breakfast. Vin was still in bed. Both Joey and Cindy were intensely curious about what had happened the previous night and Elliot told them.
‘I feel pretty certain Radnitz is our man,’ he concluded, ‘but before I approach him I must find out just why the C.I.A. are interested in these stamps. To get the C.I.A. after us would be serious.’ He looked over at Cindy. ‘Can you remember who signed the circular letter you found with the stamps?’
‘Lee Humphrey,’ Cindy told him. ‘It was a rubber stamp signature.’
‘Right. You and I are going to Miami this morning. Well take the Alfa. If you drive, the chances are no one will spot me.’
‘Why Miami, Don?’
‘I’m calling Washington and it could be traced,’ Elliot said. ‘When dealing with the C.I.A. you can’t be too careful. I’ll call from a hotel.’
All this worried Joey, but he said nothing. At least, he told himself, Elliot seemed to know what he was doing.
Soon after 10.00, Elliot and Cindy left the bungalow. Joey had been told not to tell Vin where they were going. It wasn’t until 10.30 that Vin made his appearance.
Vin had spent most of the night thinking. If Elliot was to be believed, he (Vin) now knew the name of the buyer and where to contact him. He also knew the stamps were in a safe deposit box in a bank. He was sure both Cindy and Joey knew in which bank.
He came into the living room to find Joey preparing to go out. He paused, looking suspiciously at him.
‘Where are you going?’
‘To get lunch.’ Joey was a little fearful of Vin. Gone were the days when he could relax with him. ‘Anything I can get you?’
‘Where are the other two?’
‘They’ve gone out. Do you fancy a steak for lunch?’
‘Gone out?’ Vin’s eyes narrowed. ‘Where have they gone?’
‘Taking a day off on the beach,’ Joey said and started towards the door.
Vin caught hold of his arm and swung him around. The vicious expression on his face scared Joey.
‘Don’t feed me that crap!’ he snarled. ‘Where have they gone?’
‘They said to the beach and they wouldn’t be back for lunch,’ Joey said feebly. His lying wouldn’t have convinced a child.
Vin pointed to a chair.
‘Sit down!’
‘Not now, Vin. I’ve got to buy the lunch,’ Joey said desperately. ‘I’m late as it is.’
‘Sit down!’ Vin repeated and there was a look in his eyes that turned Joey’s legs weak. He sat down.
‘Where are the stamps, Joey?’
Joey licked his dry lips.
‘I don’t know. Don handled them. He didn’t tell me.’
‘You’d better know, Joey,’ Vin said viciously. ‘Where are they?’
‘All I know is they’re in a bank,’ Joey said, flinching at the expression on Vin’s face.
‘What bank?’
‘He didn’t tell me.’
‘Listen, you stupid old creep, Elliot didn’t take the stamps to the bank. He’s too scared to show his face on main street. Either you or Cindy took them,’ Vin snarled. ‘You think I’m a dope? Now, listen, I want those stamps and I’m going to have them. I’m going to show you something.’ He took from his pocket a small blue bottle with a rubber stopper. ‘Know what this is?’
Joey eyed the bottle the way a snake eyes a mongoose.
‘No...’
‘I’ll tell you,’ Vin said. ‘It’s sulphuric acid.’ Joey wasn’t to know the bottle contained harmless eye drops. He stared at the bottle, his eyes growing round. ‘You’re going to give me those stamps,’ Vin went on. ‘You’re going to the bank right away and you’re going to bring them back here. I’ve had all I’m going to take from you three jerks. I want the stamps or Cindy will lose her looks. Don’t kid yourself, Joey. Neither you nor Elliot can protect her. Okay, maybe for a few days, but you can’t live with her all the time and sooner or later I’ll catch up with her. One flick of my wrist and she gets this little lot in her face. Have you ever seen acid burns?’
Joey felt a cold sickness creep over him. He stared at Vin, his heart beating so fast he felt suffocated.
‘I’m not bluffing, Joey. Get the stamps. I won’t tell you a second time.’
‘You... you wouldn’t do that to Cindy,’ Joey said huskily.
‘Get the stamps. I’ll wait here. I’ll give you two hours. If in two hours you’re not back, I’m leaving, but I’ll be around. I promise you one thing, if you don’t bring the stamps back, Cindy gets it within a week or so. That’s a promise! Now, get off!’