“Fall in value of your pal’s collection?” I guessed.
“He might be inclined to sell,” he replied evenly.
“Good heavens,” I said just as evenly. “Whereupon you’d buy them, the day before the coins were revealed as counterfeit?”
He fell about at that, me laughing with him.
“I’ll see the publicity’s done right,” I promised. “Fancy some early English hammered silver coins, soon to be discovered at Roanoke? Only, I’ve got some maniacs back home who’d be really keen to have a regular thing going…”
See what I mean? Some antiques people are a pleasure to do business with.
THAT evening I totted up the sums fleecing in soon, and found I’d bettered Jim’s by a clear six-fold. It took me two hours on the phone with Prunella close by reading her notes in the hotel at Pennsylvania Station where Jennie had booked us in. I fixed all the frayed edges, the outstanding threats and promises, settled the transfers, formed up a method of checking on the payments with Gina’s accountants, and had the contributors listed at Jennie’s.
Prunella was paid. She was flushed, exulting.
“You know, Lovejoy,” she said, transported. “I’m on a high! I’m flying! The girls back at the agency would never believe me.”
“Will never, Prunella,” I warned. “Confidentiality. Besides—”
“Yes?” she breathed.
I thought, what the hell. I might never get out of this. “Would you care to stay for supper, Prunella?”
“Supper? Oh, yes!” It’s the one way to guarantee silence. As guarantees go.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
« ^ »
FOUR o’clock in the morning I sent Prunella home—pedantically reporting the fact on the phone to a somnolent Tye, to show scrupulous observance of the syndicate’s rules. He was narked, but it gave me the chance to give Prunella instructions about collecting an envelope from a certain international airline. I gave her the flight number.
“I’m depending on you, darling,” I told her wide eyes. “It’s life or death. Bring it when I send for you.”
“Oh, Lovejoy! Nobody’s ever depended on me!”
I tried to look disturbed, exalted. I was knackered. “I love you darling, okay?” But that didn’t sound quite right. There’s more to okays than meets the ear.
That was two incoming envelopes, Prunella and Magda. I rang the syndicate number.
“Morning, Gina. Lovejoy. I’m leaving New York this morning on the jet. What guards do I have?”
She made the plumping noises of a woman rudely wakened, tried to unthicken her voice into day.
“Tye’ll decide. Where to?”
“I’ll be hacking the New York auction houses in a very few days from now. Meantime, I’m flying to six different states.”
“You’ve already raised the necessary sum, Lovejoy?”
“You might need an edge, love.” I left space for her to explain why now suddenly we needed less money, but she said nothing. Well, suffering women have a right to privacy. “My list’s at reception.”
“No,” she said quickly. “Courier it to me. Now.”
Christ, I thought. She’s in greater difficulties than I’d guessed. I streaked to my room, wrote out a list of addresses culled from the public library, and gave it to the motorcycle maniac. Ten minutes flat.
A word about hotel night staff. They love things to do. I gave them five minutes to settle down, then remembered something very vital, and made them get a second courier. I sent him to the Benidormo with a note to Magda, to hurtle back with her signature as proof. I tipped them, said both couriers should go on the one bill, please, for simplicity’s sake. That way, I’d be the only person who knew about Magda and Zole tagging along. Then I roused Tye and told him we were moving.
By nine o’clock we were in the air, heading south in slanting sunshine over the biggest, loveliest land God ever lowered to earth.
THE entourage included Tye, two bulky goons called Al and Shelt who sat with knees apart and literally ate non-stop, peanuts, tiny savouries, crisps, popcorn. I’m making them sound friendly, but I’d never seen such menace in all my life. And a brisk stewardess, Ellie, all cold eyes and no repartee. The pilot Joker, his pal Smith, and that was us.
Is America superb, or isn’t it? Its hotels can get couriers, any hour. A
The coffee was superb, drinks were there, and I could have had a film shown if I’d wanted. A suitcase of clothing was provided, I learned.
So what was wrong?
