Gillis opened the door and got in.
‘About time,’ he said crossly. ‘Why can’t you be more punctual? Do you think I haven’t other things 59
to do except wait at street corners for you?’
Eve edged the car once more into the slow moving traffic.
‘I’m sorry, darling, but he didn’t leave until five minutes ago. Besides, I’m not more than five minutes late.’
Dallas started his engine and slid into the traffic after them. He had caught sight of Eve at the driving-wheel, and wondered where these two were going.
‘Has Rico been along?’ Gillis asked, lighting a cigaret e.
‘Yes. Baird got back last night. He says it’l be difficult, but not impossible. Rico said Baird’s going to get Hater out this week.’
Gillis breathed heavily. His eyes were alight with excitement.
‘Did Rico say how he was going to do it?’
Eve shook her head.
‘Preston didn’t want to know. He gave Rico the five thousand and the photograph. He’s arranged to hand over the rest of the money at the shooting-lodge as you said. That’s where Baird will take Hater.’
‘Fine,’ Gil is said. ‘Wel , we’re coming along. If anyone can do the job, Baird can.’
‘Preston’s get ing nervy, Adam. He worries me.’
Gillis shrugged indifferently.
‘Keep him going. I won’t be long now. As soon as he’s collected the money from the Rajah, I’ll move in and take over.’
‘But, darling, how can you be so sure you’l succeed?’ Eve said anxiously. ‘You just can’t take the money away from Preston like that. He’l never stand for it.’
‘Oh, yes, he wil ,’ Gillis said airily. ‘A couple of nights ago, when he was with you, I broke into his stately home. I opened his safe. What do you think I found in it?’
You – you opened his safe?’ Eve exclaimed, horrified. ‘Adam! How could you?’
‘Oh, shut up!’ he said impatiently. ‘If you’d been more helpful I needn’t have taken the risk. I told you we had to get something on Kile. Well, I’ve got it. I found Jean Bruce’s bracelet in the safe. That’d get him ten years in jail.’
Eve gripped the steering-wheel tightly.
‘How do you know it’s Jean Brace’s bracelet?’
‘My dear pet,’ Gil is said, and laughed. ‘Jean used to amuse herself with me when she felt she wanted to be a naughty girl, and I can tell you that was quite often. I’ve seen the bracelet a dozen times.’
Eve felt sick.
‘Oh! I didn’t know you knew her.’
‘There are lots of girls you don’t know I know,’ Gil is returned. ‘As a mat er of fact, I’m damned sorry Jean’s dead. When she was in the mood, she could be vastly diverting.’
‘But the bracelet was stolen,’ Eve said, turning to stare at Gil is.
‘Watch the road, can’t you?’ he said sharply. ‘Of course it was stolen. The police are looking for it now. If Kile doesn’t play bal , I’m going to be one of those anonymous callers you read about in the papers and tip the police off he’s got the bracelet in his safe.’
‘You can’t do that!’
‘Not if it isn’t necessary.’
‘But how did he get it?’
‘I should worry about that. He can explain that to the police if he wants to, but somehow I don’t think he will.’
Eve drove in silence for a while, her mind frozen with fear and worry. It was still not too late to draw back. She felt she had to warn Adam again.
‘Preston’s worrying about Baird,’ she said. ‘He’s beginning to think as I do. Suppose Baird finds out who Hater is, or suppose Hater tells him about the collection?’
‘Baird is almost certain to find out who Hater is,’ Gil is said carelessly. ‘But he can’t do anything about it until the money’s paid over. I should think it’s more than possible he knows already and is planning to double-cross Kile. I’ve taken al that into account. It’s simply a mat er of working faster than Baird, and I’ve no doubt I can do it.’ He glanced at his strap watch. ‘Make for the Frou-Frou Club, will you? I’ve got to meet a man there in ten minutes.’
‘Oh, Adam, I do wish you would give this up,’ Eve said feverishly. ‘It’s too dangerous. You don’t know what you’re walking into. I’l go back to the Fol ies. I can earn enough for both of us.’
‘Wil you shut up!’ Gil is snarled furiously. ‘Don’t be so damned gutless! This is the chance of a lifetime, and I’m not going to miss it!’
She drove in silence to the club and stopped the car before the lighted entrance. Dallas, fifty yards behind them, increased speed to pass them. He drove into the parking lot at the side of the club.
