I waited until she was in range, then I slapped her face, hard. Her head jerked to one side. Then I slapped her again.
She stepped back, her hands going to her flaming cheeks, staring at me, her slate eyes glittering.
‘You stinker!’ she said shrilly. ‘I’ll remember that! You rotten stinker!’
‘Get out!’ I said. ‘Before I hit you again!’
She moved to the door, swinging her neat hips. At the door she paused and turned to stare at me.
‘I’m glad I’m not your wife,’ she said. ‘That’s one thing I’m glad about,’ then she suddenly giggled and turning, ran out into the moonlight and scampered away across the hard, damp sand.
I felt such a heel, I could have cut my throat.
CHAPTER FIVE
I
When I got up on Saturday morning, there was a hint of rain in the air. I was nervous and uneasy. All my doubts about this job came crowding up out of my sub-conscious. It was only the thought of the money that stiffened my jittery nerves.
‘I’ll be late tonight,’ I told Nina who was preparing breakfast. ‘This is the last night of the traffic count.’
She looked anxious at me.
‘Will you be seeing John today?’
‘I’ll see him on Monday. If he had any news for me he would have telephoned.’
She hesitated, then asked, ‘Are you going to take the job, Harry?’
‘I think so. A lot depends on what they will pay.’
‘John said the salary would be good.’ She smiled at me. ‘I’m so glad. You really have been worrying me.’
‘I’ve been worrying myself,’ I said lightly. ‘I’m taking the car tonight. It’s going to rain.’
‘There’s very little gas, Harry.’
‘That’s okay. I’ll fix it.’
Later, I went down to the beach cabin. I had just got into my swim trunks when Bill Holden appeared in the doorway.
‘Hello there, Mr. Barber,’ he said. ‘Are you keeping the cabin on for another week?’
‘I guess so,’ I said. ‘Maybe not for the whole week but at least until Thursday.’
‘Would you like to settle for this week?’
‘I’ll settle tomorrow. I’ve left my wallet at home.’
‘That’s okay, Mr. Barber – tomorrow’s fine.’
I stared out at the grey, heavy sky.
‘Looks like rain. I guess I’ll have a swim before it starts.’
Holden said he thought it would hold off until later, but he was wrong. I had just come in from the swim when the rain started.
I settled down in the cabin with a paper-back. The beach was now deserted. That suited me. I hoped the rain would go on all day.
Around one o’clock, I went over to the restaurant which was empty and ate a hamburger and drank a beer, then I returned to the cabin. As I pushed open the door, the telephone bell rang.
It was Rhea on the line.
‘Is everything arranged?’ she asked. There was an anxious note in her voice.
‘On my side, it’s arranged,’ I said. ‘I’m ready to go. Everything now depends on Odette.’
‘You can depend on her.’
‘Well, fine. Then at eight-forty-five, I’ll start things moving.’
‘I’ll telephone you tomorrow at eleven o’clock.’
‘I want some money,’ I said. ‘I have to pay for the rent of this cabin. Maybe it would be better if you came down here tomorrow morning. I’ll be here.’
‘I’ll do that,’ she said and hung up.
I remained in the cabin for the rest of the day. The rain beat down on the roof. The sea turned slate grey. I tried to concentrate on the paper-back, but it was impossible.
Finally, I got up and prowled up and down and smoked endless cigarettes, watching the time and waiting, waiting and waiting.
When at last the hands of my wrist watch showed eight-thirty, I left the cabin and ran across the wet sand to the Packard. It was still raining, but more lightly. I drove to a drug store in the main street of Palm City. By the time I had parked and had walked through the drizzle to the drug store, it was close on eight-forty-five.
I called Malroux’s residence.
Almost immediately the call was answered.
‘Mr. Malroux’s residence,’ an English voice announced. ‘Who is this, please?’
