‘Okay. I’m at the Plaza. See you, Harry.’
I left him and crossed to the Packard. As I got in, I said, ‘What’s the matter with you? Why did you stand there like a dummy?’
She looked resentfully at me.
‘He had seen you speak to me. I thought it was better to stay.’
‘Well, at least he couldn’t recognise you. I’m sure of that. It was bad luck…’
‘What’s all this about the police? I’ve been going crazy after that telephone call of yours. How have the police come into it? Has father…?’
‘No and I don’t think he will call them in. It was another bit of bad luck.’
I told her the whole story. When I was through, I said, ‘You’ll have to have an explanation for the bust wing. You can say you did it when you came out of the garage. I don’t know how far Renick will press you. He might ask where you have been. If he does, tell him to mind his own business. This hit and run story is phoney. I don’t think he will press you, but you’ll have to be ready for him.’
‘You seem to have handled this pretty badly,’ she said. ‘Why didn’t you tell me about the accident?’
‘Oh, forget it!’ I was getting fed up with criticism. ‘Nothing happened your end? You stayed in the hotel and kept off the streets?’
‘Yes.’
‘You haven’t forgotten all the dope I gave you, just in case your father calls in the police.’
‘I haven’t forgotten.’
It was twenty minutes to two when we reached the cabin. I pulled up and gave her the key.
‘Go in there and change and wait for me. I should be back around two-thirty.’
She took the key and got out of the car. I handed her the suitcase.
‘I’ll be waiting,’ she said. She suddenly smiled at me. ‘Take care of that money, Harry.’
‘I’ll take care of it.’
She leaned into the car.
‘Kiss me.’
I put my arm around her shoulders and pulled her to me. Our lips touched. She drew away, her finger touching her mouth.
‘It’s a bore you’re married, Harry.’
‘That’s the way it is,’ I said, staring at her. ‘But don’t kid yourself… I wouldn’t swop.’
‘That’s what I mean... it’s a bore.’
I started the car.
‘I’ll be seeing you.’
She stood back and as I drove down East Beach Road, I saw her in my driving mirror, walking slowly back to the cabin.
I had already chosen the spot from where I would signal Malroux. There was a big thicket behind which I could hide the car. There was also plenty of cover for me, and I had a clear, uninterrupted view of the road.
I drove the car off the road, turned off the lights, walked back to the road to satisfy myself the car couldn’t be seen. I then squatted down behind a bush, my flashlight in my hand and waited.
It wouldn’t take Malroux more than ten minutes to reach this spot if he left his house punctually at two. I had just time for a cigarette.
As I squatted there, smoking, my nerves seemed to be crawling out of my skin. Suppose Malroux was planning a trap?
Suppose he had brought O’Reilly along with him and when they saw my light, O’Reilly, a tough ex-cop, jumped out of the car and went for me?
I tried to assure myself Malroux wouldn’t risk his daughter’s life, but suppose he had guessed this was a faked kidnapping? Suppose…?
Then I saw distant headlights and I hurriedly stubbed out my cigarette.
This was it, I thought, in another few seconds I’d know if I had walked into a trap.
In the moonlight, I could see the car. It was the Rolls. I let it come closer, then pushing my torch through the shrub, I began pressing the button on and off, sending a flicking beam into the road.
The Rolls was moving at about twenty miles an hour. I could see there was only the driver in sight.
But that didn’t mean anything. If O’Reilly was with him, he would be hidden at the back.
The car was level now. It slowed slightly. I saw Malroux make a movement, then with an effort, he tossed a bulky briefcase out of the window. It landed with a thud in the road within ten feet of me.
The Rolls gathered speed and swept on, heading for Lone Bay.
I remained squatting behind the bush, staring at the briefcase lying on the road for several seconds, scarcely believing the money was there, and within my grasp.
I looked down the road. The red tail lights of the Rolls were fast disappearing in the distance. I stood up, grabbed the briefcase and ran back to the Packard. I threw the briefcase on the back seat, slid under the driving
