If I had hit him across the face he couldn't have looked more startled, but only for a moment, then he stiffened. His face turned viciously hard and his eyes glittered with fury as he glared at me.
'You speaking to me?'
Every now and then I had run into the tough guy who didn't react to a barking voice. Then I had to throw my rank at him, but I had no rank to throw at Raimundo. That didn't worry me. I had Savanto's twenty-five thousand dollar bond behind me and I was sure, strong as he was, in a knock down and drag out, I could take him.
'You heard me, glamour-boy ! Get the stuff delivered and quit flapping with your mouth!'
We looked at each other. For a moment I thought he was coming at me, but somehow he managed to control himself. He forced a vicious grin.
'Okay, Mr. Benson.'
'And wipe that goddam grin off your face,' I snarled. 'I don't like it.'
He looked quickly at Timoteo, then he looked beyond me at Nick who was gaping at me.
'You don't have to talk this way to me,' he said.
I spotted the uncertainty in his voice. He wasn't scared of me, but he was scared of his boss.
This was the time to dig in the blade and turn it.
'Don't I?' My parade-ground voice bounced off the roof of the bungalow. Who the hell are you? I talk anyway I like! I'm the boss around here! if you don't like it, get the hell out of here and tell your boss! Tell him what you told me : you're his right hand, his left hand and possibly his left leg. He might just laugh himself sick but it's my guess he won't. Get this stuff delivered and then get lost !'
There was a long explosive pause. Raimundo had turned grey under his tan. He seemed unable to make up his mind whether to go for me or surrender.
'No one . . .' he began, his voice quivering with fury.
I had him on the run and I knew it.
'Hear me !' I bawled. 'Get lost!'
He hesitated, then walked slowly to the truck. He climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Nick climb in beside him. The truck moved off and headed for the range.
I looked at Timoteo who was standing, transfixed. The black sun goggles were pointing my way. I assumed he was looking at me, but I couldn't swear to it.
I grinned at him.
'I don't like that guy,' I said. I purposely softened my voice. 'I'm an ex-Army man. When I don't like a guy, I bawl him out. Are you sure you wouldn't like a cup of coffee?'
He gulped, then shook his head.
The driver of the Cadillac who had been watching this little scene, came over.
'Excuse me, sir,' he said to me. His flat Chimp face was tight and his breath whistled through his flat nostrils. 'Okay for me to speak to Mr. Savanto?'
At least I had put the fear of God in him.
'Go ahead,' I said and walked over to the bungalow where Lucy was standing under the roof of the verandah. I knew she had seen and heard what had happened. I wanted to reassure her.
She looked at me as I reached her, her eyes very wide and shocked.
'I had to handle him, honey,' I said quietly. 'He's a trouble maker. Just relax. Now he's been told, he'll stay told.'
'Oh, Jay !'
I saw she was shaking.
'Come on, baby, snap out of it.' I gave her a quick kiss. 'Don't let my Army voice scare you.' I grinned at her, trying to be reassuring, but she was staring at me, bewildered and still shocked. 'It's a trick. You just bawl and you get things done. Come on, honey, I've got things to do.'
'I'm sorry, Jay.' She made an effort to pull herself together. 'I've never heard a voice like that. I couldn't believe it was coming from you.'
'Like I said, it's a trick . . . it's Army.' Again I grinned, but it was a little forced. I knew I was wasting valuable time. 'You'll go to the bank?'
'Yes.'
'If there's anything else you want, buy it. Have you looked at the food they've delivered?'
'Not yet.'
'Well, look at it. If there's anything missing, get it. Okay?'
'Yes.'
I heard the Cadillac start up. Turning, I saw the car heading down the drive. Timoteo Savanto still stood where I had left him in the sun. He had his hands clasped behind his back and he was looking after the departing car. Even with the sun goggles hiding his eyes, he looked like a pet dog watching his master leave him.
'I have to take care of Timoteo,' I said. 'See you lunch time.'
I left her and walked across the sand. When I came up to Timoteo he stiffened and turned his goggles towards me.
