making his plans until the room grew dim in the evening light, then, remembering, he wandered over to the window. Across the way she had come in and had put on the light. He sat down and watched her behind the curtain. She didn't dance that night, but sat limply in a chair, staring at the opposite wall, as lonely and as dejected as Raven himself.
17
RAVEN regarded himself in the mirror. He saw reflected there a thin, well?dressed man, whose eyes were hidden behind dark glasses. His hair and slight moustache were almost white. It wasn't the Raven he knew. He was confident that no one could possibly recognize him.
He drew a deep breath.
“You look pretty good,” Goshawk said, looking at him. “I guess you could walk past any cop an' get away with it.”
Raven nodded. “I'll be tryin' in a few days,” he said.
Goshawk gave a little snigger. “I'd like to be there to see it,” he said. “Yeah, I certainly would like to be there to see it.”
Both men smiled. Both men had their own secret thoughts, only Raven knew what was in Goshawk's mind.
It was only by exerting tremendous self?control that he didn't smash his fist into Goshawk's face there and then.
When Goshawk had gone he went to the window. He felt strangely excited. Marie Leroy was getting ready to go out. She was adjusting a little hat in front of her mirror.
He hesitated no longer. Crossing the room, he opened the door and went downstairs. In the street he took several deep breaths. It meant a lot to him after being cooped up in that one little room. Then he hurriedly walked to the end of the street.
A policeman came sauntering past him, and Raven felt a little tightness round his chest as he passed. The policeman took no notice of him and at the corner of the street Raven stopped and turned.
Marie Leroy had just come out of her house and was walking towards him. He liked the way she walked.
She took long, graceful steps and her body swung in harmony. He could see her breasts under the thin covering of her dress jerk a little as she moved. There was no doubt she was a honey all right.
He advanced towards her and as she drew level he raised his hat. The sun reflected on his pale silvery hair.
“Miss Leroy?” he said. “My name's YoungJames Young.”
She stared at him. He could see she had very blue eyes. Then she said, “Oh yes,” and stood looking at him.
His thin lips smiled. “I guess you think I'm a little crazy, but I ain't. You got my letter, didn't you?”
“Yes. I don't know what to make of it.”
“We can't talk in the street. There's a coffee?shop further along here. May we go there?”
He turned and began to move along the street. She fell into step beside him. He nearly laughed. It was a push?over.
“My letter may have been a bit mysterious,” he said. “But when I explain, you can see how absurdly simple it is. Before we go any further, I'd like you to know that I'm a director of Lazard Film Company. I've just been back here to look up my old folks. I'm returning to Hollywood on Friday.”
He saw her eyes sparkle. “Gee!” she said. “You really mean you direct films?”
He nodded. “Yeah, an' believe me it's a lousy job.”
They entered the cafe and sat down. He ordered coffee and crackers.
“Now let me explain. I've got myself hooked up to an absurd bet, and I'm wantin' you to help me out. It's like this. One of the guys back in Hollywood was saying that every girl in the States wanted to be an actress. I told him he was crazy. So we got into an argument and one thing led to another until somehow or other I betted him that I could stop the first girl I met and could bring her back to Hollywood, and she wouldn't want to be an actress. Do you follow me?”
Marie Leroy nodded, her blue eyes puzzled.
“Well, sister, believe it or not, every girl I've asked so far wants to be an actress. Well, I've quit tryin'. I've gotta go back on Friday an' I'll have to say I was licked. Well, it sticks, sister. I don't like admittin' I'm licked.
So I'm thinkin' I'll cheat a little. I heard from a guy that you want to go out there and you want to be a dancer.
Okay, I'll take you there if you want to go, if you'll first of all come to see my boy friend and tell him you want to dance and not act. And if you do this I'll see you get in one of the dancin' troupes down there.”
She said, “You wouldn't be kiddin', because if you are you're playin' an awful mean game.”
Raven shook his head. “I'm not kiddin'. Why so serious, sister? Are things goin' badly for you?”
She nodded. “I guess they are,” she said, looking out of the window at the crowded street beyond. “I'm broke flat and nowhere to go.”
“Looks like your lucky day,” Raven said, feeling the blood surging through his veins. “Is it a bet?”
“It's business, isn't it?” she said.
Raven nearly laughed in her face. What the hell did she think? If she thought he was going to drive her half across America and not give her a tumble she was crazy.
“You don't have to worry about that angle,” he assured her. “You won't have any complaints.”
She played with the handle of her spoon. “You don't mind if I'm straight with you, do you, Mr. Young?”
Raven shook his head. “I'd like it.”
“I want to go. In fact, it is the chance I've been dreaming about, but it's too good to be true. I feel there's a catch in it somewhere.”
“There isn't, but if you feel nervous about it, I won't press you.”
She looked at him as if trying to read his mind. She didn't like the cold eyes or the thin mouth, but she knew she'd go. She couldn't afford to do anything else. She had to get to Hollywood.
She said, “Well, thanks, I'll go, anyway. Don't think I'm ungrateful, but a girl's got to be careful.”
Raven nodded. “It does me a lotta good to see you hesitate,” he said. “Some of the dames I've spoken to would have thrown in a lot of things to come with me. I don't like that type of dame.” He finished his coffee and stood up. “Friday night about nine?thirty. I'll pick you up. Don't bring too much baggage, will you?”
He didn't offer to shake hands. Out in the street he raised his hat. “Thanks a lot for helping me out, Miss Leroy.”
He watched her walk away and then he returned to his room. With a dame like that at his side, and a good car, his changed appearance, he'd get out of town. He wouldn't even bother to sneak out. He was confident that he could go by the main streets and even wave to the Feds as he passed them.
18
THE NIGHT was very hot and the moon rode high in tattered clouds.
Raven paced slowly backwards and forwards in his room. He had carefully drawn the blinds, and now he waited for the first step in his escape. In a few minutes Goshawk would come up. Around at the back was a two ?seater car that had cost Raven plenty, waiting to take him to liberty. No one knew about his changed appearance except Goshawk. Raven's thin face twisted a little.
He heard steps coming down the passage, and from force of habit his hand slid inside his coat, gripping his gun.
Goshawk knocked and Raven let him in. The two men looked at each other.
