'I mean it. Now shut up snivelling!'
'But what about Willie?' She got off her knees and sat on the bed. 'He knows! We can't trust him! He'll tell Alsconi.'
Felix showed his teeth in a mirthless smile.
'I was wondering how long it'd take before the nickel dropped. I've fixed Willie.'
'But you can't trust him...' Lorelli began, then seeing the expression on Felix's face, she stifled a scream.
'Willie will stay fixed.' He came over to her. 'We're both in this up to our necks. Alsconi's waiting now for Willie's report, and Willie's in my room with his head smashed in. You're full of bright ideas: how do we get out of this jam?'
'You've killed Willie?' Lorelli gasped, staring at him in horror.
'What else could I do? How much have you got in cash here?'
'I don't know - not much.'
Felix snatched up her bag, opened it and emptied the contents on to the dressing table.
'Is that all - five thousand lire?'
'Yes.'
'How much in the bank?'
'I've told you: a half a million lire.'
'I have four million. That'll get us somewhere. We've got to get out and get out fast before Willie's found.'
The sound of the telephone bell made him stiffen. They looked at each other.
'Answer it!' he said.
With an unsteady hand, Lorelli picked up the receiver.
'Is Mr Felix there?' Carlos asked. 'The boss wants a word with him.'
Lorelli looked across at Felix, sick terror in her eyes.
'Alsconi wants to speak to you,' she said and held out the receiver.
Through the peephole, Don watched Felix's sweating face. This ten minutes of drama had held him rooted, but now his mind was already at work, wondering how this change of situation would affect him. If these two panicked and bolted, he would be cut off from Lorelli's help, and without her help he knew his chances of getting out of the cave were slight.
He watched Felix cross the room and take the receiver from Lorelli's shaking hand.
'I am waiting for Willie,' Alsconi said softly in his ear. 'Where is he?'
'I'm waiting for him too,' Felix said. 'Maybe he's had a breakdown. I'd better drive down and see what's happened to him.'
'He hasn't had a breakdown,' Alsconi said. 'I sent Menotto to look for him and he tells me the car is at the bottom of the drive, but there's no sign of Willie.'
'ГП come up,' Felix said.
'That won't be necessary,' Alsconi said. 'You can stay where you are.' He chuckled, a sound that made Felix stiffen.
'You'll probably have to anyway,' and the line went dead.
Felix replaced the receiver. There was a look in his eyes that brought Lorelli to her feet.
'Wait here,' he said curtly and went quickly out of the room.
Lorelli ran to the door and looked out into the corridor, then she turned and came back into the room. Watching her, Don saw terror was turning to hysteria. If they were to make a move, he had to do it now.
'Lorelli!' he said sharply.
Lorelli screamed and jerked around, her eyes wildly searching the room.
'I'm here,' Don said, pushing the slot back as far as it would go. 'It's Micklem.'
She located the opening in the wall through which he was looking and she backed away.
'Pull yourself together,' he said. 'You want the money to get away. I have it. We must help each other. Give me the gun!'
'No!' Lorelli said. 'I'm not going to help you. I'm getting out of here.'
'How far do you think you'll get?' Don said. 'Don't be a fool. Give me the gun. If you get in his way, he'll wipe you out as he wiped Willie out. You can't trust him. I can take care of you. Give me the gun!'
He was counting on her terror. The snap in his voice seemed to hypnotize her. She picked up the gun.
'And the cartridges - hurry!' he said.
She brought the gun and the cartridges over to the opening.
'Quick!' Don said as he saw her hesitate. 'Give it to me before he gets back!'
She slid the gun through the opening, then she handed in the seven bullets.
