Mrs. Henry Jackson from Pittsburgh. This is only rough thinking. We’ll polish it later.”
She put the money he had given her in her bag, then she looked at him.
“While I’m getting my hair fixed, Johnny, do you plan to leave me?”
This shocked him. For a long moment, he stared at her, then smiled.
“Ask yourself. It’s only in oneself that one knows trust, baby.”
Closing the suitcase, he got out of the car.
She joined him.
“I’m sorry.” She touched his arm. “I’ve known so many men. I’m so sick of myself! I don’t know who to trust.”
“If you can’t trust me by now, baby,” he said gently, “then you’re in real trouble. Come on, let’s go.”
They walked into the town. Although it was early, the tourists were out in force, heading for the beach. Half-way down the Main street, Johnny spotted the Greyhound bus station.
“We meet there.” He pointed. “Be as quick as you can. I’ll wait for you… you wait for me. Okay?”
She hated him leaving her.
“Johnny… I’m scared to be on my own… really scared.”
He smiled at her.
“But, baby, we’re always alone. I’ve been alone all my life and so have you. Just get your hair fixed and buy some clothes. You’d better buy a hold-all.” He looked around. “Up there on the left: a Ladies’ hairdressers. Get your hair fixed first.”
“Yes.” She forced a smile. “See you, Johnny.”
“That’s one thing you can be sure of.”
They parted and Johnny went in search of a barber.
Luigi was occupied with his Maitre d’hotel, arranging the menu for the following day when his telephone bell rang. The time was 11.05. He reached for the receiver as he said, “Give ’em duck. We’ve got too many ducks in the freezer.” Then into the mouthpiece, he said, “Who is it?”
“This is Joe!” Massino’s voice was tight with rage. “What’s happening? I’ve been waiting! What did that whore say?”
Luigi stiffened. He had been so occupied with the routine work of his restaurant, he had completely forgotten he had sent Bernie and Clive out to Little Creek.
“Still waiting, Joe. I should hear any minute. The moment I hear I’ll call you back.”
“What the hell are those punks doing?” Massino bawled. “Get me some action!” and he hung up.
Luigi was now worried. He had told those two to see the girl at 06.00. Five hours ago! He snatched up the receiver. “Get Capello here!” he barked, cut the connection, then dialled Salvadore’s number. “What’s going on?” he demanded. “Bernie and Clive were supposed to see this whore at six this morning. What’s happening?”
“I don’t know.” Salvadore said. “I haven’t seen them. Hold for a moment.” After a minute or so, he came back on the line. “Just looked at the houseboat through my glasses. No sign of life.”
“I’m sending Capello. Go with him and find out what’s happening.” Luigi’s voice was now a snarl. “Call me back pronto.”
An hour later, as Little Creek’s church clock was striking twelve, Toni arrived at the store in a car Luigi had lent him. Salvadore was waiting for him.
“What gives?” Salvadore asked.
“I don’t know. We’ve got to get over there and find out.”
They climbed into Salvadore’s boat and headed across the lake to the houseboat. Toni was first on deck, gun in hand. He was sweating and he had a hell of a headache from his heavy drinking the previous evening. Salvadore tied up and joined him. They went through the deserted houseboat, then Toni saw an envelope lying on the table. He opened it and read the message.
“Hey! Look at this! That bastard was here all the time! They’ve gone off together!”
“But where’s Bernie and Clive?” Salvadore looked around, then knelt, putting his hand on the worn carpet. “Been recently washed.” The two men looked at each other, then Salvadore went out on deck, staring into the clear water on the lake. Toni joined him.
“You think he knocked them off?”
“How the hell do I know?” Salvadore went back into the livingroom and shoved the table aside. He found a small patch of dried blood that Johnny had missed in spite of his careful cleaning up. “Look.”
Toni peered over his shoulder.
“So he did knock them off,” he said huskily.
“Yeah and he’s taken their car. You’d better talk to Mr. Luigi and fast.”
Twenty-five minutes later, Toni was reporting to Luigi. Five minutes later, Luigi was reporting to Massino.
Massino was so incensed he could hardly speak. Finally, he screamed, “You get nothing from me! I’ll talk to the Big Man! You’re as useless as a broken leg!”
“Take it easy, Joe. I’ve alerted the cops to find the car,” Luigi said, sweating. “I’ve lost two good men. You can’t talk this way to me.”
“No? You’ll see! I’ll give you thirty-six hours to find them or I talk to the Big Man!” and Massino slammed down the receiver.
Luigi thought for a long moment, then he put a call through to his Don who ruled Florida. He explained the situation, and gave a detailed description of Johnny and Freda.
“Okay,” the Don said. “As soon as the cops have located the car, let me know. We’ll find them.”
“Massino says he gives me thirty-six hours. He’s raging mad,” Luigi said uneasily.
The Don laughed. “Forget it. Massino’s just a bag of wind. I’ll talk to the Big Man myself,” and he hung up.
Freda stood outside the Greyhound bus station, clutching a small hold-all. She had been waiting for twenty minutes. She looked constantly from left to right, but she could see no sign of Johnny. Her heart was beating violently and she felt sick with fear.
“You sucker!” she told herself. “Of course he’s walked out on you! What did you expect? All that money! Why should he share it? $186,000 ! To think so much money exists! Men! God! How I hate them! They’ve only one thought in their filthy minds!”
“Sorry to keep you waiting, baby. I scarcely recognize you. You look great.”
She spun around, staring at the short, thick-set man at her side, her heart leaping. For a moment she didn’t know him. He was clean shaven except for his heavy moustache and he had had his head shaved, Yul Brynner style. He was wearing grey flannel slacks, a white shirt and a lightweight dark-blue jacket.
“Oh, Johnny!”
She made a move towards him, her voice breaking, but he drew back.
“Watch it!” The snap in his voice stiffened her. “Later. I’ve got the tickets. It held me up. Come on, let’s go.”
She was so relieved he hadn’t deserted her, she wanted to cry, but she controlled herself. She followed him to the bus and they climbed in.
Johnny regarded her as they sat at the back of the bus, nodding his approval. She too had changed her appearance. She was now a red-head and it suited her. She was wearing a dark-green trouser suit and big sun goggles. He eyed every passenger who boarded the bus, but he saw no one to alert an alarm.
It wasn’t until the bus began to roar along the freeway that he put his hand on hers.
“You look really great, baby,” he said, “but I still like you better blonde. You got everything you want?”
“Yes. I spent over a hundred dollars, Johnny.”
“Okay, okay,” he said and again pressed her hand.
“Oh, Johnny, I was scared… I began to wonder…”
“We’re both scared, but it could work out. It’s worth a try, isn’t it?”
She thought of all that money: $186,000!
“Yes.”
They sat in silence for some minutes, then Johnny said, “Look, baby, I want you to know your position. I know this is a bit late in the day, but I have it on my mind. There’s still time for you to opt out… at least I think so.
