“Thank you, ma’am.”
“So your position is more difficult than I thought. If the Army police…”
“There are no M.P.s here, ma’am. I’m not worrying.”
No, she thought, you may not be worrying, but I am.
“I intend to fly back to New York on Saturday,” she said. “What will you do when I’ve gone?”
“Saturday?” This seemed to give him a jolt. He frowned as he thought. “I’ll manage. I’ll get a job at a hotel or at a filling station… something like that.”
“We’ve gone over that before, Larry. You need a work permit.”
“Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his head and his frown deepened. “Well, don’t you worry, ma’am. I’ll manage somehow.”
“But how?”
He looked up and his frown went away. He gave her his warm, friendly smile.
“I don’t know right now. I’ll have to think about it, but as Ron said: a problem is a challenge and I guess this is my problem.”
“I’d like to help you. You’ve helped me. Would you like to go home?”
He stared at her.
“I sure would, ma’am, but I can’t. That’s the first place the cops would look for me. No… I can’t go home.”
“But you would like to go back to the States?”
“Yeah… I guess I would.”
“If I gave you your ticket and some money, Larry, would you be able to get a job?”
He nodded.
“Sure… I’ve got this faked passport. I could easily get a job if I went back.”
“All right, Larry, then that’s what I’ll do. When the bank sends the photos, I’ll book a seat for you on the New York flight and I’ll give you a present of five thousand dollars. Would that be all right?”
He stared as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing, then his face lit up: the face of a child who has seen Father Christmas for the first time.
“Do you really mean that, ma’am?”
“Yes… I mean it. I owe you a lot, Larry.”
He thought, then shook his head.
“No, ma’am. I wouldn’t say that. I got you into this mess.”
She was glad he said that.
“That’s honest of you, Larry. Yes, you did get me into this mess.” She lifted her hands and let them drop into her lap. “But to be as honest as you, I admit I was heading for a mess anyway, and I’m lucky it was with you and not with some other man without scruples.” She smiled at him as she slid off the table. “Now I’m going down to the village. I feel like a walk. I’ll get some fresh bread. Is there anything you want?”
“I’m getting short of gum… if I could bother you.”
“I’ll get you some. You must keep out of sight. Will you be very bored?”
He grinned.
“Bored? No, ma’am, I don’t get bored. I’ll get you a good lunch.”
She smiled.
“Wonderful! I won’t be more than an hour or so.” She went into the hall and put on her coat. Larry came to the kitchen door. “If anyone comes… if the telephone rings… don’t answer.”
“Sure, ma’am… I know.” He paused, then went on, “When do you think the bank will send the photos?”
“Not until the day after tomorrow.”
“You think they will send them?”
She nodded.
“Yes… the signature is convincing.”
“Yeah, I guess Maxie is smart.”
Smiling, she put her hand on his arm.
“I don’t know what I would have done without you, Larry.”
She opened the front door and feeling suddenly young and almost happy, she hurried out into the sunshine and the cold.
The walk to the village with the cold nipping at her invigorated her. Her problems, she told herself, were slowly coming under control. Herman was out of the way. Archer was locked up. She would give Larry five thousand dollars and his ticket to New York and her debt to him would be paid. When she saw Herman she would tell him about the missing two million dollars, blaming herself as much as Archer, but insisting the account should be transferred to Spencer, Grove amp; Manly. She would be able to fly to New York with a completely free mind. Then Nassau! Yes, she felt in need of warm sunshine and the sea, and from now on, she told herself, no more men!
She bought bread, and after some trouble, four packs of chewing gum. She was in an almost gay mood as she walked up the road, back to the villa.
It was 11.50 by the time she reached the front door. She took her key from her bag and opened the door, pleased to come into the warm.
“Larry?”
She took off her coat. She wished the scaffolding pole hadn’t to remain, jamming the cellar door. She disliked untidiness, and the pole spoilt the neatness of the hall.
“Larry?”
The silence that greeted her made her pause to listen. Hearing nothing, she took off her hat and went into the kitchen. There was a chicken in its plastic wrapping defrosting on the table, a packet of spinach and a packet of dehydrated potatoes, but no Larry.
Suddenly alarmed, she went to the sitting-room and threw open the door.
Facing her, sitting in a lounging chair, a whisky and soda in his hand, was Archer.
The shock of seeing him sent the blood from her face.
“Did you have a nice walk?” Archer asked mildly.
Helga’s hands turned into fists. She tried to speak but no sound came.
“A bit of a shock? Of course… let me get you a drink.” He heaved himself to his feet and moved to the bar. The usual?”
“Where’s Larry?” Her voice was a croaking whisper.
“Ah, Larry… Larry is downstairs. He’s a little under the weather, but he’s all right.” Archer rattled ice cubes in the cocktail shaker. “After all, he’s young and tough. Sit down Helga.”
She stood motionless, her brain scarcely working as she watched him make the cocktail, pour it with a flourish and bring the glass to an occasional table.
“Sit down… sit down, Helga. I’m afraid you’ll have to cook the lunch.” He regarded her. “I hope you can cook… I can’t.” He sank into his chair and picked up his glass.
“What have you done to him? What happened?” Helga remained motionless. She now had control of herself and was desperately trying to absorb the shock.
“It was really rather simple.” Archer sipped his drink, then took his cigar case from his pocket and selected a cigar. “Larry isn’t over bright. You have probably noticed that. I listening at the door and I heard your conversation. When you had gone, I called to him. I asked for a cup of coffee. He’s young, and the young have too much confidence. He hasn’t ever taken me seriously… his mistake. He brought me a cup of coffee. I hid in the boiler room and as he went to the games room, I sneaked up behind him and hit him on the head with a billiard cue. So easy, Helga, it was almost ridiculous. I came up here, put your ingenious pole in place and that’s that.”
Slowly, she moved forward and sat down. Her mind refused to work.
“Have you hurt him?”
He touched the side of his bruised face gently.
“No more than he hurt me.”
“I want to go down and see him. You might have injured him seriously.”
“You’re not going, so shut up!” His voice turned vicious. “I’ve had about enough of you! He’s all right. I just stunned him. He was trying to get to his feet when I reached the hall.” He lit his cigar, then went on, “You have the
