1939 - He Won't Need it Now by James Hadley Chase

Author:James Hadley Chase [Chase, James Hadley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

PART TWO

IT FINISHES

chapter nine

Duffy stepped into Ross’s garage and looked round the dim shed. Ross came out of the little office at the far end of the shed. He was big and fat, with a glistening rubbery face. He plodded over the oily concrete, waving a short thick arm.

“Don't tell me,” he wheezed when he saw Duffy. “Let me guess.”

Duffy drew his lips off his teeth in a mirthless grin. “Ain't seen you for years,” he said.

“I bet you're in a jam.”

Duffy shook his head. “You're wrong,” he said. “It ain't anything like that. I want to spend some dough with you.”

Ross put his broad hand on Duffy's arm. “Well, well,” he began, leading Duffy to the office. “I've got a bottle in there that'll suit you.”

Duffy sat down in a basket chair and looked round the small boxlike room. Ross nearly filled it.

“Gettin' mighty hot, ain't it?” Ross said, bringing out a black bottle from his desk cupboard. He wiped the mouth of the bottle on his shirtsleeve and pushed it over to Duffy. “You be careful of that liquor,” he went on, “that's Tiger's sweat okay.”

Duffy took a swig, rolling the liquor round his mouth before swallowing. Then he grunted a little. “Yeah,” he said, “it's fierce.”

Ross took the bottle from him and raised it to his lips. Duffy watched his Adam's apple jump in his fat throat. Ross put the bottle on the table, wiped his wet mouth on the back of his hand, and hitched his chair forward a little. “Now, what's the business?”

Duffy lit a cigarette and rolled another across the table to Ross. “You still got that old Buick around?” he asked.

Ross's little eyes opened a trifle. “You mean the armoured one?”

“That's it.”

Ross nodded. “Sure I've got it.”

“Does she run?”

Ross grinned'. “Does she run? Listen, all my cans run. That bus's as good as new.”

Duffy said, “I want to rent her for a bit.”

Ross shrugged. “That's okay,” he said simply. “Why not have my Packard? Now that's a swell job.”

Duffy shook his head. He got to his feet. “I want the Buick,” he said. “I might need a little protection from now on, and I'd feel a lot safer in the Buick.”

Ross said, “I knew it, you're in a jam.”

“Show me the wagon.”

Ross led him out into the shed again. “That's her.”

The Buick was just an ordinary looking car, slightly shabby in the body, although she had been freshly washed down. Duffy looked her over thoughtfully. “Sell her to me,” he said at last.

Ross took a quick look over his shoulder, then plodded over. “She looks the berries, don't she?” he said. He opened the door. “You try that.”

Duffy had to make a strong effort to get the door to shut. “That's steel,” Ross said. “Good thick stuff, see?” He opened the door again and climbed inside. Duffy leant against the door and put his head forward.

“The guy that threw this bus together knew all about it,” Ross said, settling his hindquarters firmly on the padded seat.

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