1950 - Figure it Out for Yourself by James Hadley Chase

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

chapter twenty

Paula looked up sharply from her paper-strewn desk as I burst into her office.

'I want five hundred dollars right away,' I said breathlessly.

'Things are really popping. Grab a notebook and pencil, and let's go. I'll tell you about it on the way.'

There was no flustration. Paula always kept calm. She got to her feet, went over to the office safe, counted out twenty-five twenty dollar bills, opened a drawer, took out her notebook, picked up her handbag and the little skullcap affair she calls her hat and was ready to go: all inside twelve seconds.

On our way out, she told Trixy to wait until she got back. Trixy looked doleful, but neither of us paid any attention.

I hurried Paula along the corridor.

'Hey!'

Martha Bendix's sergeant-major voice hit me at the back of my neck.

I looked over my shoulder.

'Can't wait: I'm in a hurry.'

'That party of yours: Souki. Just heard. No skeleton. First-rate man. Been with Marshland ten years,' Martha bellowed. 'When do I get my money?'

'You'll get it,' I shouted back and crowded Paula into the elevator.

'That woman would win a hog-calling contest,' Paula said tartly as the elevator hurtled down to the ground floor.

'That's a hundred and fifty dollars down the drain,' I said gloomily. 'I hoped to dig up some dirt on that chauffeur. Well, well, can't be helped. With any luck, I've cracked this case.'

I talked solidly as I rushed the Buick along Orchid Boulevard, up Beach Road and Hawthorne Avenue. It was surprising how much there was to tell her since I had last seen her.

Finally, as I swung into Foothill Boulevard I got around to Mrs. Ferris.

'This is really something,' I said. 'Dedrick a reefer smuggler! What do you know? For five hundred she'll give me a signed statement.'

'But how do you know she's telling the truth?'

'I'll get the statement and then shanghai her to the police. She'll get her money all right, but every word she's signing is going to be checked.'

I slowed down and pulled up outside the filling station. The boy didn't show up. I got out of the car, followed by Paula.

'The bungalow's around the back.'

We walked down the path, past the repair shed. I paused and look in. The boy wasn't there. I felt a sudden tightness around my chest, and I broke into a run. I was rapping on the door of the bungalow by the time Paula caught me up. No one answered. Nothing happened.

'Well, I warned her,' I said savagely, drew back and slammed my shoulder against the door. It wasn't built for such treatment and flew open. We stood, side by side, in the dark little hall.

'Mrs. Ferris!' I shouted. 'Mrs. Ferris!'

Silence.

'Well, that's that. These rats work fast. You'd better stay here, Paula, while I look the place over.'

'You don't think she changed her mind and bolted?' I shook my head.

'Not a chance. She wanted the money too badly. The boy must have tipped them off.'

Leaving her in the hall, I went from room to room. I didn't find her.

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