1964 - The Soft Centre by James Hadley Chase

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

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Moe Lincoln lay back in the barber's chair, feeling the keen edge of the razor pass over his black cheek. His eyes were closed, his vicious face in repose as he relaxed to the soft hands of Toey Marsh who had been trying for months to persuade Moe to leave Jacko and come to live with him.

Toey was half Chinese, half Pole: a fat little man, nudging fifty with henna dyed hair, almond shaped eyes and a round fat face. He was considered one of the best barbers in the district and Moe always had an evening shave from him before going out to set the town alight with Jacko.

'What's the time, baby?' Moe asked, keeping his eyes shut.

'Nearly half-past six,' Toey told him after consulting his watch. 'What are you doing tonight? Would you like to come back to my place. I'm throwing a party. Chinese food, and there's a boy ... '

'I've got a date with Jacko,' Moe said who liked to torture Toey. 'Why should I want to go to your crummy joint?'

Toey sighed. He applied a hot towel to Moe's face and leaving him for a moment, he wandered to the shop window to look out on to the street.

'That's funny,' he said. 'What are they doing, I wonder?'

'Who, dopey?' Moe asked, pressing the hot towel to his face and breathing in the menthol fumes coming from the towel.

'The cops ... out there in a car with a little girl,' Toey said, coming over to change the towel.

Moe stiffened. He snatched off the towel, slid out of the chair and went to the window. He stared at the police car. It was in a parking bay fifty yards or so from the entrance to the Coral bar.

"What's the matter?' Toey asked.

'Shut your flap!' Moe snarled. 'Gimme a towel.' Without taking his eyes off the police car, he reached out his lean black hand and snatched the towel Toey gave him. He hurriedly wiped his face and the back of his neck and then threw the towel from him.

He watched: then he saw Jacko Smith come waddling down the street.

Jacko always parked his pink and blue Cadillac at the far end of the street. He believed the short walk from the parking lot to the Coral bar helped to keep down his weight. He came along, a handkerchief in his fat hand, wearing the light blue shirt, and black baggy trousers he had worn the previous night. From time to time, he dabbed at his white unhealthy looking face with the handkerchief.

Terrell said sharply, 'Angel, look down the road.'

Angel, who had been playing with her bear, looked up and saw Jacko as he came towards them.

'That's him!' she whispered excitedly and pointed her small finger towards Jacko who had paused for a brief moment outside the Coral bar.

'Are you sure?' Terrell asked.

'Yes! That's him!'

Moe, watching, saw her point at Jacko and his black face creased into a vicious snarl. He realised at once that this child was

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