1971 - Want to Stay Alive by James Hadley Chase

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

***

Chuck looked at his watch. The time was 11.45. He was sitting on the bed, smoking: a small pile of dead cigarette butts lay between his feet.

Meg sat on a chair by the window, watching the activity going on below.

She knew Chuck was waiting for something but she now had learned not to ask questions.

The sound of the telephone bell made them both start. Chuck snatched up the receiver.

“Chuck?”

He recognised Poke’s voice.

“Yeah.”

“Airport . . . booth A,” Poke said and hung up.

Chuck replaced the receiver. A surge of excitement ran through him. He knew Poke wouldn’t have telephoned unless he was sure the money was there . . . so it was working!

“You’re going out,” Chuck said staring at Meg. “Now listen carefully. Take the bus to the airport. You know where the bus station is?”

She nodded dumbly.

“When you get to the airport you go into the main lobby. On the right as you go in there’s a row of telephone booths. Each booth is lettered: A.B.C. and so on. Go to booth A. Now listen carefully: dial this number.” He gave her a scrap of paper. “That’s the number of the Tourist Information centre in the City. You want to know where there’s free bathing.”

Meg listened, her eyes growing wide.

“You’ve got to have a reason for using the booth.” Chuck went on. “A cop might want to know. He might want to know why you’re at the airport. Tell him you’re on vacation and you thought it would be fun to take a look at the place . . . tell him you like airports.” He studied her. “No cop is going to ask you anything, but you have to have a story ready if you’re unlucky. Do you get it?”

She nodded.

“Okay, now listen . . . while you’re dialling the number, feel under the coin box. Fastened to it by tape will be an envelope. Put the envelope in your bag. Don’t let anyone see you do it. Understand?”

She licked her lips.

“Why don’t you do it? Why me?” she asked huskily.

Chuck stared at her.

“Am I going to have trouble with you?”

She flinched.

“No . . . I’ll do it.”

“Fine. When you get the envelope you come right back here. Poke will be watching. Remember that.”

She looked at him, her expression wooden.

“Who’s Poke?”

He grinned, then nodded.

“You’re learning but remember you’ll be watched. Now get going.”

She picked up her shabby handbag and left the room. He listened to the sound of her footfalls on the wooden stairs, then when he was sure she had gone, he ran down the stairs, nodded to the fat Indian sitting behind the desk and went out into the sunshine.

Moving swiftly through the crowd, he approached the bus station. When it was in sight, he paused behind a banana stall. He could see Meg with a small group of waiting people, then when the bus arrived, he watched her get in.

As soon as the bus left, he ran along the waterfront and to the parked Buick. Taking the side streets and driving fast, he arrived at the airport ten minutes ahead of the bus.

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