Dangerous Curves by Peter Cheyney

Author:Peter Cheyney
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dean Street Press
Published: 2021-12-13T00:00:00+00:00

Callaghan arrived at Doughty Street at a quarter-past two. He walked along until he came to Darkie’s place. Then he started a tattoo on the iron door-knocker. After a while Darkie opened the door. He was wearing a blue pyjama jacket and a pair of trousers. The waist-belt of the trousers was too tight and his belly hung over the top. Callaghan thought his bare feet looked like nothing on earth.

‘For crying out loud!’ said Darkie. ‘I thought there was a bleedin’ fire or somethin’. What’s the matter, guv’nor?’

He looked at Callaghan’s face and stopped talking. He stood aside for Callaghan to enter, closed the door. They went into the little red-papered sitting-room.

Darkie went to the sideboard and produced a bottle of Johnny Walker and two glasses. He poured out the whisky. Callaghan lit a cigarette and threw the packet on the table.

‘You listen to this, Darkie,’ he said, ‘and don’t let’s have any mistakes about it. It’s about this Riverton business.’

Darkie nodded.

‘I’m listenin’,’ he said.

‘On Wednesday mornin’,’ Callaghan went on, ‘a solicitor named Gagel is goin’ to telephone to that skirt Azelda Dixon. She lives at 17 Court Mansions, in Sloane Street. He’s goin’ to tell her that he’s got a bit of business for her. That he wants her to be a co-respondent in a divorce case, an’ that he wants her to meet the husband an’ get everything fixed.

‘All right. Well, I’ve arranged that Maninway’s to be the husband. Gagel will fix that Azelda meets Maninway at the Silver Bar Wednesday night about eleven-thirty, so that they can talk it over. She’ll go all right because she’ll be told that there’ll be a hundred on account waitin’ for her there. You got that?’

‘I got it,’ said Darkie. ‘I’m ahead of you.’

‘While she’s there with Maninway – an’ he’ll arrange to keep her for an hour or so at least – I want the night porter out of the way at Court Mansions. That’s your job. You’ve got all tomorrow to find out about him. Find out if he’s got a family or a girl or something. You keep an eye on Court Mansions on Wednesday night an’ directly you see Azelda clear out to keep that appointment with Maninway you pull something on that night porter to get him out of the way for half an hour or so. Ring through an’ say that his girl’s been pinched or that there’s been an accident or some thin’. I leave that to you. Understand?’

‘I got it,’ said Darkie. ‘I’ll fix it. Is there anything wrong, Slim? You don’t look so good to me. What’s annoyin’ you?’

‘Nothing,’ said Callaghan. ‘Not a thing. Everything’s marvellous.’

Darkie said nothing. He poured out some more whisky.

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