My Laugh Comes Last (1977) by James Hadley Chase

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

chapter six

Hi, fink,' Benny said, grinning evilly. 'The boss wants you. Let's move.'

'I'll see him tomorrow night at nine,' I said. "Now, get out!'

‘You'll see him right now, fink, or I'll start breaking your whore's fingers. Let's move.'

I placed my hand on the horn button.

"Listen to me, Benny, you touch her, and the operation is off. I'll see Klaus tomorrow night, and not before. Get out or I'll start the horn, and you'll get a load of law in your lap.'

We stared at each other. There was an uneasy, frustrated rage in his eyes.

'Get out!' I repeated.

'I told the boss you'd be a smart sonofabitch, but don't kid yourself, fink, I'll take care of you.'

At this moment, a patrolman came out of the station house. He paused, then came over to my car.

'Evening, Mr. Lucas,' he said. 'You can't park here.'

'Hi, Tom.' I knew most of the patrolmen. 'I'm on my way.'

Turning to Benny, I said, 'Then tomorrow. So long.'

Benny hesitated, then aware that the patrolman was staring at him, he slid out of the car and walked across the street.

'Who's he?' the patrolman asked. 'I haven't seen him around.'

'Business, Tom.' I forced a smile. 'They come in all shapes and sizes,' then nodding, I drove down the street. I stopped outside a Howard Johnson restaurant and went in. I ordered a club sandwich, and while I ate it, I thought about Glenda.

She was now very much on my mind. I felt that I had enough on Klaus not only to stop the breakin, but to get Glenda away from him. With the evidence I had given Maclain to guard, I was sure I had Klaus trapped. I couldn't see how he could wriggle out of it. I knew I was taking a risk, dealing with a psychopath, but it seemed to me he would either have to accept defeat or eventually be jailed for years once Brannigan and the police came after him.

I spent a restless night, half sleeping, half dozing. I kept thinking of Glenda, and the more I thought of her, the more I realized how much she meant to me. If I could call Klaus's bluff, stop the bank breakin, make him leave Sharnville, then my life would once again be on an even keel. Now Marsh was dead, there was nothing to stop me marrying Glenda, always providing Klaus disappeared.

I was glad I had so much office work to do the following day. The rush of work prevented me worrying about the evening when I had to face Klaus. In the afternoon, Bill Dixon phoned through to say he had landed another contract to build a small factory to produce electrical components, and they wanted office furniture. Could I see the director on Monday to discuss exactly what he wanted? I said there would be no problem, and fixed a time. As I hung up, I wondered if I would still be in Sharnville on Monday, If I couldn't bluff Klaus, then I would be on the run.

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