1973 - Have a Change of Scene Read online

  ‘It’s all written down here,’ I said. ‘Everything I’ve told you. Go over it and over it until you know every move by heart, then destroy it.’ I got to my feet. ‘I guess that’s all. Tomorrow night at ten-thirty.’ I again looked at Fel. ‘Remember, my face and not my head. Hit me hard enough to look convincing.’

  He grimaced.

  ‘Rather you than me.’

  I paused at the door to look at them.

  ‘Rather me than a million dollars,’ I said and left them.

  SEVEN

  Thursday passed off as well as could be expected. I was edgy in spite of trying not to be and Sydney drove me nearly crazy with his buzzing and fluttering. He kept appearing from his office, spinning around the showroom, giving me conspiratorial looks and then buzzing back out of sight. Of course, Terry became aware that something was cooking and he watched me with baleful, curious eyes.

  Finally, I decided this must stop. I went into his office, closing the door.

  ‘For Pete’s sake, Sydney,’ I said, ‘do control yourself. You’re behaving like an escapee from the Mafia.’

  His eyes popped wide open.

  ‘I am? I’m as calm as a bishop. What do you mean?’

  ‘As calm as a bishop who finds he has a girl in his bed.’

  He giggled.

  ‘Well, maybe I am just a wee bit excited. I just can’t wait for tonight! You’ll be utterly thrilled!’

  ‘Keep it for tonight and stop buzzing around me. Terry is chewing his nails with curiosity.’

  He took the hint and remained in his office for the rest of the afternoon, but when he left at 18.00, he couldn’t resist giving me a broad wink. I frowned at him and a little crushed, he took himself off.

  Terry immediately got to his feet and wandered over to me.

  ‘What’s the excitement about?’ he asked. ‘He’s been behaving like a yo-yo all day. Are you two cooking up something?’

  I began to clear my desk.

  ‘Why not ask him? If he wants you to know, he’ll surely tell you.’

  Terry put his hands on my desk and leaned forward. His mean little eyes were furious.

  ‘You hate me, don’t you?’

  I stood up.

  ‘No more than you hate me, Terry,’ I said and went across the showroom to the washroom.

  Ten minutes later, I was driving back to my apartment. In a week, perhaps less, I told myself, I would be in Antwerp, talking to one of the biggest diamond buyers in the business. I would offer him ten of the best stones, but not the big one. This I was going to take to Hatton Garden, London. Wallace Bernstein had already asked me to look out for a top class stone that could be used in a tiara. He hinted it was for one of the Royal family. I had no doubt he would jump at the big stone and at my price. Then from London to Amsterdam, then to Hamburg and finally to Switzerland. By then I would be worth a million dollars. That sum invested in 8 percent bonds would give me an income for life of $80,000. I would apply for a Swiss livret pour etrangers, pay token tax and I would be set for life.

  I was satisfied with the way I had handled Rhea. I was sure now that she was no longer suspicious and this was important. With her out of the way, cooling her heels in Frisco and Fel out of the way in Luceville, I had room in which to manoeuvre.

  A lot depended now on whether Sydney would call in the police after the robbery. I would have to be careful how I handled him. He would be in a terrible state and furiously angry. When like that he was difficult to control. I would have to warn him and keep warning him that once the police took over, Tom Luce was certain to get to hear what had happened. It depended on whether Sydney’s rage or his fear of Luce won the battle and I was inclined to bet on the latter.

  I got back to my apartment at 18.35. I had four hours ahead of me to kill. Remembering I was supposed to be dining with the Johnsons, I took a shower, shaved and changed into a dark suit. Although I did all this in slow motion, I still had three hours and a quarter before I went into action.

  I made myself a stiff whisky, turned on the TV which didn’t hold me, so turned it off. I wandered up and down my living room, uneasy and edgy. I kept looking at my watch. I didn’t feel like eating. There was a sick sensation growing in my stomach, but the whisky helped. For no reason at all I suddenly thought of Jenny. I had a sudden impulse to speak to her. Searching through my pocket diary, I found the number of the city hospital, Luceville and put through a call.

  After a little delay, Jenny said, ‘Hello?’

  ‘Hello yourself,’ I sat down, feeling suddenly relaxed. ‘This is your old partner in Welfare. How are you, Jenny?’

  ‘Larry!’ The lift in her voice made me feel good. ‘How nice of you to call. I’m getting along fine now. I can even hobble around with two sticks.’

  ‘You can, that’s wonderful! When are you leaving?’

  ‘The end of the next week. I can’t wait to get out and to get around again. Tell me, Larry, is all well with you?’

  I wondered how she would react if I told her I was about to involve myself in a robbery.

  ‘I’m all right. Back in harness again, busy. I have a dinner date. I just finished dressing when you suddenly jumped into my mind.’

  ‘I’ve been thinking of you too. I’m so glad you left this town, Larry. Luceville wasn’t for you.’

  ‘I guess. Yet I miss it and you.’ I suddenly wanted to see her again, but I knew this wasn’t possible.

  In four or five days I would be on my way to Europe and probably wouldn’t ever come back. I thought of her untidy hair, her eyes, her efficiency and her kindness. ‘I have to go to Europe in a few days business. Otherwise, I would have driven up to see you.’

  ‘Oh!’ A pause, then she went on, ‘Will you be away long?’

  ‘I’m not sure it depends. I may have to go on to Hong Kong. Yes it’ll be some time.’

  ‘I see well, have a good trip.’ There was a sudden flat note in her voice that told me she was upset. I stared at the opposite wall. I thought of the loneliness that lay ahead of me. An exile living in a foreign country. I didn’t even speak any language except my own. How different it would have been to have Jenny with me. With all that money, we could make a wonderful life together. These thoughts flashed through my mind as she said, ‘I suppose the sun is shining your way. Here, it is dreadful. There are times when I long for the sun.’

  I thought of the fun I would have showing her Hong Kong, then with a feeling of heavy depression I realised I had left it too late. I couldn’t say ‘Come away with me.’ I couldn’t jump it on her like that.

  Besides, she couldn’t walk yet. No it was too late. I would have to leave within a few days after the robbery: probably Monday next. It would be too dangerous not to leave.

  ‘The sun’s marvellous here,’ I said and now wished I hadn’t called her. ‘I’ll write, Jenny. Well, it’s getting late. Look after yourself.’

  ‘And you too.’

  We spoke for a few more seconds, then I hung up. I sat there, staring at the wall. Was I in love with her? I wondered. I was beginning to think I was, but was she in love with me? Maybe when I was safe in Switzerland, I would write to her and tell her how I felt about her. I would ask her if she would come to Switzerland so we could talk about it. I would send her the air ticket. I felt she would come.

  I looked at my watch: still two hours and three-quarters to wait. I couldn’t stay any longer in the apartment so I left and drove to an Interflora that remained open late. I ordered roses to be sent to Jenny and wrote a card on which I said I would be in touch with her before long. Then knowing I should eat something, I drove to the Spanish Bay Hotel and went into the snack bar. I had a smoked salmon sandwich and a glass of neat vodka.

  One of my clients, Jack Calshot, a rich, boozy-faced stockbroker came over and joined me. We talked of this and that. He said he was looking for an emerald and ruby bracelet and gave me a heavy wink. ‘Not for the wife, you understand. I’ve found me a piece of tail that’s really enthusiastic, bu
t she needs softening. Got anything like that, Larry?’

  I said it was no problem and for him to look in at the shop tomorrow.

  I spent the next hour listening to his chat. He was a useful man to know as I had had several good market tips from him in the past. At the back of my mind I thought that very soon all this would change - yet another change of scene. I wondered if I would make friends in Switzerland. From what I had heard about the Swiss, they weren’t overfriendly to foreigners, but at least there would be an American colony I could get to know.

  Finally, my watch hands crawled to 21.45. I said so long to Calshot who said he would be around tomorrow at ten o’clock. As I got into the Buick I thought of Fel and flinched inwardly. A bang across the face can hurt. A million dollars could never be easy to earn, I told myself.

  As I buzzed the entrance bell to Sydney’s apartment block and as Lawson came across the lobby, I saw Claude come out of the elevator.

  They both greeted me as Lawson opened the door.

  When Lawson had returned to his office, moving at a trot that told me he had a good show to watch on TV, Claude said, ‘Mr. Sydney is very excitable this evening, Mr. Larry. I had some trouble persuading him to eat his dinner. I do hope you will have a calming influence on him.’

  When I thought of what was going to happen, I decided that would be unlikely.

  ‘I’ll do my best, Claude,’ I said. ‘Goodnight,’ and I took the elevator to the penthouse. Leaving the elevator, I started down the stairs, moving swiftly. I reached the lobby, paused, looked around, then crossing quickly to the entrance door, I turned the knob, lifted the catch, then spun around and started up the stairs. As I had thought, unlocking the entrance door had presented no problems. Reaching Sydney’s front door, I gently turned the handle and found the door unlocked. I re-shut it and rang the bell.

  Sydney came bounding to the door, throwing it wide open.

  ‘Come in, dear boy!’ he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. ‘Did you have a dreadful dinner?’

  ‘Pretty bad.’ I closed the front door and taking his arm, went with him into the living room, knowing that the door was unlocked. ‘She’s dithering. I don’t think her husband wants to spend the money, but I ran into Calshot and he’s after an emerald and ruby bracelet. He’ll be in tomorrow - another new chick.’

  ‘Never mind him come and look at my designs.’

  As I followed him to the desk, I glanced at my watch. The time was 22.10. In another twenty minutes all hell would break loose. I found I was sweating slightly, and taking out my handkerchief, I wiped my hands.

  ‘Look!’ He spread four designs out on the desk. ‘What do you think?’

  I bent over them, scarcely seeing them.

  ‘Don’t you think this one’s marvellous?’ He put his long artistically shaped finger on the second design.

  I pulled myself together and forced my eyes to focus. For several seconds I examined the designs. He had surpassed himself. The second to which he had pointed was the best piece of jewellery designing I had ever seen.

  I straightened.

  ‘You’re a genius, Sydney! There’s no mistake about that! This is the one! It’s top class and if I can’t sell it for two million then my name’s not Carr!’

  He simpered, wriggling with pleasure.

  ‘I thought it had to be right, but now you say so.’

  ‘Let’s compare it with the necklace.’

  He looked surprised.

  ‘But why?’

  ‘I want to compare the cut of the stones with your design.’ I began with a husky voice and had to pause to clear my throat.

  ‘I see yes.’

  He turned, crossed the room, removed the Picasso and went through his secret motions of opening the safe.

  I looked at my watch: another fifteen minutes.

  He brought the necklace and laid it on the desk.

  ‘Sit down, Sydney and let’s compare it.’

  He went around his desk and I got behind him and we both looked first at the necklace and then the design.

  ‘It’s marvellous,’ I said. ‘You’ve caught the spirit of the stones beautifully. Can you imagine how this will look after Chan has finished with it? I can’t wait to get it to him.’

  He swivelled around in his chair.

  ‘When can you get off?’

  ‘Monday. I’ll see my travel man tomorrow. I should be in Hong Kong some time Wednesday. I’ll have to spend a week with Chan, making sure he starts right, then I’ll fly back.’

  He nodded.

  ‘That’s good. How long do you think you’ll take to sell it?’

  ‘That’s a toughie. I don’t know. I’m already working on a list of names. Chan will take two months on this job. As soon as he’s finished, I’ll start.’

  ‘You can’t give me any idea?’

  I stared at him, not understanding what he was getting at.

  ‘I don’t think that’s possible, Sydney. It could be a month, could be eight months. Two million isn’t small.’

  He fidgeted on his chair.

  ‘You see, Larry, I’ve insured the necklace for nine months. For that period I’ve managed to get a special rate, but it’s still a hell of a premium. If it’s not sold within nine months, I’ll have to pay more and I don’t want to do that.’

  I stood still, transfixed.

  ‘You’ve insured it?’

  ‘But of course, sweetie. You didn’t imagine I would let you go all the way to Hong Kong with this necklace without insuring it? Anything could happen to you. Someone might even steal it from you. There could be an accident - God forbid! Three quarters of a million is a hell of a lot of money to risk.’

  ‘Yes.’ My heart was thumping now. ‘Who did you insure it with?’

  ‘Our people - the National Fidelity. I had a terrible fight with that dreadful man Maddox! I hate him! He’s so materialistic!. Finally I had to go to one of the directors to get a cut rate. Maddox wanted to charge me nearly double.’

  Maddox!

  I too had had dealings with this man and I knew him to be the toughest, hardest and shrewdest claims assessor in the business: a man who smelt a crime before it was even thought of. He and his aide, Steve Harmas, had solved more insurance swindles and had jailed more people attempting to defraud than all the other insurance assessors put together.

  Knowing I had lost colour, I turned away and walked slowly to the uncurtained picture window.

  My mind was stiff with panic. The robbery was off! I had to stop it! But how? My brain just wouldn’t work, but I did know it would be fatal to go ahead now Maddox was looming in the background.

  Smart as the Paradise City police were, they were not in the same class as Maddox. I remembered a case when Chief of Police Terrell was glad to cooperate with Maddox’s investigator, Steve Harmas, and it was Harmas who had solved the theft of the Esmaldi necklace and also a murder.

  ‘What’s wrong, Larry?’

  ‘Getting a headache, damn it!’ I held my head in my hands while I tried to think what to do. Then I realised how absurdly easy it was to stop the robbery. I had only to cross the room, go out into the lobby, slip down the catch on the Yale lock and Rhea and Fel couldn’t get in.

  What could they do? What could they do except go away and curse me when we met again.

  ‘I’ll get you an Aspro,’ Sydney said getting to his feet. ‘Nothing like an Aspro, precious.’

  ‘It’s all right.’ I started towards the door. ‘I’ll get it. They’re in the bathroom cabinet, aren’t they?’

  ‘Let me.’

  Then the door burst open and I knew I had left it too late.

  * * *

  Days later and looking back on that night, I was able to understand why the operation had blown up in my face.

  The fault was entirely mine. In spite of my hours of thinking and careful planning, I had completely misjudged how Sydney would react under pressure. I had been so certain that this willowy queer, with his buzzing and fluttering, woul
dn’t have the courage of a mouse and would shrivel with terror at any threat of violence. Had I not misjudged his courage, I wouldn’t be in the position I now find myself, but I was sure he would present no problem and I never gave this vital part of the operation a thought.

  I was moving towards the door and Sydney was coming around his desk when the door bust open and Fel, with Rhea behind him, came charging in.

  Fel had on the Beatle wig and the silver glasses, an ugly looking Colt automatic in his fist. Behind him, her red hair concealed by a black scarf, her face hidden behind enormous silver goggles, Rhea also made a threatening sight, a .38 automatic in her gloved hand.

  ‘Stay still!’ Fel yelled: his voice spine chilling. ‘Get your hands up!’

  I was moving towards him. I tried to stop myself, but my legs kept moving. I was almost within reach of him when he swung at me. I saw the movement and tried to duck but the gun barrel smashed against my face and a white light exploded inside my skull. I felt warm blood running into my mouth and I was flat on my back, dazed by the violence of the blow. I lay there, my right eye rapidly closing, but my left eye registering what went on.

  I saw Sydney grab hold of the Borgia dagger he used as a letter opener: an antique which had cost him thousands of dollars and of which he was very proud. He went for Fel like a charging bull, the gleaming dagger thrust forward, his face the colour of old parchment, his eyes bolting out of his head. He not only looked berserk but homicidal.

  I saw Rhea back away and lift her gun, her lips coming off her teeth in a vicious snarl. There was a flash and a bang as Sydney stabbed at Fel who was standing motionless as if stupefied. The point of the dagger cut into Fel’s arm and blood spurted. The back of Sydney’s head exploded into a red mushroom and he went down with a thud that shook the room.

  Gunsmoke curled up to the ceiling. Fel staggered back, holding his arm. Somehow with pain raging in my face, I got on to my hands and knees.

  I stared at Sydney’s body. Something horrible, white with blood, began oozing from the back of his head. He had to be dead. This I knew. Sydney! Dead! Something came loose in my mouth. I spat out a tooth on Sydney’s two hundred year old Persian carpet. I started to crawl towards him. I wanted to touch him, to try to bring him back to life, then as I nearly reached him, I saw Rhea’s shadow fall in front of me.