Strictly for Cash Page 23

  Pepi’s hands. I had still the last word. The road was straight: on either side were mangrove

  thickets. It was as simple as that.

  “Well, so long, Ginny,” I thought. “This is the way out. This is the only way out,” and I got

  a picture of her in my mind with her copper-coloured hair and her big, serious eyes and her

  lovely mouth as I pulled down hard on the wheel.

  As I swung the car off the road, I shoved the accelerator to the boards. I felt the car leap

  forward. I didn’t look where we were heading. My eyes were fixed on the driving rnirror. I

  could see Della’s face.

  “Go ahead and shoot me,” I thought. “If this is my end, it’s your end too. You’re not going

  to get your dirty claws on Ginny.”

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  I saw the fear and horror in her face. I heard her thin, wailing scream. I saw the gun drop

  out of her hand as she threw up her arm to shield her face.

  Then we hit a tree, bounced off it, shot into the undergrowth and smashed into another tree.

  I held on to the steering-wheel for dear life. Della had disappeared. I felt the car turning over.

  “This is it,” I thought, and I wasn’t scared. I was thinking of Ginny as the car turned over, and

  I was still thinking of her when something crashed down on my head.

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  PART FIVE

  CURTAINS

  I

  “COME on! Snap out of it!” a voice bawled in my ear, and a hand caught hold of

  my coat front and hauled me upright. “Wake up, louse!”

  I got my eyes open with an effort, and stared into the fat, blue-chinned face of Benno.

  Instinctively, I tried to throw a punch at him, but my arm didn’t respond.

  Snarling, he slammed me across the mouth with the back of his hand, and I flopped back on

  the bed, scarcely conscious.

  Dimly I heard a fat voice say, “Don’t hit him like that, you fool! I want him to talk!”

  “He’ll talk!” Benno said viciously, and hauled me upright again. “Come on! Take notice or

  I’ll yank your goddamn ears off!”

  I opened my eyes again and looked around. I was lying bound hand and foot, on my bed in

  the bedroom of my apartment on Franklin Boulevard. Benno was sitting on the bed, and

  Ricca stood at the foot of the bed.

  For a long moment I was confused and bewildered, then I remembered Ginny. Was she still

  in the apartment? Had I imagined she had been there? I remembered her coming to the door

  and the terror on her face.

  “What have you done with her?” I croaked.

  Ricca smiled.

  “She’s in the other room. You played your hand pretty badly. I wanted her as well as you,

  and you led me right to her.”

  I strained at the cord that bound my hands, but it didn’t give.

  “Better bring her in here,” Ricca said to Benno. “It’s time we started.”

  Benno patted my face with a hand that smelt of lavender water.

  “You and me are going to have fun before long,” he said.

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  He went into the other room.

  Ricca continued to smile and puff breath at me. His snake’s eyes were vicious.

  Benno came back, dragging Ginny with him. She was gagged, and her wrists were tied

  behind her. There was a rip in her skirt, and she had pushed a knee through one stocking. She

  looked as if she had had a bad time. She stared wildly at me, horror in her eyes.

  “Ginny!” I cried, struggling upright. “What have they done to you?”

  “We haven’t done much to her yet,” Ricca said, “but we will unless you are ready to talk.”

  “Turn her loose and I’ll talk,” I said wildly. Just to see her in the hands of a rat like Benno

  drove me frantic. “But she’s got to go free! She isn’t in this. She’s got to go free.”

  Ricca pulled up a chair and lowered his bulk on to it.

  “You had your chance when I made my first offer,” he said. “It’s out of my hands now.

  Petelli’s claiming you. All I want is the money, then I turn you over to him.” He pulled at his

  thick lower lip. “Unfortunately she’ll have to be turned over to him, too.”

  “That won’t get you anywhere,” I said. “Either she goes free or the money stays where it is,

  and it’s where you’ll never get your claws on it.”

  “Don’t be too sure about that. I have an idea I can persuade you to talk.”

  “You heard what I said! Let her free or you don’t get the money!” ‘

  Ricca lifted his fat shoulders.

  “It’s out of my hands. She knows too much. Benno’s going to knock you off. She’ll have to

  go, too.”

  I turned ice-cold. I had only to look at him to see he wasn’t bluffing.

  “She’ll give you her word not to talk,” I said. “I don’t give a damn what happens to me, but

  you’ve got to let her go!”

  “I happen to hold all the cards in this deal,” Ricca said.

  “Ask yourself which would be better for her: a bullet through the head or to be worked over

  until you decide to talk. You’ll see Benno at work. Better save her from that. What do you

  say – a quick bullet or Benno?”

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  Benno put his hand on the front of Ginny’s frock and ripped it down to her waist.

  I was licked and I knew it. Ginny would be better off dead than tortured by Benno.

  Without looking at her, I said, “Yes. Don’t let him touch her. I’ll talk.”

  Ricca rubbed his hands.

  “I thought somehow you would. Where’s the money?”

  “The Miami Safe Deposit.”

  I could see by the momentary blank expression in his eyes he hadn’t expected this.

  “I see. Very sensible of you.”

  Then suddenly I remembered the .22 I had left in the suitcase. I felt a hot surge of triumph

  run through me. With that gun I could fix him and turn the tables on Benno.

  “You will write them a letter …” he began, but stopped as I shook my head.

  “Do you imagine I’m all that of a dope? I and no one else can get the money. I left

  instructions I was the only one to enter the strong room.”

  Ricca stared down at his feet. Then he glanced up and waved his hand at Benno.

  “Take her away,” he said. “Why doesn’t Pepi come?”

  “He doesn’t know we’re here,” Benno said. “How many more times do I have to tell you ?”

  “Try to find him. We want him.”

  “Forget him! He might be anywhere. Can’t you swing this yourself?”

  “Take her away.”

  Benno shoved Ginny out of the room. As he reached the door he put his knee in her back

  and shot her forward. I heard her fall on the floor.

  “If ever I get my hands on you …” I said, straining at the rope that held my wrists.

  Ricca smiled.

  “It’s your own fault. How can you expect an animal like Benno to treat a girl decently ?”

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  He grimaced as he looked through the open door. “You and I will go and collect the money,”

  he went on. “After that, Benno takes charge, but I promise you I will see he makes it quick. I

  owe you something. I am grateful to you for getting rid of Della. Now, of course, I take over

  the casino myself.”

  I stared fixedly at him.

  “And when we get to the safe deposit, don’t make trouble,” he went on. “The money

  belongs to the casino, and I can prove it. Hame will play along with me. There’s nothing you

  can do about it.”

 
“I know when I’m licked,” I said, thinking of the .22 in the suitcase.

  He went into the other room and I heard him talking to Benno. While I had a moment to

  myself I tried desperately to free my hands. I might just as well have tried to tip over the

  Woolworth building.

  Ricca came into the room again.

  “If I am not back within the hour he will take her away from here. I needn’t tell you what

  he will do to her. So no tricks.”

  He cut my ankles free.

  “Stand up and turn round.”

  Benno came to the door, a snub-nosed automatic in his hand. He kept me covered while

  Ricca freed my hands.

  “Okay,” Ricca said, pulling a gun from his hip pocket. “Let’s go.”

  I went first and he followed. We walked down the four flights of stairs. Drawn up outside

  the front door was a dark-blue Packard.

  “You drive, Johnny. I’ll sit at the back. And snap into it. I don’t imagine Benno will keep

  his hands off her for long. She’s pretty, isn’t she?”

  My sick fear for her turned to cold, vicious rage against him. I didn’t say anything but

  drove fast until I reached Roosevelt Boulevard. Here the traffic was heavy, and it took me

  some minutes to weave the car to a standstill outside the Safe Deposit building.

  A guard came over.

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  “I deposited a suitcase here this morning. I want to pick it up.”

  “You know the way, sir? Mr. Evesham will look after you.”

  I said I knew the way, and went up the steps with Ricca at my heels.

  The princely Mr. Evesham looked surprised when he saw me, but he remembered his

  manners and stood up and bowed.

  “My partner’s arrived unexpectedly,” I said, waving to Ricca. “I’ll want the suitcase for a

  couple of days.”

  “Certainly, sir. Shall I come up with you?”

  “That’s okay. I know my way.”

  “I’ll have the receipt for you to sign when you come down.”

  “Thanks,” I said, and walked over to the elevator.

  Ricca stood beside me, smiling, as the elevator took us to the fifth floor.

  “They arrange things well here,” he said. “Might be an idea to have something like this at

  the casino.”

  I didn’t say anything. When the elevator stopped, I walked down the corridor with him just

  behind me.

  The guard came out of the guard house.

  “Let me have the key to room 46,” I said.

  He studied me, then went away. After a moment or so he returned and handed me the key.

  “Third door on the right, sir.”

  I continued down the corridor and stopped outside room 46.

  “Without your co-operation,” Ricca said, “it would have been impossible to get the money.

  What a sensible young man you are.”

  I unlocked the door and pushed it open.

  “Quite luxurious,” Ricca said, looking in. He made no move to enter. “I think I’ll wait here.

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  Bring the money to me.”

  But I wanted him inside with the door shut.

  “The door has to be closed before the safe will open,” I said, entering the room. “Wait

  outside if you like.”

  He looked up and down the empty corridor, then pulled out his gun.

  “In that case I’ll come in with you. I don’t trust you out of my sight, but don’t make any

  false moves.”

  I had no qualms about killing him. Ginny’s life and mine were worth a lot more to me than

  his. I knew the sound of a ‘22 wouldn’t be heard outside the steel-lined room.

  I stood beside the safe and began to spell out the combination. I was calm and my hands

  were steady. I kept thinking of Ginny along with Benno. I knew I mustn’t make the slightest

  slip.

  The safe door swung open.

  “Better keep back,” I said. “There’s a gadget somewhere that photographs when the safe is

  opened.”

  “They seem to have thought of everything,” Ricca said. I could tell by his voice he wasn’t

  suspicious. “Is the money there?”

  “What do you think?” I hauled out the suitcase and dumped it on the table. There wasn’t

  room for him to come around and stand by my side. He faced me. I snapped back the locks

  and threw open the case. The open lid was towards him. He couldn’t see what was inside the

  case. I tossed a bundle of bills on the table as he began to move forward. He paused and

  looked at them, an oily smile spreading over his face. That gave me the opportunity to pick

  up the .22 lying in the case.

  I aimed through the lid of the case at his belly. A little gun like a -22 hasn’t much stopping

  power, but I knew a slug in his gut would paralyse him. I waited until he began to move forward again, then looking right at him, I squeezed the trigger.

  The gun went off with a noise like the breaking of a dry stick. Ricca reared back, his face

  contorted with agony, his hands clutching at his fat paunch. Then he folded forward as if he

  had a hinge in his back. His gun dropped out of his hand, and he fell across the table, his face

  hanging over the upraised lid of the suitcase.

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  I gave the top of his head a hard shove, and he slid off the table on to the floor.

  I was breathing heavily, and I began to shake as I watched him squirm about on the floor,

  his hands pressed to his belly, blood oozing out between his fingers.

  I picked up his gun. Holding it by the barrel I bent over him. We stared at each other. There

  was a film forming over his eyes, but by the way his mouth twisted into a snarl I knew he

  could still see me. I hit him very hard in the centre of his forehead. The heavy butt of the gun

  crashed down, breaking the akin and driving a little hollow into the broad expanse of bone.

  He stopped squirming and stiffened out. For perhaps a second or so I stood over him, then

  sure I had taken care of him I straightened up and stepped away from him.

  I wiped the sweat from my face, dropped his gun by his side and shoved the .22 into my hip

  pocket. I shut the suitcase and snapped down the locks. Then without looking at him, I

  stepped to the door and opened it. The corridor was still empty. I locked the door, dropped

  the key into my pocket and walked quickly to the guard room.

  The guard appeared.

  “I’m checking out,” I said. “My partner’s going through some papers. He may be some

  time. Don’t disturb him, will you?”

  “That’s all right, sir.”

  “He has the key. He’ll give it to you when he leaves. What time do you shut?”

  “Six-thirty, sir.”

  I looked at my wrist-watch. It was now a quarter to four. I had nearly three hours in which

  to get clear.

  “He’ll be through by then.”

  I rode down in the elevator. Mr. Evesham was waiting for me.

  “My partner’s working up there. I’ve fixed it with the guard.”

  “Quite all right, sir.”

  “I’m taking the case. Do you want me to sign anything?”

  He gave me a couple of forms. I signed where he indicated.

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  “I’ll be back in a couple of days.”

  “You are very welcome, sir,” he returned with a stately bow.

  A guard opened the door of Ricca’s car as I came down the steps. I slung the suitcase in the

  back and got in under the steering-wheel.

  “Thanks,” I said as he closed the door.

>   I drove fast to Franklin Boulevard.

  II

  I parked the car outside the back entrance of 3945 in a narrow alley that ran parallel with

  Franklin Boulevard. I put the suitcase in the boot of the car, then pushed open the garden gate

  and entered a wilderness of trees, shrubs and overgrown flowerbeds. I made my way from

  tree to tree until I was within sight of the back of the house.

  Against the wall, built between two steel shafts, was an outside dumb-waiter, which

  tradesmen used to haul up the groceries to the various apartments. I planned to haul myself up

  to my apartment in it, and take Benno by surprise.

  The chances were he was still in the front room with Ginny. If he was, and I could get into

  the apartment without him knowing, I was sure I could take him. There could be no shooting

  in that house unless I wanted a hoard of policemen swarming around me, and I didn’t.

  As I stood looking up at the windows, a big white cat came out of the shrubbery and rubbed

  itself against my leg. It belonged to the janitor, and used to come up to my apartment when

  Ginny and I were there, and Ginny would feed it.

  I had too much on my mind to bother with it, and I gave it a little nudge with my foot, but it

  didn’t take the hint. When I began to dodge from shrub to shrub, working my way to the

  dumb-waiter, it followed me.

  I squeezed myself into the box. It was a tight fit, and I wondered if the rope would be

  strong enough to take my weight.

  The cat jumped on to my lap, and rubbed its face against mine. I was about to push it off

  when an idea struck me. It might be useful in the apartment to create a diversion, and I

  decided to take it up with me.

  I caught hold of the rope and began to haul. The box moved creakily upward. In spite of the

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  system of pulleys I had a lot of weight on my arms, and my progress was slow.

  I was panting by the time I reached the third floor, and I stopped to get some breath back.

  The cat kept bumping its face into mine. It didn’t seem at all perturbed that we were hanging

  in space. After a minute or so I began to haul again. Inch by inch the box crawled upwards

  until finally it came to the wooden trap leading to my kitchen. I jammed on the brake and

  thankfully let go of the rope.

  I sat with my legs dangling while I massaged my aching arms. As soon as my heart had

  stopped jumping like a freshly landed fish, I turned my attention to the trap. I pressed gently,