1972 - You're Dead Without Money Read online

  Elliot relaxed a little.

  The thought of breaking into Larrimore’s house, even with Vin to help him, had bothered him. If it was only information that Kendrick wanted, then the set-up looked much more reasonable.

  ‘I’ll go along with that. Okay, Claude, you leave this to me.’

  Kendrick got to his feet.

  ‘I have to run, cheri. A dreadful cocktail party looms ahead but it is good for business. One must sacrifice oneself. If there is anything further I can do to be helpful, do ask. I can rely on you to be most careful?’

  ‘Sure . . . I’m in this for the money . . . same as you.’ Elliot got to his feet.

  Kendrick waited until he heard Louis shut and lock the gallery door after Elliot, then he picked up the telephone receiver, dialled a number and waited. When the connection was made he said, ‘The Belvedere Hotel? Please connect me with Mr. Radnitz. This is Mr. Claude Kendrick calling.’

  * * *

  Barney broke off to blot his eyes with the back of his wrist.

  ‘These sausages, Mr. Campbell, have a kick like a mule, but they are good for the digestion. You have one.’

  I said a mule and my digestion were things apart and I would rather not.

  Barney shrugged his immense shoulders, rinsed his mouth with some beer, collected his thoughts which apparently had been disturbed by the last sausage and settled down to his story again.

  ‘Now, I bring upon the stage yet another character,’ he said. ‘Herman Radnitz.’ He paused and blew out his cheeks. ‘Radnitz comes to this City from time to time and rents all the year round the penthouse at this hotel, the Belvedere. Let me tell you the penthouse costs a lot of solid bread, but Radnitz is rich. I’ve seen him two or three times, and frankly, if I never saw him again, it wouldn’t put me off my beer. Let me give you a photo of him. Imagine a short, square-shaped man with hooded eyes that would shame a bullfrog and a thick, hooked nose. I am told he is one of the richest men in the world and to my thinking looks the meanest sonofabitch I’ve yet seen and that, mister, is saying a lot.

  ‘I’m told he is internationally known for his financial machinations, has power over Foreign Embassies, has fingers in any international deal worth more than five million dollars, is a power behind the Iron Curtain and is on first name terms with the political top shots throughout the world.

  ‘This is the man who wanted Mr. J.’s stamps. He has a vast organization of slaves who work for him and - so some people whisper - kill for him. He had instructed these people to find the stamps and after a year of systematic digging the gap had been narrowed to Larrimore.

  ‘Radnitz found it an odd coincidence that the stamps just might be in his favourite City where he spent a few weeks a year relaxing. He had dealt with Kendrick’s gallery and because he always believed in putting on file information about anyone he dealt with he had Kendrick investigated. He learned that Kendrick was not only a dealer in fine art, but also a fence. Having tried to approach Larrimore and failed, Radnitz decided to see what Kendrick could do.’

  Barney paused to eat the last of the sausages. I waited until the expected reaction took place. Then when Barney had recovered, he said, ‘You get the photo, Mr. Campbell? Okay for me to go ahead or are there any questions?’

  I said I was listening and there were no questions.

  * * *

  Ko-Yu, Radnitz’s Japanese chauffeur and valet, opened the door of the luxury penthouse suite and bowed Kendrick inside.

  ‘Mr. Radnitz is expecting you, sir,’ Ko-Yu said. ‘Please to find him on the terrace.’

  Kendrick went through the big living room and out on to the terrace where Radnitz, wearing a short-sleeved shirt and cotton slacks was sitting at a table covered with documents.

  ‘Ah, Kendrick, come and sit down,’ Radnitz said. ‘Would you like a drink?’

  ‘No, thank you, sir,’ Kendrick said and sat down away from the table.

  Radnitz scared him, but he was sure this squat toad of a man could make money for him and money was the principal thing in Kendrick’s life, apart, of course, from the glamour boys who buzzed around him like bees around a hive.

  ‘Have you any news for me?’ Radnitz asked, rolling a cigar between his stumpy fingers. ‘The stamps?’

  ‘There is progress, sir.’ Kendrick explained about Elliot.

  Radnitz listened, his eyes hooded.

  ‘Larrimore has no friends,’ Kendrick went on, ‘except Elliot. I thought . . .’

  ‘Don’t let’s waste time,’ Radnitz broke in curtly. ‘I know all about Larrimore. Tell me about Elliot . . . a movie star, if I remember rightly?’

  Kendrick explained about Elliot’s financial position: how he had lost his foot and how he (Kendrick) had put on the pressure and now how Elliot had agreed to cooperate.

  ‘And you think he will succeed?’

  ‘I hope so, sir.’

  ‘And if he doesn’t what other suggestions have you to make?’

  Kendrick began to sweat.

  ‘At the moment, I am relying on him, but if he fails, I will think of something.’

  ‘And what does that mean?’

  ‘Larrimore has a daughter,’ Kendrick said. ‘Perhaps we could use her to put pressure on Larrimore.’

  ‘I am aware that he has a daughter,’ Radnitz said stonily. ‘Of course I have considered this possibility. But first we must be certain Larrimore has the stamps. If he has - if Elliot fails us

  - then we might use the daughter.’

  ‘Yes,’ Kendrick said, ‘but I’m hoping Elliot won’t fail . . . he has the incentive.’

  ‘Very well. Keep me informed.’ Radnitz made a gesture of dismissal. ‘Thank you for coming,’ and he reached for a document on the table.

  When Kendrick had gone, Radnitz laid down the document and clapped his hands three times.

  After a short delay his secretary and personal assistant came out on to the terrace. This man was tall, thin, balding, with deep-set eyes and a thin, cruel mouth. His name was Gustav Holtz. He was as important to Radnitz as Radnitz’s own right hand. A mathematical genius, a man with no scruples, with eight languages at his fingertips and with shrewd political know-how, Holtz served Radnitz well.

  ‘Don Elliot,’ Radnitz said without looking around. ‘One time movie star. Open a file on him. Have him covered. I want to be informed of his movements - a daily report. Be sure he doesn’t become aware that he is being watched. Cover this immediately.’

  ‘Yes, Mr. Radnitz,’ Holtz said.

  Knowing his order would be scrupulously obeyed, Radnitz again picked up the document and dismissed Elliot from his mind.

  * * *

  As he drove back to the bungalow, Elliot did some heavy thinking.

  With Vin, Cindy and Joey willing to help him, he was now enthusiastic about getting hold of these Russian stamps. This seemed to him not only to be an exciting adventure and a solution to his financial problems but also a challenge in the best tradition of a movie plot. After Kendrick’s warning, he realized a direct approach to Larrimore was out of the question.

  He hadn’t seen Larrimore for more than three months.

  He had never been to his house. He couldn’t ‘accidentally’ run into him at the golf club. He had to steer clear there. Too many of his creditors were members and besides, his subscription was long overdue. This wasn’t going to be easy and his mind searched for another solution. Then he thought of Larrimore’s daughter. She could be a possibility, he thought.

  Yes . . . this could be the solution.

  He was still thinking when he pulled up outside the bungalow.

  He found Vin on his own. Joey and Cindy had just left in the Jaguar on a self-service store raid.

  After Elliot had explained the possibilities of stealing the stamps, Vin had become more cooperative. The thought of being paid fifty thousand dollars for stealing a few postage stamps appealed to him. In spite of the way Elliot had physically handled him, Vin was impressed by this handsome movie star. He fe
lt instinctively that if anyone could plan this steal, Elliot would be the one to do it.

  So when Elliot joined him in the back garden, Vin eyed him expectedly. He knew Elliot had been to talk to Kendrick and he was curious to know the outcome.

  Elliot told him of the conversation.

  ‘From what Kendrick tells me,’ he concluded, ‘it would be unwise to approach Larrimore. We have a problem here because I have to keep out of sight. By now, all my goddamn creditors will be looking for me. If they catch up with me, we’re sunk. You’ve got to be the front man.’

  ‘Suits me,’ Vin said. ‘So what do I do?’

  ‘There’s a good chance we can get the information we want from Larrimore’s daughter. Judy Larrimore is a wild one. I’ve met her a number of times in various nightclubs. She’s strictly not my style. She drinks too much, tries too hard and is my idea of a juvenile pest. Her father can’t stand the sight of her - nor she him. Although she lives with him, they scarcely ever meet. He keeps her short of money so she is on the lookout all the time for boy friends who have money to spend on her. I’m sure you can handle her. I think she could have the information we want. Before Larrimore’s wife died in an accident, he told me Judy helped him classify his stamps. It was only when she lost her mother that the girl went off the rails and has kept off them ever since. So she should know something about these Russian stamps always providing Larrimore has them.’

  Vin was listening with interest.

  ‘Sounds right up my alley. So how do I meet this chick?’

  ‘No trouble at all . . . a straight pick-up. One of her favourite haunts is the Adam and Eve club. She usually begins her night prowl there around ten o’clock. You can’t miss her. She’s around eighteen, tall, good figure and with red hair. She inherited her hair from her mother who was Italian. This Venetian red is unique . . . you seldom see it here. If you spot a wild—looking girl with red hair, wearing as little as she can, you can bet she’s Judy Larrimore.’

  ‘I like it even more,’ Vin said with a leer. ‘Sounds to me like fun and business combined.’

  ‘Handle her carefully,’ Elliot warned. ‘She’s no pushover and she has the pick of the wild ones here, but she’ll go for new blood if you approach her right. Don’t rush her. We have time. After three or four meetings, you can begin to probe and I’ll tell you how to handle it. Just get intimate now . . . okay?’

  Vin nodded.

  ‘I’ll get after her tonight.’

  While they were talking, Joey and Cindy were working the local self-service store. Cindy was busy filling her ‘maternity basket’ with items for the evening meal. She planned to make this a special dinner. Elliot had explained he couldn’t return to his home and it would be risky for him to put up at a hotel, so how about moving in with them? Joey and Cindy welcomed this idea. Vin wasn’t too happy about it, but when Elliot said he would pool his nine thousand dollars towards expenses and finance the steal, he was quick to agree.

  While Elliot had been explaining about the stamps, Vin, who missed little, had seen the way Cindy was looking at Elliot and he began to get the idea that Cindy was taking more interest in Elliot than was healthy. He had a sneaking feeling that because Elliot had manhandled him, Cindy was now transferring her affections from him to Elliot.

  When Elliot had gone to see Kendrick and Joey and Cindy had gone to the self-service store, Vin, alone, had time to think. Elliot was the key to the Big Take which he (Vin) was always dreaming about. He asked himself how much Cindy meant to him. He wasn’t in love with Cindy - Vin just didn’t know the meaning of love. He had thought it would be fun to be married to her, to take her around and to have a good time with her, but was there more in it than that? There were thousands of girls as pretty as Cindy: thousands as cute. If she wanted Elliot, he (Vin) would be nuts to spoil what looked like the Big Take. When they got the stamps and Elliot had paid over the fifty thousand dollars, if Cindy opted to stay with Elliot then that would be too bad for her and Joey. Vin grinned suddenly. He would pocket the whole amount and walk out on them. Elliot could take care of them. Why not? If she didn’t go with Elliot, then fine, but he wasn’t going to shed tears if she didn’t. Once having got this clear in his mind, he relaxed and was able to get along with Elliot.

  Cindy had decided to cook a chicken casserole which she did very well. It took her a little time to find two chickens that satisfied her. While she was examining the birds, Joey regarded her with loving eyes. He had seen the change come over her since the clash between Elliot and Vin and in one way he was relieved, but in another way, worried. Vin at least was in Cindy’s class, but Elliot wasn’t. Elliot could just fool around with her and leave her flat and this had always been Joey’s fear that Cindy could get hurt.

  When the shopping was over and as they were walking to where Cindy had parked the Jaguar, Joey said, ‘Elliot seems a nice fella, Cindy. What do you think?’

  She nodded. As she got into the car, she said, ‘Dad . . . I’ve been thinking. I’ve made a mistake about Vin.’

  Joey sighed.

  ‘All women are allowed to make mistakes, baby,’ he said. ‘Is there someone else?’

  ‘As if you didn’t know.’ Cindy gave him a crooked smile. ‘Don . . . the moment I met him . . .’

  ‘Does he feel the same about you?’

  ‘Of course not! I mean nothing to him.’ She started the car and pulled out into the traffic. ‘A cat can look at a king, but that’s it, dad.’ She pulled a little face. ‘I want you to know I’m through with Vin. I’m going to tell him. We can work together, but now, I don’t want to marry him.’

  ‘No one ever said you had to,’ Joey said. ‘When this job’s done, we’ll go off together, Cindy. With our share of the money we can find a little place and take it easy for a while.’

  Cindy nodded.

  But there was an expression in her eyes that saddened Joey.

  * * *

  ‘You ever been to the Adam and Eve club?’ Barney asked.

  He was staring gloomily at the empty plate that had contained the sausages. The regret on his fat face would have melted a heart of stone.

  I said nightclubs weren’t in my line and how about a few more sausages?

  He brightened perceptively.

  ‘Yeah . . . that’s what I call a constructive suggestion.’ He signalled to Sam. The trouble with these sausages, Mr. Campbell, is that they give a man a thirst.’

  Sam brought over another plate of sausages and another beer.

  ‘Nightclubs are special,’ Barney said when Sam had returned to the bar. ‘You either like them or you don’t. The Adam and Eve club is strictly for the wild ones. From what I hear of the place a cultured gentleman like yourself wouldn’t be found dead there.’ He bit into a sausage, chewed, grunted, wiped his eyes and went on, ‘Vin had no trouble in spotting Judy Larrimore. She was up at the bar with a couple of hippies and they were soaking up gin and water. The hippies were around her age with long matted hair and dirty beards. They had on matador trousers and frilled shirts and apart from their smell of dirt they looked like something that had stepped out of the ads from Playboy.

  ‘Vin got close and ordered a whisky. It didn’t take more than a few minutes for Judy to spot him. The two hippies were getting drunk and Vin could see she was bored with them. He saw her eyes light up as she looked him over. He thought she was the sexiest dish he had seen in years.

  ‘He gave her his wide ‘come-on’ smile and she smiled back.

  ‘One of the hippies - the bigger of the two - looked around and glared at Vin who met the glare with the grin he reserved for juveniles. The hippie then looked at Judy to see how she was reacting, but she was continuing to look Vin over.’

  * * *

  Vin thought it was the moment to start something, so he said, ‘If you’re bored with these kids, baby, how about a drink with me?’

  ‘Piss off!’ the hippie snarled, his eyes turning vicious.

  ‘Don’t be rude, little punk,’ Vin sa
id softly, ‘or I’ll have to spank you.’

  Judy giggled and sliding around the hippies she joined Vin, moving slightly behind him.

  The other hippie threw the contents of his glass towards Vin’s face, but that was old hat stuff to Vin. He moved aside and a girl coming up to the bar got splashed.

  Vin jabbed a left into the first hippies face and the hippie’s nose exploded into a red mush. When Vin hit, he hit. The other hippie tried to back away, but Vin reached him with a right hook that lifted him off his feet and slammed him flat on the floor.

  The girl who had got splashed was now screaming like a train whistle and the rest of the people in the bar were shouting. It all happened in seconds. Vin caught Judy by her arm and rushed her to the exit, and out into the hot night. She went willingly enough, stifling her laughter and they bundled into the Jaguar and Vin was driving away before the Club bouncer thought of moving into action.

  Vin drove to a deserted part of the beach and he and Judy got out of the car and as soon as he had closed the car door he saw she had her pants off. He took her and she responded like she was demented. When it was over, she put her pants on and made for the car.

  Vin tried chatting her up, but she told him to shut his head and take her home. He thought his so-called lovemaking had rocked her so violently she wasn’t in the mood to talk so he went along with her.

  He was pleased with himself. He imagined telling Elliot all the details of how he had got to first base after meeting Judy for only ten minutes. This achievement restored his confidence in himself. He would be able to prove to Elliot he was a better man than he, but he had an unpleasant surprise when he pulled up outside the gates leading to the Larrimore home.

  ‘Okay, baby,’ he said, getting out of the Jaguar. ‘How’s about tomorrow night? Let’s go and take the town apart.’