The Soft Centre Read online

  ‘Yes, he’s back,’ Val said quietly. ‘What happened when the car hit the tree?’?‘After waiting a bit, I started to walk. I walked some way. I tried to get cars to stop, but none of them would. I got bored and when I saw a car coming, I stepped in front of it. It was dark by then. I really hoped it would knock me down, I was so bored with myself, but it didn’t. There was this woman…’

  Val waited, but he seemed to have forgotten what he was saying and just sat there limply, staring into space.

  ‘Tell me about her,’ Val said at last.?‘About who?’?‘This woman who stopped.’?‘There’s nothing to tell. She stopped… that’s all.’

  Val had a sudden idea he was concealing something from her that frightened him. She regarded him, feeling a cold sensation building up around her heart.

  ‘Did she talk to you?’

  He moved restlessly.

  ‘We drove some way. Yes, she talked. I can’t remember what about… I think I was sorry for her somehow.’

  ‘What was she like?’?‘I don’t know.’ He frowned. ‘It’s odd, but when I think of her, I think of elephants.’

  She was startled.?‘But, why? Was she so big then?’?‘No… I don’t think so. I honestly don’t remember anything about her except the elephants.’ He looked over his shoulder at the nurse. ‘She thinks I could become violent. Did you know?’

  ‘Why should you become violent?’ Val! asked, her mouth suddenly turning dry.?‘People in my state often do.’

  Val couldn’t bear to listen to this kind of talk.?‘Chris, I need some money. I haven’t enough in my account. Would you sign a blank cheque for me? I’ve brought your cheque book along.’

  He sat motionless for so long she wasn’t sure if he had heard what she had said, then slowly, he turned his head and the suspicious expression in his eyes sent a chill up her spine.

  ‘How much do you want?’?‘Oh, a few thousand dollars.’ Val tried unsuccessfully to sound casual. ‘You see, Chris, we have a lot of expenses. I’ve decided not to let daddy pay the hotel bill and …’

  ‘You don’t have to lie about it,’ he said. ‘Exactly how much money do you want?’

  Val sat motionless. She would have to ask her father, she told herself hopelessly. She could lie to him, but she had never succeeded in lying to Chris.

  ‘I can manage, Chris. Let’s forget it.’

  He sat forward so abruptly, the nurse watching paused in her knitting, ready to rise to her feet.

  ‘Is someone blackmailing you about me?’ he asked, staring at Val. Is that it?’ She hesitated, then realising, he must be told, said, ‘Yes, Chris.’

  He slumped down in the chair.?‘How much does he want?’?‘Twenty thousand dollars.’?‘It’s not much, is it? Well, we must tell the police. One should never pay blackmail. I’ll admit I did it, and that will be that. If we pay this man, he will go on making demands… blackmailers always do.’

  ‘Admit you did what?’ Val exclaimed, stiffening. ‘Whatever the man says I did. I told you, didn’t I, that I could have done anything… even murdered someone.’ He looked away from her, his long, slim fingers moving restlessly up and down his thighs. ‘Last night I dreamed I killed a woman. I expect that’s what I have done… killed some woman. Is that what he says I did?’

  ‘Stop it!’ Val said fiercely. ‘You don’t know what you are saying! You haven’t killed anyone!’

  ‘Is that what he says I did?’ he repeated, looking up at her. Then as she said nothing, he suddenly shrugged.

  ‘What’s money, anyway? Give me the cheque book.’

  She took the cheque book from her bag and gave it to him with a pen. He signed three blank cheques and then handed her back the cheque book.

  ‘I’ll never come out of here, so you may as well have the use of my money. I leave it to you, Val. Clear the account and put the money in your account.’

  Val] put the cheque book back in her bag. Her hands were shaking and she was very white. ‘Who was the woman I killed, Val!?’ he asked. ‘There was no woman. You didn’t do anything? I know you didn’t!’

  ‘I suppose it is better to pay blackmail. On second thoughts, your father would hate me to be tried for murder, wouldn’t he?’

  ‘You wouldn’t be tried for murder, darling. You haven’t done anything.’ ‘Who is this man who is blackmailing us?’?‘Oh, just a man. Don’t worry about him.’?‘If he hadn’t convinced you, you wouldn’t be paying him, would you?’

  ‘Don’t let’s talk any more about it. I’m going, but I’ll you tomorrow.’?‘You don’t really have to bother. I manage Sitting here or my own,’ he said indifferently and closed his eyes.

  In despair, she turned and walked away.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Sam Karsh was waiting when Homer Hare came heavily into his office after a long and excellent lunch.

  ‘Well, I thought you were in jug by now,’ Karsh said. What happened?’?‘Sammy, you must learn to trust me. We’re on to a very good thing… like I told you. The little lady has everything to gain and a husband to lose.’

  ‘Yeah… from what I hear, she’s lost him already.’ hare dismissed this with a wave of his hand. ‘She’s in love with him,’ he said. ‘Knowing human nature the way I do, when a woman is stupid enough to fall in love, she is a sucker for me.’ He looked at the strap watch on his fat wrist, ‘I think I can call her now. She’ll have had dine to make up her mind.’

  ‘This idea of yours doesn’t jell with me,’ Karsh said uneasily. We’ve never stuck our necks out this far. Are you sure she won’t bleat to the cops?’

  ‘She won’t. We’ve never stuck our necks out this far because we have never had the chance of picking up half a million bucks,’ Hare said. Lifting the telephone receiver, he asked Lucille to connect him with the Spanish Bay hotel.

  Val had just got back from her visit to the sanatorium and was about to sit down before the open window when the telephone bell buzzed. She hesitated, then crossing the room, she answered the call.

  ‘Is that Mrs. Burnett?’

  She immediately recognised the dreaded, wheezy voice. She controlled the impulse to slam down the receiver.

  She said, ‘Yes.’?‘We talked this morning.’ She could hear the fat man struggling with his breath. ‘Is it yes or no, madam?’

  ‘It’s yes, but I need time,’ Val said, aware her voice was unsteady. ‘I can pay twenty thousand tomorrow. I need two weeks before I pay the rest.’

  ‘That would be satisfactory. In cash, if you please. Would you be good enough to come to my office tomorrow at eleven and bring the cash? You have my address. We will then be able to discuss how the rest of the money is to be paid.’

  ‘I’ll do that,’ Val said and hung up. She stared across the room for some moments, then she abruptly called the Florida Banking Corporation and asked to speak to the manager. She had only to mention her name to be put through immediately.

  Henry Thresby, the manager of the bank, was warned by his secretary that the daughter of Charles Travers was on the line.

  ‘Good afternoon, Mrs. Burnett,’ he said in his bright, alert business voice. ‘Is there something I may do for you?’

  ‘Yes, please,’ Val told him. ‘I want twenty thousand dollars. I will be in tomorrow morning. I’ll bring my husband’s cheque.’

  ‘Certainly. I’ll have the money ready for you. There’ll be no difficulty about that.’?‘I want the money in one hundred dollar bills,’ Val went on, hesitated then said, ‘I would be glad if you would take a note of the numbers of all the bills and let me have the numbers. Would you also please arrange to have the money done up in a parcel and sealed with the bank’s seal?’

  Thresby’s long experience in banking affairs allowed his tone to remain normal while his expression became startled.

  ‘Certainly… only too happy, Mrs. Burnett. The parcel will be ready for you when you come. Do you wish to check the amount before the parcel is sealed?’

  ‘That won’t be necessary. I’ll be at the ban
k about ten o’clock.’?‘Everything will be ready and arranged as you wish, Mrs. Burnett.’?‘Thank you,’ and Val hung up.

  Thresby, a small dapper man with a balding head and shrewd eyes pushed back his chair. He stared into space, frowning. He was a conscientious banker. He had been pleased to have obtained Chris Burnett’s account when the Burnetts had come to stay at the Spanish Bay hotel. He was aware of the importance of these two young people … even more aware of their connection with the great Charles Travers. These instructions, given him by Mrs. Burnett, set an alarm ringing in his mind. Twenty thousand dollars, the numbers to be recorded and the money to be put in a sealed parcel meant to him either ransom or blackmail money.

  He lit a cigarette and pondered the problem. He and Chief of Police Terrell had gone to school together. They spent holidays, fishing together. He knew he could rely on Terrell’s discretion. Although he felt uneasy that he was going beyond the strict letter of his duty, he didn’t hesitate for long. He reached for the telephone and asked to be connected with Police Headquarters.

  Sergeant Thames, the desk sergeant, told him that Terrell was out. He had no idea when he would be back.

  ‘This is important, Sergeant. Will you ask the Chief to call me at my home any time after six o’clock?’

  Sergeant Thames said he would do that.?*****

  Joe Beigler walked from the Toy store carrying under his arm a large brown paper parcel containing an enormous Teddy Bear. He felt a vindictive pleasure that the Bear had cost seventy-five dollars. If the Chief was dumb enough to pander to this little horror, he thought, then it was his bad luck if he was to be seventy-five dollars out of pocket.

  He arrived back at the motel to find Terrell waiting for him. He was pleased to see his Chief’s face fail when he told him he owed him another twenty-five dollars.

  ‘I’ll give it to you tomorrow,’ Terrell said and taking the parcel, he walked over to the Prescott’s cabin.

  Beigler went to the cafeteria and devoured a couple of hamburgers, washed down with ice-cold beer. As he was about to order a second beer, he saw Terrell come out of the Prescott’s cabin and look around for him. He paid his check and went out to Terrell.

  ‘It’s paid off,’ Terrell said. ‘I guess I know who these two guys are, but I want you to hear what she’s told me and see if you agree with me.’

  Beigler followed him into the cabin where Angel was sitting, looking at the Teddy Bear with wonder and love while Mrs. Prescott, red with embarrassment, stood by the window, watching her daughter.

  ‘Angel, let’s go over it all again,’ Terrell said. ‘Just once more.’

  She smiled at him.?‘Yes.’ She looked at Beigler. ‘Thank you for getting me my Teddy. You’re cleverer than you look.’

  Beigler scowled at her, sat down at the table and opened his notebook.?‘Go ahead, Angel,’ Terrell said, sitting down. ‘You woke up at five minutes to one. You put on your torch and looked at your clock. That’s right, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes,’ the child said. ‘I looked out of the window and I saw…’ ‘Why did you look out of the window?’ Terrell interrupted.

  ‘I wanted to see if there was a moon. I like looking at the moon.’?‘And was there a moon?’?‘It was dark, but I could see the moon behind a cloud. Then I saw two men walking down the lane between the cabins. They had to pass under those lights in the tree at the far end of the lane. I saw them clearly.’

  ‘You saw them well enough to recognise them again?’?‘I would recognise the fat man, but I don’t think I would recognise the nigger. He…’ ‘Angel! You mustn’t say nigger,’ Mrs. Prescott broke in.?‘You should say he was a coloured man.’

  Angel gave her mother an irritable look and then went on, ‘All niggers look alike to me, but the other man I’d know anywhere.’

  ‘Before you describe him, tell me what these two did.’ Well, they walked to Mr. Henekey’s cabin and went up on to the porch. My window was open and I heard them whispering. I couldn’t hear what they were saying. It was too dark there to see what they were doing, but I heard the door creak open and they went inside.’

  ‘Then what did you do?’?‘I waited because I wondered what they were doing in Mr. Henekey’s cabin. I got sleepy, and when Mr. Henekey arrived. I thought he would find out for himself, so I went to sleep.’

  ‘You are sure they didn’t leave before Henekey arrived?’?‘No, they were in the cabin all the time. They didn’t leave.’?‘All right, Angel, now tell me about the fat man.’?‘He was very big and very fat. He was the biggest and fattest man I have ever seen.’?‘You told me he was about Sergeant Beigler’s age,’ Terrell said, ‘and he wore a blue shirt and dark trousers. That’s right, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes.’?‘And you’re sure his companion was coloured?’?‘Oh yes. He had on a yellow and white sweat shirt, and blue jeans.’?‘And there was something else that struck you about the fat man?’ Terrell said. ‘Wasn’t there?’

  Angel hid her face in the fur of the bear. She giggled. ‘Oh, yes. He was a pansy. I know all about them because my friend, Doris, told me. She knows all about them because her brother is one of them. I could tell that was what he was by his walk.’

  ‘Angel!’ Mrs. Prescott exclaimed, horrified. ‘You really…‘?‘Please!’ Terrell said sharply. ‘This is important,’ to Angel: ‘Just how did he walk?’

  The child got to her feet and began to mince around the room. Her imitation of the walk of a homosexual was so convincing that even Beigler had to grin.

  She stopped and looked at Terrell.?‘Like that.’?‘I want you to wait here for a little while,’ Terrell said. ‘Then I hope you will help me some more.’

  ‘Now I have my bear, I’ll help you as much as I can,’ Angel said gravely. She went over to the bear and hugged it, looking at Terrell, her eyes adoring.

  Pleased, Terrell smiled and got up. He nodded to Beigler and the two men went out into the sunshine.

  ‘Well, you name them, Joe,’ Terrell said.?‘Jacko Smith and Moe Lincoln,’ Beigler said without hesitation. ‘Can’t be anyone else.’ ‘Hardy’s bodyguard. Looks as if some of the pieces are falling into place. But we have to be sure. The next move is to show Jacko to the child and see if she can recognize him.’

  What do we do?’ Beigler rubbed his jaw. ‘Bring him in … have a line-up and let the kid finger him?’

  Terrell shook his head. He looked at his watch. The time was twenty minutes past five. ‘We’ll drive her to the Coral bar. Jacko usually shows there around half-past six. We’ll park within sight, and she can spot him when he goes into the bar. If she recognises him, we’ll bring him in and have a line-up.’

  They went back to the cabin.?‘I want your daughter to come along with us,’ Terrell said to Mrs. Prescott. ‘It is essential that she identifies this man. You’ll come too, of course.’

  ‘Oh no, she won’t,’ Angel said firmly. ‘If she comes, then I won’t help you. Just me and Teddy.’

  ‘Now, Baby-girl, Mrs. Prescott said helplessly, ‘you mustn’t be naughty. You can’t go alone with these gentlemen.’

  ‘Then I’m not going at all,’ Angel said in a decided voice and putting her arms around her bear, she dragged it off the settee and began to move to the door.

  ‘She’ll be all right with me,’ Terrell said. ‘I’ll bring her right back, Mrs. Prescott. This is important police business.’

  Mrs. Prescott started to say something when Angel said, ‘I’ll see you later, Mummy,’ and walked briskly from the cabin to where the police cars were parked.

  ‘If she was my daughter, I’d…’ Beigler began, his face red with indignation.

  Mrs. Prescott drew herself up.?‘I’m glad she isn’t!’ she said. ‘I don’t care for anyone criticising my child and I’ll thank you not to pass such remarks!’

  Beigler looked helplessly at Terrell, closed his notebook and followed his Chief out and across to where Angel waited for them impatiently.

  *****

  Moe Lincoln lay back in the
barber’s chair, feeling the keen edge of the razor pass over his black cheek. His eyes were closed, his vicious face in repose as he relaxed to the soft hands of Toey Marsh who had been trying for months to persuade Moe to leave Jacko and come to live with him.

  Toey was half Chinese, half Pole: a fat little man, nudging fifty with henna dyed hair, almond shaped eyes and a round fat face. He was considered one of the best barbers in the district and Moe always had an evening shave from him before going out to set the town alight with Jacko.

  ‘What’s the time, baby?’ Moe asked, keeping his eyes shut.?‘Nearly half-past six,’ Toey told him after consulting his watch. ‘What are you doing tonight? Would you like to come back to my place. I’m throwing a party. Chinese food, and there’s a boy…’

  ‘I’ve got a date with Jacko,’ Moe said who liked to torture Toey. ‘Why should I want to go to your crummy joint?’

  Toey sighed. He applied a hot towel to Moe’s face and leaving him for a moment, he wandered to the shop window to look out on to the street.

  ‘That’s funny,’ he said. ‘What are they doing, I wonder?’

  ‘Who, dopey?’ Moe asked, pressing the hot towel to his face and breathing in the menthol fumes coming from the towel.

  ‘The cops… out there in a car with a little girl,’ Toey said, coming over to change the towel.

  Moe stiffened. He snatched off the towel, slid out of the chair and went to the window. He stared at the police car. It was in a parking bay fifty yards or so from the entrance to the Coral bar.

  “What’s the matter?’ Toey asked.?‘Shut your flap!’ Moe snarled. ‘Gimme a towel.’ Without taking his eyes off the police car, he reached out his lean black hand and snatched the towel Toey gave him. He hurriedly wiped his face and the back of his neck and then threw the towel from him.

  He watched: then he saw Jacko Smith come waddling down the street.