1973 - Have a Change of Scene (15 page)

‘You sell this collar, precious, and you can go to the moon if you want to and I’ll pick up the tab.’

When he had shut the front door, I paused to listen. He didn’t slip the catch.

Things seemed to be going my way.

I returned to my apartment at 23.20. Mixing myself a whisky and soda, I sat down and took stock.

Assuming Rhea and Fel were hooked and would do the job, I felt confident they could get into the apartment block and into Sydney’s penthouse without trouble.

I remembered Rhea had a record. She must wear gloves. If she left one fingerprint, my plan would blow up in my face for I felt certain if they were caught, they would give me away.

But would the police come into it?

Sydney’s position was tricky. If he called the police, then Plessington would learn his wife had sold the necklace. Sydney might not care about that, but he certainly would care if his partner, Tom Luce, got to hear about it. This might cause an irreparable rift between them for Sydney knew, as I knew, he was behaving unethically. Luce was tough and he wouldn’t easily forgive Sydney and this, I knew, Sydney would want to avoid at all costs. Tom was even more important to him than my expertise.

But would Sydney be prepared to kiss three-quarters of a million goodbye without doing anything about it? Although I knew he was immensely rich, to lose a sum that big would be crippling. After some thought I decided he might do just that rather than face Tom Luce’s wrath and also the damage Mrs. P. could do, going around to all his wealthy clients, saying he wasn’t to be trusted. If he didn’t think of this, then I would point it out to him.

If he didn’t call the police, then I was in the clear. I would sell the necklace stone by stone, stash the money away in Switzerland, continue to work for Sydney for three or four months, then plead ill-health and resign. I would then go to Europe and settle down somewhere, probably in the Swiss Alps with my million dollars.

Then I remembered Rhea and Fel. How would they react when they discovered they had stolen glass and not diamonds? Those two could be as dangerous and as vicious as Spooky. Being involved in the robbery, they wouldn’t dare inform on me, but they could come after me.

I brooded about this. Then I remembered I would have to be pistol whipped by Fel to keep suspicion from me. I would take advantage of this. I could make out that my nerves had been shot to hell and I had to get away at once. By the way I would fix it, it would take Rhea and Fel some ten days before they found out they had stolen an imitation. By that time I would be in Europe and far away from their avenging hands. Then I would write to Sydney, telling him I was quitting for good.

I sat there, nursing my drink, my mind busy when at three minutes past midnight, the telephone bell rang.

My hand wasn’t too steady as I lifted the receiver.

‘Carr here.’

Fel said, ‘Cabin 35.’

I drew in a deep breath.

‘She there?’

Fel chuckled.

‘You bet.’

‘Tomorrow night at ten,’ I said and hung up.

* * *

The following day dragged interminably. Fortunately, we were not busy in the shop and I could do some thinking.

Terry had been watching me. Finally, he became curious and he sauntered over to my desk.

‘Have you something on your mind, Larry?’ he asked, staring at me with his mean little eyes. ‘You seem awfully thoughtful.’

‘A headache,’ I said briefly, jumping at the chance to make out I was still far from well.

‘So sorry.’ He looked as sorry as a man who finds a ten dollar bill in the street. ‘You returned too soon. I can’t understand why Sydney wanted you back so badly. There are times when he is so inconsiderate. I was quite capable of handling your work as well as mine. Why don’t you go home and nurse your poor head? Miss Barlow and I can manage beautifully.’

I was on the point of telling him to go to hell when I realised as part of my act, I’d better make out I was feeling pretty bad.

‘I think I will.’ I got to my feet. ‘If you really think you can manage.’

I could see by the surprised expression in his eyes, he hadn’t expected this. With Sydney still away and now me going, he certainly would have to pick up his feet.

But this was a challenge he gladly accepted. As I walked to the parking lot I wondered how Sydney was getting on with the design of the setting. I felt I had to tell him I was going to take it easy at home. I spoke to him from a call booth.

‘Sydney, I have a hell of a headache. Terry says he can manage so I’m going home.’

‘You poor thing! Do that.’ He began to buzz. ‘I’ll get down there right away - can’t possibly leave Terry in charge. I’ve got four lovely designs. You’ll be so pleased! You wouldn’t like to come around tonight?’

‘I’d rather not. I’ll take it easy for today if you don’t mind.’

‘You do that.’

I didn’t immediately return to my apartment. I went to my bank and got $3,000 in Traveller’s cheques.

Then I went to my travel agent and inquired about planes to San Francisco. There was one leaving Friday morning at 05.00. I made a note and asked if reservations were necessary. My travel agent said the flight, at that time, would be half empty and I could walk on: no problem.

I returned to my apartment, sat down and really got down to planning the steal. I sent out for sandwiches at lunch time and by 15.00, I was satisfied I had taken care of all the details.

Sydney called at 16.00 to inquire how I felt. I said the headache had gone away, but I still felt a bit shaky.

He inquired anxiously if I thought I’d be all right for Thursday night and I said I would and I’d be at my desk tomorrow at the usual time.

At 20.00, I went around the corner to a little restaurant and had a light meal, then I returned to my apartment and tried to watch TV until 21.45. Taking the sling bag containing the Beade wig, the silver glasses, the red jacket with the black patched pockets, but leaving the toy gun, I went down to the garage and drove out to the Pyramid Motel. I had chosen this motel for the Morgans to stay at because it had separate cabins and was used by young people travelling through to Miami. If Rhea and Fel had bought the right clothes they would be just two in a crowd.

I parked the car outside the motel and walked in. I had no trouble in finding cabin 35. Each cabin carried a big illuminated sign, showing its number.

The night air was strident with the sound of transistors and squawking voices from TVs. There was no one to see me knock on the door of cabin 35, which opened immediately as if Fel had been waiting impatiently. I entered the room and Fel shut the door.

For a moment I didn’t recognise Rhea as she stood by the table, looking at me with her cold, green eyes. She had on a blood-red trouser suit with white collar and cuffs. Her red hair was piled to the top of her head instead of hanging to her shoulders, and it had been washed. The sight of her again sent a stab of lust through me and I knew she knew it by her sneering little smile. I turned to look at Fel. Even he had managed to make himself look respectable. He had had his hair cut and was wearing a brown sports jacket and a pair of bottle green slacks. A white polo collar sweater completed his outfit.

‘You two look fine,’ I said, putting the sling bag on the table. ‘Have you got another change of clothes?’

‘Yeah. We reckoned this gear would be easy to describe to the cops,’ Fell said, grinning. ‘We go hippy after the job.’

Well, at least they were using their heads, I thought.

I went around the table and sat down.

‘Since you’re both here, I take it the operation is on right?’

‘We’re here to listen,’ Rhea said woodenly. ‘Tell us the whole operation, then we’ll make up our minds.’

I was expecting this and shrugged.

‘The operation is on tomorrow night.’

‘Tomorrow night?’ Fel’s voice shot up. ‘That’s rushing it, isn’t it?’

‘What does it matter if it’s tomorrow night or next week? I have it all organised. The sooner it is done, the faster we get the money.’

Fel looked over at Rhea.

‘Let him talk,’ she said and sat down, away from me and lit a cigarette.

‘Tomorrow night at exactly 10.30, you arrive at Wellington Court, Roosevelt Boulevard.’ I took from my wallet a sheet of folded paper and put it on the table. ‘I’ve written it all down for you with directions how to get there. Tomorrow morning, take a look at the place: just drive past so you’re sure of finding it. Time your run from here to Wellington Court so you will know when to leave here tomorrow night. At that time of night there will be vacant parking bays close by. Leave your car, walk casually to the front entrance. You will find the door unlocked. Go quickly up the stairs. Don’t use the elevator. The nightman will be in his office watching TV but the elevator just might cause interference on the screen, so use the stairs. When you reach the top floor, turn right and you will see Fremlin’s front door, No. 4. The door will be unlocked. Open it silently and go in. You will find yourselves in a small lobby, facing the door, leading into the sitting room. Listen outside the door. You will hear Fremlin and me talking. Then rush in. Come in really fast, guns in hand and yell at us to stay, still. You don’t have to worry about Fremlin. He’ll just sit there, goggling at you, terrified. Now, here is the trickiest part of the operation.’ I turned to look at Fel who was sitting with his elbows on his knees, his face in his hands, listening with intense concentration. ‘I have to act brave. This should shift any suspicion from me that I’m connected with the steal, and this is essential if I’m to sell the diamonds. I will jump to my feet and come at you. You will sideswipe me across the face with your gun.’

Fel gaped at me.

‘A bang across the face with a gun can hurt,’ he said.

‘I know that, but it’s got to be done and done convincingly. I’m not going to moan if I lose a tooth. A million is a lot of money.’

‘You really mean you want me to bash you with the gun?’

‘Across the face: not the head. I want to get that clear. Not the head: across the face. Do you understand?’

‘Why not save your looks, mister and take a rap on the nut?’ Fel asked, frowning.

‘I’ve had concussion. It would be dangerous to hit me over the head.’

‘Yeah.’ Again he looked at Rhea, but she sat still, her face expressionless, her eyes watchful.

‘I fall down,’ I went on. ‘You two take care of Sydney. Bring with you a roll of two-inch tape. Bind and gag him. Do the same to me. You will find the necklace on the desk. Take it and get out.’ I paused, then went on, ‘That the operation. It’s straightforward. There will be no opposition, no police and if you’ve taped us well enough, we will have to wait until Fremlin’s manservant arrives at eight in the morning to release us.’ I lit a cigarette, then asked, ‘Any questions so far?’

‘You want to ask him anything?’ Fel asked Rhea. ‘It’s fine with me.’

‘Not yet.’ She flicked ash on the carpet. ‘Keep talking,’ she said to me.

‘You have to have an alibi,’ I went on. ‘Your story is you left Luceville on Monday afternoon for a trip to Frisco. Rhea thought she might get a job there and you drove her up. This will account for your bungalow being shut up for two days and on the night of the robbery. Rhea will catch the 05.00 flight on Friday morning to Frisco. You, Fel, will drive flat out back to Luceville the moment the robbery is over. You should get there Friday night. Tell anyone interested that Rhea has gone to Frisco after a job. The chances are you won’t need an alibi, but you have to have one just in case.’

‘Yeah.’ Fel nodded. ‘That makes sense.’

I took from my billfold the Traveller’s cheques and tossed them into Rhea’s lap.

‘This will take care of your expenses. There’s no trouble getting an air ticket to Frisco; give a phoney name and address. At that hour you walk on. Stay at a modest hotel and look for work. This is important in case the police check. Then after ten days, come back to Luceville. not sooner. you understand? - ten days.’

She now asked her first question.

‘So what happens to the necklace? Do we stuff it in your pocket before we scram so you can sell it?’

‘If you think that’s a hot idea with Sydney watching, you need your head examined,’ I said, now very alert. ‘You take the necklace with you. Either you take it or Fel takes it and hides it in the bungalow. That’s up to you.’

She stared at me, her eyes narrowing.

‘You’re pretty trustful, aren’t you? Suppose we take off with the necklace. You’d look dumb, wouldn’t you?’

‘Suppose you did that?’ I smiled at her. ‘Do you imagine you could sell it? It will have to be broken up. Okay, so you break it up. We are in this for a million. You would have an impossible job to find any fence to handle it and if he did he’d rob you blind. That’s why I can afford to trust you. I know dealers who will pay me the highest prices for these stones and no questions asked - you don’t. It’s as simple as that.’

She considered this, then for the first time she began to relax.

‘So okay,’ she said, ‘but what happens when you sell the stones? You take the necklace. So suppose you run off with it and leave us looking dumb?’

She was following the pattern of my past thinking. I had anticipated she would ask this and I was ready for her.

‘Fel goes back to the bungalow to keep up appearances,’ I said, ‘but you come along as my secretary. You’ll be in on all the deals. You’ll know what I’m getting paid for each individual stone. I’ll be paid in cash. As each stone is paid for I’ll give you half of what I get. Does that assure you you won’t be double— crossed?’

She sat back, staring at me. I had cut the ground from under her feet. She couldn’t think of any other objections.

‘Just so long as you don’t walk out on me when I’m not looking.’

Again I smiled at her.

‘I won’t have the chance even if I wanted to. The idea is we stick close together,’ I paused, then went on, looking directly at her, ‘we even sleep together. that’s part of the bargain.’

Fel gave a guffaw of laughter.

‘This guy’s my man! Brother! You deserve what you get!’