1973 - Have a Change of Scene (16 page)

Rhea suddenly smiled: a hard, cold smile, but still a smile.

‘You have yourself a deal,’ she said. ‘Okay, we’ll do the job.’

I drew a long deep breath.

‘Right. Now let’s settle the remaining details and then I’ll get home. First, you both wear gloves. This is vitally important. If you leave just one fingerprint in Fremlin’s penthouse there won’t be any million.’ I waved to the sling bag. ‘I’ve brought along an outfit for Fel. Take a look.’

Fel opened the bag and took out the wig, the glasses and the jacket. Grinning he put on the wig and the glasses and surveyed himself in the mirror.

‘Man! This is super! I don’t even recognise myself!’

I looked at Rhea.

‘Hide your hair under a scarf. Get yourself a pair of those glasses to hide your green eyes. As soon as the job’s over, change out of the things you’re now wearing. Get a cheap suitcase, put your things in it and dump it somewhere safe. Fel will have to do that understand?’

She nodded. She was much less hostile now and I knew I had her hooked.

I tapped the paper on the table.

‘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

T
hursday 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, but 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.’