I
THE following evening, around ten o'clock, I was trying to decide whether to go to bed early or open a new bottle of Scotch and make a night of it, when the telephone bell rang.
The bell sounded shrill and urgent and startled me, probably because, up to now, the cabin had been as still and as silent as a poor relation at a wedding.
I lifted the receiver.
'Hello?'
Above the faint humming on the line I could hear a dance band playing a waltz. The high notes of the muted trumpet suggested Glyn Boos's Serenaders; that would make the call from the Country Club.
'Mr. Malloy?' A woman's voice: pitched low with a little drawl in it. A voice calculated to stimulate male interest. At any rate it stimulated mine.
'Speaking.'
'My name is Serena Dedrick. I'm at the Country Club just now. Can you come over? I can offer you a job if you want it.'
I wondered why she couldn't have waited until the morning, but then the Dedricks seemed to specialize in out-of-office hours. It didn't worry me. I wanted her custom.
'Certainly, Mrs. Dedrick. I'll be right over. Do I ask at the desk for you?'
'I'll be in my car in the parking lot. It's a black Cad. Will you be long?'
'A quarter of an hour.'
'I will wait that long, but no longer.' The drawl had sharpened
'I'm on my way ...' I began, but she had hung up.
I went into the bathroom to inspect myself in the mirror, and decided I looked neat enough without being gaudy. As I straightened my tie, I wondered what she wanted: probably some first-hand information about the kidnapping. From the pictures I had seen of her and from the sound of her voice, she wouldn't be satisfied with anything second-hand.
I got the Buick out of the garage and drove fast up Ross-more Avenue that skirts the golfcourse, where a couple of cranks were trying to play golf in the moonlight with the aid of luminous balls, turned left up Glendora Avenue and arrived I at the imposing entrance of the Country Club with four I minutes of the quarter of an hour in hand.
The wooded gardens were ablaze with lights, and as I drove up the drive I could see a bunch of half-naked men and women clustered around the swimming pool, while Glyn Boos's Serenaders played under the arclights in a flower-decked alcove nearby.
The car park was around the back of the clubhouse. I edged my way in, and parked in what seemed to be the only vacant space left. I got out, looked up and down the long rows of cars, and decided it would be easier to pick the needle out of the haystack than find one particular black Cad. from this collection of luxury cars. There must have been over three hundred of them, and probably a third of that number were Cadillacs.
Parking lights flickered on and off, away to my left. I set off hopefully towards them. They continued to go on and off until I drew close enough to see they were attached to the glittering black car I had seen outside Ocean End two nights ago. I walked up to the car and looked in at the window. She was sitting behind the wheel, smoking a cigarette. The cold, hard light of the moon fell directly on her, and the first thing I noticed was the string of diamonds that flashed and sparkled like fire-flies in her hair. The moonlight gave her a sculptured-in-alabaster effect. She was wearing a low-cull strapless creation in gold lame, and she looked exactly what she was: the fourth richest woman in the world, from the diamonds in her hair to the cold, haughty expression on her rather long but distinctly lovely face.
While I was looking at her and thinking she had the largest eyes I have ever seen and that her long and silky eyelashes were probably her own, she was looking at me. In the few second of silence that followed we sized each other up with frank curiosity.
'I have about a couple of minutes in hand, Mrs. Dedrick, I said. 'But even at that I seemed to have kept you waiting. I'm sorry. Do you want to talk here or somewhere else?'
'Where else is there?'
'Well there's a river view near the golf-course that isn't bad. At least it's quiet.'
'All right. We'll go there.' She moved along the bench seat. Perhaps you'll drive.'
I got in under the steering wheel, switched on and trod on the starter. As I manoeuvred the car out of the lot into the drive-way, I gave her a quick glance. She was looking away from me, remote and thoughtful, her face as expressionless and as smooth as an ivory mask.
I drove through the entrance gates, turned right, continued up the brilliantly lit avenue to the bridge, then swung the car on to the bridle path that led along the river. A few minutes' more driving brought me to the spot I had in mind. I slowed down, turned the nose of the car to face the glittering moonlit river and parked. Except for the occasional croak of bullfrogs in the reeds farther up the river and the lap-lap-lap of water against the bank, there was no sound to disturb us.
'Do you want to get out?' I asked, breaking the silence that had brooded over us since we had driven from the club.
She roused herself, as if her thoughts had been miles away, tossed her cigarette end into the river and shook her head.
'No; we can talk here. It was you who found Souki, wasn't it?'
'Yes. Have you any news of your husband?'
'They 'phoned tonight. They want five hundred thousand. They told me he was well and was looking forward to seeing me again.' She spoke in a cold, flat voice that didn't quite conceal a frightened anxiety. 'The money is to be paid the night after next, and he will be released as soon as they have it.'
I didn't say anything. After a long pause, she turned to look intently at me. '
'Someone has to deliver the money. I want you to do it. I'll pay you well.'
I was afraid she was going to say that. Dealing with kidnappers could be a dangerous business. More often than not the stooge who hands over the ransom money gets himself knocked off.
'Have you made any arrangements with them yet?'
She shook her head.
'This is only the opening move. The money is to be in used twenty-dollar bills. It is to be made up into three parcels, wrapped in oilskin. I shall get last-minute instructions where the money is to be delivered.' She turned to look at me. 'You're not frightened of the job, are you?' 'I'll tell you that when I've heard what the arrangements are.' Then you think it could be dangerous?'
'It could be.'
She opened her handbag and took out a cigarette case. As she offered it, she said, her voice a little unsteady, 'Do you think they'll send him back?'
I took the cigarette, tapped it absently on my thumb-nail before saying, 'The possibilities are that they will.'
I lit her cigarette, and for some moments we smoked in silence. 'I want you to tell me the truth,' she said suddenly. 'Will they send him back?'
'I don't know. It depends if he's seen them. If he hasn't, then there's no point in not sending him back.' 'But if he has see them?'
'It depends on them. Kidnappers are about as ruthless as blackmailers, Mrs Dedrick. Kidnapping carries the death penalty. They won't take chances.'
'There's nothing I wouldn't do or pay to get him back. It's all my fault this has happened. If it wasn't for my money, he wouldn't have been worth kidnapping. He's got to come back!'
There was nothing I could think of to say to that. My own feeling was she had seen the last of him: anyway, alive. With all that money at stake they were pretty certain to get rid of him. Most kidnappers prefer to kill rather than return. It is a lot safer for them. Too many kidnapped people in the past have given clues to the police that have led to the kidnappers being caught.
'Have you consulted the police about this development?' I asked.
'No; and I'm not going to! This man tonight said every move I make is being watched, and if I communicate with the police, Lee would be murdered. Besides, the police are useless. They haven't done a thing.'
'We have time to set a trap. The money could be marked in a way no one would spot it. At least, it would give the police a chance to catch them after your husband's safe.'
'No!' she said emphatically. '
I gave them my word not to try any tricks. If I did that, and they found out, and Lee suffered, I'd never forgive myself. I don't care a damn about the money. It's Lee I want.'
'Who 'phoned you? Did you get an idea from his voice what kind of man he was? I mean was he educated? Did he have an accent? Was there anything about his voice that you would recognize if you ever met him?'
'I think he was talking through a handkerchief. His voice was very muffled. He didn't have an accent, but that's all I can tell you.'
'Did he talk tough?'
'Oh no. In fact, he was horribly polite.'
I stared thoughtfully at the river. Probably they had killed Dedrick as soon as they got him out of the house. They hadn't hesitated to kill his chauffeur, and they wouldn't hesitate to wipe me out after they had the money. It was a job I didn't want.
She was smart enough to guess what I was thinking.
'If you don't do this, I have no idea who else to ask. I'll come with you if you will do it.'
'Oh no. If I do it, I do it alone.'
'There will be no question of that. I've made up my mind to see the money delivered to them with my own eyes. If you won't go with me, I'll go alone.'
I turned to look at her, surprised by her vehemence. We stared at each other for about three seconds. I could see by the expression in her eyes no one would make her change her mind.
'Well, all right, if that's how you feel about it,' I said. I'll come with you.' We sat for some moments in silence.
'There's one thing I wanted to ask you,' she said abruptly. 'What was this woman like who said she was my secretary?' 'You mean to look at?'
'Yes.'
"Well, she was about thirty or so, dark, good-looking and well dressed. I thought at the time she didn't look like anyone's secretary.'
'Was she very pretty?'
'I suppose she was, and she had character too. She hadn't the usual vacant face of the usual pretty woman.'
'She called my husband by his Christian name. Is that right?'
'Yes.'
I saw her clench her fists.
'That fat fool of a policeman thinks Lee was having an affair with her,' she said, and she seemed to be speaking through locked teeth. 'Do you think that?'
'Does it matter what I think?'
'I'm asking you - do you think that?' Her voice was harsh and tight with emotion.
'I don't know. I know nothing about your husband. It looks like it, but she may have just been a friend of his.'
'He wasn't in love with her!' she said so quietly I could scarcely hear her. 'I know it! He wouldn't have done a thing like that. He wouldn't have taken another woman into my home. He wasn't that type.' She stopped, looked quickly away, her hand going to her face.
'Have the police found her yet?'
'No. They're not trying to. They're so sure she's Lee's mistress. They say it's better not to find her. I don't believe it! She must know something.'
I didn't say anything.
After a long, heavy silence, she said abruptly, 'Perhaps you'll drive me back to the club. I don't think there's anything else to discuss until the night after next. Will you come to the house at six? We may have to wait, but we must be ready to leave at a moment's notice.'
'I'll be there.'
We drove to the club in silence. As soon as I parked the car, she got out and gave me a meaningless, automatic smile as she said, 'The night after next then, at six.'
I watched her walk towards the clubhouse; a graceful, lovely figure in the gold dress; diamonds sparkling in her hair; fear and jealousy in her heart.
II
I toiled up the stone steps leading to Mifflin's small office on the fourth floor of Police Headquarters' building.
Mifflin was staring out of the window, his hat over his eyes, the stub of a cigarette stuck on his lower lip. He had a brooding, dismal look on his red face and his eyes showed the energy of his thoughts.
'You,' he said gloomily as I pushed open the door and edged my way into the small office. 'Funny thing, I was thinking about you. Come in, and park. I'm out of cigarettes, so don't ask me for one.'
I pulled up a hard, straight-backed chair, sat astride it, and folded my arms along the back of it.
'How's the kidnapping going?'
'Awful,' he said, and sighed. 'Nothing to work on, and Brandon's going around like a fiend. He reckons someone will make him Chief of Police if he catches the kidnappers.'
I searched in my coat pocket, fished out a package of cigarettes, offered him one.
We lit up and brooded at each other.
'Anything on the Jerome dame?'
Mifflin sighed.
'Have you come in here just to pick my brains?'
"No; nothing like that. I came here to swop some information.'
Mifflin's face lit up and he gave me a quick, searching look.
"You got anything?'
'Not much. It's confidential. Last night, Mrs. Dedrick called me up. You can guess what she wanted.'
'She's got the ransom demand, and you're to deliver the dough, is that it?'
I nodded.
'She doesn't want the police to know.'
'She wouldn't,' Mifflin said, bitterly; 'but she expects us to get her husband back. When?'
'Tomorrow night. They'll call her and give her final instructions.'
'Brandon will have to be told.'
I shrugged.
'That's up to you. There's nothing he can do about it, unless he moves in and grabs the guy who collects. If he does, he'll kill Dedrick as if he shot him himself.'
'It's my bet, Dedrick's dead already.'
'Maybe, but we don't know for sure.'
'Well. I'll have to tell him.'
'So long as he doesn't let Mrs. Dedrick know I've been here. What will you do - tap the telephone wire?'
'Could do,' Mifflin said, closed his eyes and frowned. 'If that woman doesn't want us in this, the chances are Brandon won't do anything. He's scared to make a wrong move with her. Once the ransom's paid, our troubles will be over. The Federal Bureau will take charge.'
'Getting back to Mary Jerome; anything or nothing?' 'Brandon's leaving her alone, but I've traced her car. A patrolman spotted her coming from Ocean End and got the number. He's one of those freaks who remembers car numbers. He shoved in a report when he heard about the kidnapping. She rented the car from the Acme Garage. Maybe you know the joint. It's run by a guy named Lute Ferris. We've had our eye on him off and on for smuggling reefers, but have never pinned anything on him. He was in Los Angeles when I called, but I talked with his wife. She remembers this Jerome dame. She arrived the night before last - the night of the kidnapping - around eight o'clock and asked Lute for a car. She paid fifty dollars deposit and said she needed the car for a couple of days. She gave the Orchid Hotel as her address.'
'Trusting of Ferris to let her have a car without checking on her first, wasn't it?' Why should he care? The car's insured. Anyway, that's the story, and we're stuck with it.'
'You've checked the airport and the station to see if she came from out-of-town?'
'Yeah, we've done that, but can't get a line on her.'
'And that's as far as you've got?'
'That's as far as we'll ever get,' Mifflin said, stubbing out his cigarette. 'A kidnapping case is the worst kind of case you can get. If they knock off the guy who's kidnapped and the money ain't marked, you're up a tree. The only hope is for one of them to be dissatisfied with his cut and give the rest of them away. It makes it ten times as hard now Brandon's scared to move. This Jerome dame is our only lead, and I can't go after her.'
'Well, maybe you'll have another murder on your hands to cheer you up,' I said bitterly. 'It wouldn't surprise me if I don't get knocked off tomorrow night.'
Mifflin eyed me thoughtfully.
'That's the only bit of good news I've had this week,' he said. 'Yeah, come to think of it, it's an even bet that's what they'll do to you.'
I left him, rubbing his hands an
d whistling the Dead March in Saul.
III
'Have you made a will?' Jack Kerman asked as he watched me load a .38 from a box of shells on my desk. 'I hope you've left me all your money. I can do with it. That redhead of mine seems to think I'm made of the stuff.'
'Do be quiet, Jack,' Paula said sharply. She was trying not to show how worked up she was, but the worried expression in her eyes gave her away. 'Haven't you any sense of decency?'
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