1978 - Consider Yourself Dead

by James Hadley Chase

  ‘That leaves three percent unsafe . . . according to you.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  Grandi leaned forward. His swarthy face ugly with scarcely controlled rage.

  ‘Don’t feed me this sort of shit!’ he snarled. ‘Is my daughter safe or isn’t she?’

  ‘As I see it, sir, there is a weak link in the security chain: the weak link is a possible inside man or woman,’ Frost said quietly.

  ‘I’ve thought of that. I talked to Chief of Police Terrell. He tells me all the staff working here have been screened, including yourself. Terrell is satisfied. He tells me there can be no inside man or woman.’

  His expression wooden, Frost said, ‘Then your daughter is one hundred percent safe.’

  Grandi shoved back his chair and walked across to the picture window. Looking at his squat figure, Frost saw this man was almost a midget. He couldn’t have been more than five foot tall, but the power and the muscular build made him impressive.

  Grandi swung around and pointed his cigar at Frost.

  ‘You don’t think so? You think there could be an inside man?’

  ‘I said your daughter is ninety-seven percent safe. I don’t give a damn what Terrell thinks. There is a three percent risk: small, but a risk.’

  Grandi came back to his chair and sat down.

  ‘So what’s the three percent risk? Spell it out.’

  ‘If some smart operator kidnapped your daughter, he would demand at least fifteen million dollars ransom,’ Frost said. ‘Maybe to you, sir, fifteen million dollars aren’t something you would risk your life or your freedom for, you are you, but there are millions of people who would risk their lives and their freedom for such money. So I am telling you, sir, that every man has his price. I am still saying that the weak link in the security chain, protecting your daughter, is a possible inside man.’

  Grandi leaned forward, glared at Frost.

  ‘What’s your price, Frost? Would you be the inside man for fifteen million dollars?’

  I’m going to be the inside man for five million dollars, Frost thought. His police training was such that his expression remained wooden.

  ‘I see your point, sir,’ he said and got to his feet. ‘You should ask yourself: if I was aiming to kidnap your daughter, why should I be talking like this? I’m telling you there is a remote possibility that there could be an inside man. It’s part of my job to give you my opinion. It’s up to you to take it or leave it. You’ve just asked me if I would act as an inside man for fifteen million. That’s a fair question. I would not act as an inside man for thirty million dollars and I’ll tell you for why.’ He put both his hands on the desk and leaned forward to stare at Grandi. ‘I don’t sell out a client. If I’m hired to do a job, I do it. I’m cop trained, as Marvin is cop trained. Neither of us sell out a client. If you can’t believe that, then I find myself another job. The ball is in your court,’ and turning, he walked to the door.

  ‘Frost!’ The bark in Grandi’s voice would have stopped a train. ‘Come back here! Sit down!’

  Frost then knew he had got over one big hurdle, but he also knew there were more hurdles ahead.

  He walked back to the chair and sat down.

  ‘This is the first constructive conversation I’ve had since I’ve come here,’ Grandi said. ‘I’ve talked to the Chief of Police, to Amando, to Marvin. They have all assured me my daughter is safe, now you tell me there is a three percent risk. I want my daughter to be a hundred percent safe. So, tell me about this three percent risk . . .’

  ‘The security here is top class,’ said Frost. ‘No one can get on this island without alerting Marvin and myself, and police headquarters. This has been well taken care of, and I can’t fault it.’ He paused, then went on, ‘But if there was an inside man, the guardroom could be vulnerable. In this room are the controls. There are four men who have access to this room: Mr. Amando, Suka, Marvin and myself. Mr. Amando has the habit of checking to see if the night guard is asleep. He enters without warning. Suka brings in meals. To reduce the risk, sir, I suggest that Amando and Suka are no longer allowed into the guardroom. I said there was a three percent risk. If Mr. Amando and Suka are not allowed into the guardroom, the risk is cut to one percent . . . a minute risk, but still a risk. If a kidnap attempt is made, the police and you will know that there are only two suspects: Marvin and myself. This narrows down the field. Both Marvin and I have been hired by you to protect your daughter. I can speak for him as I speak for myself: we don’t sell out a client.’

  Grandi nodded.

  ‘I go along with your suggestions. I’ll tell Amando and Suka to keep out of the guardroom. From now on, you and Marvin are responsible for my daughter’s safety. Remember that!’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ Frost got to his feet. ‘There is one more thing. I know I am speaking out of turn, but I think someone should say it. How long are you going to keep a young, healthy woman caged up in this villa? She is virtually a prisoner here. She . . .’

  Grandi cut him short with a savage wave of his hand.

  ‘You do your job, Frost!’ he barked. ‘When my daughter has learned to behave herself, she will be given more freedom. That’s all!’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  Frost found Marvin in the guardroom. Closing the door, he gave Marvin a detailed account of his interview with Grandi. Marvin listened, staring thoughtfully at Frost while he talked.

  ‘So now,’ Frost concluded, ‘we have Amando off our backs. I had to bring Suka into it. I guess he can leave the food trays outside for one of us to collect.’

  ‘You think there could be a risk . . . that some smart creep could get at the girl?’ Marvin asked.

  ‘No way,’ Frost said. ‘I was just getting Amando off our backs.’

  Marvin rubbed his chin while he thought, then he grinned.

  ‘Yeah. You did well, Mike. I’ve always said that creep spoilt the scene. Hats off to you for fixing him!’

  ‘Let’s hope he stays fixed.’ Frost got to his feet. ‘This is my day off. Do you want me to hang around? I itch for a swim.’

  ‘You get off, but don’t be late back.’

  ‘See you. Any idea how long the big shot is staying?’

  Marvin grinned.

  ‘I don’t ask those kind of questions.’

  Back in his cabin, Frost changed into slacks and a sweatshirt. He decided he would give Marcia a call. Maybe they could have another session together.

  As he moved out of the cabin, he saw the Rolls driving down the drive with Amando at the wheel and Grandi at his side. Looking to his left, he saw Marvin leave the guardroom and start off towards the lagoon.

  He paused, seeing in the distance, the three Chinese I gardeners, now relaxed, lifting weeds and ruminating.

  Then from a clump of flowering shrubs, Gina appeared.

  Wearing stretched blue pants and a bra, she waved to him, then darted across the lawn towards him. Frost stepped back into the cabin as she joined him and he closed and locked the door.

  They faced each other.

  ‘Mike! I’ve got to talk to you,’ she said breathlessly. ‘You are the only one who can help me! You must help me!’

  ‘I’ll help you,’ he said, smiling at her. ‘What’s the problem?’

  ‘Don’t be so goddamn glib!’ she said, her voice shrill. ‘Wait until you hear!’

  Frost eyed her. Her face was drawn, she was shivering, little beads of sweat covered her forehead.

  ‘Take it easy,’ he said, his voice soothing. ‘Sit down. Tell me.’

  She dropped into a chair.

  ‘You are the only one who can help me, Mike.’ She beat her clenched fists on her knees. ‘You’ve got to help me! You can have all the money in the world if you will help me.’

  Frost pulled up a chair and sat by her.

  ‘Tell me,’ he said.

  She stared at him, then took hold of his hand, her nails digging into his flesh.

  ‘No one would believe this! My father is kinky! My fa
ther!’ She jumped up and walked around the room, beating her fists together. ‘Imagine! My father!’

  Frost watched her, frowning. Was she high? he wondered. You can have all the money in the world if you will help me. Did she mean this? Was she being hysterical?

  ‘Gina!’ He put a snap in his voice. ‘Quiet down. Tell me.’

  She stood for a long moment, her eyes closed, then she came back and sat down beside him.

  ‘My father is in love with me,’ she said.

  Frost stared at her.

  ‘What’s the problem? Fathers are supposed to love their daughters, aren’t they?’

  ‘Love!’ Gina screamed at him. ‘Are you so goddamn stupid you want me to spell it out? He doesn’t love me the way fathers love their daughters! He’s kinky. He’s sick! He wants to screw me!’

  Shocked, Frost gaped at her.

  ‘That I can’t believe,’ he said.

  ‘I’m telling you!’ Again her voice was shrill. ‘My mother killed herself! He didn’t give a damn about her! It was me! You have only to watch him when he is with me! Don’t you think I have enough experience of men to know? That’s why he keeps away from me. He doesn’t trust himself anymore!’

  Frost drew in a deep breath.

  ‘For God’s sake . . .’

  ‘I had such a happy time in Rome. I knew the way he was, so I was so very careful. It never crossed his sick mind that I needed sex. Then those stupid creeps tried to kidnap me, and then all the publicity. Then my sick father realised what was going on.’ Her face contorted as she fought back her tears. ‘So he put me in this goddamn prison, and he’ll keep me here so no man can enjoy me and he’ll keep me here until he is dead!’

  Frost continued to gape at her. He could think of nothing to say.

  ‘Mike! You must believe me! You are the only one who can help me!’ She slid off the chair, and on to her knees, catching hold of Frost’s wrists. ‘I can’t go on living like this! Listen, Mike, if he died, I would be free, and I would inherit all his money . . . billions of dollars!’

  Her nails dug into his wrists. ‘Do you understand what I’m saying, Mike? You are the only one who can set me free!’

  She released his wrists, and falling forward between his knees, she rested her face against his chest. ‘Mike! I am begging you to kill him.’

  Frost sat for a long moment, motionless: his mind active.

  He thought, Jesus! She’s out of her mind! I don’t believe a word she is saying! What the hell have I walked into?

  ‘Mike!’ Her fingers moved inside his shirt. ‘You can have all the money in the world! Kill him for me! Free me! There’s so much money, Mike. I don’t care for money. All I want is freedom.’

  To Frost, her fingers moving over his sweating chest, felt like spider’s legs. Firmly and gently, he pushed her away, shoved back his chair and stood up, looking down at her as she knelt before him.

  ‘Gina!’ He put a snap in his voice. ‘Pull yourself together! You can’t mean you are asking me to kill your own father!’

  She sat back on her heels, and he felt a chill run down his spine as he looked into her eyes. He was now sure she was reefer high.

  ‘He is old, and utterly sick,’ she said. ‘I am young with my life before me. Kill him for me. Kill him and have whatever you want: all the money in the world.’

  Frost moved away, turning his back on her. He had been planning to kidnap her for five million dollars! He needed time to think about this sudden change of scene.

  Just suppose Grandi died? Would this half-crazy girl really inherit her father’s enormous fortune? Suppose she did?

  Frost felt his heartbeat quicken. His mind switched to Silk. He was a professional killer. He could wipe Grandi out without complications, but he wouldn’t stay still once he knew he (Frost) could get all the money in the world from this girl.

  This was something to think about.

  Still, looking out of the window, his back to her, he said, ‘How long will your father stay here?’

  ‘A week.’

  Well, in a week, he would have lots of time to think this thing out. He turned.

  ‘I don’t promise anything, baby,’ he said, ‘but you can hope.’

  ‘When?’ She got unsteadily to her feet.

  ‘Soon. Let me think about it. I go on day duty on Sunday. Can you come here next Thursday night?’

  She shook her head.

  ‘Wednesday. My father and Amando are having a business conference with other men at nine. I can come then.’

  ‘Then Wednesday?’

  ‘Please, please free me, Mike,’ then turning, she left the cabin.

  Frost felt cold sweat run down his face. He stood at the window and watched her dart into the shrubs.

  * * *

  After two hours on the beach, and after a swim, Frost got in the T.R.7 and drove to the Ace of Spades. He arrived at 17.20, the graveyard time when the staff took time off, the parking lot was empty and activity was down to zero.

  As he walked into the deserted restaurant, Ross Umney, sitting at a table, checking the lunch receipts, stood up.

  ‘Hi, Mike!’ His wide, charming smile was in evidence. ‘Didn’t expect to see you so early.’

  ‘I’ve things to talk about,’ Frost said curtly. ‘Where’s Silk?’

  ‘Playing gin with Mitch. Let’s go.’

  Umney led Frost to the room above the swimming pool.

  Silk and Goble were at the table by the big window.

  There was a side table by Goble’s side containing cream buns and a big pot of tea. As Umney and Frost entered, Silk said, ‘Gin,’ and Goble threw down his cards, cursing.

  Silk looked up, stared at Frost, and raised his eyebrows.

  ‘Let’s talk,’ Frost said, and took a lounging chair away from the table.

  ‘About what?’ Silk gathered up the cards, looked at Goble, said, ‘You owe me fifty bucks.’

  ‘As if you would forget,’ Goble said and stuffed a cream bun into his mouth.

  ‘Let’s talk,’ Frost said impatiently. ‘Cut the crap. We’re in business, aren’t we?’

  Silk got to his feet, wandered over to an armchair near Frost and sat down.

  ‘So?’

  Goble reached for another cream bun, hesitated, then got up, and sat in a chair by Silk. Umney took the remaining chair.

  ‘So, okay,’ Frost said. ‘I’ve got the problems fixed, so we snatch the girl.’

  Silk smiled.

  ‘That’s good news.’ He looked at Goble, then at Umney. ‘I told you Mike was smart.’

  ‘That’s what you told us,’ Goble said, his hard little eyes on Frost. ‘So let’s hear how smart he is.’

  Silk turned to Frost.

  ‘Go ahead. We want to know how you will dope Amando, Marvin and the girl. We want to know how you fix the dogs and neutralise the fence. Go ahead.’

  Frost lit a cigarette as he stared at Silk.

  ‘You talk first. I’m telling you I have these problems fixed, but I’m not telling you until you tell me just how you guarantee me five million dollars. I don’t go further until I know.’

  Goble said, ‘A real sonofabitch. I warned you, Lu.’

  Frost moved swiftly out of his chair, caught hold of Goble’s shirtfront, heaved him to his feet, then giving him a violent shove, sent him staggering across the room.

  ‘Call me that again, you fat slob,’ Frost snarled in his cop voice, ‘and I’ll knock your teeth through the back of your larded neck!’

  A gun jumped into Goble’s hand.

  ‘Mitch!’ Silk’s voice was quiet and deadly.

  Goble glared at Frost, then put away the gun.

  Silk went on, ‘You spoke out of turn, Mitch.’

  Goble hesitated, then nodded. He walked slowly back to his chair and sat down.

  ‘I apologise, Mike,’ he said.

  Frost smiled at him.

  ‘Fine. No problem,’ and he sat down. Then he looked at Silk. ‘Are we in business or do I wal
k out and forget the whole thing? I’m asking how you can guarantee - I repeat guarantee - that I get my rake off and it remains safe.’

  ‘If I tell you that,’ Silk said quietly, ‘are you in with us?’

  ‘I’m in with you if you convince me.’

  ‘Don’t rush it. I’ll convince you, but once I’ve told you, there is no way out. You come in with us or I’ll kill you.’

  Unless I kill you first, Frost thought, his face expressionless. He said, ‘You don’t have to spell it out. You convince me my money is guaranteed, and I’m in.’

  Silk nodded

  ‘Once we get the girl, this is the sweetest snatch you can imagine. There will be no blow back. Hear me? No possible blow back.’

  Frost flicked ash off his cigarette.

  ‘Come on! You are going to murder Marvin. The cops here are smart. There is a chance of a blow back. Don’t kid yourself that as soon as Grandi gets his daughter back, he won’t turn on the heat.’

  ‘Marvin doesn’t get killed, and Grandi won’t turn on the heat,’ Silk said.

  Frost stiffened, staring at Silk.

  ‘That’s why this snatch is so sweet,’ Silk said. ‘When I told you Marvin would disappear for good, I wanted to test your nerve. I wanted to be sure you would go along with a killing. There will be no killing, but I do know now that you would go along if there was a killing. That told me I had picked the right man. You can relax, Marvin will just be drugged.’

  Frost slowly shook his head.

  ‘Then the heat comes back to me. You said the heat would be on Marvin.’

  ‘I said that, but it was a test. I wanted your reaction.’ Silk leaned forward, his one eye glittering. ‘There will be no heat . . . no heat at all. No cops . . . no nothing. The money will be paid, and the girl handed back. This I guarantee.’

  Frost looked at Goble, then Umney, then back to Silk.

  ‘Keep talking,’ he said.

  ‘I told you Ross can get information out of an oyster, and he can. When that flat-footed attempt was made to snatch the girl in Rome, I thought I would have a try. Mitch said no way after casing the security, but I kept thinking. So I sent Ross to Rome. He came up with information, but Mitch said no way because the girl was too well guarded. So I thought around and Marcia came up with you . . . the inside man. You tell me you have solved the problems of getting at the girl. I tell you, with your information, plus Ross’s information, we have the sweetest snatch in the world.’