1978 - Consider Yourself Dead

by James Hadley Chase

‘Okay,’ and Marvin hurried away.

  Frost went to the refrigerator and took out a can of beer. He drank the beer slowly. In a few minutes, Marvin would find Suka’s body. He finished the beer, lit a cigarette, then walked to the guardroom door and looked along the path leading to the harbour. Minutes ticked by, then he saw Marvin come running up the path. The alarm on Marvin’s face sent Frost’s heart thumping. So Suka was dead! Frost felt a chill run down his spine. He had murdered a man!

  Marvin was shouting something as he ran, but Frost didn’t register what he was saying.

  ‘What the hell’s up?’ he exclaimed, and went to meet Marvin.

  ‘He’s scrammed!’ Marvin blurted out, coming to a halt. ‘The harbour gate’s open, and the motorboat’s gone!’

  Frost felt as if an ironclad fist had hit him below the heart. He stood motionless, chills running over him as he stared at Marvin.

  ‘Hear me!’ Marvin snapped. ‘He’s scrammed!’

  Frost made an effort and pulled himself together.

  ‘Can’t be!’

  ‘The gate’s open, and the motorboat’s gone!’ Marvin said.

  To gain time to think, Frost shoved by him and ran down to the harbour.

  His mind worked like lightning as he ran. Had Suka overheard him telling Amando and Marvin that he (Suka) was the inside man, then seeing the open gate, had bolted?

  There could be no other explanation. The fact was he had escaped! Frost felt a sudden relief. He hadn’t committed murder! But Suka at liberty could be dangerous. He must alert Silk.

  He reached the harbour and saw how easily anyone could slip down to the boats without touching the open door nor the fence.

  He was still standing there, his mind active when Marvin joined him.

  ‘I’ve turned off the current,’ Marvin said and closed the gate. ‘How the hell did he open the gate without being electrocuted?’

  ‘My guess he must have listened to us talking,’ Frost said. ‘Like a dope, I didn’t turn on the current until you left the guardroom to change. In those few minutes, he must have scrammed. I never thought of checking on him once you had gone. I locked myself in and stayed put.’

  Marvin stared at him, his expression worried.

  ‘Grandi will love you, Mike. You should have turned on the current when we were talking.’

  ‘And he’ll love you too,’ Frost snapped. ‘You should have been here instead of at the funfair with your kid.’

  ‘Aw, come on, Mike. You’re in charge. You told me to go.’

  ‘Okay, okay. Anyway what the hell does it matter? We’re both going to lose our jobs.’

  ‘I guess. Look, Mike, I have friends at the cop house. How’s about me asking Lepski to pick up Suka? I can say some valuables are missing and . . .’

  ‘No way,’ Frost said curtly. ‘We do nothing until Grandi arrives. Anyway, we now know for sure Suka was the inside man. I’m going to get myself something to eat. Suppose you walk around, check his cabin, see if he’s taken his clothes.’

  ‘Yeah.’

  Leaving Marvin, Frost hurried back to the guardroom.

  He locked the door leading to the villa, then snatched up the telephone receiver. He dialled the number of the Ace of Spades.

  Umney came on the line.

  ‘Suka got away in a motorboat,’ Frost said, speaking fast. ‘The boat has a big G on the stern. Find and fix him.’

  ‘Will do,’ Umney said, and hung up.

  Frost then went up to Amando’s room, opened the door and walked in. He found Amando lying on the bed, his face ashen. Amando opened his eyes and stared glassily at Frost.

  ‘I am very ill,’ he mumbled. ‘My heart . . . get a doctor.’

  Frost stared down at him. Faking? He thought not, but he couldn’t care less about Amando.

  ‘You’ll need more than a doctor when Grandi arrives,’ he said, and left the room.

  He found some cold cuts in the kitchen refrigerator and made himself a couple of sandwiches, then he returned to the guardroom.

  As he was eating the second sandwich, Marvin came in.

  ‘Old Creepy’s sick,’ Frost said. ‘He’s had a heart attack.’

  ‘To hell with him,’ Marvin said. ‘Look what I’ve found in Suka’s cabin.’ He put a small box on the desk. ‘A sophisticated bug.’

  Frost opened the box and stared at the black button.

  This was a limpet bug that was powerful enough to record a conversation from a considerable distance. He looked at the empty socket by the bug that told him there had been a second bug.

  ‘That’s how he heard us talking,’ Marvin said. ‘I bet the other bug is somewhere right here.’

  Frost snatched up the telephone and upended it. The second bug was attached to the base of the telephone. He whirled around on Marvin.

  ‘Was there a recorder in his cabin?’

  ‘Yeah, but no cassette. I checked.’

  Frost removed the bug and put it in the box. He realised the danger of this discovery immediately.

  ‘More evidence for Grandi,’ he said, forcing his voice to sound casual.

  ‘Hey, Mike!’ Marvin was pointing to the gun rack.

  ‘There’s a .38 missing!’

  Frost looked at the gun rack. There should have been four .38 police specials on hooks on the rack: there were only three.

  ‘How the hell did he take that?’

  ‘When you were checking the grounds and when I went up to Amando,’ Marvin said. ‘We both should have seen it was missing.’

  ‘Okay, okay,’ Frost said. ‘We needn’t spell it all out to Grandi. Suppose you go up and take another look at Amando. If he is really bad, call an ambulance and let’s get him to hospital before Grandi arrives. Fix it, will you?’

  Leaving Marvin, he went fast to his cabin. He examined his telephone, made sure it wasn’t bugged, then called the Ace of Spades. This time he got Silk.

  Quickly, he explained the situation, then went on, ‘If Suka left the tape running, he has evidence I fingered him as the inside man, and more dangerous, I told him the gate was open and to shut it. If he gets to Grandi, my cover’s blown. He’ll be at the airport waiting for Grandi to arrive. You’ve got to fix him before Grandi arrives. Watch it! He’s armed!’

  ‘I’ll have the airport covered in ten minutes,’ Silk said.

  ‘When is Grandi arriving?’

  ‘Around 15.00. New York arrival.’

  ‘Keep your cool, Mike,’ Silk said quietly. ‘It’s going along well. Don’t forget we have Grandi over a barrel.’

  ‘Yeah, but I want to keep my cover. How’s the girl?’

  ‘No problem. I gave her a reefer, and she is way out,’ and Silk hung up.

  Frost wiped his sweating hands on his slacks, then returned to the guardroom where he found Marvin on the telephone, ordering an ambulance.

  ‘He looks as if he’s going to croak,’ Marvin said as he hung up.

  ‘One headache less.’ Frost picked up the telephone receiver and alerted the guard at the entrance to let the ambulance in.

  ‘Hell!’ the guard exploded. ‘You sure sound as if you have real trouble up there.’

  ‘Tell that to Mr. Grandi when he arrives. He’ll love the sound of your voice,’ Frost snarled, and hung up.

  * * *

  The ambulance taking Amando to the Paradise Clinic, hadn’t been gone more than ten minutes, when Frost I heard the sound of an approaching helicopter. The machine hovered over the estate, then gently settled down I on the big lawn.

  ‘Here he is,’ Frost said, as both he and Marvin moved fast out of the guardroom. ‘Action stations!’

  As Grandi climbed from the machine, Frost hurried across the lawn to meet him.

  Grandi paused to say something to the pilot, then came striding forward, his face a stone mask, his eyes glittering dangerously.

  ‘Where’s Amando?’ he barked as Frost paused before him.

  ‘He’s had a heart attack, sir. The ambulance has just taken him t
o the Paradise Clinic.’

  Grandi stared at Frost.

  ‘Then he’s lucky,’ he snarled. ‘Come to my study in ten minutes,’ and moving by Frost, ignoring Marvin, he strode into the villa.

  ‘Stick around, Jack,’ Frost said, and breaking into a run, he went to his cabin, shut himself in and grabbing the telephone, dialled the Ace of Spades.

  Silk came on the line.

  ‘Did you get Suka?’ Frost asked, speaking low and fast.

  ‘No sign of the sonofabitch,’ Silk said. ‘No sign of Grandi either.’

  ‘He’s here. He must have flown to Miami and taken a chopper. He arrived a minute ago.’

  ‘Then Suka couldn’t have contacted him. We’ll keep hunting.’

  ‘Find him and fix him,’ Frost said and hung up.

  Bracing himself, he walked to the villa, entered, then stood in the big hall, waiting.

  Five minutes later, Grandi jerked open the door of his study.

  ‘Okay, Frost, let’s have it,’ he said, and walked to his desk and sat down.

  Although his heart was thumping, Frost played it cool.

  He pulled up a chair and sat down, facing Grandi.

  ‘I told you, sir, that the only way your daughter could be kidnapped was for an inside man to organise the kidnapping. The inside man is the Jap . . . Suka. The evidence all points to him.’ Frost went on to explain that Amando’s and Marvin’s drinks were doped, how he, himself, was a prisoner in his cabin because of the dogs, and how Marvin had found Suka gone and one of the boats missing.

  ‘Okay,’ Grandi said abruptly. ‘I accept that. Then what happened?’

  ‘My guess is Suka was well paid. He neutralised the fence and the kidnappers came in, grabbed Miss Grandi and took her away in their own boat. At 07.45, I left my cabin, found Marvin drugged, called Suka who found Amando drugged. I then checked the grounds and found the harbour gate open. I immediately suspected Suka, and I told Amando and Marvin my suspicions. Suka had a bug in here.’ Frost paused to produce the box containing the two bugs. He put the box on the desk. ‘He overheard my talk with Amando and Marvin, panicked and bolted. It wasn’t until after talking with Amando and Marvin that I electrified the fence again and warned the guard at the entrance to let no one out. If there is a fault, sir, I should have immediately electrified the fence, but I missed out on the guardroom being bugged.’

  Grandi looked up and glared at Frost.

  ‘We’ll go into who missed out and who didn’t later,’ he said. ‘My daughter has been kidnapped. What’s the next move?’

  ‘Two moves,’ Frost said, beginning to relax. He was thinking if only Silk could find and fix Suka, the big problem looked solved. At least, Grandi was accepting Suka as the inside man. ‘This is up to you. Number one would be to alert the police that Miss Grandi has been kidnapped. The kidnapper warned against this, but it could be done providing the police don’t move into action.’

  Grandi made an impatient movement.

  ‘No police. What’s the second move?’

  ‘We wait for a ransom demand, sir. The kidnapper said he would telephone tomorrow at 08.00. Now, if we alerted the police they could tap our telephone and get a fix on where he is phoning from, but it will probably be from a call box, and it could be dangerous.’

  Grandi nodded.

  ‘We wait for the ransom demand,’ he said. ‘No police.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ A pause, then, Frost went on, ‘I’ve told the staff to take the day off, but they’ll be in tomorrow as usual. If there is anything I or Marvin can do for you, sir, you just have to say.’

  ‘I will stay at the Spanish Bay hotel,’ Grandi said. ‘Tomorrow at seven o’clock, I will be here. I want you to take the ransom call, and I want you to handle it, Frost.’

  He got to his feet, then stared thoughtfully at Frost. ‘Do you think I’ll get her back?’

  ‘Yes, sir, so long as you go along with the kidnappers. From my experience, once the ransom is paid, they deliver.’

  ‘I am relying on your experience,’ Grandi said, then he walked out and leaving the villa, he crossed the lawn, got in the helicopter and was whisked away.

  Frost grabbed the telephone and again dialled the Ace of Spades.

  ‘It’s going well this end,’ he said as Silk came on the line. ‘Grandi is staying at the Spanish Bay. Stake it out in case Suka arrives.’

  ‘I told you, didn’t I?’ Silk said. ‘We have this fink over a barrel. Don’t worry about the Jap. I’ll fix him.’

  Frost replaced the telephone receiver. He felt in need of a drink. Grandi had been easy to handle. He drew in a deep breath. So long as Silk could find and fix Suka there would be no problem. He looked at his watch. The time was 16.15. He walked over to the big cocktail cabinet and poured himself a stiff whisky. He felt he deserved it. He drank the whisky at one swallow, then leaving the room, he went to the guardroom where Marvin was pacing up and down.

  ‘How did it go?’ Marvin asked.

  ‘No problem so far,’ Frost said. ‘Tomorrow is the day when the ransom demand arrives. He is surprisingly under control. I thought I was in for a hell of a time, but I guess he just wants his daughter back.’

  Marvin relaxed.

  ‘Who would want a little bitch like that back?’

  ‘That’s his choice. Look, Jack, there’ll be no action now until tomorrow morning. I’m going to find myself a dolly bird. I feel in need of some relaxation. You can do what you like: either stay around here or go to see your son again.’

  Marvin looked worried.

  ‘The kidnapper might telephone again.’

  ‘Aw, skip it, Jack! You be here at six o’clock tomorrow. Nothing’s going to happen. I’m going to get changed.’

  Marvin suddenly grinned.

  ‘You’re the boss. I guess I’ll get changed too.’

  ‘You take the T.R. I’ll take the Lamborghini. I fancy driving that heap.’

  Forty minutes later, Frost drove into an empty parking place outside the Ace of Spades. At this hour, the restaurant and bar were deserted. He found Silk and Goble playing gin in the room above the swimming pool. As soon as Frost entered, the two men threw down their cards and Silk said, ‘What are you doing here, Mike?’

  ‘There’s no action until you put in the ransom note,’ Frost said, sitting down at the table. ‘How’s Gina?’

  ‘She’s fine. Right now Ross is keeping her company.’

  Silk smiled his evil smile. ‘They’re probably screwing.’

  ‘She’s an enthusiast. How about Suka?’

  Silk shrugged.

  ‘I don’t know. He’s vanished. My guess is he was scared shitless and has taken off. I’ve got the Spanish Bay staked out and Marcia is around there. Forget Suka. We don’t have to bother about that fink.’

  But Frost felt uneasy.

  ‘If he got to Grandi with that tape, I could be in a lot of trouble.’

  ‘How did Grandi react?’

  ‘He surprised me. I thought he was certain to blow his cork, but all he seems interested in is getting the girl back. He told me he wanted me to handle the deal.’

  Silk nodded.

  ‘That’s fine. Then when I telephone tomorrow I’ll say someone is to come to the Three Square motel to get the ransom note . . . that’ll be you.’ He regarded Frost. ‘Grandi’s tricky. How about the cops?’

  ‘I suggested he should tell the cops, but he killed that idea. No cops.’

  ‘Going our way,’ Silk said.

  ‘Yeah.’ Frost got to his feet. ‘I’ll have a word with Gina. She’s in Marcia’s room?’

  ‘That’s it,’ Goble said, picking up his cards. ‘Knock twice before you enter.’ He grinned. ‘Ross has been with her for the past three hours, but they still could be active.’

  Frost made his way along the corridor to Marcia’s room, paused outside the door, listened, heard nothing, then rapped. He waited, rapped again, waited, then frowning, a sudden uneasiness creeping over him, he eased open the door
and stepped into the room.

  Umney, naked, lay sprawled across the big bed, blood seeping from a wound in his head.

  Frost looked around the room, then, moving fast, looked into the bathroom. Except for himself and Umney who was moving out of unconsciousness, the room was empty.

  No Gina.

  * * *

  Frost, Silk and Goble crowded around Umney as he sat on the edge of the bed, holding his head.

  ‘We were doing a saddle job,’ Umney said thickly, ‘then from out of nowhere she produced a gun and gun butted me. I hadn’t a chance.’

  A gun!

  So it had been Gina who had taken the .38 from the armoury rack, and not Suka, Frost thought.

  ‘She’s gone, you goddamn creep!’ Silk snarled.

  Umney moaned.

  ‘Hear me!’ Silk banged his fist on Umney’s shoulder. ‘When was this?’

  ‘We got going as soon as I arrived . . . around two o’clock.’

  ‘Three hours! She could be anywhere!’ Silk swung around to Goble. ‘Check the cars!’

  Goble left the room at a run.

  Frost stood back and he watched Silk who began to move around the room. He paused and stared at Frost.

  ‘You told me she wanted to be snatched!’ he said. ‘You didn’t say . . .’

  ‘Aw, shut up!’ Frost barked. ‘How did she get out of here without being seen?’

  ‘There’s an exit at the end of the corridor that leads to the car park. That’s the way she went.’

  Frost went to the big range of closets. He opened doors, slammed them shut, then turned to Silk.

  ‘She’s taken her suitcase.’

  Goble rushed in.

  ‘My car’s missing!’

  Umney got unsteadily to his feet and went into the bathroom.

  ‘Where would she go?’ Silk demanded, glaring at Frost.

  ‘How the hell do I know, but I do know she wouldn’t go back to Orchid Villa. She’s taken off to do her thing.’

  Silk turned to Goble.

  ‘Send the word out, Mitch. Get all our contacts working on this.’

  When Goble had gone, Silk went on to Frost, ‘You’re sure she won’t go back to the Grandi’s place?’

  ‘Sure. That’s why she wanted to be kidnapped.’

  ‘Then the operation is still on,’ Silk said. ‘Grandi won’t know she’s scrammed. So long as she keeps away from him, he’ll think we have her.’