Free Come Easy, Go Easy by James Hadley Chase Page A

and the dope fell for it. You watch out. Don't kid yourself you'll stay here long because you won't. She'll talk Carl into getting rid of you. Know why?"
    By now I had fixed a dumb look on my face. I turned to stare at him.
    "I don't know what you're talking about," I said. "I'm just the hired help around here."
    He grinned at me, showing big yellow teeth.
    "That's right, you told me." He settled himself against the shed door. "She's scared someone will put the bite on Carl. She's after his money. I know. I've watched her. You haven't been around here long enough to get wise to her little tricks. She's after his money: that's all she thinks about He's been salting money away for years. He has always been a careful man, never spends a dime, although he's generous when he gets the chance, but with that tramp around, watching every move, he doesn't get a chance. Before she came I was welcomed here. There was always a meal here for me, but not now. She sulks when I come. Do you know what happens? She locks her bedroom door. When you're an old fool like Carl, getting on in years, every day counts, and it upset him if he can't get into the sack with her. That's how she put the screws on him. If he does anything she doesn't like, the bedroom door gets locked. You watch out. You won't last long. I know her. She'll imagine you are after her money."
    I sat back on my heels and examined the clutch plates. One of them was cracked. I put the plates in the petrol bath. Then I stood up and walked over to the work bench to pick up a rag to clean my hands.
    He was watching me, but I kept my face dead pan and I could see my apparent indifference irritated him.
    "Where have you come from, friend?" he asked abruptly, "Are you a stranger in these parts?"
    "That's right."
    "How did you run into Carl?"
    "I met him in Little Creek."
    "You did? Looking for work, huh?"
    "That's it."
    "Well . . ." He pushed himself away from the shed door. The dog had been sitting motionless: now it stood up. It looked expectantly at Ricks. "I mustn't take up your time. I just looked in to borrow some tools. I've a little job up at my place that needs fixing. I always borrow what I want from Carl." He wandered around the shed, staring at the tool racks. "Now, let me see. What do I want?"
    He took down two screw drivers and a hammer. He was reaching for a drill when I said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Ricks, but I can't let you take those tools."
    I saw him stiffen, then he looked sideways at me, his thin face expressionless.
    "What was that, friend?"
    "I haven't Mr. Jenson's permission to let tools go off this place," I said. "I'm responsible here while he's away. If you'll stick around until he comes back and he says it's okay, then it'll be okay, but no tools go out of here without his sayso."
    He took the drill out of the rack and then reached for a hand saw.
    "Just relax, friend. I'm his brother-in-law. You're dead right. Anyone else but me shouldn't borrow anything from here—but me, that's different."
    I had had enough of this guy.

    I walked over to him.
    "I'm sorry, Mr. Ricks, no tools go out of here without Mr. Jenson's sayso."
    He eyed me. I could see a little red glint come into his eyes. The dog, as if sensing trouble, began to back slowly away.
    "Now look, friend," Ricks said, "you don't want to lose your job this soon, do you? If I tell Carl …"
    "Go ahead and tell him," I said. "Those tools stay here. I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. If you want them that badly you'll have to wait until Mr. Jenson comes back and says you can have them."
    "I see." There was sweat on his face now. He looked suddenly as mean as hell. The dog slunk out of the shed and headed for the car. "So there are two of you here now, is that it? You wouldn't also be after his money—like that tramp? Maybe she's letting you into her sack—is that it?"
    I felt a rush of blood to my head. I caught hold of his overall and gave him a shake that nearly snapped his head of his shoulders, then I