Free An Ace Up My Sleeve by James Hadley Chase

year they had no social life nor did they know anyone in the district. It was only a slight risk, she assured herself. There was no one to raise eyebrows or to gossip.
    Now was the moment, she thought as she drove down the narrow, twisting road that led directly to the lake, to alert Larry. She would have to handle him gendy. He was such an odd mixture. She thought of the two girls. They could have drained him of all sexual desire. He might think a woman older than himself undesirable in his present mood ... she doubted that. A man of his build must have a lot of resilience, but she must be careful.
    "Tell me, Larry, what are you plans?" she asked abruptly.
    He gave a little start as if startled to find her by his side.
    "My plans, ma'am?" He chewed for a long moment. "I I'll look for a job."
    "Do you think you'll get one?"
    "Oh, sure ... I've got jobs before. Yeah, I'll get one all right." "But you'll need a work permit, Larry." He glanced at her, then lifted his heavy shoulders.
    "Is that right? Weil, I guess I'll have to get a work permit then." She restrained her exasperation with an effort.
    "I don't think you know really what you are saying," she said as gently as she could. "Work permits here are difficult to get. Now listen, Larry, I want to help you. I know you're against accepting money, but I would like to make you a loan. You must have some money while you try to get a work permit. You can always pay me back later." He shook his head.
    "Thanks, ma'am, but I'll manage. I appreciate the offer. My old man would flip his lid if he knew I was taking money from anyone."
    "But your father won't know unless you tell him," Helga said as if speaking to a child.
    He remained silent for so long she looked sharply at him. He was staring blankly at the car ahead of them, chewing, his face screwed into an expression of thought. She decided not to hurry him and she waited as she drove into the thick traffic and into the centre of Lugano.
    Finally, he said, "Well, ma'am, I appreciate it. You're right about my old man. I needn't tell him, but it bothers me that I might not be able to pay you back. I've cost you enough already."
    "Suppose you let me bother about that?" She was now happy, realizing at last she had broken through the crust of his obstinacy and was reaching him. You see, Larry, money doesn't mean a great deal to me. I have it, and when I can help people, it makes me happy to do it."
    He took a little time to consider this, then he nodded.
    "Yeah ... I guess I would feel the same way too, ma'am, if I had money."
    They were now driving along the lake at a crawl. The traffic along the lake
was always slow and congested.
"It's pretty, isn't it?" she said.
    "It sure is, ma'am." He looked at the lake glittering in sudden pale sunlight and at the distant hills, with the snow covering the trees. "What do they call this place?"
    "This is Lugano. We are now going to my home. I'd like you to see it. It's not far from here."
    "Your home?" He turned and looked at her, his jaw moving as he chewed and he smiled his warm smile that set her blood on fire. "I didn't expect to be taken to your home."
    She laughed.
    "Why not? You can stay the night ... there's plenty of room, then I will see what I can do for you tomorrow."
    "You mean you are asking me to stay the night in your home?" "Why not?"
    He slammed his big hands down on his knees with such violence she was sure he had hurt himself.
    "Boy!" he exclaimed. "Am I lucky! Boy! Boy! Am I lucky!"
    Helga looked sharply at him. There was just too much exuberance in his voice to ring true. She had a moment of doubt, even fear, but as he swivelled to look at her, his smile so warm and friendly, the doubt and the fear went away. "I'm glad you're pleased, Larry."
    "You don't know what this means to me, ma'am," he said. "I was getting scared. I couldn't see myself sleeping rough in a place like this. I couldn't think where I was going to sleep."
    You'll sleep with me, Helga thought as she