Free 1972 - You're Dead Without Money by James Hadley Chase

Handcock & Ellison to collect two outstanding debts. I’ve been instructed to issue you with a summons to be returned at the Courthouse at the end of the month if I don’t get a certified cheque right now.’
    ‘Is that right?’ Elliot forced a grin. Once a summons was issued all the wolves would rush in. ‘How much is it for?’
    ‘Sixty-one thousand dollars.’
    This jolted Elliot but he managed to retain his grin.
    ‘As much as that?’ He knew he couldn’t afford to be served with a summons. ‘I’ll give you cash.’
    Ten minutes later, Jerrold left, his briefcase bulging and Elliot’s cash assets had abruptly shrunk to nine thousand dollars.
    He lit a cigarette and leaning back in his desk chair, he considered his future. It looked bleaker than ever before. He knew the word would get around that he was paying his debts. In a day or so his other creditors would come knocking on his door. It was time to get out and get out fast. He would drive to Hollywood and when his nine thousand dollars had run out, he would take enough sleeping pills to make headlines for the last time.
    Going into his bedroom, he packed a suitcase, selecting the best of his wardrobe, conscious that none of the clothes he was putting into the suitcase had been paid for. He included a bottle of Scotch and a carton of two hundred cigarettes.
    He took three hundred dollars from his diminishing roll and went in search of his majordomo. Finding him in the kitchen, he explained he was going away and gave him the money.
    ‘This should hold you until I get back. I’m going to see Mr. Lewishon.’
    The majordomo bowed and gave Elliot a sad, searching stare as he took the money. The stare told Elliot the old man was aware of the mess he was in.
    ‘I’ll write if I stay away longer than a week,’ Elliot said, uncomfortable at the searching stare and the sadness on the old man’s face. He returned to his bedroom, paused to look around, feeling sure this would be the last time he would call this room his own. Then shrugging, he picked up the suitcase and walked down to the garage.
    As he was getting into the Alfa Romeo, he saw a girl walking slowly up the drive: a blonde, wearing a white sweatshirt and scarlet shorts.
    ‘Cindy Luck!’ he thought, surprised and he drove down, pulling up beside her. ‘Hello.’ He smiled. ‘What brings you here?’
    Cindy seemed ill at ease and her smile forced.
    ‘I - I wanted to see you again.’
    Vin, Joey and she had gone over the kidnap plan. Vin felt sure that Cindy could get Elliot to their bungalow.
    ‘Get him here,’ he said, ‘then I’ll handle him.’
    Cindy had hesitated.
    ‘You won’t hurt him, Vin?’
    ‘Hurt him? Forget it! I’ll just poke a gun at him and he’ll fall to pieces. I know these phoney tough guys. They’re fine up there on the screen, but show them a gun in real life and they’re just wet spaghetti.’
    Elliot regarded her. She’s certainly a dish, he thought. If it wasn’t for this goddamn tin foot, I’d get her laid.
    ‘Well, here I am,’ he said. I’m just off to Hollywood.’
    Cindy’s eyes opened wide. This was unexpected.
    ‘Oh, Mr. Elliot! My father will be so disappointed. He is a terrific fan of yours. When I told him I had been here and you had actually given me lunch - honest, he nearly died with envy. He was really upset so I said I would try to persuade you to come and see him.’ Her mind worked swiftly as she saw alarm come into Elliot’s eyes. ‘I know it’s asking a lot but my father is an invalid and he has so little pleasure. He’s seen all your movies and he really thinks you’re the greatest . . . as I do.’
    Elliot hesitated, then thought: What have I got to lose? I now haven’t a friend in the world and here’s this kid . . . what a dish! It won’t kill me to see her old man. It’ll give them both a hell of a kick. He smiled. ‘Okay. Where do you live, Cindy?’
    ‘On Seaview Boulevard.’
    ‘That’s fine. It’s in my direction.