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

Hop in.’ Elliot leaned over and opened the offside door. ‘I can’t stay long, but if it will please your old man, it’s my pleasure.’
    Cindy felt suddenly sick. She had allowed herself to be persuaded by Vin to take part in this kidnap plan. As Vin pointed out the money would mean nothing to Elliot and once they had got it, they would get married and have a ball. She had gone along with this, not thinking of Elliot, but now he was being so kind, she began to have qualms. For a long moment, she stood hesitating, then when he told her to hurry up, she obeyed and got in the car.
    ‘I can’t thank you enough,’ she said, not looking at him. ‘You don’t know what this will mean to my father.’
    ‘Forget it,’ Elliot said as he drove on to the highway. ‘I’m repaying a little debt You said something very nice to me . . . something no one has ever said to me.’
    ‘Did I?’
    ‘You wouldn’t remember because it came from your heart. You were talking about my home. You said I deserved it because I had given so much pleasure to so many people.’ He smiled at her. ‘I’m now trying to live up to your image of me.’
    Cindy looked away. For a brief moment, she was on the point of telling him she was leading him into a trap, but thinking of Vin and her father and how much this money would mean to them and that this nice movie star wouldn’t miss giving them fifty thousand dollars when he must be worth millions, she resisted the urge.
    ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘I did mean what I said and you are living up to my image.’
    Elliot drove fast to Seaview Boulevard. He was a little puzzled that this girl at his side seemed so tense. As she remained silent, he asked abruptly, ‘Anything on your mind, baby? Something wrong?’
    Cindy stiffened.
    ‘Wrong? No. I was thinking how lucky I am and how kind you are.’
    Elliot laughed. ‘Oh, come on, Cindy! Don’t soft soap me. I’m just behaving like a normal human being.’
    ‘Are you?’ Cindy thought of Vin and for the first time since she had fallen in love with him, she realized with a little pang that there was no kindness in him. He was hard, tough and glamorous but without kindness and Cindy suddenly realized kindness was as important as glamour. She compared Vin with Elliot and then Elliot with Joey. Elliot and Joey were a lot alike: they had warmth, but not Vin.
    ‘Not many people who are as famous and as rich as you,’ she said quietly, ‘would bother with people like my father and myself.’
    ‘Wouldn’t they?’
    Maybe she was right, he thought. He wondered if he would have bothered with her if Pacific Pictures had renewed his contract He decided he wouldn’t have. He wondered what he was letting himself in for. The old man would probably be a godawful bore. Well, he needn’t stay long.
    ‘I’m seeing my agent tomorrow,’ he said. ‘I could be starting work again.’
    Cindy turned. Her face lit up and she looked so pleased Elliot cursed himself for telling such a stupid lie.
    ‘I’m so glad! I read about the accident. It just made me sick. It was so awful for you.’
    Elliot shrugged.
    ‘These things happen.’ He hesitated, then went on. ‘My left foot is made of tin now.’ He looked sharply at her. ‘That shock you?’
    ‘Shock me? Why should it? You walk beautifully. No one would know.’
    ‘They know when I take my shoe off.’ The bitter note in his voice made her flinch.
    ‘Yes . . . I understand. I’m sorry.’
    ‘Why should you be sorry?’
    She hesitated.
    ‘Well, go on, say it.’
    ‘It must be hard on you. I’m sure you had lots of girls . . . you shouldn’t let a thing like this spoil your life.’ Again she hesitated. ‘What has a foot to do with it when a man and a woman are in love?’
    Elliot whistled softly between his teeth.
    ‘You don’t know, kid. It makes a hell of a difference. You just don’t know.’
    ‘I said if a man and a woman are in love. I don’t mean just jumping into bed . . . I mean