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

love.’
    ‘Would it make any difference to you?’
    ‘I plan to get married very soon,’ Cindy said, not looking at him.
    ‘You are?’ Elliot was startled that what she had told him gave him a letdown feeling. This sudden pang of disappointment irritated him. What was this chick to him? She was a dish, of course, but nothing more and yet to be told she was getting married depressed him. ‘Who’s the lucky man?’
    ‘You’ll meet him. He’s staying with father and me.’ Cindy pointed. ‘It’s the end bungalow on the right’
    Elliot surveyed the small bungalow, half hidden by shrubs.
    He was not surprised by its shabbiness. In fact, he rather liked its downtrodden appearance . . . so different from his own luxury home.
    He pulled up outside the gate behind Vin’s blue Jaguar.
    ‘Is that your boyfriend’s car?’ he asked as Cindy joined him on the sidewalk.
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Good car . . . well, come on, chick, I can’t stay long.’
    Cindy led the way up the path to the front door.
    Joey and Vin watched from behind the net curtains. Joey was sweating and his legs felt weak. Vin held a .38 automatic and he was breathing heavily.
    ‘She’s done it!’ he said. ‘I knew she would! Well, here comes fifty grand! Just leave this to me.’
    ‘Don’t hurt him,’ Joey pleaded. ‘Be careful, Vin. I don’t like any of this. I . . .’
    ‘Just shut up, will you?’ Vin snarled. ‘I’ll handle it.’
    Cindy opened the front door.
    ‘Please come in.’ Her voice was so husky Elliot looked at her. She had lost colour and now looked terrified.
    ‘What’s with it, baby?’ he asked, puzzled. ‘Are you all right?’
    Then he heard a sound behind him and he looked around.
    Vin stood in the open doorway of the living room, the gun pointing at Elliot.
    ‘Just take it easy, buster,’ Vin said, his voice like a fall of gravel. ‘Come on in. One wrong move from you and I’ll give you a second belly button.’
    For a moment Elliot was startled, then he quickly recovered.
    He smiled.
    ‘That dialogue is right out of a B movie,’ he said, then he looked at Cindy. ‘I’m disappointed in you. Who would have thought you would turn out to be a gangster’s moll?’ He laughed. ‘More B movie dialogue.’
     
    * * *
     
    Here, Barney paused. He regarded me with a sly look, then said, ‘Would you like to try Sam’s sausages, Mr. Campbell? They are one of the specialities of the house. They are soaked in rum before being fried in a chili sauce. I can recommend them.’
    I explained that I had had dinner and I had to watch my weight.
    ‘Too much attention is paid to weight watching,’ Barney said, a note of scorn in his voice. ‘You live only once, mister. I’d hate to think of all the food I might have missed if I watched my weight. You follow my reasoning?’
    I said I got the idea and perhaps he would like a sausage or two, but strictly not for me.
    He smiled and lifted one thick finger at Sam. This must have been a pre-arranged signal for Sam came hurrying over with a plate of a dozen small sausages, the colour of mahogany, their skins wrinkled and glistening.
    ‘Try one,’ Barney said, pushing the plate towards me, but something warned me to resist. I said for him to go ahead and count me out.
    ‘They’re hot,’ Barney said, feeding one of the sausages into his little mouth. He chewed and I saw his eyes begin to water and I was thankful I had been strong minded; After a long swill of beer, Barney wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and settled himself. ‘Real dynamite,’ he said, nodding his approval. ‘I’ve seen so-called tough guys jump three feet in the air after just one of these little beauties.’
    ‘You got to this kidnapping,’ I said. ‘So what happened?’
    Barney reached for another sausage as he said, ‘Well, Vin acted tough and he could be tough when he was in the mood. He scared the hell out of Cindy and Joey but he made no impact on Elliot ‘Elliot walked into the living room