Free 1967 - Have This One on Me by James Hadley Chase Page B

right to do this!’ Worthington went on. The sight of the hundred dollar bills fascinated him. ‘If they had consulted you . . . you could have refused or agreed, but that’s not the way they work. They do it like this ... not caring what happens to you.’ He leaned forward, tapping the dollar bills.
    ‘Malik might come here and find these ... then you would be done for.’
    Mala also was hypnotised by the sight of so much money.
    ‘What are we going to do?’
    ‘With this money, ‘Worthington said quietly and emphatically, ‘you will have no trouble leaving Prague. You will be independent. You could come with me to Geneva. You could buy a passport ... it’s a fortune!’
    Mala shifted her eyes from the money to him.
    ‘But it doesn’t belong to me! I couldn’t use it for myself!’
    ‘They haven’t thought of you ... why should you think of them? Money means nothing to them. If we take this, they will replace it. This money can buy your freedom.’
    Mala hesitated, then shook her head.
    ‘No! Put it back ... I’m not touching it.’
    Worthington regarded her, then seeing the determined expression in her eyes, he shrugged wearily.
    ‘All right ... you are being stupid, but if you really feel like that I can’t help you.’
    She pressed her hands to her face,
    ‘Yes, I feel like that.’ She got to her feet. ‘Please put it back where you found it.’ She again looked at the money, then she walked slowly over to the screen. ‘I’m going to bed.’ She paused and looked directly at him. ‘All right, I know I am stupid, but I’m not a thief!’
    ‘When one’s life is in balance,’ Worthington said quietly, ‘I suppose it could be said it is better to be a thief than to be stupid.’
    She hesitated, then went behind the sheet. Worthington heard her drop on the bed. He looked at the money. With thirty thousand dollars, plus his Swiss savings, he would be safe for life, he thought. He didn’t hesitate for more than a moment or so. Getting to his feet, he went into the kitchenette and returned with two copies of The Morning Sun. He folded the newspapers to the size of the hundred dollar bills. Then he put the folded newspapers into the wrapping and began to reseal the packet.
    ‘What are you doing?’ Mala asked, appearing from behind the screen. ‘What do you think you are doing?’
    ‘Not being stupid.’ Worthington satisfied himself the packet was secure, then got up and crossed to the wooden angel. He forced the packet down the hollow neck into the body. He replaced the head. ‘You can be as stupid as you like, but I know the value of money.’
    ‘You mean you’re taking it? You can’t! It doesn’t belong to you!’
    Worthington picked up the packet of money.
    ‘Go to bed. You’re tired. You must leave this to me.’
    ‘What do you plan to do with it?’
    ‘It’s better for you to know nothing about it. Please go to bed.’
    ‘We could never smuggle it out. It’s you who is being stupid!’
    Worthington looked at her, his expression resigned.
    ‘I am doing my best to get you out of a mess. You don’t seem to realise what a damn awful mess you are in. Dorey’s replacement mustn’t find this money here. You must not be implicated. Since you are so honest, will you please leave me to look after your interests?’
    She saw the sincere, anxious expression in his eyes and the tension on his weak face.
    She hesitated, then asked, ‘Where will you hide it?’
    He drew in a long breath of relief. So, in spite of her honesty, she was at last realising not only her danger, but what this money could mean to them both.
    ‘Under the angel. We can get at it quickly if we have to. I’ll tape it to the base of the angel.’
    ‘All right.’ She came to him, her cold fingers touching his wrist. ‘I’m sorry Alec. I don’t mean to be difficult. I do understand how you feel about me. If you think we can do it, I will come with you to Switzerland.’
    Worthington smiled wryly. It was the money,