Free 1975 - The Joker in the Pack by James Hadley Chase

now,” and he left her, staring after him.
     
    * * *
     
    As Helga walked into the hotel lobby, the hall porter came from behind his desk. Seeing he wanted to speak to her, she paused.
    “There is an urgent call from Mr. Winborn, madame. He is staying the night at the Sonesta Beach hotel, Miami. He asks if you would please call him back.”
    “Thank you.” She moved to the elevator.
    In her apartment she walked out onto the terrace. She sat down, half-aware of the big floating moon, its reflection on the sea and the strident shouts of the night bathers.
    Ten thousand dollars presented no problem, but five hundred thousand dollars!
    Was she going to submit to blackmail?
    She lit a cigarette. She never felt so alone. She thought bitterly that she had always been alone. The only child, her brilliance had cut her off from other children, her father had been interested only in his business; her mother only interested in the church. Always loneliness, plus this damnable sexual urge that had tormented her into dangerous adventures.
    Face it, she said to herself, you are on your own: there is no one to help you: you are in a hell of a spot, so what are you going to do about it?
    Thinking, she realized that even if Herman died this night, she would have Jackson and this half-caste on her back for life. They would give her the original letter but keep a photocopy. If she refused further demands and they sent Winborn the photocopy, he would take action. With his legal proceedings, especially if the hotel manager confirmed that she had taken the letter, Winborn could block her from the sixty million dollars!
    She sat still, thinking, gathering her strength and her confidence in herself. This was going to be a lonely battle, she told herself. She had said to Jackson, “The best of generals lose battles.” But now she was determined this was the one battle she would not lose.
    She returned to the living room and asked the telephone operator to connect her with the Sonesta Beach hotel.
    “I want to speak with Mr. Stanley Winborn.”
    There was a delay. Calm, she smoked and stared out at the moonlit sea. She told herself: “I have so much to lose. I can afford to take risks. If I do lose, I’ll make sure no one gains.”
    When Winborn came on the line, she said, “This is Mrs. Rolfe.”
    “I’m sorry to trouble you, Mrs. Rolfe.” The cold voice came clearly over the line. She could imagine the steely grey eyes and the aloof, unfriendly expression. “Could I ask you to do something for me?”
    Surprised, she said, “Of course.”
    “While flying to Miami, I got thinking about what your husband was trying to say. That odd phrase: ‘Sin on. Better law.’ After repeating it several times, it occurred to me he was trying to say, ‘Winborn. Letter. Drawer.’”
    You smart sonofabitch, Helga thought.
    Forcing her voice to sound casual, she said, “I would never have thought of that, Mr. Winborn.”
    “I called Nurse Fairely. She asked Mr. Rolfe if that was what he was trying to say. By his reaction, it was. Nurse Fairely is sure that there is a letter for me in one of Mr. Rolfe’s drawers.” A pause. “May I ask you to check, Mrs. Rolfe?”
    Not so smart, Helga thought. What you should do is to come back here and check yourself.
    “We looked through all the drawers together, Mr. Winborn,” she said. “There was no letter.”
    “But there could be. We were looking for the Japanese contract.” A sharp note crept into Winborn’s voice. “Would you look more thoroughly?”
    “Of course. If I find a letter for you, I will call you back.”
    “I am sorry to bother you with this, but Nurse Fairely tells me Mr. Rolfe keeps on about this letter.”
    “If I don’t call back within an hour, you will know I haven’t found it,” Helga said.
    “Thank you, Mrs. Rolfe.”
    “How is he?”
    “There is no change.”
    She hung up and sat still for some moments. Winborn was no fool, but the immediate present was more important.