Free This is For Real by James Hadley Chase Page B

her.”
    Dorey thought bitterly, She’ll probably be dead by then. “Okay, Captain, do your best. This is urgent.”
    “We’ll keep working on it,” O’Halloran said and hung up.
    Janine looked inquiringly at Dorey who shrugged.
    “You’re right: we’re too late. They can’t hope to trace her within five days.” He rubbed his hand across his forehead. “What has a woman from Senegal got to sell that’s important enough for Radnitz to have a man killed?”
    “Why don’t you send one of your men to Rossland’s place and search it? He might have kept records of his men,” Janine said. “We should have looked ourselves.”
    “If someone had walked in on us, we would have been in a hell of a mess,” Dorey said. He thought for a moment, then reached for the telephone. “Jack Kerman could do it.” He dialled, then waited. A sleepy voice demanded who was calling. Dorey quickly explained what he wanted done. “This is top priority, Kerman. I must have a list of Rossland’s operators. Go over there and take the place to pieces.”
    The man at the other end of the line was alert now.
    “Can do … will do,” and he hung up.
    Dorey nodded to Janine.
    “He might find something.”
    “We’re late starters,” Janine said. “This man of Rossland’s could be dead by now.”
    Dorey said, “I’ll put two men to watch Radnitz’s hotel. If they spot this youth with a beard, we’ll pick him up and we’ll talk to him the way they talked to Rossland.”
    Janine got stiffly to her feet.
    “Now you’re getting into gear, John. I’m going home. I need my beauty sleep.”
    Dorey hesitated, then he waved to a door.
    “You can use my spare room. Go ahead. Save yourself a journey.”
    Janine smiled as she shook her head.
    “I like sleeping in my own bed: even if I don’t always sleep in it alone. I like my own night clothes and my own toothbrush. Good night.”
    “If I have any news, I’ll call you,” Dorey said, not getting up. He was reaching for the telephone.
    “But not before ten unless it is urgent,” Janine returned and put on her mink coat.
    “I won’t call you at all unless it’s urgent,” Dorey said and dialling, he began to talk into the mouthpiece.
    Janine let herself out of the apartment and rode down in the lift to where her car was parked.
     
    A little after eleven o’clock the following morning, Girland was frying eggs and bacon and grimacing with pain every time he moved his head when someone rapped on his front door.
    He cursed under his breath, lowered the flame of the gas, then patting his hip pocket to make sure he was carrying his gun, he walked softly over to the door and peered through the spy hole.
    Borg, wearing a leather hat and a leather coat, stood just by the head of the stairs, waiting.
    Girland opened the door.
    “There you are, palsy,” Borg said, his thick lips moving into a friendly grin. “How’s the neck?”
    “Like hell,” Girland said, moving aside to let Borg come in. He noted Borg was carrying a black leather briefcase.
    “I’ll fix that,” Borg said, sniffed and lifted his scanty eyebrows. “Hmm … smells good!”
    “Want some? There’s plenty,” Girland said, shutting the door.
    “Not for me. I’ve had mine.” Borg slapped his paunch. “I gotta watch this: like twins: grows all the time, but don’t let me stop you.”
    “You won’t,” Girland said and going back to the stove, he expertly dished up the bacon and eggs and carried the meal over to the table.
    Borg looked around.
    “Nice nest you have here: except for those goddamn stairs.”
    “Coffee?” Girland asked, pouring a cup for himself.
    “Always ready for coffee,” Borg took off his hat and coat and sat down opposite Girland. He helped himself to black coffee without sugar, lit a cigarette and watched Girland as he began to wolf down his meal.
    Neither of the men said anything until Girland had finished. Then with a sigh of satisfaction, Girland carried the plate to the sink. He