Free 1951 - In a Vain Shadow by James Hadley Chase Page A

anything I can do for you?’
    ‘You can get out.’
    I knew the smile was growing dim at the edges.
    ‘That’s easy. But surely there’s something else?’
    She gave me a bleak, spiteful stare and then began typing again.
    I could have murdered her then. I could have taken that greasy, fat skull between my hands and hammered it against the typewriter.
    I lit a cigarette to give my voice a chance to steady up.
    ‘Any more threatening letters come in?’
    She paused in her typing.
    ‘No, and when Mr. Sarek returns I am going to advise him to pay you off. You’re getting too much for doing nothing, anyway.’
    That made two of them gunning for me. I had one where I wanted her, but I knew I’d never nail this fat little horror to the mast. White-hot fury boiled up inside me, but I still managed a grin: a little crooked perhaps, but a grin.
    ‘Better look after that sore on your mouth. It might spread and spoil your beauty.’
    Well, at least I hurt her. I saw her flinch. Still grinning, I went out and shut the door gently behind me.
    When I returned to Four Winds I went up to her room, collected the typewriter and carried it into the guest room. I set it down on the bedside table, took of the lid and threaded a sheet of the blue, deckle-edged paper into the machine.
    If she had decided to send him no more threatening letters then I’d take on the job. And I’d send him a threatening letter to remember: not the junk she had been sending. I’d give him t such a scare he wouldn’t let me out of his sight; a scare that even fat Emmie couldn’t talk him out of Rita would know who had written the note, but that didn’t worry me. There was nothing she could do about it without giving herself away. And besides, I wanted her to know I had found the typewriter. It would be a nice way to break the news.
    For some minutes I sat thinking, then thumped out the note with one finger.
    You have had three warnings. This is the last. From now on you won’t be safe. Sometime, somewhere, we will kill you. It won’t be quick and sudden. You will know all about it, and we will soften you, you rat, before we do it.
    That ought to throw a scare into him. I couldn’t see Emmie persuading him to sack me after getting a note like that.
    I hoped I would be there when he read it. His face would be worth seeing. But the best sight of all would be Rita’s face when he showed the note to her. If that didn’t give her a jolt then nothing would.
    On Monday I had a telegram saying he and Mrs. Sarek would arrive at eight forty-five. Would I be at the airport to drive them home?
    I would be there all right.
    Miss Robinson, looking fresh and clear eyed and clean minded, gave me a cool stare when I walked into the reception hall.
    ‘Remember me? Mr. Sarek’s coming in on the 8:45 plane. Is it on schedule?’
    She remembered her manners enough to give me a distant nod.
    ‘Good evening. I have heard from Mr. Sarek. Yes, it’ll be on time.’
    ‘He’ll be glad to see you looking so pretty.’
    ‘The plane is due now. If you’ll wait here, I’ll let him know where you are.’
    She swept away, her back stiff.
    My charm didn’t seem to be registering well these days.
    After a while I heard a plane come in and I strolled to the door. Minutes ticked by, then I saw Miss Robinson and Sarek.
    Behind them came Rita and a man in uniform carrying the baggage.
    I went out to meet them.
    ‘Hello, there, did you have a good trip?’
    He brushed me aside as querulous as a wet hen.
    ‘I have a bad cold. Where is the car? Do I have to walk all night?’
    Miss Robinson was holding his arm, making soft, soothing noises at him. One look at his white, pinched face and the angry irritation in his little black eyes told me this was the moment to make an impression.
    ‘Get him inside while I fetch the car. He looks ill.’ I didn’t even pause to look at Rita. I wanted to, but the situation called for speed. I raced back to the car park and brought the car round