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

to the reception hall entrance in four seconds flat.
    ‘Right, let’s get him in. He’d better travel in front. It’s warmer and not so draughty.’
    Between us. Miss Robinson and I practically earned the little squirt to the car. Luckily I had brought a rug to cover the radiator and I wrapped him up in it as if he was a pneumonia case. Miss Robinson didn’t seem to like the way I took charge. She pushed me aside and leaned into the car.
    ‘Are you quite comfortable now, Mr. Sarek? If you’re not warm enough I can easily get you another rug.’
    ‘Is all right. I want to get home.’ Not quite so querulous, but still very sorry for himself. And he was so sorry for himself he forgot to tip her.
    While we were fussing over him Rita got in the back. She tipped the man with the baggage, closed her purse with an impatient click and leaned back on the broken springs to stare out of the window.
    I slid under the wheel.
    ‘I’ll keep the window shut if you think it’ll be too cold for you.’
    ‘Close it and get going. I want to go to bed. I am ill, you understand? Is on my chest.’
    ‘Oh shut up about your chest!
    I turned my head to hide a grin. I bet she had had a rare time with him coming over. Her voice sounded exasperated.
    ‘Is all right for you to say shut up! Is easy to talk that way when you are not ill For three days I can’t breathe. Is my chest. And when do I sleep? Three nights I lie awake. And all you say is shut up!’
    I was watching her in the driving minor. She started to say something, then stopped herself. Instead, she lit a cigarette and stared sullenly of of the window.
    ‘How did you catch cold, Mr. Sarek?’
    ‘Never mind. You get me home. Who cares whether I die or not? Don’t talk. I don’t want to listen.’
    And he made it sound as if he hated my guts. When I looked into the mirror again there was a bitter, triumphant little smile on her lips.
    She hadn’t been wasting any time.
    He wanted a fire in his room and a hot water bottle.
    While I was lighting the fire he said, ‘You better look out for another job, Mitchell. I lose money on this trip. I can’t afford to pay you for doing nothing.’
    I sat back on my heels and looked at him.
    ‘But don’t you want someone to guard you, Mr. Sarek? Of course, I know I don’t appear to do much for what I’m getting, but it’s like paying an insurance premium. If anything did happen, then you’d be glad to have me around.’
    He couldn’t meet my eyes.
    ‘Is practical joke. Mrs. Sarek is right. Three weeks and no more threats. Is waste of money. I can’t afford it.’
    Wait until tomorrow, old pal, I thought. You’ll be singing a different tune tomorrow.
    ‘Well, all right. If you really want me to go I’ll look for something else. When do you think?’
    ‘In a week.’
    I cleared up the hearth, then stirred the blazing coal with the poker.
    ‘I’ll certainly miss those games of chess.’
    Even that one didn’t pay a dividend.
    ‘Put out the light. I want to rest.’
    All right, you little vulture, I thought, if that’s how you feel about it. Just wait until tomorrow. You won’t be so cocky tomorrow.
    I turned out the light.
    ‘If there’s anything you want, Mr. Sarek, rap on the wall. I sleep very lightly.’
    I was going to make it easy for him to change his mind in the morning.
    He grunted: not even a word of thanks.
    ‘I want to rest.’
    ‘I’ll see you’re not disturbed, Mr. Sarek.’
    As I shut the door behind me I saw her coming up the stairs.
    I was oozing soft soap by now. I tried a little on her just for the hell of it.
    ‘If you’d rather not cook tonight, Mrs. Sarek. I’ll prepare the supper.’
    She looked past me, her face sullen.
    ‘I don’t want any supper. I’m going to bed.’
    ‘I told him if he wanted anything to call me tonight. I thought you wouldn’t want to be disturbed after your journey.’
    She looked at me then. I managed to keep a straight face.
    ‘You’re trying very hard,