Free 1966 - You Have Yourself a Deal by James Hadley Chase

away. This filthy little rat let them walk out with her and we’ve lost her! What am I to do?”
    Pearl rose to her feet, her eyes opening wide.
    “Tell me what happened?” she said to Jo-Jo who glared sullenly at her.
    He explained how the Nurse had lied and how he had lost time searching the fifth floor of the hospital.
    Sadu was horrified that Pearl was quite unmoved when Jo-Jo casually told her he had murdered the nurse.
    “How was I to know she was lying?” Jo-Jo concluded. “The operation was badly planned.”
    “Yes.” Pearl turned to Sadu. “You must tell Yet-Sen that the Americans had moved the woman before you arrived at the hospital. Tell him you are trying to locate her, and you will know where she has been taken by tomorrow morning, and you will then complete your mission.”
    “But how do I find out where she has been taken?” Sadu shouted, wiping his sweating face.
    “That I will see to. Tell Yet-Sen I have a contact who will know where she is and I have gone to talk to him.”
    Sadu stared at her suspiciously.
    “Who is this contact?”
    “This is something you need not know about, cheri. You must leave this to me.” She waved towards the telephone. “Call Yet-Sen. Is your car outside?”
    “Yes . . . where are you going?”
    She went into the bedroom, then came out, struggling into a white plastic mac.
    “Where are you going?” Sadu repeated angrily.
    “Please telephone Yet-Sen. I won’t be long,” and she was gone.
     
    * * *
     
    To say Girland was startled when he saw Malik standing by the Citroen ambulance would be an understatement, but he quickly recovered his poise.
    “Well! If it isn’t my old Comrade Malik,” he said. “I’ve had happy thoughts all this time I left you for dead months ago.”
    Malik eyed him over, his flat green eyes glittering.
    “I don’t die that easily,” he said. “Get in, and shut up!”
    Girland shrugged, glanced at Kordak who was covering him with the automatic rifle, then climbed into the ambulance.
    “You too,” Malik said to Ginny.
    As she moved to the ambulance, Girland leaned forward, offering her his hand, but she ignored him, getting into the ambulance and refusing his help.
    Smernoff got in the driving seat and Kordak beside him. Malik joined Girland in the back of the ambulance. As soon as the double doors had slammed shut, the ambulance took off, racing towards the Pont de Neuilly with its flasher in action and its horn honking its warning.
    Girland made himself comfortable. He said to Malik, “Don’t tell me you walked out of that hell hole. I really thought I had seen the last of you.”
    Malik leaned his broad shoulder against the padding of his seat.
    “You weren’t the only one with a helicopter,” he said, “but that’s past history.” He looked at the sleeping woman. “So you are supposed to be her husband? Where were you planning to take her, Girland?”
    “Dorey has a room set up for her at the Embassy,” Girland lied. “The idea of course, was for me to give her love and attention in the hope she would eventually talk. What do you intend to do with her, now you have got her?”
    “That’s my business,” Malik said.
    Girland regarded him with a humorous, sorrowful smile.
    “The trouble with you Russians is you take your jobs too seriously,” he said. “What’s going to happen to me? You know, Malik, we could do a deal. You haven’t my way with women. Suppose I continue to act as her husband and give you her information instead of Dorey? After all, America and Russia have a common enemy in China. I am sure I could get more out of her than you. You just haven’t the right touch. It would cost you a little, but that shouldn’t worry your people. I’ll cooperate with you for thirty thousand francs. What do you say?”
    Ginny, listening to this, gasped.
    “You are a horrible man!” she exclaimed, glaring at Girland. “How can you say such a thing?”
    Girland gave her his charming smile.
    “Will you