Free 1955 - You've Got It Coming by James Hadley Chase

impatiently. “I flew every kind of kite during the war.”
    “You'll have to bring it down in the dark. Thought of that?”
    “Look, you don't have to worry about my end. I know my job. I'll get the kite down all right. With any luck there'll be a moon, but if there isn't, I'll still bring her down. Do you want to handle the stuff or don't you?”
    Ben found he had let his cigar go out: something he rarely did.
    He threw the cigar out of the window.
    “What do you want out of this again?”
    “You take the diamonds, pay your men and give me fifty thousand for the job.”
    “It's too much. I may have to keep the diamonds a couple of years before I get rid of them. I'll give you ten.”
    “It's fifty thousand or nothing. I'm taking the risk: you aren't. The police will have a description of me. I'll be on the run: you won’t. Your cut from this should be around two million with no risk. If you don't think fifty grand is a fair figure, then tell your driver to stop the car and I'll get the hell out of here.”
    “Thirty?” Ben suggested, bargaining for the sake of bargaining. “I'll give you thirty, but not a nickel more.”
    Harry felt a surge of triumph run through him. He knew he had Ben on the hook now.
    “Do I tell your driver to stop or do you?”
    Ben allowed himself a thin smile in the darkness.
    “Okay — fifty then: in cash when you deliver the diamonds.”
    “No. I want two certified cheques for twenty-five grand given to me on the afternoon before the take-off. I've got to be convinced the money is safe before I get into the plane or I don't do the job.”
    Taggart could contain himself no longer.
    “Do you want me to tap this punk, boss?” he growled, half turning round.
    “Shut up!” Ben snarled. “Keep out of this!” He looked towards Harry. “You'll get the cash when the diamonds are delivered and not before!”
    “No! Why should I trust you?” Harry's big hands turned into fists. “What's there to stop one of your thugs shooting me in the back when you've got the diamonds? The money's got to be in my bank before I do the job or I don't do it!”
    “I could persuade you to do it,” Ben said, his voice suddenly vicious. “I don't take orders from punks like you.”
    “Go ahead and persuade me.” Harry felt sweat on his face, but he was determined to have his way. “Persuade me to bring the kite down in the dark and see how you get on. I don't threaten easily, Delaney, and I'm hard to persuade.”
    The driver slammed on his brakes, pulling to the kerb, while Taggart swung around, a gun in his hand. He was about to reach over and take a swipe at Harry when Ben said violently, “Hold it! Who told you to stop? Drive on! And keep out of it, Taggart!”
    The driver lifted his shoulders and sent the car moving forward again. Taggart turned away with a grunt of disgust. Neither of the men had ever heard anyone talk to the boss like this and get away with it.
    But Ben realized that Harry held the cards. The more he thought about this job the more he liked it. Two million profit! It was cheap at fifty grand.
    “What's to stop you double crossing me if I give you the money?” he demanded.
    “You'll stop me, won’t you?” Harry said. “What are you worrying about? Your man will give me the two cheques. He'll come to the bank with me. He'll stay with me until the job's done. If you can't trust your man to see I don't double cross you, you'd better take care of me yourself.”
    Ben had already arranged in his mind to let Borg take care of Harry. There wouldn't be one man, but three, as well as Borg. He had no misgivings that Harry would have a chance to double cross him. But he didn't want Harry to think he was gaining an easy victory.
    “Well, okay. When's the plane due to leave?”
    “On the twentieth.”
    “What time?”
    “I'll tell you that when I have the money and not before.”
    “You don't trust easy, do you?” Ben said and grinned. He was beginning to gain a little respect