Free No Orchids for Miss Blandish by James Hadley Chase Page B

would have screamed."
    Eddie looked at her with growing interest.
    "I'll hold it again any time you like."
    She gave a nervous giggle.
    "I don't feel like screaming now."
    He got up and looked out of the window. The crowded street was now deserted. The last of the police cars were moving away.
    "Well, I guess I can go. Looks like the show is over." He came over to the bed and smiled at the girl. "Thanks a lot, baby. You were swell."
    She half sat up in the bed.
    "Are you sure it's safe to go?"
    "Yeah. I can't stay here all night."
    She settled down in the bed.
    "Can't you?" She spoke so softly he scarcely heard what she said, but he did hear. He suddenly grinned.
    "Well, there's no law against it, is there? Do you want me to stay?"
    "Now you're making me blush," the girl said and hid her face. "What a question to ask a lady."

6
    Two days later, an advertisement offering kegs of white paint appeared in the
Tribune.
    Ma Grisson tossed the newspaper to Doc.
    "The money's ready," she said. "Now we've got to collect it. It'll be a soft job, Flynn and Woppy can handle it. You write to Blandish, Doc. Tell him to drive to the Maxwell filling station on Highway 71. He'll know where it is. He's to get to the Blue Hills golf course at one o'clock." She looked over at Flynn and Woppy who were listening. "That's where you boys will be waiting. He is to throw the suitcase out of the car window when he sees a light flashing. He's not to stop. Warn him he'll be watched from the moment he leaves his house. If he cooperates with the police or tries anything smart, the girl will suffer." To Flynn and Woppy, she went on, "You won't have any trouble. Blandish will be too scared something might happen to the girl. The road's straight for miles. If you're followed, drop the suitcase in the road so they can see it, and keep moving. They won't come after you because of the girl."
    "Tomorrow night?" Flynn asked.
    "That's it."
    Flynn stuck a cigarette on his lower lip.
    "Didn't you say the girl was to be knocked off, Ma?" he said, staring at Ma. "What are we keeping her for?"
    Ma stiffened. Her little eyes turned hard.
    "She'll go when we get the money."
    "Why wait?"
    "Who do you think you're talking to?" Ma snarled. "Shut your loose mouth!"
    Flynn looked over at Doc who couldn't meet his direct stare. Doc got up, muttered something under his breath and left the room.
    "What's happening to the girl, Ma?" Flynn asked. "I saw that old quack go into her room last night with a hypo."
    Ma's face turned purple.
    "Did you? If you've nothing better to do than to snoop around here, I'll have to find you something to do."
    The tone of her voice alarmed Flynn.
    "Okay, okay," he said hastily. "I was only shooting the breeze."
    "Shoot it to someone who wants to listen," Ma snarled. "Get out of here!"
    Flynn hurriedly left the room. After a moment's uneasy hesitation, Woppy followed him. The two men went upstairs and into Eddie's room.
    Eddie was in bed, reading the Sunday comics.
    "Hi, you misbegotten freaks!" he said cheerfully. "What's cooking?"
    Flynn sat on the foot of the bed. Woppy straddled a chair, laying his fat arms along the back.
    "We're collecting the dough tomorrow night," Woppy said. "The ad's in the
Tribune."
    "A million bucks!" Eddie said, lying back on the dirty pillow. "Think of it! At last, we're in the money!"
    "What are you going to do with your cut when you get it?" Woppy asked.
    "I'm going to buy an island in the South Seas," Eddie said, "and I'm going to stock it with beautiful girls in grass skirts."
    Woppy laughed, slapping his fat thigh.
    "You and your women! Me--I'm going to start a restaurant. My spaghetti's going to be world famous."
    Flynn, who had been listening, his vicious face disinterested, suddenly asked, "What's going on in the girl's room, Eddie?"
    Eddie stopped laughing and stared at Flynn.
    "What do you mean?"
    "What I say. I'm in the room next to hers and I hear things. Doc goes in there. I've seen him with a hypo. Slim