Free Believed Violent by James Hadley Chase Page B

running the place, we would be a riot. Moe Linsky who is the best and toughest bouncer at the Go-Go would join us to keep order. Freddy! We really are on to something!” She put her hand on his, her eyes sparkling. “We can’t go wrong. There’s accommodation above the restaurant . . . a bedroom, a decent sitting-room. The whole place would have to be given a lick of paint, but that wouldn’t cost much. I would want a juke-box. How do you like the idea?”
    Lewis regarded her blankly.
    “But where’s the money coming from? How much does this friend of yours want for the restaurant?”
    “I’ve already talked to him. He’ll take seven thousand dollars spot cash,” Drena said. “It’s a knock down price. Don’t think I didn’t have to haggle . . . God! How I haggled! We can get it for seven thousand! Think of it! You and me married! Owning a restaurant that can’t go wrong! In a few years we could open another restaurant. In another few years we will have a Cadillac and me a mink coat!”
    Lewis said quietly, “Look, Drena, what’s the matter with you tonight? Or are we playing a game of let’s pretend?”
    “Pretend? Nothing! We can swing this, Freddy!”
    “Can we? Where’s the seven thousand coming from?”
    She laughed.
    “Ah . . . that’s the big question. It’s coming from you.”
    Lewis moved uneasily.
    “But you know, Drena, I haven’t that kind of money.”
    “You will have. I met a guy last night who is ready to pay you ten thousand dollars,” Drena said, smiling at him. “Ten thousand gorgeous, beautiful dollars in cash! We buy the restaurant for seven and we have three to spend on the place. After that, we are in business. What do you say?”
    Lewis stared. He was wondering if she were drunk or had gone crazy.
    Who is he? Drena! What are you saying?”
    Drena knew she was approaching the tricky part of this proposition. She had laid the bait, but now the fish had to rise.
    “This is a chance in a lifetime, Freddy,” she said, her fingers stroking his hand. “This guy will pay us all that money if you will co-operate. All I’m asking you to do is to co-operate. If you do, we get married next week, we buy the restaurant and we’re set. For this money, this guy wants a patient out of the asylum. You can tell him how to do it. That’s all there is to it. Do that, and we get the money.”
    Lewis sat motionless, his eyes suddenly scared.
    “I don’t understand,” he said finally. “A patient out of the asylum? Drena! What are you talking about?”
    “Would it be so difficult to get a patient out?” she asked. “I shouldn’t have thought so. If you can’t do it, we don’t get the restaurant and we don’t get married. I’ll have to stay at the Club, getting pawed every night, growing older until I get thrown out. And then what will I do? I’m telling you right now, Freddy, if you don’t co-operate, you will lose me. I can’t live on your level. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is. We now have a chance of a real breakthrough. If you won’t take it, then it’s goodb37e.”
    Lewis studied her, then realized she meant just what she said.
    “I’m not losing you, Drena,” he said quietly. “That’s for real. Life without you would mean nothing to me. All right, what do I have to do?”
    Drena drew in a long, slow breath. She had been fairly sure of success, but she hadn’t imagined it would be this easy.
     
     

CHAPTER THREE
     
    The Women’s House of Correction, Paradise City, is reached by a two mile long, lonely road that branches off State Highway 4A to Greater Miami.
    At eight o’clock on a bright sunny morning, the gates opened and five girls came out into the hot sunshine. One of them was Nona Jacey. The other four were about her age, and they had completed much longer sentences. They regarded Nona as the baby of the family. All of them considered it rough luck that she had been picked up at the Self-Service store. They had been kind to her during her