Fast Buck

‘I haven’t found him yet,’ Kile said, taking out his cigar-case. He made motions of offering it to Rico, who shook his head. ‘It occurred to me you might know someone. He must have nerve. This isn’t an easy job, Rico: it’s damn near impossible, but I think the right man could pull it off. He’d have to be reliable, quick-witted, and a killer.’ He noticed Rico winced when he mentioned kil ing. He didn’t blame Rico for that. ‘Don’t misunderstand me,’ he went on. ‘I dislike killing as much as you do, but we’ve got to face facts. If this man is to be of any use to me, he’s got to have the qualities of a killer. That doesn’t mean to say he has to kill anyone.’

Rico looked relieved.

‘I know the man,’ he said. ‘His name’s Verne Baird. He’s only been in town a couple of months. He and I’ve done jobs together. He’s reliable, and he’s got al the qualifications you mentioned.’ He lowered his voice as he said, ‘It’s my bet he’s responsible for the Bruce killing. I don’t know for sure, but I think he is.’

Kile rubbed his fleshy jaw.

‘He’s got to be right, Rico. I’ve already warned you. If he isn’t, you and I wil go to jail.’

‘I’d rather have him than anyone else I know,’ Rico said. ‘What has he to do?’

‘That’s something we’l talk about later,’ Kile said. ‘I want to see him first. Can you get him here tomorrow night?’

Rico shook his head.

‘I’m afraid not. The police are looking for him. I think he’s left town.’

‘Any idea where he is?’

‘I haven’t, but he’l let me know in a day or so. He said he would. As soon as I hear I’l make arrangements for him to meet you. Will that be all right?’

‘It’l have to be,’ Kile said, frowning. He stood up. ‘You’re sure this man’s al right?’

‘I’m positive,’ Rico said. ‘There isn’t anyone else to touch him.’

‘Al right. I’l go ahead with my part of the job. There’s a lot to do yet. But the sooner I meet Baird the better.’

‘I’ll fix it,’ Rico said eagerly. ‘You leave it to me.’ He hesitated, went on, ‘He’d want to know what the job is worth. Could I give him some idea?’

Kile tapped ash into Rico’s tray.

‘If he pul s the job off it’l be worth ten thousand to him,’ he said. ‘If he fails I’l give him five.’

Rico’s eyes opened.

‘Ten thousand. This must be a pretty big job, Mr Kile.’

‘It is,’ Kile said.

VIII

As Adam Gillis got into the LaSalle, he said angrily, ‘You’ve kept me waiting over an hour! You said ten o’clock. Why can’t you be punctual?’

‘I’m sorry, darling,’ Eve said. She put her hand on his. ‘I couldn’t help it. He was in one of his mauling moods. I didn’t think I’d get him to come at al . Oh, Adam! I’m so sick of al this! How much longer have I to go on with it? You don’t know what it means to live with him.’ She shivered. ‘I wish I’d never agreed to help you.’

Gillis looked at her in alarm.

‘Don’t be difficult, for God’s sake,’ he said, patting her hand. ‘I’ve enough on my mind without you sounding off. I know it isn’t easy for you, but we’ve got to have Kile in on this. You and I couldn’t swing it on our own.’

‘But the whole thing’s dangerous and crazy,’ she said, twisting around to face him. ‘I must have been insane to let you talk me into it. We’l never get away with it!’

‘Of course we wil ,’ Gil is said sharply. ‘It’s just a mat er of nerve. I don’t see what you’ve got to worry about. I have all the responsibility. I’m the one who has to lie awake at night, making plans. All you have to do is to do what I tell you.’

‘I suppose you think it’s nothing to me to have to let that old roué make love to me just whenever he feels like it?’ Eve said hotly.

‘I wish you’d concentrate on the big things instead of the little things,’ Gillis said. ‘Don’t you realise this means a half a million? For heaven’s sake, don’t you think most girls would sleep with Kile for that money?’

‘No, I don’t!’ Eve flared. ‘That’s a beastly thing to say! We haven’t even got the money, and I don’t believe we ever will get it!’

Gillis studied her; a sudden venomous look in his eyes.

‘Al right,’ he said, ‘if that’s the way you feel about it, there’s no sense in going on with it. There’s plenty of other girls who’l help me, and I dare say wil make a bet er job of it than you. I’l make other arrangements. You’d bet er tel Kile you want to go back to the Follies.’

Eve felt a little chill run through her.

‘Don’t be angry, darling,’ she said quickly.

‘I’m not angry,’ he returned. ‘If you can’t carry on, then you’d bet er chuck it before you make a mess of it.’

‘If I went back to the Fol ies,’ she said slowly, ‘would you come and live with me again?’

‘If you go back to the Fol ies,’ Gil is said deliberately, ‘you’ve seen the last of me. I mean that, Eve.

I’l have to find some other girl to help me. I’m not going to be cluttered up with two women. If you haven’t the guts to go through with this, I’l be damned if I ever want to see you again.’