Fast Buck

‘That’s my business!’ Kile said sharply. ‘Your job is to get hold of him, not to question my motives.’

Baird’s eyes shifted to Eve. She was watching him intently. She was pale, and her breasts rose and fell quickly under the scarlet chiffon of her gown.

‘It isn’t easy,’ Kile went on, seeing Baird’s apparent hesitation. ‘In fact, it may be impossible. But if you produce this man it’l be worth ten thousand to you. If you can convince me you have made a good attempt, but have failed, I’l pay you half the money.’

‘Where is he?’ Baird asked.

‘Bellmore State Prison Farm. It is situated about three miles from Red River Falls, and is in the swamps.’

‘Who’s the man?’

‘That I’l tell you when you’ve decided if you’l do the job, and when you’ve convinced me you have a workable plan,’ Kile said. ‘I can supply you with maps, the man’s photograph and his prison number.

At present he’s working with other convicts on dredging operations at Red River basin, a mile outside the prison. The convicts arrive at the basin in trucks at eight o’clock in the morning and return to the prison at six. While they are at work there are four guards…’

‘Five,’ Eve put in quickly.

Kile frowned.

‘Four or five,’ he said. ‘There are dogs, too.’

Baird shifted lower in his chair. He looked down at his scuffed shoes, his face expressionless.

‘I’ll have to take a look at the territory,’ he said. ‘But it sounds as if it could be done.’

He saw Eve give a little start and nervously clench her hands. Kile hurriedly put down his glass and sat forward.

‘Don’t forget this man may resist,’ he said, his voice unsteady.

Baird looked up sharply.

‘So what? Don’t you want the job done?’

‘I wouldn’t be offering you ten thousand unless I did,’ Kile snapped, flushing. ‘But it’s only fair to you to know what you’re up against.’

Baird stood up.

‘You don’t have to worry about me,’ he said. ‘I can do that bet er than anyone. This time next week I’l tel you if I’l do it or not. I’l want a hundred to cover expenses, and I’l want it now.’

Rico put in smoothly as he saw Kile hesitate.

‘As I know Baird, and you don’t, Mr Kile, perhaps you would let me take care of his expenses, and if he proves satisfactory, you could settle with me direct.’

Kile nodded.

‘Very well,’ he said, getting to his feet, ‘we’l leave it like that. If you’re in no hurry, Rico, perhaps you’l remain behind. I know our friend here is anxious to get away.’

Baird smiled jeeringly.

‘If I do the job,’ he said, looking at Kile, ‘I’l expect proof that the money’s there to pay me.’

‘That’s okay,’ Rico said quickly. ‘Mr Kile and me have worked together before. You don’t have to worry about your end, Baird.’

‘Al the same I’m going to worry about it until I get it,’ Baird said. He nodded to Kile, glanced over at Eve and gave her an insolent little smile. She turned away and went back to the window. ‘Be seeing you in a week’s time,’ he went on to Kile, walked across the room, opened the door and went out.

There was a long pause while Kile freshened his drink, and Rico stood staring uneasily at his feet.

‘Your friend’s quite a character,’ Kile said at last as he came back to his chair. ‘I can’t say I like his manner.’

Rico laughed uneasily.

‘Baird’s a hard man,’ he said apologetical y, ‘but he’s a man who gets things done. If the job can be done, he’l do it.’ He fidgeted uneasily while he studied Kile. ‘Where exactly do I fit in in this, Mr Kile.

If you remember, you said…’

‘Once Baird agrees to do the job I’m dropping out of the picture,’ Kile said. ‘I intend to leave the whole thing in your hands. I don’t wish to know how you are going to get this man out of prison or any of the details. I don’t even wish to be consulted. You and Baird must handle the whole thing independently of me. If you think you’l need more help, that’s up to you to arrange and pay for. Do the job and hand the man over to me, and you will receive fifteen and Baird ten thousand. Now do you see where you fit in?’

Rico nodded. He also saw how he could run into a fifteen to twenty years’ sentence. He didn’t like the proposition, but the money drew him like a magnet.

‘This man’s important to you, Mr Kile?’

Kile gave him a hostile look.

‘I’d scarcely pay out twenty-five thousand unless he was,’ he said curtly. ‘I can understand you are wondering why I want him, but I have no intentions of telling you, so don’t ask.’

‘That’s all right,’ Rico said hurriedly. ‘But to kidnap a man from prison! It was something I wasn’t expecting.’

Kile didn’t seem to think that cal ed for a remark. He sipped his highbal and looked away.

After an awkward pause, Rico said, ‘It depends on Baird, then. If he says he’l do the job, I take it you’re satisfied for him to try?’

Kile glanced across at Eve, who nodded silently.