Fast Buck

‘You can scarcely expect me to wait two years,’ he said with deceptive mildness. ‘It was only by the merest fluke I heard the Rajah was planning to gyp the insurance companies if he could. If it hadn’t been for that little rat of an A.D.G. who got tight when he and I were in the Bazaar, I never would have got the information. If I wait until Hater comes out, someone else may have the same idea and beat me to it.

I’ve got to go ahead now if I’m going to collect that money, and if it’s the last thing I do, I’m damn well going to have it. A half a million! Think of it, Eve! Think what we can do with it.’

She wasn’t deceived for a moment by his use of ‘we’. She knew she wouldn’t see any of it. It was his way of encouraging her to help him. Not that she wanted the money. If he offered it to her she wouldn’t touch it. She was keeping in step with him so she shouldn’t lose him: that was her reward for meddling in this dangerous business.

‘But it won’t be half a million,’ she said, watching him. ‘You’l have to give Hater a share. He may even want half.’

Gillis laughed. He saw the trap, and he side-stepped it with his usual slick adroitness.

‘Al right: a quarter of a mil ion, then,’ he said, smiling at her. ‘Even two hundred and fifty thousand isn’t to be sniffed at.’

But Eve wasn’t to be put off.

‘You don’t intend to give him anything, do you, Adam?’

‘You mean Hater? Why, of course. He isn’t likely to part with any information unless he gets well paid. Of course he’l have to have something: not half, but certainly something pret y big.’

‘And Kile? Isn’t he to have anything?’

‘Wel , it may be necessary to give him something to keep him quiet,’ Gil is said. ‘How curious you are.’

‘But as he is dealing direct with the Rajah, what’s to stop him taking the lot and leaving you out of it?’ Eve persisted. She had a feeling that Adam’s plans had taken care of al contingencies, and she wanted to know just what he was up to.

‘What’s to stop him?’ Gil is repeated. His eyes narrowed. ‘I would stop him. That’s something I was meaning to speak to you about, Eve. It’s up to you to find out something about him that we could use if he makes himself awkward.’

She shied away from this.

‘We’re get ing into an awful jam, Adam,’ she said, twisting her hands anxiously in her lap. ‘I’m scared. Kile expects to have all the money. Then there’s Baird. Suppose he finds out why Hater’s to be kidnapped? Do you think a man like Baird will let you walk off with all that money when he has the most dangerous part of the job to do?’

He laughed.

‘You’re continual y thinking up difficulties, aren’t you?’ he said lightly. ‘The trouble with you is you worry too much. As soon as Baird starts on the job, you don’t have to think anything more about it. I’ll handle it.’

‘That doesn’t answer my question. What are you going to do about Kile? What wil you do if Baird finds out there’s a half-million involved?’

Gillis lit a cigarette and flicked the match out of the window.

‘I’ll wait until the time comes. But it wouldn’t do any harm to keep your eyes and ears open so far as brother Kile is concerned. He must have a few secrets he doesn’t want to broadcast. Suppose you concentrate on that angle, pet? If we could get something on him, we’d have him where we wanted him if he did turn nasty.’

‘I’m not going to do it,’ Eve said evenly. ‘It’s blackmail.’

‘Why must you always put a label on everything? Suppose it is blackmail: what of it? Or do you want me to leave you to be Kile’s toy until you lose your looks and he boots you out?’

She stood up.

‘Please listen to me, Adam,’ she said quietly. ‘You may be able to handle Kile, but I know you won’t be able to handle Baird. Kile doesn’t mat er. He’s old and il and finished, but Baird’s not. He’s dangerous and he’s no fool. If he finds out…’

‘I know, I know,’ Gil is said, giving her his charming smile that was a lit le faded at the edges. ‘I heard you the first time. It may surprise you to know I’m not worried about Baird. I hope I’ve enough brains to outwit a man of his calibre. I know he’s a kil er; but that’s al . A good boxer can always beat a good slugger, and that’s what Baird is. He doesn’t scare me in the slightest.’

She caught hold of his arm.

‘Darling, I beg you not to go on with this,’ she said imploringly. ‘It won’t work. Oh, yes, I’m sure Baird’l get Hater out of prison. He could do anything, but it’s when Hater is free that your troubles are going to start. Please give up the idea before it’s too late. You’re running into something that’s more dangerous than anything you’ve ever mixed yourself up in before. You must give it up, Adam, before it’s too late.’

Gillis patted her hand.

‘I think I’l go to bed now,’ he said, yawning elaborately. ‘I’m dead tired. Go to bed yourself, Eve, and take my advice: mind your own business and leave me to mind mine.’

She looked at him helplessly.

‘Al right, darling,’ she said. She knew in a moment he would begin his threats again. ‘I’l go to bed.’