I Would Rather Stay Poor

‘Keep going… hear me?’ Calvin said. The tone of his voice sent a chill through Easton. He hurriedly increased the speed of the car. They were on the highway now. The time was just after five o’clock: too early for the rush hour home. Only one or two cars passed them.

‘Have you gone crazy?’ Easton gasped. ‘For Pete’s sake! What do you think you’re doing?’ He had already taken a quick look and satisfied himself Calvin was holding a gun.

‘Relax and do what I tell you,’ Calvin said. ‘Hasn’t it got through your thick skull that I grabbed the payroll and killed Alice Craig?’

‘Why… why…’ Easton was so shocked he lost his voice.

‘Kit Loring was in it too,’ Calvin went on. ‘That’s why she jumped, the stupid bitch. She’s left a confession with her attorney and that’s why I’ve got to skip. Make no mistake about this, Easton, you make a wrong move and you’ll get it… what have I to lose?’

Easton said in a quavering voice, ‘You won’t get far. You’d much better give up. There’s a road block a mile ahead. Give me the gun and I’ll try to get the rap…’

‘Shut up!’ Calvin snarled. ‘You’re getting me through that road block! I have the payroll in the car boot and I’m going to get it through the road block if I have to kill you. You’re going to use your rank as a Federal agent to get me through. If you don’t, you’ll be the first to get it!’ Calvin dug the gun into Easton’s fat side. ‘Step on it. I’m not warning you again. If you can’t stop them searching this car, you’ll get lead in your fat gut. It’ll take you days to die. Hear me? Days!’

His fat face like wax, Easton increased the speed of the car. In a few minutes, both men saw the road block ahead and three policemen waiting.

CHAPTER EIGHT

1

As the two interns slid the blanket-covered stretcher into the ambulance, Ken Travers came through the crowd. He stopped short at the sight of the stretcher, then seeing the sheriff standing nearby, pulling at his moustache, Travers went over to him.

‘Is she dead?’

‘Hello, Ken, where did you spring from?’ the sheriff said, surprised. ‘I thought you were in ’Frisco.’

‘I heard it on the radio. I came straight back. Is she dead?’

‘Yeah. She jumped while Calvin was trying to talk her down. Where’s Iris?’

‘I left her at the hotel. I guessed she would jump. I didn’t want Iris here.’

‘You’re right… a terrible thing,’ the sheriff shook his head. He moved back as the ambulance began to edge through the crowd. ‘What got into her I can’t imagine.’

Travers asked, ‘Where’s Calvin?’

The sheriff looked vaguely around.

‘I guess he’s somewhere. Poor fellow! They had planned to marry this Saturday… then this happens.’

Travers drew in a deep breath. Now Kit was dead, he was free to arrest Calvin. He could still earn the reward.

‘Sheriff… you’ve got Calvin wrong,’ he said. ‘He is the man we’re hunting for… Johnny Acres. I’ve enough proof to arrest him.’

The sheriff gaped at him.

‘Hey, son! What are you saying?’

‘Lend me your gun, Sheriff. I’m not off the force yet. I want Calvin.’

The sheriff hesitated, then seeing the expression on Travers’s face, he hauled out his .45 and handed it over.

‘Sure you know what you’re doing?’

‘I’m sure. Where is he?’

The sheriff waved to a police sergeant who came over.

‘Seen Mr. Calvin around?’

‘He went off with Mr. Easton,’ the sergeant said. ‘They left together about ten minutes ago.’

‘In Easton’s car?’ Travers asked.

‘No… in Mr. Calvin’s, but Mr. Easton was driving. Mr. Calvin looked pretty bad. I guess Mr. Easton was taking him home.’

‘Do you want to come, Sheriff?’ Travers asked. ‘I’ll talk while you drive.’

Looking dazed, the sheriff got into his car and Travers got in beside him.

‘We’ll go to Mrs. Loring’s place,’ Travers said, ‘and step on it. Calvin could run for it.’

‘He has Easton with him,’ the sheriff pointed out, sending the car shooting towards the highway.

‘He’s dangerous. If Easton isn’t on to him…’

‘What is all this?’ the sheriff asked, bewildered. ‘What makes you think Calvin is our man?’

Travers told him.

***

Easton slowed the car as they approached the road block.

‘Watch it!’ Calvin said, his voice vicious. ‘You get me through and you’ll be okay, but start something and it’ll be the last thing you do start.’

Easton pulled up as one of the policemen moved towards him. Recognising him, the policeman tossed him a casual salute. He turned and waved to the other two officers who lifted aside the wooden pole barring the road.

‘Get going!’ Calvin said. ‘Step on it! Don’t give them a chance to talk to you!’

Aware of the gun grinding into his side, his face white, sweat running into his eyes, Easton shoved his foot down hard on the gas pedal and the car surged forward. The policeman had to jump aside or Easton would have hit him. Calvin waved to the policeman as the car swept forward and stormed past the road block and out onto the open road.

I’m through! Calvin thought with a feeling of wild triumph. He looked back. The policemen were staring after them, but they made no move to come after the speeding car.