Just Another Sucker

‘I’ll tell you when I get back. I can’t talk on the telephone.’

‘I’ll be waiting for you, Harry.’

‘I’ll be back as soon as I can.’

At five minutes to three I called Renick.

There was a long delay before he came on the line.

‘Harry? You’re just in time.’ His voice boomed in my ear and he sounded excited. ‘We’ve found the car! You know Lone Bay parking lot? Meet me there as soon as you can make it. I’m on my way now.’

With my throat suddenly dry and my heart thumping, I told him I was coming.

II

A large red-faced cop stood near the white T.R.3. Renick and a couple of detectives I didn’t know were examining the car. It had stopped raining and the sun had come out.

As I came up, Renick said, ‘Look at this, Harry. This is a bit of luck for us – a bashed wing.’

The two detectives glanced at me as I joined Renick by the car.

‘Sure it’s hers?’ I said for something to say.

‘The number and licence tag check. It’s hers all right.’ Turning to the two detectives, he went on,

‘Check the car for prints and don’t move it. When you’re through, leave it as it is, and report back to me.’

Renick went on to me. ‘I’m calling on Malroux. You come with me. This bashed wing gives me the chance to talk to him. We’ll take your car. You can drop me off at headquarters after we have talked to him.’

I wished I could warn Rhea that we were coming, but there was no chance of that. It didn’t take us ten minutes to reach Malroux’s residence.

The house was hidden behind high walls. As we drove up to the massive wooden gates, a broad-shouldered man in a dove grey uniform came out of a nearby lodge and looked inquiringly at us.

‘Calling on Miss Malroux,’ Renick said.

The man shook his head.

‘She’s not in.’

‘Know where I can contact her?’

‘I don’t.’

‘Then I guess I’ll talk to Mr. Malroux.’

‘Not without an appointment.’

‘I’m Lieutenant Renick, City Police. It’s an official call.’

The man looked startled.

‘I guess that’s different. Stick around, Lieutenant.’ He went into the lodge. Through the window I saw him using a telephone. There was a delay, then he came out and opened the gates.

‘Go right ahead, Lieutenant.’

We drove up a sanded carriageway. On either side were lawns and flower beds. The massed effect of colour was impressive. We could see the house now. It was a low built Spanish styled house with terraces and an ornamental fountain. It looked what it was: the residence of one of the richest men in the world.

‘Pretty lush,’ Renick said as I parked the Packard on the tarmac apron beside the glittering Rolls.

‘How would you like to own a joint like this?’

‘I’d like it fine,’ I said, following him up the steps. By now I was really worked up. Everything depended on what Malroux said. I felt the fifty thousand dollars that was coming to me hung in balance.

The butler was waiting for us by the front door. He was a fat, elderly man with a supercilious stare.

‘Lieutenant Renick, City police,’ Renick said. ‘I want to speak to Mr. Malroux.’

‘If you will come this way.’

The butler led us across a patio where another fountain played, and out onto a large terrace that looked directly on the sea.

Rhea was in a lounging chair, leafing through a magazine. She was wearing sun goggles. She glanced up as we stepped onto the terrace.

A tall, thin man, very sun tanned, wearing a pair of white slacks and a blue and red sweat shirt sat in another lounging chair. This must be Malroux, I thought. He was handsome. His thick hair was steel grey. His steady blue eyes were very alive. It was impossible to believe that he was fatally ill.

‘Mr. Malroux?’ Renick said, pausing.

‘That’s right, Lieutenant. Sit down. What can I do for you?’ The voice was impersonal and quiet. The steady blue eyes didn’t encourage a spate of words.

‘This is Harry Barber,’ Renick said, waving to me. ‘He works with me.’ He didn’t sit down.

Malroux’s voice and expression gave him the hint he wasn’t wanted. ‘I hoped to see Miss Malroux. I hear she isn’t here, sir.’

‘That is right. What is it?’

‘I’m sorry to bother you with this, Mr. Malroux,’ Renick said in his smoothest manner, ‘but I’m investigating a hit and run case. Late last night a woman was knocked down and fatally injured and the driver of the car didn’t stop. We have been checking cars all day. We have found your daughter’s car in Lone Bay parking lot. The car has a badly damaged wing. We would like to know how the accident happened.’

I watched Malroux and I sweated. Would he tell Renick his daughter had been kidnapped? His face was expressionless. He regarded Renick thoughtfully and with no apparent interest.

‘If my daughter had knocked anyone down, she wouldn’t run away. She is staying with friends I believe. I don’t know who they are. Young people, these days, don’t tell their parents anything.’

I glanced at Rhea. She had gone back to leafing through her magazine. She appeared to be paying no attention to what was being said.

‘When will she return?’ Renick asked.