Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine Annual, No. 3, 1973

Now he realized that he’d never be left alone again, never have any privacy. He’d be watched day and night. He might even be kidnaped and “persuaded” to tell where he’d hidden the money.

He should have planned the robbery more carefully. He should have made it seem at least possible that someone else had stolen the money. But no. He had been so sure of how things would work out that he had blatantly gone ahead, made no effort to cover his trail nor made an attempt to cast suspicion on anyone else — and then practically turned himself in by returning to the scene of the crime.

Sidney spent the next three days in a cheap rooming house. Whenever he went out, no matter the time of day or night, he saw the men. They were lounging in doorways, standing on street corners, sitting in parked cars. No matter where he went, he was always followed. He began to think that everyone was on his trail.

Toward the end of the third day the germ of an idea began to form in Sidney’s mind. He spent an almost sleepless night. He awoke early. The germ had come into full bloom.

Relaxed for the first time in days, he ate a leisurely breakfast at a nearby restaurant, then stepped into a cab and ordered the driver to take him to police headquarters. He knew that he was being followed, that he was being watched. But now he didn’t care.

Now suddenly the future looked bright.

Lieutenant Marvin Kennessy of the central police force was a big man, red headed, craggy-faced, intelligent. He was a veteran of twenty years, having worked his way up from cop on the beat.

He sat now staring at the man sitting across the desk from him with an almost incredulous look on his face.

“Sidney Schliff? It’s hard to believe.”

“It’s me all right, Lieutenant,” Sidney said.

“Looks as though they gave you a pretty rough time up at Hayden.”

“They did.”

Lieutenant Kennessy wrinkled his forehead. “Well, a criminal can’t expect to be treated with gloved hands, especially one who continually seemed to be looking for trouble.” He spread his hands. “But that’s not in my department. What was it you wanted to see me about, Schliff?”

“I want to return the quarter of a million dollars I stole.”

There was a moment of silence. Lieutenant Kennessy let the match he had lighted to fire up his pipe burn until it toasted his fingers. Then he shook it out.

“So at last you admit having stolen the money?”

“I do.”

“And now, having served time for the crime, you want to give the money back. It doesn’t make sense.”

“It didn’t to me when I planned the robbery ten years ago. I thought that after I’d served my time I’d be let alone. I thought I’d... well, I thought I’d be able to enjoy the money. Ten years isn’t too long to wait for a quarter of a million dollars.”

“And now you’ve discovered it isn’t going to work out that way.” The lieutenant hesitated, lighting his pipe. “I don’t know what your angle is. You’re safe in assuming you won’t be sent back to jail again whether or not you return the money. You’ve paid the score once.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“So. Why return the money?”

Sidney sat forward in his chair. “Lieutenant, for ten years I haven’t had a moment’s privacy. I’ve been beaten and humiliated and tricked into doing things that I never intended doing. The only privacy I’d had has been during the months I’ve spent in the stinking black hole. Only a man who has served time in prison can know what a precious commodity privacy is.”

Sidney paused and the lieutenant said, “Go on.”

“Since the moment I stepped through the prison gates I’ve been followed, watched. I don’t know whether those following me were your men or if they were hoodlums. But I do know that I’ll be followed and watched and harrassed and perhaps beaten again for the rest of my days unless I return the money.”

Lieutenant Kennessy nodded. “You know right, son. You’ll be under serveillance every minute of every day and night. You’ll never be able to enjoy a nickel of that money.”

He paused, studying Sidney closely. “You were willing to sell ten years of your life for a quarter of a million dollars, and now you want to buy back what remains of your years for the same quarter of a million?”

“That’s about what it amounts to.”

“All right.” The lieutenant stood up. “You’re being smart. You’ve figured the right angle. Where’s the money?”

Sidney shook his head. “It isn’t as easy as that.”

“Oh?”

“I’ll get the money. I’ll deliver it here to you. Call off your watch dogs. Make sure I’m not followed.”

The lieutenant uttered a short laugh. “Now there’s one for the book. You want me to give you a chance to pick up the loot and then disappear from sight. Don’t be a fool.”

“I’m not being a fool. You know I couldn’t get away with a stunt like that. I’ll give you time to alert every police force in the country. You can stake out every railroad station, plane and bus terminal, steamship line and highway. You know I couldn’t get through a dragnet like that.”

Kennessy took a turn around the room, came back and stood looking down at Sidney.