The Soft Centre

‘Two grand it is,’ Hardy said without hesitation. ‘Watch it… he has a gun.’

Moe got to his feet. He capered in front of Jacko who watched him admiringly. He turned a couple of hand- springs, then thrust out a lean, brown hand to help Jacko lever himself to his feet.

‘Better wait until the joint shuts down,’ Hardy said. ‘You two go ahead and find out where he sleeps. Wait for him there. I’ll stay here. Remember the gun.’ As they began to move off, Hardy said, ‘There’s five grand he took from Sue Parnell. I want that too.’

It was a little after one o’clock when Henekey switched off the flashing neon sign. By then most of the cabins were in darkness. He locked up his office and stepped into the hot night air.

Although he was pretty sure he had thrown a scare into Hardy, he was very cautious. He held the gun in his hand and he looked carefully over the moonlit space that separated him from his cabin. There were still a few people sitting on their porches, enjoying the moonlight, talking together and having the last cigarette before going to bed. Their presence gave Henekey confidence.

He walked slowly from his office pausing now and then to have a word with the people outside their cabins until he finally reached his own cabin. It was a hot night and Henekey’s mind was too active for immediate sleep. He sat down in the basket chair on the porch and lit a cigarette. This time tomorrow, he thought he would have ten thousand dollars: five he had stolen from Sue Parnell and five he would be getting from Hardy. With that kind of money, he would fly to New York and get lost. It was time he left Miami. He sat for some thirty minutes trying to make up his mind what he would do in New York. He had never been good at making plans. Maybe it would be better to wait until he got to New York, he thought. He looked at his watch. It was now twenty minutes to two. He stifled a yawn. The rest of the cabins were now in darkness. Time to turn in. By now Hardy would be back in Miami. Henekey decided he had nothing to worry about from Hardy. He would be smart enough to know when he was licked. He got to his feet, stretched, then opening his cabin door, he walked into the hot, stuffy darkness.

As he groped for the light switch, a hard, perfumed hand closed over his nose and mouth and what felt like the hoof of a horse slammed into his stomach.

*****

Moe found the loose tile in the bathroom. He lifted it, put his hand into the cavity and drew out a sealed envelope. He groped again and came up with a thick bundle of dollar bills. He replaced the tile and returned to the sitting-room.

Jacko was slumped in a chair, mopping the sweat off his face. Henekey lay on the settee, moaning faintly from behind the gag that half suffocated him.

‘Got it, honey?’ Jacko asked.

Moe handed him the envelope and the money. The two glanced at Henekey and then at each other.

‘Take it to Mr. Hardy. Find out if it’s what he wants,’ Jacko said. He took a carton of chocolate from his pocket and fed a chocolate into his small, wet mouth.

Moe slid away into the darkness. Running lightly and swiftly, he reached Hardy who was waiting in the Cadillac.

‘Good God!’ Hardy snarled. ‘You’ve taken your time! It’s nearly four o’clock.’

Moe smiled his beautiful, evil smile.?‘The creep was a little obstinate,’ he said. ‘He really did resist. Is this what you want, Mr. Hardy?’

Hardy took the money and the envelope. He broke the seals and went quickly through the contents.

‘Yeah…’

He got out of the car, took out his cigarette lighter and set fire to the papers. As he watched them burn, he asked, ‘What’s happened to Henekey?’

Moe Showed his magnificent teeth in a flashing smile. ‘Right now he seems pretty sick, Mr. Hardy. He seems awful unhappy. I’ll go back now and we’ll make him happy.’

Hardy felt a sudden tightening in his throat. He had never told those two to commit murder before. They were like trained animals. They would do just what he told them to do. He hesitated, then he reminded himself that he could never really be safe as long as Henekey was alive.

‘What the hell are you hanging around me for like a grin sting ape?’ he snarled. ‘Get back to Jacko.’

Moe executed a neat handspring, then darted away into the darkness.

Jacko was eating his sixth chocolate when Moe slipped into the cabin.?‘It’s okay,’ Moe said quickly. ‘Mr. Hardy has what he wants.’

Jacko wiped his sticky fingers on his handkerchief. Still munching, he levered himself out of his chair.

‘We’ll put the creep out of his misery,’ he said. ‘I want to go to bed.’

The two men, one vast and gross, the other perfumed and slim, walked over to where Henekey lay. Moe leaned over and patted his face.

‘You’re a brave jerk, jerk,’ he said. ‘So long and sweet repose.’

Henekey looked up at him indifferently. His body raved with pain. He was ready to die. With a flourish, Moe picked up a cushion lying in one of the chairs and laid it across Henekey’s face, then he bowed to Jacko.