The World in My Pocket

Gypo was feeling pretty shaky. Only the thought of laying his hands on two hundred thousand dollars and the silent threat from Morgan kept him together. He was scared of this job now. If something went wrong! If the cops caught him! Santa Maria! What would his mother think?

Morgan patted him on the shoulder.

‘Relax,’ he said. ‘This time next week, you’re going to have the world in your pocket. That’s worth taking a risk for, isn’t it? I’ll be down tomorrow morning. You’ve done a swell job on the caravan, Gypo. Be seeing you,’ and giving Gypo a gentle punch on his chest, Morgan left him.

II

As Kitson drove towards the big parking lot at the back of the Gaumont Cinema, his mind was in a state of confusion. He had no hope that this job would succeed. He had now committed himself to a murder rap. This would have frightened him had it not been for what Morgan had said. He and Ginny were to act as honeymooners. They were to swim and dance and have a good time together, and knowing by now how thorough Ginny was in everything she did, Kitson had no doubt that she would act out her part as if it were the real thing.

The thought of having two or three days in such close intimacy with her more than counterbalanced the fear of failure and eventual arrest.

Bleck lounging beside him in the Lincoln watched him out of the corners of his eyes.

‘Hey, kid,’ he said abruptly, ‘maybe I should tip you off. I wouldn’t want you to get any ideas about Ginny. She and I have an understanding. When this job’s over, we’re joining up. I promised her I’d show her Paris and London. I thought I’d mention it in case you were getting ideas of your own.’

Kitson nearly drove into the back of a truck that had slowed down before stopping at the traffic lights as the red came up. He felt as if someone had given him a hard blow under his heart. He managed to pull up and he turned to glare at Bleck.

‘You’re lying!’ he said furiously. ‘She wouldn’t go any place with you, you jerk! You’re lying!’

Bleck was pleased to see how Kitson had immediately risen to the bait, looking like an infuriated bull.

‘Yeah?’ He laughed. ‘That’s where you’re wrong, stupe. She’s more likely to go around with a guy like me than you. After all I’ve had education. You - well, you’d look pretty silly trying to order a meal in Paris, taking her any place with class with that squashed snout of yours. You can’t even read, can you?’

‘You shut up!’ Kitson said, ‘or I’ll take a poke at you.’

‘I wouldn’t,’ Bleck said, with a sudden rasp in his voice. ‘Last time you took me by surprise, but don’t try it again, bum. You’ll think the bomb had hit you.’

Kitson half turned, ready to swing a punch, when a horn blasted behind him, bringing him to his senses. He saw the traffic light had changed to green and the cars ahead of him were almost out of sight. Breathing heavily and muttering under his breath, he sent the car forward.

‘Yeah,’ Bleck went on, delighting in needling Kitson. ‘I had a talk with her the other day and we got around to Paris. I was over there a couple of years ago and I got to know the place. She said she always wanted.’

‘Will you shut up!’ Kitson exclaimed, ‘or I’ll stop the car and I’ll shut you up!’

‘Okay, okay,’ Bleck said patronizingly. ‘I just wanted to warn you when you are playing the lovesick groom to remember I’ve got the first claim. If you don’t remember, then you and me will have trouble.’

They reached the parking lot before Kitson could think of a suitable rejoinder. He was suddenly depressed. A girl like Ginny could fall for a smooth operator like Bleck: a guy who knew his way around, who had education and who probably did know Paris like he said. That was opposition that overwhelmed Kitson. He wasn’t sure either if he could take Bleck in a fight. Bleck was fourteen pounds heavier than Kitson, and he was in good condition. Kitson had seen him fight once in a saloon brawl and he had been impressed by the weight of Bleck’s punching. He was a savage, ruthless fighter with every dirty trick for disabling a man up his sleeve.

When they arrived at the parking lot they found there was no attendant to look after the cars parked in two long rows.

As the two men got out, Bleck said, ‘You take the top row. I’ll take the other. If you find anything, whistle.’

The two men separated, and Kitson walked fast along the long line of cars, his mind seething. He kept trying to assure himself that Bleck had been lying about Ginny and he joining up together, but it worried him. At least, he told himself, he would have a couple of days – three with luck - with her alone, and he decided this would be his one chance to win her if she was to be won, which he felt doubtful about. There were moments when she looked so hard and wooden, Kitson wondered if any man could possibly win her.