The Paw in the Bottle
- Автор: Чейз Джеймс Хэдли
- Год: 1949
- Язык: английский
- Год: Jarrolds
- Жанр: Криминальные детективы
Электронная книга - «The Paw in the Bottle». Краткое содержание книги:
He entered the gaudy little lounge, nodded to the gimlet-eyed doorkeeper and went straight to the bar. At this hour — it was a few minutes past four-thirty — there were in the bar only tarts sitting on stools, sipping whisky, and an elderly man in a corner, reading the evening paper, a plain gin on the table before him.
The barman brightened when he saw Harry. He was bored with talking to the tarts, and hoped Harry would be more entertaining. But Harry wasn’t in a talkative mood. He ordered a double whisky, grunted when the barman tried to engage him in conversation, and moved away from the bar to sit in solitude at a table by the window.
He was thinking of Julie. All night he had thought of her, and a sleepless night didn’t agree with him. He wanted her; wanted her as he had never wanted any other woman before.
‘I was a mug to have mixed her up in this business,’ he told himself. ‘If I’d’ve kept her clear of it there’d’ve been no trouble with her. And as soon as I’d picked up the dough we could have hopped on a boat and started a nice little honeymoon in the States. Now, I’ve got my work cut out to win her round. Don’t see how I’m going to do it. We’re doing the job to-morrow, and I’ll have to keep clear of her from then on. The cops’ll be watching her night and day.’ He sipped his whisky and brooded. ‘All very well for Ma French to say leave her in the flat. But it’s cock-eyed, that’s what it is; cock-eyed. The thing to do is to take her with me; hide with her somewhere until things cool off a bit, and then slip out of the country.’ He frowned out of the window. ‘But will she come with me? If she doesn’t, what’s she going to do?’ He finished his whisky and was about to order another when he remembered that today was Julie’s afternoon off. ‘Now I wonder what she’s up to,’ he thought. ‘Mooching round the West End looking at the shops, I’ll bet a dollar. Maybe I’ll run into her if I have a look round.’ He pushed back his chair and stood up. ‘That’s what I’ll do. I’ll have a look for her. Maybe I can persuade her to see reason.’
Nodding to the barman, he left the club and, reaching Piccadilly, began to walk slowly towards Park Lane. He walked as far as Hyde Park Corner, then retraced his steps. As he was passing the Berkeley Hotel he spotted her across the street, walking towards the Circus.
‘That’s what I call a real bit of luck,’ he said to himself. ‘I knew she’d be around here somewhere. Pretty kid; looks as smart as paint.’ He grinned to himself, aware of a surge of excitement going through him. ‘Blimey!’ he thought. ‘I’ve got it bad. Wouldn’t have thought I’d ever chase after a bride like this; shows what love can do to a fella.’
He darted across the road as soon as the traffic began to slow down for the traffic lights, and hurried along behind Julie. The plain-clothes detective, who was tiring rapidly of following Julie, recognized Harry and whistled softly.
‘Now where did he spring from and what’s he want?’ he wondered and dropped behind, letting Harry go on ahead of him.
Harry was too intent on pursuing Julie to notice the detective. He overtook Julie as she waited to cross the Circus.
‘Hello, kid,’ he said, raising his hat. ‘I want to talk to you. There’s been a change of plan.’
Julie started, looked angrily at him.
‘Well, I don’t want to talk to you,’ she snapped. ‘Go away.’
‘Don’t be daft,’ Harry returned, taking her arm. ‘This is business. Come on, I’ve got to talk to you. There’s a club round the corner where we won’t be disturbed.’
Julie hesitated. If Mrs. French had decided to postpone the attempt she would have to warn Wesley.
‘Oh, all right then,’ she said crossly, and went with him along Regent Street.
Neither of them said anything further. Julie didn’t want to talk to him. Meeting him had spoilt her plans for the evening. She had decided to go to a cinema and have supper down West before returning to Park Way. She didn’t want company. She wanted to dream about her new home and her mink coat.
When they entered the Harlequin Club, which was empty now, Harry asked her what she would like to drink.
‘Nothing,’ she said shortly, and sat down at a corner table. ‘I don’t want anything from you.’
He pulled a face, went over to the bar and ordered a double whisky which he brought to the table.
‘Julie, you’re not still mad with me, are you?’ he asked, sitting down opposite her. ‘I’m sorry this business ever started, but we can’t back out now.’
She made an impatient movement.
‘You said you wanted to talk business. Say what you want to say and let me go.’
He studied her and, seeing the cold, unfriendly look in her eyes, realized she didn’t love him anymore. The discovery deflated him.
‘It’s about leaving you at the flat when the job’s done,’ he said uneasily. ‘I don’t like it, kid. It’s not safe. I want you to come away with me. We’ll hide up somewhere and then hop a boat to the States.’
She stared at him as though she thought he were mad.
‘I’m not frightened of being left,’ she said sharply. ‘And I’m certainly not going with you. I told you last night, I don’t want anything more to do with you.’
‘Now look, Julie,’ he said, shifting forward on his seat. ‘I’ve got you into this mess. I want to get you out of it. I’m crazy about you, kid. Honest; I wouldn’t be crawling like this if I wasn’t serious. I love you. I’d do anything for you. If I leave you in the flat the cops will be all over you. They’ll pin something on you when they know you worked for Hewart.
Even if they don’t, what are you going to do? You can’t live on three quid a week. Come with me and I’ll give you a smashing time. Look, I’m sick of this life. I only want a bit more money and I’ll be in the clear. After this job, I’m through. I’m going straight and I want you with me. Honest, Julie, I love you so much I can’t live without you.’
It wasn’t what he said, but the way he said it that impressed her; and suddenly she turned sick and cold because she realized something she had refused to realize before. She had once loved him; had given herself to him; and now she was planning to betray him to the police. While she had been frightened it had seemed completely unreaclass="underline" planning something that wouldn’t happen. But now, seeing him before her, hearing him say he loved her and knowing that before long he would be in the hands of the police brought the facts home to her like a blow in the face. For a brief moment she nearly blurted out the truth; nearly told him she had given him away to the police, but the thought of Theo stopped her. There was no turning back. If she admitted that she had told the police, Theo would come after her. There would be no safety for her now until the whole gang was under lock and key.
‘No!’ she said wildly. ‘I wouldn’t ever go with you. But, Harry, I’m warning you; don’t do it. Go away before it’s too late. You won’t get away with it. I know you won’t. Please — please don’t go through with it!’ And before he could stop her she had jumped to her feet and darted to the door.
Harry stared after her, a cold tingle going up his spine. Then he kicked back his chair and rushed after her. He caught her on the stairs and grabbed hold of her.
‘Julie! What do you mean? What do you know?’
She tried to wrench herself free, but he pulled her round so he could look into her eyes.
‘You haven’t talked, have you?’ he demanded, shaking her. ‘You haven’t squealed?’
‘Oh, no,’ she gasped, suddenly frightened of him. ‘It’s just I... I’m scared. It’s too dangerous. I feel it won’t come off.’ Then, as his suspicious eyes searched her face, she exclaimed, ‘Let go of me! Do you hear? Let me go!’