1974 - Goldfish Have No Hiding Place

by James Hadley Chase

  But it wasn't to be. When I walked into the office where Judy was already at work, she swung around in her typing-chair.

  “Morning, Mr. Manson. Jean called. She's sick.”

  I came to an abrupt standstill.

  “Isn't she coming in?”

  “Oh, no, Mr. Manson. She's in bed. Something she ate last night.”

  “Is she bad?”

  Judy nodded.

  “I think so, but she says she'll be okay tomorrow.”

  I realised it would now be impossible for me to leave the office until 18.00. If Chandler should call and found both Jean and myself absent there could be trouble.

  “I've opened the mail, Mr. Manson, and Miss Shelley from Secretarial Services is already here for dictation,” Judy said.

  “Fine . . . thanks.”

  Somehow I got through the morning. It was just as well I hadn't taken a chance and had gone to the bank for Chandler came through soon after 11.00. He thought it was time we began to research Senator Linsky. When I told him Max Berry was already working on it, he was pleased.

  Judy got me a sandwich lunch. I told her to give me a direct line and go for her own lunch. That left me alone in the office. She hadn't been gone more than ten minutes when the telephone bell rang. I heard coins dropping into the box, then Brenner came on the line.

  “Listen, Manson,” he said, “you're being tailed. Don't underestimate these two. They know their job, so watch it.”

  “Give me a description of them,” I said. “I guessed as you didn't call last night I was being tailed, but I haven't spotted them. It'd be a help to know their car and what they look like.”

  “Dark blue Mustang XP 55001,” Brenner told me.

  “Taylor is tall, thin with dark crew cut, wears sports clothes. O'Hara is short, thickset, red hair, wears dark clothes and a dark blue hat, but it's my bet you won't spot either of them: they are professionals.” A pause, then he asked, “Have you looked at that film yet?”

  “I can't until tonight.”

  “You'll have to tell me about it. I'm not taking the chance of being seen with you. You know you're in trouble? I thought you told me that gun was lost.”

  “I thought so too. It was dumped in a sack of rubbish. Someone must have seen it dumped and collected it.”

  Brenner grunted.

  “Goldstein's working on it. From tomorrow, your apartment phone is going to be tapped.”

  I stiffened.

  “Is this line clean?”

  “He can't do anything about that. He's too scared of Chandler to tap anything belonging to him.”

  “He hasn't a case against me, has he?” I said, feeling my hands turning damp.

  “Not yet, but he's got his teeth into you and he'll need shaking off. Take a look at that film and I'll call you this time tomorrow,” and he hung up.

  I got up and went to the window and looked down on the busy street some eight storeys below. It took me five minutes watching before I spotted Taylor. Without Brenner's description he would have been an anonymous man, but there he was, propping up a fire hydrant while he read a newspaper. I studied him, made sure I would recognise him anywhere, then looked around for his buddy, but O'Hara was not to be seen. He was probably covering the lobby.

  Then the telephone bell started up and I was back in the business of producing the magazine.

  Around 14.15, I called Jean's apartment.

  When she answered, her voice rather far away, I said, “I'm sorry about this, Jean. How do you feel now?”

  “I'm recovering. I swear I'll never eat a clam again as long as I live. How are you getting on?”

  I told her Judy had everything organised.

  “Do you feel like a visit?” I went on. “I could come around after six and bring you something.”

  “Thank you. It's kind of you but my tummy just couldn't face any visitors.”

  I felt a pang of disappointment.

  “I can imagine.” A pause, then I said, “Jean, you remember dumping something in a sack of rubbish?”

  “Yes.”

  “Someone must have followed you and found it.”

  I heard her catch her breath.

  “Not now! This line goes through the switchboard. I'll see you tomorrow,” and she hung up.

  I sat staring at the telephone for a long moment, then replaced the receiver. As I did so there came a tap on my door and Max Berry came in.

  From then on until after 17.00, he and I worked on the material he had dug up on Senator Linsky. This was sensational stuff and I told him he had done a fine job. He grinned and said he would now get the article written.

  Because of the time I had spent with him, I found I had more work left on my desk than I had bargained for. I was still hard at it when Judy looked in to ask if it was all right for her to go home. I looked at my watch and saw it was 18.30.

  “Sure. I've talked with Jean. She thinks she'll be in tomorrow. Thanks for all you've done, Judy.”

  She looked happy.

  “Have you nearly finished, Mr. Manson?”

  I had still some printers' proofs to go through.

  “About an hour.” I got up and locked the office door after her, then I went back to my desk and got down to work again.

  It was after 19.00 before I had finished. I called Freddie Dunmore at the photographic studio.

  “You just caught me, Steve,” he said. “I'm in a rush. My wife's throwing a goddamn party and I swore by my back teeth I'd be there on time. What's cooking?”

  “I want the use of a 16 mm projector, Freddie.”

  “No problem. I'll have it sent over to you tomorrow morning. How's that?”

  “I want it tonight.”

  He groaned.

  “Well, okay. I'll leave it with . . .”

  “I also want to borrow your projection room tonight,” I broke in.

  The magazine account with Dunmore was substantial.

  He was in no position to refuse me.

  “God help me! Okay. I'll call Betty . . . she'll kill me.”

  “Can't you leave the key somewhere? I could be late. I'll run off the film, lock up and return the key. How's that?”

  “Can you handle a projector?”

  “I guess so.”

  “Well, okay. For Pete's sake, don't forget to lock up. There's a lot of expensive equipment here I wouldn't want to lose.”

  “Where do I find the key?”

  “On the ledge above the door. It's my spare. God! I'm already twenty minutes late! See you, Steve,” and he hung up.

  Now I had to lose those two cops. Remembering Brenner's warning, I decided not to rush it. I had most of the night ahead of me.

  As I started to the door, I paused. Two people had been killed because of the film I was going to collect. I could make a third. I went to the closet and got out the gun that Max Berry hadn't taken away. I loaded it, put on the holster, adjusted my jacket, and turned off the lights. I locked up the office, then carrying my briefcase, I took the elevator to the lobby.

  A short, thickset man with red hair, wearing a dark blue hat was examining the indicator board. He didn't look in my direction. He was a pro all right. Even when I paused on the street and glanced back, he was still examining the board.

  I got in my car and edged into the traffic. Three minutes later, I spotted the blue Mustang, two cars behind me. It was easy when you knew who and what to look for.

  I drove to the Imperial hotel and went into the grillroom.

  Henri, the Captain of waiters, knew me well and welcomed me. I asked for a corner table and sat with my back to the wall, facing the entrance. I ordered the special, then lit a cigarette and toyed with a dry martini while I waited.

  After some minutes, Taylor came to the entrance, glanced around, his eyes seeming not to notice me, then he moved back into the lounge.

  Henri served me and as trade was quiet, he stood around, saying nice things about the magazine. I was glad to have him. Once again Taylor looked in as if he
were expecting a guest, then moved out of sight.

  “Henri,” I said, when I had finished the meal, “I'm on an assignment this evening for the mag. It's something red hot. A couple of newsmen from the Sun are tailing me, hoping to get a lead.” I took a ten spot from my hip pocket and slid it to him. “Is there a way out the back?”

  He loved this. His eyes sparkled.

  “Through the service door, Mr. Manson, straight ahead, down some steps and the door facing you. It's bolted but not locked. It takes you onto Granby Street.”

  “Take a look in the lounge. There are two of them: one tall, dark with a crew cut and the other short, red hair. If they look busy, rub the back of your neck.”

  “Sure, Mr. Manson.”

  The service door was two yards from me. I pushed back my chair, my heart thumping and watched Henri wander to the entrance. He paused, holding a sheaf of menus as if looking for clients, then he rubbed the back of his neck.

  I was out of my chair, through the service door where I nearly cannoned into a waiter, carrying a loaded tray, and down the stairs, eased back the bolt and was in the hot night air.

  I had all the luck in the world. An empty cab cruised towards me. I bundled in and told the cabby to take me fast to the Plaza movie house which was within easy range of my bank.

  I sat back, breathing heavily. At the end of the narrow street, I looked through the rear window, but the street was deserted. I felt pretty sure I had shaken them off.

  Now for the film.

  ***

  The clerk at the reception desk gave me a smile of welcome as I crossed the lobby.

  “Hello there, Mr. Manson. Do you want something from your safe?”

  “That's right. Can I go down?”

  “Sure. Charlie is down there. He'll take care of you.” As I started for the stairs, leading to the vault, he said, “Oh, Mr. Manson. I nearly forgot. I have a telephone message for you.”

  I stared at him.

  “For me?”

  “Came in half an hour ago.” He handed me a slip of paper.

  Urgent. Call Western 00798

  “If you want to call now, Mr. Manson, there's a booth over to your right.”

  I went to the booth, put in coins, dialled and waited.

  Brenner's voice came on the line. He said: “Who's that?”

  “Manson. What is it?”

  “This evening Taylor reported to Goldstein that you are being tailed by two of Webber's men. They are smart operators, but Taylor spotted them. Have you any idea why they are tailing you?”

  This information so shocked me, I was unable to think. I felt that chill again.

  “Manson?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “So you have four pros on your tail. You'd better watch it. Looks like you're in real trouble.”

  I pulled myself together and forced my mind to work.

  “Can you give me a description of them?”

  “Sure. I worked with them before they quit to hook up with Webber. Meyer is big, around forty-five, has a broad white scar on his left cheek he got when arresting a junkie. Freeman is big, around fifty and he limps. He had a car smash.”

  Had these two men followed me to the bank? Why were they following me . . . the film? I felt horribly alone as I stood, sweating in the airless booth.

  “You got the film yet?” Brenner asked.

  “Not yet.”

  “Well, watch it,” and he hung up.

  I leaned against the wall of the booth and thought. I was sure I had shaken off Taylor and O'Hara, but I had no idea if I had shaken off Webber's men. This was no time to take chances. I certainly wasn't going on the streets, carrying that film. But what to do? After a few moments, an idea occurred to me. Leaving the booth, I went down to the vault.

  Charlie, fat and elderly and always ready to oblige, got to his feet as I crossed the floor.

  “You're late, Mr. Manson.”

  “Yes. I want to open my safe.”

  He went with me, turned the first lock with his passkey, then moved away while I opened the second lock with my key. I took out the carton of film.

  “Charlie . . . have you a big envelope to take this?” I showed him the carton.

  “Sure . . . right here.” He produced an envelope. I took the film cassette out of its carton and put it in the envelope and sealed it. A bit of flat lead which Charlie probably used as a paperweight caught my eye.

  “Want to earn fifty dollars, Charlie?”

  His eyes popped open.

  “Try me and see, Mr. Manson.”

  I scribbled Max Berry's address on the envelope.

  “Could you deliver this yourself tonight?”

  He squinted at the address. .

  “Why, sure, Mr. Manson. That's not too far from my home, but I won't be off duty until two.”

  “That's okay. Look, Charlie, this is top secret. It's to do with the magazine. Don't carry it in your hand. Put it inside your jacket. Understand?”

  His eyes popped again, but he nodded.

  “Let's see you do it.”

  He unbuttoned his grey uniform jacket and pushed the envelope inside.

  “Fine. Keep it like that until you see Mr. Berry.” I gave him a fifty-dollar bill. Then I picked up the small bar of lead. “Can I have this?”

  “Why, sure, Mr. Manson.”

  I put the lead bar in the empty carton to give it weight, then I put the carton in my briefcase.

  “Okay, Charlie . . . I'm relying on you.”

  “You can, Mr. Manson. This envelope . . .” He tapped his chest, “will be with Mr. Berry by half past two.”

  I went up the stairs and back into the call booth. I called Max. He answered after a delay and he sounded sleepy.

  “Max! This is Steve! A messenger from my bank is bringing you a sealed envelope. The contents are dynamite. Two people have been killed because of it and I think Wally got beaten up because of it. Hide it somewhere in your place where it can't be found.”

  “For God's sake!” Max now sounded very much awake. “What is it?”

  “I can't tell you. Don't look at it. The messenger will be arriving around two-thirty. Stay with it until I telephone you tomorrow from the office.”

  “Okay, Steve.”

  Before leaving the booth, I eased the gun in its holster and satisfied myself it would come out fast, then holding the briefcase firmly under my arm, I walked out into the night.

  Moving fast down the street, I looked anxiously for a cab, but this time I had no luck.

  More than any time before, I felt someone breathing down my neck. I kept looking over my shoulder. At this time of the night the down town section of the city was almost deserted.

  Then it happened.

  I didn't even see them.

  I felt the briefcase jerk away from under my arm and I received a stunning, chopping blow at the back of my neck.

  I was still on my hands and knees, trying to clear my head when I heard a car start up and drive away.

  9

  As the cab drove me to the Imperial hotel, I nursed my aching neck with both hands and reviewed the situation.

  When Webber's men realised I had sold them a dummy - and it wouldn't take long - they would come after me. I realised that I was out of their class, so I needed police protection. I had it without asking for it! As soon as Taylor and O'Hara picked me up they would stay with me, and I had no intention now of losing them. With them watching me, Webber's men wouldn't risk moving in on me.

  Still unsteady on my legs, I paid off the cabby and walked to where I had left my car. I saw the blue Mustang was parked five bays from mine. Taylor was sitting at the wheel.

  There was no sign of O'Hara.

  I got in my car and drove to my apartment. From time to time I checked my driving mirror. The Mustang was following. I drove into the underground garage, then took the elevator to my apartment.

  As the cage arrived at my floor, I took out the gun and held it down by my side. I couldn
't be sure Webber's men had found out they had no film and had already arrived.

  I stepped from the cage onto the corridor, looked to right and left, saw nothing to alarm me, stepped across to my front door, unlocked it, moved into the lobby, shut the door and switched on the light. I then pushed open the living room door, stood back as I reached for the light switch and snapped it up. No one there. I paused to lock the front door and shoot the bolt, then moving carefully, I explored the apartment. They hadn't arrived.

  For the moment I was safe. Short of battering down the door, no one could get in.

  I put the gun on the table and crossed over to the liquor cabinet. I poured myself a stiff shot of whisky and dropped into a lounging chair.

  I thought about what had happened. The question that baffled me was why Webber was involved. Until Brenner had alerted me, I had no reason to suspect that Webber's men were shadowing me. How long had they been doing this? My mind shifted to Creeden. He had enough money to hire Webber. If his wife was on the film, then he would need help and Webber would be the man to hire.

  I finished my drink, set down the glass and got to my feet.

  I was sure the key to all this was on the film that Max had, but did he have it? Had Webber guessed what I had done and had sent his men after Charlie?

  I dialled Max's number.

  The time now was 03.15.

  There was a long delay, then Max mumbled, “Who the hell is this?”

  “Steve. Did you get it? Answer yes or no . . . nothing else.”

  “For the sake of Judas! Yes!”

  I hung up.

  I went into the lonely bedroom, stripped off my clothes and flopped on the bed. My neck was aching, my body limp and exhausted. I lay like that, my mind churning, until finally sleep came.

  The following morning, with the Mustang following me, I drove to my office. I felt secure with these two cops tailing me. They would give Webber's men no room to manoeuvre.

  Judy greeted me with a smile.

  “Jean says she'll be in after lunch, Mr. Manson. She still sounds pretty bad. Miss Shelley is here and waiting.”

  “Thanks, Judy.”

  I dealt with the mail, then when Miss Shelley, a dumpy, serious-looking girl who dwelt behind enormous glasses, had gone into Jean's office to type, I called Freddie Dunmore.