‘I have a passport, too,’ Elizabeth said. ‘My luck, the Prendergasts planned to take me along with them to Europe this summer.’
‘Which now leaves only one document to attend to,’ said Warburton. ‘And quickly, please.’
9
The marriage was performed in a Saturday morning ceremony at the home of a justice of the peace in North Miami, far enough off the beaten track, Chris hoped, so that no one would take notice. As an added measure of security, he arranged to rent a car for himself and meet Elizabeth at the judge’s home. He had already cleared the decks for action by casually letting Frenchy know he was knocking off the job and would be away for a while, and by having it out with Dom who was still the sadly disillusioned kid brother and who made a point of violently distrusting Elizabeth Jones sight unseen.
Telling Dom all there was to tell about her and the Valentine estate didn’t change that.
‘So what?’ Dom said heatedly. ‘This whole thing smells like trouble to me the way it’s being handled, and you’re just getting sucked into it deeper and deeper. First, all you were supposed to do was marry the girl so she could collect her dough. Now you’re elected to see nobody stops her from collecting it. If you ask me, that cookie’s not as helpless as you make her out to be. Not if she can set you up like this.’
‘You’re wrong, kid. I set myself up. If she doesn’t collect, neither do I.’
‘Your business is tennis, not getting married on commission.’
‘The hell you say. You think playing set-ups at fifty bucks a throw is better than this?’
‘Yes. A lot better.’
Dom’s feeling about it was only one of the bleak concerns he took with him to his wedding. The other was a call from Hilary which caught him as he was going out of the door.
‘Somebody phoned me around midnight last night,’ she said. The gaiety of her tone was distinctly hollow.
‘Who?’
‘I don’t know. Some man. Anyhow, I think it was a man. He sounded real weird, like a boy soprano with a handkerchief in front of his mouth. I could hardly make him out.’
‘What did he have to say?’
‘He said, “Are you Mrs Christopher Monte?” and I said, “No, I’m Mrs Robert Talbot,” and he said, “How very fortunate for you, young lady,” and that was it. The whole thing. Chris, it wasn’t funny.’
‘I guess not.’ He closed his eyes, trying to see how this piece fitted into the picture. ‘You didn’t recognize the voice at all? No idea who it could have been?’
‘Not the slightest. What’s it about, Chris? Why would anybody think I was Mrs Monte?’
‘Because you were the one with me the other night in Naples when the cops searched me. Those airline tickets in my pocket were made out to Mr and Mrs Monte.’
‘Then what happened that night really did have something to do with your marrying Elizabeth?’
‘That’s right. The guy behind the scenes in that car isn’t stupid either. Not if he double-checked to find out if you’re the genuine Mrs Monte. Did you tell Elizabeth about this call?’
‘No.’
‘Well, don’t.’
‘I see. Don’t spoil the wedding day. You are getting married today, aren’t you?’
‘Yes, but keep it to yourself.’
‘Sure. But that means you’re only booked for the daytime. I’m supposed to go on a trip with the folks, but if there’s any chance that tonight you and I –’
‘Not a chance,’ he said, and hung up dazzled by the cool malice of her invitation.
On the way up to North Miami he debated with himself the question of getting Elizabeth flowers to carry at the ceremony. He had left the buying of the ring to her since going shopping with her for it seemed a little too much like a bad joke. Flowers for this particular occasion seemed like a bad joke, too, but their absence might be conspicuous, and the idea was to be as inconspicuous as possible. Yet, showing up with flowers for her could be misleading to the girl. In the end, he decided on a nosegay of violets and an explanation to go along with them, cold-blooded as the procedure might be.
He was waiting on the sidewalk outside the J.P.’s house when Elizabeth emerged from a cab across the street and waved at him. As she approached him he saw she was carrying a nosegay of pink rosebuds. Halfway across the street it was as if an invisible finger suddenly poked her hard in the spine. Her shoulders squared, her head went erect, the awkward slouch became a graceful, easy-striding posture. Not bad, he saw, when she gave it a fair try. Not bad at all.
She showed him the nosegay.
‘Mrs Prendergast got it for me,’ she said apologetically. ‘She thought it might look funny if I turned up without something like this. I mean, to the J.P. and the witnesses.’
Silently, he produced the violets from behind his back and handed them to her. Her expression as she took them both pleased and alarmed him.
‘How nice of you,’ she said, glowing. ‘They’re lovely. So much more real somehow than roses.’
‘They suit you. You know, I like it when you walk like that.’
‘Then I do too. Just keep reminding me to do it.’
She was married holding the violets, and he never did get around to explaining them.
10
The car, when they returned to it, had heated up like an oven under the murderous sunlight. Chris closed the windows and turned on the air conditioner.
‘Now what?’ said Elizabeth.
‘First that wedding ring. It’ll have to be kept out of sight.’ He waited while, without protest, she tugged off the ring and dropped it into her pocketbook. ‘Then there’s something to keep in mind. You might get a phone call where you’re asked if you’re Mrs Monte. Don’t think about it, don’t hesitate. Just say no, you’re not, and say it loud and clear. Then hang up.’
‘All right. But who would be calling? Teodorescu?’
‘Or somebody working for him. I have a hunch he and that Katia Danska know more about the terms of the will than Warburton lets on, but not everything. Which means they’d go a long way to find out the rest.’
‘Both of them?’
‘Either or both, it amounts to the same thing as far as we’re concerned. Anyhow, whether it’s because Warburton is just as smart as they are or just lucky, he’s put me in their sights as the one to settle their questions. Then, whoever my wife is becomes the real target. No wife, no target.’
‘I see,’ Elizabeth said placidly. ‘You know, Mr Monte, if you’re trying to scare me, you’re not doing too well so far.’
‘That’s too bad, because I want you really on guard until you’re handed your money. Warburton’s too chivalrous for this policy, but he’s wrong. He seems to think all Teodorescu and Katia want to do is get hold of the will and destroy it. I say that if they can’t get rid of the will, they’d still figure to come out ahead by getting rid of you.’
‘Do you honest to God believe they’d try anything like that?’
‘I’ll let you answer that for yourself. You heard the kind of people they are.’
‘But murder –’
‘Hell, they wouldn’t be foolish enough to try any rough stuff themselves. For that you hire people.’
Elizabeth shook her head, marvelling at this.
‘Man, you do have quite a picture of the world around us, don’t you? Thrilling, I’ll admit, but just a wee bit implausible.’
His temper rose.
‘Implausible or not, please do what I tell you to for the time being. Discounting the people who are in on this, don’t let anyone know we’re married, don’t trust any stranger who suddenly gets friendly, and don’t go off to meet some old school chum who calls up to say she just landed in town and wants to get together with you. Is that all right with you?’
‘Yes, sir. Anything else?’
‘There is. When you’re alone in your room remember to keep the door double-locked and not to open it to anyone unless you’re absolutely sure who it is.’
Elizabeth sighed.
‘You think this kind of marriage calls for the usual celebration?’ Chris said with deliberate cruelty.
‘Yes, I do,’ Elizabeth said without resentment. ‘Maybe it’s because I’m not being as grim about it as you. Or maybe I just don’t have any pride. That doesn’t matter. What does matter is that we are married now, and I feel married, and I’m very happy about it.’
‘You’re not being very honest with yourself, are you?’
‘You’re wrong. I’m being totally honest with myself. Otherwise, I’d behave about this the way you seem to expect me to. I mean, act embarrassed or cynical or something. No, wait –’ She laid a hand on his arm to forestall whatever he intended to say. ‘Please let me finish, otherwise I’ll lose my nerve and never get it out. I’m very much in love with you. I’m sure you know that by now. I’m also sure you’re worried I might get hurt in this kind of one-sided deal. You mustn’t be, because I’m willing to take my chances on it. I’m glad to take my chances on it.’
‘Then you’re out of your mind. These one-sided deals are poison. Take it from somebody who found that out the hard way.’
‘When?’
‘What difference does it make?’
‘It would make a difference to me if it was last week. When was it?’
‘Oh hell, when I was a glamour kid on the tennis circuit. After I was washed up, my dream girl didn’t even stop to say good-bye on her way out.’
‘And it still hurts?’
‘Only when I laugh.’
‘You mean, if dream girl ever turned up again –’
‘She’s got two kids and a Class 3 sixty-five footer to take them yachting in off Palm Beach.’
‘But then –’
‘Let’s forget her,’ Chris said sharply. ‘Just let’s stick to business. There’s a stationery store near the Columbus where I can have photostat copies made of this marriage licence and my birth certificate and adoption papers for Warburton. Then I turn them over to him so he can head back to London tonight. That’s another thing. Is all your shopping for London done? It’ll be a lot colder there than here.’
‘I know. I went shopping yesterday with Hilary.’
‘Well, I still have some stuff to buy. I’ll drop you off on my way to the Columbus. You can take a cab back to Cobia.’
‘Oh boy,’ said Elizabeth, ‘and lock myself in my room, I suppose. What harm could it do if I sort of tagged along while you shopped and made helpful little remarks?’
‘It could identify you as Mrs Monte to some people who might be wondering about it. That’s out. At least until Monday when we get together at the airport. And that settles it.’
‘Yes, sir.’ Elizabeth gave him a wicked, sidelong glance. ‘See what a good wife you’ve got?’ she said demurely.
11
From the look of his room, Warburton was itching to be off and away. It was only noon, his flight was scheduled for nine in the evening, but already his half-packed valise lay open on the bed.
‘Thought I’d do some sightseeing until the plane leaves,’ he said in explanation of this. ‘I’ve never seen your famous Everglades. I’ve hired a car and driver for a tour through it.’
Because a moving target is the hardest target, Chris thought.
‘Do you believe you’re under surveillance?’ he asked bluntly.
Warburton shrugged.
‘Since I left London, I suspect. One of those things, you know, where the same face seems to pop up wherever you are, and when you turn to get a good look at it, it’s gone.’
‘Teodorescu?’
‘No, he’s too distinctive-looking for that kind of work. Strikingly handsome, very continental sort of creature. Also, he’d be inclined to stay close to the wicket and keep an eye on Katia. Neither of them has any cause to trust the other.’
Chris wondered how to put it, then decided the direct way was the best way.
He said: ‘Time is running out on them, and the nearer it gets to the deadline, the more they’re likely to try something dangerous. Wouldn’t it be good policy to have a copy made of the will, the way I had done with my papers here? If you and I both had copies –’
‘I’m sorry.’ Warburton’s voice was suddenly ice-cold. ‘That is out of the question.’
‘Why? You’re not worried about my making a deal with the opposition, are you? I want Elizabeth to collect her money as much as you do.’
‘No doubt. But I prefer to let it go at that.’
Warburton was too warily antagonistic. Too evasive when Chris tried to meet his eye.
‘I see,’ Chris said. ‘Teodorescu and Katia aren’t the only ones who don’t trust each other, are they?’
‘Mr Monte, I don’t believe I’ve given you any cause not to have complete trust in me.’
‘I’ll buy that. But how about the other way around?’
Warburton stood there, gnawing his lip.
‘I’ll be brutally frank,’ he said at last. ‘I’ve just had a session with Joseph Prendergast that has shaken me badly. He was here an hour. He spent a large part of it denouncing you as an unprincipled scoundrel who very likely intended to do Elizabeth in for her money. And denouncing me as the one who, however innocently, planted the idea in your head.’
‘He’s out of his mind. You don’t believe any of that, do you?’
‘Let’s say, Mr Monte, that I certainly don’t want to.’
‘But what evidence could he possibly offer against me?’
‘Your own history during the past few years. He was very much disturbed when I arranged for you and Elizabeth to draw wills in each other’s favour. It led him to investigate your background, and what he’s turned up about it seems to have frightened him thoroughly.’
‘What did he turn up about it?’
‘Among other things, reckless gambling and heavy drinking.’
‘Where did he get that?’
‘From Mr Barbeau and Mr Bloom of Cobia Spa, however reluctant they were to give him the information. They also revealed that you will go off on a motor cycle for weeks at a time and take up life among the lowest elements of various cities far away from Miami. Among the guitar-playing, great unwashed, that is. You have a police record of arrest in both San Francisco and New York for public disorder.
‘But most serious of all, you seem to be closely associated with Martin McClure, a notorious racketeer. So close, in fact, that when this man had to draw a rabbit from his hat to clear himself of a murder charge a few months ago, you turned out to be the rabbit. Joseph Prendergast has a rather overwhelming sense of responsibility for Elizabeth’s welfare. Look at your record from his point of view and see if he hasn’t something to be frightened about.’
There was no use taking out his anger on Warburton, Chris knew. Prendergast was the one cooking up this stew.
‘I suppose Prendergast wanted you to tear up that will Elizabeth drew in my favour,’ he said.
‘He did,’ said Warburton. ‘Of course, I told him I could not do that without her consent. It then turned out he had asked her consent, and she had refused it.’
‘Then she knows about all this? About my frightening record?’
‘Yes. In the light of that, Prendergast now feels you deliberately set out to infatuate the girl and have succeeded only too well at it. Here, I draw the line. After all, I was there on the scene when he himself got the idea that she marry you to validate her claim to the Valentine estate. In a way, however, his hitting on you as the proper candidate for this mariage de raison makes it all the worse now. When that sort of man feels he’s committed an error of judgement, he’s going to be vindictive about it, not remorseful. Now he has good cause to feel he’s made a thundering error of judgement. I leave the rest to you.’
‘Meaning that if anything happened to El
izabeth he’d blame me for it.’
‘He was explicit about that. He made it plain that if anything unpleasant happened to Elizabeth he would immediately go to the police with your dossier and with absolute proof that you had – to use his own words – a million dollars’ worth of motive for disposing of her.’
‘Did you tell him about Teodorescu and Katia Danska?’
‘Yes. He was not impressed. I imagine the only thing that would impress him is for you to persuade Elizabeth to tear up that will. You’d then simply have to take her promise of payment for marrying her in good faith.’
‘Sorry, but I’d feel too lonely being the only one to show good faith around here.’
‘Indeed? In that case,’ Warburton said pointedly, ‘I’d make very sure nothing unpleasant did happen to Elizabeth if I were you.’ He glanced through the documents Chris had handed him, openly anxious to cut short this discussion. ‘These seem to be all in order. Your arrival in London is scheduled for eight, Tuesday morning. I’ll have a flat ready for you and Elizabeth, and I’ll be there to meet you at the airport. Until then –’
Until then, Chris thought on his way down in the elevator, Warburton was not going to discount Prendergast’s warning. He was not going to be Christopher Monte’s friend in court.
And considering that Frenchy Barbeau and Augie Bloom had already testified against him, it looked as if he had better not need friends in court.
12
He spent most of the evening disassembling and cleaning the Harley-Davidson part by part, allowing himself four measured ounces of McClure’s cognac to see him through the job. But between the tediousness of the job and the boiling rage in him every time he thought of Joseph Prendergast, the four ounces was gone long before schedule. He allowed himself another four, then the rest of the bottle. When he finally steered himself to bed he was out cold before he could undress.
What seemed a minute later he was dragged out of his sleep by the ringing of the phone in the kitchen. Then he heard Dom pattering barefoot to the phone and dug his face deep into the pillow to blot out the reflected light from the kitchen.
The Valentine Estate Page 6
