The Paw in The Bottle

by James Hadley Chase

  He seemed to Julie to be someone right out of a motion picture. Comparing him to other men who frequented the cafe was like comparing Clark Gable to the fat old man who sat next to her in the underground.

  But she was too fly to let him know the impression he had made on her. She was confident of her powers of attraction, and she was sure, sooner or later, he would make the first overtures.

  At this time Harry was doing a deal with Syd Bernstein. He didn’t like the Bridge Cafe, nor did he like Hewart, but as Bernstein always went there Harry began going there, too.

  He was quick to spot Julie as she sat in the cash-desk, and, as any pretty girl mildly interested him, he took a mild interest in her. It wasn’t until one evening when Julie left the en-closed cash-desk to give a message to the Duke, that Harry had the opportunity of seeing her figure, and immediately he gave a long, low whistle.

  “That’s a nice bit of crackling,” he said to Bernstein, and jerked his thumb towards Julie. “Where did Sam find her?”

  Bernstein had no idea, and after he had gone Harry wandered over to the cash-desk and began to flirt with Julie.

  She had been waiting patiently for this opportunity, but she didn’t let him see her eagerness. She was cool to him, laughed at his flattery, and snubbed him when he became familiar.

  Women were attracted to Harry as pins to a magnet. Julie’s behaviour surprised him. Women were a lot of soppy mares, he had always considered, but they were fun if you had nothing better to do. But this girl was different. He could tell that. She was friendly enough, but there was a jeering expression in her eyes that irritated him. It showed plainly that she knew what he was up to, and was certainly not going to take him seriously. He could be as nice and flattering as he liked, but it wouldn’t get him anywhere.

  This attitude intrigued him, as Julie intended it to intrigue him, and he was continually popping in to have a word with her, to bring her a pair of silk stockings or a box of chocolates, and to try to break down the jeering barrier she had erected to keep him at safe limits. He had asked her time and again to go out with him, but Julie refused. She wasn’t going to risk being dropped. She had had a lot of experience with men, and she knew the longer she kept him dangling on a string the more ardent he would be when she did give in.

  When Mrs. French asked him if he knew of a girl who’d help them, he immediately thought of Julie. She wanted money, had brains, and was sufficiently reckless to take a chance. But he was a little worried by her persistent refusal to become friendly. Somehow he had to rush her defences, and the best way, he decided, was for her to lose her job at the café before he put the proposition to her. So long as she had a job and some regular money coming in she was independent, and if she had scruples she might turn him down. Harry had a horror of independent women. It was Julie’s independence that kept them apart now. He was sure of that.

  The first thing, then, was to get her the sack. But how was he going to do that? He racked his brains to no purpose. She was in solid with Hewart, and there seemed no reason why she should ever leave the cafe.

  “Well, something will turn up,” he consoled himself. “It always does.”

  And it did, but not in quite the way he expected.

  III

  Two evenings after the meeting in Mrs. French’s office, the telephone on Julie’s desk rang, and a woman’s voice, breathless and urgent, asked : “Is Mr. Harry Gleb there, please?”

  Julie felt a tingle run up her spine. She hadn’t seen Harry for three days. She was beginning to wonder if she had handled him a little too roughly, and had driven him to some other woman.

  “I’m afraid he isn’t,” she said, wondering who the woman could be.

  “Are you sure? It’s very urgent. He said he’d be there. Will you please make sure?”

  There was a hysterical note in the voice that startled Julie.

  Hewart, coming from his office and seeing Julie looking round the cafe, trying to penetrate the thick screen of tobacco smoke, came over.

  “What’s up?”

  “A woman asking for Mr. Gleb. She sounds worried.”

  “All Gleb’s women are worried,” Hewart said, and smiled sourly. “It’s the natural state of their health, the damn fools. He’s not here.”

  “I’m sorry, but we haven’t seen him to-night,” Julie said into the mouthpiece.

  There was a pause on the line which crackled and hummed, then the woman said, “He’ll be in. Will you ask him to call me at once? Take the number, please.”

  Julie memorized the number, said she would tell him the moment he came in, and hung up.

  Hewart scowled.

  “I wish that fella would keep away from here,” he growled. “He’s no good to anyone.”

  A few minutes later Harry breezed in. Julie waved to him.

  “Hello,” he said, corning over to her, “Don’t tell me you’re pleased to see me for once.”

  “There was a phone message for you a few minutes ago. A woman wants you to call her. She says it’s urgent. Riverside 58845.”

  His smile faded and his greenish eyes hardened.

  “Can I borrow the blower?”

  She liked him like this. He was no longer flippant, and seeing him now she thought he looked hard and dangerous. She watched him dial the number, and noticed his hand was unsteady.

  “Dana?” No one else in the room except Julie could hear what he was saying. “This is Harry. What’s up?” He listened, and Julie saw his hand tighten on the telephone. “How long ago? Right. Keep your chimmy on. All right. No, stop flapping. It’ll be all right. Yeah, yeah; so long.” He hung up.

  “Someone found you out?” Julie asked, watching him intently.

  “Yes.” He studied her for a moment. “Like to do me a favour?” He looked quickly over his shoulder, then slipped a small package done up in white tissue paper into her lap. “Hang on to this until to-morrow, will you? Keep it out of sight. And if anyone asks you if I’ve given you anything—not a word. O.K.?”

  “I wouldn’t do it for anyone else, but I’ll do it for you,” Julie said, and smiled.

  “Good kid. How about coming out with me to-morrow? I’ll buy you a lunch.”

  “Not to-morrow. I’m pretty booked up.” Which wasn’t true. “The day after, perhaps. You’ll be in to-morrow night?”

  “You bet. Keep that safe for me. “Bye now,” and he went quickly to the door. As he opened it he came to an abrupt stop and took a step back.

  Two men came in : big men in slouch hats and raincoats. With a sudden sinking feeling Julie recognized them. Police! She might have guessed that was why Harry had been so anxious to get rid of the package.

  Harry was talking to the two police officers. He was smilingly at ease. The rest of the men and women in the café watched, not moving, silent and effacing. Detective Inspector Dawson, whom Julie knew by sight, jerked his head in the direction of Hewart’s office. Harry shrugged and walked back down the gangway. He passed Julie without looking at her.

  The moment they were out of sight the men and women in the café made a quick scramble for the exit. In a few seconds the café was empty.

  Frightened, Julie grabbed up her bag and was about to put the package in it when she changed her mind. That was the first place they’d look, she told herself. She glanced quickly round the empty café, then pulled up her skirt and pushed the package down the top of her girdle.

  The police officers weren’t in Hewart’s office for long. They came out with Harry, followed by Hewart, who was pale with rage.

  The younger police officer walked down the gangway with Harry. They went out together.

  Hewart and Dawson stood talking for a few moments, then wandered over to Julie.

  Dawson raised his hat. He belonged to the old school and believed politeness paid.

  “Good evening, miss. Do you know that young fellow Gleb?”

  She looked at him insolently.

  “I don’t, and even if I did, I don’t see what it has to d
o with you.”

  “Wasn’t he talking to you just now?”

  “He was buying cigarettes.”

  Dawson stared at her until she had to look away.

  Was he? He didn’t have a packet on him when I searched him. How do you account for that?”

  Julie changed colour. That was a slip and a bad one. She didn’t say anything.

  “He didn’t give you anything to look after, did he?”

  She felt a cold little shiver run up her spine, but she forced herself to meet his inquiring eyes.

  “He didn’t.”

  “Would you let me examine your bag?”

  “You haven’t any right to look in my bag,” she flared. “but if it’ll satisfy you, you can.” She pushed the bag towards him, but he didn’t touch it.”

  “That’s all right, miss. I won’t bother.” He glanced at Hewart. “Well, so long, Sam. See you again one of these days.” His eyes travelled around the empty café and he concealed a smile. “Sorry to have spoilt your trade. Your customers are a little sensitive it seems.”

  “So long,” Hewart said, his eyes hard.

  Dawson raised his hat to Julie.

  “I don’t know any other fellow who could get a girl into trouble faster than Web,” he said. “There may be others, but I doubt it. Good night.”

  When he had gone, Hewart gave Julie an ugly look.

  “What’s the idea?” he demanded roughly. “What the devil are you playing at?”

  Julie raised her eyebrows.

  “I don’t know what you mean, I’m sure.”

  “I’ll have a word with you when we’ve shut,” Hewart said, and walked into his office, slamming the door behind him.

  Julie was putting on her hat before the chipped mirror that hung on the store-room wall when Hewart came in. They were now alone in the café; the rest of the staff had gone.

  “What did Gleb give you?” Hewart demanded, coming to the point with his usual bluntness.

  Hewart’s aggressive tone and cold searching eyes warned Julie to be cautious.

  “You heard what I told Dawson, didn’t you?” she snapped. “He didn’t give me anything.”

  Hewart said, “I heard what you told Dawson all right.” He came close to her. “If you can’t lie better than that you’d better keep your mouth shut. Dawson knew you were up to something. If he didn’t guess Gleb had given you the rings, he knew something was on between you two.”

  Rings? Julie felt herself go white under her make-up. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Now, look, kid,” Hewart said, seeing the frightened expression in her eyes and softening towards her. He was fond of Julie, and didn’t want any trouble with her. “So far you’ve been a damned smart girl; but you’re not being smart now. Gleb works outside our circle. We don’t do things for him, and he doesn’t do things for us, see? You didn’t know that. I should have given you the tip. All right, I’m not blaming you, don’t think that. He’s too smooth. No one ever gets anything out of his deals.”

  “I tell you he didn’t give me anything,” Julie said, her heart beating rapidly. If she once admitted she had received stolen rings from Harry, she would be at Hewart’s mercy. What a fool she had been to have taken the package. She might have guessed it was stolen property. She was furious with herself for being so green.

  Hewart studied her. His hatchet face was hardened.

  “Listen, this evening a society woman left three diamond rings worth a thousand quid on her dressing-table for a couple of seconds, no more, and they vanished. A couple of seconds, see? That’s Gleb : split-second timing and specializes in bedrooms. That’s his line. Dawson knows all about him; so do I. He came here directly after the robbery, and it’s my guess the woman who “phoned tipped him the police were after him and he dumped the loot on to you. That’s another of his pet tricks. Never mind if he gets anyone into trouble so long as he saves his own dirty hide. Now, look, Julie, Gleb is rank poison. I don’t like a fella who brings the cops here. I have no time for him, and I want those rings.”

  Julie snatched up her hat and coat and moved quickly to the door, but Hewart stepped in front of her.

  “Now, wait a minute,” he said, an ugly glint in his eyes.

  “I don’t know anything about the rings. Would you please mind out of the way, Mr. Hewart? I want to go home.”

  “Not just yet. I’m being patient with you, Julie, because I like you. But you’re making a damn fool of yourself over this fella. I don’t miss much that goes on here. I’ve seen you talking to him and putting on airs. You’re trying to hook him, aren’t you? You watch out. Gleb knows all about women; he specializes in them. You leave him alone. You can get plenty of other fellas without taking on a rat like Gleb. He never did any girl any good.”

  “Oh!” Julie exclaimed furiously. “How—how dare you talk to me like that ! Get out of my way!”

  “I’m warning you,” Hewart said, losing patience. “You’re not leaving here unless you hand over those rings, and if I have to take ‘em from you, you’ll get the sack.”

  “You’re not having them, and I don’t want your rotten job! I can always get another ! I’m not scared of you, you old bully!”

  Seeing her white, furious little face, her determined attitude and her clenched fists, Hewart was struck with admiration. He burst out laughing.

  “Come on, Julie, don’t be a little fool. You’ve got a lot of nerve, and you and me can get on well together. Hand over those rings, and we’ll forget the whole business.”

  “I tell you I don’t know what you’re talking about. I haven’t the rings, and if I had I wouldn’t give them to you!” Julie snapped, and darted past him.

  Hewart caught hold of her, and holding her wrists in one hand he ran his other hand over her body.

  “How dare you!” Julie stormed, struggling to break his hold. “Let me go or I’ll scream the place down.”

  “Scream away,” Hewart panted. His face was congested. “If the bogies come I’ll tell ‘em Gleb gave you the rings and you’ll be for it. Stand still and stop struggling. You’ve got ‘em on you—I know.” His questing fingers felt the little bulge of the package. “AM Here they are. Now stop fighting. It won’t get you anywhere.”

  But Julie struggled and kicked. Her toeless shoes made no impression on Hewart’s thick legs and she couldn’t get her; hands free. As he began to pull up her skirt, she let out squeal of outraged fury.

  “Well, I am surprised at you, Sam,” Harry said as he pushed’ open the door. “You could get six months for half what you’re doing.”

  Hewart released Julie as if she had suddenly become red hot. Harry leaned against the doorway, his hat cocked rakishly over one eye, his hands in his pockets, a hard, cynical expression in his eyes.

  “How did you get in here?” Hewart asked feebly. He was frightened, not liking the look Harry gave him. There was a half-concealed threat in the clenched fists hidden in the pockets.

  Julie staggered away from Hewart; her face was white, and her eyes blazing with fury.

  “You rotten swine! How dare you touch me !” She rounded on Harry. “It’s all your fault! Hit him! Did you see what he was doing to me? Hit him! Make him pay for it!”

  Harry regarded her with frank admiration. He liked to see a girl in a rage, and Julie’s rage was a real pippin, he thought. “Keep your hair on, sweetheart,” he said with a grin. “You wouldn’t want me to hit an old man, now, would you? You come along home with me. He didn’t do you any harm.”

  “I’ll teach him to put his dirty paws on me !” Julie screamed, and snatched up a four pound jar of honey and threw it at Hewart. The jar caught him in the middle of his chest and sent him reeling back. As she turned for another missile, Harry, gasping with laughter, caught hold of her and bundled her out of the room.

  “Lock yourself in, Sam!” he shouted. “I can’t hold her for long, and she’s after your blood!”

  The door hastily slammed and the key turned.<
br />
  Julie, panting with rage, wrenched free and hammered on the door.

  “Let me in, you dirty old goat! I haven’t finished with you yet. I’ll kill you for this!”

  “You get out!” Hewart shouted through the door panels. “You’re sacked, see? I don’t want to see you again. You hop it or I’ll call the police.”

  “I’ll give you in charge!” Julie screamed back. “I’ll have you up for assault, you —— ——! ! You won’t get away with this! Don’t you think you will!”

  “Come on, Julie,” Harry said persuasively, but he kept at a safe distance. “Leave the old geezer alone. You’ve given him a fright, and he won’t try that on again.”

  She turned on him.

  “You’ve lost me my job!” she exclaimed. “It’s all very well for you to stand there grinning. What am I going to do now?”

  Harry was thinking, “I said something would turn up, and it has. It couldn’t have worked out better.”

  “What are you going to do about it?” Julie demanded, calming down. She suddenly realized what it would mean not to work at the café again. To find another job worth twelve pounds a week would be impossible. “Oh! Damn you! I wish I’d never seen you. I wish I hadn’t helped you.”

  “Now don’t get excited. Come on. We’ll talk this over. I have a car outside. I’ll take you home.”

  She went with him because she didn’t know what else to do. If she had been alone she would have gone back to Hewart and apologized. But Harry pushed her along, his hand on her elbow. He had got her away from Hewart, and he had no intention of letting her get back again.