Knock, Knock! Who's There?

by James Hadley Chase

  TEN

  They had been driving for over an hour in silence. Johnny kept the car moving but he was careful to keep just under the speed limit. He knew it would be a disaster for both of them if they were stopped by a speed cop. He longed to let the powerful car out and put more mileage behind him, but he restrained him- self.

  He by-passed Daytona Beach, anxious not to get snarled up in any heavy traffic, and kept on up highway 1, heading north. As he drove, his mind was active. From time to time, he glanced at Freda who was staring through the windshield, her face white, her eyes blank. He could see the shock was still hitting her. Well, now they were out in the open, he thought and in a stolen car. He was safe enough for another two hours, then he would have to get rid of the car.

  All kinds of problems crowded in on him, but he refused to be panicked. They now knew he was wearing a beard so that had to come off. They knew he wore khaki drill. He would have to change his clothes. Salvadore would give them a description of Freda. He looked at her blonde, silky hair. That was like a beacon to anyone hunting for them. That would have to be fixed.

  Suddenly she said, “Where are we going?”

  He drew in a deep breath of relief.

  “How are you feeling, baby?”

  “I’m all right.” Her voice was shaky. “Where are we going?”

  “We’re driving north. We have another two hours before they start wondering. In two hours we’ll be at St. David’s Bay. We’ll stop there. It’s a vacation town: packed with tourists and cars. We’ll have to get rid of this car. Don’t worry. Take it easy. Leave it to me.”

  “Oh, Johnny, I’m frightened!” She put her hand on his thigh. “Did you have to kill them?”

  “I warned you, baby, this is the Mafia. You kill or get killed,” Johnny said quietly. “I still think we have a chance. I’ll tell you now: there’s $186,000 in those bags. I’m telling you because you are now in this mess as much as I am. I’m sorry, but you are and you’ve got to realize it. There’s still a good chance we can get the money and get away with it.”

  “A hundred and eighty-six thousand!” Her voice shot up. “But, Johnny, that’s a fortune!”

  “That’s it. Well, you know now. It’s a gamble: our lives against that money. If I get it, we’ll share it. I mean that.”

  “So what do we do?”

  “When we get to St. David’s Bay, go to a hairdresser and get them to tint your hair any colour you like, but the word will have gone out to look for a blonde. I’ll get this beard off. We’ve got to buy clothes. I’ve got the money. You don’t have to worry about that. Then we’ve got to ditch this car. We’ll take a Greyhound bus to Brunswick. There we’ll hole up and wait. We have enough money. We can wait two months if we have to. Then when my contact in East City tells me the heat is off, we go collect the money.”

  “Do you think we’ll get it?”

  “If we don’t, we’re dead,” he said, knowing this was the truth.

  It was 09.50 when they drove into St. David’s Bay. Johnny saw a vast free car park by the beach crammed with cars and caravans.

  “This is where we ditch the car.” He drove into the car park. It took him several minutes to find a space, but he found one. “From now on we walk.”

  He unlocked his suitcase and took out what was left of Sammy’s money.

  “This is how much we have got,” he said and counted the money while she watched him. “Two thousand, eight hundred and fiftyseven dollars. I want you to see this, baby. I want you to know that from now on we are together, partners.” He counted out a thousand and handed her the bills. “You have this, just in case something happens to me. Go find a hairdresser and get your hair fixed, then buy clothes. Don’t spend much. We could have to live on this for some time. Be careful what you buy: nothing that’ll catch the eye. We’ll be husband and wife. I’ve been thinking. We two are on vacation, travelling Greyhound and seeing the country. I’m giving you the background. We take a room in some little hotel in Brunswick. You tell them I’ve a bad heart and I have to take it easy. We won’t go out much. You think it was a mistake for us to come so far. I’m in need of a rest. We sign in as Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jackson from Pittsburgh. This is only rough thinking. We’ll polish it later.”

  She put the money he had given her in her bag, then she looked at him.

  “While I’m getting my hair fixed, Johnny, do you plan to leave me?”

  This shocked him. For a long moment, he stared at her, then smiled.

  “Ask yourself. It’s only in oneself that one knows trust, baby.”

  Closing the suitcase, he got out of the car.

  She joined him.

  “I’m sorry.” She touched his arm. “I’ve known so many men. I’m so sick of myself! I don’t know who to trust.”

  “If you can’t trust me by now, baby,” he said gently, “then you’re in real trouble. Come on, let’s go.”

  They walked into the town. Although it was early, the tourists were out in force, heading for the beach. Half-way down the Main street, Johnny spotted the Greyhound bus station.

  “We meet there.” He pointed. “Be as quick as you can. I’ll wait for you… you wait for me. Okay?”

  She hated him leaving her.

  “Johnny… I’m scared to be on my own… really scared.”

  He smiled at her.

  “But, baby, we’re always alone. I’ve been alone all my life and so have you. Just get your hair fixed and buy some clothes. You’d better buy a hold-all.” He looked around. “Up there on the left: a Ladies’ hairdressers. Get your hair fixed first.”

  “Yes.” She forced a smile. “See you, Johnny.”

  “That’s one thing you can be sure of.”

  They parted and Johnny went in search of a barber.

  Luigi was occupied with his Maitre d’hotel, arranging the menu for the following day when his telephone bell rang. The time was 11.05. He reached for the receiver as he said, “Give ’em duck. We’ve got too many ducks in the freezer.” Then into the mouthpiece, he said, “Who is it?”

  “This is Joe!” Massino’s voice was tight with rage. “What’s happening? I’ve been waiting! What did that whore say?”

  Luigi stiffened. He had been so occupied with the routine work of his restaurant, he had completely forgotten he had sent Bernie and Clive out to Little Creek.

  “Still waiting, Joe. I should hear any minute. The moment I hear I’ll call you back.”

  “What the hell are those punks doing?” Massino bawled. “Get me some action!” and he hung up.

  Luigi was now worried. He had told those two to see the girl at 06.00. Five hours ago! He snatched up the receiver. “Get Capello here!” he barked, cut the connection, then dialled Salvadore’s number. “What’s going on?” he demanded. “Bernie and Clive were supposed to see this whore at six this morning. What’s happening?”

  “I don’t know.” Salvadore said. “I haven’t seen them. Hold for a moment.” After a minute or so, he came back on the line. “Just looked at the houseboat through my glasses. No sign of life.”

  “I’m sending Capello. Go with him and find out what’s happening.” Luigi’s voice was now a snarl. “Call me back pronto.”

  An hour later, as Little Creek’s church clock was striking twelve, Toni arrived at the store in a car Luigi had lent him. Salvadore was waiting for him.

  “What gives?” Salvadore asked.

  “I don’t know. We’ve got to get over there and find out.”

  They climbed into Salvadore’s boat and headed across the lake to the houseboat. Toni was first on deck, gun in hand. He was sweating and he had a hell of a headache from his heavy drinking the previous evening. Salvadore tied up and joined him. They went through the deserted houseboat, then Toni saw an envelope lying on the table. He opened it and read the message.

  “Hey! Look at this! That bastard was here all the time! They’ve gone off together!”

  “But where’s Bernie and Clive?” Salvadore looked around,
then knelt, putting his hand on the worn carpet. “Been recently washed.” The two men looked at each other, then Salvadore went out on deck, staring into the clear water on the lake. Toni joined him.

  “You think he knocked them off?”

  “How the hell do I know?” Salvadore went back into the livingroom and shoved the table aside. He found a small patch of dried blood that Johnny had missed in spite of his careful cleaning up. “Look.”

  Toni peered over his shoulder.

  “So he did knock them off,” he said huskily.

  “Yeah and he’s taken their car. You’d better talk to Mr. Luigi and fast.”

  Twenty-five minutes later, Toni was reporting to Luigi. Five minutes later, Luigi was reporting to Massino.

  Massino was so incensed he could hardly speak. Finally, he screamed, “You get nothing from me! I’ll talk to the Big Man! You’re as useless as a broken leg!”

  “Take it easy, Joe. I’ve alerted the cops to find the car,” Luigi said, sweating. “I’ve lost two good men. You can’t talk this way to me.”

  “No? You’ll see! I’ll give you thirty-six hours to find them or I talk to the Big Man!” and Massino slammed down the receiver.

  Luigi thought for a long moment, then he put a call through to his Don who ruled Florida. He explained the situation, and gave a detailed description of Johnny and Freda.

  “Okay,” the Don said. “As soon as the cops have located the car, let me know. We’ll find them.”

  “Massino says he gives me thirty-six hours. He’s raging mad,” Luigi said uneasily.

  The Don laughed. “Forget it. Massino’s just a bag of wind. I’ll talk to the Big Man myself,” and he hung up.

  Freda stood outside the Greyhound bus station, clutching a small hold-all. She had been waiting for twenty minutes. She looked constantly from left to right, but she could see no sign of Johnny. Her heart was beating violently and she felt sick with fear.

  “You sucker!” she told herself. “Of course he’s walked out on you! What did you expect? All that money! Why should he share it? $186,000 ! To think so much money exists! Men! God! How I hate them! They’ve only one thought in their filthy minds!”

  “Sorry to keep you waiting, baby. I scarcely recognize you. You look great.”

  She spun around, staring at the short, thick-set man at her side, her heart leaping. For a moment she didn’t know him. He was clean shaven except for his heavy moustache and he had had his head shaved, Yul Brynner style. He was wearing grey flannel slacks, a white shirt and a lightweight dark-blue jacket.

  “Oh, Johnny!”

  She made a move towards him, her voice breaking, but he drew back.

  “Watch it!” The snap in his voice stiffened her. “Later. I’ve got the tickets. It held me up. Come on, let’s go.”

  She was so relieved he hadn’t deserted her, she wanted to cry, but she controlled herself. She followed him to the bus and they climbed in.

  Johnny regarded her as they sat at the back of the bus, nodding his approval. She too had changed her appearance. She was now a red-head and it suited her. She was wearing a dark-green trouser suit and big sun goggles. He eyed every passenger who boarded the bus, but he saw no one to alert an alarm.

  It wasn’t until the bus began to roar along the freeway that he put his hand on hers.

  “You look really great, baby,” he said, “but I still like you better blonde. You got everything you want?”

  “Yes. I spent over a hundred dollars, Johnny.”

  “Okay, okay,” he said and again pressed her hand.

  “Oh, Johnny, I was scared… I began to wonder…”

  “We’re both scared, but it could work out. It’s worth a try, isn’t it?”

  She thought of all that money: $186,000!

  “Yes.”

  They sat in silence for some minutes, then Johnny said, “Look, baby, I want you to know your position. I know this is a bit late in the day, but I have it on my mind. There’s still time for you to opt out… at least I think so. Maybe we’ve left it too late, but maybe, you still have a chance of opting out.”

  She stared at him, her eyes widening.

  “I don’t know what you’re saying.”

  “I keep thinking about it,” Johnny said. “I keep asking myself if I should drag you into this. Sooner or later they will catch up with me. When the Mafia sign goes up, you’re as good as dead. I mean this, but with luck, if I get the money, if I can buy my boat I’ll settle for twelve months. I could be more than lucky and it might be three years… but no more. Who goes with me also gets the sign. They may not bother with you right now, but if they find out we are together when they catch up with me… and they will eventually… then it’ll be the end of your days as it will be the end of mine.”

  She shivered.

  “I don’t want to hear this, Johnny. Please…”

  “You’ve got to hear it. There’s a chance. We could survive three years. We’d be beating the odds if we survive longer, but sooner or later, they’ll get me and, baby, please think about what I’m saying. Don’t imagine if they get me they’ll forget you. They don’t work like that. They’ll come after you. You could hide, but sooner or later there’ll come a knock on your door and it’ll be them. I want you with me, but I want you to realize the risk. Think about it. We stand a chance, but not for long. If I get the money, I’ll fix it you get a big cut. This I promise you so you don’t have to worry about losing out. In half an hour we’ll get to Jacksonville. You could get off there and get lost. They could forget about you while hunting for me. You have some money now. You know how to take care of yourself. I hate to say it, but I feel it in my bones for your safety you should get off at Jacksonville.”

  She closed her eyes, feeling the jogging motion of the bus and she tried to think, but nothing came into her mind except that immense sum of money: $186,000!

  Three years of life?

  With all that money she could have a ball of a time!

  So suppose they caught up with them as Johnny seemed to think they would? So, suppose they walked in and shot them to death as Johnny had shot those two apes to death?

  What was death anyway? She tried to believe it as an escape.

  But three years with $186,000… that would be living!

  She sat there, her eyes closed and reviewed her own life. What a stinking, hell of a life! Her dreary home, her dreary parents, the gruesome men in and out of her life, Ed and the boredom!

  But at the back of her mind was the fear of the moment when a knock could come on the door. She forced the fear away and opened her eyes. Somehow she managed to smile.

  “You and me, Johnny, together. I don’t opt out.”

  The bus roared north and they sat, hand in hand, silent now, but both knowing whatever the future, they could now trust each other.

  Sammy the Black rolled out of bed around 07.30. Feeling depressed and half asleep, he went into the shower room. Fifteen minutes later he emerged, shaved and showered and started the coffee perculator.

  He had a number of reasons for feeling depressed, but the main reason which had kept him awake half the night was that Cloe had got herself pregnant again. How the hell this could have happened defeated Sammy. She swore she was on the pill, and now she was yelling for a quick abortion… and that cost! They had had a distressing meeting last night. She demanded $300!

  “I’m not having any of your bastards!” she had shrilled. “Come on… give me the money!”

  But he had no money. Johnny had taken all his savings. He didn’t tell her this, but he did say he had no $300.

  She had stared at him, her big, black eyes glittering.

  “Okay, if you haven’t the bread, I’ll look elsewhere. Jacko wants me and he’ll pay.”

  Sammy had regarded her: lush, tall, with a body like a goddess, and his heart quailed. He couldn’t lose her! He knew Jacko: a big, black buck who was always on the fringe of her life, waiting.

  “Give me a little time, honey,”
he pleaded. “I’ll get the money somehow.”

  “I’ll give you six days… no more!”

  That was one problem: then his goddamn brother was again in trouble. Sammy’s mother had come to him. Only a matter of $150. “You can’t let your brother go to jail!”

  Sammy had promised to do’ something… but what?

  Then his job as Mr. Joe’s chauffeur. Driving a Rolls had sounded fine. The grey uniform with its black piping had made Sammy proud and happy, but he quickly learned this was a job without a song. He was on constant call. After he had driven Mr. Joe to his office, he had to rush back up town to take Mrs. Joe shopping and, man! was she a bitch! She always seemed to want to go to some shop where parking was impossible and he had to circle and circle, getting snarled up in the traffic, and if he kept her waiting did she curse him and could she curse! Sammy thought wistfully of those days when he had collected the Numbers money with Johnny. He had been scared, but being scared was better than this rat-race. Then in the evening Mr. and Mrs. Joe went to nightclubs and he had to sit in the car until after 02.00 waiting for them. He had to keep the car immaculate or Mrs. Joe would curse him. What a mug he had been to take this job!

  Wearily, he got into his uniform. He had to pick up Mr. Joe at nine. It took him a good half hour to drive up town against the traffic. As he was sipping his coffee, his telephone bell rang. He winced. This could be Cloe, screaming at him again. He hesitated, then lifted the receiver as if it were a ticking bomb.

  “Sammy?”

  A rush of cold blood went down his spine and he began to shake. This was too much!

  Johnny!

  “Yeah… this is me,” Sammy said huskily.

  “Listen, Sammy, I want you to go to the Greyhound bus station and take a look around. I want to know if it’s still staked out.”

  “Mr. Johnny… I can’t! I’ve got enough troubles. You took my money. Cloe is in trouble again. My brother is in trouble again. Everyone is yelling me!” Sammy was close to tears. “Please leave me alone.”

  “This is important, Sammy!” Johnny’s voice was hard. “You’ve got to do it! You do it and I promise you I’ll give you back your money plus another three thousand dollars I promise you!”