1952 - The Wary Transgressor

by James Hadley Chase

  I stood on the hot platform feeling thoroughly jaded as I waited for the Paris train to arrive. I had had only an hour or so of sleep. The conversation I had overheard last night haunted me.

  When I had gone up to the villa to lift Bruno, I had been shocked to see such a change in him. He looked so ill I wanted to send for Dr. Perelli, but Laura, who didn't leave me alone with him for a moment, wouldn't hear of it.

  "He's being stupid about Valeria," she said impatiently. "Please don't meddle with what doesn't concern you, David. He'll be all right when she arrives."

  "But he's ill I tell you!"

  "Don't fuss," she said sharply. "Dr. Perelli's coming to lunch. He can see him then."

  The look Bruno gave me as I lifted him told me he believed Laura's story about me, and I was glad to get out of the sickroom.

  He must have spent a hellish night by himself, knowing there Was nothing he could do to stop Laura carrying out her sadistic and murderous plan. It was a wonder the poor devil hadn't gone out of his mind.

  As I paced up and down the platform I thought how lucky I had been to overhear her plan. I was now forewarned and prepared. I had had a narrow escape, but now I knew what she planned to do, I could put a stop to her scheme easily enough.

  She relied on my being at the villa for the scheme to operate at all. But I was going to take good care not to be at the villa on Friday night. If I wasn't there she wouldn't dare go ahead. Some time on Thursday evening, when it would be too late for her to organize another plan, but not too late for her to warn Bellini that her scheme had flopped, I would tell her I was going to be in Milan on Friday night.

  No matter what happened I was determined to leave the villa for good on Friday morning. If she threatened to give me away to the police, I would threaten to give her away to Perelli. Thinking about it, I was satisfied this was stalemate, and I would make her realize it.

  A white finger of smoke against the blue sky interrupted my thoughts. The train came into sight round the bend. I moved over to the entrance to the station and took up a position where I would have a good view of the passengers as they came out.

  I had no idea what Valeria Fancino looked like, and I tried hopelessly to pick her out from the crowd of passengers as they began to swarm into the station yard.

  "It's David, isn't it?"

  I turned sharply.

  A girl stood before me, looking up at me.

  She was young and dark and straight shouldered. She was pretty too, small featured with big brown sparkling eyes. She made an irresistibly attractive picture as she smiled up at me.

  "Why, sure," I said, startled. "How did you know?"

  She laughed.

  "Oh, Maria sends me all the gossip. She said you were tall, dark and handsome, and an American. How's Bruno?"

  "He's looking forward to seeing you," I said cautiously.

  "I should never have left him. Well, I'm back now, thank goodness, and I won't leave him again."

  I couldn't keep my eyes of her. Her bubbling energy, her fresh young beauty and her natural unspoilt manner hypnotized me.

  "Have I a smut on my nose or something?" she asked, laughing. "You're staring at me as if I were something out of a zoo."

  I felt myself turn hot.

  "Excuse me, signorina. Have you much luggage?"

  "Masses of it, I'm afraid." She waved towards two sweating porters who were struggling with a heap of luggage. "They're supposed to be looking after it."

  "I'll take care of it," I said. "Will you wait in the cab over there? I won't keep you long."

  While I was supervising the loading of her luggage into another cab, I thought of the conversation I had listened to last night.

  This was the girl Laura coldbloodedly planned to murder! Up to now she had been just a name to me. I hadn't even considered her when I had stood in the shadows listening to Laura's ruthless plan. I had been shocked by what I had heard, but not because Laura was going to murder this girl, but rather because she planned to implicate me in her scheme.

  As we drove down to the harbour, surrounded by luggage, she in one cab and I in another, I realized I couldn't possibly leave a girl like this to stand up alone against Laura and Bellini. Up to this moment I had been thinking only of myself. Now, I realized that upsetting Laura's plan this time wouldn't mean that she would give up the plan. I would save myself from getting involved, but Valeria would still be in danger. Sooner or later Laura would try again. She wouldn't give up easily. Thinking about it, I knew I had a problem on my hands; a problem that had to be solved.

  We reached the harbour. While the two cabmen and I got the luggage on board, Valeria stood in the shade and watched us. When I had got the last piece on board and had paid of the cabmen, she came down to the boat.

  "Thank you so much," she said as I helped her into the boat.

  "I don't know what I should have done without you. May I handle her? I can see how beautifully you keep her. I'm really quite good with her. At least, Bruno always said so."

  "Go ahead."

  I took the seat just behind her.

  She manoeuvred the boat out of the harbour like a veteran, opened up the engine, and sent the boat shooting across the Lago.

  "It's wonderful to be back," she said, glancing over her shoulder at me. "Isn't this a lovely spot? I think it's the most beautiful place in the world."

  "Well, it's one of them," I returned. "I'll be sorry to leave it."

  And as I said this I realized I should be still more sorry to leave now she had arrived. '

  "But you aren't going away, are you?"

  "Yes. I'm leaving on Monday. Signora Fancino is looking for someone to take my place."

  "Do you want to leave?"

  "Not exactly, but I have other work to do."

  "But must you go? Maria tells me you have been reading to Bruno, and have done him a lot of good."

  I thought of the way Bruno had looked at me this morning. I might have done him some good during the past days, but I wasn't going to do him any good now.

  "I want to get on with my book."

  "Oh." She showed her disappointment. "I'm sorry. I was hoping to hear about your book. I know quite a lot about cathedrals myself. I used to go around with Bruno when he was working for the Minister of Fine Arts."

  "That's the way it is," I said, and changing the subject, asked about her stay in Paris.

  She talked gaily all the way across the Lago, and when we edged into the harbour I was sorry the trip was over.

  "How on earth are you going to get all this luggage up to the villa?" she asked as she jumped from the boat on to the harbour wall.

  "I'll fix it. I'll take the boat further upshore and borrow Bicci's truck. He'll give me a hand."

  "Oh, Bicci! Is he still in the land of the living? I used to be his favourite woman years ago," she said, laughing. “Tell him I'll come down as soon as I can and pay him my respects. Thank you for meeting me, and for looking after my luggage."

  I watched her run up the harbour steps, her short skirts billowing out in the breeze, her long, slim legs bounding from step to step, and I drew in a long, slow breath.

  She remained a vivid picture in my mind as I reversed the boat out of the harbour and headed upshore.

  I had just finished manhandling Valeria's luggage and was returning to the truck when I saw Dr. Perelli coming towards me.

  "What's been happening since last I was here?" he demanded, his black beady eyes searching my face.

  "Nothing unusual, signore," I said.

  "You saw the state signor Fancino was in this morning?"

  "Signora Fancino said he was overexcited at the thought of seeing his daughter again."

  "Rubbish! Something has happened. He is worried almost out of his mind. You can see that, can't you?"

  "I thought he looked depressed," I said cautiously.

  "That's scarcely the right word. He had made repeated attempts to convey something to me, and I'm sure he had had a great shock."<
br />
  "Perhaps the excitement."

  "Nonsense! This is much more than excitement. Well, if you don't know anything about it, there's no use talking about it."

  He got into his car and started the engine. "I shall be in tomorrow. He is not to be disturbed. Do you understand?"

  "Yes, signore."

  "You're quite sure you don't know what has upset him?"

  "I'm quite sure."

  He gave me a long, suspicious stare, then engaged gear and drove away.

  I returned to the villa, my mind busy. As I reached the front door, Laura appeared.

  "Dr. Perelli seems anxious about Bruno," she said, and I could see she was uneasy. "I think he's making a fuss about nothing, but he's left instructions that Bruno must have complete rest and quiet. Did he tell you?"

  "Yes."

  "It's unfortunate for Valeria, but there it is. I've asked her to go to Pallanza this afternoon. There are some things I want. You had better go with her. I don't want her to go alone."

  I remembered what she had said to Bellini last night.

  We can't do it before Friday. We can't afford to make mistakes. Besides, David must have time to get to know her. That's more important than anything.

  Obviously she didn't intend to waste any time.

  "All right," I said. "Will you be coming?"

  "No, David. I have other things to do." She gave me an inquisitive stare. "What do you think of Valeria?"

  "What is there to think?"

  "Don't you find she's pretty?"

  "I suppose she is."

  Her eyes hardened.

  "You don't sound very enthusiastic David. I thought all American men fell for young and pretty girls."

  "Did you? That's not very sound reasoning. You might just as well say that all American women fall for cigar smoking thugs, but I assure you they don't."

  I walked past her, and up the path to the truck.

  I had hoped to tell Bruno I had overheard Laura talking to him last night, and to assure him nothing was going to happen to Valeria on Friday. But now it didn't look as if I would get the opportunity of being alone with him.

  I knew how he must be suffering, but it would be too dangerous to insist on seeing him alone. Whatever happened, I mustn't give Laura any idea that I knew what she was planning to do.

  After lunch I did make an attempt to see him, but I was immediately sent about my business by Nurse Fleming.

  Worried and uneasy, I went down the harbour steps to the boat.

  Valeria was waiting for me. Her face was clouded and unhappy.

  "What can be the matter with Bruno?" she asked as I got into the boat. "He looks dreadful. Laura says it's because he's overexcited at seeing me again, but I just don't believe it."

  "It doesn't seem likely."

  "Now Nurse won't let me see him. It's too bad. I'm sure I could brighten him up."

  "It's not Nurse Fleming's fault," I reminded her. "Dr. Perelli tells me your father must have complete rest and quiet."

  "Do you think Laura knows something about this?"

  "I have no idea. Let's forget it, shall we?"

  "I don't want to forget it!" she said sharply. "I think she's upset Bruno. You've been here a week now. You must have seen she doesn't give a damn about him. She never has cared. I think she's at the bottom of this relapse of his."

  "Aren't you rather jumping to conclusions?"

  She faced me, her chin tilted and her eyes determined.

  "It wouldn't surprise me if you knew more about this than you make out!"

  "Well, I don't," I said. "It's no use getting worked up about it. You won't help him, and you'll only make yourself miserable. Come on, let's go. Do you want to handle her?"

  "No, I don't think I will. You do it."

  As I reversed the boat out of the harbour, she went on, "David, if you know anything about this, you would tell me, wouldn't you?"

  "Of course I would," I said. "Relax, will you?"

  I opened the engine up and sent the boat shooting through the water towards Pallanza.

  We spent some time wandering through the narrow streets of the town. When Valeria had bought the various things Laura wanted, we went down to the harbour.

  Time passed quickly in her company. I found her easy to talk to, and we both had similar viewpoints on many things.

  We sat in the shade, and she asked me about my book. Once launched on that subject, answering her questions, and discussing the various cathedrals and works of art we both knew, sent the hands of my wristwatch whizzing round.

  "Do you realize the time?" she said suddenly, jumping to her feet. "It's nearly seven, and Bruno will be waiting to go to bed."

  "It won't take us long to get back," I said, and we both ran down to the boat.

  We got back in twenty minutes, and she thanked me for giving her such an enjoyable afternoon.

  "Don't thank me," I said, smiling at her. "I enjoyed it myself."

  Both Laura and Nurse Fleming remained in the room when I lifted Bruno from the chair to the bed.

  I had an impression that he was shrinking from my touch as I lifted him. It was an unnerving experience to know I now excited fear in him.

  His face was grey and drawn, and his eyes sunken. It was plain to see his mind was in a turmoil, and his suffering acute.

  Nurse Fleming bustled me out of the room as soon as I had put him on the bed, and Laura followed me out.

  "He is going to remain in bed tomorrow. Don't come up in the morning. If you want to make yourself useful take Valeria off my hands. I don't want her to keep coming in and out. She only upsets Bruno. Take her out for the day: to Milan if you like."

  I looked at her.

  "You're suddenly very concerned about Bruno's health, aren't you?"

  "I'll tell Valeria to be ready at half past nine tomorrow morning. You can have the car," and she went back into Bruno's room, shutting the door in my face.

  The rest of the evening, until I went to bed, I spent wrestling with my newfound problem: how to make Valeria safe, and yet keep out of trouble myself.

  The obvious solution would be to go to Perelli, but I didn't trust him not to give me away.

  One false move on my part and I would have the police after me. The situation was dangerous and tricky, and although I racked my brains for a way out, I couldn't think of one that would make Valeria safe and yet not involve me in a manhunt once more.

  I had only three more days to decide what to do.

  Finally, just before I fell asleep, I decided to carry out my original plan to be away from the villa on Friday night, and hope that Bellini would get tired of waiting and take himself off. Then I would have to think of some way of neutralizing Laura permanently.

  I was waiting at the garage the following morning at half past nine when Valeria joined me.

  "Laura says I'm to go to Milan with you," she said, frowning.

  "Do you want to go?"

  "If you want to."

  "Well, I do, but I don't like being treated like a child. She practically ordered me to go. For two pins I'd stay right here just to show her I won't take orders from her."

  "If you want to go, let's go," I said, smiling at her determined expression.

  "I must be back in time to see Dr. Perelli when he comes. He said he would be in at lunchtime."

  "Then that settles it. We wouldn't have time to go to Milan and get back again by lunchtime. Suppose we go over to Stresa for the morning and do Milan tomorrow?"

  We agreed to do that.

  We spent a very pleasant morning in Stresa, looking at the shops and watching the tourists embark on the vaporetto for a visit to Pallanza.

  Valeria asked me about the fighting in Southern Italy, and I told her about some of the things I had seen and done, and about the liberation of Rome.

  Conversation came easily, and I found her a delightful companion. As before, time slipped away quickly, and we got back only just in time to catch Perelli as he was leaving.

&
nbsp; He looked thoughtful as we came up to him.

  "How is he, doctor?" Valeria asked anxiously.

  "Much the same," he returned. "He's had a severe shock, and something is preying on his mind. I wish I could find out what it is. However, I've given him a sedative, and he should sleep most of the time. I don't want anyone to disturb him. I've told Laura to keep away from him, and you must too. Nurse Fleming can do all that's necessary. She won't be going away this weekend. It's probable, after a good rest, he'll begin to make progress again, but until he does, he mustn't have visitors."

  I immediately wondered how Laura had reacted to this news.

  Her plan would have to be postponed if Nurse Fleming wasn't going away, and she must be furious with herself for so upsetting Bruno.

  And at the same time I was relieved to think I now had time to work out a plan to make Valeria permanently safe.

  Perelli glanced at me.

  "I heard you intend to leave this Monday. Is that right?"

  "Well, yes," I said, suddenly reluctant to be final about my leaving. "I did think of going."

  "I would be glad if you would stay on another week. If he improves I shall want him to get some sunshine, and that'll mean lifting him again. I don't want him to have a stranger to handle him until he gets a little stronger. Do you think you could stay on another week?"

  I hesitated.

  "Please stay," Valeria said. "I know Bruno dislikes changes. It would help him if you did stay. Will you?"

  "Well, yes, I'll stay," I said, more willing than I sounded. "I'll be glad to."

  Perelli nodded.

  "There won't be much for you to do this week, but next week I hope to get him over this setback, and it might be an idea to get him down into the garden. What he really needs is a complete change of scene. I'm tempted to move him to the Regina at Stresa for a week if he makes reasonable progress."

  "That's a wonderful idea," Valeria said enthusiastically. "He isn't in danger, is he, doctor?"

  Perelli shook his head.

  "Oh, no. His heart's sound enough, but he's had a bad shock. You mustn't worry about him. Let him rest. In the meantime, you get around and enjoy yourself. I'd tell you if there was something really to worry about."

  He nodded to me and gave Valeria an affectionate pat on her arm.