I Would Rather Stay Poor (9 page)
Read I Would Rather Stay Poor Online
Authors: James Hadley Chase
‘What happens next?’ Calvin lifted his head to look at her.
‘Alice exchanges that awful hat of hers for
a
halo. At least, I hope it is a halo. That’s what happens next.’
‘Alice exchanges that awful hat of hers for
a
halo. At least, I hope it is a halo. That’s what happens next.’
Kit huddled down in the chair, her face growing paler.
‘In other words, Alice dies,’ Calvin said. ‘At five minutes to seven, and you must be dead on time, you’ll arrive by the back entrance. You’ll put on Alice’s hat and coat and we will leave the bank together
by the front entrance. While I am locking up, you wi
ll
go over to where my car is parked and get in. You
mustn’t hurry or loiter. This w
ill be the most dangerous part of the plan, but the sheriff or Travers must see Alice leave the bank. I don’t see why it should come unst
uck. It will be dark. You will w
alk under two or three street lights on the way to the car. The mustard-coloured coat should convince either the sheriff or Travers he is seeing Alice leave. How do you like it so far?’
by the front entrance. While I am locking up, you wi
ll
go over to where my car is parked and get in. You
mustn’t hurry or loiter. This w
ill be the most dangerous part of the plan, but the sheriff or Travers must see Alice leave the bank. I don’t see why it should come unst
uck. It will be dark. You will w
alk under two or three street lights on the way to the car. The mustard-coloured coat should convince either the sheriff or Travers he is seeing Alice leave. How do you like it so far?’
‘Go on,’ Kit said, a rasp in her voice. ‘Then
w
hat happens?’
w
hat happens?’
‘We drive back here. The old people will be watching the serial on television. You’ll hang up Alice’s hat and coat. Then we’ll stage a little scene for the benefit of the old people. You’ll go upstairs and I’ll call out, loud enough for them to hear, that you should go to bed. They’ll imagine, of course,
I am talking to Alice. When they come in for dinner, I’ll tell them that Alice
had a bad head
ache and has gone to bed. You will tell them you have been up to see her, given her aspirin and she is sleeping.’
I am talking to Alice. When they come in for dinner, I’ll tell them that Alice
had a bad head
ache and has gone to bed. You will tell them you have been up to see her, given her aspirin and she is sleeping.’
‘What really has happened to her?’ Kit asked.
‘Her body will be left in my office,’ Calvin said.
Kit stiffened, her hands closing into fists.
‘You
–
you’re going to leave her there?’
‘Don’t let’s rush this,’ Calvin said. ‘Let’s go through it step by step. We will have dinner. After dinner, I’
ll watch television w
ith the old people and then go up to my room. I’ll dress up as Johnny Acres. I’
ll
have to walk to the bank
. It’ll
take me a good hour. I will have left the back entrance open. I’
ll
remove a
ll
the electric lamps from their sockets except the lamp in the vault, then I’ll turn on the light switches. That w
i
ll put the electronic eye out of action. I’
ll
have Alice’s key to
th
e vault. I’
ll
break open the boxes containing the payro
l
l and transfer the money to one of the deed boxes in the vault.’
ll watch television w
ith the old people and then go up to my room. I’ll dress up as Johnny Acres. I’
ll
have to walk to the bank
. It’ll
take me a good hour. I will have left the back entrance open. I’
ll
remove a
ll
the electric lamps from their sockets except the lamp in the vault, then I’ll turn on the light switches. That w
i
ll put the electronic eye out of action. I’
ll
have Alice’s key to
th
e vault. I’
ll
break open the boxes containing the payro
l
l and transfer the money to one of the deed boxes in the vault.’
Kit leaned forward.
‘Why do that? Why not bring the money here?’
‘The safest place in which to keep money is in a bank,’ Calvin said. ‘They w
i
ll never think of looking for the payro
ll
in one of those deed boxes. I’m sure
…
if s a foolproof
h
iding place. We can’t use the money for some time and that’s where it is going to be hidden.’
i
ll never think of looking for the payro
ll
in one of those deed boxes. I’m sure
…
if s a foolproof
h
iding place. We can’t use the money for some time and that’s where it is going to be hidden.’
She hesitated, then realising the shrewdn
ess of this idea, she shrugged.
ess of this idea, she shrugged.
‘Well, go on
…
’
‘Now it is your turn to come to the bank. You’
l
l also have to walk. It would be fatal for the old people to hear a car start up.
The time now wi
l
l be around three o’clock
. You’ll have to be care
ful your daughter doesn’t hear you leave. What time do
es she get back from Downside?’
l
l also have to walk. It would be fatal for the old people to hear a car start up.
The time now wi
l
l be around three o’clock
. You’ll have to be care
ful your daughter doesn’t hear you leave. What time do
es she get back from Downside?’
‘Around two.’
‘Okay. I’ll have to watch out I don
’
t run into her. By the time you leave, she should be asleep, but be careful. At that hour no one should be around, but on the way to the bank, you’ll have to be sure no one sees you. You know where we have left the Lincoln
…
at the back of the bank. Go there, move the car close to the back entrance of the bank and wait. You’ll remain in the ca
r. You w
ill, of course, be wearing Alice’s hat and coat. I’ll bring her out and put her in the boot.’
’
t run into her. By the time you leave, she should be asleep, but be careful. At that hour no one should be around, but on the way to the bank, you’ll have to be sure no one sees you. You know where we have left the Lincoln
…
at the back of the bank. Go there, move the car close to the back entrance of the bank and wait. You’ll remain in the ca
r. You w
ill, of course, be wearing Alice’s hat and coat. I’ll bring her out and put her in the boot.’
Kit took
a
handkerchief fr
om the top of her stocking and w
iped her sweating face. In a voice she tried to make nonchalant, she said, ‘Why not leave her in the bank?’
a
handkerchief fr
om the top of her stocking and w
iped her sweating face. In a voice she tried to make nonchalant, she said, ‘Why not leave her in the bank?’
‘I want to give Johnny Acres plenty of time to get away,’ Calvin said. ‘We
’
ll drive to Downside. There’s
a
fil
l
ing station on the main road and we
’ll
stop there. I’ll buy gas and let the attendant get
a
look at me as Johnny, of course. You wil
l
remain in the car. You’
ll
shield your face, but I want him to see the coat
. While
he is filling the tank, you and I wil
l
start an argument about the last train out from
’
Frisco. I want
him
to imagine that we’re going to
’
Frisco.’ He stubbed out
his
cigarette and
l
it another. ‘There’s one thing I’ve forgotten to tel
l you. The day before we do the j
ob, you must drive to Downside in your car and leave it in the station car park. You
’ll
have to come back by train. We must have your c
ar waiting for us to come back
in. Got that?’
’
ll drive to Downside. There’s
a
fil
l
ing station on the main road and we
’ll
stop there. I’ll buy gas and let the attendant get
a
look at me as Johnny, of course. You wil
l
remain in the car. You’
ll
shield your face, but I want him to see the coat
. While
he is filling the tank, you and I wil
l
start an argument about the last train out from
’
Frisco. I want
him
to imagine that we’re going to
’
Frisco.’ He stubbed out
his
cigarette and
l
it another. ‘There’s one thing I’ve forgotten to tel
l you. The day before we do the j
ob, you must drive to Downside in your car and leave it in the station car park. You
’ll
have to come back by train. We must have your c
ar waiting for us to come back
in. Got that?’
She nodded.
‘Okay, after we have filed the tank, we drive to Downside and leave the Lincoln in the station car park. We’
ll
use your car to come home in. That’s the plan. What do you think?’
ll
use your car to come home in. That’s the plan. What do you think?’
Kit rubbed her forehead with a shaky hand.
‘It’s complicated,’ she said, not looking at
hi
m. ‘If you think it will work, I’
ll do i
t with you. I’m no good at making plans. I’ve got to leave a
ll
that to you. There is one thing
… if Alice is sup
posed to be running away, shouldn’t she take some of her clothes?’
hi
m. ‘If you think it will work, I’
ll do i
t with you. I’m no good at making plans. I’ve got to leave a
ll
that to you. There is one thing
… if Alice is sup
posed to be running away, shouldn’t she take some of her clothes?’
Calvin lifted
his
head off the pillow and he stared at her. Then he nodded.
his
head off the pillow and he stared at her. Then he nodded.
‘Of course
…
I had forgotten that
.
That’s important. And another thing, there
will
have to be two suitcases: one for her clothes and the other to carry the money in. The cases
will
have to be on the back seat so the gas attendant will see them. She must have a suitcase. Do you know where it is?’
…
I had forgotten that
.
That’s important. And another thing, there
will
have to be two suitcases: one for her clothes and the other to carry the money in. The cases
will
have to be on the back seat so the gas attendant will see them. She must have a suitcase. Do you know where it is?’
‘Probably in her room.’
‘Okay. Th
at’ll
be your job. You pack some of her clothes and bring the suitcases in the Linco
ln
. The gas attendant must report to the police he saw two suitcases.’
at’ll
be your job. You pack some of her clothes and bring the suitcases in the Linco
ln
. The gas attendant must report to the police he saw two suitcases.’
‘You real
l
y think this is going to work?’ Kit asked, leaning forward to stare at
him
.
l
y think this is going to work?’ Kit asked, leaning forward to stare at
him
.
‘I
t’ll
work,’ be said. ‘We’ll need some luck, but tha
t’
s not worrying me. We have three weeks. We must talk about it: think about it: polish it.’
t’ll
work,’ be said. ‘We’ll need some luck, but tha
t’
s not worrying me. We have three weeks. We must talk about it: think about it: polish it.’
‘How long will it be before we can spend the money?’
‘You’ve certainly got that subject on your mind, haven’t you?’ he said and grinned. ‘A month after the robbery, we’ll get married. Two months after we are married and you have sold this place, I’ll resign from the bank. You’l
l
be able to spend some of the money in three months’ time. You’ll be able to splash around with your share in three years’ time.’
l
be able to spend some of the money in three months’ time. You’ll be able to splash around with your share in three years’ time.’
‘You really think this is going to be safe?’
He looked fixedly at her, his eyes glittering.
‘It’s got to be safe. If it isn’t, you and I will probably run into Alice again
…
if we are lucky.’
…
if we are lucky.’
***
The following afternoon Calvin had a
visitor who surprised him. He w
as busy at his desk When a tap came on the door and thinking it was Alice he called to come in and went on working.
visitor who surprised him. He w
as busy at his desk When a tap came on the door and thinking it was Alice he called to come in and went on working.
‘Am I disturbing you?’
He looked up then and was startled to see Iris Loring standing before his desk. For a moment he stared fixedly at her, then
h
is fleshy face brightened and he smiled his charming smile as he got to his feet.
h
is fleshy face brightened and he smiled his charming smile as he got to his feet.
‘Why, this is a surprise. Sit down.’
Iris sat down. Calvin regarded
her curiously. He noted there was a w
orried expression in her grey-blue eyes.
her curiously. He noted there was a w
orried expression in her grey-blue eyes.
‘I hear you are going to become my step-father,’ she said. ‘Kit told me this morning.’
Cal
v
in sat back in his chair. He was thinking it would be much more amusing to
have this girl for a wife. She w
as so much younger, so much fresher and so much more sexually exciting than Kit.
v
in sat back in his chair. He was thinking it would be much more amusing to
have this girl for a wife. She w
as so much younger, so much fresher and so much more sexually exciting than Kit.
‘That’s right,’
he said. ‘I hope you approve.’
he said. ‘I hope you approve.’
‘If it will make Kit h
appy, then of course, I approve,
’ she said quietly.
‘I’ll make her happy,’ Calvin said, his charm very much in evidence.
She looked searchingly at
hi
m and he had an uneasy feeling that
hi
s charm wasn’t working the way it usually worked.
hi
m and he had an uneasy feeling that
hi
s charm wasn’t working the way it usually worked.
‘I’m worried about her,’ Iris said. ‘Tha
t’
s why I’m here. She’s got something on her mind. We’ve always been very close and I can tell when something’s bothering her. I’ve asked her, but she won’t tell me. Do you know what it is?’
t’
s why I’m here. She’s got something on her mind. We’ve always been very close and I can tell when something’s bothering her. I’ve asked her, but she won’t tell me. Do you know what it is?’
Calvin took out
his c
igarette case and offered it. Iris shook her head. He lit a cigarette and he wondered how this pretty little thing would react if he told her her mother was worried because between them they were planning to murder Alice and to steal three hundred thousand dollars from the bank.
‘Frankly, I think she’s worrying about you,’ Calvin said.
Iris looked sharply at him.
‘About me
…
why do you think that?’
‘We’ve talked about you. She doesn’t approve of you marrying young Travers.’ Calvin broadened his smile. ‘She is ambitious for you. She hopes you will marry a rich man
.
’
.
’
Iris flushed.
‘I’m going to marry Ken,’ she said. ‘I may have to wait until I’m twenty-one, but I intend to marry him.’
‘Good for you,’ Calvin said. ‘As your future step-father, I approve. I think he’s a fine boy and I think you’ll be very happy as his wife.’
He saw her relax.
‘Have you said that to Kit?’ she asked.
‘Yes. I told her you should marry him. I can’t see any obje
ctions, but I’ll talk to her
again. Don’t you worry about this. When Kit and I marry, I plan to s
tart
a rooming-house in Florida. She and I will run it. I’m going to persuade her to leave you here to marry Ken. Would that suit you?’
ctions, but I’ll talk to her
again. Don’t you worry about this. When Kit and I marry, I plan to s
tart
a rooming-house in Florida. She and I will run it. I’m going to persuade her to leave you here to marry Ken. Would that suit you?’
‘Of course.’ She leaned forward, her face a
nimated. ‘Do you think you can
persuade her?’
nimated. ‘Do you think you can
persuade her?’
Calvin grinned.
‘I’
m pretty good at persuading people. I think I can
.
’
‘I didn’t know you planned to go to Florida. Kit said nothing
about that. What’s going to happen to Miss Pearson and Major
Hardy?’
about that. What’s going to happen to Miss Pearson and Major
Hardy?’
‘Perhaps the new owner will take them on. Kit is going to sell the house.’
‘When
it’
s sold then
I can get married?’ Iris asked.
it’
s sold then
I can get married?’ Iris asked.
‘Tha
t’s
the idea. Don’t worry about it. I’ll fix it. I’m good at fixing things.’
She was now looking ad
m
i
ringly at
him
and this pleased him.
m
i
ringly at
him
and this pleased him.
‘Yes
…
I’m sure you are. I’m so glad I came to see you.’ She paused, hesitated, then said, ‘There’s one other thing
…
I don’t know if I should tell you.’
…
I’m sure you are. I’m so glad I came to see you.’ She paused, hesitated, then said, ‘There’s one other thing
…
I don’t know if I should tell you.’
Calvin stubbed out h
is cigarette.
is cigarette.
‘Tha
t’
s up to you. I’d like to think you had confidence in me. What is
it?’
‘You do love
Kit,
don
’t
you?’
Calvin frowned.
‘Tha
t’s
an odd question. I’m going to marry her. Of course I love her. What is it?’
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