Part 8 (1/2)

He lay still until Helga began to move, then he released a little moan. Over the years he had perfected this sighing moan that was very convincing.

Helga came awake and sat up.

aChris? What is it?a aNothing.a He put his hands over his eyes. aI didnat mean to wake you. Itas just the usual d.a.m.n thing.a She leaned over him anxiously.

aAre you in pain?a aPain? Itas migraine. Once in a while I get these attacks.a Grenville suppressed a moan. aLook, darling, just leave me be. If I stay still, itas not all that bad.a aMigraine! My poor darling!a Helga slid out of bed. aIall get you something.a aNo, please donat. I always ride it out.a He managed to sound brave. aIam sorry about this, but just leave me. Even talking hurts.a aOf course, Chris. Would you like some tea? Canat I do anything for you?a aNo, nothing. Itall probably go away in an hour or so.a aIam so sorry.a Helga hesitated, then as he continued to remain still, his hands covering his eyes, she went into the bathroom, took a hasty shower, then moving silently, she dressed.

Watching her between his fingers, Grenville now and then released his little moan.

aChris, darling let me call a doctor.a aNo doctor has ever cured migraine,a Grenville said. Then with an obvious effort, he took his hands from his face. aIall be all right. Just leave me here, please, and darling, donat fuss.a Then he closed his eyes.

Worried and upset, Helga went onto the terrace where Hinkle was watering the flowers. Seeing her, he turned off the hose and came over to her.

aYou are early, madame. Is something wrong?a aMr. Grenville has an attack of migraine,a Helga said. aWe mustnat disturb him.a Hinkleas fat face became expressionless.

aYes, madame. It is a disagreeable ailment. Will you have coffee on the terrace.a aYes, please.a She drank the coffee while she worried about Grenville. As Hinkle came to take the tray away, she said, aYou wouldnat imagine a man such as Mr. Grenville could be a migraine victim, would you, Hinkle?a Hinkle lifted his eyebrows.

aI believe it is a nervous complaint. No, madame, you wouldnat have thought so.a Helga felt an urgent need to confide in him.

aDonat go away Hinkle. I want to talk to you. Please sit down.a aI would prefer to stand, madame,a Hinkle said with a slight bow.

She laughed.

aOh, Hinkle! How correct you always are, and yet I regard you as my best friend. Please sit down.a aThank you, madame, and very well, madame.a Hinkle perched himself on the edge of a terrace chair.

aI must tell you! Mr. Grenville and I are going to get married,a Helga said. aHe has agreed to become a senior partner of the firm.a She drew in a happy breath. aWe plan to marry next month.a Hinkleas expression was that of a man who had bitten into a quince, but he instantly a.s.sumed a deadpan look.

aThen may I offer my congratulations to Mr. Grenville,a he said, aand my very best wishes to you, madame.a aThank you, dear Hinkle. Chris is going to make me so happy!a Helga said. aI can no longer continue my life alone. I know you know how lonely I am. It will be marvellous to have him by my side. For me not to worry about going out alone: to be able to come alive after these dreary years with Mr. Rolfe.a She drew in a deep breath. aHinkle! Do understand and do approve.a aOf course, madame,a but the disapproving note in his voice remained. He got to his feet.

aOh, sit down!a Helga exclaimed, suddenly angry with him. aWe will leave for Paradise City at the end of this week. I want you to handle all the arrangements. It will be a big wedding.a Hinkle remained standing.

aYou may rely on me,a he said, in his lowest tone.

Helga knew Hinkle. When he was upset, n.o.body could do anything with him. He had to be given time.

aAs long as I can always rely on you, Hinkle,a she said gently.

aYes, madame. You may always rely on me. Now, if you would kindly excuse me, I have things to do in the villa.a Helga watched him cross the terrace, his back stiff. If only he had been pleased, she thought, but she must give him time. She must talk to Chris. He must understand how important Hinkle was to her. Chris must make a sincere effort to win Hinkleas approval. In the past, when she had married Herman, Hinkle had disapproved of her, but she had worked on him, and finally, at the most difficult period of her life, he had proved loyal.*4 Moving quietly, she went to her bedroom, gently opened the door and peered in. Grenville, who was dying for coffee and a cigarette, heard her as she turned the door handle and quickly put his hand over his eyes.

Helga regarded him, then softly shut the door.

G.o.d! Grenville thought. What a h.e.l.lish day this was going to be! But he must keep up this pretence until Archeras men took him away. He consoled himself by thinking of what it would mean to own a million dollars. For the first time, since Archer had so smoothly outlined his plan for the kidnapping, Grenville began seriously to think about it. He was uneasy about Helga. There was this steel fibre in her that awed and worried him. There was a possibility, in spite of Archeras glib a.s.surances, that she could turn ugly once she realized she had been conned. Thinking about this, he decided it would be dangerous to remain in Europe once he had got his share of the money. After further thinking, he decided he would fly to the West Indies the moment Archer had given him the million dollars, charter a yacht, find some enthusiastic dolly bird and get lost. When the smoke had settled, he would then return to Europe which was his happy hunting ground.

Then a thought entered his mind that made him stiffen and frown.

Could he trust Archer? he asked himself. What did he know about Archer? They had met by chance in that depressing little hotel in Paris. Was Archer really an international lawyer? Grenville moved uneasily. Could Archer be one of these smooth con men you heard about? Admittedly, he must have known Helga. His knowledge of her proved that. Grenville thought of Archeras shabbiness. The arrangement was for the ransom of two million dollars to be paid into Archeras numbered account in a Swiss bank. On the face of it, that made sense, but what claim would he (Grenville) have on the money once it was in Archeras account? Suppose Archer disappeared?

Grenville began to sweat. Although a wastrel and a gigolo, he had an acute sense of self-preservation.

How was he to safeguard himself against a possible con from Archer?

Lying in the semi-darkness, Grenville considered this problem.

At exactly 14.00, Max Segetti, with Jacques Belmont at the wheel of a battered VW, pulled up outside the Hotel de Suisse. Archer, who had already checked out, was waiting for them in his rented Mercedes. He waved to them to follow him and drove through the busy streets of Lugano to the lake front and then on to Paradiso. He kept looking in his driving mirror to make sure the VW was following him.

After a ten-minute drive, he pulled up outside the rented villa. The VW parked by the Mercedes and Segetti and Belmont, carrying shabby suitcases, joined him. They were both wearing dark suits and looked slightly more respectable than when he had first seen them in Geneva.

aNo problems?a Archer asked, speaking in Italian.

aNo, sir,a Segetti said and smiled.

aYou have the hoods and the guns?a aYes, sir. We came via Zurich to avoid the Italian customs, No problems.a aWell, come in.a Archer led the way through the small neglected garden, unlocked the front door and entered the living-room. aSit down.a The two men sat down in armchairs.

Archer began pacing the room.

aThe operation will be at eleven oaclock tonight. You will find the front door of this villa unlocked. Burst in, threaten the man and the woman with your guns and take the man away. You will bring him here and that terminates our agreement. I will pay you, and you will leave immediately for Geneva and forget that it happened.a Segetti nodded while Belmont sat motionless staring down at the threadbare carpet.

aAnd where is this villa, sir?a Segetti asked.

aI will take you there in a few minutes. There could be one difficulty. There is a manservant. He could be awkward. If he appears, one of you must take care of him.a Archer paused, then went on, aThere must be no violence.a For the first time, Belmont spoke. With an evil little grin, he said, aThatas okay. Iall take care of him.a The menacing note in his voice made Archer stare at him.

aI repeat, no violence.a He looked at Segetti. aIs that completely understood? I would rather the kidnapping failed than to have violence.a aIt wonat be necessary, sir,a Segetti said.

aThe man to be kidnapped will offer only a token resistance,a Archer went on, abut nothing more. He wants to convince the woman that he is being kidnapped. You understand?a aYes, sir,a Segetti said.

aAll right. Now Iall sum up: at exactly eleven oaclock tonight, you will arrive at the villa, using my car. You will park at the bottom of the drive. You will walk up the drive to the villa. The front door will be unlocked. You will burst in. The man and the woman will either be in the living-room or out on the terrace. As you enter the lobby, the door, leading to the living-room, will face you.a Archer took a sheet of paper from his wallet. aHere is a plan of the villa. Look at it.a Segetti studied the plan, then nodded.

aThat is fine, sir,a he said.

Archer produced another slip of paper.

aI have written down the exact words you are to say to the woman and I want you to memorize these words.a He handed the slip of paper to Segetti.

After reading the words, Segetti smiled.

aJacques, this will be your job,a and he handed the paper to Belmont. Looking at Archer, he went on, aJacques can do this very well.a aI donat care who says them so long as they are said convincingly,a Archer said. aYou will take the man to the car and drive him here. Thatas it. I will pay you, and you leave for Geneva immediately.a aNo problem, sir,a Segetti said.

aAll right. I will now take you to the villa. Letas go.a Archer, feeling more satisfied that these two men would do a successful job, drove them in his Mercedes to Castagnola. He drove slowly. From time to time, he asked Segetti, who was sitting at his side, if he could remember the route.

Segetti kept saying, aNo problem, sir.a As Archer drove up the steep hill that led past Helgaas villa, he slowed, but didnat stop.

aThatas it. Villa Helios. Iall come back the same way.a Both Segetti and Belmont peered at the wrought-iron gates that led to the villa as the Mercedes crawled by. At the top of the road, Archer reversed and then again drove slowly past the villa.

aHave you got it?a he asked.

aSir, there is no problem.a aAll right. You have about eight hours. Do you want to stay at my villa or what do you want to do?a aWe would like to look at Lugano, sir,a Segetti said. aWe have never been here before. May I ask you to take us back so we can use our car?a Archer was relieved. The thought of having these two with him for eight hours didnat appeal to him.

aYes.a He drove them back to the villa.