Part 11 (1/2)

That proved the extent of Hinkleas possessive jealousy.

The unlocked front door?

Of course there was an explanation for that! Again, Hinkle had tried to undermine her faith in Chris.

What was more natural for Chris to unlock the door to stand for a moment on the doorstep to look at the night sky and the stars and to breathe the night air? Why should he have bothered to relock the door?

The steel in her a.s.serted itself, and she got to her feet. She would go immediately to Bern!

She s.n.a.t.c.hed up her handbag, took a light dust-coat from the closet and walked into the living-room.

Hearing her, Hinkle came to the door of the terrace.

aI am going to Bern,a she said curtly. aI must arrange this ransom. I will be back some time this evening.a aMadame, may I suggest,a Hinkle began, but she cut him short.

aYou may suggest nothing! I am shocked by your insinuations about Mr. Grenville! I will not tolerate such a narrow-minded att.i.tude, although I understand why you have taken this att.i.tude. I intend to marry Mr. Grenville when I get him back! You will either serve Mr. Grenville and myself, or you must leave! Is that understood?a Hinkle stiffened, then looked directly at her. There was such a sad, shocked expression in his eyes that shame swept over her.

aYou are at liberty, madame, to do as you wish,a he said quietly.

Furious with herself for feeling shame, Helga shrilled, aAnd I will do as I wis.h.!.+a She walked fast from the room, jerked open the front door and ran down the steps to the garage.

For a long moment, Hinkle stood motionless, then as he saw the Rolls drive away, he closed the front door and locked it.

He returned to the living-room. For some minutes he moved around the room, his face clouded, then abruptly, as if his mind was made up, he went along the long corridor to his own quarters. In his bedroom, he hunted for and found a leather-covered address book. He thumbed back the index F and found the name he wanted: Jean Faucon.

Reaching for his telephone, he dialled a Paris number.

Archer sat slumped in an armchair, staring bleakly around the shabby little living-room.

Where was Grenville?

Surely, Archer asked himself, Grenville couldnat have been so reckless as to leave the villa and show himself on the streets? No! After Archeras repeated warnings that Grenville must remain in the villa until the ransom was paid, he was sure Grenville hadnat wandered out for a walk. Then what had happened to him? Why had he vanished? Where was he?

Archer thumped his fat knees with his fists. Just when it looked so good! He was certain Helga would pay! And now, Grenville had vanished!

Then a thought occurred to him. It could be that Grenville had lost his nerve, and as soon as Archer had driven away, he had left the villa, walked down to the bus stop and was already on a train, taking him from Switzerland! That could be the only explanation! This handsome, useless gigolo had lost his nerve and had bolted!

A surge of bitterness ran through Archer. It was all right for Grenville. He was still reasonably young, handsome, and with this s.e.xual attraction which elderly women couldnat resist. He could always find some stupid, rich woman who would keep him. He wouldnat get a million dollars from her, but at least, he would be able to live in luxury.

Archer closed his eyes as he thought of his own future: back again to the shabby, fringe people with their hopeless plans to make millions, to float impossible loans, to sell land that they didnat own, with him accepting miserable fees to do their legal work. That was his future: getting shabbier and shabbier, continually hunting for money on which to live. He thought of Joe Patterson. There was no hope of returning to him. He would now have to find another client, but not in Switzerland. Perhaps in England.

He still had ten thousand francs in his Swiss account, but if he drew on that, he would have nothing left.

Grenville had seemed so sure of Helga. What could have happened to make him change his mind and bolt?

d.a.m.n him! Archer thought. d.a.m.n him!

There was now no point in remaining in this shabby little villa. Grenville was gone. The sooner he left Lugano and was on his way to England, the better. As he got to his feet, the front door bell rang.

Archer stiffened and his heart skipped a beat. Who could it be? Had Helga alerted the police? He thought that was unlikely, but he could never be sure of Helgaas reactions. Was this the police? He hesitated, then, as the bell rang again, he forced himself to go to the front door and open it.

The shock of seeing Bernie, smiling, standing on the doorstep, made Archeras heart skip again.

aAh, Mr. Archer,a Bernie said. aSo nice to see you again. How are you?a Immediately Archeras shrewd, quick brain clicked into action. This short, squat, bearded Italian with his oily smile and menacing eyes must be the explanation of Grenvilleas disappearance.

He forced a smile as he stood back.

aThis is a surprise, Bernie,a he said. aWhat are you doing here?a Bernie, still smiling, moved forward while Archer gave ground. Bernie stepped into the lobby.

aWe have affairs to discuss, Mr. Archer,a he said.

aCome in.a Archer led the way into the living-room. aWhat is it?a Bernie looked around, then selecting a chair, he sat down.

aMr. Grenville has been kidnapped,a he said.

As soon as he had seen Bernie standing on the doorstep, Archer knew he was in for trouble, but this statement shook him.

aKidnapped? By whom?a aBy me.a Bernie smiled. aMr. Archer, you are an amateur. Your faked kidnapping was stupid. I have taken over the operation. To get Grenville back, this Rolfe woman will have to pay ten million dollars. I am prepared to pay you and Grenville five hundred thousand dollars each to cooperate, but the rest of the money comes to me. You are to be my go-between. You will tell this woman the ransom has been increased from two to ten million.a aTen million!a Archer gasped. aShe wonat pay!a aShe will when she gets one of Grenvilleas ears which you will deliver to her.a Archeras legs suddenly felt boneless and he dropped into an armchair.

aMr. Archer, this is now no longer a game,a Bernie said. aI have Grenville, and I am quite prepared to send her his ear, and if she even hesitates, I will send her one of his fingers. I mean business, Mr. Archer, not like your childish bluff with tomato ketchup.a Archer shuddered, then he pulled himself together.

aYou must handle this yourself,a he said. aI am leaving immediately. I will have nothing further to do with it!a Bernie laughed.

aMr. Archer, you will do what I tell you.a He produced from under his coat the silenced Luger. aI a.s.sure you, I will shoot you if you donat cooperate. This gun makes no noise. You will be found here after some time, dead and rather smelly, and the police will have no idea who shot you. So you will cooperate.a Archer stared with horror at the menacing gun.

aYes all right,a he said, his voice husky. aYes, I will do what you say.a Bernie nodded and put away the gun.

aSensible man.a He paused, then went on, aI understand you have given this woman three days to collect the two million dollars. That is all right. It is good for her to sweat. On the third day, you will go to her and tell her she must now find ten million dollars in two days. Unless she does, you will give her one of Grenvilleas ears.a At this moment, the telephone bell began to ring.

Bernie waved to the telephone.

aAnswer it, Mr. Archer.a Moving unsteadily, Archer got out of his chair and picked up the receiver.

As soon as he said, ah.e.l.lo,a Grenvilleas hysterical voice exploded over the line.

aJack! Iave been kidnapped! This is your fault! These men are vicious! Youave got to do something! I should never have listened to you! Youave got to get me free! They are threatening to cut my ear off! Iaa There was a click and the line went dead.

Shaken, Archer replaced the receiver.

aThat was Mr. Grenville,a Bernie said. aI arranged the call so you wouldnat think I was bluffing. Now listen to me, Mr. Archer. The day after tomorrow, you will go to this woman and tell her she is to pay ten million dollars in bearer bonds if she wants her lover back. I will leave it to you to be convincing, and for Mr. Grenvilleas sake, you had better be convincing!a Again he smiled. aIf I were in your place, Mr. Archer, under this pressure, my thinking would be that my amateur plan had gone sour. I would then think only of myself, and I wouldnat be bothered about Mr. Grenville. I would decide my best plan would be to leave Switzerland and forget the whole thing.a Bernie grinned evilly. aBut that would be wrong thinking. I am not an amateur. I have an organization here. From now on, you will be watched. If you attempt to run away, you will meet with a fatal accident. I donat want you dead, Mr. Archer, so I want your pa.s.sport, just in case you are ready to take the risk and run.a He held out his hand. aGive it to me!a Slowly and reluctantly, Archer took out his pa.s.sport and gave it to Bernie.

aNow we are organized,a Bernie said, getting to his feet. aThen the day after tomorrow, you will see this woman and arrange the affair. Make it convincing, Mr. Archer. You understand?a Archer nodded.

aThat is good. Bye now: you will be seeing me.a Bernie left the villa and, walking down the path, he got into the VW.

His heart pounding, his face ashen, Archer watched him drive away.