1955 - You've Got It Coming by James Hadley Chase Read Free Book Online

studied his mannerisms for fourteen months for nothing.
    “What are you talking about? What diamonds?”
    “May I sit down or don't people sit in your presence, Ben?”
    He suddenly grinned. That was the kind of treatment he liked.
    He never had any time for people who fawned on him.
    “Go ahead and sit down,” he said, and walked over to his desk and sat down himself. “Look, Glorie, let's have it. I have things to do. What's all this about diamonds?”
    But now she had his interest she was determined not to be hurried. She sat down, reached for the gold cigarette box on the desk, took a cigarette and looked at him.
    Impatiently he pushed a desk lighter towards her.
    When she had lit the cigarette, she said, “A man I know wants to talk to you. He thinks you might do a deal with him. I didn't want to get mixed up in this, but he did me a good turn once and he didn't think you would see him unless he had some sort of introduction, so . . . “ She spread her hands, letting the sentence die.
    “He will have three million dollars’ worth of diamonds to get rid of. He thinks you are the only one who is big enough to handle the deal.”
    “Where's he getting them from?”
    “I don't know. I don't want to know. I happen to owe him something, and that's why I said I'd come to you.”
    “Who is he?”
    “His name is Harry Green and he lives in Pittsburgh. He was a pilot during the war and hurt his leg. He's a bit of a cripple. He sells oil on commission and doesn't do very well out of it.”
    Ben frowned.
    “What's he doing with diamonds?”
    “I don't know.”
    “He sounds like a crackpot to me. Look, baby, you're wasting my time. Three million dollars’ worth of diamonds — why, it's ridiculous!”
    She looked at him.
    “I told him you wouldn't believe it, but he was so sure. He insisted I should come to you. I'm sorry. All right, Ben, I won’t take up any more of your time.”
    She stood up.
    As Ben reached for the bell that would tell his secretary he was free for the next caller, his eyes fell on the half-concealed balance sheet on the desk.
    Three million dollars’ worth of diamonds! If by some miracle this wasn't a crackpot's pipe dream, if by some miracle the diamonds did exist, then here could be the means of getting that yacht built this year.
    “Don't rush away,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “Is this guy on the level, Glorie?”
    “Of course. I wouldn't be here unless I was sure of that.”
    “You really think he'll have the diamonds?”
    “I suppose so. I don't know. All I know is he isn't a time waster and he's on the level. But if you're too busy to see him, then I guess he'll have to find someone else who'll handle the deal.”
    Ben hesitated, then shrugged.
    “Well, okay, it can't hurt me to see him. What did you say his name was again?”
    “Harry Green.”
    “Tell him to come and see me tomorrow. Tell him to call my secretary for a time.”
    “He won’t be in Los Angeles until the 16th,” Glorie said. “He doesn't want to be seen coming here. Can he call you and make a date for you to meet him somewhere?”
    “Look, baby, if this guy's wasting my time, he'll be sorry.” The hard, white face was suddenly vicious. “Why the hell doesn't he want to come here?”
    “That's something you'd better ask him,” Glorie said, feeling a chill crawl up her spine at the sight of him.
    Ben shrugged impatiently,
    “Okay, tell him to call me. I'll talk to him.” He got to his feet. “You're sure this guy's okay?”
    “Yes. It may be hard to believe, Ben, but you can still trust me.”
    He laughed.
    “Sure. Well, it's certainly a surprise to see you after all this time.” He came around his desk to her. “You okay?”
    “Yes, I'm fine. And you?”
    Ben shrugged.
    “I'm fine too. This guy Green your boyfriend, Glorie?”
    “No. He pulled me out of a jam once. That's all.”
    “Haven't you got a boyfriend now?” His flat gangster eyes went over her face, inspected her figure: