1966 - You Have Yourself a Deal by James Hadley Chase Read Free Book Online

the tattoo marks. Perhaps this will assure you that at least she isn’t fat.”
    Girland studied the photograph, his eyes alight with interest.
    He gave a long, low whistle.
    “Wow! Is her top as good as her bottom?”
    Dorey passed over a U.S. passport.
    “The photograph doesn’t do her justice, but it will give you the general idea.”
    Girland studied the photograph on the forged passport, then he sat back.
    “You have yourself a deal. When do I start?”
    “Right now. I have arranged a car for you. You will go to the hospital, put her in the car and drive to Eze tonight. You should be there early tomorrow morning. The sooner we get out of Paris, the safer it will be. This is now your operation. Make sure there are no mistakes.”
    “What car are you giving me?” Girland asked.
    “A 202 Mercedes. It’s below in the car pool. Grafton will show you the various gadgets.” Dorey passed a folder across the desk. “These are all the papers you need. There is also a marriage certificate among them in your name.”
    “I’m feeling married already.”
    “The story broke in France-Matin. Watch out . . . I imagine the Chinese and probably the Soviets are now interested in this woman. So when I say watch out, I mean watch out.”
    “I should have known there was a snag.” Girland got to his feet. “Wasn’t there something said about money?”
    Dorey pushed a packet of one hundred franc notes across his desk.
    “That’s two thousand on account. You’ll get the rest when you have some information for me.”
    Girland stowed the money away in his hip pocket.
    “How about expense money? I’ll have to buy a complete outfit. You don’t expect me to impersonate a rich businessman without the trimmings, do you? I’ll want at least . . .”
    “You won’t get it,” Dorey said firmly. “Diallo, my servant will arrange what is necessary for you to have. I have already talked to him on the telephone and I have arranged with my bank for a sum for him to draw on. You don’t draw on it, Girland. Understand?”
    “Your trust in me is touching,” Girland said cheerfully.
    Dorey ignored this. He opened a drawer in his desk and took out a small plastic box..
    “Here is a gimmick that might be useful.” He pushed the box across the desk. “It’s a radio pill . . . the size of a grape pip. Get this woman to swallow it. If you happen to be unlucky and lose her, with this pill, we can find her again.”
    “That’s neat,” Girland picked up the box and opened it. He looked at the tiny black pill. “How does it work?”
    “The heat of the body causes the transistor battery to become active. Anyone having a specially tuned radar receiver can pick up the bleeps within a radius of a hundred kilometres. The pill remains active for forty-eight hours. Carry it under your thumbnail and be careful you don’t lose it.”
    As Girland fixed the pill under his thumbnail he said, “So you are expecting trouble?”
    “I always expect trouble. Then if it doesn’t happen, I’m surprised. It’s better than the other way around. You won’t be on your own, Girland. My men will watching you. Your job is to get her to Eze. Don’t take any chances. Once you are at Eze, you should be safe.”
    “Looks as if I’m going to earn my money after all,” Girland said ruefully. “Okay, I’ll get off. As soon as we arrive, I’ll call you.”
    He left the office and walked to the elevator a little less enthusiastic than when he had arrived.
     
    * * *
     
    Pfc Willy Jackson shifted his automatic rifle from one arm to the other to look at his strap watch. The time was 10.10 p.m., and he stifled a sigh. He had more than two hours of duty before he was relieved. Still, he told himself, it could be a lot worse. Patrolling a hospital corridor was a damned sight better than standing in the rain outside SHAPE Headquarters. It was more than a darn sight better, he decided as a nurse came briskly down the corridor, giving him a friendly smile and