1968 - An Ear to the Ground by James Hadley Chase Read Free Book Online Page A

prowled around the office, checking the locks, the filing cabinets and looking for any wiring that might indicate police alarms. He also checked that there was a photocopying machine and its make.
    Finally, when Martha was sure Henry had all the information he needed, she said she would think it over and call again.
    Back at the villa, Henry was gloomy.
    ‘It’s tough,’ he told Johnny. ‘There are burglar alarms. The four cabinets have metal covers on the locks. I couldn’t get an impression. This is a tough one.’
    Johnny laughed.
    ‘Is that all you found out? I’ll tell you what else there is. There’s an electric ray that alerts the Cop House if you pass through the ray after office hours. Every door you open alerts the Cop House. If you try to open the safe or any of the filing cabinets another alarm goes off. Raysons are full of gimmicks. I know . . . I worked with them, but it doesn’t mean a thing. I’ll tell you why. Raysons don’t rely on the City’s supply of electricity. They have their own plant. All you have to do is to cut their motor and their teeth are drawn. Raysons are so pleased with this system they have installed it in every one of their branches. If you don’t know, you’re a dead duck, but as I do know, I can get at those records.’
    ‘No kidding, Johnny?’ Martha said, her fat face beaming.
    ‘I know Raysons like I know the back of my hand . . . few do. I can get at them.’
    Martha cut herself a large slice of chocolate cake that Flo had baked the previous day.
    ‘I was getting worried,’ she admitted. ‘Henry was so depressed.’
    ‘You can still remain worried,’ Johnny said quietly. He took a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket and lit up.
    Her mouth full, Martha stared at him. His cold eyes met hers, and she felt a twinge of uneasiness. Hurriedly, she swallowed what she was eating, then asked, ‘What do you mean?’
    There was a long pause. Henry regarded Johnny thoughtfully. Gilda, on her Li-Lo in her white bikini, lifted her head.
    Johnny said, ‘Without me, you three would be sunk. If you think I’m talking out of the back of my neck, say so, and I’ll leave you to handle this and then where will you get? Exactly nowhere!’
    Martha put down her unfinished slice of cake. She was shrewd enough to realise what this was leading to.
    ‘Go on,’ she said, her voice harsh. ‘Finish it.’
    ‘You said my share was to be $125,000,’ Johnny said. He let smoke drift down his nostrils. ‘The whole take you said was $600,000. Now, I’m telling you something. Without me, you would never even smell $600,000, let alone put your hands on it. So . . .’ He paused, looked at Martha, then at Henry. ‘My cut is to be $200,000, and you can please yourselves how the rest is divided. You can take it or leave it.’
    ‘Listen to me, you sonofabitch! If you think…’ Martha began, her face purple with rage when Henry, speaking sharply, stopped her.
    ‘Martha! I’ll handle this!’
    Martha stopped short and stared at Henry who was regarding her in his calm, quiet way, his tortoise-like eyelids lowered, his cigar burning evenly between his thin fingers.
    ‘If this creep . . .’ Martha began, but Henry again stopped her with a wave of his hand.
    ‘Johnny is right, Martha,’ he said. ‘Without him, we can’t go ahead with this. He’s the technician.’ He turned to Johnny, his smile benign. ‘Look, Johnny, suppose we make a little deal. Suppose we settle for $150,000 . . . huh? What do you say? After all, this is Martha’s idea. She’s behind it all. What do you say . . . $150,000?’
    Johnny got to his feet.
    ‘You talk it over among yourselves,’ he said. ‘I want $200,000 or you can fix this deal yourselves. I’m going to take a swim.’
    ‘So am I,’ Gilda said and swung herself off the Li-Lo. Johnny ignored her. He walked down the terrace steps and on down to the beach with Gilda after him.
    ‘The creep!’ Martha said furiously.
    ‘Now, Martha,’ Henry