1980 - You Can Say That Again by James Hadley Chase Read Free Book Online

satisfied, you will be moved from here, and you will begin the impersonation.’
    ‘Where do I go?’ I asked huskily.
    ‘You will be told later. So far, Stevens, you are proving satisfactory. Remember, you don’t ask questions,’ he said curtly and left me.
    It took me some minutes before I could bring myself to begin again the dreary chore of writing the signature.
    I was committed. At least, so far, I was giving satisfaction and making money.
    Lunchtime arrived. Mazzo wheeled in the trolley.
    The meal was a big prawn salad, decorated with slices of lobster meat.
    ‘Okay?’ he said, smiling at me. ‘Build yourself up, Jerry. You have work to do this afternoon.’
    Two hours later, when I was still working on the signature, the door opened. Mazzo, followed by Charles, came in.
    Charles was carrying his make-up box. Mazzo had a suit over his arm and a pair of shoes in his hand.
    ‘Mr. Stevens!’ Charles exclaimed rather breathlessly. ‘We must get to work.’ His eyes were darting with fright and there were sweat beads on his forehead. He put the make-up box on the table. From it he took what looked like an overlarge rubber surgical glove.
    ‘Get into these clothes, Jerry,’ Mazzo said.
    It was the same suit I had put on before. I put it on.
    ‘Now the shoes.’
    These I put on.
    ‘Please sit down, Mr. Stevens,’ Charles said.
    Carefully, he unfolded the piece of rubber and it became a face mask. This he fitted over my face.
    ‘This is the thinnest latex, Mr. Stevens,’ he said. ‘It won’t be uncomfortable. It is on this base I work.’ He was molding the rubber mask to my skin. There were blank eyepieces and I could see without trouble. ‘Now the eyebrows and the moustache.’ He worked away, then finally stood back. ‘It is simple, Mr. Stevens. You will have a good supply of eyebrows and moustaches. I have three masks, in case you have an accident. You will be able to arrange this yourself without trouble.’
    He took a photograph from his make-up box, studied it, then studied me. ‘Excellent. Please go to the mirror. See for yourself.’
    I got to my feet, and because of the raised wedge in the heel of the shoe, I limped to the wall mirror and surveyed myself. For a long moment, I stared, feeling a cold chill run over me. This wasn’t me! The man in the mirror was a total stranger. The latex mask showed a handsome, heavily tanned face with a thin nose, a firm mouth and an aggressive jaw. The thin eyebrows and the pencil line moustache gave this image distinction. I just stood staring, and it was only when I moved that I convinced myself that the reflection in the mirror was me, and not someone else.
    I became aware that Harriet and Durant had come into the room.
    I turned.
    ‘Walk,’ Durant said.
    I limped across the room, turned and limped back to the table.
    ‘Wonderful!’ Harriet exclaimed. ‘No one could tell them apart! Your talents, Charles, are worthy of your great reputation.’
    Charles simpered.
    ‘Thank you. Great care must be used to fit the mask. Mr. Stevens is used to making up. There will be no problems.’ He smiled uneasily. ‘Now, my work is done. I would like to go home. I have many, many commitments.’
    ‘Of course,’ Harriet said. She waved to Mazzo. ‘Arrange for Mr. Charles to go to his home.’
    ‘Thank you, thank you.’ Charles’s face lit up with relief. ‘You can depend on my discretion. I am so glad everything is so satisfactory.’ He moved to the door, paused to give me a shy smile. ‘It has been a pleasure, Mr. Stevens. Goodbye.’
    ‘Goodbye,’ I said, thinking he was lucky to get out of this mess, but, then, how was I to know this was his last goodbye?
     

chapter three
     
    I spent the whole of the following morning practicing John Merrill Ferguson’s signature. By now, I was getting fluent, and it no longer worried me that the task was beyond my powers.
    Again, with the breakfast trolley, there was a credit note for one thousand dollars.
    As I