Introducing The Toff by John Creasey Read Free Book Online

would have made his last bow, which was always possible in his little games.
    But the question was answered in a manner which made the Toff’s eyes soften for a moment, for all the fact that his lips tightened.
    From a door on the right, half-way between the Toff and his enemies, came the girl.
    Her body, usually slim and straight, was bent and drooping. Her eyes, a deep blue, were lacking lustre as she leaned against the door-post for support and stared.
    And the Toff knew, as he saw her, that in the last few days she had been through hell. Thus it was not ignorance that made him say, before Dragoli spoke and before Garrotty cursed: ‘Hallo, sweetheart! Walk right in and join the party. We’re all friends together here, aren’t we, Achmed?’
    Anne Farraway moved towards him, sudden hope in her eyes.

 
5:   QUICK SHOOTING
    It was a tricky situation. The Toff knew, as he looked at the two crooks with that mocking glint in his eyes, that they were wishing him dead, and in their own minds they were sure that he would never get out of the ‘Steam Packet’ alive. But they didn’t know the Toff, who was as confident as ever of putting it across Dragoli. To the Toff, it was not so much a question of whether he would get away, but when he would. There were many things that he wanted to learn, not a few of which he might find by bluffing the men who were facing him. Providing he had time.
    None the less, the Toff knew that Garrotty had not come from the States unaccompanied; certain gentlemen with guns were probably within call. And there was the chance of interruption from Sletter or Castillo. Unquestionably it was a jam and – the Toff called himself a fool when he admitted it – he was feeling a bit worried about getting out of the place with the girl, for her presence made it awkward. On the other hand, he imagined that he would be half-way to the solution of the mystery when he talked with her alone.
    Besides which, the Toff had Garrotty’s word that she was some moll – certainly she was worthy of better company.
    Garrotty’s third degree was not long past; but her chin went up as she realized just a little of what the Toff might mean, and felt the stimulating effect of his presence.
    So, as the Toff called her, she moved towards him.
    It was too much for Garrotty. He swung round on Dragoli, his eyes blazing.
    ‘Why the blazes don’t you put him where he belongs, Dragoli? And make that dame keep still....’
    The Toff smiled darkly.
    ‘Steady,’ he cautioned. ‘There are two sides to this question now, Ugly one.’
    Garrotty glared at him. The Yank was no fool, and he knew that the little bump in the Toff’s coat meant a gun; but he also knew that the gentlemen from Chicago were within call.
    ‘Feeling better?’ asked the Toff affably.
    ‘You kin start sayin’ your prayers,’ snarled Garrotty. And he called the girl by a foul name. ‘Keep where you are, you –’
    The Toff clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth as he looked at Dragoli.
    ‘Achmed, your American colleague doesn’t seem to understand. He may have a gun, but he can’t reach it without losing an appreciable part of his fingers. Because I’m something of a marksman, though I say it as shouldn’t. Tell him to calm down before I puncture his ribs. Then we can have the little chat I’ve been wanting.’
    ‘You take the very words from my mouth,’ said Dragoli suavely. His face was creased in a smile which had all the cunning of the East in it, and it did not deceive the Toff in the slightest. But it gave him time to think.
    ‘Garrotty,’ went on the Egyptian, with a peremptory motion of his hand, ‘won’t offend again, my friend. And now, if I am not asking too much, what do you want?’
    ‘The girl,’ said the Toff succinctly. ‘I hated to think of her at your tender mercy, Achmed, so I came to take her away.’
    It was bluff, of course, but Dragoli could not know how much truth there was in it. It was the beginning