Like A Hole In The Head by James Hadley Chase Read Free Book Online Page A

staggering under the weight of two wooden cases. Raimundo gave her his sexy smile.
         "Plenty of good food here, Mrs. Benson," he said. "Where do you want it put?"
         At this moment I saw the black Cadillac coming up the drive.
         "Here he is, honey. I'll leave you to handle this," and I started across the sand to meet the car as it pulled up.
         The driver who looked like a chimpanzee slid out of the car, opened the rear door, then ran around to the boot, opened it and took out a suitcase.
         Timoteo Savanto got slowly out of the car and stood awkwardly in the sun as I approached him.
         He was wearing a black short-sleeved cotton shirt, black cotton slacks and black rope-soled shoes. He looked like a stork that had fallen in tar. "Hi, there," I said and offered my hand.
         He ducked his head : his face was anonymous with his eves hidden behind the black goggles. He took my hand in his limp, sweaty clasp and immediately released it.
         "Come and see your room," I said. "Would you like a cup of coffee?"
         "No, thank you. No . . . I've had all I want." He looked helplessly around.
         "I'll show you your room, then let's get over to the range."
         "It doesn't matter about the room. I'm sure it's all right."
         "Fine . . . it is." I turned to the Chimpanzee. "Take the hag to the bungalow. Mrs. Benson will show you where to leave it."
         Raimundo and Nick were coming out of the bungalow, having got rid of the two cases.
         Raimundo lounged up to me.
         "Nice little place you have here, Mr. Benson," he said chattily.
         "The stuff's all delivered." His eyes took in Timoteo and his smile became an insulting jeer. "Hi, Mr. Savanto : you all ready for the bangbang act?"
         I saw Timoteo cringe and turn red.
         I've had to handle lots of smart boys during my time in the Army. I decided to crack down on this hairy know-all right away.
         "Get the ammunition and the rifle to the range!" I barked at him, using my Army voice that can carry a quarter of a mile. "What the hell are you hanging around here for?"
         If I had hit him across the face he couldn't have looked more startled, but only for a moment, then he stiffened. His face turned viciously hard and his eyes glittered with fury as he glared at me.
    "You speaking to me?"
         Every now and then I had run into the tough guy who didn't react to a barking voice. Then I had to throw my rank at him, but I had no rank to throw at Raimundo. That didn't worry me. I had Savanto's twenty-five thousand dollar bond behind me and I was sure, strong as he was, in a knock down and drag out, I could take him.
         "You heard me, glamour-boy ! Get the stuff delivered and quit flapping with your mouth!"
         We looked at each other. For a moment I thought he was coming at me, but somehow he managed to control himself. He forced a vicious grin.
         "Okay, Mr. Benson."
         "And wipe that goddam grin off your face," I snarled. "I don't like it."
         He looked quickly at Timoteo, then he looked beyond me at Nick who was gaping at me.
         "You don't have to talk this way to me," he said.
         I spotted the uncertainty in his voice. He wasn't scared of me, but he was scared of his boss.
         This was the time to dig in the blade and turn it.
         "Don't I?" My parade-ground voice bounced off the roof of the bungalow. Who the hell are you? I talk anyway I like! I'm the boss around here! if you don't like it, get the hell out of here and tell your boss! Tell him what you told me : you're his right hand, his left hand and possibly his left leg. He might just laugh himself sick but it's my guess he won't. Get this stuff delivered and then get lost !"
         There was a long explosive pause. Raimundo had turned grey under his tan. He seemed unable to make up his mind whether to go for