No Orchids for Miss Blandish by James Hadley Chase Read Free Book Online

badly. They were regarded by the other gangs as good third-raters. Now, because of this slim, red-haired girl they would become the richest, the most powerful and the most wanted public enemies of Kansas City.
    Ma Grisson was big, grossly fat and lumpy. Flesh hung in two loose sacks either side of her chin. Her crinkly hair was dyed a hard, dull black. Her little eyes were glittering and as impersonal as glass. Her big floppy chest sparkled with cheap jewelry. She wore a dirty cream colored lace dress. Her huge arms, mottled with veins, bulged through the lace network like dough compressed in a sieve. Physically she was as powerful as a man. She was a hideous old woman, and every member of the gang, including Slim, was afraid of her.
    Eddie whipped the tape from Miss Blandish's eyes. It was a shock to her to be confronted by this old woman, sitting slumped in the armchair. At the sight of her, Miss Blandish caught her breath sharply and shrank back.
    Eddie put his hand on her arm assuringly.
    "Well, Ma," he said. "Here she is, delivered as per your instructions. Meet Miss Blandish."
    Ma leaned forward. Her staring, beady eyes terrified the girl.
    Ma hated talking as much as she hated talkers. She said one word when most people said ten, but this was an occasion she felt called for a speech.
    "Listen to me," she said, "you may be Blandish's daughter but you mean nothing to me. You're staying here until your old man buys you back. It depends on him how long you do stay here. While you're here, you're going to behave. So long as you do behave, you'll be left alone, but if you start making trouble, you'll have me to reckon with, I promise you. You'll be sorry if you do cross me. Do you understand?"
    Miss Blandish stared at her as if she couldn't believe this terrifying old woman really existed.
    "Do you understand?" Ma repeated.
    Eddie nudged Miss Blandish.
    "Yes," she said.
    "Take her up to the front room," Ma said to Eddie. "It's all ready for her. Lock her in and come down here. I want to talk to you."
    Eddie led Miss Blandish from the room. As they went up the stairs, he said, "The old girl wasn't fooling, baby. She's meaner than Slim, so watch your step."
    Miss Blandish didn't say anything. She seemed crushed and terrified.
    A few minutes later, Eddie joined Doc and Flynn in Ma's room. Woppy had been sent downtown for news.
    Eddie poured himself a shot of whiskey, then sat on the arm of a chair.
    "Where's Slim got to, Ma?"
    "He's gone to bed," Ma said. "Never mind about him. I want to talk to you and Flynn. You heard what I said to the girl about making trouble? The same applies to you two. Neither of you nor Woppy are going to start trouble just because there's a good-looking girl here. If I catch any of you interfering with her, you'll be sorry. More gangs have come to grief through a woman than through the cops. I won't have you boys fighting over her. That girl is to be left alone. Is that understood?"
    Eddie grinned jeeringly.
    "That go for Slim too?"
    "Slim doesn't bother with women," Ma said, glaring at Eddie. "He's got too much sense. If you thought more of your job and less about your cheap floozies, you would be better off. That also applies to Woppy and to you," she looked at Flynn who moved uncomfortably. "You understand? You're to leave the girl alone."
    "I'm not deaf," Flynn said sulkily.
    "And you, Eddie?"
    "I heard you the first time, Ma."
    "Okay." Ma reached for a cigarette and lit it. "This girl is worth a million dollars to us. She has been missing since midnight. By now Blandish will have alerted the cops and they will have alerted the Feds. We've got to contact Blandish and tell him to call off the Feds and get a million dollars in used bills ready for delivery. We shouldn't have any trouble with him. He has the money and he wants his daughter back," She looked at Eddie. "Go downtown and telephone Blandish. Tell him he'll get instructions soon how he is to deliver the money. Warn him if he tries to