The Instant Enemy by Ross MacDonald Read Free Book Online

that Davy’s carrying a sawed-off shotgun. Put that together with Sandy’s map of the Hackett place—”
    “Good Lord, do you think they’re planning to hold him up?”
    “I think he should be warned of the possibility.”
    Sebastian made an abortive movement toward the building, then turned back toward me. He was full of anxiety, and some of it spilled. “We can’t do that. You can’t expect me to tell him my own daughter—”
    “She drew the map. Does she know the place well?”
    “Very well. The Hacketts have been very good to Sandy.”
    “Don’t you think you owe them a warning?”
    “Certainly not at this stage.” He tossed the pieces of shotgun into the trunk, where they made a clanking noise. “We don’t know for sure that they’re planning anything. In fact, the more I think about it, the less likely it sounds. You can’t expect me to go out there and ruin myself with the Hacketts—not to mention Sandy—”
    “She’ll really be ruined if her friend pulls a heist on the Hacketts. And so will you.”
    He went into deep thought, looking down at the asphalt between his feet. I watched the traffic go by on Wilshire. It usually made me feel better to watch traffic and not be in it. Not today.
    “Does Hackett keep money and jewels in the house?”
    “He wouldn’t keep much money there. But his wife has diamonds. And they have a valuable art collection. Mr. Hackett has spent a lot of time in Europe buying pictures.” Sebastian paused. “What would you say to Hackett if you told him about this? I mean, could you keep Sandy out of it?”
    “That’s the whole point of what I’m trying to do.”
    “Why didn’t you bring her home when you saw her?”
    “She didn’t want to come. I couldn’t force her. I can’t force you to go to Hackett with this information, either. But I think you should. Or else take it to the police.”
    “And get her thrown in jail?”
    “They won’t put her in jail if she hasn’t done anything. Anyway, there are worse places than jail.”
    He looked at me with dislike. “You don’t seem to realize, you’re talking about my daughter.”
    “She’s the only thing on my mind. You seem to have quite a few other things on yours. So here we stand while the whole thing slips away.”
    Sebastian bit his lip. He looked up at the metal and glass building as if for inspiration. But it was just a monument to money. He came closer to me and palpated my upper arm. He squeezed the muscle as if to compliment me and at the same time estimate my strength, in case we might come to blows.
    “Look here, Archer, I don’t see why you can’t go out and talk to Mr. Hackett. Without telling him who’s involved. You wouldn’t have to mention my name
or
Sandy’s.”
    “Is that what you want me to do?”
    “It’s the only sensible course. I can’t believe that they’re really planning anything drastic. Sandy’s not a criminal.”
    “A young girl is whatever she runs with, usually.”
    “Not my daughter. She’s never been in any kind of trouble.”
    I was tired of arguing with Sebastian. He was a man who believed whatever made him feel better at the moment.
    “Have it your way. Was Hackett on his way home when he left you?”
    “Yes, I think he was. You will go and see him then?”
    “If you insist.”
    “And keep us out of it?”
    “I may not be able to. Remember Hackett saw me in your office.”
    “Give him a story. You stumbled across this informationand brought it to me because I work for his company. You and I are old friends, nothing more.”
    A good deal less. I made no promises. He told me how to find Hackett’s place, and gave me his unlisted telephone number.

chapter
8
    I CALLED THE NUMBER from Malibu. A woman answered, and told me in a foreign accent that her husband wasn’t home but she expected him at any moment. When I mentioned Sebastian’s name she said she’d have someone meet me at the gate.
    It was only a couple of miles from downtown Malibu. The