The Melting Man rc-4 Read online

  Tony, beaming, said, 'It's a great morning. Come on out and I'll feed you some coffee.'

  He did, too, while I sat in a kitchen chair, and he did it expertly holding the cup to my lips. He should have been a male nurse.

  'Thought you'd like to be present when your boss arrives. Tied like that he can see there was nothing you could do.'

  I said, 'You're happy about meeting him?'

  'Why not? He's coming alone, and I've got what he wants.' He tapped the parcel on the table with his gun. 'What's five thousand dollars to him?'

  'You'd be surprised. He's got a gallery of people like you. Some there for less than five thousand, I imagine.'

  'A gallery?'

  'Never mind. He just doesn't like handing over money under duress.'

  'Who does? But it happens. Just you sit there and don't move. I got things to do.'

  He had. He warmed up some baby food, fed Gabriel, and then changed its nappy.

  I said, 'You've skipped its bath.'

  'Mimi said not to on account of its rash. All over its little arse. Powder's the job. Like I did before I put the fresh nappy on.'

  He settled Gabriel down in the carry-cot and I watched him with interest. Seeing me following his movements, he said, 'Haven't got Mimi's touch. He goes down right away with her, but with me he always yells for five minutes before going off. Don't let it worry you.'

  I didn't. Gabriel yelled and I sat on my chair and stared at the parcel I had fished out of the Mercedes. So far I'd done all the hard work and it didn't look as though I was going to get much out of it. I should have skipped this job and taken a holiday. I'd have missed Julia, true. But at this moment that didn't seem much to lose. I yawned. What I needed was a tonic, something to pep me up and set me going again so that there was a bounce in my stride and a bright cash glint in my eyes.

  * * *

  O'Dowda arrived three hours later. First there was the sound of Mimi's car. Tony went to the door and opened it. From where I sat I could see the yard. Mimi drew up alongside my car and came across to us, her red hair glinting in the morning sun, a spring in her step, and clearly everything all right with the world. As she reached the door where Tony stood, gun in hand to welcome her, O'Dowda's Rolls drew into the yard driven by him.

  'He's alone?' asked Tony.

  'Yes. I checked everything like you said.'

  'Good girl.' He ran a hand down her back and pinched her bottom.

  She came in, gave me a friendly nod, and went to the carrycot and began to fuss over the baby.

  I said, 'What was he like?'

  'Very polite and gentlemanly. No trouble.'

  In my book that meant that he was saving the trouble for later.

  O'Dowda came to the doorway, carrying a small case in one hand. He had a little billycock hat perched on top of his big head and was wearing a thick tweed suit which made him look even bigger. He gave Tony a fat smile and then seeing me inside, said, 'So you made a mess of it, boyo? Seems I read somewhere in your prospectus that nobody could outsmart you. Well, you're costing me five thousand dollars. You think I should deduct that from his fees?'

  This was to Tony.

  Tony, in a business mood, said, 'That's between you and him — but he did his best. Just turn round, Mr O'Dowda, and lift your hands.'

  O'Dowda did as he was told and Tony ran a hand over him from behind. Then, satisfied, he backed into the room and O'Dowda came after him.

  O'Dowda looked around and said, 'Nice little property this. Could pick it up cheap and do something with it.'

  Tony moved around the table, picked up the parcel and handed it to Mimi, his eyes never leaving O'Dowda. Well, at least, that was something but he would need more than that to deal with O'Dowda. Nothing could convince me that O'Dowda was going to hand over five thousand dollars willingly and with that happy smile on his face.

  Tony said, 'Your man did his best, Mr O'Dowda. Remember that.'

  'Good of you to stress it. I'm sure he did. But it was a damned poor best — going to cost me five thousand dollars.'

  He put the case on the table and then waved a fat hand at it. 'Just count it,' he said, 'and then your wife can hand over the parcel, and I'll be going.'

  Tony said, 'No. You open it up. I don't want that lid snapping up and something going pop in my face.' He chuckled. 'My old man was an expert on booby traps, Mr O'Dowda.'

  'You're right to be cautious, boyo. Let's be frank — if I could do you I would. But I know when to resign myself. I want that parcel too much to quibble over a few thousand dollars.'

  He was too reasonable. I could sense that he wasn't worried, that underneath the mildness there was the real tough, don't-try-to-shake-me-down O'Dowda.

  He opened the case, letting the cover flap back so that Tony could see the bundles of notes. I had a bet with myself that he would have a gun hidden under the notes. I was wrong. He picked up the case and turned it upside down, spilling the packets of notes on the table. From the far side Tony reached out a hand and picked up one of the piles. He handed it backwards to Mimi. She put the parcel in the carry-cot and began to count the notes. Then she came up to the table, and from a safe distance, counted through the piles.

  'It's all there, Tony.'

  'Give him the parcel. Don't go near him. Pass it to him.'

  I had to hand it to Tony. He was taking no chances. He might not be a master mind, but he was doing his best. But there was one thing about O'Dowda he could never know, never believe, although I had in a way tried to tell him, and that was the man's courage. To be a millionaire you have to have it, you have to know that nothing can beat you, that anything you want is always in reach even if it means a moment or two of danger… for against danger there is always luck and, let's face it, luck is a snob and doesn't waste time on the poor and meek.

  Mimi got the parcel and slid it across the table to O'Dowda. He picked it up and stuffed it into one of his big side pockets — and from that moment he didn't waste a second. The moment of pocketing the parcel was his deadline. As his right hand came out of the pocket he swept it forward, took the edge of the table and tipped it back at Tony, shoving it at him with all his strength.

  As the table hit him Tony fired, but O'Dowda had already moved, and like a lot of big men, he moved fast. The bullet went high over him and hit the ceiling, showering plaster down. O'Dowda was round the table and, as Tony, on the floor, rolled over to shoot again, had one big arm around Mimi pulling her in front of him as a shield. Tony held his fire.

  Panting a little, O'Dowda said, 'Now, you bastard, push that gun over here or I'll break your wife's neck.' He raised his free hand and grabbed the nape of Mimi's neck, screwing it round so that she gave a cry of pain.

  Tony, lying on the floor, was lost. The game had gone against him and he had no idea of his next play.

  'Tell him, Carver, that I'll do it,' said O'Dowda.

  I said, 'He'll do it, Tony — and make it legal afterwards. Just kiss your five thousand goodbye. Do it, and don't be a fool.'

  Tony looked from me to Mimi. Gabriel began to yell in the carry-cot. Tony slid the gun along the ground to O'Dowda. O'Dowda tipped Mimi over like a truss of hay and recovered the gun with bis free hand. Straightening up, he gave a big smile.

  'Well, now we can really do business.' He forced Mimi across the room to the open door of the cattle lodge. He shoved her in and then closed the door and shot the bolt across. Tony made a move to rise but O'Dowda waved him down with the gun and came back slowly to him.

  He said, 'I'm a bit stiff from that drive, but I'm beginning to loosen up. All right, after business, pleasure; that's the order. Up you get.'

  He put the gun in his pocket and stood back from Tony. Tony must have thought he was mad to give him the chance. I could have told him better. He came up fast at O'Dowda but before he was off his knees O'Dowda drove his foot into his chest and sent him sprawling and the shock whipped Tony's glasses from his face. O'Dowda followed him up, grabbed him by the shirt front a
s he rose, jerked him to his feet and smashed a fat fist into his face, slamming him back against the wall.

  It wasn't pretty to watch. Without glasses Tony was half blind anyway. O'Dowda just used him as a punch bag. He held him in the corner of the room and beat him until he couldn't stand on his legs, and then he held him up and beat him some more, and all the time Mimi was screaming like a banshee from the other room, the baby was crying as though he had a fit, and I felt a murderous rage running through me. Tony was not only getting what he had asked for, he was getting far more.

  I shouted, 'Lay off, O'Dowda. You'll kill him.'

  O'Dowda, holding Tony, turned and looked at me.

  'Not me, Mr Bloody Carver. I know the exact limit.'

  He turned and slammed another blow at Tony and then let him drop to the ground. Tony lay there, groaning faintly.

  O'Dowda brushed off his hands, examined his knuckles and then, the baby still crying, he went to the carry-cot and gently patted its cheeks. 'Hush now, me darlin', your daddy will be with you soon, though I doubt you'll recognize him.'

  He came over to me and pulled a penknife from his trouser pockets.

  'Stand up and turn round.'

  I sat where I was. Just at that moment I was enjoying myself. I wanted him. I wanted to take him more than anything else in the world, and the thought was doing things to my glands. Everything had gone into full production again inside me. The bastard had come in here, barehanded, and with just his mother-wit and the knowledge that he could get away with anything, and it had worked for him, as it had worked before. I just wanted to prove to him that for once it wouldn't always work.

  'Stubborn, eh?' He smacked me across the face and the chair almost went over. 'And you think I believe his story about outsmarting you? It would take a better man than him to do that. No, it was a bright idea, boyo, right out of the old joke book. You two got together. He shakes me down — then you split, and you're still a hard-working but unsuccessful agent of mine entitled to full fees. You think I fall for that? Stand up, or I'll knock your bloody head off.'

  He hit me again and I stood up because I still needed my head. I needed it badly. I knew what he was going to do. He was going to free me and then he was going to play the same game with me that he had played with Tony. And I had an idea that, while it might take him a little longer, he could do it. He was all warmed up and ready to go, looking forward to the fun.

  I said, 'You've had enough exercise for one morning, O'Dowda.'

  'Don't believe it. All he brought out in me was a light sweat. You got to do better. Think you can?'

  'You want to bet?'

  'Why not?'

  'Five thousand — dollars?'

  He laughed. 'You're on, you cocky bastard. Now turn round.'

  Slowly I turned round so that he could get at my wrists, and I knew that from the moment he cut the cords I would have about four seconds in which to save myself. Four seconds. It doesn't sound much. In fact it's quite a long time, particularly against a man so full of self-confidence as O'Dowda was at that moment. In four seconds I had to finish him or he would finish me. I might be endangering my pay from him, plus five thousand dollars, but I was prepared to worry about that later.

  He stood up against me at my back and sawed impatiently away at the cords and I kept the strain on them so that I would know the moment I was free. He was eager and impatient to be at me. I liked that. He was looking forward sadistically to his fun and an easy five-thousand purse, his mind full of it. That meant it didn't have room for too much caution. My only hope was to surprise and finish him in four seconds.

  The cords went and I brought my arms round fast in front of me and, before he knew what I was doing, I had the back of the chair in front of me in my hands. I swung around, slamming the chair at him hard as I went. I got him full on the side of the head. He went over sideways and crashed against the floor. For once lady luck wasn't with him. Having seen him well and happily on his way, maybe she'd gone out for a drink. His head hit the stone-flagged floor with a crash and he just lay there, knocked out. I threw the broken chair from me and bent down by him. He was breathing. I took the parcel and the gun from him, and I didn't waste any time. He had a head like an ivory ball and he wouldn't be out long.

  I let Mimi out, and said, 'Get out of here quickly, before he comes round. Come on.'

  She didn't need urging. I helped her haul Tony to the car. Then I went back and collected the baby and my dollars. I put twenty per cent of the purse in the carry-cot with the baby, and dumped it in the car. Mimi drove off fast, sobbing to herself. I took O'Dowda's ignition key and then turned my car and sat, window down, watching the door of the house. A few minutes later he came staggering out, holding his head.

  I called to him, 'Great fight. I've taken my winnings. When your head's better maybe we'll have a chat about things.'

  I drove off and dropped his keys overboard a mile down the road.

  * * *

  I went north as fast as I could and by five o'clock I was at Talloires, which is a small place on the east side of Lake Annecy. I got a room at the Abbaye which overlooks the lake, and where I had stayed before. I put a call through to Wilkins and caught her just before she left the office. It was a long-winded conversation. She was fussing like an old hen because she hadn't been able to get me at Ansermoz's number.

  She had no information, other than was public knowledge, about General Seyfu Gonwalla or Mrs Falia Makse; that is that he was head of his government and she was the wife of the Minister for Agriculture. She could find no information at all about any Miss Panda Bubakar. But our city contact had come across with the fact that O'Dowda's United Africa company set-up had been on the verge of obtaining monopolistic mineral rights and mining concessions from the previous government to Gonwalla's. However, a military coup d'état had brought Gonwalla in and negotiations for the concession had been broken off. I could see how annoying that must have been for a man like O'Dowda. That he would take such a setback lying down didn't strike me as likely. I had an idea that the oiled-paper parcel on my dressing table would prove it.

  She had seen Guffy, but had not been able to get anything more out of him about anonymous letters concerning O'Dowda. He had said, however, that he wanted to get in touch with me and would she pass him any location or telephone number she had. I considered this, decided there could be no harm in it, and gave the Abbaye's number, Talloires 88.02. I then told her I had found the Mercedes and would be back very soon to face the bills which had no doubt accumulated.

  She said, 'Are you all right, personally?'

  'Intact,' I said, 'except for a three-inch scratch on my left arm which I've bandaged with a very dirty handkerchief. I was chased by Miss Panda Bubakar. She was wearing just a brassiere and pink tights. She's coloured, by the way.'

  At the other end Wilkins cleared her throat but said nothing.

  I said, 'Anything else to report?'

  She said, 'A Miss Julia Yunge-Brown has telephoned three or four times wanting to know where you were. I decided it wouldn't be wise to say. Oh, yes, there is one other thing. There was an announcement in The Times yesterday of the forthcoming marriage of Cavan O'Dowda to a Mrs Mirabelle Heisenbacher.'

  I said, 'Remind me to send flowers,' and then rang off.

  After that I rang Durnford at the Château de la Forclaz. I gave him the location of the car to pass to O'Dowda when he got back. My job was now finished. I would be forwarding my bill in a few days.

  He said, 'Did you go down to the car?'

  I said, 'You any idea how cold those lake waters are, even in September?'

  He said, 'If you did recover the package I'd like to talk to you about it, privately, and soon. After all, I did tell you where it was. And it could be, would be, to your advantage.'

  I said, 'I'll think about it.'

  He said, "Where are you?'

  I said, 'I'll tell you if you promise not to hand it on to O'Dowda.' I knew I was dead safe on that one. 'I promise.'


  I gave him the hotel address.

  After that I had the hotel send up a bottle of whisky and a couple of bottles of Perrier water. I took the first drink into the bath with me and soaked for half an hour. Dressed, I fixed a second and undid the oiled-paper parcel. There was an inner wrapper of thick plastic sheeting, and inside this were two rolls of 16-mm film and a tape-recorder spool.

  I took one of the films to the window and stripped off a couple of feet, holding the negatives up to the light. I wasn't really surprised. In this business you get to have a sixth sense, an instinct for anticipation that can sometimes take a great deal of pleasure out of life. The short strip of film I held up featured Panda Bubakar prominently, grinning all over her fun-loving face and stripped for action. The man in the background, a coloured gentleman, looked broad-shouldered enough to take the brunt of anything but, even so, there seemed to be a slight nervousness about his attitude which I could well understand. I didn't unroll any more film. Personally I've found that if you must have pornography — and a little occasionally never did any harm except to make life a shade greyer than it need be — then it was better after dinner with a couple of brandies. I had promised myself that I would eat at the Auberge du Pere Bise along the quay and I didn't want to spoil my gratin de queues d'ecrevisses.

  I wrapped the whole lot up, and wondered what I would do about security arrangements. The next day I meant to hire a projector and run the film and also a tape recorder to play off the tape. But that was the next day. It would come all right. But I didn't want it to come without my being able to take a dispassionate eye-view of Panda and her friends and also to hear the tape which, I had a feeling, would be more interesting because it would leave a great deal more to the imagination than the film would. So I took the whole lot, including my dollars in a separate packet, to the Auberge du Pere Bise with me and asked if they would keep them in their safe for me overnight, which they said they would, without any demur, which is always the sign of a first-class, well-run establishment. My hotel would have done the same but I knew that that was one of the obvious first checks that any official busybody would make since I was staying there. The écrevisses were delicious. So was the omble chevalier poche beurre blanc which followed them — and although ombles are part of the great Salmonidae family, I didn't think of O'Dowda once.