For the first time in two years, Preston Kile felt confident and excited about his immediate future. Eve had convinced him that the plan she had thought of to find the Rajah’s jewels might work. He hadn’t been hard to convince because, once explained, it was obvious that it was the only possible way. It was daring and brilliant, and he felt drawn to it in spite of knowing that it could end in disaster if he made a false move. It was the kind of plan he would have given his whole-hearted support to ten years ago: a gamble against enormous odds, but with a tremendous prize if it succeeded.
What an extraordinary girl this Eve was! She had lain in his arms, her face against his, while she had outlined the plan. He couldn’t think why he hadn’t arrived at the solution himself. The more she talked the more he had realised that the Rajah’s offer of half a million was not now entirely out of reach. With such a sum to play with, he was positive he could win back his old position in the Stock Market, and wouldn’t he make them suffer for what they had done to him!
The plan depended on organisation and nerve and the right man to do the job. He had agreed with Eve that Rico should be consulted. He might know of someone who would handle the dangerous part of the job. Rico might also be useful in the organisation of the plan: it was too big and complicated for Kile to handle alone. It wasn’t going to be easy to bring Rico into this, and at the same time keep from him the amount involved. He would have to be paid well, and the Rajah would have to foot the bill. Rico’s money wasn’t going to come out of the half a mil ion. Kile intended to keep every nickel of that for himself.
He watched Rico make two highballs. When Rico came over to the desk and put one of the highballs near Kile, Kile said, ‘That’s a nasty bruise you’ve got there. How did you get it?’
Rico sat down.
‘I had an accident. It’s nothing. It looks worse than it feels. I hoped you’d be in tonight, Mr Kile. I’ve something I wanted you to see. Unfortunately it’s as hot as a stove at the moment, but in a year or two it’l fetch three or four grand; probably more.’
Kile pursed his lips.
‘I don’t think I’d be interested,’ he said, ‘but let me see it.’
Rico walked over to the office door and turned the key. Then he went to the wall safe, opened it and took out the bracelet. He put it on the desk in front of Kile.
Kile studied it without touching it. He glanced up at Rico’s anxious face.
‘How hot is it?’
‘The woman who owned it was murdered,’ Rico said in a hushed voice.
Kile made a wry grimace.
‘Jean Bruce?’
Rico nodded.
‘I’m surprised you touched this,’ Kile said. ‘How did you get hold of it?’
‘By accident,’ Rico lied glibly. ‘It wasn’t until I saw tonight’s paper I knew it belonged to the Bruce woman.’
‘Think the police would believe you?’
‘I said it was hot,’ Rico pointed out. ‘I wouldn’t give you a wrong impression, Mr Kile. I thought one of your rich friends might have it. It’d have to be re-set, of course, but it’s a beautiful piece.’
Kile picked up the bracelet and studied it closely.
‘Yes; it’s nice. What do you want for it?’
‘Twenty-five hundred,’ Rico said promptly. ‘It’s worth at least six grand.’
‘It’s worth five,’ Kile said. ‘At the moment it isn’t worth a dime. I’d have to keep it for some time: maybe a year. It’s a dangerous thing to keep. I might give you a thousand for it, but not a dollar more.’
‘Make it two, and you can have it,’ Rico said hopeful y, then as Kile pushed the bracelet back to him, he went on hastily, ‘Wel , okay. I’m losing money, but I want it out of my place. I’l take a grand.’
Kile nodded.
‘You’l have to wait for the money, Rico. I’l let you have it in a week or two.’
‘That’s okay,’ Rico said, sit ing down. ‘I trust you, Mr Kile. Two weeks is okay with me.’
Kile nodded again and put the bracelet in his inside pocket.
‘There’s something I want to talk to you about, Rico,’ he said, paused to take a long drink from his glass, stared across at Rico, trying to make up his mind how much to tell him. He decided to say as little as possible. ‘There may be a big job coming along in the near future,’ he went on. ‘If it comes off you could make yourself fifteen thousand. It’s in the air at the moment, but I’m trying to get two or three good men together. Would you be interested?’
Fifteen thousand! Rico’s eyes gleamed. This was big-time stuff!
‘Why, sure,’ he said, leaning across the desk. ‘You know I want to work with you, Mr Kile. What would you want me to do?’
‘I don’t know yet,’ Kile said. ‘I haven’t even started to organise the job, and it’l need a lot of organising. I wanted to be sure I could rely on you.’
Rico felt a twinge of uneasiness. He was too cautious to commit himself without knowing something of what Kile was planning.
‘But can’t you give me some idea, Mr Kile? For instance: is it dangerous?’
‘Could be,’ Kile said mildly, thinking how horribly dangerous the whole idea was, ‘but you wouldn’t be in on that end of it. You could get yourself a ten to fifteen year stretch if it turned sour. You see, you’re not the only one who doesn’t want to give a wrong impression.’
Rico showed his teeth in a mirthless smile. Ten to fifteen years! He wasn’t going to walk into that without knowing where he was going!
‘What are the chances?’ he asked. ‘I don’t take unnecessary risks, Mr Kile. I’m not saying the pay isn’t good — it is, but ten to fifteen years!’
‘I can tell you about the risks better later on,’ Kile said. ‘It’l depend largely on the man who does the outside work. If he’s a good man, has plenty of nerve and plays his cards right, there won’t be any risk.
But if he slips up, loses his head, then we’re al sunk.’
Rico nodded.
‘Who’s the man, Mr Kile? Anyone I know?’
‘I haven’t found him yet,’ Kile said, taking out his cigar-case. He made motions of offering it to Rico, who shook his head. ‘It occurred to me you might know someone. He must have nerve. This isn’t an easy job, Rico: it’s damn near impossible, but I think the right man could pull it off. He’d have to be reliable, quick-witted, and a killer.’ He noticed Rico winced when he mentioned kil ing. He didn’t blame Rico for that. ‘Don’t misunderstand me,’ he went on. ‘I dislike killing as much as you do, but we’ve got to face facts. If this man is to be of any use to me, he’s got to have the qualities of a killer. That doesn’t mean to say he has to kill anyone.’
Rico looked relieved.
‘I know the man,’ he said. ‘His name’s Verne Baird. He’s only been in town a couple of months. He and I’ve done jobs together. He’s reliable, and he’s got al the qualifications you mentioned.’ He lowered his voice as he said, ‘It’s my bet he’s responsible for the Bruce killing. I don’t know for sure, but I think he is.’
Kile rubbed his fleshy jaw.
‘He’s got to be right, Rico. I’ve already warned you. If he isn’t, you and I wil go to jail.’
‘I’d rather have him than anyone else I know,’ Rico said. ‘What has he to do?’
‘That’s something we’l talk about later,’ Kile said. ‘I want to see him first. Can you get him here tomorrow night?’
Rico shook his head.
‘I’m afraid not. The police are looking for him. I think he’s left town.’
‘Any idea where he is?’
‘I haven’t, but he’l let me know in a day or so. He said he would. As soon as I hear I’l make arrangements for him to meet you. Will that be all right?’
‘It’l have to be,’ Kile said, frowning. He stood up. ‘You’re sure this man’s al right?’
‘I’m positive,’ Rico said. ‘There isn’t anyone else to touch him.’
‘Al right. I’l go ahead with my part of the job. There’s a lot to do yet. But the sooner I meet Baird the better.’
‘I’ll fix it,’ Rico said eagerly. ‘You leave it to me.’ He hesitated, went on, ‘He’d want to know what the job is worth. Could I give him some idea?’
Kile tapped ash into Rico’s tray.
‘If he pul s the job off it’l be worth ten thousand to him,’ he said. ‘If he fails I’l give him five.’
Rico’s eyes opened.
‘Ten thousand. This must be a pretty big job, Mr Kile.’
‘It is,’ Kile said.