I Would Rather Stay Poor (23 page)
Read I Would Rather Stay Poor Online
Authors: James Hadley Chase
He came quickly up
the
stairs and entered his room, surprised to find the light out. He turned it on. It must have been Iris, he thought
.
So she was spying for Travers! We
ll, all
right: the time was rapidly appr
oaching
for
a
show-down with her. Th
is
was getting too uncomfortable and too dangerous.
the
stairs and entered his room, surprised to find the light out. He turned it on. It must have been Iris, he thought
.
So she was spying for Travers! We
ll, all
right: the time was rapidly appr
oaching
for
a
show-down with her. Th
is
was getting too uncomfortable and too dangerous.
Deliberately heavy footed,
he crossed the room to the com
municating door, turned the handle and walked into Ki
t’s
room.
he crossed the room to the com
municating door, turned the handle and walked into Ki
t’s
room.
Hearing him come, Iris snapped on the fight. She faced him, realising how white she had gone. Calvin regarded her with his confident smile.
‘Why, hello! Was it you in my room just now?’
He watched her hesitate, then she said in an unsteady voice,
‘
Yes
…
Flo had forgotten to dust
…
I
–
I said I would do it.’
‘
Yes
…
Flo had forgotten to dust
…
I
–
I said I would do it.’
His smile widened.
‘How very nice of you. I thought it was Kit up here.’ He stepped back, his blue eyes jeering. ‘Well, I’d better have a wash. I expect dinner is almost ready. I got back sooner than I expected.’
Iris didn’t say anything. She wondered if he could hear the thumping of her heart.
Nodding, he closed the door. She stood listening to his tuneless humming as he moved around his room and she pressed her hands to her breasts.
CHAPTER FIVE
1
The following
day was Saturday. It was a relief for Iris to know she wouldn’t have to spend the whole day in Calvin’s company. They drove together to the bank. The auditors had finished their work and had gone back to San Francisco. While Calvin went through the mail, Iris did the routine jobs Calvin had shown her how to handle. Then Calvin dictated some half-dozen letters and Iris got busy with the typewriter while Calvin looked after the odd customer who came in.
day was Saturday. It was a relief for Iris to know she wouldn’t have to spend the whole day in Calvin’s company. They drove together to the bank. The auditors had finished their work and had gone back to San Francisco. While Calvin went through the mail, Iris did the routine jobs Calvin had shown her how to handle. Then Calvin dictated some half-dozen letters and Iris got busy with the typewriter while Calvin looked after the odd customer who came in.
Some minutes before eleven o’clock, when Iris brought the letters in for his signature, Calvin leaned back in his chair and stared expressionlessly at her.
‘I have to go to
’
Frisco this afternoon,’ he lied. ‘The old man wants to go over the audit with me. There’s a train at twelve-thirty. The next one doesn’t leave until three o’clock. If I don’t catch the twelve-thirty train, I’ll mess up
my whole week-end. If I leave here at eleven-forty-five, I’ll just catch it. Do you feel capable of locking up?’
’
Frisco this afternoon,’ he lied. ‘The old man wants to go over the audit with me. There’s a train at twelve-thirty. The next one doesn’t leave until three o’clock. If I don’t catch the twelve-thirty train, I’ll mess up
my whole week-end. If I leave here at eleven-forty-five, I’ll just catch it. Do you feel capable of locking up?’
Iris had trouble in c
ont
rolling her excitement. Here was the opportunity she had been waiting for, and it had come so soon! With Calvin out of the way, she would be able to search the bank! If the money was there, she would find it!
ont
rolling her excitement. Here was the opportunity she had been waiting for, and it had come so soon! With Calvin out of the way, she would be able to search the bank! If the money was there, she would find it!
‘Why, yes, of course,’ she said, controlling the eagerness in her voice.
Wat
ch
ing her, Calvin saw her reaction and could almost read what was going on in her mind. He had difficulty not to burst out
la
ughing.
ch
ing her, Calvin saw her reaction and could almost read what was going on in her mind. He had difficulty not to burst out
la
ughing.
‘I shouldn’t be doing this,’ he said. ‘There’s always a chance that someone will come in at the last moment, but they never have so far. I’ll leave you a float just in case. You’d better have the keys to the vault.’ His smile widened. ‘You never know. I might have a pile-up or something.’ He slid two keys across the desk. ‘You have the key to the front entrance. Okay?’
‘Yes.’
With a hand that was far from steady, Iris picked up the two keys.
He h
anded her a pile of papers.
‘Would you enter this lot for me?’ He looked at his watch. ‘I’
ll
have a wash.’
As soon as she had returned to her desk, Calvin left his office and went down the short passage towards the men’s room
. He paused in the passage and listened
, then moving quickly to the back entrance to the bank, he s
il
ently unlocked the door and drew back the two heavy bolts.
. He paused in the passage and listened
, then moving quickly to the back entrance to the bank, he s
il
ently unlocked the door and drew back the two heavy bolts.
Then he moved silently i
nto the men’s room and rinsed
his
hands. His tuneless hu
m
ming was continuous.
nto the men’s room and rinsed
his
hands. His tuneless hu
m
ming was continuous.
Iris was so strung up, she could only sta
r
e at the papers lying on her desk, trying to think where she had best start her search when Calvin had gone.
She had plenty of time, she told herself. Better not do this on her own. As soon as Calvin had left she would telephone Ken and ask him to come over. Then together, they would search every likely hiding place in the bank.
She suddenly felt Calvin close to her and she reared away, nearly toppling off her stool. A thick, muscular arm went around her shoulders, steadying her. His touch made her flesh creep, but somehow she managed not to wrench away from him.
‘Day dreaming,’ he said lightly, releasing her and moving back. ‘That’s not the way to get the work finished. We
ll
, I must get off. Sure you can manage?’
ll
, I must get off. Sure you can manage?’
‘Oh, yes.’ Her voice was husky.
‘Have a nice week-end. I’
ll
be back Sunday night. Going somewhere with Ken?’
‘I hope so
…
if he isn’t tied up.’
‘Of course
…
he is chasing the mysterious bank robber.’ Calvin stared at her. ‘You two w
ill
be sitting pretty if he co
l
lects the reward.’
…
he is chasing the mysterious bank robber.’ Calvin stared at her. ‘You two w
ill
be sitting pretty if he co
l
lects the reward.’
Iris didn’t say anything.
‘What wi
l
l you do with it when you get it?’ Calvin asked. ‘Sixty thousand
…
it is a lot of money.’
‘We haven’t got it yet,’ Iris said unsteadily.
Calvin’s smile was jeering and yet sympathetic.
‘Sensible girl
…
I also never count my chickens. Al
l
the same, I wish you luck.’
He turned abruptly away and went back into his office. A few minutes later, he came out, carrying a briefcase.
‘We
ll
, I’m off,’ he said. ‘See you Sunday night.’ He lifted his hand in a half wave, then s
miling
at her, he walked out of the bank.
Iris waited a few moments, then she sl
i
d off her stool and went to the window. She watched Calvin walk across the road to where his car was parked. She watched him get into the car and drive fast up the main street. She didn’t move until she had lost sight of him, then breathing fast, her heart thumping, she went over to the telephone and dial
l
ed the sheriff
’
s office. There was a delay, then Sheriff Thomson came on the line.
i
d off her stool and went to the window. She watched Calvin walk across the road to where his car was parked. She watched him get into the car and drive fast up the main street. She didn’t move until she had lost sight of him, then breathing fast, her heart thumping, she went over to the telephone and dial
l
ed the sheriff
’
s office. There was a delay, then Sheriff Thomson came on the line.
‘This is Iris Loring,’ Iris said. ‘Can I speak to Ken, please?’
‘Hello, Iris,’ the sheriff said. ‘Sorry, but Ken’s with Easton at Downside. Anything I can do?’
Iris’s heart sank.
‘No, thanks. It’s
personal. Do you know when he w
ill
be back?’
‘Can’t say I do. Not until five o’clock, if then. Sha
l
l I te
l
l him you called?’
‘No,
don’t do that
. It’s nothing important. I
was just wonder
ing if he was working this afternoon.’
‘He’s working all right,’ the sheriff said, his voice suddenly gloomy. ‘So am I. We’re trying to catch this bank robber. Come to that, how are
you
enjoying being a bank clerk?’
you
enjoying being a bank clerk?’
‘I like it fine,’ Iris said, trying to make her voice sound as if she meant what
she was saying. ‘Well, thanks.’
‘You’re welcome,
’ the sheriff said and hung up.
’ the sheriff said and hung up.
Iris replaced the receiver. She told herself she couldn’t miss this opportunity. If Ken could
n’t
help her, then
she would have to search the bank on her own. What a triumph for her, she thought, as well as for Ken, if she found the money!
n’t
help her, then
she would have to search the bank on her own. What a triumph for her, she thought, as well as for Ken, if she found the money!
She looked at her watch. It was now five minutes to twelve. She got off her stool and went to the bank door. The main street as usually happened on a Saturday morning was deserted. She stood by the door waiting for the church clock to strike the hour. It seemed a long wait. When finally, the mellow notes
of the bell began to strike
, she quickly shut the door and locked it.
of the bell began to strike
, she quickly shut the door and locked it.
With a sudden urgent feeling
of
panic, she went into Calvin’s office and looked through the unlocked drawers
of
his desk. She found nothing to interest her. There was a steel filing cabinet against the wall. This was also unlocked and contained only papers relating to the bank’s affairs. She paused to look around the room. There was
no
other place
of
concealment so she went down the passage into the men’s washroom. A quick glance around the room told her here again there were
no
places
of
concealment.
of
panic, she went into Calvin’s office and looked through the unlocked drawers
of
his desk. She found nothing to interest her. There was a steel filing cabinet against the wall. This was also unlocked and contained only papers relating to the bank’s affairs. She paused to look around the room. There was
no
other place
of
concealment so she went down the passage into the men’s washroom. A quick glance around the room told her here again there were
no
places
of
concealment.
If the money was anywhere, it had
to be in
the vault.
to be in
the vault.
She took the keys Calvin had given her from her skirt pocket and went down the stairs
to
the vault door. She unlocked the two locks, pushed open the door and turned
on
the light.
to
the vault door. She unlocked the two locks, pushed open the door and turned
on
the light.
She paused
in
the doorway, looking around
at
the
deed
boxes that were stacked along the three walls
to
the ceiling. The fourth wall was occupied
by
the safe. This she had
no
interest
in
as she had been with Calvin when
he
h
ad opened the
safe
. It contained only the bank ledgers and cash taken at the end of the day.
in
the doorway, looking around
at
the
deed
boxes that were stacked along the three walls
to
the ceiling. The fourth wall was occupied
by
the safe. This she had
no
interest
in
as she had been with Calvin when
he
h
ad opened the
safe
. It contained only the bank ledgers and cash taken at the end of the day.
She decided
if
the money was anywhere
it
would
be in one of the deed
boxes. She suddenly realised what a shrewd idea
it would be to hide
the money
in o
ne of these boxes. She put
a
stool
ag
ainst
a pile
of deed
boxes and climbing onto the stool, she lifte
d d
own
the top box. It was locked.
if
the money was anywhere
it
would
be in one of the deed
boxes. She suddenly realised what a shrewd idea
it would be to hide
the money
in o
ne of these boxes. She put
a
stool
ag
ainst
a pile
of deed
boxes and climbing onto the stool, she lifte
d d
own
the top box. It was locked.
She tried the second box without moving
it
and found
that too
was locked. She remembered seeing a bunch
of keys in Calvin
’s
desk drawer. Maybe, she thought, there was a master key
among
the keys which would open all the boxes.
it
and found
that too
was locked. She remembered seeing a bunch
of keys in Calvin
’s
desk drawer. Maybe, she thought, there was a master key
among
the keys which would open all the boxes.
She went back
to
Calvin’s office just as Calvin came silent
ly
into the bank, using the unlocked back door. He heard her
in his
office and
he
waited, breathing gent
l
y through his thick
nostrils,
his fleshy face hard and
his
blue eyes glittering. He heard her leave his office and he peered around the corner of the wall and watched her walk down into the vault. He closed the door, turned the lock and slid the bolts home. Then moving like a shadow, he entered
his
office, put
his
briefcase on the desk and took off
his
hat and coat. Uncons
c
iously, he hummed softly under
his
breath
.
He stood by
his
desk, listening. He heard Iris moving the deed boxes, dumping them down on the floor, the clash of steel against steel coming clearly to
him
.
to
Calvin’s office just as Calvin came silent
ly
into the bank, using the unlocked back door. He heard her
in his
office and
he
waited, breathing gent
l
y through his thick
nostrils,
his fleshy face hard and
his
blue eyes glittering. He heard her leave his office and he peered around the corner of the wall and watched her walk down into the vault. He closed the door, turned the lock and slid the bolts home. Then moving like a shadow, he entered
his
office, put
his
briefcase on the desk and took off
his
hat and coat. Uncons
c
iously, he hummed softly under
his
breath
.
He stood by
his
desk, listening. He heard Iris moving the deed boxes, dumping them down on the floor, the clash of steel against steel coming clearly to
him
.
He rubbed
his fleshy jaw with his thick fingers and hi
s mouth set into a cruel, satisfied grin. This would be the showdown, he told himself. It was time. This girl
was becoming a nuisance: not onl
y a nuisance, she was dangerous.
his fleshy jaw with his thick fingers and hi
s mouth set into a cruel, satisfied grin. This would be the showdown, he told himself. It was time. This girl
was becoming a nuisance: not onl
y a nuisance, she was dangerous.
He moved silently out of hi
s office and headed for the vault.
s office and headed for the vault.
In the vault, Iris had found the master key that opened the deed boxes. She had opened three of the boxes and was preparing to open the fourth. This was only full of documents and she continued with her task until she came to the last box of the stack. She turned the lock and lifted the lid and caug
ht
her breath sharply. In the box, neatly packeted, were packets of fifty-dollar bills. She had never seen so much money. As she stared at this money, she knew she had found the stolen payroll. She knelt, careless of her nylon stockings, staring down at the contents of the box, her heart beating wildly.
ht
her breath sharply. In the box, neatly packeted, were packets of fifty-dollar bills. She had never seen so much money. As she stared at this money, she knew she had found the stolen payroll. She knelt, careless of her nylon stockings, staring down at the contents of the box, her heart beating wildly.
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