I Would Rather Stay Poor (8 page)
Read I Would Rather Stay Poor Online
Authors: James Hadley Chase
‘I don’t know. I can’t bear to think of it starting again after what she has gone through. I don’t think I can face having that all over again.’
‘But you just can’t do nothing,’
Travers said, his voice sharpen
ing. ‘She’s done a hell of a lot for you. I admit I have no cause to like your mother. She doesn’t like me and she’s stopped us marrying, but at least, I have to admire her for what she has done for you. You can’t let her down now if she needs help. Why not ask her outright?’
Travers said, his voice sharpen
ing. ‘She’s done a hell of a lot for you. I admit I have no cause to like your mother. She doesn’t like me and she’s stopped us marrying, but at least, I have to admire her for what she has done for you. You can’t let her down now if she needs help. Why not ask her outright?’
‘She would never admit it. I think maybe I’ll talk to Dr. Sterling. He knows what she’s been through. I know nothing I say will do any good. Besides, I may be wrong. I’ve had it on my mind all the morning. I just had to share it with you.’
He put
h
is hand on hers.
h
is hand on hers.
‘We
ll
, watch her. If you think
…
we
ll,
Dr. Sterling
is
a
good friend of hers. Maybe you should speak to him.’
ll
, watch her. If you think
…
we
ll,
Dr. Sterling
is
a
good friend of hers. Maybe you should speak to him.’
‘I’ll see how she is tonight. Let’s get some tea. I could be wrong.’ She stood up. ‘I hope I am. The thought of that awful business starting again
…
’
They walked in silence to the tea pavilion. Then when they had got tea from the bar, they stood in the sunshine, sipping the tea and watching a foursome battling it out on the court nearby.
Travers said abruptly, ‘Have you met Calvin yet?’
Iris nodded.
‘I ran into him as I was coming out. Quite
a
man!’
Travers looked sharply at
her.
‘Yeah
…
I don’t quite know what to make of him. There’s
something I don’t like about him
… I don’t know what it is.’
…
I don’t quite know what to make of him. There’s
something I don’t like about him
… I don’t know what it is.’
Iris laughed.
‘I know
…
he’s the type every man
is jealous of. He reminds me a little of C
ary Grant. He could be a movie star.’
…
he’s the type every man
is jealous of. He reminds me a little of C
ary Grant. He could be a movie star.’
‘You think so?’ Travers grinned uneasily. ‘He’s not all that good looking. The sheriff doesn’t know what to make of him either. He says he could be rotten with women.’
‘There you are! Pure envy! I bet he’s thrown poor Alice into a terrible tizz. .Imagine being locked up in the bank alone with that he-man for twelve hours a day!’
‘Just so long as you don’t get into a tizz,’ Travers said quietly.
Iris looked at him: her eyes sparkled.
‘Is that worrying you?’
‘I can’t say it does. You don’t get much chance of meeting the guy, do you?’ Travers took her empty cup. ‘Feel like another game?’
‘Yes
…
all right. And Ken
…
even if I did have the chance, I’d still prefer you.’
…
all right. And Ken
…
even if I did have the chance, I’d still prefer you.’
He gave her a delighted grin, then linking his arm through hers, went with her towards a vacant court.
2
By the end of the week, Al
ice
had begun her correspondence course and a hint had been dropped by Kit to the old couple that she had seen Alice with a handsome young man. The old people were delighted, agreeing with Kit to say nothing that might embarrass Alice.
ice
had begun her correspondence course and a hint had been dropped by Kit to the old couple that she had seen Alice with a handsome young man. The old people were delighted, agreeing with Kit to say nothing that might embarrass Alice.
During the week, Iris, still unsure of her suspicions about her mother, had kept a dose watch but had seen nothing further to confirm her first impression that Kit was drinking again.
It
was soon after Iris’s seventeen
th birthday, a few months after her father had been killed, that she had discovered her mother had become an alcoholic. She had returned from college one hot summer evening to find Kit sitting motionless, her face ashen, her eyes glazed, an empty whisky bottle on the table. This had been an experience that
Iris
was never to forget. Kit had been unable to speak: u
nable to move. Terrified, Iris h
ad telephoned for Dr. Sterling who had attended the Loring family ever since they had set up home in Pittsvi
ll
e. He had helped Iris get her mother to bed, then he had taken the frightened girl downstairs and had talked to her.
was soon after Iris’s seventeen
th birthday, a few months after her father had been killed, that she had discovered her mother had become an alcoholic. She had returned from college one hot summer evening to find Kit sitting motionless, her face ashen, her eyes glazed, an empty whisky bottle on the table. This had been an experience that
Iris
was never to forget. Kit had been unable to speak: u
nable to move. Terrified, Iris h
ad telephoned for Dr. Sterling who had attended the Loring family ever since they had set up home in Pittsvi
ll
e. He had helped Iris get her mother to bed, then he had taken the frightened girl downstairs and had talked to her.
She would always remember Dr. Sterling’s quiet, kind talk in which he had persuaded her that her mother should go into a san
a
torium. Kit had remained there for two months.
a
torium. Kit had remained there for two months.
Iris got a job as cashier at a movie house at
Downside. When Kit was cured, s
he bought the rooming-house with the money her husband had left her. For months Iris watched her mother. Kit seemed cured, but now just when Iris was beg
inn
ing to relax, her suspicions were again alerted. She continued to watch, but so far, after the first alarm, she hadn’t further proof that Kit was backsliding.
Downside. When Kit was cured, s
he bought the rooming-house with the money her husband had left her. For months Iris watched her mother. Kit seemed cured, but now just when Iris was beg
inn
ing to relax, her suspicions were again alerted. She continued to watch, but so far, after the first alarm, she hadn’t further proof that Kit was backsliding.
One evening, a week after the first hint had been dropped about Alice’s boy-friend, Kit
came into Calvin’s room. She received a shoc
k.
came into Calvin’s room. She received a shoc
k.
Looking at himself in the mirror was a tall, heavily-built man wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a fawn belted overcoat. He had black sideboards and a black moustache. The sight of this stranger made Ki
t’
s heart skip a beat and she paused in the doorway, asking, ‘What are you doing here?’
t’
s heart skip a beat and she paused in the doorway, asking, ‘What are you doing here?’
The man turned and grinned at her and she recognised Calvin.
‘This is Johnny Acres
–
Alice’s boy-friend,’ he said. ‘Not bad?’ He took off the halt and tossed it on the bed, then he stripped off the crepe sideboards and the moustache.
–
Alice’s boy-friend,’ he said. ‘Not bad?’ He took off the halt and tossed it on the bed, then he stripped off the crepe sideboards and the moustache.
As she watched him take off the overcoat and hang it up, he said, ‘In the half light no one would recognise
me. Now the problem is how the m
ajor and Miss Pearson can get a glimpse of Mr. Acres.’
A little unsteadily, Kit went to the armchair and sat in it.
‘Mr. Acres must have a car,’ Calvin said. He opene
d the closet and took out the bottle of w
hisky. ‘Hello! There’s not much here.’ He looked sharply at her. ‘Have you been drinking my Scotch?’
d the closet and took out the bottle of w
hisky. ‘Hello! There’s not much here.’ He looked sharply at her. ‘Have you been drinking my Scotch?’
‘Is that al
l
that of a crime?’ she asked sullenly.
l
that of a crime?’ she asked sullenly.
‘Can’t you buy your own whisky?’ he said irritably. He poured himself the last of the whisky and dropped the empty bottle into the trash basket. She watched him furtively. ‘As I was saying, Acres has to have a car. This is where we have to spend to gain. I have three hundred dollars. I’
ll
need at least another three hundred. Have you got it?’
ll
need at least another three hundred. Have you got it?’
She hesitated, then nodded.
‘I
can get it.’
‘Then tomorrow evening we’ll go to Downside. We’ll go to a movie. There’ll be no secret about it. It’s time the old people knew there is more than one romance in the house. Have you told your daughter yet?’
Kit’s face stiffened.
‘No.’
‘We
ll, you’d better.’
She didn’t say anything.
‘While you’re at the movie, I
’ll
go along, dressed as Johnny Acres, and buy a second-hand car. I’ll park it behind the bank until we want it.’
’ll
go along, dressed as Johnny Acres, and buy a second-hand car. I’ll park it behind the bank until we want it.’
She said tonelessly, ‘You’re sure a
l
l this is going to be safe?’
l
l this is going to be safe?’
His fleshy face hardened.’
‘I’ve w
aited a long time for this chance: every move I
am making is going to be safe.’
aited a long time for this chance: every move I
am making is going to be safe.’
A few days later, Major Hardy was the first of the old couple
set eyes on Alice’s boy-friend. It was jus
t after eleven o’clock and the m
ajor was f
in
ishing a crossword puzzle before going to bed. Miss Pearson had already gone upstairs and so had Kit. The major was on his own. He knew Alice had gone out because her hat and coat weren’t in the lobby. In actual fact, Alice was in bed, reading
The Manual of Banking
and making notes as she read, but the major wasn’t to know this. He wasn’t to know that Kit, wearing Alice’s hat and coat, had sneaked out the back way and had joined Ca
lvin, dressed as Johnny Acres, w
ho was waiting fo
r her down the road in. a newly-
bought, second-hand Lincoln.
set eyes on Alice’s boy-friend. It was jus
t after eleven o’clock and the m
ajor was f
in
ishing a crossword puzzle before going to bed. Miss Pearson had already gone upstairs and so had Kit. The major was on his own. He knew Alice had gone out because her hat and coat weren’t in the lobby. In actual fact, Alice was in bed, reading
The Manual of Banking
and making notes as she read, but the major wasn’t to know this. He wasn’t to know that Kit, wearing Alice’s hat and coat, had sneaked out the back way and had joined Ca
lvin, dressed as Johnny Acres, w
ho was waiting fo
r her down the road in. a newly-
bought, second-hand Lincoln.
The major heard a car come up the short
drive, went to the w
indow and peered out into the darkness. He saw whom he thought to be Alice getting out of the car. He then saw
a heavily-built man, wearing a
fawn-coloured overcoat join her. All this he could see clearly as the couple moved into the light from the car’s headlights. They kissed fondly and the major nodded approv
ingly. Then he w
atched the woman he thought was Alice run up the steps and he heard her open the front door as the man got back into the car and drove away.
drive, went to the w
indow and peered out into the darkness. He saw whom he thought to be Alice getting out of the car. He then saw
a heavily-built man, wearing a
fawn-coloured overcoat join her. All this he could see clearly as the couple moved into the light from the car’s headlights. They kissed fondly and the major nodded approv
ingly. Then he w
atched the woman he thought was Alice run up the steps and he heard her open the front door as the man got back into the car and drove away.
Rather than embarrass her, the major remained where he was. After he heard the women he imagined to be Alice reach the head of the stairs, he turned off
th
e lights and went upstairs himself.
th
e lights and went upstairs himself.
The following morning, he told Kit and Miss Pearson what he had seen when Alice and Calvin had gone off together to the bank.
‘They’ll make a good
-l
ooking couple,’ the major said.
-l
ooking couple,’ the major said.
Reporting this to Calvin when they were alone together, Kit said, ‘He has no suspicions at all. I was scared, but you were right.’
‘We’ll do it once again,’ Calvin said. ‘Next ti
m
e the old girl must see us. Then we don’t have to worry our heads. They’ll make convincing witnesses.’
Three nights later, it so hap
pened there was nothing on tele
vision to interest either Miss Pearson or the major. They elected to play gin rummy together.
Calvin and Kit went through the same performance as they had staged for the major’s benefit, and they were aware as they kissed in the beam of the car’s headlights that both the major and Miss Pearson were peeping at them from behind the curtains of the window.
‘We are nearly home,’ Cal
vin
said later. He was lying flat on
his
bed, a cigarette between
his lips
,
his
blue eyes staring fixedly up at the ceiling. Kit sat in the armchair, watching him. ‘We now have two witnesses that Johnny Acres exists. Next month the payroll is delivered on the last day of the month. Alice and I will be working late on that day. We have to get out the mont
hl
y statements.’ He
lifted his
head a
nd
looked at Kit,
‘This is the day we’ll do the jo
b. Are you still sure you want to go through with it?’
vin
said later. He was lying flat on
his
bed, a cigarette between
his lips
,
his
blue eyes staring fixedly up at the ceiling. Kit sat in the armchair, watching him. ‘We now have two witnesses that Johnny Acres exists. Next month the payroll is delivered on the last day of the month. Alice and I will be working late on that day. We have to get out the mont
hl
y statements.’ He
lifted his
head a
nd
looked at Kit,
‘This is the day we’ll do the jo
b. Are you still sure you want to go through with it?’
‘And Ali
ce
?’ Kit said, staring at him.
ce
?’ Kit said, staring at him.
‘Don’t
think of her,’ C
alvin said. ‘I’
ll
take care of her. I’m asking you: do you still want to go through with it?’
think of her,’ C
alvin said. ‘I’
ll
take care of her. I’m asking you: do you still want to go through with it?’
‘You’ll take care of her? It really means nothing more to you than that?’
Calvin’s thin lips parted in a sneering smile.
‘At least I’m honest,’ he said. ‘I’m sacr
ifici
ng Alice for three hundred thousand dollars. She means no more to me than a rabbit that has to be killed. You, you’re trying to make something out of this. You want to dramatise the situation. Do you or don’t you want the money?’
ifici
ng Alice for three hundred thousand dollars. She means no more to me than a rabbit that has to be killed. You, you’re trying to make something out of this. You want to dramatise the situation. Do you or don’t you want the money?’
Kit shuddered. Her eyes were glassy and there were sweat beads on her face.
‘You are a devil,’
she said. ‘Yes, I want the money, but I’ll never stop thinking of that girl. All right, don’t sneer at me. I couldn’t do it, but if you will, then I’ll take advantage of what it
br
ings.’
she said. ‘Yes, I want the money, but I’ll never stop thinking of that girl. All right, don’t sneer at me. I couldn’t do it, but if you will, then I’ll take advantage of what it
br
ings.’
Calvin laughed.
‘We
ll
, that’s honest. A
ll
right, so at the end of the month, we’ll do it. Between now and then, we’
ll
make the happy announcement that we are engaged.’ He raised his head and looked at her. ‘Have you told your daughter yet?’
ll
, that’s honest. A
ll
right, so at the end of the month, we’ll do it. Between now and then, we’
ll
make the happy announcement that we are engaged.’ He raised his head and looked at her. ‘Have you told your daughter yet?’
She looked away.
‘Not yet.’
‘Tell her tonight! Sh
e has to be the first to know.’
‘I’ll tell her.’
‘Let’s go through the whole plan now,’ he said. ‘If you think I’ve made a mistake anywhere, tell me.’ He let smoke drift down his nostrils while he
coll
ected his thoughts. ‘Thursday three weeks ahead falls on the last day of the month. Instead of Alice and I leaving and locking up after the payroll has been delivered, we have the legitimate excuse to stay on because we’ll have to work late getting out the monthly statements. As we
w
ill be in the bank while the money
is
there the sheriff or Travers will keep watch on the bank. They will know that as long as we have the lights on, the safe isn’t protected by the
electr
onic eye. That won’t worry them because they know if anyone tries to break in to grab the money, I have an alarm button under my desk that I can set off, and besides, you can bet, they’ll be on the watch. There is a back entrance to the bank that is never used. It leads out onto a small parking lot where
I
have parked the Lincoln. The door to the back entrance is locked and bolted. When Alice is busy, I will unlock and unbolt the door. She has a key as well as I so when the investi
gation begins, it w
ill be assumed that she unlocked the door to let Acres in.’ He paused, staring up at the ceiling for so long that Kit said sharply, ‘Well, go on
…
what happens next?’
coll
ected his thoughts. ‘Thursday three weeks ahead falls on the last day of the month. Instead of Alice and I leaving and locking up after the payroll has been delivered, we have the legitimate excuse to stay on because we’ll have to work late getting out the monthly statements. As we
w
ill be in the bank while the money
is
there the sheriff or Travers will keep watch on the bank. They will know that as long as we have the lights on, the safe isn’t protected by the
electr
onic eye. That won’t worry them because they know if anyone tries to break in to grab the money, I have an alarm button under my desk that I can set off, and besides, you can bet, they’ll be on the watch. There is a back entrance to the bank that is never used. It leads out onto a small parking lot where
I
have parked the Lincoln. The door to the back entrance is locked and bolted. When Alice is busy, I will unlock and unbolt the door. She has a key as well as I so when the investi
gation begins, it w
ill be assumed that she unlocked the door to let Acres in.’ He paused, staring up at the ceiling for so long that Kit said sharply, ‘Well, go on
…
what happens next?’
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