The Chainmakers (37 page)

'And not yours either,' Cavellini responded.

There was a small side street at right angles to the road and by tacit agreement they turned into it.

'I've said I'm prepared to deal,' Vittorio said, 'But only if my nephew is returned to me unharmed. Damage one hair of his head and I'll fry your balls for breakfast, and have the rest of your carcass made into dog food.' This was said in a conversational tone, and appeared to have no effect on Cavellini.

'I want the lot. Numbers, protection and brothels, and the four gambling houses.' The gold teeth glinted. 'Yes, I said four Vittorio, we know about the one across the river.' The teeth showed again. 'And of course the booze...'

'I have some legitimate businesses also. You're sure you wouldn't like them too?' Vittorio said sarcastically, and Cavellini laughed. 'I'll let you keep those, after all, questions might be asked.'

'You can have the protection and the brothels,' Vittorio said. 'Paolo wants me to be rid of them anyway. That's the deal.'

Cavellini gave a snort of impatience. 'Look Vetti, I didn't have to come here. You want your nephew back alive or not?'

A young woman was walking towards them wearing a soft pink wool coat and pushing a perambulator. The two men moved aside to let her pass, and both raised their hats.

'Paolo tells me he and his wife are expecting a happy event,' Cavellini observed. 'He should be around to take care of them. If he isn't, who knows what could happen to them?'

'Harm any of my family and...'

'You know the deal!' Cavellini snapped.

They walked on a few yards. Vittorio said, 'Alright, the numbers and the four gambling houses as well.'

Cavellini waited, and after a moment Vittorio added, 'Yes, alright... the booze. Provided Paolo is returned and we hear nothing else of you.'

Cavellini's tone was laconic. 'But of course, Vittorio. Why should I bother you again? You will have nothing left I want.'

'There's one condition,' Vittorio said.

'No conditions,' Cavellini said flatly.

'It is that it happens fast. Tomorrow latest.'

Cavellini frowned. If Vittorio was planning to double cross him he would need more time than that to arrange it. As if reading his thoughts Vittorio said, 'It's because of Jennie, Paolo's wife. I haven't told her. I can get away with saying he is delayed for one night perhaps, but no more. Paolo would not want her worried, not now.'

Cavellini relaxed. 'You're going soft in your old age Vittorio. I've done you a favour after all. It's time you retired.'

They turned as if by mutual consent and began to walk back. Vittorio said, 'You'll want to see the books?'

'Yes, and be sure it's the right set.'

'You needn't worry about that. As you say, I'm retiring. Paolo wanted me to anyway. What about the handover? On waste ground, like the Sullivan boy?'

Cavellini laughed. 'If you think I'll walk into that one you're mistaken. You get Paolo and I get a set of books I don't have time to examine. No deal.'

'Alright. Come to my office above the laundry tomorrow at eleven.'

'And get gunned down?'

'Bring as many men and guns as you need. We won't be armed. You can inspect the whole building to make sure of that if you want. Then take as long as you like on the books.'

After a moment Cavellini said, 'O.K. When I'm satisfied, you vacate the office and I'll telephone and have Paolo released.'

'No. When you're satisfied you'll have Paolo released to my driver, and when he calls in to say Paolo is safe, I will leave the office, and the books, to you.'

Cavellini considered. 'How do I know you'll go?'

'You will be armed and I will not, as I said before. Look Tony, I'm sick of this, and I want out. I'm thinking of going to California with my family. I want your guarantee I will leave the office in one piece.'

Cavellini smiled grimly. 'Keep to the deal and you can count on a quiet old age in California. Cross me and you and Paolo will feed the crows.'

They stopped as they reached the road where the cars were parked. Cavellini shivered. 'Damned cold!' he remarked. Vittorio nodded. 'They say it's warm in California,' he said, and held out his hand.

After a moment's hesitation Cavellini shook it briefly and the two men returned to their cars.

~

As soon as Vittorio reached his office he sent for his chief clerk. ‘I want all the books made up to date for tomorrow morning.’

‘But Mr. Vetti, tonight’s takings don’t get here until after midnight.’

Vittorio glowered. ‘Then work late. I want them up to date for tomorrow. Work all night if you have to.’

‘Yes, Mr. Vetti.’ The clerk turned to go.

‘And get me a joiner.’ Vittorio barked.

‘A... what, Mr Vetti?’

‘A joiner, are you deaf?’ Seeing the clerk’s puzzled face Vittorio explained as if to a child, ‘A joiner, a carpenter, you savvy?’

‘Yes Mr. Vetti.’

‘Then get on with it.’

Vittorio picked up the telephone, and a few minutes later four men, the same men who had accompanied him for the meeting with Cavellini, entered his office. Vittorio gave detailed instructions, moving from his desk to the window, and back to his desk as he talked. When he was sure all was in order, he dismissed them and sent for coffee. It was time for serious thought, he needed an honest man.

Anna checked James’s luggage for the tenth time.

‘Are you sure he has enough socks Lottie?’ she said, frowning.

‘Anna, I took the list to the store myself,’ Lottie soothed. ‘James was lucky to be able to leave right away, and he has enough here to last at least six months. If he finds he needs anything more he can always let us know.’

Anna nodded. Lottie put her arm around her. ‘It’s the best thing for him. You know it is.’

Anna nodded again. ‘Yes, Clancy is right. His education is the most important thing.’

At that moment James came in and caught sight of the two large trunks. ‘Gosh Mama, is that all mine?’

‘Yes. We don’t know what the weather will be, so we have put something of everything...’

James frowned. ‘I shall only have a small room you know.’

‘If your room is too small you can always take an apartment in town,’ Anna suggested.

‘I don’t think father would agree to that. He was keen for me to live in College.’

‘Oh.’

James came across to his mother. ‘It’s all right Mama,’ he said. ‘I want to go, really I do. Father is right, he was right all along, Paolo made me see that.’

He hugged his mother tight and said, ‘The car is here. I don’t want to miss the train.’ He hesitated. ‘As soon as you hear anything...’

‘Yes. I’ll let you know as soon as Paolo is free.’

‘You’re quite sure he will be alright?’

‘One thing I do know for certain James,’ Anna said earnestly, ‘Whatever Vittorio Vetti may be, he loves Paolo. He will make sure he is freed.’

The chauffeur appeared to help James downstairs with the trunks, and a few minutes later Anna and Lottie were waving James away.

Anna went back into the drawing room. She stood in front of the fireplace and stared disconsolately at Sylvie’s picture, as if to gain some consolation from the sunny scene. The last few days had been the worst time in her life, even worse than that time in Paris when Delphine had told her she and Robert were to be married...

Lottie came in. ‘No mooning about Anna, it won’t do any good. College will be good for James, he needs the discipline.’

‘Yes, you’re right.’ After a moment Anna said quietly, ‘I thought Clancy might be here to see him off.’

Lottie understood instantly. ‘It’s not what you think Anna, Clancy isn’t angry with James any more, not since they had that heart to heart. Everything is alright between them.’

Yes, Anna thought, things are right between them, it’s me he can’t forgive. ‘Even so, he could have been here,’ she said.

‘I don’t think so,’ Lottie replied. ‘He told James he was sorry not to see him off but he has something important to do. I heard him give instructions to the chauffeur to take the car to the office as soon as he has put James on the train.’

‘Oh? And what is this important thing he has to do?’ Anna asked.

‘I’ve no idea,’ Lottie said. ‘But he’s been very preoccupied since he had the telephone call from that monster Vetti.’

~

It was just after two o’clock the same afternoon when Clancy received the awaited telephone call at his office. Leaving immediately, he ignored the protests of his chauffeur and got into the driver’s seat of the car, telling the surprised man to take the rest of the day off. Fifteen minutes later he was driving along the dusty road to the neglected farmhouse where James had been held. He stopped the car at the entrance to the driveway, little more than a cart track, and checked his gold hunter watch. Paolo should be free at about two thirty if all went as Vittorio had outlined. Clancy settled back to wait, wondering, not for the first time, what on earth he was doing there, and why he was doing it.

It was exactly two thirty one when Clancy saw a dark suited figure emerge from the farmhouse and begin to walk up the long cart track towards him. Two minutes later he recognised the figure as Paolo Vetti, and noticed that Paolo’s walk was less jaunty than usual. He held his head down, and moved with a shambling limp, and as he neared the car Clancy saw that Paolo’s suit was crumpled and dirty, and his handsome features were disfigured by a black eye and several yellow and purple bruises.

Clancy opened the passenger door. ‘Welcome back. Your hotel wasn’t too comfortable I see.’

Paolo stared at him. ‘I didn’t expect it to be you,’ he said. ‘What are you doing here?’ He got into the car, moving painfully, and Clancy started up.

‘Your uncle asked me to collect you,’ Clancy said. ‘I don’t really know why, he said something about not wanting to use one of his own men.’

Paolo smiled grimly. ‘He’s under pressure from Tony Cavellini, the man who took James. Cavellini is trying to take over the Vetti interests, and is quite capable of bribing our men. My uncle wanted someone he knew he could trust.’

‘In case you think that’s a compliment, I don’t regard it as such,’ Clancy said shortly, driving away quickly towards the main road. ‘I don’t want to know the details and I don’t want anything else to do with this after I’ve taken you home.’

‘Fair enough,’ Paolo said, feeling his face gingerly, ‘All the same, thanks for agreeing to collect me.’