“I don’t see why you should get so worked up,” Herman complained. “I insist you moderate your language when you talk to me.”
“Where will you he staying?” Helga said, raising her voice.
“The Emerald Beach hotel for two days, then I hope Hinkle will find us a furnished bungalow.” Herman’s voice had turned sulky. “I don’t see why you can’t come at once. You’re always making difficulties, Helga.”
She wanted to scream at him to go to hell, but she bit that back.
“That’s a charming remark, Herman, considering I have been freezing in this damned place so you could arrive in comfort!”
She heard him snort impatiently.
“I don’t see why you should even be there. You just don’t know how to get things organized.”
“I’ll fly to New York on Saturday and not before!”
“I’m not going to wait for you. I’m leaving for Nassau tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll join you when I’m ready.” She paused, took hold of herself and softening her voice, she asked, “How are you?”
They spent a few more minutes talking indifferently to each other, then she hung up.
Well, at least now, she wouldn’t have to worry about Herman and that was a relief.
The sun was shining and the countryside from the picture window looked clean, white and sparkling.
She went into the kitchen where Larry was finishing the washing-up.
“You don’t have to do that. There’s a dishwasher.”
“Yeah… I see that, but it foxes me. I’ve never used one.”
Helga realized she had never used a dishwasher either and she laughed. “There’s a book of instructions somewhere.”
“I don’t mind doing the washing-up,” Larry said. “That’s all I did in the Army.”
Then she remembered what Archer had said: that Larry was an Army deserter.
“You were in the Army?”
He looked at her, his face expressionless.
“You know that, ma’am… Archer told you.”
She nodded.
“He told me you are a deserter.”
“That’s it… AWOL. That’s me.” He dried his hands and leaned against the double sink. “I had enough of the Army so I walked out.”
She studied him, then she hoisted herself on the kitchen table, swinging her shapely legs.
“So all that talk about your father sending you to Europe was so much talk?”
He ran his fingers through his blond hair.
“Excuse me, ma’am. I didn’t mean to snow you, but you asked and I guess I said the first thing that came into my head.”
“That’s all right, Larry. I understand.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“So your position is more difficult than I thought. If the Army police…”
“There are no M.P.s here, ma’am. I’m not worrying.”
No, she thought, you may not be worrying, but I am.
“I intend to fly back to New York on Saturday,” she said. “What will you do when I’ve gone?”
“Saturday?” This seemed to give him a jolt. He frowned as he thought. “I’ll manage. I’ll get a job at a hotel or at a filling station… something like that.”
“We’ve gone over that before, Larry. You need a work permit.”
“Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his head and his frown deepened. “Well, don’t you worry, ma’am. I’ll manage somehow.”
“But how?”
He looked up and his frown went away. He gave her his warm, friendly smile.
“I don’t know right now. I’ll have to think about it, but as Ron said: a problem is a challenge and I guess this is my problem.”
“I’d like to help you. You’ve helped me. Would you like to go home?”
He stared at her.
“I sure would, ma’am, but I can’t. That’s the first place the cops would look for me. No… I can’t go home.”
“But you would like to go back to the States?”
“Yeah… I guess I would.”
“If I gave you your ticket and some money, Larry, would you be able to get a job?”
He nodded.
“Sure… I’ve got this faked passport. I could easily get a job if I went back.”
“All right, Larry, then that’s what I’ll do. When the bank sends the photos, I’ll book a seat for you on the New York flight and I’ll give you a present of five thousand dollars. Would that be all right?”
He stared as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing, then his face lit up: the face of a child who has seen Father Christmas for the first time.
“Do you really mean that, ma’am?”
“Yes… I mean it. I owe you a lot, Larry.”
He thought, then shook his head.
“No, ma’am. I wouldn’t say that. I got you into this mess.”
She was glad he said that.
“That’s honest of you, Larry. Yes, you did get me into this mess.” She lifted her hands and let them drop into her lap. “But to be as honest as you, I admit I was heading for a mess anyway, and I’m lucky it was with you and not with some other man without scruples.” She smiled at him as she slid off the table. “Now I’m going down to the village. I feel like a walk. I’ll get some fresh bread. Is there anything you want?”
“I’m getting short of gum… if I could bother you.”
“I’ll get you some. You must keep out of sight. Will you be very bored?”
He grinned.
“Bored? No, ma’am, I don’t get bored. I’ll get you a good lunch.”
She smiled.
“Wonderful! I won’t be more than an hour or so.” She went into the hall and put on her coat. Larry came to the kitchen door. “If anyone comes… if the telephone rings… don’t answer.”
“Sure, ma’am… I know.” He paused, then went on, “When do you think the bank will send the photos?”
“Not until the day after tomorrow.”
“You think they will send them?”
She nodded.
“Yes… the signature is convincing.”
“Yeah, I guess Maxie is smart.”
Smiling, she put her hand on his arm.
“I don’t know what I would have done without you, Larry.”
She opened the front door and feeling suddenly young and almost happy, she hurried out into the sunshine and the cold.
The walk to the village with the cold nipping at her invigorated her. Her problems, she told herself, were slowly coming under control. Herman was out of the way. Archer was locked up. She would give Larry five thousand dollars and his ticket to New York and her debt to him would be paid. When she saw Herman she would tell him about the missing two million dollars, blaming herself as much as Archer, but insisting the account should be transferred to Spencer, Grove amp; Manly. She would be able to fly to New York with a completely free mind. Then Nassau! Yes, she felt in need of warm sunshine and the sea, and from now on, she told herself, no more men!
She bought bread, and after some trouble, four packs of chewing gum. She was in an almost gay mood as she walked up the road, back to the villa.
It was 11.50 by the time she reached the front door. She took her key from her bag and opened the door, pleased to come into the warm.
“Larry?”
She took off her coat. She wished the scaffolding pole hadn’t to remain, jamming the cellar door. She disliked untidiness, and the pole spoilt the neatness of the hall.
“Larry?”
The silence that greeted her made her pause to listen. Hearing nothing, she took off her hat and went into the kitchen. There was a chicken in its plastic wrapping defrosting on the table, a packet of spinach and a packet of dehydrated potatoes, but no Larry.
Suddenly alarmed, she went to the sitting-room and threw open the door.
Facing her, sitting in a lounging chair, a whisky and soda in his hand, was Archer.
The shock of seeing him sent the blood from her face.
“Did you have a nice walk?” Archer asked mildly.
Helga’s hands turned into fists. She tried to speak but no sound came.
“A bit of a shock? Of course… let me get you a drink.” He heaved himself to his feet and moved to the bar. The usual?”