Juana’s piercing screams were suddenly cut short. Cade was half up as he saw another shadowy figure come charging at him. He straightened and was knocked sprawling. Gasping, he began to scramble to his feet when he saw two men standing over him, their arms raised. He threw up his arms, but he was too late. Something that felt like a bar of iron crashed down on his head and the night exploded into a sheet of blinding flame, and then darkness.
Later, he vaguely became aware of great heat and the smell of burning. He made a feeble effort to open his eyes, and again darkness closed over him. Later still, he became aware of voices and movement, but he was beyond caring. His head felt as if it had been split in two. He heard himself groaning. There was a sudden prick in his arm, and he drifted away once more into blessed darkness.
The young Mexican surgeon whose name was Jose Pinto came into the hospital waiting-room where Juana, Creel and Sam Wand stood in an uneasy group by the window.
Wand, a tall, fat dynamo of a man in his middle forties, had flown down as soon as the news of the attack had reached him. Juana whose beauty had made no impression on him, could tell him little of the attack. She said five men had been involved. Before she could go to Cade’s help, a blanket had been thrown over her head and she had been held while the brutal beating had been in progress.
The neighbours, alarmed by her first screams, had telephoned the police who had arrived with their usual indifference of all Mexicans to an emergency some time after the attackers had gone. They found the garage in flames, the Thunderbird a charred wreck and Cade hovering between life and death. He had been rushed to hospital. Three days later it had been decided to operate.
“He’s come through very well,” Pinto said as the three turned expectantly. “He has a very thick skull. There is a fracture, of course, but it will heal. I am optimistic. In a month or so, he will be as well as he has ever been.”
“Can I see him?” Juana asked.
“Tomorrow, but not before.”
Later, at a café, sitting opposite each other, Juana asked Wand for money.
“The operation has to be paid for,” she explained. “There are also many other expenses. I need a new car.”
“He hasn’t much money now,” Wand said, regarding her coldly. “He has been spending his capital recently like a drunken sailor.” He tapped a fat finger on her diamond wrist watch. “If you want money, sell that. The insurance will take care of the car. What he has left, he will need when he comes out of hospital.”
Her face expressionless, her eyes suddenly hard, Juana stood up.
“He has always told me you are a good friend of his,” she said. “I don’t think you are. He wouldn’t want me to sell my watch. It is the last thing he would want.”
Wand smiled at her, not bothering to get to his feet. To him she was a beautiful whore; nothing more, nothing less.
“It is because I happen to be a good friend of his that I am telling you to sell the watch and all the other expensive toys he has given you. I am holding onto whatever money he has left and you, dear lady, are certainly not getting it!”
She shrugged her beautiful shoulders, turned and with swinging hips, she walked out into the sunshine.
The following morning Wand was Cade’s first visitor.
Dr. Pinto had already told Cade that Juana was unhurt and that in a month or so he would be up and about again, but as Wand came into the small, white room, he could see Cade was troubled.
“Good of you to come, Sam,” Cade said as the big, fat man lowered his bulk onto the chair by the bed.
“Have you seen Juana?”
“I saw her yesterday. She’s all right.”
“Did she say when she was coming to see me?” Cade’s sunken eyes were anxious.
“No, but she’ll be along today. How do you feel?”
Cade grimaced.
“This is a curse, Sam. It means I have lost the New Orleans job, doesn’t it?”
“Jackson couldn’t wait. He got Lucas.”
“I don’t know how Juana is off for money, Sam. If she wants some, let her have it.”
“She’ll manage. I had better hold on to your last Stocks. You’ll need money when you come out.”
“I guess that’s right but... oh, well, I’ll talk to her.”
“What’s all this about anyway?” Wand asked. “Any idea who these thugs were?”
“They didn’t like my bull fighting pictures. Adolfo warned me, but I didn’t pay any attention. I’m not good at taking advice. The car’s gone?”
“Yes.”
“She’ll have to have a new one.”
“The insurance will take care of that. Don’t worry about her. She can more than look after herself. Look, Val, I have to get back to New York. I just wanted you to know that I’ll have a mass of work lined up for you as soon as you’re fit. You take it easy, and leave it all to me.”
When he had gone, Cade closed his eyes. His head ached and he felt depressed. He couldn’t understand why Juana hadn’t been the first to visit him.
She came in the late afternoon. Cade who had been dozing, opened his eyes to find her by his bed. Although his head was aching, he was able to smile. He caught hold of her hand and she bent and kissed him.
“It is lovely to see you. How are you? Are you in pain?” She sat down.
“I’m all right, but how about you? Miss me?”
“Of course,” she said, paused, then went on, “There is so much to do. The insurance people are being difficult about the car. They say the coverage was for accidental fire and this was deliberate. I’ve had to consult a lawyer. He doesn’t think they will pay. Then there’s the garage. The owner of our house wasn’t insured. He is claiming from us.”
Cade wished his head didn’t ache so badly. He forced a grin.
“Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. Let them all wait I’ll fix it when I am up.”
“But in the meantime I haven’t a car. Taxis are almost impossible to get. Could I buy a car?”
“Sure... of course. I don’t know how much I have in the bank, but there should be enough. My cheque book is in that drawer. I’ll sign a blank cheque, but watch it baby, don’t put me in the red.”
Her face lit up as she gave him a flashing, heart-warming smile. She got the cheque book, found a pen and stood over him while he signed.
“Ask Creel to find you something cheap, honey. Until I’m earning again we’ll have to watch our money.”
“I have a friend in the car business. I won’t bother Creel. My friend will find me something quickly.” She looked at her watch. “Dr. Pinto said I was only to stay a few minutes.” She put the cheque in her bag. “Don’t worry if I don’t come tomorrow, cariño. I’ll be looking at cars. I’ll come as soon as I can.”
“Wait a minute, Juana.” Cade’s head was aching so badly he was white and sweating. “Did you speak to Renado about Franoco? It was Franoco who staged this attack, wasn’t it?”
“I don’t know. It could have been anyone. There is much bad feeling about those photos.”
“But did you speak to Renado?”
She hesitated, not looking at him.
“No... I forgot, but it could have been anyone.” She bent and kissed him. “Adios. Get well quickly. I miss you,” and she was gone.
Her visit upset Cade. Dr. Pinto wasn’t pleased with him when he saw him later.
“No visitors for a few days,” he said. “No, don’t argue. It’s for your own good. I’m going to give you a sedative and you’re going to have a nice sleep.”
Cade didn’t protest.
“Will you telephone my wife? I don’t want her to come all this way if she can’t see me.”