I frowned at him.
“Is he likely to get difficult?”
“No… but he is sensitive.” Savanto waved his fat hand vaguely. “Nothing that can’t be controlled.” He paused, then went on, “You will impress on Mrs. Benson not to talk to anyone about this arrangement? You see, apart from the police, I wouldn’t want my friend with whom I have made this unfortunate bet to know what is happening. I know he is curious. Security must he very strict.”
“She won’t say anything!
“That is good.” He got abruptly to his feet. “Well, then, tomorrow at 06.00.” He walked ahead of me into the brightly lit room with its lounging chairs in white and red satin, its cream-coloured carpet and the big silver trout on the wall. “There is one other thing.” He crossed the room to a Chippendale desk, opened a drawer and took out an envelope. “This is for you. It is a sign of trust and to give you encouragement, but you will have to earn it.”
I took the envelope, lifted the flap and looked at a piece of paper worth twenty-five thousand dollars.
As I drove up the sandy road leading to the shooting range, I spotted a red and blue Buick convertible parked outside the bungalow.
The sight of this car gave me a shock.
Who was visiting at this time of night? It was pushing 23.30. I thought of Lucy on her own, and my heart did a somersault. The excitement of having a bond worth twenty-five thousand dollars in my pocket vanished. I shoved my foot down on the gas pedal, roared up the rest of the road, slammed on the brakes and slid out of the car.
The light was on in the sitting-room, the windows were open and as I started for the front door, ready for anything, Lucy appeared before the open window and waved to me.
I drew in a breath and relaxed.
“Okay, honey?”
“Of course. Come in, Jay. We have a visitor.”
I opened the door and walked into the hall and entered the sittingroom.
A man in a light-weight well-worn suit was sitting in my favourite armchair. He had a glass of Coke in his hand and a cigarette dangled from his thin lips. I took him in with one quick glance. He was tall, wiry and tough-looking with a lined, sun-tanned face and clear, ice-blue eyes. His dark hair was cut close and his jaw line was aggressive. He got to his feet, putting the glass on the occasional table as Lucy said, “This is Mr. Lepski. He wanted to see you. I asked him to wait.”
“Detective 2nd Grade Tom Lepski… Police headquarters,” Lepski said and offered his hand.
Maybe for a split second I stiffened, but immediately I forced myself to relax. The ice-blue eyes were staring directly at me with that disconcerting stare all cops have. I was pretty sure he had noticed my reaction. Cops are trained to notice a thing like that.
“Trouble?” I asked, forcing a grin as I shook his hand.
Lepski shook his head.
“Sometimes I hate being a cop,” he said. “Whenever I call on folk, they react like I’m going to make an arrest. It louses up my social life. Believe me, I’m a very sociable hombre… like I was telling Mrs. Benson. No trouble, friend. I just missed you as you left. Mrs. Benson was on her own, we got talking, and hell ! the time’s rushed away. I guess my wife will be wondering where I’ve got to.”
“You wanted to see me?” I couldn’t relax with this man. I was thinking what Savanto had said : no one must know.., especially the police.
“Jay, would you like a Coke?” Lucy asked. “Do sit down, Mr. Lepski.”
“Sure… I’ll have a Coke,” I said. “Sit down, Mr. Lepski.”
Lepski resumed his seat. Lucy went off to the kitchen and I sat on an upright chair, facing him.
“I won’t keep you a few minutes, Mr. Benson,” he said. “I shouldn’t have come out here so late, but something is always cropping up and I was late getting away from headquarters.”
“That’s okay. I’m glad you kept my wife company… this is a lonely place.” I took out my pack of cigarettes, offered it and we lit up. “I’ve been out on business.”
“Yeah… Mrs. Benson was telling me.”
What else had she told him? I began to sweat.
Lucy came back with the Coke.
“Mr. Lepski wants you to sharpen up his shooting,” she said, handing me the Coke. “I told him I didn’t think you had time for a couple of weeks.” Seeing the way I was looking at her, she went on, “I told him you
had a special pupil you had to give all your time to.”
I drank some of the Coke. My mouth was as dry as sand.
“It’s this way,” Lepski said. “I’ve got my promotion exam coming up. I’m a pretty good shot, but it helps to get extra points. I wanted you to give me a few tips.”
I stared at the ice in my glass.
“I’d be glad to, but not just now. I’m sorry. As Lucy has told you I’m committed for the next two weeks. Can you wait that long?”
The ice-blue eyes began to probe my face again.
“You mean you’ve got someone to teach as important as that… who’ll take up all your time for two weeks?”
“That’s it. Can you wait? I would be glad to help you if you can wait.”
“It would be cutting it fine. My exam is at the end of the month.”
“I can give you two or three hours on 29th… any time convenient to you. That should be enough, shouldn’t it?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. He was still looking thoughtfully at me.
“I guess so. How about 18.00 on 29th unless I call you?”
“Okay.” I stood up. “I look forward to helping you.”
Lepski finished his Coke, then got to his feet.
“I see you’re doing some painting around here.”
“Giving the place a face lift.”
“It sure needs it. Nick Lewis is an old friend of mine. He taught me to shoot. You know, I never thought he’d sell the place. Let’s see, you’ve been here for four months? How’s it working out?”
“Early days yet. We’ll make out.”
“You should do. You’ve quite a reputation. Is it right you’re the best shot in the Army?”
“Not now. I was rated the second best a year ago.”
“That’s something! Those guys know how to shoot.” The ice-blue eyes probed again. “I heard you were a sniper.”
“That’s right.”
“Not a job I’d dig for, but I guess it calls for some pretty quick shooting.”
“It wasn’t a job I liked either, but someone has to do it.”
“I guess that’s right.” He started to move to the door, then paused. “This pupil of yours must be a dope if you have to give up two solid weeks of your full time to teach him to shoot or does he want to be as good as you?”
“A rich man’s whim. You know how it is. He has the money and he wants it exclusive. I’m not complaining,” I said as casually as I could.
“Anyone I would know?”
“No… he’s here on vacation.”
Lepski nodded understandingly.
“Yeah… plenty of those here now. More money than brains and they don’t know what to do with themselves.” He reached the front door, paused and shook hands. “Unless I call you, I’ll see you on the 29th.”
“That’s it. Thanks for keeping my wife company.”
He grinned.
“It was my pleasure.”
Lucy joined me at the door and we watched him drive away. I took out my handkerchief and wiped off my sweating hands, then shut the door, locked it and followed Lucy into the sitting-room.
“I hope it was all right what I told him, Jay.” She was looking anxious. “You look so tense. I thought the best thing was to tell him right away that you were tied up.”