Read Online 1953 - The Things Men Do by James Hadley Chase - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: James Hadley Chase
Ads: Link
more than five for the whole of this dump."
He wasn't far out. My actual rent was just under five pounds, plus rates.
Well, it was certainly a letdown after expecting fifty pounds a week, but fifteen was better than nothing: a lot better.
"Would you want me to do anything?"
Dix shook his head.
"This is an expert's job. Berry and Louis will be working on it. They've been doing the experimental work at Maidenhead."
I stared at him, an uneasy feeling of suspicion running through me. No one would ever convince me that Berry and Louis were radio experts: especially Louis.
Dix was quick to see my expression of disbelief.
"Look, pally, you needn't go ahead if you don't want to. I'm offering you seventy-five pounds in cash for a month's rent, but I don't want you looking at me like that. This is my business, not yours. All you're doing is renting me a piece of this dump. Do you want to make the deal or don't you?"
Seventy-five pounds! I could repay Bill half what I owed him and still have enough to square the more pressing accounts. As he said, it wasn't my business if his story sounded a little thin. Anyway, I could always watch Berry and Louis, and if they got up to any tricks, I could call the whole thing off.
"All right, it's a deal. When do you want to move in?"
An odd expression jumped into Dix's eyes, a mixture of gloating triumph and excitement.
"Fine. Before we can move in, I'll have to make a few alterations. I can get things sorted out in the morning. We'll move in on Friday."
"What alterations are you going to make?"
"I want privacy. I told you our work is secret. I don't want every Tom, Dick or Harry sticking his nose in where it's not wanted. Then we've got to bring our electrical equipment down here, a work bench and other stuff."
"Will you use much electricity?"
He grinned.
"Scared you're not going to make a profit. Send the bill into me. I'll square it. Want your money now?"
"Friday will do."
"Have it now, pally."
He walked back to the office and I followed him. After I had closed the door, he pulled out a roll of five-pound notes nearly as thick as my fist. He counted fifteen of them on to the desk.
"I'll make you out a receipt."
"I don't want one. I never pay a second time so what should I want a receipt for? Don't be a mug, pally: stick that lot in your pocket and forget to pay tax on it."
"Well, thanks."
I walked with him to the entrance where Berry had just got through measuring up the floor space. He had marked the space out with chalk, and looked inquiringly at Dix.
"That what you want?"
"Yeah. Be on the job first thing in the morning. I want everything ready by Friday."
"It'll be ready."
Dix turned to me.
"So long, pally. Start counting the days. You'll be running the most prosperous agency in the West End by next year."
"Let's hope so."
He climbed into the Cadillac.
"See you've got Gloria's bus here. Nice job, isn't it?"
"A cracker."
He gave me a jeering little grin.
"Be seeing you."
I walked slowly back to the office and sat down.
Something was wrong, I told myself. I was willing to bet none of these three were radio experts. What then was the idea?
What was behind this business?
I wondered if Gloria knew, and if she did, whether she would tell me. I slipped my hand into my trousers pocket and fingered the five-pound notes.
I don't want every Tom, Dick or Harry sticking his nose in where it's not wanted, Dix had said. That was a blunt enough hint I was getting well paid, and it was none of my business.
I'd better start right now by not sticking my nose where it wasn't wanted.
Ann came into the office.
"I saw them go."
I reached out and pulled her on to my lap.
"It didn't work out as good as I hoped. The agency isn't going to start for a year."
"Oh!" Her look of relief irritated me. "Perhaps it's just as well, Harry. I don't like the look of those two."
"Now wait a minute. It's not as if we're having them to live with us. I don't like them much myself, but
He wasn't far out. My actual rent was just under five pounds, plus rates.
Well, it was certainly a letdown after expecting fifty pounds a week, but fifteen was better than nothing: a lot better.
"Would you want me to do anything?"
Dix shook his head.
"This is an expert's job. Berry and Louis will be working on it. They've been doing the experimental work at Maidenhead."
I stared at him, an uneasy feeling of suspicion running through me. No one would ever convince me that Berry and Louis were radio experts: especially Louis.
Dix was quick to see my expression of disbelief.
"Look, pally, you needn't go ahead if you don't want to. I'm offering you seventy-five pounds in cash for a month's rent, but I don't want you looking at me like that. This is my business, not yours. All you're doing is renting me a piece of this dump. Do you want to make the deal or don't you?"
Seventy-five pounds! I could repay Bill half what I owed him and still have enough to square the more pressing accounts. As he said, it wasn't my business if his story sounded a little thin. Anyway, I could always watch Berry and Louis, and if they got up to any tricks, I could call the whole thing off.
"All right, it's a deal. When do you want to move in?"
An odd expression jumped into Dix's eyes, a mixture of gloating triumph and excitement.
"Fine. Before we can move in, I'll have to make a few alterations. I can get things sorted out in the morning. We'll move in on Friday."
"What alterations are you going to make?"
"I want privacy. I told you our work is secret. I don't want every Tom, Dick or Harry sticking his nose in where it's not wanted. Then we've got to bring our electrical equipment down here, a work bench and other stuff."
"Will you use much electricity?"
He grinned.
"Scared you're not going to make a profit. Send the bill into me. I'll square it. Want your money now?"
"Friday will do."
"Have it now, pally."
He walked back to the office and I followed him. After I had closed the door, he pulled out a roll of five-pound notes nearly as thick as my fist. He counted fifteen of them on to the desk.
"I'll make you out a receipt."
"I don't want one. I never pay a second time so what should I want a receipt for? Don't be a mug, pally: stick that lot in your pocket and forget to pay tax on it."
"Well, thanks."
I walked with him to the entrance where Berry had just got through measuring up the floor space. He had marked the space out with chalk, and looked inquiringly at Dix.
"That what you want?"
"Yeah. Be on the job first thing in the morning. I want everything ready by Friday."
"It'll be ready."
Dix turned to me.
"So long, pally. Start counting the days. You'll be running the most prosperous agency in the West End by next year."
"Let's hope so."
He climbed into the Cadillac.
"See you've got Gloria's bus here. Nice job, isn't it?"
"A cracker."
He gave me a jeering little grin.
"Be seeing you."
I walked slowly back to the office and sat down.
Something was wrong, I told myself. I was willing to bet none of these three were radio experts. What then was the idea?
What was behind this business?
I wondered if Gloria knew, and if she did, whether she would tell me. I slipped my hand into my trousers pocket and fingered the five-pound notes.
I don't want every Tom, Dick or Harry sticking his nose in where it's not wanted, Dix had said. That was a blunt enough hint I was getting well paid, and it was none of my business.
I'd better start right now by not sticking my nose where it wasn't wanted.
Ann came into the office.
"I saw them go."
I reached out and pulled her on to my lap.
"It didn't work out as good as I hoped. The agency isn't going to start for a year."
"Oh!" Her look of relief irritated me. "Perhaps it's just as well, Harry. I don't like the look of those two."
"Now wait a minute. It's not as if we're having them to live with us. I don't like them much myself, but
Similar Books
