Read Online 1977 - I Hold the Four Aces by James Hadley Chase - Free Book Online Page B

name?”
    Grenville hesitated.
    “His name? Joe Patterson. Actually, he is staying in this hotel.”
    “Short, fat and pockmarked?”
    Grenville almost gaped at her.
    “That’s right, and the world’s worst bore.”
    “I have seen him. How much does he want to promote this holiday camp?”
    Grenville had an uneasy feeling that the initiative was slipping away from him. This woman, looking directly at him, began to worry him.
    “Two million dollars.” He laughed. “According to him, that takes care of buying the site and putting up the camp, but who in their right mind, these days, would put up two million?” He grimaced. “Not that it wouldn’t be a marvellous deal for me. I get a two per cent cut, and that would be nice money.”
    Again the red light flashed up in Helga’s mind.
    “Yes, I can understand why you are interested, Chris.” She sipped her champagne.
    “Well, I’m sure it won’t come off, but it might be amusing to go to Saudi Arabia. I’ve never been there.”
    “Have you any introductions?” The probing note in her voice again worried Grenville.
    “I believe Mr. Patterson is arranging that.”
    Helga nodded, then laid down her knife and fork.
    “Do help yourself, Chris. I’m sure you must still be starving.”
    “Well, it’s so good.”
    While he was helping himself at the trolley, Helga lit a cigarette.
    “A holiday camp?” she said. “That might not be a bad investment. Two million? Vallauris? What would Mr. Patterson’s terms be if someone advanced the money?”
    Grenville stared, then returned to the table, his plate loaded, and sat down.
    “He is offering twenty-five per cent on the money.”
    “That seems excessively generous. The banks would accept a lot less.”
    Grenville shrugged. He wished she would stop talking. He was thoroughly enjoying the meal.
    “I wouldn’t know about that, Helga.”
    “And how about control?”
    “From what I understand, he wants to keep control, but why bother? Surely you wouldn’t be remotely interested?”
    There was a long pause which made him uneasy. As he ate, he looked from time to time at her. She sat still, her blue eyes cloudy, her face expressionless.
    “Look, Helga…”
    She lifted her hand in an impatient gesture.
    “Enjoy it Chris, I’m thinking,” and the steely note in her voice made Grenville suddenly lose his appetite. He pushed aside his plate.
    “I’ve had more than enough.”
    “There is cheese and a sorbet,” Helga said. “Do help yourself.”
    “What about you?”
    “Coffee, please.”
    He got up, reluctantly deciding to pass up the cheese, and poured two cups of coffee and sat at the table again. He could sense a change had come over her, but he couldn’t define the change. She now seemed remote and her expression had hardened.
    “Let me see these papers, Chris.”
    Some forty minutes ago, her body had been yearning to be taken. All day long, she had thought of this man, but now, with a growing conviction that she was being set up for a con, her desire for him faded.
    As Archer, who knew her so well, had warned Grenville: “I believe that sex would take second place, if she suspected she was being taken for a ride.”
    Sex was now taking second place.
    “Are you sure you want to be bothered?” Grenville had an uneasy feeling that she was beginning to dominate him, and this worried him. Always, he had been able to control the women who had fallen for him.
    “I asked you to show me these papers, Chris!” There was sudden steel in her voice.
    A little flustered, and losing his cool, Grenville opened the briefcase and took out the coloured brochure and the plan of the site.
    “Give yourself a brandy, nothing for me,” Helga said, and sitting back, studied the brochure, then the plan of the site, while Grenville, sure now he had lost control of the situation, wandered to the drinks table and poured himself a brandy.
    “You will see…” he began, but she silenced him with an impatient wave of her