Read Online Comes the Dark Stranger by Jack Higgins - Free Book Online

behind the bar, and Shane grinned at the girl. ‘Would you like a drink?’
    ‘I’ve never been known to refuse.’ She sat on the stool next to him. Her tight skirt slid a good four inches above her knees, and she made no attempt to pull it down. ‘I’ll have a gin and orange, if it’s all right with you.’
    He gave Wilby the order, and when it came she raised her glass. ‘My name’s Jenny Green. What’s yours? I haven’t seen you in here before.’
    ‘Raymond Hunt,’ he told her. ‘I’m just in town on a visit.’
    She leaned across, her blouse gaping so that he could see the deep valley between her breasts. ‘We’ll have to see what we can do to make your stay a pleasant one.’
    Before Shane could reply, there was a tap on his shoulder, and he turned to face the man who had admitted him into the club. He smiled hugely, baring his filthy teeth, and held out a pound note. ‘I’m sorry, sir,’ he said. ‘I’ve just discovered our membership list is full.’
    Wilby was moving round the bar, a policeman’s baton in one hand, and a sudden hush fell upon the crowd. Shane decided he’d had enough for one night and took the pound from between the man’s fingers.
    The girl was already melting into the crowd and he shrugged, strolled past the manager and mounted the steps. The manager walked behind him and when they reached the door, he unlocked it and stood to one side. ‘Good night, sir. Sorry we can’t oblige.’
    ‘It’s been fun,’ Shane assured him and went out.
    He paused on the corner of the alley to light a cigarette. There was a sudden hiss and Jenny appeared from the fog. ‘There’s an emergency exit,’ she explained. ‘In case of cops.’
    Shane sighed. ‘Now don’t start getting any ideas,’ he told her.
    She grinned. ‘Don’t flatter yourself. Tell me, what were you doing in there?’
    ‘Looking for Reggie Steele,’ he said.
    She frowned, suddenly distant. ‘Are you a friend of his?’
    He shook his head. ‘No, I don’t think you could describe me as that.’
    She was immediately friendly again. ‘If he isn’t here by this time he won’t be coming. You’ll probably find him at the Garland Club by now.’
    ‘And how do I get in there?’ he said.
    She opened her handbag and took out a small white card. ‘You’ll have to pay a pound for membership, but if you hand the reception clerk this card, he’ll sign you in.’
    ’Thanks a lot,’ Shane said. He started to turn away and then hesitated. ‘I hope nobody saw you follow me out. I wouldn’t like to see you getting into trouble on my account.’
    She grinned, teeth flashing in the darkness. ‘You don’t need to worry about me. I can take care of myself.’
    She leaned back against the wall and pulled him against her. He could feel the warmth of her soft young body and he rested his hands lightly on her shoulders. ‘Just tell me one thing,’ she said. ‘Raymond isn’t your real name, is it?’
    He smiled down at her. ‘No — it’s Martin. Martin Shane.’
    She nodded soberly. ‘Yes, it suits you much better.’ She pulled down his head and crushed his mouth against hers and then she pushed him away and hurried back into the alley.
    He took out a handkerchief and wiped the lipstick from his mouth. ‘Good-bye, Jenny,’ he called softly.
    ’So long, Martin,’ her voice replied from the darkness, and then a door banged and he turned away.
    The streets seemed to have come alive as he walked briskly through the centre of town and when he turned into St Michael’s Square, he found it crowded with parked cars.
    The man who had been mopping up the floor earlier, now stood outside the Garland Club in an imposing red and gold uniform. As Shane approached along the pavement, the doorman opened one of the glass doors and saluted smartly as a tall man in a dark overcoat moved out.
    The man raised his wrist to glance at his watch and Shane saw his face clearly in the bright shaft of light from the club doorway. It was