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

Adam Crowther.
    As Crowther stepped off the pavement, Shane called out to him and Crowther glanced over his shoulder. He seemed to hesitate for a moment and then he limped heavily across the road and got into a small saloon car. Shane ran forward, but had to jump back quickly out of harm’s way as another car flashed past. By that time the saloon car was already moving away and as he watched, it turned the corner and disappeared.
    For a little while Shane stood there at the pavement’s edge, staring into the night, eyes narrowed as he considered the possible explanations for Crowther’s presence at the Garland Club.
    After a few moments he turned and walked towards the entrance. The whole thing was beginning to get very complicated, he decided and as he passed through the glass doors, there was a frown on his face.

8
    A WHITE-HAIRED, foreign-looking man moved forward and said smoothly, ‘Members only, sir.’
    Shane handed him Jenny Green’s card and the man examined it, his face expressionless. ‘Will you just step over here and sign the book, sir?’ he said, and Shane followed him across to a small reception desk.
    He signed his own name and the man examined the entry. When he looked up there was a slight smile on his face. ‘The membership fee is one pound, Mr Shane.’
    Shane handed him a banknote and the man called a girl over from the cloakroom on the other side of the foyer. As she helped Shane off with his coat he said, ‘Didn’t I see Mr Crowther leaving the club as I came along the street? Mr Adam Crowther?’
    The man frowned slightly as if thinking. ‘Mr Crowther, sir? No, I don’t think we have a member by that name. He went across to his desk and flicked through the membership book. After a moment he turned, a smile of apology on his face. ‘You must have been mistaken, sir. There has been no one by that name in the club tonight.’
    Shane thanked him and handed him a pound. The man bowed slightly and stood to one side. ‘Thank you very much, sir. I hope you enjoy your evening with us.’
    There was some undercurrent of meaning in his voice and when Shane had walked a little way along the corridor he paused and glanced back. The man was looking after him and talking busily into the mouthpiece of a telephone receiver.
    Shane moved along the red-carpeted corridor, his senses alert for trouble. As he approached the open door at the far end, there was a burst of applause. He passed through the door and came out on to a tiny balcony.
    Wide stairs dropped down into a crowded dining-room. Above the tables there was a raised cat-walk and scantily dressed showgirls were engaged in a dance routine.
    A small, bird-like Italian was standing at the top of the stairs watching the show. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Shane and turned quickly his face illuminated by a smile. ‘Good evening, sir. Can I get you a table?’
    Shane waved him away. ‘Not just now. I think I’ll have a drink at the bar.’
    He went down the stairs and made his way through the crowd to the bar and ordered a drink. When it came, he stood with his back to the bar and looked around him. The customers on the whole looked pretty respectable. Most of them were middle-aged business men who were obviously enjoying themselves hugely. Probably their wives didn’t even know they were there.
    The noise was deafening. Half a dozen girls came out on to the cat-walk and did a can-can. Shane was almost underneath them and got a pretty good view as they flounced by. They were the usual brassy-faced tarts with too much make-up and dyed hair. Each time they did a high kick they screamed and shouted as if they were enjoying themselves and the audience applauded loudly.
    He stayed there for another half-hour, watching the show and keeping an eye open for Reggie Steele. As he ordered his third drink, he noticed the man who had been at the door standing on the stairs, his eyes travelling round the room. As they met Shane’s he started violently and