Read Online Figure it Out For Yourself by James Hadley Chase - Free Book Online

you've spilt?'
    'There's plenty more. Help yourself. You look as if you could use it.'
    'I can.' He crossed to the wagon and mixed himself a long stiff drink. 'Phew! Think we'll get any sleep tonight?'
    'Never mind sleep. Did you see anything?'
    He flopped into an armchair opposite me.
    'No. At least I didn't see them, but I did see the money go.'
    'But didn't you see who took it?'
    He shook his head.
    'The guy's smart He kept hidden. I think he was probably standing on one of the girders that support the shaft head. It was pitch dark up there. Anyway, he must have been above the roof of the shed. He had a fishing rod. One of those deep-sea rods, I should imagine. It would have to be something pretty hefty to take the weight of those parcels. He just dropped a hook on the parcel and fished it off the roof into the darkness. I never heard a sound or caught a glimpse of him. It was damned spooky seeing those parcels take off in the moonlight until I tumbled to what he was doing.'
    'Yes, that's smart. Did he see you, Jack?'
    'Not a chance.'
    'Don't be too sure. I saw you.'
    'I'll bet my life you didn't. Besides, I didn't arrive until you were driving away. I saw your tail lights. And when I reached the mine I was crawling around like a Red Indian.'
    'Well, I saw someone as I was leaving.'
    'It couldn't have been me.'
    I tried to remember what the shadowy figure had looked like. It had certainly reminded me of Kerman, so that would make it tall, broad-shouldered and lean. Not much to go on, but something.
    'Must have been one of the gang. I wish I had seen more of him.' I looked at my wrist-watch. 'In another quarter of an hour we should hear: if we're going to hear.'
    Kerman rubbed weary knuckles into his eyes.
    'I feel whacked. That five-hour wait in the car nearly killed me. Think they'll turn him loose?'
    'I don't know. I can't see them doing it. It'll be a lucky break for him if they do.'
    'Brandon's going to love this if he doesn't come back,' Kerman said, stifling a yawn.
    'It's her responsibility.'
    'But we are accessories. He'll be scared to curse her, but he'll have something to say to us.'
    'Well, let him say it,' I said, got up and tramped across to the wagon to make another drink. My hand hovered over the bottle as Franklin Marshland came silently into the room.
    'So you've got back safely,' he said. 'I must say I was very worried.' He looked inquiringly at Jack Kerman.
    I introduced them.
    'A very long, unpleasant wait,' Marshland went on. 'Surely it's time they communicated with us?'
    'It needs five minutes to the three hours,' I said, giving Kerman another drink and going back to the settee. 'If they've released him, they'll make sure he doesn't get back here until they are well out of town.'
    He half turned to stare at me.
    'I think it's extremely unlikely they will release him,' he said 'If we don't hear in another half-hour I propose calling the Police.'
    'That's up to you,' I said, 'but as we've waited so long, I think we should wait until daylight. Even now any false move might be dangerous for him.'
    'I think he's dead.'
    I felt tired, and beyond making aimless small-talk.
    'Just what is it you dislike so much about Lee Dedrick, Mr. Marshland?'
    He ignored this question, and stepped out on to the terrace. He remained out there for three or four minutes, then came in again and headed for the door.
    I'd better see how my daughter is,' he said, more to himself than to us. 'This wait is very hard on her.' At the door he paused, looked back at me. 'A man who marries a woman for her money is always worthy of contempt, Mr. Malloy.'
    He went out of the room, and we listened to his footsteps on the stairs.
    Kerman made a grimace.
    'Did he marry her for her money?' he asked in a whisper.
    'I don't know.' I jerked my thumb at the clock. 'Five minutes overdue.'
    'Doesn't look very healthy, does it?'
    There's nothing we can do except wait. I swung my legs up on the settee. 'I like that girl. Maybe she is a little