He might have gone far if he had taken it up
professionally.”
“Doesn’t talk a lot about himself, but I spotted he had
done some boxing. Used to do a bit myself, but I never got
anything out of it except a black eye.”
I laughed
“Nor me. Is that Bill’s new van over there?”
“What? That old ruin? No fear, that’s not Bill’s bus. That’s
it over there; in Bay 6.”
“He was telling me about it. Well, I’d better get back.
Sorry to have taken up your time. I should have remembered it was Bill’s day off.”
“That’s all right,” Harris said, shaking hands. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Glad to have met you.”
I walked back to the garage, aware that Berry must nave
seen what had been going on from his vantage point at the
window. I looked towards the window, but someone had
covered it with a piece of muslin.
Around six o’clock, Bill came in.
“Got home all right?” he asked as he walked into the
office,
“Yes; did you?”
“Just about made it. l’ve got some kippers here. How
about Ann cooking them and us having supper together?”
“All right. Take them up to her, and when you’re through
persuading her, come down. We might nip across the road for
a beer.”
“That’s an idea.”
He went upstairs.
I knew he would assure Ann I had spent the night with
him, and I was glad he had come in. After about ten minutes
he came down again.
“All under control. Let’s go.”
I had already closed up the garage, and together we
walked over to the Four Feathers that was next door to the sorting-office.
“Two pints, Miss,” Bill said to the barmaid and took the
cigarette I offered him. He stared at me suddenly. “Blimey!
You look a bit of wreck. What’s happened to your mouth?”
“Spanner slipped and nearly knocked my teeth out. It
hurt at the time, but it’s all right now. By the way, I met Harris this afternoon. He showed me your van.”
Bill looked surprised.
“Did he? That’s against regulations.”
“I forgot you weren’t coming in today, and I asked for
you. We got talking and I saw the van and asked him if it was
yours.”
“Oh. Well, it doesn’t matter. Got some gadgets in it we
like to keep quiet about.”
“I didn’t get within ten yards of it,” I said, and laughed.
“Do they equip you with a siren, Bill?”
“An alarm bell; it works off the battery. If we run into
trouble the first thing I have to do is to touch it off. Once it’s started there’s no stopping it. Good idea. It makes a hell of a racket.”
I had learned all I wanted to know now, and I changed
the subject to cricket. Once launched on the possibilities of Middlesex winning the championship there was no stopping Bill.
While he talked, I completed my plan of action. Granted
a little luck, I didn’t think it was going to be too difficult to put the alarm bell out of action.
There was no question of not
doing it. It was too early yet to make a false move. If I were
going to beat Dix, I had to make him believe he had me
cornered.
I had to work hard during supper and until it was time for Bill to go, to keep pace with the conversation and to appear at ease. I had a lot on my mind, but I knew it would be fatal to let either Ann or Bill suspect that there was something wrong.
It was with relief that I went downstairs to lock Bill out.
Lights were still on in the sorting-office, and the big doors stood open.
“You never seem to shut up for the night over there,” I
said as I stood on the kerb with Bill.
“We don’t shut up. Vans are always coming in and out Of
course the rest of the place is shut up, but the garage remains
open all the time.”
“Who looks after it?”
“Harris has night duty this week. He’s about the biggest
milker we’ve got. He sleeps most of the night in his office. I’ve been in after midnight and I could have pinched a couple of
vans under his very nose if I wanted to.
“Who wants to steal a mail van?”
“If it’s empty they don’t,” Bill said, grinning. “That’s what Harris is always saying. He says he’d wake up if anyone
started one of the engines. I suppose he’s right. Takes a little manoeuvring to get a van out of its bay.
Well, I’m off home. So long, Harry.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Not tomorrow. I’ve got another early morning rehearsal,
worse luck. Look you up on Sunday.”
I watched him walk down the street towards the bus
stop, then I shut the garage door and shot the bolts.
Joe came out of the partitioned room.
“How are you making out, pally?”
“All right,” I said curtly, and walked past him.
He reached out and grabbed hold of my arm, pulling me
round. The feel of his hand on me sent a vicious spurt of rage
through me. I very nearly swung at him, but checked myself in
time.
“Ed will be in tomorrow afternoon. He expects some
news from you,” Joe said, his small eyes watchful.
“He’ll have some,” I said, jerked free, and continued to
the office.
They were so sure they had me where they wanted me.
All right, let them think that. Only let them make one slip, and then they’d soon find out I wasn’t the sucker they imagined I was.
Dix came in on Friday afternoon. I saw him swing the big Cadillac into the garage as I sat at my desk. I got up and went down the garage to meet him. He remained in the car.
“Hop in, pally,” he said. “Well go for a little run in the
park.”
“Shan’t be long, Tim,” I said, opened the car door and
got in.
Dix drove swiftly down Regent Street, along Cockspur
Street and through the Admiralty Arch into the park.
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