1953 - The Things Men Do Read Online Free PDF Page B

down the log-book details if you'll come into the office."
    She smiled and gave me a quick, mischievous wink.
    When we were in the office, she closed the door and leaned against it.
    "Your garage isn't very private, is it, Harry?"
    "Tim's all right." My voice was husky.
    She raised her eyes and looked up at the ceiling, then at me.
    "She's out shopping."
    "You soon cotton on, don't you?" She laughed, wrinkling her nose at me. "I don't mean to be mysterious, but some wives don't like girls talking to their husbands."
    "Ann's not like that." I felt the hairs on the nape at my neck rise the way a cat's back bristles when it sees a dog.
    "Sorry. I didn't mean to drop a brick." She thrust her hands into her mackintosh pockets, smiling at me. "I want you, to come to my party on Saturday night. There's a man coming who might be able to help you. He's in the radio business, and it occurred to me, it might be a good thing if you met him."
    "Radio business? I don't know much about radios."
    "You wouldn't have to. He told me he's looking for an agency that would carry his spare parts. The agency has to be in the West End. You have plenty of room out here. You could stock his stuff. You would be dealing with the trade. They would have to come to you if they wanted spares. Don't you think that would be a good idea?"
    I saw at once it was a good idea.
    "I'd jump at the chance if he would let me have the agency, but would he?"
    She smiled.
    "He might. I have a little influence with him. Come and meet him on Saturday. You have a dinner jacket?"
    I very nearly said I hadn't but stopped myself in time.
    "Is it going to be one of those parties?"
    "Of course." Her eyebrows shot up. "Bring your wife too if you like, or do you think we'd better make this a business meeting? Wives can get in the way, can't they?"
    "I wouldn't bring Ann."
    She nodded, looked down at her neat reverse calf shoes, then up at me again.
    "Then that's settled? Come to my flat. It's on the second floor above Kenwick's, the jeweller's, halfway down on the right hand side. There's a side entrance. Come about eight o'clock."
    I suddenly remembered I had promised Bill we'd go to the movies with him on Saturday night. My brain worked fast. I could duck out and let Bill take Ann: in that way Ann wouldn't be alone for the evening.
    "Would you do me a favour?"
    "Of course. What is it?"
    "Would you phone me about seven on Saturday? Just call the number, and when I answer, hang up."
    The black sparkling eyes studied my face.
    "Preparing an alibi, Harry?"
    I felt myself turn hot.
    "Does it matter? Will you do it?"
    She nodded. "I'll do it."
    I wanted her to go now before Ann came back. I made a move to the door.
    "Who was that funny little man you were talking to just now, Harry?" she asked casually as she picked up her handbag from the desk.
    "That's Bill Yates. He and I have been pals for years."
    "What is he—a postman?"
    "At the moment, but he's got promotion. He's going to be a guard on Monday."
    "A guard? Do they have guards in post offices?"
    "They have them on the vans when they're carrying valuable registered mail."
    "Do they? I didn't know. He looked nice."
    "He is nice. He's my best friend."
    She walked with me down the garage to the entrance.
    "Good-bye, Harry."
    "Good-bye and thanks."
    As she walked through the entrance into the street, Ann came hurrying in, sheltering under an umbrella. They passed so close they could have touched if they had stretched out their hands. I saw Gloria look at Ann's lisle stockings and stout, shabby brogue shoes, then she went on down the street.
    Ann hadn't seen her, sheltering as she had been under the umbrella.
    I suddenly noticed Tim's head poking out from under the car. He looked at Ann, then at me. I felt like a pickpocket caught in the act.
     
     

chapter four
     
    A round three o'clock on Friday afternoon I told Tim I was going down to Ward's in Charing Cross Road to get a few spare Gnome bulbs.
    After I got the bulbs, I went to