The Rodriguez Affair (1970) Read Online Free PDF Page B

stare.
    “Well?” Cade said. “How much?”
    “In round figures—one hundred and forty thousand pounds.”
    Cade whistled. “As much as that?”
    “Certainly not less.”
    “That’s a lot of little potatoes.”
    “It’s a lot of money too,” Bales said.
    Cade looked at the diamonds and then at Bales. “Now, Holden, I’m going to ask you to do something else for me.”
    “Is it within the law?”
    “Oh, I should think so.”
    “You don’t sound very certain,”
    “I’m not a lawyer.”
    “Well, fire away,” Bales said. “Let me hear the worst.”
    “I want you to keep these stones for me for a while.”
    Bales frowned slightly. He did not look at all happy. “Before I agree to that I think you ought to tell me something about them. How they came into your possession, where they came from, that sort of thing.”
    “They were left with me by a friend,” Cade said.
    “And the friend?”
    “He died.”
    “Unfortunate,” Bales said. “Did the stones legally belong to him?”
    “I’ve no reason to believe they didn’t.”
    “Did he tell you they did?”
    “He didn’t tell me anything about them.”
    Bales still looked worried. “It all sounds highly irregular. Why do you want me to keep them?”
    “I’m leaving shortly for Venezuela.”
    “For how long?”
    “A few weeks maybe. I’m not sure. Depends on events.”
    “Has your journey anything to do with these?”
    “Could have—in a way.”
    Bales hesitated.
    “You don’t need to worry,” Cade said. “You won’t be involved in any funny business. All you have to do is hang on to the diamonds until I come back. Then I’ll take them off your hands.”
    Bales looked at them thoughtfully for a while; then he shrugged. “All right, Bob. It’s against my better judgement but I’ll do it”“Thanks, Holden. I knew I could depend on you.”
    Bales picked up the diamonds and put them back in the chamois leather bag. “I won’t keep them here of course.” He pulled the string tight and tied it. “I’ll give you a receipt.”
    “I don’t need a receipt from you,” Cade said.
    Harry Banner had not wanted a receipt either. He hoped it was not an omen.
     
    Cade got in touch with Alletson later on the telephone.
    “What’s on your mind, Mr. Cade?” Alletson inquired.
    “Did you put a tail on me?”
    “Now why would I do a thing like that, Mr. Cade?”
    “I don’t know why you would. I’m asking you if you did.”
    “And I’m telling you I didn’t,” Alletson said. “What makes you think I did?”
    “Somebody tailed me from my flat soon after you left I shook him off in the Tube.”
    “If it had been one of my men you wouldn’t have shaken him off so easily. The chances are you wouldn’t even have known you were being tailed. What did this character look like?”
    “Stocky build, dark-haired, sun-tanned, pockmarked. He was wearing a black raincoat and a felt hat. Had a gold signet ring on one finger and was smoking a cigar.”
    “I wish you’d brought him along to me,” Alletson said. “It sounds like a man we’d be glad to interview.”
    “He didn’t look like a man I’d want to interview. Not unless he had handcuffs on him.”
    Alletson was silent for a moment; then he said : “Areyou quite sure, Mr. Cade, that you’ve told me all you know.”
    “That might be a tall order.”
    “You know what I mean.” Alletson sounded snappish. “All you know about this Banner business.”
    “Everything,” Cade said.
    “It’s strange that a man should follow you. Strange that your flat should be ransacked. Somebody is certainly looking for something.”
    “They’re looking in the wrong place.”
    “When do you propose leaving the country?”
    “As soon as I can get an airline reservation.”
    “I’d still rather you stayed here for a while.”
    “Sorry,” Cade said. “I’ve got my living to think about.”
    “You might give a thought to your dying too while you’re at it,” Alletson said, and rang