but not a dollar more.”
“Mr. Jackson is asking ten thousand dollars.”
Gritten’s blue eyes turned steely.
“Have you proof of that, Mrs. Rolfe?”
“Nothing in writing.”
“You are speaking to me in confidence,” Gritten said. “Nothing you say to me will leave this office. In my turn, I will speak to you in confidence. For the past six months, the Nassau police have been trying to revoke Jackson’s license. They suspect he is a blackmailer, but so far they have no proof. If you could and would supply evidence that he is asking for ten thousand dollars for two days’ work, the police would put him out of business.”
“How is it then, Mr. Gritten that he is associated with Lawson’s Inquiry Agency in New York who I understand is a highly reputable firm?”
Gritten puffed at his pipe.
“Jackson was one of their operators. Four years ago he came down here and set up on his own. Lawson’s backed him. A year ago, Jackson got himself involved with a nightclub singer. She is demanding and to hold on to her, Jackson has been spending. He is now short of money and from what you are telling me, he appears no longer fussy how he gets it.”
Know your enemy !
Helga felt a moment of triumph. The cards were falling her way.
“Do you know anything about this woman, Mr. Gritten?”
He removed his pipe and began to rub the bowl.
“If you want to put Jackson where he belongs, Mrs. Rolfe, you should come with me to the police who will give you every assistance and in the strictest confidence.”
“Thank you, Mr. Gritten, but I prefer to handle Jackson myself,” Helga said curtly. “I would appreciate any information you can give me. Who is this woman?”
“Her name is Maria Lopez. She works at the Blue Bird club. She is married to Ed Lopez who owns and captains a mail boat that runs between here and the Out islands,” Gritten pulled at his pipe. “Lopez is an interesting character. For some time now, the police have been watching him. He leads a waterfront gang known as the Death’s Heads. This gang terrorizes those who work on the waterfront, exacting dues, fines and so on. Lopez is as dangerous as a mad dog, Mrs. Rolfe.”
“Doesn’t he care for his wife?”
Gritten smiled.
“Yes, he cares very much. As I said, Lopez is an interesting character. When he trusts someone, he trusts them. He trusts his wife.”
“And yet she and Jackson . . .”
“She is greedy and Jackson spends money on her. They both know the danger they run and their affair is more than discreet, so discreet no one, except the police, know about it.”
“So you could say Jackson is playing with dynamite?”
Gritten’s smile broadened.
“That, Mrs. Rolfe, is an understatement.”
She got to her feet.
“Thank you. You have been more than helpful. What do I owe you?”
Gritten levered himself out of his chair.
“Mrs. Rolfe, I have read about you. If you will pardon me, it seems that you are what my American friends call a tough cookie. Anything I have told you that can fix Jackson is for free. You have my best wishes, but please remember that Jackson is also a tough cookie. If you need help, I am entirely at your service.”
“I won’t need help, Mr. Gritten, but thank you for the offer.” Then flashing on her most charming smile, she left the office and not bothering to wait for the elevator, she ran down the stairs.
On her way back to the hotel, she glanced at her watch. The time was 16.20. She thought of the long hours ahead of her before confronting Jackson.
If only she wasn’t so alone! If only she had someone to help her pass the hours until the morning. She must take no risks. She would stay in her suite, have a lonely dinner on the terrace and take two sleeping pills for company.
She smiled bitterly. One of the richest women in the world and all alone!
* * *
At 09.00 the following morning, Hinkle appeared with the service trolley.
“I trust you slept well, madame,” he said as he poured
“Mr. Jackson is asking ten thousand dollars.”
Gritten’s blue eyes turned steely.
“Have you proof of that, Mrs. Rolfe?”
“Nothing in writing.”
“You are speaking to me in confidence,” Gritten said. “Nothing you say to me will leave this office. In my turn, I will speak to you in confidence. For the past six months, the Nassau police have been trying to revoke Jackson’s license. They suspect he is a blackmailer, but so far they have no proof. If you could and would supply evidence that he is asking for ten thousand dollars for two days’ work, the police would put him out of business.”
“How is it then, Mr. Gritten that he is associated with Lawson’s Inquiry Agency in New York who I understand is a highly reputable firm?”
Gritten puffed at his pipe.
“Jackson was one of their operators. Four years ago he came down here and set up on his own. Lawson’s backed him. A year ago, Jackson got himself involved with a nightclub singer. She is demanding and to hold on to her, Jackson has been spending. He is now short of money and from what you are telling me, he appears no longer fussy how he gets it.”
Know your enemy !
Helga felt a moment of triumph. The cards were falling her way.
“Do you know anything about this woman, Mr. Gritten?”
He removed his pipe and began to rub the bowl.
“If you want to put Jackson where he belongs, Mrs. Rolfe, you should come with me to the police who will give you every assistance and in the strictest confidence.”
“Thank you, Mr. Gritten, but I prefer to handle Jackson myself,” Helga said curtly. “I would appreciate any information you can give me. Who is this woman?”
“Her name is Maria Lopez. She works at the Blue Bird club. She is married to Ed Lopez who owns and captains a mail boat that runs between here and the Out islands,” Gritten pulled at his pipe. “Lopez is an interesting character. For some time now, the police have been watching him. He leads a waterfront gang known as the Death’s Heads. This gang terrorizes those who work on the waterfront, exacting dues, fines and so on. Lopez is as dangerous as a mad dog, Mrs. Rolfe.”
“Doesn’t he care for his wife?”
Gritten smiled.
“Yes, he cares very much. As I said, Lopez is an interesting character. When he trusts someone, he trusts them. He trusts his wife.”
“And yet she and Jackson . . .”
“She is greedy and Jackson spends money on her. They both know the danger they run and their affair is more than discreet, so discreet no one, except the police, know about it.”
“So you could say Jackson is playing with dynamite?”
Gritten’s smile broadened.
“That, Mrs. Rolfe, is an understatement.”
She got to her feet.
“Thank you. You have been more than helpful. What do I owe you?”
Gritten levered himself out of his chair.
“Mrs. Rolfe, I have read about you. If you will pardon me, it seems that you are what my American friends call a tough cookie. Anything I have told you that can fix Jackson is for free. You have my best wishes, but please remember that Jackson is also a tough cookie. If you need help, I am entirely at your service.”
“I won’t need help, Mr. Gritten, but thank you for the offer.” Then flashing on her most charming smile, she left the office and not bothering to wait for the elevator, she ran down the stairs.
On her way back to the hotel, she glanced at her watch. The time was 16.20. She thought of the long hours ahead of her before confronting Jackson.
If only she wasn’t so alone! If only she had someone to help her pass the hours until the morning. She must take no risks. She would stay in her suite, have a lonely dinner on the terrace and take two sleeping pills for company.
She smiled bitterly. One of the richest women in the world and all alone!
* * *
At 09.00 the following morning, Hinkle appeared with the service trolley.
“I trust you slept well, madame,” he said as he poured
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