the bank, here, and drives down this ramp into a cellar. Once in, the doors, leading into the cellar, automatically shut. The truck driver has a neutralizer that opens the door of the cellar. Once in the cellar, he waits, until one of the staff opens a steel door with direct access into the vault. This staff member will not open the steel door until the truck driver has identified himself. I can open the doors to the cellar and the steel door into the bank, but only from inside the vault. You will have to supply an identical truck and two men wearing security guards' uniform. You put the cartons in the truck and drive away. Unless your men slip up, there will be no alert until the bank opens on Monday morning so your men should get well away.'
Klaus looked at Harry.
'Can you get a truck and the uniforms?'
'Sure. I'll need to get a photo of the truck and the uniforms. I know a guy who can fix it. No problem.'
Turning to me, Klaus said, ‘You think this plan of yours will succeed?'
'If it doesn't, no other plan will.' I pointed to the gimmick and to the blueprint. 'I've made it as foolproof as possible. It is now up to your people.'
"No, Mr. Lucas, it will be up to you. You will be with them.' He leaned forward to stare at me, his eyes glittering.
'If anything goes wrong, you will be shot. Benny killed Marsh, and he killed Thomson. He has orders to shoot you if this operation fails or if he thinks you are being tricky. Remember that.' His face set in a snarling mask. 'And there is another thing for you to remember. I will personally shoot your woman, Mr. Lucas! This operation must succeed!'
'I hear you,' I said.
Klaus looked at Harry.
'Get it moving, Harry: the truck, the uniforms, the cutter and the cartons. I want the operation to begin Saturday at 3 a.m. You will discuss with Mr. Lucas all the necessary details tomorrow night. Where will you meet him?'
Harry scratched his beard as he thought.
‘Nine, tomorrow night, at the Golden Rose motel on the Frisco highway.' He looked at me. ‘Do you know it?'
'I'll find it.'
'Ask for cabin six.' He gave a sly, cocky grin. 'They know me there.'
Getting up, he left the room.
'Are you satisfied?' I asked Klaus.
'If Harry finds no problems, I will pay you as agreed.' He took from a drawer a bulky envelope. Opening the envelope, he produced bearer bonds. 'Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, Mr. Lucas. Look at them.' He pushed the bonds across the desk. 'They should give you an incentive.'
I picked up the bonds. They were each of the value of $25,000. Ten of them: they looked as if they had passed through many hands. I put them back on the desk, and Klaus scooped them up.
'These bonds will be delivered to you at your office next week if I am satisfied Harry thinks there are no problems.'
I picked up my briefcase and got to my feet.
'No money. . . no operation,' I said.
'If there are no problems, you will get the money. From what you have told me, I don't anticipate problems. When . you get the bonds, be careful. If you decide to sacrifice your woman's life, and bolt, don't do it.' Once again his face turned into a snarling mask. 'From now on, you will be watched. I have an organization: not just three men. If you try to bolt, you won't get far, and your end will be un-pleasant.' The slate-grey eyes lit up. 'They will cut off your hands, blind you and cut off your tongue. You will be left to bleed to death. So don't try anything tricky, Mr. Lucas.'
Then I knew he was utterly mad.
'I hear you,' I said, and leaving him, I walked into the lobby.
Benny, standing by the front door, sneered at me.
'Be seeing you, fink,' he said.
I went out to where Joe, playing his harmonica, sat in the Chevy.
As I slid into the passenger's seat, I thought thankfully that Klaus wasn't as smart as Joe said he was. I had taken a risk. Neither Klaus, Harry nor Joe had an idea that I had a tape recorder built into the lid of my briefcase, and I now had a tape recording of every word
Klaus looked at Harry.
'Can you get a truck and the uniforms?'
'Sure. I'll need to get a photo of the truck and the uniforms. I know a guy who can fix it. No problem.'
Turning to me, Klaus said, ‘You think this plan of yours will succeed?'
'If it doesn't, no other plan will.' I pointed to the gimmick and to the blueprint. 'I've made it as foolproof as possible. It is now up to your people.'
"No, Mr. Lucas, it will be up to you. You will be with them.' He leaned forward to stare at me, his eyes glittering.
'If anything goes wrong, you will be shot. Benny killed Marsh, and he killed Thomson. He has orders to shoot you if this operation fails or if he thinks you are being tricky. Remember that.' His face set in a snarling mask. 'And there is another thing for you to remember. I will personally shoot your woman, Mr. Lucas! This operation must succeed!'
'I hear you,' I said.
Klaus looked at Harry.
'Get it moving, Harry: the truck, the uniforms, the cutter and the cartons. I want the operation to begin Saturday at 3 a.m. You will discuss with Mr. Lucas all the necessary details tomorrow night. Where will you meet him?'
Harry scratched his beard as he thought.
‘Nine, tomorrow night, at the Golden Rose motel on the Frisco highway.' He looked at me. ‘Do you know it?'
'I'll find it.'
'Ask for cabin six.' He gave a sly, cocky grin. 'They know me there.'
Getting up, he left the room.
'Are you satisfied?' I asked Klaus.
'If Harry finds no problems, I will pay you as agreed.' He took from a drawer a bulky envelope. Opening the envelope, he produced bearer bonds. 'Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, Mr. Lucas. Look at them.' He pushed the bonds across the desk. 'They should give you an incentive.'
I picked up the bonds. They were each of the value of $25,000. Ten of them: they looked as if they had passed through many hands. I put them back on the desk, and Klaus scooped them up.
'These bonds will be delivered to you at your office next week if I am satisfied Harry thinks there are no problems.'
I picked up my briefcase and got to my feet.
'No money. . . no operation,' I said.
'If there are no problems, you will get the money. From what you have told me, I don't anticipate problems. When . you get the bonds, be careful. If you decide to sacrifice your woman's life, and bolt, don't do it.' Once again his face turned into a snarling mask. 'From now on, you will be watched. I have an organization: not just three men. If you try to bolt, you won't get far, and your end will be un-pleasant.' The slate-grey eyes lit up. 'They will cut off your hands, blind you and cut off your tongue. You will be left to bleed to death. So don't try anything tricky, Mr. Lucas.'
Then I knew he was utterly mad.
'I hear you,' I said, and leaving him, I walked into the lobby.
Benny, standing by the front door, sneered at me.
'Be seeing you, fink,' he said.
I went out to where Joe, playing his harmonica, sat in the Chevy.
As I slid into the passenger's seat, I thought thankfully that Klaus wasn't as smart as Joe said he was. I had taken a risk. Neither Klaus, Harry nor Joe had an idea that I had a tape recorder built into the lid of my briefcase, and I now had a tape recording of every word
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