Fear is the Key by Alistair MacLean Page A

America:I would be given a pair of concrete socks and avertical trip to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.
    â€˜And if I don’t agree, then of course –’
    â€˜If you don’t agree then they will all be overcomeby a high sense of civic responsibility and turn youover to the cops,’ Jablonsky interrupted sardonically.‘The whole set-up stinks to high heaven.Why should the general want you? – he can hirepractically any man in the nation. Why, especially,should he hire a killer on the lam? What earthlyuse can you be to him? Why should he help awanted murderer to evade justice?’ He sippedhis drink thoughtfully. ‘General Blair Ruthven,the moral pillar of New England society, best-known and highest-minded do-gooder after theRockefellers. It stinks. You’re paddling in somedark and dirty water, General. Very dark, verydirty. And paddling right up to your neck. Lordknows what stakes you must be playing for. Theymust be fantastic.’ He shook his head. ‘This I wouldnever have believed.’
    â€˜I have never willingly or knowingly donea dishonest thing in my life,’ the general saidsteadily.
    â€˜Jeez!’ Jablonsky ejaculated. For a few secondshe was silent, then said suddenly: ‘Well, thanksfor the drink, General. Don’t forget to sup with along spoon. I’ll take my hat and my cheque andbe on my way. The Jablonsky retirement fund isin your debt.’
    I didn’t see who made the signal. Probably itcame from Vyland. Again I didn’t see how the gungot into Royale’s hand. But I saw it there. So didJablonsky. It was a tiny gun, a very flat automaticwith a snub barrel, even smaller than the Lilliputthe sheriff had taken from me. But Royale probablyhad the eye and the aim of a squirrel-hunter, and itwas all he needed: a great big hole in the heart froma heavy Colt makes you no deader than a tiny littlehole from a .22.
    Jablonsky looked thoughtfully at the gun. ‘Youwould rather I stayed, General?’
    â€˜Put that damn gun away,’ the general snapped.‘Jablonsky’s on our side. At least, I hope he’s goingto be. Yes, I’d rather you stayed. But no one’s goingto make you if you don’t want to.’
    â€˜And what’s going to make me want to?’ Jablonskyinquired of the company at large. ‘Could it bethat the general, who has never willingly done adishonest thing in his life, is planning to hold uppayment on that cheque? Or maybe just planningto tear it up altogether?’
    It didn’t need the general’s suddenly avertedeyes to confirm Jablonsky’s guess. Vyland cut insmoothly: ‘It’ll only be for two days, Jablonsky,three at the most. After all, you are getting a greatdeal of money for very little. All we’re asking youto do is to ride herd on Talbot here until he’s donewhat we want him to do.’
    Jablonsky nodded slowly. ‘I see. Royale herewouldn’t stoop to bodyguarding – he takes careof people in a rather more permanent way. Thethug out in the passage there, the butler, ourlittle friend Larry here – Talbot could eat ’emall before breakfast. You must need Talbot prettybadly, eh?’
    â€˜We require him,’ Vyland said smoothly. ‘Andfrom what we’ve learnt from Miss Ruthven – andfrom what Royale knows of you – you can holdhim. And your money’s safe.’
    â€˜Uh-huh. And tell me, am I a prisoner lookingafter a prisoner, or am I free to come andgo?’
    â€˜You heard what the general said,’ Vylandanswered. ‘You’re a free agent. But if you dogo out make sure he’s locked up or tied so thathe can’t break for it.’
    â€˜Seventy thousand bucks’ worth of guarding, eh?’Jablonsky said grimly. ‘He’s safe as the gold in FortKnox.’ I caught Royale and Vyland exchanging abrief flicker of a glance as Jablonsky went on: ‘ButI’m kind of worried about that