The Crossroads by John D. MacDonald

husband Pete? He was hanging around all yesterday morning.”
    “He’s working for Marty now.”
    “That’s what they say. I didn’t believe it. Makes me feel kind of funny, you know what I mean?”
    “I guess I know what you mean.”
    “You don’t seem sure of anything tonight, honey.”
    “I … I’ve been thinking about us, Glenn.”
    “You’re not sure about us? Don’t give me that jazz.”
    “I don’t like all this hiding and sneaking, darling. I’d like to be with you all the time. Every minute.”
    “That would be nice,” he said uneasily. Sooner or later they all started this forever and ever jazz. No damn womanever seemed happy just to grab what was handy and forget the rest.
    “I wish we could run away together.”
    “Sure, baby. A nice wish. You’re the most.”
    “Would you run away with me?”
    “Honey, there’s the little question of money. It would be a dog’s life. You got it set up pretty nice there with Pete. I couldn’t duplicate that. Not for a hell of a long while. So stop dreaming.”
    She snuggled closer to him. “But what if we had a lot of money?”
    “Then it would be fine.”
    “I was in Mexico once. Pete and I were married there. I liked it.”
    “I was over the border a couple of times. I guess it’s better further south.”
    “We could have fun there together.”
    “Big dream.”
    “I know where there’s a lot of money.”
    “So do I. Right in the Drovek family.”
    She drew a slow pattern on his chest with a finger tip. “What if we could … get hold of a lot of money, darling? Sort of easy.”
    He felt a crinkling feeling in the back of his neck. “You’ve been acting funny. What’s on your mind?”
    “Well … I’ve just been thinking how nice it would be. For us. We could run away. With enough to last us forever, darling.”
    “That must be some wad you’ve got your eye on.”
    “It’s a lot. And it wouldn’t be hard to get.”
    He knew she was waiting for the question. And he sensed that if he asked it, he would be committed in some way. But he knew he had to ask it.
    “Where is this fortune?” He tried to ask rightly, but his voice didn’t sound like his own.
    She drew more patterns on his chest. “Well, I guess you’ve heard about the way Papa Drovek puts cash in …”
    He sat up suddenly, pushing her away. He found the switch on the lamp on the bedside table. He looked ather in the sudden light. “Look, baby,” he said harshly. “You’re a very nice thing. I’m glad you came along. Sure, I know about Papa’s little habit. He keeps it in the bank, too, where it belongs. And if you think I’m fixing to rob any banks, no matter how tasty you are, you’re out of your damn mind.”
    She looked sulky and pleading. “It wouldn’t be robbing a bank, exactly. And it would be easy. For us.”
    “For me, don’t you mean?”
    “Well … you’d have to do the only dangerous part.”
    He reached for his cigarettes, noticing that his hand was shaking. Again she was waiting for him to ask. Again he felt as if it would be a further commitment. But he had to ask.
    “Honey, you better explain this easy method of yours.”
    She took one of his cigarettes and he lighted it. He leaned on his elbow. She lay facing him, a sheaf of her black hair partially masking one eye.
    “Well … he puts money in the safety deposit box once a month. When he gets his check. Chip takes him to the bank and waits for him. Papa takes a long time. Chip kids him about counting it all every time. There’s a counter near the vault door. That’s where you sign to go in. Past the counter, off to the right, is a room where the little stalls are, where you take your box and shut yourself in and clip coupons or count money or whatever. You can’t see into that room from the front desk or the vault. And there are never very many people going and coming.”
    “How do you know all this, honey?”
    “Oh, just hearing people talk. Thinking about