Try This One On For Size Part 11

aThese two blue bags.a aPlease tell him to bring them to the customsa house.a Duvine turned to Lepski.

aThey want to check your bags.a aWhat the h.e.l.l for?a Lepski took out his police warrant and shoved it under the guardas nose. aTell him who I am!a Feeling a trickle of sweat run down his face, Duvine said, aThis gentleman is a highly placed American police officer. He doesnat want his bags disturbed.a The guard examined Lepskias police warrant and s.h.i.+eld.

From his expression, it made no impression on him.

aThe gentleman doesnat speak French or German?a aNo. He is American.a aWhatas he say?a Lepski demanded, and began to shuffle his feet as his temper rose.

The guard eyed him with interest. Lepskias habitual war dance before his temper exploded was something new to the guard.

aThe gentleman needs the toilet?a he asked Duvine.

aWhatas he say?a Lepski demanded in his cop voice.

aHeas asking if you want to take a pee,a Duvine whispered. aHe is puzzled by the way you are jumping up and down.a With an effort Lepski controlled himself. He made a noise like an electric drill biting into a knot of wood. The guard took a step back and gaped at Lepski.

aLepski! Stop making an exhibition of yourself!a Carroll exclaimed, sliding out of the car and joining them. aDo what the man says!a The guard turned to Duvine.

aPlease tell the gentleman that we have instructions to check all luggage owned by Americans. We regret the inconvenience, but those are our instructions.a aI understand,a Duvine said, his s.h.i.+rt sticking to his back with cold sweat. aDo you need to search my baggage?a aThat will not be necessary.a aWhatas he say?a Lepski demanded.

Duvine explained.

aIt wonat take long, Tom. Just go along with them.a aDo it!a Carroll snapped. aWhy must you always make a nuisance of yourself?a Lepski clenched his fists, choked back an expletive, then said in a strangled voice, aOkay, okay, so let this jerk go through our G.o.dd.a.m.n bags! Why should I care?a Duvine lifted out the two blue suitcases belonging to the Lepskis.

aJust these two?a the guard asked.

aThe rest is mine,a Duvine said. He handed the cases to Lepski. aTake them in, Tom. It wonat take long,a The guard handed Lepski back his police warrant, then leading the way, he conducted Lepski, carrying the two suitcases, to the customs house.

aHeas forgotten my vanity case!a Carroll cried.

Duvine very nearly slapped her.

aForget it!a he whispered urgently. aYour perfume could cause trouble.a aIf you say so.a Carroll got back into the car. aOh, I do wish Tom wasnat so difficult!a aHe has so much character.a Claudette said, forcing a bright smile. aThese Swiss! I do wish he hadnat all this bother.a aHe really loves it,a Carroll said. aDonat worry, honey, about him. Itall be something he will bore his friends with when he gets home.a Duvine joined Lepski in the customs house. He found him shaking hands with the Head official who spoke English. This man, introducing himself as Hans Ulrich, was profuse with apologies.

aMr. Lepski,a he was saying, ait is this Russian icon affair. All our frontier posts have been instructed to search the luggage of all American visitors. My man was only doing his duty. Of course there is no need to check your baggage. I canat remember when we ever had an American police officer pa.s.s through our frontier. Let me tell you it is a great privilege.a He turned to the guard. aTake Mr. Lepskias bags back to the car.a Duvine closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath of relief.

Leaving Lepski, now beaming, to talk to Ulrich, he followed the guard, took the two suitcases from him and put them in the boot, slamming the lid.

aWhat is happening?a Carroll demanded.

aTomas getting the VIP treatment. No problems,a Duvine said as he slid under the driving wheel.

He and Claudette exchanged quick glances.

The last hurdle had been crossed. The icon had arrived in Switzerland.

Now for Lu Bradey.

Now for the switch.

Then Radnitz.

chapter eight.

During breakfast, served in their room, Lu Bradley explained to Maggie what he wanted her to do. He sat in a chair while Maggie, lying in bed, munched a crisp roll smothered with black cherry jam.

aI am expecting people to arrive sometime this morning,a Bradey said. aI donat know exactly when, but it will be in the morning. I have business with them. I donat want you to be around while Iam with them. I want to talk to them in this room. Are you following me, baby?a Maggie reached for another roll and began to b.u.t.ter it.

aYou want me out of the way? Right?a aaYeah. First, I want you to pack. Then I want you to take all the things out of your vanity box. I want the box empty. Are you still with me?a Maggie spread a layer of black cherry jam on her roll, her pretty face slightly contorted with concentration.

aWhat shall I do with the things from my box?a Bradey sighed.

aPut them in one of your bags.a Maggie nodded, her face relaxing. She began to munch again.

aI love this jam!a she exclaimed, her mouth full. aI know I shouldnat be eating all this bread. Iall be getting fat!a Bradey sighed again.

aEnjoy yourself, baby, and listen.a aIam right with you, pet. I empty the box, pack all my things and . . . what else?a aOnce you have packed, you take the elevator down to the bas.e.m.e.nt, go through the tunnel to the swimming pool.a aBut I will have packed my swimsuit, or wonat I have?a Bradey ran his fingers through his hair.

aForget your swim suit. You wonat be swimming. You will sit by the pool in the sun and wait until I join you. Got it?a aI just sit and wait?a aIall get you a book. Thereas a new Harold Robbins just out. You dig his books, donat you?a Maggieas face brightened.

aI adore them! The s.e.xy bits turn me on.a aOkay. So you sit by the pool and read, and Iall join you as soon as I can. Right?a Maggie finished her roll, poured more coffee, then nodded.

aIf thatas what you want, honey.a Bradey sighed with relief.

aFine. After my business talk, weall leave. Now, Maggie, it is very important I should find you at the pool. I havenat the time to look for you if you wander away. As soon as my business talk is over, I want to leave. Understand?a aI just sit by the pool and read Harold Robbins?a aThatas what you do. Now, if you have finished breakfast, please pack.a Maggie examined the breakfast tray, was surprised there were no more rolls, sighed and got reluctantly out of bed.

The time now was 09.15.

aWhile you are packing, baby, Iam going down to settle the check. Donat forget to empty the vanity box.a Leaving her, Bradey took the elevator down to the reception lobby.

Sergas Holtz was sitting in the lounge where he had a clear view of the reception desk. Sure that the Hall porter would be puzzled as to why he was always sitting in the lounge, never going out, Holtz had taken the precaution to explain to both the Hall porter and the reception clerk that he was expecting an important telephone call and had to wait until it came. This explanation satisfied the curiosity of the hotel staff.

He watched Lu Bradey pay the bill. He wandered over to the reception desk and began to study one of the travel folders while he listened.

aI will be leaving shortly,a Bradey was saying to the reception clerk. aMr. Willis will be arriving around two oaclock. Send someone up for my luggage in half an hour.a aCertainly, sir.a Bradey then left the hotel and hurried to a bookshop just up the street and bought a copy of the new Robbins novel. Then returning to the hotel, he entered his room. He found Maggie, having had a shower, leisurely dressing.

aGet moving, chick!a he said, a snap in his voice. aTheyall be up in half an hour for the luggage.a This statement immediately threw Maggie into a panic. She began to stuff anything she could lay hands on into her suitcases.

aNot the G.o.dd.a.m.n bath towels!a Bradey shouted. aOh, for G.o.das sake! Get dressed! Iall do it!a By the time the porter came tapping on the door, Bradley had emptied the vanity box, packed the suitcases and put the vanity box out of sight. By this time, fl.u.s.tered, Maggie was dressed.

He told the porter to put the bags in his car.

aNow, baby,a he said firmly, ahereas your book. Go to the swimming pool and wait. Right?a Maggie nodded.

aYou will really come for me, honey? We really are going to get married?a aJust wait,a Bradey said, his patience nearly exhausted. aIall come for you and weall get married.a When she had gone, after kissing him, Bradey wrote a note, put it in an envelope and addressed it to Mr. Pierre Duvine. He took the note down to the reception clerk.

aPlease give this to Mr. Duvine when he arrives.a aCertainly, sir.a Still watched by Sergas Holtz, Bradey returned to his room, took a chair out on to the balcony where he could watch arrivals and sat down to wait.

Two maids came into his room. He told them to go ahead, explaining he was waiting for friends. They stripped the bed and did the bathroom for the afternoon arrival of Mr. John Willis.

At 11.15, Bradey saw the Duvines and the Lepskis arrive. He came in from the balcony, lit a cigarette and began to pace up and down. The note he had left with the reception clerk told Duvine Bradeyas room number and urged him to come to him at once.

Sergas Holtz watched the Duvines and the Lepskis book in.

He watched the luggage porter put four suitcases and a blue vanity box on his trolley and wheel it away. He watched the Duvines and the Lepskis with the reception clerk enter the elevator. He nodded to himself. Very soon now, his long boring wait would be over, and there would be action.

At their doors, Duvine said, aSuppose we all meet in the lobby in half an hour, Tom? Weall take a look at the town.a aFine with us,a Lepski said. aThis is some hotel. Whatas the food like?a aYou wonat starve,a Duvine said, and steered Claudette into their room and closed the door. aBradeyas here. He wants to see me at once. His roomas right by ours.a aBe careful, my treasure,a Claudette said, a little anxiously. aLu is very tricky.a Duvine kissed her.

aThen so am I. Iall be right back.a Bradey paused in his pacing as a tap came on his door. He went to the door and opened it.

aPierre!a he exclaimed. aMarvellous to see you!a and he grabbed Duvineas hand and pulled him into the room. aYouare looking terrific!a Not to be outdone, Duvine pumped Bradeyas hand and exclaimed, aYou donat look a day older! My G.o.d! Itas good to see you again.a Both these two were expert conmen. They appeared to exude friends.h.i.+p and genuine pleasure to see each other again.

aTell me,a Bradey said, still holding Duvineas hand. aDonat keep me in suspense. Any problems?a aNone, except the Lepskis are driving us crazy.a aThe customs?a aWent like a dream.a Bradey beamed.

aI knew I could rely on you. Now the switch.a aYes.a Duvine made a little grimace. aThat will need handling, but I can do it. Have you the duplicate box?a aOf course.a Bradey produced the vanity box. aItas empty, Pierre. It wonat take you more than a few minutes to transfer Mrs. Lepskias junk, then come to the Eden hotel, Zurich, where I will be waiting with twenty thousand beautiful Swiss francs for you.a Duvine rubbed his hands.

aMarvellous!a aHow will you get rid of the Lepskis?a aI will tell them my mother is ill and we have to return to Paris. Leave that to me. G.o.d! Wonat we be glad to see the last of them!a aRight. I must get off.a Bradey gave Duvine his wide, false smile. aYou have done a swell job. Iam going to insist Ed pays you another ten thousand.a aWhy, thanks, Lu! Thatas terrific!a The two men shook hands.

aSee you in Zurich . . . maybe two days?a aThe moment Iave done the switch, I will be with you. It depends on the Lepskis. They cling to me like glue. Yes, two days, could be three. Iall call you at the Eden.a aPerfect. Good luck, Pierre,a and with more hand shaking, more friendly smiles, Bradey hurried to the elevator to find Maggie.

Duvine picked up the vanity box, looked to see if the corridor was deserted, then quickly went to his room.

When Claudette saw the vanity box, her face lit up.

aAll right, my treasure?a aNo problems. Heas even promised to give us another ten thousand.a Duvine gave a happy laugh. aHe hasnat the faintest idea that we are going to double-cross him. Imagine! A miserable thirty thousand Swiss francs when we can get at least four million dollars!a Claudette threw herself into his arms, and they began to waltz around the room.

Bradey found Maggie sitting in a sun lounging chair engrossed in the Robbins novel.

aCome on, chick,a he said. aWeare on our way.a Maggie was lost to the world, her eyes popping as she read on.

Bradey s.n.a.t.c.hed the book from her.

aCome on!a She blinked up at him.

aOh, Lu, do let me finish whatas happening. He has her on this bed . . .a aNever mind! Weare on our way!a He bustled her across the road and to where his car was waiting.

As he drove towards Villeneuve, he once again went over the instructions: how to get to the Zurich autoroute, the name of the hotel, and for her to wait for him.

She parted with him a little tearfully when they arrived at Villeneuve, but she was now so happy with her new watch and the money he had given her and the thought of finis.h.i.+ng the Robbins novel, she controlled her emotion. She finally drove away to the autoroute to Zurich after Bradey had a.s.sured her a dozen times he would join her in not more than a week.

Bradey had already arranged to hire a Golf VW from a local garage. He walked to collect it, then drove to a commune swimming pool and rented a cabin. The pool was fairly full of young people on a late vacation. None of them paid him any attention. He took his suitcase into the cabin, locked the door and set about transforming himself into a wizened, smartly dressed old man who could have been a retired banker or an attorney. It wasnat until 01.30 that he returned to the Montreux Palace hotel and booked in as Mr. John Willis.

Sergas Holtz who was still sitting in the lounge would have been completely fooled, so brilliant was Bradeyas disguise, had Bradey not made the error of using the same suitcase as he had used when booking in under the name of Lewis Schultz. Holtz, trained to observe, recognised the suitcase as the porter carried it to the elevator, followed by Bradey. Holtz remembered his uncle had warned him that Lu Bradey was a master of disguise.

Holtz gave a satisfied little nod. Any time now would be the time for action. He had seen the Duvines and the Lepskis leave the hotel. He went into the bar for a quick snack.

Up in his room, Bradey unpacked his bag. He took out a Smith & Wesson .38 pistol.

Following Ed Haddonas instructions, he had stopped at Geneva and had driven to the address Haddon had given him.

A tall, fat man in his early thirties, and apparently covered with coa.r.s.e black hair which grew from his face like a waspsa nest and sprouted out of his s.h.i.+rt collar, was happy to sell him a gun as soon as Bradey mentioned Haddonas name.

Bradey loathed firearms. He loathed any form of violence. He stressed that the gun must be unloaded and watched the tall, fat man empty out the cylinders. Satisfied the gun was non-lethal, Bradey put it in his pocket and paid.

Now, he sat on the bed and examined the gun uneasily. He hoped he wouldnat have to threaten Duvine. If he did, he didnat think he would be very convincing. Duvine had seemed so friendly. It was hard to believe he was thinking of double-crossing him. Haddon was suspicious of everyone, but Bradey decided he must take no chances with Duvine. A million dollars was a million dollars. He then thought of Maggie. Maybe it had been a little rash to have promised to marry her.

Bradey sighed.

He couldnat see himself settling down with Maggie for years.

She was the type who would lose her bloom of youth early.

Well, there was time. He first had to get the icon. He put the gun back in his suitcase, then feeling hungry, he went down to lunch.

Lepski didnat approve of Montreux. He admitted the view across the lake and the steamers were pretty good, but the town itself seemed as dead as George Was.h.i.+ngton. Carroll too was a little disappointed, but she loved the watch shops and kept lingering to stare while Lepski made impatient whistling noises.

The Duvines were nearly at the end of their patience. They kept exchanging looks, encouraging each other that this ordeal couldnat last much longer.

aHow about eats?a Lepski said. aWhat are the steaks like?a aNever eat a steak here,a Duvine said hurriedly. aThey are not in your cla.s.s. Letas go to a pizzeria. Itall be a change for you.a He had now made up his mind not to offer the Lepskis any further sophisticated food, and although he knew he was libeling the Swiss to say their steaks werenat up to standard, he just couldnat stand watching Lepski saw through yet another steak, grumbling. To his surprise both Carroll and Lepski liked the big pizza set before them.

aNow this is what I call a meal!a Lepski said, beaming. aLike home.a Knowing that Claudette had already sown the seed for the Lepskis to visit Gstaad, Duvine, while they ate, brought his mother on to the scene.

aIam frankly worried,a he said. aShe wasnat too good when we left Paris. I called when we were in Monaco and heard the old lady has taken to her bed.a aGee! Iam sorry,a Lepski said, looking concerned. aI lost my old lady four years ago, and I still miss her.a Duvine lifted his shoulders.

aIt may be all right. Iam calling tonight, but if she isnat better, Claudette and I feel we should go back.a aYou should,a Carroll said. aIam terribly sorry.a Duvine smiled.

aI may have better news. Anyway, if we do have to go back, it doesnat mean you have to. You must see Gstaad. Youall love it.a aYou two have been marvellous to us!a Carroll exclaimed. aIf you have to go back, why shouldnat we all go back? I think Paris is more fun than Switzerland.a Somehow Duvine kept a smile on his face.

aYou say that because you donat know Gstaad. Now thatas really a place! Liz Taylor has a villa there, and she wouldnat live there unless it was real fun. You want nightlife? Itas there, striptease: gorgeous girls: dozens of nightclubs. Steaks? Let me tell you, the genuine Kobe steaks are flown in every day from j.a.pan: thick and juicy: the best steaks in the world! Then there are gorgeous mountains, snow, rides in horse-drawn sledges and the shops! Youave never seen shops like they have at Gstaad!a Claudette who had been to Gstaad and had thought it a dreary hole, hoped G.o.d would forgive her husband for such outrageous lies, but she realized it was essential now to get rid of the Lepskis.

Lepski listened, his eyes brightening.

aStriptease? Gorgeous girls? Juicy steaks?a aAsk yourself why Liz Taylor would live there if it wasnat the in-thing.a aSounds terrific!a aI would be very, very unhappy to think you two, coming so far, should miss Gstaad.a Duvine looked imploringly at Claudette.

aThey just must go,a she said firmly. aItas an experience of a lifetime.a aOkay, then weall go,a Lepski said, abut weall miss you two.a aWeall miss you too,a Duvine lied, and signalled for the bill. aThis may not happen. I hope to get good news of my mother tonight. I long to see Gstaad again myself. Now, Iall drive you to Vevey to see the famous swans.a He smiled at Carroll. aYou can take some marvellous photographs. Then this evening, weall take a steamer. Thereas music and dancing and we can dine on board. Youall just love it!a So they went to Vevey and Carroll, intrigued by the swans, used up two rolls of film while Lepski contained his impatience. He thought if youave seen one G.o.dd.a.m.n swan youave seen the lot. A bunch of rather dirty-looking swans didnat impress him.

Then they returned to the Montreux Palace hotel, agreeing to meet in the bar at 20.00, and then go to the boat station. None of them noticed an elderly, wizened man sitting in the lounge who watched them as they entered the elevator.

In their room, Duvine turned to Claudette.

aI canat stand it any longer!a he exclaimed. aThose two are driving me out of my mind! I am going after the vanity box tonight! Now, sugar, we meet them in the bar and Iall tell them I have had a telegram from my brother about my motheras condition. He will be calling me at nine thirty, so I must stay here for the call. You will take the Lepskis on the steamer. Youall be back around eleven oaclock. I will be in the lounge and will tell them we must leave at once as my mother is sinking. Weall pack right now. As soon as you have gone with them, Iall switch the boxes and put our luggage and the Lepskiasa box in the Mercedes. Iall tell Lepski it will be quicker for us to drive back to Paris as thereas fog at Geneva. I will tell them to ask the Hall porter to get them a Hertz car to take them to Gstaad.a Claudette considered this.

aYou donat think theyall want to come with us?a aNot after the build-up Iave given Gstaad. Did you see the look in Tomas eyes when I mentioned steaks from Kobe and gorgeous girls?a Claudette stifled a giggle.