Gillis held his breath so he could hear better. There was a set, hard smile on his mouth now. Already he had forgotten about Peggy and the way she had insulted him. If the little fool hadn’t made the scene he wouldn’t be listening to this conversation now.
‘It’l turn out to be another of your bright ideas,’ he heard Rico say, his voice unsteady. ‘How do I know I shan’t get into a worse jam?’
‘You couldn’t be in a worse jam,’ Baird returned. ‘Get moving. Col ect al the dough you can lay hands on, and make it fast.’
Gillis heard Rico leave the room and go down the passage in a stumbling run. What had happened?
he wondered, puzzled. Why had they suddenly decided to leave for Red River Basin in such a hurry? He hadn’t been wrong about Baird. Baird was going to gyp Kile if he could. He knew neither Rico nor Baird could hope to handle the jewellery. They would wait until Kile got the money. That’s when they’d act. Well, he was ready for them.
But why rush off like this? What did Baird mean when he said Rico couldn’t be in a worse jam?
He opened the door and moved cautiously into the passage. He edged his way along the passage to the rear exit and peered into the alley. Immediately facing him was a dark blue Packard. A man in a white coat and peak cap was standing near by. Gillis dodged back and shut the door. He heard Rico coming along the passage. He darted into Zoe’s dressing-room and pushed the door to.
The telephone bell rang in Rico’s office, and Gillis cursed himself for leaving the waiters’ changing room. Where he was he couldn’t hear what was being said. There was a slight delay, then Rico’s door opened, and he heard Rico say frantically, ‘Leaving al this! I’l be ruined…’
Baird came out of the office, carrying a suitcase. He went to the rear exit, and leaving the door wide open, climbed into the Packard.
A moment later Rico came blundering after him, struggling into his overcoat.