‘I can’t make you out. You worry over a little job like kidnapping, but think nothing of sending me into a room full of dope fiends. Be your age, Paula. Think of the money we’re going to make.’
‘Well, don’t do anything silly,’ she said, trying to smile, ‘and for heaven’s sake don’t show off before that rich blonde.’
‘You’re making me nervous,’ I said. ‘Come on, Jack. Let’s get out of here.’
Together we went along the corridor to the elevator. ‘Think we have time for a drink?’ Kerman asked hopefully as we reached ground level.
‘No; but there’s a pint in the car. And, Jack, don’t make any mistakes. This might turn out to be a nasty job.’
Kerman gave an exaggerated shudder. ‘It’s already nasty enough for me.’
He climbed into the back of the Buick and squatted down on the floor. I chucked a rug over him.
‘I’m going to love every minute of this,’ he said, poking his head out from the folds of the rug. ‘How long do you reckon I’ll be under this lot?’
‘Oh, about three or four hours: not more.’
‘With the temperature in the eighties, that should give me some idea what the Black Hole of Calcutta was like.’