While he was doing this I unpacked a grip I’d brought with me. Neither Davis, Tim, nor I had ceased to work on our plans during the night, and none of us had had any sleep, but I was now satisfied that everything had been covered satisfactorily. We had seen Mitchell again, and I had bought his co-operation for a grand. He was to play an important part in the jail break. He knew it would cost him his job, but he didn’t care. He was sick of Paradise Palms and Flaggerty, and was ready to pull out as soon as he’d done his job for me.
I changed into a prison-guard’s uniform that Mitchell had obtained for me. It wasn’t a bad fit; I studied myself for a moment in the long mirror on the wall.
Maxison watched me furtively, but he didn’t say anything. I took out a long black coat like his and put it on. It was high-necked and successfully hid the guard’s uniform. Then I slipped into my mouth two little rubber pads Tim had borrowed from an actor friend. The effect of the pads was remarkable. They completely changed my appearance, making me look plump and rabbit-toothed. A pair of horn-rimmed glasses completed a simple, but excellent disguise.
“How do you like your new assistant?” I asked, turning so Maxison could see me.
He gaped. “I wouldn’t have known you,” he said, and he sounded as if he meant it.
“I hope not,” I returned. “Flaggerty knows me a little too well. This has got to fool him.”
Maxison had refitted the false bottom to the coffin and was now ready to go.
“Right,” I said, going over to him. “We’re not going to fail. Things may get sticky, but whatever happens, you must keep your head. I’m George Mason, your new assistant. Your other assistant is on vacation. I come from Arizona, and I’m the son of an old friend of yours. I don’t suppose they’ll check up, but if they do, you must give them the answers without batting an eyelid. If I’m caught, it’s going to be just too bad for Laura. Understand?”
He licked his lips, looked sick, said he did.
“Okay,” I said, putting on a stove-pipe hat like his. “Let’s go”