1958 - The World in My Pocket by James Hadley Chase Page A

Bleck was feeling pretty sick with himself, knowing that he hadn’t made much of a showing at the hold-up, and he wasn’t in the mood to jeer.
    ‘Try to stop looking like a block of wood, will you?’ Morgan went on. ‘Act like you’re in love with the girl or this guy will wonder what kind of honeymoon you’re on.’
    Gypo chuckled.
    ‘Maybe I should handle the job,’ he said. ‘I am affectionate by nature. Me and Ginny would make a very pretty couple.’
    Even Ginny joined in the laughter.
    ‘You’re too fat and old, Gypo,’ Morgan said. ‘The guy might remember you. It’s got to be Kitson.’
    He counted out two thousand dollars and handed the bills to Kitson.
    ‘Try and get it cheaper. I’ll bring the Buick with the towing tackle to your place at eleven tomorrow.’ He looked over at Gypo. ‘You follow me to Kitson’s place in the Lincoln. I’ll need transport back.’
    ‘Sure,’ Gypo said.
    ‘Okay, let’s break it up now,’ Morgan said. ‘I’ve got to take the chopper back to Lu. You come with me, Ed.’ He looked at Ginny and Kitson, ‘You two take the bus. It’ll be safer if we four aren’t seen together.’
    He put the rest of the money in his hip pocket.
    ‘You two arrange where you meet,’ he said to Ginny. ‘I want you both back here with the caravan by tomorrow afternoon.’ He jerked his head at Bleck. ‘Let’s go.’
    When they had gone, Ginny took off the green scarf and shook her copper-coloured hair free.
    Looking at her uneasily, Kitson thought she was beautiful. He stood against the workbench, rubbing his knuckles, awkward and ill at ease.
    ‘Another drink?’ Gypo asked.
    The girl shook her head.
    ‘No, thanks.’ She took out her pack of cigarettes and putting a cigarette between her lips, she looked at Kitson. Kitson fumbled for matches, lit one with a hand that was far from steady and held the flame so she could light the cigarette. She put her cool fingers on his hand to steady the flame and the touch of her flesh on his sent a surge of hot blood through his veins.
    She moved away over to the double doors.
    ‘Well, so long,’ she said to Gypo.
    ‘So long,’ he said, winking at Kitson, who ignored him and followed the girl out into the hot night air. They walked side by side down the road and on to the highway.
    ‘Where do you live?’ Ginny asked as they paused at the bus stop.
    ‘Lennox Street,’ Kitson said.
    ‘Then I’ll be waiting at the corner tomorrow at eleven.’
    ‘I can pick you up at your place if you like.’
    ‘It’s not necessary.’
    There was a pause while Kitson kept eyeing her as she stood at his side.
    ‘The other night,’ he said abruptly. ‘I wouldn’t have hit you. I - I guess I lost my temper. I’m sorry.’
    She smiled.
    ‘I thought you were going to. You scared me.’
    Kitson flushed.
    ‘I wouldn’t have done it. I don’t hit anyone smaller than myself. I wouldn’t have done it.’
    ‘If you had, it would have served me right. I was asking for it.’ She flicked her cigarette away. ‘Was it such a good idea to hit Bleck?’
    Kitson scowled.
    ‘It’s time someone took a poke at that punk,’ he said. ‘He had it coming.’
    ‘Yes, but it wasn’t such a good idea. You’ll have to watch him. He’s not the type to forget.’
    Kitson shrugged.
    ‘I can handle him.’
    ‘I think you can. I saw you in the ring about a year ago. When you beat Jackie Lazards. That was quite a scrap.’
    Kitson looked at her, his face lighting up. That had been quite a scrap. He had been lucky to have beaten Lazards. They had fought nine slugging rounds, and it had been anyone’s fight.
    ‘He was a good fighter.’
    ‘You weren’t so bad yourself. Why did you quit the ring?’
    This was an embarrassing question and Kitson hastily improvised.
    ‘After my last fight I got double vision,’ he said, running his fingers through his curly hair. ‘That scared me. I was doing all right, but this double vision. The Doc said I should quit,