Lady, Here's Your Wreath by James Hadley Chase

behind either of them, but I couldn't very well look and see.
     At the far end of the corridor was a door leading to the back of the grounds. I opened it and looked out cautiously. There was no one about. I hadn't put it past Ackie to leave one of the boys snooping outside. Maybe they didn't think I'd pull it off, and the surprise put it out of their heads.
     I ran over to the garage and pulled open the doors. There were two cars. I chose the small one. It didn't take me a moment to run it out facing the exit. Then, leaving the motor running, I hurried back to the lodge.
     As I came down the passage, Ackie stepped out of the big room. He was looking suspicious.
     “What the hell are you doin'?” he asked.
     I kept on coming at him. If that guy could read my thoughts he'd have curled up and busted right away.
     “I just had a look outside to see if any of the boys were left out of the prayer meetin',” I said.
     Ackie said, “Oh yeah?” and made to step past me.
     I put out an arm and collared him. “Come on, Mo,” I said. “I wantta hear what the Colonel's sayin'.”
     Ackie stiffened, but he couldn't break my hold.
     He said furiously: “You're double-crossin' me!”
     I grinned down at him and walked him away from the back door towards the big room. “I got you into here to see the Colonel,” I said. “Well, you're goin' to see the Colonel... that's all.”
     I heard a door shut behind me. If Ackie hadn't barged in I'd have seen her. I loved Ackie a lot right then. He tried to turn but I still held him tight. I shifted my grip a little and suddenly put on some pressure. He gave a squawk.
     “You're breakin' my arm,” he howled.
     I said evenly: “I'd like to break your neck.”
     Faintly I heard the door of the car slam and the sudden sound of a car accelerating. Ackie opened his mouth to yell, but I clapped my hand over it.
     “Shut up!” I said sharply. “You start anythin' an' I'll smash you.”
     I waited out in the hall until I, was sure she'd got away, then I released him.
     He stood glaring at me furiously. “What a pal,” he spluttered. “Think you're gettin' that hundred? What a laugh.”
     “Now listen, Mo,” I said quietly, “there is more in this than meets the eye... you're right. But it ain't the sort of news you can print. If I'd let you go ahead just now your rag would be up to its ears in a libel suit. A libel suit with Kennedy on the wrong side would put your crowd out of business. If you're a good boy and keep your trap shut, I'll give you the inside dope... it ain't to be printed, though.”
     Ackie could never stay mad for long. He scowled at me, then his face cleared. “I might have known it,” he grumbled. “Of all the double-crossin' punks, you are the biggest. All right, I'll keep it quiet. Now what's it all about?”
     I lowered my voice. “Seems like the Colonel got too ambitious. You know what he is with dames. Well, this one wasn't playin', an' what's more she outs with an equaliser an' starts poppin'. This dame is one of the upper crust. Even I don't know who she is. I agreed with Kennedy to smuggle her out while you boys were talkin'.”
     Ackie brooded. “No one got hurt?” he asked bitterly.
     I shook my head.
     “Hell! There ain't a story at all. Everyone knows about Kennedy an' his women. That ain't news. Pity she didn't drill him. Boy! That would have been a front-page splash!”
     I looked at him with distaste. “Ain't you a nice guy?” I said. “But now you know. You can see it wasn't worth the fuss.”
     Ackie glanced at his watch. “I guess I'm beatin' it,” he said. “Maybe I was a little hasty about the hundred bucks. I'll see you get it.”
     I grinned. “Suppose we split it?” I said. “Send me fifty an' I'll receipt the