TRUSTED LIKE THE FOX

professional gunman- 1

For the next three days and nights, I never had a chance of getting near the

safe.

Delphina was always around. She had given up late at night, and as soon as Caleb and I settled down to our game of Gin, she went to bed.

She was now on speaking terms with me, but there was a reserve in her

manner that warned me we could no longer be on the same terms as we had been before Caleb arrived. I made no attempt to touch her. I didn't even want to touch her. I was suspicious of her, watching her all the time for some sign that might confirm that she was planning to murder me, but the sign wasn't there.

I also watched Caleb, anxious to see if there was now any change in his

attitude after his drive with her to town, but, here again, I saw no change.

There were moments when I was tempted to take him into my confidence,but I didn't. I had an instinctive feeling that the knowledge that what was in that safe would be too much for the urge in him to lay his hands on any easy money.

So I held back, hoping sooner or later, she and he would go into town

again, and I could get at the safe.

The chance came about a week later when Delphina said, "There's a good movie on in cinema. I want to see

it. This French star: Brigitte Bardot. I want to see her. Is anyone coming?"

Caleb shook his head.

"Not me-I only go for gangster pictures."

Here was the chance I was

looking for. They wouldn't be back before three o'clock in the morning. I would have all the time. I wanted to get the money from the safe and bury it before they returned. After midnight, I wouldn't have to worry about any interruptions.

"I'm stuck here, Caleb," I said. "I can't go into town. It's my turn for night duty anyway. Take a chance: you might get a kick out of a French star."

He looked at me, puzzled.

"I'd just as soon play cards."

"Pretty tough on Delphina to go twenty miles on her own."

I was scared I was overplaying my hand for now. Delphina was staring at me, but this was a chance I had to take.

Well, when you two have made up your minds," she said, "You don't have

to do me a favor. I can go on my own."

Caleb suddenly grinned.

"Okay: you have a date," he said. "Let's go."

****

Soon after half past nine, Delphina

came from the house. She was wearing a white frock I hadn't seen before. It

was tight across her chest and flared out over her hips. She had taken a lot of

trouble with her make-up. The sight of her set my heart thumping, which irritated me.

I watched her get in the Mercury beside Caleb. He grinned at me as he gunned

the engine.

Out of the comer of his mouth, he said, "This was your idea, pal: not mine."

It was a remark I hadn't expected from him, but I didn't care. Once I had the

money buried, I had the whip hand over them both.