The Flesh Of The Orchid Part 18

"Her description of Carol Blandish is unmistakable. It looks as if the girl's come back to Point Breese."

Kamp lifted his sweat-stained Stetson to scratch his head.

"I'll get working on this right away," he said, but as he prepared to move off, Simon Hartman drove up in a glittering Cadillac.

"Here's Mr. Hartman," Travers said, his face darkening. "You know him, Sheriff?"

"I know him," Kamp growled, and the two men waited for Hartman to join them.

"I hear a lunatic has been captured," Hartman said abruptly. "Is it Carol?"

"No, Mr. Hartman," Travers replied. "It was another of my patients."

"You seem to specialize in losing patients," Hartman grated, his face taut with disappointed anger. "Just when do you propose finding my ward?"

"We have just received news that she has returned to Point Breese," Travers said. "The Sheriff is organizing another search party."

Hartman gave Kamp a contemptuous look.

"Your search parties, up to now, have been singularly unsuccessful," he said, then abruptly, "Where's this man Steve Larson?"

Kamp managed to look a little vacant.

"Probably in Waltonville Hospital," he said. "Why?"

"From what I hear from Mrs. Fleming, Carol appears to have fallen in love with him. It's possible she will try to find bun. You'd better put a guard at the hospital in case she shows up there."

"Could do," Kamp said, stroking his moustache.

"Then do it," Hartman barked. "The girl should have been found days ago. Get your men to work. She's got to be found before the week-end or I'll see this is the last job you'll have the chance to make a mess of!" He turned sharply to Travers. "Come along, Doctor, I want to talk to you."

Kamp watched them go, tipped his hat and winked at his deputy.

"Getting pretty hot under the collar, isn't he?" he said thoughtfully. "Maybe I'd better have a word with that pesky Magarth."

"Want me to go over to the Waltonville Hospital?" the deputy asked.

Kamp shook his head.

"No. Somehow I don't think Larson's there," he returned, winked again and then set of with long, unhurried strides to his office.

"I think she's a darling," Veda said, as she came into the big lounge where Magarth was pacing up and down. "She's seen Steve for a moment. He was sleeping, but it was wonderful to see the expression in her eyes as she looked down at him. I only hope I'll be able to look like that if ever you fall ill."

"So do I," Magarth said, "and I hope I won't be too ill to appreciate it. Is she all right?"

"She's had an awful time, but I think she'll be all right after a good rest," Veda returned, sitting on the arm of an easy chair. "Do give me a drink, honey, all this excitement has frayed my nerves."

"What's she doing now?" Magarth asked as he mixed a dry martini.

"She's having a bath," Veda returned. "Don't you think Dr. Kober ought to look at her? He might give her something to help her sleep."

"She won't need anything to help her sleep," Magarth said, carrying the drink over to her. "I don't want any doctors or nurses messing her about. They might scare her into one of her turns."

"I'm quite positive there's nothing the matter with her," Veda said. "Now I've talked to her I think the way you do. She's as normal as I am, and she's such a sweet kid."

Magarth grunted.

"It won't do any harm to keep an eye on her," he said. "But I agree: I can't imagine her being dangerous."

Veda eyed him over the top of the c.o.c.ktail gla.s.s.

"There's something on your mind," she said. "What is it?"

"She said the Sullivans left last night for Point Breese. They intend to finish Larson," Magarth said quietly. "I'm wondering how they managed to slip through Kamp's cordon. We've been watching for them and all the roads are guarded."

"They can't possibly know he's here, can they?" Veda asked. "You're not worrying about that, are you?"

"Well, I am worrying, although I don't think they'll come here," Magarth returned, mixed himself a highball. "It won't do to underrate these two." He took a drink, set the gla.s.s on the table beside him. "Maybe I'm getting your complaint- frayed nerves. All the same I'll have a word with Staum. He and his boys will have to wake up their ideas now."

The telephone rang.

"It'll be for you," Veda said. "Everyone in the district seems to know we're living in sin together."

"And I bet they're green with envy," Magarth said with a grin, reached for the receiver.

It was the Sheriff.

"Why didn't you come down like I asked you?" Kamp complained. "I had a nice photograph all lined up for you."

"I've more important things to do than to waste plates on your ugly mug," Magarth returned. "What's biting you?"

"I've got news the Blandish girl is back in town." Kamp went on to tell Magarth what Hatty Summers had told Travers. "And Hartman thinks she'll try to find Larson."

"What are you doing about it?"

"We're searching the district again. I thought I'd tip you off in case she shows up at Gra.s.s Hill."

"I'll know what to do."

"Do you still want my deputies up there?"

"You bet I do. They'll have to stick right here until Larson's well enough to give evidence."

"O.K.," Kamp said. "It makes it hard for me, but I guess no one cares what happens to an old guy like me."

"I don't for one," Magarth returned, hung up.

"And what did he want?" Veda asked, finis.h.i.+ng her drink. "Not more trouble, I hope?"

"No. I guess he likes the sound of my voice," Magarth said, stood up. "Maybe you'd better see how Carol's getting on. I'm going to have a word with Staum."

The Sullivans, from their hiding-place, saw Magarth come out on to the terrace and sit down by the side of Deputy Staum.

Max was now certain that Steve was in the house. He was also sure he knew which room Steve was in, having caught a glimpse from time to time of a nurse as she moved before a window on the second floor.

But, in spite of the careful watch, he had not seen Magarth arrive with Carol. Magarth, anxious that neither Staum nor his two guards should know that Carol was in the house, had brought her in the back way, a long detour through the plantation, up a little-used by-road.

"As soon as it's dark we'll move in," Max said, and stretched out in the long gra.s.s. "We can fix the guards easily enough."

"You mean we've got to kill them?" Frank asked.

"Depends," Max returned. "We've got to make a clean job of this. It could be our last job if we slip up on it."

Frank said: "Let's go someplace and eat. I'm sick of watching this joint."

It was growing dusk when Carol awoke, and she sat up with a start, an uneasy fear brooding over her. For a minute or so she couldn't remember where she was and stared around the luxuriously furnished room with blank, frightened eyes. Then she remembered, and her mind darted to Steve, and she lay back in the big, comfortable bed with a little sigh of relief.

Everything that could be done was being done for Steve. He was out of danger now, but was still very weak. She hoped when she saw him again he would recognize her, and that her presence would help him get well.

And yet as she lay there, trying to relax, the uneasy fear still brooded over her; a presentiment of danger. But there could be no danger, she tried to a.s.sure herself. Magarth had told her that the Sullivans couldn't possibly find Larson or her in this big, comfortable house. He had told her too that the house was guarded night and day. But so great was her fear of the Sullivans that she was willing to credit them with superhuman powers.

She lay for some time watching the dusk creep into darkness, and then suddenly she got out of bed, slipped on a wrap that Veda had lent her, and went to the window.

The big orange plantation spread out before her in the distance; the tree-heads a darkening blur; the golden fruit invisible now in the twilight. Immediately below was the broad terrace, where she could see one of the guards, pacing up and down, a rifle under his arm. From the terrace were steps leading to the sunken garden and the big lawns that stretched away to the rising ground, which in its turn dipped to the plantation.

She stood at the window, fear touching her heart, looking into the darkness, waiting for something she knew would happen.

While she waited the door opened and Veda came in.

"Oh, you are awake?" Veda said, seeing her at the window. "Shall I turn on the light or would you rather I didn't?"

"Please don't," Carol said, her eyes still searching the darkening grounds.

"Is anything frightening you?" Veda asked gently, crossed the room to stand by Carol's side.

"There's danger out there," Carol said, still as a statue.

"Shall I call Phil?" Veda asked, suddenly alarmed. "Shall I ask him to go and see-"

She broke off as Carol gripped her arm.

"Look!" she cried, and began to tremble. "Did you see? Over there by the trees."

Veda stared into the darkness. Nothing moved, no sound came to her; even the wind was still.

"There's nothing," she said soothingly. "Come downstairs. It's nicer down there."

"They're out there . . . the Sullivans . . . I'm sure they're out there!" Carol cried.

"I'll tell Phil," Veda said as calmly as she could. "Now get dressed. I've put out clothes for you. I think they'll fit you. Get dressed while I call Phil." She gave Carol a rea.s.suring little pat on her arm, ran to the door. "And hurry," she added, ran to the head of the staircase. "Phil!" she called.

Magarth came out of the sitting-room, stared up at her.

"Anything up?"

"Yes. Carol thinks the Sullivans have come." There was a slight tremor in Veda's voice.

Magarth came up the stairs two at a time.

"What makes her think that?" he asked sharply.

"She says she saw them. I don't know if she did. I didn't see anything . . . but she's badly frightened."

"I'll have a word with the guards. Get her dressed and bring her down to the sitting-room," Magarth said shortly, ran downstairs to find Staum.

Outside in the thickening darkness the Sullivans, like two black shadows, moved silently towards the house.

Magarth found Staum in the kitchen. He had just finished supper and was lying back in his chair, a satisfied, sleepy expression on his fat face. The maid, Marie, was preparing to go home, and while she put on her hat and coat she chatted to Staum.

Staum looked surprised when Magarth pushed open the kitchen door and came in. He straightened up in his chair.

"Want me?" he asked, getting to his feet.

"Yeah," Magarth returned, and jerked his head to the door.

Staum followed him out into the corridor.

"Your boys posted?" Magarth asked.

"Sure," Staum returned, frowning. "What's up?"

"Something may be. I want you and me to have a look round the grounds."

"For the love of Mike!" Staum exploded. "I've just finished supper. Why can't you take it easy for a while? You're acting like a flea on a hot plate. If you're still worrying about the Sullivans you're wasting my time as well as yours. Don't I keep telling you the Sullivans don't exist? They're just a bogey to frighten kids with."

"If you won't take this business seriously I'll call the Sheriff and have a change made here," Magarth said, suddenly angry.

Staum's face reddened and his eyes glinted unpleasantly.

"No one's going to make a monkey out of me," he returned. "Maybe Kamp's crazy, but I ain't. I tell you the Sullivans don't exist. A guy like you should know better than to be scared by a fairy story like that."

"If that's the way you feel about it, the sooner you go the better," Magarth returned shortly.

"I ain't taking orders from a newspaper man," Staum said, although he began to look a little uneasy. "So long as I'm in charge here I'm going to be the boss."