1972 - You're Dead Without Money

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Book: Read 1972 - You're Dead Without Money for Free Online
Authors: James Hadley Chase
despised stupid men wearing wigs to make them look younger. So I bought this abortion and I have fun with it and yet I don’t go around bald. It is good for me and it amuses my friends and it gets talked about.’
    Elliot shrugged.
    ‘What about it? Are you in the market to buy jade?’
    ‘Cheri! I can’t believe you want to get rid of that lovely set! Perhaps you don’t realize . . . people talk about it. They envy you! It’s been mentioned three times during the years in the World of Art . . .’
    ‘I want to sell it.’ Elliot’s face was wooden. ‘What’s it worth, Claude?’
    A glazed look appeared in Kendrick’s eyes: it was a look that came when he moved from seller to buyer.
    ‘Worth?’ He lifted his massive shoulders. ‘It depends on who wants it. You appreciate it - I appreciate it. It is a rare and beautiful collection but it is, after all a specialized item. You don’t find people interested in big jade collections every day in the week.’ He paused to stare inquisitively at Elliot. ‘Are you planning to trade it in for something else, Donny boy? Have you seen something in my beautiful gallery that has caught your fancy? That Spode collection for instance or . . .’
    ‘I want to sell it for cash,’ Elliot said, ‘and for God’s sake, don’t call me Donny boy.’
    ‘So sorry. Cash?’ Kendrick made a grimace making him look like a dolphin which had bitten into a hook. ‘Well now, there’s a problem. If you were thinking of trading it in for something else I would be able to make you a cosy offer, but for cash . . .’
    ‘How much?’
    ‘I would have to see it again of course. People are so careless . . . it could have got chipped, but if it is in mint condition – as I sold it to you - I think I could offer . . . say, six thousand. Yes, I might go to six as you are a good friend of mine.’
    Blood rushed into Elliot’s face.
    ‘What the hell are you talking about? You stuck me for twenty-five thousand six hundred!’
    Kendrick lifted his fat hands and dropped them in a gesture of despair on his fat knees.
    ‘But that was four years ago, dear Don. Prices have slumped, especially with jade. People aren’t collecting jade anymore. Good china: Spode . . . Wedgwood . . . there’s interesting money there but not for the moment in jade. It’ll come back, of course. In another two or three years I could offer you something that would give you a profit.’ He appeared to hesitate, then went on, ‘But, if you really want quick cash and because you are my friend, I’ll take a risk. I will give you ten. That’s the absolute top and I could live to regret it.’
    Elliot shook his head.
    ‘No. I’ll try Miami. There are a couple of dealers there who could offer more. Okay, Claude . . . forget it.’
    ‘You’re not thinking of Morris Hervey and Winston Ackland, are you, cheri?’ Kendrick asked, his smile pityingly sad. ‘You mustn’t deal with them. Dreadful people and besides, they are up to their horrid eyes in jade. I did a deal with them three months ago before the bottom of the jade market dropped out. They would give you four.’
    Elliot experienced a feeling of defeat. He had to have cash.
    Maybe ten thousand was better than nothing. The jade collection meant nothing to him now. In fact, it bored him.
    ‘There’s this other junk you sold me, Claude,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to keep any of it. Right now, I want cash. How about taking the lot back?’
    Kendrick got up and walked to the cocktail cabinet, a magnificent piece of furniture of mother of pearl and tortoiseshell inlay. He poured two stiff whiskies, added ice from the built-in refrigerator and put one of the glasses by Elliot’s side. Then he sat down and regarded Elliot with what appeared to be genuine sympathy.
    ‘Why not confide in me, dear Don? Things are tough? You owe money? You’ve been living too well? The wolf at the door?’
    Elliot reacted to this as if he had been flicked with a whip.
    ‘That’s

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