Chapter 5

For a moment, the couple on the couch remained motionless. When the bell rang again, Sam Gibbons scrambled to his feet, sudden fear twisting his face into strange contortions. "Who's that?" he whispered. "My husband," Eva answered. "You'd better go." Sam didn't need a second invitation. Pulling his pants to his waist, holding them in place with one hand, he ran for the rear door.

The ringing of the bell spurred him to greater speed. He crossed the yard on the fly and scrambled up the ladder.

Despite her fright, Eva was amused by the wild antics of the man as he tried to hold onto the fence with one hand and his pants with the other. As she watched, he hovered on the lip of the structure for a moment, seeking a foothold on his own ladder leaning against the other side. And suddenly he was gone as he slipped. The crash of the fat man hitting the ground was devastating.

But Eva had other worries at the moment. When the bell rang a fourth time she came to her senses. Whoever was at the door couldn't be her husband. He had his own key. And even if he'd forgotten it he'd have come around back by now.

And as she thought of this she became angry at the interruption. Just a few more minutes ... Eva licked her lips as she thought of what could have happened in that length of time.

Whoever was on the other side of the door was persistant, this time knocking. Eva knew she could remain silent and whoever it was would go away. But she was curious as to who had spoiled her fun. She got to her feet and started towards the panel. As she reached for the knob, Eva realized that she was still undressed. "Just a minute," she called out. "I have to get some clothes on."

Eva went to the bedroom and found a skirt and sweater. She quickly got into them, not bothering with any underwear. Then she returned to the door and pulled it open. As the figure on the other side came into view she was suddenly glad of the interruption.

It was a man. He was tall and lean and well dressed. The rugged face, now smiling at her, was made even more handsome by the black hair tinged with gray. There are some men that know how to wear clothes, Eva thought, and this was one of them. His obviously expensive suit seemed moulded to the rigid frame.

The inventory took but a second. Eva was well practiced in the art. "Yes?" she said, her heart beating faster for no apparent reason.

The figure made a slight bow from the waist. His voice was deep and cultured. "I'm sorry to have disturbed you," he apologized.

Eva shook her head. "Don't be. I was taking a nap and had to get dressed."

The figure nodded agreement. "Is Ralph Hobson in?"

Now what would her husband have to do with a man like this, Eva thought. They weren't in the same class.

"No," she said, smiling. "He's up at his cabin, fishing."

The man's face fell. "Oh," he said simply. "That's too bad."

"Is it important?"

"As a matter-of-fact it is," he said. "Could you tell me how I can phone him?"

Eva smiled and shook her head. "Not a chance. Mr. Bell hasn't gotten around to that part of the country yet." She opened the door wider. "You look hot. Wouldn't you care to come in for a moment?"

The figure seemed deep in thought. But at her invitation he looked up again. "The sun certainly is warm," he grinned. "I'd forgotten just how hot it can get in the valley."

Eva laughed. "Today's cool. You should be here on some days. Come on in."

The figure crossed the threshold. He hesitated just inside the door. "My name's Martin, Martin Sellers."

Eva extended her hand. "And I'm Eva Hobson, Ralph's wife. ' She shivered at his touch. What a bed partner he'd make, she thought to herself. But that was getting the cart before the horse. He wasn't like the others. She knew she'd get exactly nowhere throwing herself at him. But just the same she was glad that she hadn't put anything on beneath the sweater. She'd seen him steal a glance at the outline of her breasts showing through the cloth. "Won't you sit down, Mr. Sellers?" she said out loud.

He did as she requested. "So you don't know how I can get in touch with Ralph?"

Eva settled in the chair across from him. "There isn't a chance. Not until late tomorrow night or Monday morning."

Martin found a cigarette and held it in his hand for a moment, looking at Eva questioningly. "Mind if I smoke?"

"Not at all. Let me get you an ashtray." Eva got up and found one. As she bent down to set the glass on the coffee table, her unsupported breasts swung outwards against the sweater. For a moment the full outline of the loveliness stood well out from her body. Eva held her breath. It was usually at this point a man began grabbing.

But if Martin noticed, he gave no indication. Instead, he lighted the cigarette.

Eva tried to hide her disappointment and returned to the chair. She waited for a plane to fly over before she began talking.

Martin looked up at the ceiling. "That one sounds as if he's going to take your roof with him," he said.

Eva shrugged. "You get used to it. This used to be part of the Van Nuys airport approach before some land speculator got hold of it."

"You might have company some day," Martin grinned.

"We Jready have. A private plane came down on the street two blocks up about a year ago. It killed several kids. There was a lot of screaming to move the airport but it was here first."

A new sound entered the room, that of the distant wailing of an ambulance. As they listened, it grew closer, finally screaming to a halt somewhere on the block.

"Sounds like trouble," Martin commented, carefully flicking ashes into the tray.

Eva got to her feet and looked out the window. The ambulance had stopped next door. While she watched, two attendants rushed inside the house. When they returned, they had Sam on a stretcher. One of them seemed to be working on his leg, as if it were broken. Eva smiled, remembering the crash by the back fence. She wondered how he'd explain this one to his wife. If only she could be around. Maybe she should send flowers. That would really cause some fireworks.

Eva turned back into the room, the smile still on her face.

"What's wrong?" Martin asked.

"Looks as if the man next door has had an accident," Eva explained. "I think his leg is broken."

"Never a dull moment around here," Martin said. "He probably kicked his wife."

"Probably," Eva agreed. She moved back into the room. "I'm a poor hostess," she admitted. "Would you like a drink of something cool?"

"I would," Martin agreed. "Just water will be fine."

"We have something stronger."

He shook his head. "Not in this heat. I'd never find my way back to the car."

When Eva had handed him an ice-filled glass she said, "Do you work with my husband?"

"No. I'm one of the bank's accounts ... or to be more accurate, my partner and I are. We're Sellers and Stevens."

"It sounds like a vaudeville act," Eva laughed.

Martin grinned. "I suppose it does at that. But we aren't. We're diamond merchants in the Diamond Mercantile Building downtown."

All of a sudden Eva was very interested in this man. And she remembered her comments last night after Ralph had brought her flowers. 'Why hadn't he brought her diamonds?' "It sounds impressive," she said.

Martin nodded agreement. "I suppose so. But it's a business like anything else. The difference it that we handle diamonds and others handle fish. It's just that people sit up and take notice when diamonds are mentioned. An attitude the cartels have spent a lot of money trying to create."

"What has my husband to do with this?"

"He audits our books for the bank. There was a little trouble last evening getting a balance. I found the mistake and wanted to show it to him before he takes his report into the bank on Monday."

"It sounds serious."

Martin's face sobered momentarily. "It is," he admitted. No one in the diamond business really has enough capital to maintain the stock he needs to do a healthy business. This is where the bank comes in. For a small percentage they supply the cash to purchase our inventory. In the trade this is called 'flooring' the market. But to make sure their money is being used properly they keep on top of us by auditing our books periodically. This is Ralph's job. When he finds a small error or discrepancy in our accounts he reports it back. It just doesn't look good on our record. I found the mistake and want to correct any erroneous impressions. Understand?"

Eva didn't but she smiled as if she did. All during his conversation she'd been noticing his dark eyes, how they flashed while he talked. Now, he was a man that a woman could be proud of. He'd been someplace in the world and it was obvious that he was going further. Unlike her husband, he wasn't satisfied to stick himself in one corner and stay there forever.

And, as Eva sat listening to him, she felt the pressure of desire returning. She'd been cheated out of it with Sam. But when she'd first seen Martin, Eva had figured he would make a wonderful substitute. Now, she wasn't so sure. He didn't seem to be the least interested in her.

That fact alone angered Eva. She wasn't used to being ignored. But he'd only been in the house fifteen minutes, she told herself. That was hardly long enough to get beyond the stage of polite conversation.

It was the old game of male and female chess. How does a woman tell a man that she wants him to rip off her dress ... and still make it appear as if it were his idea?

The usual answer was to get him so hot that he lost self control. That involved a period of teasing. Eva knew that the way she was dressed was enough to get him warmed up a little. The thin clothing hid none of her ample curves. And she knew that when she'd walked to the window he should have been able to see right through the skirt.

With some men the answer would have been a great deal simpler. She could let her clothes ride up until what she had to offer was almost in view. But as Eva studied the well-dressed man across from her, she knew that this would appear cheap to him. And anything cheap he would avoid. Those kind of girls he could get by the carload. No, this approach would have to be different, something she'd never used before.

"Would you care for some more water?" she asked, thinking that the offer sounded awfully silly.

He shook his head. "No thanks. I guess I really should be going." His eyes fell on the bottom half of the bikini Sam had so hurriedly removed from Eva and he grinned. "I guess you were going to take a sun bath. I wouldn't want to hold you up."

Now here was the point, Eva thought, that normally she'd say that he wasn't in the way. Then she'd get into the swim suit and it would only be a short time before she was out of it again. But not with Martin. The chances were it might shock him into a quicker exit. Just the same she panicked briefly at the thought of him leaving. "It's hot out there," she smiled.

"I know," Martin said reluctantly. "That's why I should go. I promised my two kids I'd give them a swimming lesson this afternoon."

"You're married?"

Martin laughed. It was a pleasant sound. "I guess that follows doesn't it?"

Eva nodded agreement, feeling a little silly for having made the statement. But the fact that he was married didn't deter her in the least. Married men were the best anyhow. They had experience. "Do you live far from here?"

"Not really. But it's a lot cooler. I'm up in Benedict Canyon."

Eva knew the spot. It was a short street running down the mountains on the other side of Mulholland Drive. It was unique in that it was paved with gold. There were no homes in that section under fifty-thousand. This man certainly was different than any she'd ever met before. "Maybe you'd like to stay for some lunch," Eva suggested.

Much to her disappointment, he got to his feet and started for the door. "No," he said. "I really have to run." He hesitated and pulled out his wallet, withdrawing a small card from the leather and handing it to her. "If you should happen to think of a way that I can reach your husband, please call me at that number." He turned and quickly walked to the street.

Eva watched, regretfully, as he got into a long, sleek Cadillac convertible and drove off. When it vanished around the corner, she slammed the door so hard the house trembled.

For the first time since she could remember, her magic had failed. A man had gotten away. Tears of frustration sprang to her eyes. Eva didn't like it at all.