the lookout would stand in a doorway opposite Maxim’s. Catell would enter the side door of the large office, and at eight-twenty-seven Smiley would join him. Besides having left the side door open, the inside man would have wedged the alarm bell, marked the position of two electric eyes, and cut the wires to all overhead fixtures. If something should go wrong, at least nobody could flood the place with light. Then Smiley and Catell would knock over the safe. It was an old-time job, with an alarm that cut in when the door cleared a contact. Catell was going to try to burn the hinges, tape the contact before it could cut in, and then pry the door back just enough so Smiley could squeeze through. Smiley was five feet tall and weighed eighty-one pounds. It shouldn’t take too long. After Smiley handed out the bills, they’d leave the joint with the bills in the suitcase and let the loan office keep the tools. That would be at nine-ten. At that time the getaway car would pull up, having been parked two blocks down for the past twenty minutes. Now south, toward Laguna Beach. Halfway there, they’d gas up at a station in Corona del Mar. That’s where they’d switch the suitcase to another sedan. The two men in that car would leave for Burbank, to deliver the stuff. Simple.

If they were interrupted anywhere along the line, it was every man for himself.

When the taxi made ready to turn off Van Nuys, Catell told the cabbie to stop. He got out, paid his fare, and walked five blocks to an address he hadn’t given the cabbie.

The house sat far back from the street, behind a wall, a stretch of trees, and an open lawn. The big place looked empty, but the door opened as soon as Catell came up the broad steps.

“To the rear, last door on the left,” said the maid who had opened the door. She was a maid only because that’s what the uniform said. For a regular maid her legs were too good, her face was too much like a doll’s, and her hair was too blonde.

Catell walked back. The room was a big, dark thing with leather chairs, carved tables, and a fireplace like a cave. A plaster stack of electric logs was plugged in there, giving off a steady red glow.

“You’re prompt, Catell. Sit down.” S. S. Smith waved his hand at Catell but stayed near the window, rocking on his heels.

When Catell sat down, the door opened again and two more men came in. One was a sullen kid with yellow hair and high cheekbones. The other was Topper. They sat down opposite Catell.

“Where’s Smiley?” Smith wanted to know.

“Haven’t seen him,” said the kid with the cheekbones.

Topper looked across at Catell and grinned. Catell nodded. There was no expression in his face.

Then Smiley came in. He opened the door and held it for the girl in the maid’s uniform. She carried a tray with five highballs, gave one to each of the men, and turned to go.

“But you just came, Rose,” Smiley said. He held her arm.

“Let her go. This is business.” Smith’s voice was cold.

“Aw, come on, S. S. Just to look at. You know, an ornament. I ain’t seen Rosie—”

“That’s enough, Smiley. And you may leave, Rose.”

They all held their highballs, not looking very comfortable, waiting for Smith to talk.

“You’ve gone over this deal enough times to do it in your sleep. If there are any questions, ask them now.”

Nobody asked anything.

“All right. You know your places, you know your schedule. Catell and Smiley to knock the place over; Swensen, you’re the lookout; Topper drives. I repeat this to make you understand one thing: Each has a job, one job and only one job. Do it, and the deal works. Muff it, and every other man is no better than a body minus a head. From now on, Catell takes over. His word goes for the rest of the operation. All right, Catell, it’s all yours.”

“There’s just a few things. Once we hit that car, I don’t want a lot of chatter. You know your jobs; there’s no need to talk. Until you get on your stations, keep clammed up. Swensen, don’t read a newspaper on your job. Looks too much like you got time to kill or just hanging around. And don’t smoke. Same reason. Topper, any cruising you do, drive normal speed. Don’t creep along, attracting attention, making