Part 4 (1/2)
”Why you want him?”
”Personal matter.” ”Details. Give.”
I pretended a sigh. ”Maybe you didn't get word of the society kidnapping case we had here. Gilbert Dugan was the big mastermind, killed some innocent people that didn't need it. He's garbage. I tripped him, made an enemy. It was because of him Hog Bristow was able to get me, so I owe him for that. When Bristow and the others died, Dugan was there. A witness. Neither of us needs him running loose. The cops are looking for him for the kidnap and murders. If they get him first, he could and would try making a deal that puts us all in the clink.”
”Dugan saw you kill Bristow?”
”And what they did to me before that. Everything. If you thought Bristow was a liability, then don't meet this guy.
He's a thinker. He can talk his way out of just about anything given the chance. He's full of more s.h.i.+t than a goose, but smart. People trust him. Even ones who should know better.”
”You want him bad.”
”Just looking after the company's best interests.”
”Why you want him alive?”
”To prevent mistaken ident.i.ty.”
”What do you mean?”
”If the boys found someone who only happened to look like Dugan and killed him... not good. I don't want accidents on my watch, so I'm making it worth their while to be careful.”
”How long's he been gone?”
”About a week. He could be anyplace.” Each night right after waking, my first phone call was to Derner for a report on whether Dugan had been found. So far, no good luck.
”You'll never catch him now.”
”I'm hopeful.” But I thought Kroun might be right. With his head start, Dugan could be nearly anywhere. If he was ever found, it'd be by accident. ”He's got smarts, but not for practical stuff. I heard that Einstein guy wears loafers because he can't figure out how to tie shoes. The same goes for Dugan. All he has to do is hide out in the wrong flop, and one of the boys spots him.”
”What'll you do if you get him?”
”Depends on the situation, but... I'll maybe need a couple of oil drums.”
That amused him. Kroun's frown lines eased a bit. ”I'm seeing why you got put in charge.”
”It's also because I don't want to keep the job. Gordy knows I won't get attached to it. It won't be for long. He's getting better every day.” If he took care of himself. I hoped Adelle had tracked him down and hauled him off to sensibly rest.
”I can offer you another job when this one's done.”
This guy was full of surprises. Maybe I'd laid it on too thick about us being friends. ”No thanks. I don't belong.
That's why some of the guys kicked such a fuss. They know I'm not one of them.”
”Oh, yeah, you are.” Kroun actually smiled. On him it was d.a.m.ned unnerving. ”You just don't know it yet.”
Word of my reprieve spread fast.
By the time I'd wound things up with Kroun, put on my hat and overcoat, shook hands like we were dear old pals, and left, the guys waiting in the hall had either magically vanished or were lying in wait to congratulate me. How they learned was a mystery unless they were the ones with a microphone hidden in the office. Not that it would have worked with the radio on in there and Alan Caine's show playing downstairs.
Or they'd just pressed ears to the door and, when no shots were fired, figured it out.
One of the hall mugs pumped my hand and made to thump my back, but Strome got in between.
”The boss needs to leave,” he said, and ran interference for me through the rest of the gauntlet.
Belatedly, I reminded myself that I was still supposed to be healing from Bristow's torture and should act accordingly. Strome was trying to protect my hide from further damage. He must have thought I had a truly amazing painkiller working away. I considered asking him what he thought was going on, but I'd have to hypnotize him afterward. Not worth it. Let him think what he liked.
We emerged from the kitchen entry into freezing night air. It was heavy with damp from the nearby lake and seemed much colder. The wind was up and on the hunt, knifing through my coat. That I was able to notice the chill told me I was tired, the weariness wholly mental and emotional. The interview with Kroun and reaction to the hypnosis had wrung me out, but I'd not been hung up to dry. Not as bad as it could have turned out.
Of course, there were still guys who thought that had been a cheat. Ruzzo, for two.
They were standing by a fat panel trunk parked behind Gordy's car, and their mad must have been pretty serious to keep them out in this wind. Moving like one man, they straightened to face me as I descended the loading dock steps.
Strome started to move past, but I stopped him.
”No. It's got to be from me, or they won't learn.”
He grunted displeasure toward them and hung back. I could be reasonably certain that he had a hand closed around the gun he kept in his overcoat pocket.
I decided to steal from Kroun's bag of tricks by going up to Ruzzo and stand in place and not say anything. It would get a rise of one kind or another.
”You lettin' him get away with it?” Ruzzo the Younger demanded of me.
The problem with some guys is that they will chew over whatever's bothering them, be extremely familiar with every tiny part, and fully expect you to know exactly what the h.e.l.l they're talking about when they finally blurt it at you. This was out of the blue. I thought they'd be challenging my right to be their boss.
”Let who get away with what?” I asked patiently.
”That singer you're soft for. He owes.”
”Yeah, owes,” echoed the Elder. ”You make bets and lose, you pay the markers.”
Cripes, I should send them off to Tierra del Fuego to breed-wombats. ”Not my business,” I said.
”You stopped Hoyle from doin' his job.”
I'd have to use small words with these two. ”Hoyle can collect from him off the premises-after Caine's done his act.
If Caine can't sing, he can't pay.”
”That's bulls.h.i.+t.”
Dangerous words in this gathering, meant as a challenge; I couldn't let them go by. ”You're calling me a liar,” I carefully informed him. Them. I hoped theirs was a very small family.
”The singer owes. You talk to Hoyle. He'll tell you. You don't know everything.”