Part 14 (1/2)
”How about we just talk, and you tell me what I should dowhat you thinkandI don't want anything in the paper You have one for that?” Hugh was feeling easier on the phone with Scott
”Sure do We'll just call it off the record for now Everything you tell me, I promise not to use it without your permission
Will that do?” Scott s smile on your face, people on the other end of the phone think you're honest and that you ame show hosts do it
”OK” Scott heard Sidneys inhale deeply ”Those papers you say you have? Reht here” Scott patted them on his clut- tered desk
”Well, you can't have theh was getting nervous again His voice nearly squeaked
”Hugh, I do have them, and you all but confirmed that for me yesterday A weak confirmation, but I think you know more than you let on”
”Mr Mason”
”Please, callto say is that what you say you have, you can't have cause it never existed”
”What do you mean never existed?” Scott was confused, terribly confused all of sudden He raised his voice ”Listen, I have rea crook Then you say, 'sure it's real' and now you don't What's your gaood-cop bad-cop alone was diffi- cult, but a little pressure uy down to reality
”Obviously you have them, that's not the point” Sidneys reacted sub personality ”The only place that those figures ever existed was in my mind and in my computer I never h said resolutely
Scott'swith this picture He has papers that were never printed, or so says a guy whose sta- bility is currently in question The contents would have far reaching effects on the S&L issue A highly visible tip of the iceberg McMillan, involved in that kind of thing? Never, not Mr Clean What was Sidneys getting at?
”Mr SidneysHughdo you have tiht be easier if we sat face to face
Get to know each other”
Rosie's Diner was one of the better Greasy Spoons near the Hudson River docks on Manhattan's West Side The silver interior and exterior was not a cliche when this diner was built Rosie, all 280 pounds of her, kept the UPS truckers co back for over thirty years A lot of the staff at the paper ate here, too
For the best tasting cholesterol in New York, saturated fats, bacon and sausage grease flavored starches, Rosie's was the place Once aof over 300
Scott recognized Hugh from a distance No one caed his briefcase while nervously looking around the diner Scott called the short pale man over to the faded white forlass of water, while Scott tried to h, please continue hat you were telling me on the phone” Scott tried to sound eot them or they found out It's impossible” The voice was uncannily like Pebbles Flintstone in person
”Who found out? Does sohed ”I work for First State, right? I work right with McMillan although nobody except a few people know it They think I dois helping shelter money in offshore investment accounts There are some tax benefits, I'm not a tax accountant so I don't know the reasons, but I e the offshore investal?”
”Only a little Until recently that is”
”Sorry, continue” Scott nibbled from the sandwich on his plate
”Well there was only one set of books to track the offshore investments They wanted them to be kept secret for various reasons McMillan and the others ain Hugh was feeling paranoid
”Hugh, you ally, ulped some hot black coffee to chase the pastra pipe
Sidneys continued after sipping his water and wetting his lips