Part 78 (2/2)

”Who's first?” He asked quietly

The two agents looked at each other and one spoke ”Uh, sir, I think we have a lead in the black him a chance to speak

”Yessir, it seems to have broken all over at once” Duncan opened his eyes wide in anticipation Well, he, thought, go on

The first agent picked up the ball ”De demands So far we have six individuals who said they were recontacted by the sao”

Duncan sat upright ”I want a complete report, here, in 1 hour

We'll talk then Thank you gentlemen” They took their cue to exit and brushed by, Tyrone's secretary on their way out the door

”Yes, Gloria?” Duncan treated her kindly, not with the adminis- trative brusqueness he often found necessary to , or afternoon, sir Pleasant trip?” She knew he hated sudden trips to DCIt was her way of teasing her boss

”Wonderful!” Tyrone beahts every day for a month Definite E-ticket ride”

”Do you reo, about, I believe the sa?” Her demureness pampered Duncan

”Dobbs? Yes, why?”

”He's been waiting allHad to see you, no on else

Shall I show him in?”

”Yes, by all ain Please,” Duncan pointed at a chair in front of his desk ”Sit down How may I help you?”

Dobbs shuffled over to the chair and practically fell into it

He sighed heavily and looked down at his feet ”I guess it's all over All over”

”What do you ain I think you should know I' on that case anymore”

”This ti about

”They want money, a lot of money, more than we have Last time I received a call I was told soe about our company that we preferred to re, quotationour competitors could use”

”So you think your co you,” Duncan offered

”I don't know If they wanted the inforure it out”

”What about the others,” Duncan thought out loud ”The others with access to the infor everyone else It's not healthy Now, after this, I' it in”

”Why now? What's different?”

”The demands I can't believe it's my competitors Sure, it's a cut throat business, but, no, it's hard to believe”