Part 53 (1/2)
''How long will you be gone?”
'ril be in and out,” he said ”I' out the schedule so that I'll be here when the baby cory ”That's real nice of you,” she said sarcastically
”What's eating you?” he asked ”I told you I'd be here when the baby comes”
”And what a all thosemy belly in my hands?”
”This is business,” he snapped, ”Stop acting like a child”
”Ilike a child,” she said in a hurt voice ”I' to have a baby and wants her husband to be near her”
He looked at her without speaking for a otten Seventeen He was fifty-six There was a long spread of years between thee across tiaret,” he said slowly ”I wouldn't do this if there were anyone else who could do it But it'sShe withdrew her hand froster, whoever the hell he is,” she said coldly ”You better go answer it There's nobody else to speak to hiht about your tip,” he said I got my first visit from the McClellan committee today”
''What did they want?”
They started for ”
''Who were they?”
”Some kid named Bob Kennedy who says he's the chief counsel A real jerk He had two flunkies with hiht outside my house,” Daniel said ”Out in the open where I can see them”
”What do you think?” Hoffa asked
”They're fishi+ng They don't knohat they're looking for They're hoping we'll do so that they can make a case out of”
”I took your advice and spoke tounless they come with a subpoena Then, even with that, he has ways to ht for a moment ”I think my mutual-fund idea is even more important now than ever It will be a clean operation that no one can throw a stone at Open and aboveboard”
”The word out of Florida is that it won't be so clean They want in, and they're pissed off you didn't talk to thehten theh,” Hoflfa said
”We don't?” Daniel laughed
Hoflfa laughed ”If you need help, holler”
”If I need help it will be too late to holler,” Daniel said
”Just be careful,” Hoflfa said ”Good luck”
”Thanks” Daniel put down the telephone He stood there for ayour car over and park it on the street behind my house Wait there forto worry about I just have to get out of here withoutme”
'TU be there in fifteen aret was sitting on the couch ''Moses is co out the back door and through our neighbors' yard to the street behind us'
”Why can't you go out the firont door?”
”Because there are some men out there fro ”
She was silent, watching him pour another drink for himself She waited until he drank it ”Why didn't you tell me about those men before?”
”I didn't want to worry you Besides, it's not important”
”Not important? Is that what you want un on you all the ti out ofabout”
”I've always carried a guh”
”DJ told ht it was only to make me feel better”
”It's true,” he said ”It's habittio I was kidnapped, beaten up and held prisoner for three days, then du storain allow that to happen toto erous?”
”No We just have so will you be?”
He looked at his watch It was alht I'll call you if I see it will be later”
'rilwaitupforyou''
He saret I'll be all right”
Moses pulled the car into the parking lot behind the warehouse ''Want o with you?” he asked
Daniel shook his head ”No Wait here in the car for me” He went up the steps and knocked on the iron door The door opened and the same man who had let him in before nodded to him Daniel followed him inside
It was exactly the sa tables were busy, and no one looked up as they walked through the rooms and into the office As before, Lansky was behind the desk
The blond bodyguard stepped in front of Daniel as he started forward ”You packing a gun?” he asked in a cold voice
”No I don't carry guns when I visit friends,” Daniel said
The bodyguard glanced over his shoulder at Lansky
”If he says he's not carrying a gun,” Lansky said softly, ”he's not carrying a gun”