[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
."Mob figures are chancy things," he said."I'm surprised you are coming along.This is highlyprofessional PR, Smith.""It was my idea," I defended, wincing as we hit a bump."So it was," he said."I am really gratified at your support and encouragement, Smith.It really is agreat idea."Fact was, I was getting pretty foggy about WHAT idea was being executed.We tore through the truck- and dray-crowded streets.The afternoon was cold and sleet was spittingout of the sky.The pavement glistened gray.Fitting weather in which to torpedo Heller.We drew up at the back of Tammany Hall.It was a recently restored building in a park, a landmarkused for only the most sacred occasions.Apparently Rockecenter had financed its reconstruction, andthe land around it, which he owned, had rocketed in value: very public spirited.So Madison had the runof the place.It was about a quarter to three.The photographers leaped out and rushed in.Madison led me up adifferent flight of stairs.We came out overlooking a small auditorium.We were on a little balcony a box, really wellscreened from the floor below.But we could see everything that went on.Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlThere was a raised lecture stage there.It had doors at the back of it.There was a big chair with asolid back facing the empty seats for the audience.The photographers were positioning things.They gotthe auditorium lights very low.They got their own flash guns in position.Madison, now that he had it all moving, was chatty."That chair," he said, "is historic.It's the sameone Boss Tweed used to use when he collected his payoffs from the whole city.Well, it will even bemore historic yet, shortly."The Whiz Kid double rushed in from a side door.It was the first time I had seen him in the flesh.Actually, aside from being tall for his age and blond, he really didn't have any of the aura of Heller.Itwasn't just his buckteeth and protruding jaw or even his horn-rimmed glasses.He had the air of a cheapbum, really.It gave me a lot of satisfaction.This nut couldn't have ordered a puppy dog to wag its tail!But he did have a kind of impudent brass.The photographers were trying to get him to sit just so in thechair.He had his own ideas.He was wearing a red racing suit and carrying a racing helmet and he thought he would look betterwith the helmet on and the photographers were telling him to (bleep) well keep it off it threw a shadowon his face.Out of curiosity more than any inkling of coming trouble, I said to Madison, "Who is this mob figureyou're getting?""Why, the top man.Names make news, Smith.The capo di tutti capi of course.Faustino 'TheNoose' Narcotici, naturally."With a shock, I remembered the funeral."Wait! The minute Faustino knows it's Wister, he'll run! Iguarantee it!""Well, well!" said Madison."Now you tell me."He rushed down a side stairs to the floor and hurriedly issued some orders.He came back up.Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html"Whew, Smith.You certainly play it close.You could have blown the whole caper.(Bleep)!Working with unprofessionals! But it will be all right now."The bogus Whiz Kid put the racing helmet on and closed the opaque visor.There was a burst of activity behind the stage.Three Faustino bodyguards rushed in.With sawed-offshotguns they probed the seats.They made sure the cameras weren't guns.They opened doors.Theywere trying to make certain it wasn't a hit spot.Madison and I drew back.The bodyguards gave the boxes a perfunctory glance and then contentedthemselves with stationing a man to fire in case a gun was shoved over the rail from this mezzanine.Faustino came waddling through a door at the back of the stage.Hoodward was with him.The agedreporter put a big sheaf of bills in Faustino's hands and fanned them out.The capo di tutti capi's ringsflashed as he arranged the money in his hands.The Whiz Kid double was sitting in the chair with the helmet on, facing forward [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Tematy