6 January

“Good afternoon, Counselor.”

“Well, well, well. And on a Sunday too! I was wondering if you’d dropped off the face of the earth. Didn’t you get my messages?”

“There was no reason for us to talk before now.”

“You might have saved us a lot of trouble if we had, not to say expense. But don’t say I didn’t warn you, Cousin Robert. Before you even met her, I told you she’d lead you a merry chase.”

“Robert Smith is defunct. I think we would both do well to forget about him.”

“Do I detect some measure of a threat there?”

“Let’s get to the business at hand.”

“Look, my friend, as to what happened yesterday, I only did what I had to do. We have too much at stake, you, Leon, and I. In my judgment, you needed help. It was a purely business decision, nothing personal. If anything, you were the one who let the personal get in the way. Come on, we’ve known each other a long time. Wouldn’t you have done the same thing in my shoes?”

“I’d like to get to the business at hand.”

“Good. Have you talked to Leon yet?”

“Yes.”

“And he’s explained the plan to you?”

“Yes. We’re meeting tonight.”

“And its cost, to each of you, provided we’re successful?”

“Yes.”

“And is that acceptable to you? Ten percent off the top?”

“Yes.”

“You know—I’ve said this to him too—I could, in good conscience, have demanded more. You of all people will understand that. I trust there are no hard feelings?”

“I understand.”

“From your point of view, it’s just an added cost of completing the transaction. Well. What do you think of it?”

“Think of what?”

“The plan, of course. Do you think it will work?”

“I don’t think it’s for me to say. You hold all the cards.”

“Come, come. Leon hates it, I hate it, you probably do too, but do you have a better idea?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then let’s get on with it. We all have our roles to play. You should know that I’ve put my clients off till Thursday. I told them we’re not quite ready.”

“Yes.”

“Assuming all goes well tomorrow, Thursday should be time sufficient, don’t you think?”

“Yes.”

“The filings are ready on both sides. We anticipate no complications at Treasury or anywhere else. We should be able to close in February, March at the outside.”

“Good.”

“Is that all you have to say? When you think where we were forty-eight hours ago? Forgive me for asking, but for a man who’s about to make millions, what’s happened to your enthusiasm?”

“I believe that’s premature. Before tomorrow.”

“Oh, come on. It’s an added cost of doing business, that’s all. Doesn’t everybody have a price? I’m counting on your powers of persuasion, Leon’s too, and besides, what alternative does he have?”

“What about Rebecca.”

“Rebecca? What about her?”

“Did you find her yesterday?”

“No. The published reports are true. She took off.”

“Are they still looking?”

“After you fired them, I called them off. Why bother? She’s a fugitive from justice, isn’t she? Let the law deal with her. And even if she wanted to, how could she stop us? She doesn’t know anything about this, does she?”

“No.”

“Not even who you are, does she? Beyond Robert Smith?”

“No.”

“I thought so. And Smith is dead. Who else knows who he is? Or was?”

“Only you.”

“Ah. Is that what’s got you so edgy? Really, I won’t even dignify that with a reply. Look, we’re so close to the deal now, let’s not be at each other’s throats. We’ve got the situation under control, that’s the important thing. All right, I’m sorry I offended you. Maybe I shouldn’t have. On the other hand, you should have heard Leon! Look, as far as she’s concerned, I doubt we’ll ever hear from her again. Have you forgotten how you met her? I know her too, remember? She’ll run. She’ll run like a rabbit. Don’t you agree?”

“For now, yes.”

“Exactly.”

“I don’t like loose ends.”

“Who does? But from a practical point of view, I think we can safely forget about her. And that’s my advice to you: forget about her. I say it as a friend. You know these … well, these relationships … are bound to be short-lived, and, from your point of view, she can be replaced at a moment’s notice. All you have to do is ask. What the Good Lord taketh away, the good Counselor shall always provide. You understand that, don’t you?”

“Yes. I understand everything.”