knew that if I lost, the next day Parkinson would show up with proxies for your stock—signed by your granddaughters—and demand a stockholders’ meeting and kick me out of the chair and fire Teal as president. Yet I didn’t dare buy stock from you myself—or I would go into court as an interested party and the other side might sniff it. It was touch-and-go for a while, Johann.”
“Well, I’m glad we’re out of the woods. Parky.”
“We aren’t. Other actions coming up, none of which you need worry about today.”
“Jake, I’m not going to worry about anything . I’m going to think about birds and bees and fleecy clouds and enjoy the wonderful taste of Cream o’ Wheat. And prunes, strained prunes fixed baby-style. I’m just glad to know that my oldest friend didn’t knife me while I was unconscious and sorry as hell I thought so even for a moment. Oh, I still think you’re a timid, gutless, stinking sissy not to help me out on this mirror nonsense but we’ll argue that another day. I can wait if I have to; I see why you don’t want to buck a psychiatrist if I have to go into court when I’m up and convince Judge McCampbell that I can still hit the floor with my hat.”
“I’m glad to hear it. And I’m glad to see that you are getting well, Johann. I’m certain you are since you are again, or still, the same stinking bad-tempered, unreasonable old scoundrel you always were.”
Johann chuckled. “Thanks, Jake—and I see that you are in good health, too. May we never see the day we talk sweet to each other. What else is now? Oh, yes! Where in hell is my secretary? Eunice, I mean. There is not a one of this gang of kidnappers around me who ever knew her . . . and they show no interest in trying to find her. Oh, Garcia knew her by sight—but he says that he doesn’t know where she is and claims he’s too busy to run errands. Told me to ask you.”
“Oh.” Salomon hesitated. “Do you know her address?”
“Eh? Somewhere at the north end of town. I suppose my accountant has it. Wait a moment! You took her home once, I remember clearly.”
“So I did. It was indeed somewhere in the north end. But those rabbit warrens all look alike. My guards may know. Hold it— your mobile guards escorted her for several months, right up to the time you went in for surgery. Have you asked them?”
“Hell, Jake, I haven’t been allowed to see anyone. I don’t even know that they are still working for me.”
“I’m fairly sure they still were when I left for Europe. But, Johann, while we can ask them, I doubt if it will do any good.”
“Why not?”
“Because I did see Eunice just before your operation. She was interested—she was fond of you, Johann, much more so than you deserved—”
“Conceded! Make it march.”
“Well, she didn’t mention specific plans but I don’t think she intended to stay in secretarial work. Hell, man, none of us expected that you would ever need a secretary again. I would happily have hired her myself; she is a good secretary. But—”
“I’m sure you would, you old goat. But surely you let her know that she could stay on my payroll forever? Well, until I died, at least.”
“She knew that. But she is a proud girl, Johann. Not a parasite. I’ll make an effort to find her. However, if I don’t, there are many good secretaries. I’ll find one for you. That’s a promise.”
“Look, I don’t want another secretary; I want Eunice Branca.”
“I meant—”
“I know what you meant. You’d find me some old witch who does perfect work but is no fun to look at or have around . . . while you’ve probably got Eunice stashed away in your office.”
Salomon said slowly, “Johann, I swear by all that’s holy that I do not have her in my office nor anywhere.”
“Then she did turn you down. Jake, I trust you with my life and all my worldly goods. But I don’t trust you er any man not to steal a perfect secretary if he can.”
“Nolo contendere. I did
“Well, I’m glad we’re out of the woods. Parky.”
“We aren’t. Other actions coming up, none of which you need worry about today.”
“Jake, I’m not going to worry about anything . I’m going to think about birds and bees and fleecy clouds and enjoy the wonderful taste of Cream o’ Wheat. And prunes, strained prunes fixed baby-style. I’m just glad to know that my oldest friend didn’t knife me while I was unconscious and sorry as hell I thought so even for a moment. Oh, I still think you’re a timid, gutless, stinking sissy not to help me out on this mirror nonsense but we’ll argue that another day. I can wait if I have to; I see why you don’t want to buck a psychiatrist if I have to go into court when I’m up and convince Judge McCampbell that I can still hit the floor with my hat.”
“I’m glad to hear it. And I’m glad to see that you are getting well, Johann. I’m certain you are since you are again, or still, the same stinking bad-tempered, unreasonable old scoundrel you always were.”
Johann chuckled. “Thanks, Jake—and I see that you are in good health, too. May we never see the day we talk sweet to each other. What else is now? Oh, yes! Where in hell is my secretary? Eunice, I mean. There is not a one of this gang of kidnappers around me who ever knew her . . . and they show no interest in trying to find her. Oh, Garcia knew her by sight—but he says that he doesn’t know where she is and claims he’s too busy to run errands. Told me to ask you.”
“Oh.” Salomon hesitated. “Do you know her address?”
“Eh? Somewhere at the north end of town. I suppose my accountant has it. Wait a moment! You took her home once, I remember clearly.”
“So I did. It was indeed somewhere in the north end. But those rabbit warrens all look alike. My guards may know. Hold it— your mobile guards escorted her for several months, right up to the time you went in for surgery. Have you asked them?”
“Hell, Jake, I haven’t been allowed to see anyone. I don’t even know that they are still working for me.”
“I’m fairly sure they still were when I left for Europe. But, Johann, while we can ask them, I doubt if it will do any good.”
“Why not?”
“Because I did see Eunice just before your operation. She was interested—she was fond of you, Johann, much more so than you deserved—”
“Conceded! Make it march.”
“Well, she didn’t mention specific plans but I don’t think she intended to stay in secretarial work. Hell, man, none of us expected that you would ever need a secretary again. I would happily have hired her myself; she is a good secretary. But—”
“I’m sure you would, you old goat. But surely you let her know that she could stay on my payroll forever? Well, until I died, at least.”
“She knew that. But she is a proud girl, Johann. Not a parasite. I’ll make an effort to find her. However, if I don’t, there are many good secretaries. I’ll find one for you. That’s a promise.”
“Look, I don’t want another secretary; I want Eunice Branca.”
“I meant—”
“I know what you meant. You’d find me some old witch who does perfect work but is no fun to look at or have around . . . while you’ve probably got Eunice stashed away in your office.”
Salomon said slowly, “Johann, I swear by all that’s holy that I do not have her in my office nor anywhere.”
“Then she did turn you down. Jake, I trust you with my life and all my worldly goods. But I don’t trust you er any man not to steal a perfect secretary if he can.”
“Nolo contendere. I did
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