Stiletto by Harold Robbins Page A

detectives. “Have a drink?”
    The detectives looked at each other and smiled. “Don’t mind if we do,” the oldest said, walking over to the bar.
    “Help yourself.” Emilio pushed the bottle toward him. He took off his overcoat and threw it on a chair. “I guess I’m getting old all right, my kidneys ain’t what they used to be. I’m going to the john.”
    He opened the bathroom door. The younger detective was at his side. Emilio stepped back. “Age before beauty,” he said sarcastically. “Maybe you’d better have a look first.”
    The detective looked inside the bathroom. He turned back, a sheepish expression on his face. “Okay,” he said.
    “Thank you,” Emilio said with formality. He stepped into the bathroom and began to close the door. “For some things a man must have a little privacy.”
    The door closed behind him and a burst of noise came into the stateroom from the cabin next door. “Sounds like a wild party,” the younger detective said, pouring himself a drink.
    “All it takes is money,” the other said. He held his drink up in the air. “Shalanta.”
    “Shalanta,” the other man replied. They swallowed their drinks. “This is good whisky,” he added.
    The other detective looked at him. “Like Matteo says,” he said in a bitter voice, “nothing but the best.”
    The younger man stared at him. “Yeah,” he said sarcastically. “Crime doesn’t pay.”
    ***
    Emilio walked over to the sink and turned on the tap. He waited for a moment and listened. He could hear the faint murmur of the detectives’ voices from his room. Quickly he crossed to the far end of the bathroom. There was a door there that connected with the next suite. It was locked.
    He ran his fingernails against the door, making a scraping sound. “Cesare!” he whispered.
    A scraping sound came back to him. Quickly he turned and opened the medicine cabinet. On the top shelf was a key. He put it in the door and turned it. The tumbler on his side clicked. A moment later he could hear the tumbler fall on the other side.
    The door opened slightly and Cesare slipped into the room quickly and shut the door behind him.
    Emilio smiled. “Don Cesare! My nephew!”
    Cesare smiled also. “Don Emilio! My uncle!”
    The two men embraced. “It has been a long time,” Emilio said.
    “A long time indeed,” Cesare answered formally.
    “You have done well, my nephew,” Emilio whispered. “I am proud.”
    “I have kept the oath, Don Emilio,” Cesare replied.
    “You have, and the family will be pleased when I tell them of you. It is time now that you take a place in our councils.”
    Cesare shook his head. “I am content only to keep my agreement with you, Don Emilio. I seek nothing from the Brotherhood.”
    An expression of surprise came into Emilio’s face. “You will have riches you never dreamed possible!”
    “I do not need the riches,” Cesare replied. “I have more than enough for my needs now.”
    Emilio shook his head. “The Dons will take this as an affront.”
    “It is not intended as such,” Cesare said quickly. “You will explain this to them. I will repay my debt as I am called upon to do so, but no more.”
    “Already the other three men who were with me in the trial have petitioned the council for your death!” Emilio said. “They feel that you are a danger to them as long as you are free. And they have read in the papers that you have been questioned by the authorities.”
    “They are old women,” Cesare said scornfully. “The police have learned nothing.”
    “But they are still worried.”
    “Explain to the council there is nothing to fear. There is nothing I want from any of them.”
    Emilio shook his head. “I will do as you ask, my nephew. But until you hear from me, be careful. They are dangerous men.”
    “I will be careful, Don Emilio.” Cesare smiled. “For their own sakes I trust they too will be careful.”
    “I will get word to them,” Emilio said.
    Cesare nodded.