Read Online Never Leave Me by Harold Robbins - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Harold Robbins
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Consolidated Steel what you plan to do for the industry.”
I held onto my chair. “But what of the industry campaign?” I asked.
He laughed shortly. “Let them worry about their own campaign,” he said succinctly.
I was silent. This was hitting it. All my life I had been waiting for a kick like this. Now that it had come I couldn’t believe it.
Matt Brady spoke again. Apparently he had taken my stunned silence for an assent. The mirthless smile was back on his face. His fingers tapped the typwritten sheets of paper on his desk. “Mr.
Rowan, these papers are as complete a dossier of your life as I could gather overnight. As you see I like to know as much as possible about my associates and I feel I only have to talk to you on one small point.”
I looked at him questioningly. My head was still reeling. What was he talking about now?
He looked down at the papers and spoke. “Your business record is a very good one, there is nothing there I have need to speak to you about. Your home life is also good. But there are portions of your personal life I think you must be cautioned about.”
A chill began to settle down on me. “What, Mr. Brady?”
“Last night you checked into the Brooke with a woman who is not your wife, Mr. Rowan. That’s very indiscreet. We at Consolidated must remember we are constantly under surveillance.”
I began to get angry. How long had this guy been watching me? Maybe this was his payoff to get me away from Elaine. “By whom, Mr. Brady?” I asked coldly. “Who could be interested enough in me to know what I’ve been doing?”
“Everyone who has anything to do with steel in Pittsburgh must expect to be watched, Mr. Rowan,” he said.
I had to find out what was on those sheets of paper. “I suppose your spies also gave you the name of the lady with me last night?” I asked.
He looked up at me coldly. “I’m not interested in the names of your sleeping companions, Mr.
Rowan. I’m only mentioning this because of our planned association.”
I got out of my chair. “I’ve decided I’m not interested in your offer, Mr. Brady.”
He got to his feet. “Don’t be foolish, young man,” he said quickly. “No woman is worth it.”
I laughed shortly. I wondered what he would say if he knew it was his niece we were talking about.
“That hasn’t anything to do with it, Mr. Brady,” I said coldly. I walked to the door and opened it.
A special officer sitting just outside the door scrambled to to his feet. He looked at me expectantly.
I looked back into the office at the little man standing behind his desk. “You’re overdoing this cop thing a bit, Mr. Brady,” I said. “Even the gestapo couldn’t help Hitler when the chips were down.”
Chapter Eleven
I HIT the street under a full head of steam. The bright sun tore at my eyes and I blinked. Down the street was Oscar’s bar. Its cool, dark interior looked good to me. I pushed my way through the revolving door.
It was one of those cocktail lounges with restaurant attached. I headed for the bar and climbed up on a stool. The place was loaded with Con Steel people. I could tell from the badges on their clothing. This was a white-collar joint; the foundry workers apparently had their own stamping grounds.
The bartender slid over in front of me. “Double Black Label over rocks,” I said. “Lemon twist.”
He threw three ice cubes into a tumbler and put it down in front of me. Reaching behind him, he brought down a bottle of Black Label and filled the tumbler three-quarters full. Then he twisted a cut of lemon peel over the glass and dropped it in. “Buck and a half,” he said.
Either the nut was nothing here or they cut the liquor big. I dropped a five on the bar and picked up my drink. “Ride it,” I said. I needed time to think.
Those sheets of paper on Matt Brady’s desk bothered me. Whoever made that report might know Elaine was with me. That wouldn’t be good. Matt Brady might ignore my words, but I
I held onto my chair. “But what of the industry campaign?” I asked.
He laughed shortly. “Let them worry about their own campaign,” he said succinctly.
I was silent. This was hitting it. All my life I had been waiting for a kick like this. Now that it had come I couldn’t believe it.
Matt Brady spoke again. Apparently he had taken my stunned silence for an assent. The mirthless smile was back on his face. His fingers tapped the typwritten sheets of paper on his desk. “Mr.
Rowan, these papers are as complete a dossier of your life as I could gather overnight. As you see I like to know as much as possible about my associates and I feel I only have to talk to you on one small point.”
I looked at him questioningly. My head was still reeling. What was he talking about now?
He looked down at the papers and spoke. “Your business record is a very good one, there is nothing there I have need to speak to you about. Your home life is also good. But there are portions of your personal life I think you must be cautioned about.”
A chill began to settle down on me. “What, Mr. Brady?”
“Last night you checked into the Brooke with a woman who is not your wife, Mr. Rowan. That’s very indiscreet. We at Consolidated must remember we are constantly under surveillance.”
I began to get angry. How long had this guy been watching me? Maybe this was his payoff to get me away from Elaine. “By whom, Mr. Brady?” I asked coldly. “Who could be interested enough in me to know what I’ve been doing?”
“Everyone who has anything to do with steel in Pittsburgh must expect to be watched, Mr. Rowan,” he said.
I had to find out what was on those sheets of paper. “I suppose your spies also gave you the name of the lady with me last night?” I asked.
He looked up at me coldly. “I’m not interested in the names of your sleeping companions, Mr.
Rowan. I’m only mentioning this because of our planned association.”
I got out of my chair. “I’ve decided I’m not interested in your offer, Mr. Brady.”
He got to his feet. “Don’t be foolish, young man,” he said quickly. “No woman is worth it.”
I laughed shortly. I wondered what he would say if he knew it was his niece we were talking about.
“That hasn’t anything to do with it, Mr. Brady,” I said coldly. I walked to the door and opened it.
A special officer sitting just outside the door scrambled to to his feet. He looked at me expectantly.
I looked back into the office at the little man standing behind his desk. “You’re overdoing this cop thing a bit, Mr. Brady,” I said. “Even the gestapo couldn’t help Hitler when the chips were down.”
Chapter Eleven
I HIT the street under a full head of steam. The bright sun tore at my eyes and I blinked. Down the street was Oscar’s bar. Its cool, dark interior looked good to me. I pushed my way through the revolving door.
It was one of those cocktail lounges with restaurant attached. I headed for the bar and climbed up on a stool. The place was loaded with Con Steel people. I could tell from the badges on their clothing. This was a white-collar joint; the foundry workers apparently had their own stamping grounds.
The bartender slid over in front of me. “Double Black Label over rocks,” I said. “Lemon twist.”
He threw three ice cubes into a tumbler and put it down in front of me. Reaching behind him, he brought down a bottle of Black Label and filled the tumbler three-quarters full. Then he twisted a cut of lemon peel over the glass and dropped it in. “Buck and a half,” he said.
Either the nut was nothing here or they cut the liquor big. I dropped a five on the bar and picked up my drink. “Ride it,” I said. I needed time to think.
Those sheets of paper on Matt Brady’s desk bothered me. Whoever made that report might know Elaine was with me. That wouldn’t be good. Matt Brady might ignore my words, but I
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