Read Online Robert Asprin's Dragons Run by Jody Lynn Nye - Free Book Online
Authors: Jody Lynn Nye
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Penny Dunbar don’t run, there’s a hundred others with similar qualifications standing right behind her, waiting their chance.”
“She’s the only one I am concerned with at the moment,” Malcolm said. “Who was that man? Why does he want her dead?”
“Well, dead or outten the way. I don’t think he cares a lot which one, himself, but the folks he’s workin’ with say they want her gone permanently.” Duvallier chewed the end of his cigar. Griffen could tell he wanted to light it, but he held back. The only reason he could guess was that the secretary didn’t like it. He doubted a man like Duvallier cared about most people’s feelings, but having him concerned for Miss Callaway was a facet Griffen hadn’t suspected.
“What can we do to persuade you not to hurt her?” Griffen asked.
“Persuade me?” Duvallier echoed. He tilted his head. “Try me. I would enjoy hearin’ your logical explanation for why I shouldn’t exercise my whim.”
“If you really don’t have strong feelings one way or the other, what’s the difference?” Griffen asked, trying to sound casual though his heart was pounding in his chest. “I don’t know Miss Dunbar, but I’ve seen her on television. She sounds pretty sensible. She might be a good governor.”
The fiery eyes were unimpressed.
“Politicians are a dime a dozen,” Duvallier said. “They all say what they think will get your vote. One’s pretty much like another. I’m only interested in how any particular one benefits me in the long run.”
“Ah,” Malcolm said. “Then what benefits would you like to receive in exchange for backing Penny Dunbar instead of . . . interfering with her campaign?”
“Are you empowered to speak for the lady?” Duvallier asked.
“I . . . speak for the people who are helping to finance her campaign.”
Duvallier waved the cigar. “That’s not enough. If I don’t interfere with her, like you say, I want access to her ear anytime I need it.”
“I can arrange for that,” Malcolm said.
“And there’s the matter of my fee. It’ll be sizable, I want you to know.”
“Of course.”
“And a position in her office once she’s elected.”
Malcolm swallowed. “I will see what I can do.”
“Forget all about it, son,” Duvallier said. He leered at Malcolm. “I just wanted to see how desperate you are. You know I can’t sit in no office like I am. It’s just fun to see if I could bargain you out of the last cent in your pocket. You’d agree to anything here and now if I would just take the threat off the table. Well, I won’t do it.”
“And why not?”
“Where’s the pleasure in that? I love a good race. Miss Dunbar’s just one of the horses. If she crosses the finish line first, well and good. If she don’t, well, she’s an also-ran. I put my money on winners, and winners only, because they’re the ones who pay off.”
Griffen sensed a challenge. “Do you like to back winners? I don’t know if you were aware of my business . . .”
“Well, yes, I am, young man,” Duvallier said, widening the glowing red gaze. “Y’all run Mose’s gambling concern. Fine fellow. Played with him myself, back in years gone by. But penny-ante poker and three-dollar bets at the racetrack window don’t interest this old man no more. I like the big races. Like this one. Governor of the state of Louisiana. Almost the biggest prize there is, and your girl wants to go that distance, too, don’t she?”
“Yes, she does,” Malcolm said. “I represent the people who want to see her reach it.”
“That’s just fine. But she’s not alone in this race.”
“Whom does your other client back?”
“That’s none of your business. You can take a shot in the dark at guessing the name, but right now there’s about seventeen potential candidates who’ll be in the primary.”
Malcolm lowered his brows. “I have no proof that the man who just left has anything to do with the coming election. After I
“She’s the only one I am concerned with at the moment,” Malcolm said. “Who was that man? Why does he want her dead?”
“Well, dead or outten the way. I don’t think he cares a lot which one, himself, but the folks he’s workin’ with say they want her gone permanently.” Duvallier chewed the end of his cigar. Griffen could tell he wanted to light it, but he held back. The only reason he could guess was that the secretary didn’t like it. He doubted a man like Duvallier cared about most people’s feelings, but having him concerned for Miss Callaway was a facet Griffen hadn’t suspected.
“What can we do to persuade you not to hurt her?” Griffen asked.
“Persuade me?” Duvallier echoed. He tilted his head. “Try me. I would enjoy hearin’ your logical explanation for why I shouldn’t exercise my whim.”
“If you really don’t have strong feelings one way or the other, what’s the difference?” Griffen asked, trying to sound casual though his heart was pounding in his chest. “I don’t know Miss Dunbar, but I’ve seen her on television. She sounds pretty sensible. She might be a good governor.”
The fiery eyes were unimpressed.
“Politicians are a dime a dozen,” Duvallier said. “They all say what they think will get your vote. One’s pretty much like another. I’m only interested in how any particular one benefits me in the long run.”
“Ah,” Malcolm said. “Then what benefits would you like to receive in exchange for backing Penny Dunbar instead of . . . interfering with her campaign?”
“Are you empowered to speak for the lady?” Duvallier asked.
“I . . . speak for the people who are helping to finance her campaign.”
Duvallier waved the cigar. “That’s not enough. If I don’t interfere with her, like you say, I want access to her ear anytime I need it.”
“I can arrange for that,” Malcolm said.
“And there’s the matter of my fee. It’ll be sizable, I want you to know.”
“Of course.”
“And a position in her office once she’s elected.”
Malcolm swallowed. “I will see what I can do.”
“Forget all about it, son,” Duvallier said. He leered at Malcolm. “I just wanted to see how desperate you are. You know I can’t sit in no office like I am. It’s just fun to see if I could bargain you out of the last cent in your pocket. You’d agree to anything here and now if I would just take the threat off the table. Well, I won’t do it.”
“And why not?”
“Where’s the pleasure in that? I love a good race. Miss Dunbar’s just one of the horses. If she crosses the finish line first, well and good. If she don’t, well, she’s an also-ran. I put my money on winners, and winners only, because they’re the ones who pay off.”
Griffen sensed a challenge. “Do you like to back winners? I don’t know if you were aware of my business . . .”
“Well, yes, I am, young man,” Duvallier said, widening the glowing red gaze. “Y’all run Mose’s gambling concern. Fine fellow. Played with him myself, back in years gone by. But penny-ante poker and three-dollar bets at the racetrack window don’t interest this old man no more. I like the big races. Like this one. Governor of the state of Louisiana. Almost the biggest prize there is, and your girl wants to go that distance, too, don’t she?”
“Yes, she does,” Malcolm said. “I represent the people who want to see her reach it.”
“That’s just fine. But she’s not alone in this race.”
“Whom does your other client back?”
“That’s none of your business. You can take a shot in the dark at guessing the name, but right now there’s about seventeen potential candidates who’ll be in the primary.”
Malcolm lowered his brows. “I have no proof that the man who just left has anything to do with the coming election. After I
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