Read Online To Save a Son by Brian Freemantle - Free Book Online Page A

swirled around with his flamboyant wife. “Nicky says you’ve got an idea about the company,” he said.
    Dukes turned to him. “Only an idea,” he said. “Just thought I’d put it forward, to see what everybody thinks.”
    10
    It made practical sense to have preliminary discussions on Dukes’ proposal while they were all in New York, despite Nicky’s honeymoon absence. They still used his office and conference area—because that was where they always met—the day after the Westchester reception. Franks automatically chaired the meeting, but because the discussions were informal he agreed to Pascara’s suggestion that there was no need for formal note-taking or record-making.
    â€œWhat’s the suggestion?” Franks demanded when they were settled.
    â€œGambling,” announced Dukes shortly.
    â€œGambling?” The question came from Pascara, slightly ahead of Franks.
    â€œQuite separately from our involvement together I’ve acquired an interest in Las Vegas,” expanded Dukes. “I’ve spent a lot of time there recently. The profit from gaming is astonishing. Some of the larger hotels with casinos, like Caesars Palace and the Sands, think in terms of millions of dollars a week.”
    â€œYou think we should consider expansion into Las Vegas?” said Pascara, responding to rare prompting from Luigi, beside him.
    Dukes shook his head. “My thought was that we should install casinos in our own complexes.”
    â€œIt goes against our concept,” said Franks. “Our whole theme is absolute luxury. Slot machines don’t fit in.”
    â€œI wasn’t suggesting that they did,” said Dukes. “Why not make the casinos like the hotels, high class, high stakes, everything discreet and plush? The very fact of not having slot machines would be a gimmick that would fit exactly into our mold.”
    â€œMy feelings are with Franks,” said Flamini. “We’re doing well with a good image. I’m not sure that gambling fits into it.”
    â€œWould the governments of the islands allow it anyway?” said Pascara, hinting opposition.
    â€œWe won’t know until we’ve made an approach,” said Dukes. “There’s already a casino in Nassau so I don’t see why they should object to another one.”
    â€œMaybe on the grounds that there is already one in existence,” said Franks.
    â€œLike I said,” reiterated Dukes, “we won’t know until we’ve made an approach.”
    Franks knew from his French operation how popular the casinos were in places like Cannes and Deauville. Conscious of his mistaken initial attitude toward the men, Franks tried to remain objective. His immediate response was to reject the idea outright, but a more considered reflection was that the sort of casino that Dukes was suggesting might be an advantage. The Bahamas and Bermuda were geared for American vacationers and there was a great limitation to casino gambling in the United States. To Pascara he said, “What do you think?”
    â€œI’m unwilling to come out for or against at this stage,” said the blind man. “I’d need some certified accounts to be convinced if it’s practicable. And I’d certainly need to know the attitudes of both the island governments.”
    â€œFlamini?” invited Franks.
    â€œI like our luxury concept,” said the other Italian. “It’s worked. At the moment I’m unsure we’d be able to maintain the standard if we go into casinos. There are too many shady areas in gambling.”
    â€œNot if it’s properly governed and policed,” said Dukes. “The sort of security that exists in Vegas is incredible. And it works. They keep files on all the known crooks and gangsters. I’d defy any of them to last longer than an hour before they’re identified.”
    â€œI don’t suppose there