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mixed up in the other. Electronics. Down in Dallas. It was really rather quite like old times.”
    â€œWhich pharmaceutical company was it?”
    â€œWell, as a matter of fact, it was Vullo Pharmaceuticals. Something of a coincidence, don’t you think?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œYoung Roger, of course, has nothing to do with the company’s operations.”
    â€œSo I understand.”
    We sat there in silence for a moment, eyeing each other, waiting to see who would be the first to say something inane about the twists of fate. When neither of us did I said, “Who hired you to look into Arch Mix?”
    â€œWell, I wasn’t really hired. I was retained.”
    â€œSorry.”
    â€œActually, I’ve been retained by the union.”
    I shook my head and I think I kept on shaking it as I said, “I don’t believe it. I honestly don’t believe it.”
    â€œWell, there was never anything to tie me to that other dismal business back in 1964,” Slick said. “And besides, I was only on the periphery of it.”
    â€œYou were in up to your ass.”
    â€œMy involvement was marginal,” he said in his stiffest tone, “and it never became public.”
    â€œSo how did the union stumble over you?”
    â€œThey retain eminent legal counsel. After Mix vanished they felt they should do something so they turned to counsel for advice. Counsel suggested the Pinkertons, but when it was pointed out that the Pinkertons have rather a spotty labor record, my name came up.” He waved a hand. “Mutual friends, you know.”
    â€œWhen did all this happen?”
    â€œFour weeks ago.”
    â€œWho’s your contact at the union?”
    â€œThe vice-president. Warner B. Gallops. A black gentleman. Do you know him?”
    â€œI know him.”
    â€œI wonder what the B stands for?”
    â€œBaxter.”
    â€œOh my. Well, he seems quite shrewd. Or perhaps I should say clever.”
    â€œHe’s both.”
    â€œHow well do you know him?” Slick asked.
    â€œAt one time we were friends, but then he decided that he’d rather be friends with Mix than with me so we’re not friends anymore.”
    â€œThere’s more to it than that, of course.”
    â€œHe doublecrossed me a long time ago,” I said. “But if you asked him about it, he’d probably tell you that I doublecrossed him. It was internal politics. Anyway, it’s one of the reasons that Gallops is vice-president of the union.”
    â€œAn opportunist?”
    â€œAren’t we all.”
    â€œI didn’t ask, of course, but I obtained a copy of the union’s constitution and it provides that the vice-president will serve as president should the incumbent die, be absent, or incapacitated.”
    â€œI like the way your mind works, Slick.”
    â€œOne has to look for motive.”
    â€œThat’s probably why you were hired. Sorry. Retained.”
    â€œOh, quite. Mr. Gallops made that most clear. I think I can remember his exact words. He said, ‘You got two jobs, buddy. First, you’re gonna find out what happened to Arch and, second, you’re gonna prove that I had fuck all to do with it.’” Slick was an excellent mimic.
    â€œSo what’ve you turned up?” I said.
    â€œVirtually nothing.”
    â€œAnd the cops?”
    â€œLess.”
    â€œWhat’s the FBI doing?”
    â€œTheir usual.”
    â€œYou have lines into both places, I take it.”
    â€œWell, yes, I’ve cultivated several sources, of course, and then I can always call on a few old friends, if need be.”
    â€œSlick?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œJust how many old friends have you got? A rough guess.”
    He thought about it for a moment, sipped his martini, and then said, “Well, I really don’t quite know how to answer that. I send out around eight hundred Christmas cards each year and I receive