The Lieutenant told him again.
Don Mathers rubbed the back of his hand over his mouth and tried to
think.
He said finally, "Look, Lieutenant. First let's get another cup of
coffee into me, and maybe that sandwich you were talking about. Then
would you help me to get back to my hotel?"
* * * * *
By the fourth day, his hands weren't trembling any longer. He ate a good
breakfast, dressed carefully, then took a hotel limousine down to the
offices of the Mathers, Demming and Rostoff Corporation.
At the entrance to the inner sanctum the heavyset Scotty looked up at
his approach. He said, "The boss has been looking for you, Mr. Mathers,
but right now you ain't got no appointment, have you? Him and Mr.
Rostoff is having a big conference. He says to keep everybody out."
"That doesn't apply to me, Scotty," Don snapped. "Get out of my way."
Scotty stood up, reluctantly, but barred the way. "He said it applied to
everybody, Mr. Mathers."
Don put his full weight into a blow that started at his waist, dug deep
into the other's middle. Scotty doubled forward, his eyes bugging. Don
Mathers gripped his hands together into a double fist and brought them
upward in a vicious uppercut.
* * * * *
Scotty fell forward and to the floor.
Don stood above him momentarily, watchful for movement which didn't
develop. The hefty bodyguard must have been doing some easy living
himself. He wasn't as tough as he looked.
Don knelt and fished from under the other's left arm a vicious-looking
short-barrelled scrambler. He tucked it under his own jacket into his
belt, then turned, opened the door and entered the supposedly barred
office.
Demming and Rostoff looked up from their work across a double desk.
Both scowled. Rostoff opened his mouth to say something and Don Mathers
rapped, "Shut up."
Rostoff blinked at him. Demming leaned back in his swivel chair. "You're
sober for a change," he wheezed, almost accusingly.
Don Mathers pulled up a stenographer's chair and straddled it, leaning
his arms on the back. He said coldly, "Comes a point when even the
lowest worm turns. I've been checking on a few things."
Demming grunted amusement.