"I didn't like his reaction," Charles told her in the anteroom of F. W.
Taylor's office. "I didn't talk to him long on the phone, but I don't
like his reaction at all. He seemed to think I was exaggerating. Or all
wet. Or a punk kid."
"I can assure him you're not that," Lee Falcaro said warmly. "Call on me
any time."
He gave her a worried smile. The door opened then and they went in.
Uncle Frank looked up. "We'd just about written you two off," he said.
"What's it like?"
"Bad," Charles said. "Worse than anything you've imagined. There's an
underground, all right, and they are practicing assassination."
"Too bad," the old man said. "We'll have to shake up the bodyguard
organization. Make 'em de rigeur at all hours, screen 'em and see that
they really know how to shoot. I hate to meddle, but we can't have the
Government knocking our people off."
"It's worse than that," Lee said. "There's a tie-up between the
Government and the Mob. We got away from Ireland aboard a speed boat and
we were picked up by a Mob lakes ore ship. It had been running gasoline
and ammunition to the Government. Jimmy Regan was in charge of the deal.
We jumped into Lake Michigan and made our way back here. We were in Mob
Territory--down among the small-timers--long enough to establish that
the Mob and Government are hand in glove. One of these day's they're
going to jump us."
"Ah," Taylor said softly. "I've thought so for a long time."
Charles burst out: "Then for God's sake, Uncle Frank, why haven't you
_done_ anything? You don't know what it's like out there. The
Government's a nightmare. They have slaves. And the Mob's not much
better. Numbers! Restrictions! Permits! Passes! And they don't call it
that, but they have taxes!"
"They're mad," Lee said. "Quite mad. And I'm talking technically.
Neurotics and psychotics swarm in the streets of Mob Territory. The
Government, naturally--but the Mob was a shock. We've got to get ready,
Mr. Taylor. Every psychotic or severe neurotic in Syndic Territory is a
potential agent of theirs."
"Don't just check off the Government, darling," Charles said tensely.
"They've got to be smashed. They're no good to themselves or anybody
else. Life's a burden there if only they knew it. And they're holding
down the natives by horrible cruelty."