O’Hara thought for a few seconds, then said, ‘There’s an element of risk. We’re dealing with some pretty mean characters here.’
‘You know them, then?’
‘Personally or by reputation. Right now, all I got’s conjecture. Talking about it further could be counterproductive and increase the risk.’
‘I don’t think I need t’ tell you to be careful.’
‘Not at all.’
‘Good. As I said from the start, lad, I trust you. But I’ll admit, my curiosity is about to short-circuit. Besides, I got a bit of a surprise for you.’
‘What is it?’
Howe chuckled. ‘You’ll find out soon enough.’
‘1 don’t like surprises, Mr Howe.’
‘Oh, I think you’ll like this one.’
O’Hara dropped the subject — Howe was probably going to send a couple of live lobsters down in the plane. ‘I’ll be back in touch in about three days,’ he said. ‘By then I’ll be able to tell you whether I flushed your hundred and twenty-five.’
‘I’ll have the Lear at Fort Lauderdale in four hours. If you need anything else, have any trouble, call me anytime. I may not be able to get war declared, but I can damn sure come close to it and will if it’s necessary.’
‘Thanks. I’ll be in touch.’
Getting through to the Magician was not as simple. The lines were tied up when he first called. He made the second call from Fort Lauderdale, after Cap’n K.’s air charter dropped him off. The line exploded with static and when the connection was finally completed, the operator sounded as if she were talking from somewhere near the centre of the earth.
‘Le Grand Gustavsen Hotel, s’il vous plait,’ O’Hara shouted.
‘Hotel?’ she said.
‘Oui. Le Grand Gustavsen.’
‘Pardonnez-moi— did you say Heelton?’
‘Gustavsen!’ O’Hara yelled, wondering how she could have mistaken Grand Gustavsen for Hilton,
‘Ah, oui, Goostafsen. Un moment, s'il vous plait.’
More static, more noise, before someone finally answered. It was a gruff voice; obviously a guest passing by the desk had picked up the receiver.
‘Yeah?’
‘Is the Magician there?’ O’Hara said.
‘The who?’
‘The Magician. Rothschild. The man who owns the hotel.’
‘You mean the piano player?’
‘Right.’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Just give me someone connected with the hotel, please.’ There was a loud clatter on the other end, as though the man who had answered had thrown the phone across the room.
A few moments later Jolicoeur answered. ‘Allo. Que desirez-vous? May I be of service?’
‘Joli? It’s O’Hara.’
‘Ah, Francois! Comment ca va?
‘I’m doing okay, Joli. Ou est le Sorcier?
‘At the market.’
‘J’arrive ce soir. Voulez-vous me donner la piece avec In sale de bain?
‘Volontiers! Quelle heure?’
‘Don’t know yet. Tres tard. Vers deux heures, peut-etre.’
‘Bon! Ou etes-vous?’
‘Florida. I’m waiting for the plane now. Tell him I’ll need his help.’
‘Excellent! We will put clean sheets on your bed.’
‘Damn generous there, Joli.’
‘Pour vous, mon ami, le mieux. We have a job, then?’ ‘We may. Listen, when Mike gets back, tell him I want a readout on four names. Can you hear me clearly?’
‘Oui.’
