'I'm hoping for rapprochement,' I said.
'Oh, really?'
'Yes, I have compelling evidence that Perry Lehman's life is in danger and I need to warn him of it and suggest a solution.'
'Mr. Spenser,' she said, 'what on earth are you trying to do now?'
'Gretchen,' I said, 'observe this face. Look at these wide-spaced intelligent eyes. Is this a man who would deceive you?'
'Or could,' Hawk murmured.
I ignored him. Gretchen gave him another covert eye flicker.
'Mr. Spenser. We are trying to run an honest business here. You have disrupted that with threats and intimidation on behalf of God knows who or what and driven Mr. Lehman and myself to near distraction. Now you want me to believe that you can prevent the execution of a death threat on the same person you've been harassing?'
'Distraction?' I said. 'By golly, that's pretty good. I had hoped at best for annoyance, but distraction…' I whistled silently.
'I don't find any of this funny,' Gretchen said.
'Lot of people tell me that,' I said. 'But this is on the level. The way things are developing there's a very real risk to Mr. Lehman.' She stared at me for a moment.
Hawk said, 'This business so legitimate, how come when Spenser start harassing you you don't call the cops.'
'Our membership is entitled to privacy and not to police and press presence, Mr., ah, Hawk.'
Hawk nodded. ''Course,' he said, and smiled at her.
She held her gaze on him for a moment and then turned her face sharply back at me. 'This is probably another harassment ploy,' she said.
I didn't say anything.
'But I cannot take it upon myself to dismiss it as such, as no doubt you fully anticipated. May I have the details before I inform Mr. Lehman?'
I shook my head. 'I don't think Perry would like me telling anyone but him the details.'
She tightened her lips. 'Of course,' she said. 'Again it's a ploy I can't really reject.' She took a deep breath and let it out. 'I'm afraid you've forced my hand, Mr. Spenser. Please have a seat while I inform Mr. Lehman.'
She turned and went out through the big oaken door opposite the entrance. Hawk and I declined a seat and stood alone in the waiting room.
'Businesslike,' Hawk said.
'Yes,' I said, 'she's very professional.'
'Lots of professionals here,` Hawk said.
'Sort of,' I said.
'We gonna paint Perry's head or what,' Hawk said.
'I'm going to outwit him,' I said. 'And while I am you're going to keep the Royal African bodyguard from kicking me to death.'
'The brother at the door did look dandy in his costume,' Hawk said.
'They all do,' I said. 'Neocolonial chic.' 'Embarrassing,' Hawk said.
It was maybe ten minutes before Gretchen came back and told us we could see Perry Lehman. In the elevator I caught her peeking at Hawk sideways out of a narrow corner of her right eye.
Lehman was in his rooftop garden. Near him Charles Jackson was standing at parade rest, in uniform. There were two other security attendants across the pool. Hawk took it in as we walked toward Lehman's desk and gave me his expressionless look of amusement.
'You think a mechanical hippo gonna come out of that pool and scare us?' he said. Lehman was sitting behind his desk. Not lounging.
'Don't try anything,' he said. 'I'm telling you right now there's three men here and I can get a dozen more in thirty seconds. So don't try a single thing, you understand?' There was a glass of champagne half drunk beside him, a bottle in the silver ice bucket near his desk. Jackson showed no flicker of recognition or connection.
I said, 'Perry we came to help you, not hurt you.'
'You're trying to help me right out of fucking business,' he said. 'What's this shit about my life being in danger?'
'Miss Manners have a contract out on you,' Hawk said.
Charles Jackson's face moved slightly as if it wanted to smile and then went back into its stony palace-guard mask.
'What'd he say?' Lehman spoke to me. He didn't look at Hawk.
'We need to talk, Perry. You mind the guards hearing what we say?'
'I'm not giving up my guards,' he said. His hand hovered near the corner of his desk. Probably the panic button for the other dozen men.
