“Ed Mackey,” Wycza said. “Him we all know. Him and Brenda.”
Carlow said to Parker, “What about Sternberg?”
“Remember what he looks like? How he talks?”
“Sure. Heavyset, sour most of the time, talks like a professor.”
“Can you see him,” Parker said, “as a state legislator? One of the anti-gambling crowd, coming for an inspection.”
Wycza laughed. “And we’re his fucking bodyguards! ” he said.
Carlow said. “An assemblyman, with bodyguards? Are you sure?”
“He’s had death threats,” Wycza explained. “Cause he’s such an uncompromising guy. So he’s got us to guard him.”
“Armed to the teeth,” Parker said.
7
“Hello?”
“I’m looking for Lou Sternberg.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, he’s gone out. May I tell him who rang?”
“Ed Lynch.”
“Does he know the subject, Mr. Lynch?”
“Not yet, not until I tell him.”
“Does he know you, Mr. Lynch?”
“We were in the art business together one time. Buying and selling art.”
“Oh, I believe he’s mentioned that. It wasn’t a very profitable business, was it, Mr. Lynch?”
“No profit at all.”
“And are you still in the art business, Mr. Lynch?”
“No, I gave that up.”
“Probably just as well. What business are you in now, Mr. Lynch?”
“Politics
Hello?”
“You surprise me, Mr. Lynch.”
“Things change.”
“So I see. May I ask Forgive me, but I know Mr. Sternberg will ask me,so I should know the answers.”
“That’s okay. I thought he might like to run for state assemblyman.”
“Mr. Sternberg?”
“Yes.”
“But Mr. Sternberg lives in London.”
“That’s where I’m calling him.”
“Wouldn’t he have to be resident in the United States?”
“For a little while.”
“Oh, I see. This wouldn’t be a full term, then. Completing someone else’s term, something like that.”
“Something like that. My friends and me, we think Mr. Sternberg has the right look, he could inspire confidence in people.”
“Probably so. Well, I have no idea if Mr. Sternberg would be interested. May I have him ring you when he gets in?”
“When would that be?”
“I expect him, oh, in ten minutes.”
“I’m calling from the States.”
“Yes, I assumed that.”
“The number here’s two oh one five five five nine nine one three.”
“And is that a business or residence?”
“It’s a gas station.”
“Ah. Petrol, we call it here. If Mr. Sternberg is interested, he’ll ring you within fifteen minutes. If he doesn’t ring back by then, you’ll know he isn’t interested.”
“We say ‘call back’ here.”
