A Bridge to Treachery From Extortion to Terror by Larry Crane Read Free Book Online

like that.”
     
    “Calvin probably mentioned to you that I’m looking around for someone in the organization to handle an account. What kind of business have you been doing out there in Paramus, Lou? Anything in particular?”
     
    “I’ve done some business in just about everything we handle, Patricia,” he said, playing the first name game. “Munis, common, mutual funds, even some commodities on occasion.”
     
    “How about new issues, secondaries? Any of the oil drilling fund?”
     
    “Those things only come along once in a blue moon for us out in the hinterlands. Any time we get some, we eat them up.”
     
    “Okay, I’m going to turn this account over to you, Lou. All that’s involved is for the contact man on the account to call you from now on, instead of Bud Gilhaus here at 14 Wall. Bud knows that you’ll be handling the account. The client’s name is Barry Westover. I meant to have you talk to him this morning, but it didn’t work out. You’ll just have to deal with him over the phone to begin with.” Flash. “That shouldn’t be a problem?”
     
    She worked her way over to the windows and the phone. She picked it up and spoke in a low voice again. For a good five minutes she talked into the phone, looking out the window.
     
    Lou poured himself another cup of coffee. Finally, Buck turned around and covered the mouthpiece. “Barry Westover will make all of his calls straight to you out in Paramus, Lou,” she said. And five minutes later, off the phone and next to him on the couch again: “I’ll have Bud give you a call tomorrow morning with the account number. The name of the account isn’t important right now. We’ll try to get you and Westover together as soon as we can. Is there anything else you’d like to know about the deal?” Flash.
     
    Anything else, Patty? Yes, I have something else. This is a big new account, and I had squat to do with bringing it in.
     
    “Why is it coming to me? Why now?”
     
    “You’ve been with us close to four years, Lou. You’ve worked hard and we think of you as a quality guy, the kind we want to have sticking with us for a while.” Flash. “All of the producers had a break given to them somewhere along the line. This account was one of mine at one time. I want to know that it’s being handled properly. I want to know that the person who deals with Barry is going to be with the firm for a long time to come. So don’t worry too much about the formalities of how you came to get it. Just do your best to handle it the way we know you can. Okay?”
     
    Bullshit. “You’ve been asking all about my military career. It’s the first time it’s come up in four years with the firm. Anything to it?”
     
    “Listen, Louis. Nobody said the account was yours forever. Think of this as a test; if you pass it, you keep it. As for your military career, it constitutes the bulk of your work experience. I look for dedication in a person before all other considerations. You’ve always shown exceptional commitment and loyalty to important causes, starting as a first lieutenant on Fire Base Eagle in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.”
     
    Who had she been talking to? There probably weren’t two dozen people in the world who knew that Eagle ever existed .
     
    Buck sidled back over to the window and the phone again. With her back to Lou, she seemed to resume her last conversation without interruption. Suddenly she turned and, cupping the phone, said: “Louis, excuse me, I’m not going to be able to get away from the phone all morning and I don’t want to hold you up.”
     
    “I’m out of here,” he said, regretting the mindless Ashley-ism before it was halfway out of his mouth.
     
    “Very good. See Calvin when you get back to Paramus. And Louis, I’d appreciate it if you’d keep all this to yourself for the time being.” Flash.
     
    He stopped in the Trinity Churchyard on his way back to the tubes. He sat on a bench beside the cathedral, watching