Close Call by John McEvoy Read Free Book Online

flooding into old Monee Park.”
    Without elaborating, Hanratty said, “Well, that’s not ideal by any means, as far as I’m concerned.” He was not inclined to inform Riley that he was planning a major expansion of Shamrock Off-Course Betting Corp., both its Irish operation as well as creating two offices in Spain, one in Portugal. He had been laying the groundwork for this project for three years. Getting it off the ground would require some major borrowing as well as a significant infusion of his own cash. The news of Uncle Jim’s will had encouraged Niall to think that new money would be available relatively soon. Now, according to Riley, that would not be the case.
    “I’m damned sorry to hear that,” Hanratty said softly. “I was under the impression that the disbursement would be much sooner.”
    Riley laughed, then caught himself. “Oh, disburse they may well do,” he said. “Except for the fact that there’s nothing to disburse at this particular point.”
    Hanratty sat back in his chair, mulling this over. He’d always tended to sift carefully through information even before the time when, as a young clerk in a down country off-track betting shop, eager to learn the bookmaking business, he’d made a huge score wagering on a longshot winner of England’s Grand National Steeplechase. He’d used the winnings to buy the small shop in which he worked. Its aging owner, eager to sell and retire, had offered advice as he signed over the papers. “This is a beautiful, ould, steady business, Niall. If you don’t get adventurous, or caught up in the booze or the cooz, you can’t fookin’ lose.”
    A tireless, ambitious man, Hanratty in subsequent years had expanded his holdings by opening shops in locations other bookmaking firms had avoided, or sometimes using the power of slightly veiled threats to help in the purchase of existing independent shops. There had been murmured complaints about his methods of acquisition. None hindered the growth of his thriving company. “That Hanratty, he’s a hard man entirely,” was whispered about him.
    Niall said to Riley, “Can you tell me this, man: why are you so interested in this matter if there’s no immediate return in sight?”
    Riley chuckled, then began talking so softly Hanratty strained to hear him. “Your cousin Celia is a very determined person,” Riley said. “She’s got her heart set on keeping Monee Park going until the video slots relief arrives. But,” he continued, voice even softer now, “it’s quite possible she could be convinced to recognize the advantage of selling the land now. Reaping immediate profits. Profits that you, of course, would be receiving almost half of. This could conceivably happen within the next few months.”
    “How is it, Mr. Riley, that you know all these details about Uncle Jim’s will?”
    “Why, because my former partner Frank Foley wrote the will years ago. He and Jim were high school classmates.”
    Tony Rourke peeked his head into the office. Hanratty put his hand over the phone, and said, “Tony, be a good man now and run down to that new Starbucks and get us a couple of expensive coffees.” He winked. Rourke smiled and went back out the office door.
    “I take it, Mr. Riley,” Hanratty said, “that you yourself would be in charge of whatever persuading that needs to be done over there.”
    Riley said, “That could certainly be arranged. Your cousin is a charming, smart, and very stubborn woman. She’ll not just be talked off her current stance. She’ll need some convincing. I’ve given this a great deal of thought, and I’m confident the plans I’ve made will get her to see the light. If you get my drift.”
    “Yes, counselor, I’m getting your drift. About what might that drift cost me?”
    “Fifteen percent of the sale price of Monee Park,” Riley shot back.
    Hanratty hesitated, then said, “I’ll give you ten percent of my net, Mr. Riley. And that’s that. And I don’t want anymore